This might be my favorite chapter yet... of this story anyway.
Eragon was loathe to leave his friend or Saphira behind as they made their way to Teirm, the notion of separation from two beings he cared for so deeply hurt him especially after the loss of Garrow and Roran. He knew it was only temporary and that he could speak to them mentally, but still the loss was painful. Still, he knew well enough to carry on and not allow himself to wallow on this thoughts.
Approaching Yomir, he pulled the boy into a warm hug, squeezing him tightly as they reached the point of separation. "I will miss you."
" And I you." Yomir squeezed him just as tightly, tighter in fact hurting Eragon's ribs ever so slightly. He was always amazed by his friend's remarkable strength.
"What will you do?" He was curious.
Yomir pulled away, shrugging a little. "I am not sure, hunting and training mostly. I think sparring mentally with Saphira to strengthen my control over my mental prowess. Anything to pull away the boredom."
"Aye, a good idea then. " Brom, rudely, interrupted them. "Your mind is strong and too predatory, it is too powerful and expansive. You need to learn to contain it better less you expose yourself too readily."
Without acting on the annoyance he knew the boy felt, Yomir merely smiled at Brom. " That is the plan."
"Good. We must hurry, before they close the gates, Eragon."
Sighing, Eragon nodded and took one last look at his beloved friend. Yomir had changed a lot, his hair had grown longer. The sheer blood red melding well with his identically colored eyes and impossibly white skin. The boy had taken to tying his hair back into a thin braid that fell to the middle of his neck. His body was short but beyond strong, rippling with thin wiry muscles that no child had, not even Eragon with all of his farming and hunting could have managed at fourteen. His face was delicately built, with a small nose, high cheek bones and a small forehead. He looked like a doll, only marred by countless scars and black veins that danced across and around his eyes and cheek bones. He was a beautiful wonder, foreign and exotic but also clearly predatory even while calm. His beautiful eyes were filled with a patient, quite examination, like he was modeling everything in his mind and preparing to strike.
Eragon adored it, silly as that sounded. It made him feel safe, knowing those eyes were watching him to protect him at all times. To work and train and spar with him... he could not understand, or even fathom why Brom was so short with him sometimes.
"Behave yourself, Eragon." Yomir smiled, showing his white thin teeth wrapped with his thin blood red lips.
"I will try, but only if you do the same."
"No promises my friend. We are going to find a place to hide, call to find us if you need to."
"""
It was hard not to sigh as Eragon left, riding along side Brom to the city of Teirm, leaving Yomir alone with Saphira. "Shall we hunt or would you like to spar for a while?"
The dragon blinked at him, long and slow, before huffing lightly. "I have not fed in a few days, but I would like to hide first. That way we have a solid base to reach."
Reaching out with his mind, Yomir agreed with Saphira. "That seems wise. May I ride you? Or would you like me to run."
"You may ride me." She leaned down, allowing him to leap from his spot, flipping down to land firmly on her back. He quickly set himself into the saddle, tightening himself with the straps and getting a feel for the position. 'Are you ready?"
"Let's do this." With a surge, one he felt through his spine, Saphira bounded up into the air, her powerful wings catching the wind and thrusting her into the air. Within seconds they were skybound, leaving Yomir utterly breathless. " This is incredible... and terrifying." He felt Saphira's laughter rumble through her massive body. Wind rippled past their bodies, scratching cold and sweet against his skin. It was a glorious feeling, no matter how utterly terrifying it was.
And then Saphira twirled in the air, making Yomir shriek like a small child.
She just laughed some more.
They managed to find a lovely cliff, at the base of the road, surrounded by maple trees. It was well hidden, with just enough room to look at the Sea but not be seen by anyone in Teirm. It was a wonderful spot, safe and secure and easy enough for them to find once more.
"Alright, this is safe... now, shall we hunt? I am starving for some blood."
'''
Hunting was an easy prospect, he and Saphira flew for a few miles far into the sky, where they would have been mistaken for a bird, landing when they sensed the presence of deer. She swooped down, catching one in her claws in a matter of minutes but did not kill it yet. Instead she carried it with her, and him, far back to their new base. She gently let it go, just as he undid the straps on the saddle. The terrified beast only made it ten feet before Yomir launched himself at it, his teeth sinking into his throat as he landed. It's delicious metallic blood sinking into his body, warming his everything and leaving him feeling stronger then he had in a few days. Feeding on the beast only took a few minutes, but by the time he was done, he looked at a very amused and curious Saphira.
'How does blood taste to you? Is it as appealing as your face made it out to be?'
"It tastes like blood, only because of what I am, I enjoy the taste. Metallic and oddly sweet... deer is gamier then human or Urgal. I am curious as to what your blood tastes like, if I am being truthful. I can feel your strength, your power. I have never fed on something with magic being as much a part of it as blood or flesh."
She hummed at him for a moment, then reached back with her left claw, nicking herself ever so slightly on her other foot. 'Try it and see what you feel."
Stunned, and happy he had completed his mission, he threw the Deer into the air, where as Saphira caught it easily in her jaws. "You honor me my friend."
"You care for Eragon, and he cares for you. I see little problem in allowing you to try my blood, so long as you allow me the honor of the same."
Nodding, He kneeled and used a single finger to dip into the incredibly warm blood, blood so warm in fact that it set off his heat vision allowing him to see waves of blues and greens so strong it blocked everything out around it. Without hesitation he put the shaking finger in his mouth, shuddering at the glorious taste and sheer power of her blood.
Everything exploded within him, like a thousand brisingrs. He actually stumbled back, his eyes wide as a rush of magic over took him, magic identical to what he felt from Eragon's spells. Dust exploded around him as something in his mind slid into place, like sheer force. A battering ram of energy without direction. It exited through his every fragment, an explosion within and without.
"What was that?" He gaped, landing on his backside, shivering.
So stunned was he, that he almost missed the presence of Durza clouding his mind. 'That was your true power, You cannot practice magic. I made you to mimic the effects of the Dragons and Elves bonding. Like a dragon your magic is banned from spells and the language of magic, but you are capable of something more primal and powerful. Less specific and accessible but deeply powerful. Something fueled by your emotions and the power of the world around you, much as a dragon can warp the world... Instead of fire you can control force, pushing and pulling things around you. It was something blocked by your lack of access to your true name, but with the burst of power you received from her blood and the return of most of your name, you have regained this power on some level. Master it and you will gain greater power and control.'
Nodding, still baffled and confused, Yomir asked. 'Why trust me with this? Why trust me with anything, you made it clear I was nothing more then your slave. Surely you know how I loathe you?'
"I do, but your loyalty is forced through this binding spell. I have nothing to worry about, so long as I hold the remaining fragment of your name. Do not forget that I, in all truth, own your very soul." With that lovely reminder, the connection faded once more, leaving Yomir to look up at a very confused Saphira.
" I have regained more of my powers, from whatever Durza did to me... it seems, from what little I can remember, that I can control force... that some aspect of magic is not banned from me." Pushing that odd feeling he felt before, the push on his mind, he dived into a feeling of wonder and light that pushed back against him. Before he could lose it, he gestured with his hand towards a rock he saw not more then ten feet from them and just let the power flow.
Immediately, the damn thing shot forward slowly, rolling across the ground as if kicked.
'Remarkable... what did Durza do that allowed such powers but banned you from mortal magics?" Saphira's words, accompanied by her wild, echoing consciousness. The song of storms and fire that played in her heart of hearts.
"I wish I knew... but alas, I am as lost as you are. All I know is that I am an attempt to mimic the effect the Dragons have had on Elves. I cannot believe I forgot that, but when that power washed through me, the memory itself seemed to dance across my mind. I cannot grasp it, but I can feel it... does that make sense."
"No, but none of this does. You are an enigma, one crafted by a monster... if you are ever going to find out the truth, then you must find it's source. On our journey we may very well find Durza. I hope that you find the answers you seek, for they will only be found through him."
Yomir nodded, accepting her words, appreciating their promise.
"""
Eragon was amazed, after Saphira helped him to find their hiding spot, to see six rocks levitating around his beloved friend who was sitting in a meditative pose. There was a sheen of sweat around him, and a thunderous presence of power that reminded him so much of dragons it hurt. He said nothing for a long moment, at least until the rocks all fell and Yomir leaned forward with a pained gasp.
"That... takes a lot of energy."
"How in the world did you do that, I thought magic was beyond you?" Yomir smiled and explained just how he had discovered this talent, leaving Eragon to laugh. "Who would have guessed all it took was the blood of someone like Saphira, I wonder what my blood would have accomplished?"
Yomir laughed. "I guess we may see once you are better with healing. I do not want to risk harming you, you cannot afford to lose as much blood as Saphira can."
" Fair enough... I have so much to tell you both."
And so he did, telling them the tales he over heard from Jeod and Brom. From their theft of the egg, Brom being part of the Varden and so many other wonderful, terrifying things...
Things Yomir wished Eragon had not told him, for he felt Durza's presence listening in... and he knew that man's death warrant had been signed.
As Eragon left them, to rejoin Brom, a single thought over took a desperate Yomir. 'I need to be free, less I cause the death of so many others... even Eragon.' The mere notion of Eragon's death being his fault was something Yomir could not stand. It felt wrong, it was wrong. He cared too deeply for the other boy... it hurt to even consider the idea that he could even hurt him.
And in that moment Yomir realized something... something that... on some level, changed everything.
'I love him... I love them, even Brom. I... I cannot allow this to happen.'
Pain, literal pain, exploded across his mind, his very soul and he felt his magic surge forth. It was similar to the control of force within him... only far vaster, like the world had unraveled before him and he could see the threads. He saw his own thread, blood red and fraying at the edges. He knew that that was where his true name belonged, the fragments of himself that had been stolen by the monster he called master.
He called out to it, without meaning too, and willed it to be restored. The power, like a storm contained in a bottle, shattered everything and surged towards the thread. His very soul exploded at the contact, like reality shifting within his very essence. Years upon years, their everlasting weight, flooded his mind in a flurry of visions... and he collapsed, drowning in the memories stolen from him... as he had, through sheer force, tore his true name from Durza's hands.
He was whole once more...
And he was suffering the consequences of that.
As he fell into the dark well of old memories, he heard only two things. The desperate, terrified call of Saphira's thoughts ramming into his mind and the desperate, furious bellow of Durza losing his mind at the loss of his favorite toy.
"""
"NO!" Durza surged forward, screaming as loudly as he could, magic echoing in every decibel. "How... how did he... why... why now? " He growled, slamming a foot into his desk with enough force to send it flying, crashing into the stone walls. He needed to kill something, to inflict agony upon a poor soul. Anything to restore the peace and safety he had lost in that moment. "The elf... I can... I need to..."
Growling, he paced around his office, contemplating what had just happened.
"This is not good, he has too much knowledge on me... on my plans to rebel against that fool Galbatorix. He was my plan it was his purpose to... damn him. He will die, soon." Magic flared around him, hissing close the surface he felt the presence of the Spirits of his make up rebelling under the weight of his wrath. "Calm yourselves, there is no point rallying now, we cannot be freed of each other... "
With every fiber of his multilayered being, Durza returned to his seat and considered his options and contemplated how he had lost the true name of the boy... he could not even remember the words that had, through layers of experiences and memories, made up Yomir's entire presence. His very soul.
As he considered the possibilities with all of his considerable knowledge of magic, he realized exactly what happened and cursed his arrogance.
'It was me... I... my telling him how his powers worked, like a dragons. That it works by emotions, it must have unlocked that part of himself. He was always far too intelligent to be underestimated and that was precisely what I did. What a fool I am... five years of work, destroyed... left unchecked he can become a tremendous enemy... but not for me... ' A wicked, wonderful smile crossed the vile man's face. 'He may fear me, but he is working for and with the Dragon Rider. It is of no doubt that he will join the Varden, and that means he will go after Galbatorix. He is not the type to fight his personal battles over what he sees is needed. He is too task oriented... yes... and if Galbatorix sends me to the Varden, to lead the charge, I can merely kill the boy... yes... I think it is time I make a deal with the twins.'
Satisfied and smug once more, he moved out of the destroyed office, making his way to his second favorite play toy... the Lovely Elf Arya. He had a great deal of rage to deal with and she was the perfect tool to expend that energy before it lingered too long in his soul.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This is beyond fun, I am so proud of this story and this chapter. I reclaimed a great story and made it my own.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.