Nari split up with Roran at the outskirts of Carvahall. She walked slowly towards Brom's, her thoughts distracting her. Last night, when she'd gone to let the dragon know that it wouldn't see her today, something new had happened. When she'd touched its mind, it'd spoken to her. Not much, just one word. Nari.
She wondered how much of the dragon's brain was animal. Could it think or did it just...understand? She found, for the first time, that there was uneasiness in her. A loyal animal was one thing; it could not judge or betray. This something else that the dragon was turning out to be was another story.
One way or another, she supposed Brom would know. She stopped outside his door and was about to knock when a voice came from behind her.
"Finally returned, have you?" Nari winced and turned sheepishly. Brom was leaning on his staff. He wore a brown robe and a pouch hung from the scuffed leather belt attached to his waist. He was frowning at her in disapproval.
"I'm sorry I didn't come before. There's been a lot of work at the farm, and I didn't get the book finished as quickly as I'd have liked. I've finished now though." Brom huffed but moved past her to open the door.
"You might as well come in then, so I can see how much you've learned." Nari smiled at his back, pleased that he was not angry with her.
Inside, the house was darker than charcoal and an bitter smell hung heavily in the air. "Now, where's that light?" Brom murmured. Nari could hear him moving around but knew not where he was, nor what he was doing. "Ah, here we go." The old man said. Something crashed into the ground and Nari jumped back, not wanting to be crushed by tumbling books. Light flickered into existence.
Brom stood with a candle before his stone fireplace. The familiar stacks of books littered the room. Carefully, Nari stepped over pages of parchment and lifted a few scrolls off of a chair. Careful not to damage them or to mix them with another stack, she placed the scrolls on a table nearby. She sat down and a cloud of dust surrounded her. She sneezed twice and felt worry from her little dragon. Clearly, it had moved closer, though she could tell it was still far enough away from town. She sent a reassurance to it as Brom lit a fire with his candle.
"Good! Nothing like sitting by the fire for conversation." Brom said, shoving his hood back to reveal silvery hair. "Now, what did you think?"
The next while was spent discussing the book he'd lent her, as well as comparing it to the two books before. He pushed her, forcing her to defend everything she said. She could always tell when he approved or disapproved of her answers, but she didn't let him know it, fighting equally for both. Eventually, Brom sat back with a pleased gleam in his eyes.
"Very good!" Nari smiled at the praise, pleased.
"I wanted to know," she began. She hesitated, unsure how to ask. Curiosity flared in Brom's eyes and he arched an eyebrow.
"Go on," he prodded.
"I was listening to the things you said when the Traders were in town," she began cautiously. "I wanted some more information, if you wouldn't mind."
"You wouldn't be here if I minded your questions, girl, for they never seem to end." His voice was gruff but amused. Nari blushed at the teasing but smiled. She paused, trying to figure out how to best word her question without revealing that she was more interested in the dragons than their Riders.
"I keep hearing about the Dragon Riders and their accomplishments. Most everyone seems to want them to return, but few seem to know how they were started or where they came from or what made them special, aside from their dragons. Most people don't even pay much attention to the dragons, but they wouldn't have been Riders without dragons to ride, would they?"
"A vast subject to tell about," grumbled Brom, peering at Nari alertly. Nari shifted, knowing she'd roused his curiosity. "If I told you their whole story, we would still be sitting here when winter comes again. It will have to be reduced to a manageable length. But before we start properly, I need my pipe."
Nari waited patiently for Brom as he tamped down the tobacco. Nari enjoyed spending time with the old man. He was gruff at times and he had a bit of a temper when roused, but he didn't seem to mind taking time for her.
Brom used a tinderbox to light the pipe. He puffed a few times, then said, "There . . . we won't have to stop, except for the tea. Now, about the Riders, or the Shur'tugal, as they are called by the elves. Where to start? They spanned countless years and, at the height of their power, held sway over twice the Empire's lands. Numerous stories have been told about them, most nonsense. If you believed everything said, you would expect them to have the powers of a lesser god. Scholars have devoted entire lives to separating these fictions from fact, but it's doubtful any of them will succeed. However, it isn't an impossible task if we confine ourselves to the three areas you specified: how the Riders began, why they were so highly regarded, and where dragons came from. I shall start with the last item." Nari nodded, closing her eyes much like she usually did when Brom told stories in order to imagine them in her mind.
"Dragons have no beginning, unless it lies with the creation of Alagaësia itself. And if they have an end, it will be when this world perishes, for they suffer as the land does. They, the dwarves, and a few others are the true inhabitants of this land. They lived here before all others, strong and proud in their elemental glory. Their world was unchanging until the first elves sailed over the sea on their silver ships.
"What do you remember about elves?" The question was abrupt, and Nari felt her eyes open instantly. She searched her mind for information.
"Elves originally came from a place called Alalea, but no one knows where it is except for them. All that is known is that they came from across the Western Sea, and landed near what is now the city of Teirm. They are called fair folk because they are more graceful than any other race. People also say they're more beautiful. They speak in a different language than we do, one they call the ancient language, and they don't lie. They can, however, use their words to mean a different truth, so it's easy for them to trick people who look only for the most obvious meaning. The elven king, Evander, was killed after the Fall of the Riders, which led to the elves' retreating into their forests. They haven't been seen since." She delighted in adding the newest bit of information, having learned it in the book she'd just returned to him.
"Good. The elves were a proud race then, and strong in magic. At first they regarded dragons as mere animals. From that belief rose a deadly mistake. A brash elven youth hunted down a dragon, as he would a stag, and killed it. Outraged, the dragons ambushed and slaughtered the elf. Unfortunately, the bloodletting did not stop there. The dragons massed together and attacked the entire elven nation. Dismayed by the terrible misunderstanding, the elves tried to end the hostilities, but couldn't find a way to communicate with the dragons.
"Thus, to greatly abbreviate a complicated series of occurrences, there was a very long and very bloody war, which both sides later regretted. At the beginning the elves fought only to defend themselves, for they were reluctant to escalate the fighting, but the dragons' ferocity eventually forced them to attack for their own survival. This lasted for five years and would have continued for much longer if an elf called Eragon hadn't found a dragon egg."
The teakettle whistled suddenly, making Nari jump. She had closed her eyes again at some point and had found herself back in the clearing in the Spine. This Eragon had found a dragon egg, just as she had. Had that dragon been blue as well? Had he feared being hunted by his own people, as she did?
Brom hooked the kettle out of the fire and poured boiling water into two cups. Handing one to Nari, he warned, "These leaves don't need to steep long, so drink it quickly before it gets too strong." Nari blew on her cup gently, cooling it. Brom set his own cup aside and continued smoking the pipe.
"No one knows why that egg was abandoned. Some say the parents were killed in an elven attack. Others believe the dragons purposefully left it there. Either way, Eragon saw the value of raising a friendly dragon. He cared for it secretly and, in the custom of the ancient language, named him Bid'Daum. When Bid'Daum had grown to a good size, they traveled together among the dragons and convinced them to live in peace with the elves. Treaties were formed between the two races. To ensure that war would never break out again, they decided that it was necessary to establish the Riders.
"At first, the Riders were intended merely as a means of communication between the elves and dragons. However, as time passed, their worth was recognized and they were given ever more authority. Eventually they took the island Vroengard for their home and built a city on it—Dorú Areaba. Before Galbatorix overthrew them, the Riders held more power than all the kings in Alagaësia. Now I believe I have answered two of your questions."
"Yes," she agreed, sipping the tea slowly, so a it would not burn her tongue. "Where were we when the Riders were created?"
"We?" asked Brom, raising an eyebrow. Nari frowned faintly.
"Humans, in general."
Brom laughed. "We are no more native to this land than the elves. It took our ancestors another three centuries to arrive here and join the Riders." Nari blinked in surprise.
"Where did we come from, then, if not Alagaësia?"
"Humans came here across the sea, as the elves did, though from a different direction. The first group landed in the south, near Surda, but those visitors traded with the dwarves and then left quickly. The next group, led by King Palancar landed in nearly the same place as the elves. That is, near Teirm. It is believed that they, too, intended to land in what is now Surda, but were blown off course. They roamed Alagaësia for many years before settling in what is now Palancar Valley."
"So Palancar Valley was the first, then?"
"There were many towns and cities created as the group roamed, but yes it is one of the first. You will find, however," Brom said gently, "that most people haven't been here that long. The valley may be old, but people come and go."
"Like me," she said quietly. She would be leaving soon, and she didn't know that she'd ever be able to return.
"Yes," Brom said. Her head snapped up, surprised. Did he know? "Though you consider yourself part of Garrow's family, and rightly so, your sire was not from here." Her shoulders relaxed, relieved. Brom's eyes narrowed and she sought to divert his attention.
"Were the Urgals here when the elves came?" He stared at her for a long moment but allowed the topic to change.
"No, they followed the elves across the sea, like ticks seeking blood. They were one of the reasons the Riders became valued for their battle prowess and ability to keep the peace."
"What happened to the dwarves after the Riders were destroyed?"
"No one really knows. They fought with the Riders through the first few battles, but when it became clear Galbatorix was going to win, they sealed all the known entrances to their tunnels and disappeared underground. As far as I know, not one has been seen since."
"What about the dragons? Were they all killed with the Riders, or are there some that still live?"
"That is the greatest mystery in Alagaësia nowadays. How many dragons survived Galbatorix's murderous slaughter? He spared those who agreed to serve him, but only the twisted dragons of the Forsworn would assist him in his madness. If any dragons aside from Shruikan are still alive, they have hidden themselves so that they will never be found by the Empire."
"How big were the dragons?"
"Larger than a house, and even the small ones had wingspans of over one hundred feet. They never stopped growing. Some of the ancient ones, before the Empire killed them, could have passed for large hills." Nari's eyes widened, fear filling her. Where could she go that a dragon the size of a house could feed and fly without drawing attention? Nowhere.
"When did dragons mature?"
"Well," Brom spoke, scratching his chin, "they couldn't breathe fire until they were around five to six months old, which was when they could mate. The older a dragon was, the longer it could breathe fire. Some of them could keep it up for minutes." Nari felt relief fill her. Her dragon was not sick, just too young for fire.
"What colors were dragons? Did their scales shine?"
"Yes. They came in every color and shade, and it was said that a group of them looked like a living rainbow, constantly shifting and shimmering." Brom looked amused, and Nari wanted nothing more to tell him about her little dragon. He wouldn't find the stories so amusing then, when he saw how her dragon's scales shimmered in the light. She felt an ache in her chest; she wanted to trust him with this, to tell him about her dragon. As much as she trusted him, though, she would not put his life in danger by telling him. He, along with Garrow and Roran, would be one of the first ones questioned when it was discovered that she was a Rider. It would be better for him, as with Garrow and Roran, if he knew nothing.
"Did you ever see one?"
"Nay," Brom said with a smile. "It was long before my time."
"How did the Riders communicate with the dragons? Were they smart enough to understand human speech?" Brom frowned darkly.
"Weren't you paying attention to what I said earlier? How could the elves form agreements and peace treaties with dumb brutes? They were as intelligent as you or I, and could understand the human tongue as well as their Rider." Brom had not answered her about how the dragons communicated, but she didn't need him to.
"Did dragons live very long?" Brom did not respond at once, his chin sank to his chest while his fingers tapped his pipe thoughtfully.
"Sorry," he said, looking back up at Nari. "My mind was elsewhere. Yes, a dragon will live for quite a while, forever, in fact, as long as it isn't killed and it's Rider doesn't die." Nari frowned in confusion.
"How does anyone know that? If dragons die when their Riders do, they could only live to be sixty or seventy, right? You said that the Riders lived for hundreds of years, but isn't that impossible?"
"What is possible is subjective. Some would say that you cannot travel through the Spine and live, yet you do. It's a matter of perspective. You must be very wise to know so much at a young age." Nari flushed at the mixture of rebuke and praise, and the old man chuckled. "Don't be angry, you can't be expected to know such things. You forget that Dragons were magical. They affected everything around them in strange ways. The riders were closest to them and experienced this the most. The most common side effect was an extended life. Our king has lived long enough to make that apparent, but most people attribute it to his own magical abilities. There were also other, less noticeable changes. All Riders were stronger of body, keener of mind, and truer of sight than a normal men," he smiled faintly as he added, "or women. Along with this, a human Rider would slowly acquire pointed ears, though they were never as prominent as an elf's." Nari twined her hands in her lap to resist the urge to feel the tips of her ears. She decided it was past time that she left; Roran would be wondering where she was, and Brom saw more than was good for him.
"I have been trying to recall the name of a certain dragon, but I can't remember where I heard it or what it was. It will itch at me until I remember. Do you think you could help?" Brom shrugged easily.
"There was Jura, Hirador and Fundor, who fought the giant sea snake. Galzra, Briam, Ohen the Strong, Gretiem, Beroan, Roslarb..." There were many other names that he added. She committed each one to memory. She still hadn't discovered whether her dragon was a male or a female, so she needed both. At the very end of the list, he uttered so softly that Nari almost didn't hear him, "...and Saphira." Brom paused for a moment to quietly empty his pipe. "Was it any of those?"
"I don't think so. Thank you anyway, but I should probably go." Brom raised an eyebrow.
"What, is that it? I expected to be answering your questions until he came looking for you! Are you done? Not to mention I've yet to lend you another book."
"For now," Nari assured him, laughing. "I've learned what I wanted to, and more. I'm sure I'll have more questions later. As for the book," she felt a sadness overtake her, but tried to hide it, "perhaps next time." He eyed her with concern.
"Has your uncle..." Brom began. Nari shook her head, cutting him off.
"No, nothing like that. I've just been very busy lately, I don't think I'd have time just now. That's why it took me so long to finish this last one. Perhaps in a few weeks, it will be better." Brom's concern was replaced with suspicion now.
"Very well then," Brom said as he rose to walk her to the door.
"Oh!" Brom jumped as she drew her hand deep into the bag. "There was one more thing," she explained, sheepishly. Brom raised an amused eyebrow, clearly expecting more questions. Instead, she pulled out the book she'd bought from the Trader.
"I bought this when the Traders were in town. I can't read it, the words aren't anything you've taught me, but I thought, perhaps,..." She handed it to him. He took it, his eyes widening as he stared at the cover. "I thought you might like it," she explained tentatively.
"Nari, you..." His brow furrowed, searching for words even as he searched her gaze. She flushed uncertainly. "This must have been quite expensive."
"Not really," she assured him, shaking her head. "The Trader seemed glad to be rid of it, really." She peered at him uncertainly. "Do you like it?" He blinked in surprise before smiling at her.
"I do. It's a wonderful gift. But your cousin will be looking for you. Go on now, and take care."
"I will," she promised. She hesitated next to the open door and he raised an eyebrow at her. Giving in to an impulse, she reached forward and hugged him tightly for a moment. Before he could react, she turned away. "Goodbye, and thank you," she called over her shoulder as she broke into a run. If tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes, no one but she and her dragon would ever know.
As she was walking with Roran on the way home, Nari was thinking about what Brom had said. There was so much that she hadn't known, and so much that she still didn't know. She would need to leave soon, but where could she go? Wherever she went, people would soon find out who and what she was. She would have to be constantly running, never safe.
Perhaps she could go to the Varden? She would be safe from the king there, but would she be safe from them? They would expect her to fight for them, she knew that much. The questions was, did she want to?
"There was a stranger from Therinsford at Horst's today," Roran said abruptly. It was only now that she realized he'd been as quiet as she had.
"Oh? What was his name?"
"Dempton. He came here to have Horst forge him some sockets," Roran explained, walking through a snow drift to clear the way for her.
"Doesn't Therinsford have its own smith?" Nari inquired.
"Yes," Roran replied, "but he isn't skilled enough." Roran glanced at her and she saw a hint of worry in his gaze. "Dempton needs the sockets for his mill. He's expanding it and offered me a job. If I accept, I'll leave with him when he picks up the sockets." Nari's eyes widened, but she waited until she knew her voice would be steady before she replied.
"Are you going to take the job?"
"Yes," Roran admitted. Nari knew there was only one reason he'd leave the farm, and she felt a pit of dread in her stomach. It was also the one thing she could never try to talk him out of.
"This is about marrying Katrina," she stated quietly. "Have you asked her?"
"Not yet. I want to wait for spring, when I can raise a house. Then I'll ask," he explained.
"Uncle Garrow can't do everything himself, Roran," she pleaded, feeling a weight building in her chest. "He needs you here." Roran shook his head stubbornly.
"I won't really be needed until it's time for the planting in the spring. Father can make do without me until then. If all goes well, I'll soon be back working on the farm, with a wife." She couldn't argue with that, and she had to fight back tears for a second time that day.
"When will you tell Uncle Garrow?" Her only hope was her uncle taking the news badly and demanding Roran stay. She didn't think it likely; Garrow was much like Brom in that he had a temper and often came off as gruff, but he cared fiercely. She knew he would see how much this meant to Roran, and would agree with little fuss.
"Tonight. Dempton will be returning for the sockets in two weeks, so there isn't much time for delaying." Nari nodded, speeding up so that she walked ahead of him. She ignored the fact that this made the path harder to navigate, not wanting to speak to her cousin anymore about his leaving.
As soon as they reached the farm, Nari went to see her dragon. She curled up inside the ground hut she'd built once it had grown too large for the tree. It appeared pleased to see her.
Nari, it whispered in her mind.
Is that all you can say? She asked, irritated.
Yes, the dragon hummed in amusement. She laughed despite herself, enjoying the unexpected humor, and couldn't help the warmth that filled her. At least she had it, even if she would have no one else. At the sadness that returned with the thought, the dragon sent her an questioning feeling. She explained what had happened that day, starting with Brom and ending with Roran. Opening her mind, she wondered how much of her memory the dragon could see.
As she spoke, she felt tears start to trail down her cheeks.
"I'll be leaving all of them," she finished. "I'll never be able to visit Brom again to talk about books or just to have tea. Roran will leave, and I'll leave, and Garrow will be all alone. I won't get to see Roran and Katrina's wedding, or meet any children they might have. You and I will be in danger all of the time, never able to settle down anywhere or have a home. We'll always have to run and hide or fight for our lives or freedom.
The dragon hummed, nudging its head against her chest soothingly. She buried her face in its neck for a moment before pulling back and wiping her eyes.
"You need a name. I learned some interesting ones from Brom today. Would you like to help me choose?" An approving hum was her only answer and Nari nodded, thinking hard. "Well first thing's first. Are you a she or a he?"
Amusement came through the link between them.
She, the dragon whispered. Now that the dragon had confirmed it, Nari did hear the lighter, smoother, more feminine tone to its voice.
"Alright, that narrows us down then. Let's see, Brom gave us Miremel, Opheila, Lenora, Jura, Galzra, Agaravel, and Saphira. Of those, I like Lenora, Opheila, or Saphira. Which one do you like best?" There was a pause as the dragon considered each of the names.
Saphira, she said. Nari felt something click inside her, and she knew that her dragon, Saphira, felt the same. Nari beamed at her, pleased, and Saphira began to hum in contentment.
The good mood Saphira had put her in faded as soon as she reached the house. Roran did not speak to her, and it was clear he hadn't spoken to Garrow yet, but Nari knew it would be soon. She was right. They had barely taken a bite from the dinner that Nari had prepared before Roran spoke.
"I was offered a job at Therinsford's mill...which I plan to take." Garrow chewed his food slowly before carefully setting his fork down.
"Why?" Roran quickly explained his reasoning while Nari stared down at her food, moving it across the plate with her fork. Roran's explanation was more plea than statement, begging for Garrow's approval, but there was a defiant hint in her cousin's voice that said he would proceed no matter how Garrow reacted. "I see," Garrow said when Roran was done. "Well, when do you leave?"
"What?" Roran's voice was surprised and it almost made Nari smile. Almost.
"Did you think I would stop you?" Garrow's voice was amused. "I'd hoped you would marry soon. It will be good to see this family growing again. Katrina will be lucky to have you. So, when do you leave?"
"When Dempton returns to get the sockets for the mill."
"And that will be in...?"
"Two weeks," Roran replied. His whole being was vibrating with energy, relief mingling with joy.
"Good. That will give us time to prepare. It'll be different to have the house to ourselves. But if nothing goes amiss, it shouldn't be for too long." With that, the conversation seemed finished, and Nari gathered up the empty plates in silence. She felt Garrow's eyes watching her thoughtfully, but he did not speak.
The next few days were uncomfortable, to say the least. Even as Nari found herself storing small trinkets away, so too did Roran's possessions begin to vanish from the house. Nari's conversations with Roran, when they occurred, were stiff and uneasy. She could not help the anger at Roran for abandoning Garrow, even if he didn't know that was what he was doing. It was as much anger at herself as at Roran, but she knew she had to leave or else put Garrow in danger. Added to the anger was the grief in knowing that she would never see her cousin again. It was too much, and Nari avoided her cousin for fear of yelling at him or bursting into tears.
Saphira was her refuge. Even when Nari didn't have the words to explain her emotions, she could send the emotion to Saphira, and the dragon would understand. More than once, Nari had cried against Saphira's scales.
Saphira grew more, her shoulder now equal with Nari's head, and Nari found a comfortable perch in the place where her neck joined her shoulders. As the dragon grew, so did her vocabulary. She was speaking in full sentences now, learning more from Nari each day. With a feeling of dread, Nari knew it was almost time to leave.
As soon as Roran is gone, she told herself, not wanting to leave without saying goodbye to her cousin. It was unwise, but Roran's departure would give her an excuse to say goodbye to him properly instead of vaguely as she'd had to do with Brom.
The night before Roran was to leave, Nari hesitated outside his room. Roran was packing, rolling blankets around his clothes and belongings. He paused, picking up a polished rock Nari had found and given to him years ago. It was a pretty thing, but ultimately useless. He'd teased her mercilessly for bringing him something pretty and delicate, acting like the girl she so often refused to be. Roran started to tuck it into the bundle, the stopped and set it on a shelf. Tears began to prick at her eyes, but Nari pushed them aside, swiping a hand across her eyes. She would not get another chance.
"Roran," she called quietly. He started, turning to the door.
"Nari." He watched her cautiously, and she found she could not blame him for that. She had been acting like a startled doe for the past two weeks. She tried to think of all the things she wanted to say to him, this was her last chance to say them, but her mind was suddenly blank.
"I'll miss you." The words came without thought, but Nari would not take them back, even if it meant Roran would tease her for them. Instead, he opened his arms. Willingly, she moved forward and fell into him.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. The time will go faster than you think. Then, things will go back to normal."
"No, they won't," she whispered, unable to help herself. Roran stilled in confusion, and Nari quickly explained her statement away. "You and Katrina will have your own home once you marry."
"And you'll marry Baldor soon," Roran agreed. Nari grimaced, hating the way he stated it as if it was fact. "But even then, I'll always be here for you." It was a promise, but Nari's eyes filled with tears, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep it.
"Don't stay gone too long," Nari whispered.