Sorry about the delay! I've started back at college, so my updates are likely to be less often than they have been. I hope you enjoy!
The next three days were miserable. A ceaseless wind followed them, bringing with it chapped lips, parched tongues, and burning eyes. Brom still insisted on sparring, despite the miserable weather and the exhaustion that plagued them both. He did allow them to keep the sessions short, though. At night, the wind only grew stronger. With no shelter, there was nothing to block it. They were able to sleep only because Saphira allowed them both to curl up under her wings.
Fires were difficult to make, the wind blowing it out before it could form every time Nari tried. To her silent frustration, Brom was usually able to make it burn after he fiddled with it, though he cursed furiously. Brisingr was not a curse Nari was familiar with, but perhaps it was a common one in the area where Brom had been born for he said it every time he fought with the fire.
The third day, things grew worse. The sky ahead of them was dark with thunderclouds, and Nari feared their chances without shelter.
Brom looked at the clouds and grimaced. "Normally I wouldn't go into a storm like that, but we're in for a battering no matter what we do, so we might as well get some distance covered." Nari nodded grimly and pushed on, bracing herself for what was ahead.
It was still calm when they reached the edge of the dark clouds. As they entered its shadow, Nari glanced up. There was a wild, untameable beauty about it that she couldn't help but marvel at. It reminded her of Saphira. At that thought, Nari's eyes widened and she swung around in her seat, startling her horse and Brom both.
"Saphira! Land!" The shout came from both her voice and her mind, desperation tainting both. Brom's face grew pale.
"The wind," Brom warned hoarsely. Glancing forward, Nari saw a giant ripple race toward them through the grass, flattening it. It took her a second to realize that the wave was a tremendous blast of wind. Fear grew in Nari's heart and she glanced back towards Saphira again. She was diving towards the ground, but the wind was moving too fast.
As Nari watched, Saphira angled back the way they had come, to gain time. Suddenly, Nari felt the tempest's wrath strike her back like a hammer blow. Nari gasped for breath as the wind shoved her nearly out of her saddle. She clenched her hands and knees, clinging to the reins as a frenzied howling filled her ears. Dusk swayed and dug his hooves into the ground, mane snapping in the air. The wind tore at their clothes with invisible fingers while the air darkened with billowing clouds of dust.
Nari squinted, searching for Saphira. She saw Saphira land heavily and then crouch clenching the ground with her talons. The wind reached her just as she started to fold her wings. With an angry yank, it unfurled one of them and dragged her halfway into the air. Saphira hugged her other wing tightly to her side, fighting to keep it tucked close. For a moment she hung like that, half off the ground. Then the storm slammed her down, sending Saphira reeling. The wing she'd kept tucked against her unfurled, the wind taking advantage of Saphira's disorientation.
"No!" Nari cried, yanking Dusk around and urging him into a gallop. Saphira! Try to stay on the ground! I'm coming! Nari felt a grim acknowledgment from her. As they neared Saphira, Dusk balked nervously. Nari snarled at him and leapt down and ran towards her. A strong gust pushed Nari off balance and she flew forward, landing on the ground hard. She pushed herself up and skidded forward, ignoring the deep scrapes in her skin.
A wing swinging past her head forced her to a stop. Saphira was only three yards away, but Nari could get no closer. Saphira struggled desperately to fold her wings, but the gale flung them this way and that. Getting an idea, Nari rushed toward her right wing. Before she could grab it, the wind caught Saphira again and she somersaulted over Nari's head. The spines on Saphira's back missed Nari's head by inches. Saphira clawed at the ground, trying desperately to stay down.
Nari didn't waste time, flinging herself on top of Saphira's left wing just as her wings began to lift again. The wing crumpled in at the joints and Saphira tucked it firmly against her body. Not wanting to give the wind a chance to tear the wing open again, Nari vaulted over Saphira's back and tumbled onto the other wing. Without warning, it was blown upward, sending Nari sliding to ground. She rolled, then jumped up and grabbed the wing again. Saphira started to fold it, and Nari pushed with all of her strength The wind battled with them for a second, but with one last surge they overcame it.
Relieved, Nari threw her arms around Saphira's neck, burying her head into the scales there. They leaned against each other, panting. Saphira trembled.
Are you alright?
I think so, Saphira said after a moment's pause. Nothing's broken. I couldn't do anything; the wind wouldn't let me go. I was helpless. With a tremendous shudder, Saphira fell silent.
This is why we have each other, Nari told her. I'll always be here for you, as you'll be her for me.
Yes, Saphira agreed, still shaken. Nari reached out to Dusk, who was standing with his back to the wind. He had not wandered off, but he stayed well away from Saphira. With her mind, Nari instructed the horse to return to Brom. She slipped up onto Saphira's back, determined to intervene immediately in case the wind managed to blow Saphira's wings out again.
We need to get to Brom, Nari told her. Saphira crept up the road, fighting the gale while Nari pressed herself tightly to Saphira's back.
When they reached Brom, he shouted over the storm, "Is she hurt?" Nari shook her head, and Brom looked relieved. Brom shouted something else, but Nari couldn't hear him.
"What?" Brom pointed at a dark curtain of rain sweeping toward them in rippling gray sheets.
"What else?" Nari demanded, exasperated. The stinging rain that reached them moments later was as cold as ice; before long they were drenched and shivering.
Lightning lanced through the sky, flickering in and out of existence. Mile-high blue bolts streaked across the horizon, followed by peals of thunder that shook the ground below. It was beautiful, but dangerously so. Here and there, grass fires were ignited by strikes, only to be extinguished by the pounding rain. The wild elements were slow to abate but, as the day passed, they began to wander elsewhere.
Once again the sky was revealed, and the setting sun glowed with brilliance. As beams of light tinted the clouds with blazing colors, everything gained a sharp contrast: brightly lit on one side, deeply shadowed on the other. Ordinary things took on an unearthly beauty, and the smell of the rejuvenated earth cleared their minds and raised their spirits. Saphira stretched, craning her neck, and roaring happily. The horses skittered away from her, but Nari and Brom smiled fondly.
Before the light faded, they stopped for the night in a shallow depression. With even Brom too exhausted to spar, they went straight to sleep.
Nari awoke well rested and content. The storm had moved further off in the distance, heading away. Saphira was sleeping behind her, the warmth and safety making Nari sleepier. She shifted, curling tighter into Saphira's warmth. Saphira hummed.
"Up, both of you," Brom barked. Nari frowned, but obeyed.
Although they had been able to partially refill the waterskins during the storm, they drank the last of their water that morning.
"I hope we're going in the right direction," Nari mumbled as she saddled Dawn. "Because we'll be in trouble if we don't reach Yazuac today." Brom, oddly enough, did not seem disturbed.
"I've traveled this way before. Yazuac will be in sight before dusk," Brom said confidently.
Nari laughed doubtfully. "Perhaps you can see something I don't. How can you know that when everything looks exactly the same for leagues around?"
"Because I am guided not by the land, but by the stars and sun," Brom answered. "They will not lead us astray. Come now, let us be off. It is foolish to conjure up woe where none exists. Yazuac will be there."
His words proved true. Saphira spotted the village first, but it was not until later in the day that Nari could see the dark bump on the horizon. Yazuac was still very far away; it was only visible because of the plain's uniform flatness. As they rode closer, a dark winding line appeared on either side of the town and disappeared in the distance.
"What is that?"
"The Ninor River," Brom answered. He pulled Snowfire to a stop, and Nari pulled up beside him.
"Saphira will be seen if she stays with us much longer," Nari warned. Brom scratched his chin and looked at the town.
"See that bend in the river? Have her wait there. It's far enough from Yazuac so no one should find her, but close enough that she won't be left behind. We'll go through the town, get what we need, and then meet her."
I don't like this, Saphira said. This is irritating, having to hide all the time like a criminal. Nari could not blame her, but they both knew what would happen if they were seen. Nari reminded Saphira of this, but still she grumbled as she flew away.
Eager for food and fresh water, they kept a swift pace. As they approached the small houses, they could see smoke from a dozen chimneys, and Nari smiled at the thought of somewhere warm and dry.
At first, Nari did not understand why her instincts were screaming at her. Then she glanced around more. There was no one in the streets and an abnormal silence enveloped the village. Nari glanced at Brom warily. By unspoken consent they stopped before the first house.
"There aren't any dogs barking," Nari commented. Her mind whirled suspiciously. Was this it? Was this the trap he was leading her into?
"No."
"That doesn't mean anything, though." She said, trying to soothe herself.
"...No." Brom didn't sound sure, and the suspicion in his voice allayed some of hers. There might still be trouble, but Nari didn't think he was the cause of it. Of course, he could be pretending.
"Someone should have noticed us by now."
'Yes."
'Then why hasn't anyone come out?"
Brom squinted at the sun. "Could be afraid." Nari admitted that was true.
"They could be." She hesitated. "And if it's a trap? The Ra'zac might be waiting for us."
"We need provisions and water."
"There's the Ninor."
"Still need provisions." Nari had to admit that was true. While there had been plenty of game to be found in the plains, and even more along the Ninor, meat would only take them so far.
"So we go in?"
Brom flicked his reins. "Yes, but not like fools. This is the main entrance to Yazuac. If there's an ambush it'll be along here. No one will expect us to arrive from a different direction."
"Around to the side, then?" Nari asked, relieved. Brom nodded and pulled out a deep red sword, resting the bare blade across his saddle. Nari strung her bow and nocked an arrow.
They trotted quietly around the town and entered it cautiously. The streets were empty, except for a small fox that darted away as they came near. The houses were dark and foreboding, with shattered windows. Many of the doors swung on broken hinges. The horses rolled their eyes nervously. Every sense in the horses, and in Nari too, were screaming danger.
It wasn't until the reached the center of town that Nari understood why.
"Gods above," she breathed, gripping her bow with white fingers.
A mountain of bodies rose above them, the corpses stiff and grimacing. Their clothes were soaked in blood, and the churned ground was stained with it. Slaughtered men lay over the women they had tried to protect, mothers still clasped their children, and lovers who had tried to shield each other rested in death's cold embrace. Black arrows stuck out of them all. Neither young nor old had been spared. But worst of all was the barbed spear that rose out of the peak of the pile, impaling the white body of a baby.
Tears blurred her vision, and she tried to look away. Her eyes kept being drawn back to the horrible pile of carnage. She stared into their open eyes, wondering what sort of monster could do something like this.
A crow dipped out of the sky, like a black shadow, and perched on the spear. It cocked its head and greedily scrutinized the infant's corpse. She gagged, turning away. She fumbled for her bow, but the nausea overwhelmed her and she threw up over Dusk's side.
Brom reached over and patted her back sympathetically.
"Do you want to wait for me outside Yazuac?" Brom asked when she was done, his voice gentle and without condescension. Still, she refused to run from this.
"No ... I'll stay," she murmured, wiping her mouth. "Did the Ra'zac..." She could not force out the words. Was this what her uncle had looked like? Had his corpse been disregarded as casually as this? Had he begged for mercy that didn't come? A soft moan of despair slipped from her mouth.
Brom bowed his head. "There are people in the world who enjoy the pain and suffering of others. They wear many faces and go by many disguises, but there is only one name for them: evil. There is no understanding it. All we can do is pity and honor the victims." Dismounting, Brom inspected the ground carefully. "The Ra'zac passed this way," he said slowly, "but this wasn't their doing. This is Urgal work; the spear is of their make. A company of them came through here, perhaps as many as a hundred. It's odd; I know of only a few instances when they have gathered in such..." He knelt and examined a footprint intently, words trailing off. With a sudden curse he ran back to Snowfire and leapt onto him.
"Ride!" he hissed tightly, spurring Snowfire forward. 'There are still Urgals here!" Nari's eyes widened and she urged Dusk into a gallop. They dashed past the houses and were almost to the edge of Yazuac when Nari's instincts began to scream at her. There was a flicker of movement to her right, then a giant fist smashed her out of the saddle. She flew backwards and crashed into a wall, keeping her tight hold on her bow only due to habit. Gasping and stunned, she staggered upright, one arm wrapped around her side.
An Urgal leered at her. The monster was tall, thick, and broader than a doorway, with gray skin and yellow piggish eyes. Muscles bulged on its arms and chest, which was covered by a too small breastplate. An iron cap rested over the pair of ram's horns curling from its temples, and a round shield was bound to one arm. Its powerful hand held a short, wicked sword.
Ahead of them, Nari saw Brom rein in Snowfire and start back, only to be stopped by the appearance of a second Urgal, this one with an ax. Desperation flooded Brom's face. He cried out to her even as he struck at the Urgal.
"Run, you fool!" As if on cue, the Urgal in front of Nari roared and swung its sword. Nari recoiled, dodging back with a startled yelp. The weapon whistled past her cheek, and she spun, fleeing back towards the center of Yazuac.
Just like a bear, she told herself. They're just bears who know how to use weapons, and can't be escaped by climbing a tree. She could hear the Urgal pursuing her, its heavy boots thudding against the ground with every step. Nari sent a desperate cry for help to Saphira, then forced herself to go even faster.
Despite Nari's best efforts, the Urgal gained ground rapidly. Just like a bear, Nari thought with grim amusement. With the Urgal almost upon her, Nari strung an arrow, spun to a stop, took aim, and released. The Urgal snapped up its arm and caught the quivering bolt on its shield. A bear wouldn't have done that, Nari thought in the split second before he was on her.
The next second, they'd collided, and fell to the ground in a confused tangle. Nari took advantage of the Urgal's shock to squirm away. She sprang to her feet and rushed back to Brom, who was trading fierce blows with his opponent from Snowfire's back.
Where are the rest of them, Nari wondered. Are these two the only ones left? A loud smack drew her attention, and Snowfire reared, whinnying. Brom doubled over in his saddle, blood streaming down his arm. The Urgal beside him howled in triumph and raised its ax for the death blow.
A desperate, horrified scream tore from Nari's throat, and she fired an arrow at it. The arrow whizzed by, scraping the Urgal's head and leaving a bloody furrow in its cheek. Its face twisted with rage. It roared towards her, slashing at her with its ax, but missed as Nari dived to the side and scrambled down a nearby alley.
She hoped it would follow her, hoped to get it away from Brom. Glancing over her shoulder, she found both Urgals following her. Again, she sent a desperate cry to Saphira. She felt Saphira's own desperation, and the furious way Saphira was flapping her wings. She was coming; the question now was whether she would get here in time.
Nari slipped into a narrow passageway between two houses, hoping it would be too narrow for the larger Urgals to follow, saw it was a dead end, and slid to a stop. Frantically, she tried to back out, hoping to find a better path, but the Urgals had already blocked the entrance. She retreated, but she saw now that the passage was just wide enough for them to fit. It was a tight squeeze, and they cursed her in their gravelly voices as the advanced, but they fit. She pressed her back against the dead end, glancing desperately from side to side, but there was no way out.
She knew, then, that she was going to die. Saphira would not make it in time, and Brom was injured badly. She would not be able to kill two Urgals before they were on her. She straightened, standing tall, feeling a burning, fire gathering from every part of her body. If she was going to die, she would not cower or beg. She reached back and grabbed an arrow. Raising her bow, she took aim, as she had done hundreds of times before. The Urgals laughed and lifted their shields, but she took no notice. The energy inside her burned, begging her to release her anger. She tried to think of some curse that would haunt them for the rest of their days, but her mind blanked. Then she thought of something, though she knew not what it meant. Smiling faintly, she shot, yelling, "Brisingr!"
The arrow hissed through the air, glowing with a crackling blue light. It struck the lead Urgal on the forehead, and the air resounded with an explosion. A blue shock wave blasted out of the monster's head, killing the other Urgal instantly. It reached Nari before she had time to get over her surprise. She flinched, but the wave passed through her without harm, dissipating against the houses.
Nari stood panting, then looked down at her bow. What...? Before she could finish the question, she saw the glow. Looking at her right palm, she saw the brand glowing like white-hot metal. It only lasted a few moments; even as she watched, it faded back to normal. Before she could register what had happened, she felt a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Her limbs felt heavy and weak, as if she had not eaten for days. Her knees buckled, and she sagged against a wall, holding onto it desperately.
She didn't know how long it took for the strength to return to her limbs. Once it did, she staggered out of the alley, skirting the dead monsters.
She reached the main street, finding Dusk waiting for her. She smiled faintly, reaching to pat him. Her hands were shaking violently and her movements were jerky. Everything felt very far away, as if everything was happening to someone else. Still, she leaned against Dusk for a moment, praising him. Then she led him towards Snowfire and Brom.
Snowfire pranced by the corner of a house, looking ready to bolt or to fight, with his nostrils flared and ears flat against his head. Brom was still slumped motionless in the saddle. She reached for him first, ignoring the horse. She tried to press her fingers to his neck, but Snowfire's movements would not let her get close enough. Still, she could see his chest moving as he breathed. Instead, she reached out to Snowfire, soothing him with her mind. Finally, he calmed, allowing her to check the long, blood-soaked cut o the man's right arm. The wound bled profusely, but it was neither deep nor wide. Still, Nari knew it had to be bound before Brom lost too much blood. In order to do that, she would need to get Brom out of the saddle and onto the ground. She quickly removed his feet from the stirrups, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as best she could.
Under normal circumstances, she would barely be able to hold him up, despite the muscle she'd gained from their fights. Now, with exhaustion still weighing on her, Brom proved too much for her to support. She stumbled, and his body dropped heavily to the ground.
A roar filled the air as Saphira dove out of the sky and landed in front of them, her wings raised as she hissed angrily. Her tail lashed, and Nari winced as it snapped overhead.
Are you hurt, Saphira demanded, rage emanating from her in waves.
"We're okay," Nari promised as she turned Brom onto his back.
Where are the ones who did this? I will tear them apart! A snarl leapt from her throat.
Nari shook her head. "They're already dead."
You killed them? If Nari hadn't been sure she would die at their hands, she might have been offended at the surprise in Saphira's voice.
"I'm not exactly sure how, but yes," Nari said tiredly. As she pulled rags from her bags to make a bandage for Brom, she explained what had happened since their entrance into Yazuac. Saphira was just as puzzled by the strange blue light as Nari was.
You have grown, Saphira commented.
Yes, Nari agreed as she cleaned and bandaged Brom's cut. But is this for good or ill? Switching topics, Nari added I wish we were still in Palancar Valley. There, at least, I knew what plants were good for healing. Here, I don 't have any idea what will help him. With a sigh, she gathered Brom's red sword from the ground, wiped it clean, and returned it to the sheath on Brom's belt.
We should leave, Saphira warned. There may be more Urgals lurking about.
Could you carry Brom? Your saddle will hold him in place, and you can protect him, Nari asked.
Yes, but I'm not leaving you alone, Saphira warned. Nari pressed a hand to her muzzle.
I feel safer with you close to me. Especially now, I would not ask it of you. Fly next to me, but let's hurry. You'll have to help me lift Brom.
Quickly, she tied the saddle Brom had made onto Saphira's back. Then, they turned to getting Brom into the saddle. Saphira snaked her head forward, catching the back of Brom's robe between her teeth. She picked him up like a cat would a kitten, arching her neck to deposit him onto her back. Nari slipped Brom's legs through the straps, tightening them on his legs.
The older man moaned and shifted, and Nari glanced up at him. Brom blinked down at her blearily, one hand going to his head. There was concern in his gaze.
"Did Saphira get here in time?" Nari shook her head.
"I'll explain later. You're injured; I bandaged it as best as I could, but you need to rest somewhere safe."
"Yes," Brom agreed, brushing his hand against his arm gingerly. "Do you know what happened to my...Ah, I see you found it." Nari smiled, tightening the straps.
"I did. Saphira's going to carry you and follow me by air," Nari explained, moving away. She tied Snowfire behind Dusk and mounted her horse.
"Are you sure you want me to ride her?" asked Brom "I can ride Snowfire." Nari shook her head.
"Not with that arm, you can't. You've lost a lot of blood. If you faint, you won't fall off with those straps holding you in." Brom nodded.
"I'm honored." He wrapped his good arm around Saphira's neck, and she took off in a flurry, springing high into the sky. Nari turned Dusk south, heading out of Yazuac. The trail led through a rocky area, veered left, and continued along the bank of the Ninor River. Ferns, mosses, and small bushes dotted the side of the path. It was refreshingly cool under the trees, but Nari found herself unable to enjoy it, jumping at shadows and rustling bushes. She stopped near the Ninor briefly to fill the waterskins and let the horses drink.
Inspecting the area, she found the Ra'zac's spoor, relieved that they were going in the right direction. Glancing up, she spotted Saphira circling overhead, keeping a keen eye on her.
While she rode, she thought. It was strange that there had only been two Urgals, especially when Brom's words had said more than a hundred has passed through. All of the villagers had been killed, and the village ransacked. Either all of the Urgals should have been gone, or there should have been many more.
Perhaps the ones they had encountered strayed from the group, or were left behind. Perhaps they were a trap left for anyone who was following the main force. Whichever it was, she knew she might never know for sure. Her mind, instead, turned to how she had killed the Urgals. Her aim had been true, striking the first Urgal in the head. Whether or not it would have killed it without the strange force, there was no way to know. For sure, though, the bright blue light was the cause of the second Urgal's death. But what had it been? An idea, a revelation, slowly wormed its way through her mind.
Could it have been? It was the only word for what had happened, the only possible explanation.
She, Nari Selenasdaughter - a farm girl from Carvahall - had used magic. A sense of awe came over her. It seemed impossible, but she could not deny what she'd seen when she'd fired that arrow.
A memory of Brom's words echoed in her mind. '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.' Could this be another effect of her bond with Saphira? If Dragons were magical, surely their riders would be as well?
Still, there were problems with this. She did not know how to use this new power again, or what its limits and dangers might be. She remembered the fatigue she'd suffered after. What if she'd used more magic? She could have fallen asleep where she stood, and she and Brom would have been vulnerable.
Thinking of Brom made her wonder. Did he know of this? If he did, why wouldn't he tell her? Unless her thoughts were correct; unless he really was working for Galbatorix, and wanted to keep her weak.
Trying to shake those thoughts from her mind, she checked in with Saphira. She asked about Brom and shared her thoughts about the magic. Saphira was just as confused as she was, unsure whether the magic was caused by their bond.
Seeing the sun headed down, Nari frowned faintly. Can you find us a place to stay? l can't see very far down here. While Saphira searched, Nari continued along the Ninor.
Brom is injured, Nari mused, and Saphira is clearly able to carry a passenger. Now might be the best time to confront him.