The next morning, things between the three companions were just as silent as they had been the night before. Nari and Brom spoke little, while Saphira huddled close to Nari in silent companionship.
Brom seemed surprised when Nari mounted Dusk rather than joining Saphira in the air, but he said nothing. Nari held her silence for a while, unsure how to break the silence that had fallen between them. She wondered if Brom was angry with her for threatening to leave, or for pressing him. She had always known how intensely private Brom was, preferring not to speak of his past.
At midday, Nari could remain quiet no longer.
"How did that Urgal get you? Things were happening so fast, I didn't see." Brom glanced at her in surprise.
"Bad luck, really," he explained. "I was more than a match for him, so he kicked Snowfire. The idiot of a horse reared and threw me off balance. That was all the Urgal needed to give me this gash."
Nari fell silent, and Brom peered at her quietly for a moment.
"Could all Riders use magic?" She prompted him.
"Oh yes, though with differing strengths. And few people knew about it. Even at the height of their power, they kept the ability secret because it gave them an advantage over their enemies. Had everyone known about it, dealing with common people would have been difficult. Many think the king's magical powers come from the fact that he is a wizard or sorcerer. That's not true; it is because he's a Rider." Nari frowned faintly.
"What's the difference? Doesn't the fact that I used magic make me a sorcerer?"
"Not at all! A sorcerer, like a Shade, uses spirits to accomplish his will. That is totally different from your power. Nor does that make you a magician, whose powers come without the aid of spirits or a dragon. And you're certainly not a witch or wizard, who get their powers from various potions and spells.
"The fact that you've discovered your ability to use magic presents a thorny problem. Young Riders like yourself were put through a strict regimen designed to strengthen their bodies and increase their mental control. This regimen continued for many months, occasionally years, until the Riders were deemed responsible enough to handle magic. Up until then, not one student was told of his potential powers. If one of them discovered magic by accident, he or she was immediately taken away for private tutoring. It was rare for anyone to discover magic on his own," he inclined his head toward Nari, "though they were never put under the same pressure you were."
"How were they finally trained to use magic, then?"
"The students were presented with a series of pointless exercises designed to frustrate them. For example, they were instructed to move piles of stones using only their feet, fill ever draining tubs full of water, and other impossibilities. After a time, they would get infuriated enough to use magic. Most of the time it succeeded.
"What this means," Brom continued, "is that you will be disadvantaged if you ever meet an enemy who has received this training. There are still some alive who are that old: the king for one, not to mention the elves. Any one of those could tear you apart with ease."
"What can I do, then?"
"There isn't much time for formal instruction, but we can do much while we travel," said Brom. "I know many techniques you can practice that will give you strength and control, but you cannot gain the discipline the Riders had overnight. You," he looked at Nari humorously, "will have to amass it on the run. It will be hard in the beginning, but the rewards will be great. It may please you to know that no Rider your age ever used magic the way you did yesterday with those two Urgals."
"Brom," Nari began slowly. "What do personal names mean in the ancient language? Do they give power over people?"
Brom's eyes brightened with approval. "Yes, they do. Those who speak the language have two names. The first is for everyday use and has little authority. But the second is their true name and is shared with only a few trusted people. There was a time when no one concealed his true name, but this age isn't as kind. Whoever knows your true name gains enormous power over you. It's like putting your life into another person's hands. Everyone has a hidden name, but few know what it is."
"How do you find your true name?"
"Elves instinctively know theirs. No one else has that gift. The human Riders usually went on quests to discover it—or found an elf who would tell them, which was rare, for elves don't distribute that knowledge freely," Brom explained.
"I think I'd like to know mine," Nari mused.
Brom's brow darkened. "Be careful. It can be a terrible knowledge. To know who you are without any delusions or sympathy is a moment of revelation that no one experiences unscathed. Some have been driven to madness by that stark reality. Most try to forget it. But as much as the name will give others power, so you may gain power over yourself, if the truth doesn't break you."
I'm sure that it would not, Saphira told her confidently.
"I would still like to know," Nari told Brom firmly.
"You are not easily dissuaded. That is good, for only the resolute find their identity, but I cannot help you with this. It is a search that you will have to undertake on your own." Brom moved his injured arm and grimaced uncomfortably. Nari glanced at the wound.
"Why can't you or I heal that with magic?" Brom blinked in surprise.
"No reason—I just never considered it because it's beyond my strength. You could probably do it with the right word, but I don't want you to exhaust yourself."
"I will need to practice healing magic eventually," Nari protested. "It is one thing in particular that would be extremely useful. Besides, it would save you a lot of trouble and pain."
"I'll live with it," said Brom flatly. "Using magic to heal a wound takes just as much energy as it would to mend on its own. I don't want you tired for the next few days. You shouldn't attempt such a difficult task so soon. Later, perhaps, when you're more practiced." Nari nodded, resigned.
"You'll need to teach me the ancient language, then." Nari prompted.
"And so I will. In the meantime," He twisted in his saddle and swooped down, grabbing a handful of pebbles from the ground. With effort, he righted himself, then discarded all but one of the rocks. "See this pebble?"
"Yes."
"Take it."Nari took it and cupped it in the palm of her hand. It was dull black, smooth, and as large as the end of her thumb. It was completely unremarkable. "This is your training."
"What do you want me to do with it?" Nari asked, glancing at him, perplexed.
"I want you to lift the rock off your palm and hold it in the air for as long as you can. The words you're going to use are stenr reisa. They mean 'raise stone'. Say them."
"Stenr reisa," Nari repeated, pronouncing them carefully.
"Good. Go ahead and try."
Frowning down at the pebble, Nari reached with her mind. Instead of reaching out, like she did with Saphira, she reached in, towards the place where the energy had gathered inside her in Yazuac. For several long moments, she found nothing. Then, she felt something different—a small bump that was a part of her and yet not of her, just as Saphira was.
She pressed with her mind, pressing harder when she felt a barrier blocking her from it. It held firm, seeming to grow stronger with every push. She felt anger and frustration build, creasing her brow further, but then paused. With every struggle, the barrier increased. Though Brom had said that young Riders were often pushed to frustration, she didn't see how anyone had managed to force their way past the barrier that grew stronger with each push. Perhaps a different way, then.
Breathing deeply, soothing away her frustration, Nari retreated slightly. Reaching out softly, she tentatively felt the barrier, searching. She pressed in different areas, searching for a weak spot.
There! A small crack formed in the barrier, and Nari carefully reached for it. Behind the barrier hovered clouds of light. Gently, Nari drew a stream of the light through the crack and kept a tight hold on it.
"Stenr reisa," she gasped, releasing the energy. The pebble hovered just over her glowing palm, wobbling slightly as the power slipped away, back behind the barrier. The pebble dropped, and she closed her hand around, beaming. She felt little different, but she thought that must be because tossing a pebble in the air, or holding it, required very little energy.
"Very good," Brom praised, faint surprise in his eyes. "I don't think many have ever gotten it on their first try. Nari smiled, but frowned at her palm as the glow faded away.
"Why does my hand do that? It's like a little lantern."
"No one's sure," Brom admitted. "The Riders always preferred to channel their power through whichever hand bore the gedwëy ignasia, or shining palm. You can use your other palm, but it isn't as easy." He looked at her for a moment. "I'll buy you some gloves at the next town, if it isn't gutted. You hide the mark pretty well on your own, but we don't want anyone to see it by accident. Besides, there may be times when you won't want the glow to alert an enemy."
"Is magic affected by distance? Could I move a pebble that I couldn't see?"
"Perhaps, if you knew exactly what pebble you were planning to move, where it was, and what it looked like. However, magic is affected by distance, just like an arrow or a spear. If you try to lift or move something a mile away, it'll take more energy than if you were closer. That is why, if you see enemies racing after you from a league away, you should let them approach before using magic. Now, back to work! Try to lift the pebble again. More quickly this time!"
They continued with the exercises throughout most of the rest of the day. In those hours, Nari had felt the drain of energy that came from lifting the pebble more than a few times. She also began to learn to control how much power she used. The more power that slipped through the barrier, the more force she put behind the spell, the more energy she used.
When Brom finally called a halt to their lessons, Nari sentimentally tucked the pebble into her pocket.
"In order to work magic, you need to know how to tell the magic what you want it to do. Thus you need to know the ancient language." He pointed at a small plant. "This is called delois." Nari smiled.
For the rest of the day, Brom instructed her in the ancient language, telling her the names of everything around them, from vöndr, a thin, straight stick, to the morning star, Aiedail. Nari did her best to commit each and every word to memory. There were so many that Nari found several slipping past her, but she loved the feeling of satisfaction that came from being able to remember three of every four that Brom told her.
The following days continued in the same way. Every other day, Nari and Saphira flew together, joining their minds and sharing each other's thoughts. In the afternoons, Nari read from her mother's journal from Saphira's back, sharing everything she learned. Selena's crush on Horst grew, so much so that Selena began to linger outside the forge where Horst had his lessons with the smith named Bartram. So too did Selena's skill in drawing increase. Nari blushed at some of the images of a young Horst working in the forge, his chest bare.
On the other days, Nari rode with Brom, manipulating the pebble in the mornings and learning the ancient language in the afternoons. To her pleasure, her skill improved in leaps and bounds. Soon the pebble no longer wobbled when she lifted it. Once that occurred, she worked to call the magic to her faster. She mastered those first exercises Brom gave her and then undertook harder ones. With every day, her knowledge of the ancient language grew.
Every day, after they ate their evening meal, Nari trained with Brom with the fake swords. She did not have the strength that men had, but she gained confidence and speed, striking like a snake and retreating before Brom could retaliate. The clashes lasted longer as she learned how to fend off Brom. Now, when they went to sleep, Nari was not the only one with bruises.
Saphira continued to grow as well, but more slowly than before. Her extended flights, along with periodic hunts, kept her fit and healthy. She was taller than the horses now, and much longer. Because of her size and the way her scales sparkled, she was altogether too visible. Nari worried for her, but neither she nor Brom could convince her to allow dirt to obscure her scintillating hide.
The Ra'zac's trail continued south, but it seemed to Nari that the Ra'zac were always one step ahead. No matter how fast they went, or how early they woke, the Ra'zac always stayed a few days ahead of them. At times, Nari wondered if the chase was worth it. She wondered whether she and Saphira ought to be using the time to escape. But then something would remind her of Roran or Garrow, or they would find some mark or print, and she would find her determination renewed.
The days slipped by, and, as there were no signs that anyone lived along the Ninor or within the plains, the three of them were left undisturbed. Nari found a sense of peace in this, until it was disturbed as they neared Daret, the first village since Yazuac.
They rode into Daret a fortnight after they left Yazuac. That morning, Nari had once again disguised the painful wrap that disguised her as a boy. The village was small and wild-looking, without any signs of inhabitants. They approached it with great caution, remembering how deserted Yazuac had appeared. Saphira hid close to the town this time; if trouble arose, she would be at their sides within seconds. Nari braced herself, but images of dead children whispered through her minds.
She'd had a nightmare the night before, seeing the villagers of Carvahall in the place of those from Yazuac. Roran had been wrapped around Katrina, a babe in Katrina's arms with an arrow through its small body.
They did their best to be silent, holding tight to their weapons. Brom's eyes flashed everywhere, determined not to be surprised again. They passed between the silent houses, glancing at each other with dread. Wind blew through the desolate town, and dust devils swirled sporadically.
This doesn't look good, Nari warned Saphira. Saphira said nothing, but Nari felt the tensing of muscles that were not her own as Saphira prepared to rush after them. Nari glanced down, spotting fresh footprints which looked as though they belonged to children. But where were the children? Surely those footprints would have been obliterated by an Urgal group?
Brom wheeled Snowfire about. "Let's get out of here," Brom decided. "I don't like the feel of this." He spurred Snowfire into a gallop. Nari followed him, urging Dusk onward.
They advanced only a few strides before wagons toppled out from behind the houses and blocked their way. Dusk snorted and dug in his hooves, sliding to a stop next to Snowfire. A swarthy man hopped over the wagon and planted himself before them, a broadsword slung at his side and a drawn bow in his hands. Nari swung
her own bow up and pointed it at the stranger, who commanded, "Halt! Put your weapons down. You're surrounded by sixty archers. They'll shoot if you move." As if on cue, a row of men stood up on the roofs of the surrounding houses.
Flee, Saphira! Nari commanded, reaching out with her mind to push at the dragon's conscience. The archers on the roofs were still but nervous. The man in front of them, though, was trained in battle. He looked as easy with the sword as the Traders that came to Carvahall had with their weapons. He was used to fighting. If the Empire had found them, she would not let them catch Saphira.
They will not have you! Saphira snarled, leaping into the air.
Stop! Nari begged. If you come, they will shoot you out of they sky. Please, stay away! Nari knew she heard, but was not sure if she would obey.
"What do you want?" asked Brom calmly. There was no fear in his voice or face, though lines around his eyes were tight with tension.
"Why have you come here?" demanded the man.
"To buy supplies and hear the news. Nothing more. We're on the way to my cousin's house in Dras-Leona."
"You're armed pretty heavily."
"So are you," said Brom. "These are dangerous times."
"True." The man looked at them carefully. "I don't think you mean us ill, but we've had too many encounters with Urgals and bandits for me to trust you only on your word."
"If it doesn't matter what we say, what happens now?" countered Brom. The men on top of the houses had not moved. By their very stillness, Nari was sure that they were either highly disciplined . . . or frightened for their lives. She hoped it was the latter.
"You say that you only want supplies. Would you agree to stay here while we bring what you need, then pay us and leave immediately?"
"Yes."
"All right," said the man, lowering his bow, though he kept it ready. He waved at one of the archers, who slid to the ground and ran over. "Tell him what you want."
Brom recited a short list and then added, "Also, if you have a spare pair of gloves that would fit my nephew, I'd like to buy those too." The archer nodded and ran off.
"The name's Trevor," said the man standing in front of them. "Normally I'd shake your hand, but under the circumstances, I think I'll keep my distance. Tell me, where are you from?"
"North," said Brom, "but we haven't lived in any place long enough to call it home. Have Urgals forced you to take these measures?"
"Yes," said Trevor, "and worse fiends. Do you have any news from other towns? We receive word from them rarely, but there have been reports that they are also beleaguered."
Brom turned grave. "I wish it wasn't our lot to bring you these tidings. Nearly a fortnight ago we passed through Yazuac and found it pillaged. The villagers had been slaughtered and piled together. We would have tried to give them a decent burial, but two Urgals attacked us."
Shocked, Trevor stepped back and looked down with tears in his eyes. "Alas, this is indeed a dark day. Still, I don't see how two Urgals could have defeated all of Yazuac. The people there were good fighters—some were my friends."
I don't think they mean us harm, Nari sent to Saphira. They were only frightened. From Saphira, Nari received no response.
"There were signs that a band of Urgals had ravaged the town," Brom explained. "I think the ones we encountered were deserters."
"How large was the company?"
Brom fiddled with his saddlebags for a minute. "Large enough to wipe out Yazuac, but small enough to go unnoticed in the countryside. No more than a hundred, and no less than fifty. If I'm not mistaken, either number would prove fatal to you." Trevor wearily agreed. "You should consider leaving," Brom continued. "This area has become far too perilous for anyone to live in peace."
"I know, but the people here refuse to consider moving. This is their home—as well as mine, though I have only been here a couple years—and they place its worth above their own lives." Trevor looked at him seriously. "We have repulsed individual Urgals, and that has given the townspeople a confidence far beyond their abilities. I
fear that we will all wake up one morning with our throats slashed."
The archer hurried out of a house with a pile of goods in his arms. He set them next to the horses, and Brom paid him. As the man left, Brom asked, "Why did they choose you to defend Daret?"
Trevor shrugged. "I was in the king's army for some years." Nari stiffened faintly, but disguised it by taking the pair of gloves that Brom handed her. Brom packed the rest of the supplies into their saddlebags as Nari pulled the gloves on, being careful to keep her palm facing down. She flexed her hands experimentally, enjoying how the leather clutched at her skin. It felt good and strong, though they were scarred from use.
"Well," said Brom, "as I promised, we will go now."
Trevor nodded. "When you enter Dras-Leona, would you do us this favor? Alert the Empire to our plight and that of the other towns. If word of this hasn't reached the king by now, it's cause for worry. And if it has, but he has chosen to do nothing, that too is cause for worry."
"We will carry your message. May your swords stay sharp," said Brom.
"And yours."
The wagons were pulled out of their way, and they rode from Daret into the trees along the Ninor River. Nari sent her thoughts to Saphira, alerting her to their movements. The only response Nari received was a hint of relief mixed with resentful anger.
Brom pulled at his beard. "The Empire is in worse condition than I had imagined. When the traders visited Carvahall, they brought reports of unrest, but I never believed that it was this widespread. With all these Urgals around, it seems that the Empire itself is under attack, yet no troops or soldiers have been sent out. It's as if the king doesn't care to defend his domain."
"It is strange," agreed Nari. "He might not care about smaller villages like Carvahall, but you would think that he would care about an Urgal invasion."
Brom ducked under a low-hanging branch. "Did you use any of your powers while we were in Daret?"
"What?" Nair asked, surprised. "There was no reason to."
"Wrong," corrected Brom. "You could have sensed Trevor's intentions. Even with my limited abilities, I was able to do that. If the villagers had been bent on killing us, I wouldn't have just sat there. However, I felt there was a reasonable chance of talking our way out of there, which is what I did."
Nari opened her mouth to question him but closed it. "You mean," she began cautiously, "see into his mind like I do Saphira's or Dusk's?"
"Of course. The minds of men are not so different from a dragon's or horse's. It's a simple thing to do, but it's a power you must use sparingly and with great caution. A person's mind is his last sanctuary. You must never violate it unless circumstances force you to. The Riders had very strict rules regarding this. If they were broken without due cause, the punishment was severe."
"I can see why. The thought that someone might see into my mind," Nari shuddered. "How would I even know they were listening? Is there a way to stop them?"
"Why, yes. Hasn't Saphira ever blocked you from her mind?" Nari thought about it slowly.
"Not really. There was once that she was so overcome with emotion that she almost couldn't hear me, but we worked through that. She's never blocked me fully or intentionally, though."
Brom raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but didn't continue the topic. Instead, he worked at shifting his bandage higher up his arm.
"Only a few people can tell if someone is in their mind, and of those, only a handful could stop you from entering. It's a matter of training and of how you think. Because of your magical power, you'll always know if someone is in your mind. Once you do, blocking them is a simple matter of concentrating on one thing to the exclusion of all else. That is why Saphira's strong emotion enabled her to nearly exclude you from her mind. Emotion is unreliable at best however, and it is not the only way to block someone. For instance, if you only think about a brick wall, that's all the enemy will find in your mind. However, it takes a huge amount of energy and discipline to block someone for any length of time. If you're distracted by even the slightest thing, your wall will waver and your opponent will slip in through the weakness."
Nari nodded, determined to practice this. "Will you help me? Will you test me every so often?" Brom's face turned grim.
"I have only the smallest grasp on my magic now. It would be hard enough for me to reach you without fighting to get inside. Perhaps you could practice with Saphira. While Riders of old would never condone blocking their partner from their mind, rather the opposite in fact, it seems the best way for you to practice. And you must practice, often. Picture something in your mind and hold it there to the exclusion of all else for as long as you can. It is a very advanced ability; only a handful ever master it," Brom warned.
"I don't need perfection, just safety." With that the subject was ended.
When they reached Saphira, she startled them by thrusting her head at them. The horses backstepped nervously. Saphira looked Nari over carefully, eyes hard as she searched her body.
Saphira? Nari asked, dismounting.
I hate this, Saphira hissed, smoke curling from her nostrils. Every time you leave my sight, you get into trouble! You're like a new hatchling, sticking your nose into everything. And what happens when you stick it into something that bites back? How will you survive then? I cannot help you when I'm miles away. I've stayed hidden so that no one would see me, but no longer! Not when it may cost you your life.
Saphira, Nari whispered, voice soothing, raising a hand to the dragon's maw. I understand, my Saphira. I worry for you too when you are away. Every time we are not together, I wonder if this will be the time you are spotted. I would be so far away and unable to get to you in time. You might be hauled away, out of my reach, and I would not be able to find you again.
Then you agree, Saphira growled. And this nonsense of us separating is at an end?
No, Nari replied sadly. Saphira's tail whipped angrily. I do not like to be separated from you, but I know it is what must be. We will not be safe while the Ra'zac hunt us still. Roran will not be safe unless we kill them. Then we must go somewhere where the king will not find us.
The Egg-breaker King will always hunt us! He will always find us! We will always be hiding! The words burst from Saphira as though down a waterfall. As though she had been waiting to say them for some time, but had held them back.
Then we will fight him and we will kill him too. Nari told her firmly. She felt Saphira's surprise through their link and smiled sadly. Did you think I would not fight so that one day we could live free together without fear? If that is what it takes, then that is what we will do, sister of my soul.
Then I will wait anxiously for that day, Saphira conceded, pleased.
"Well?" Brom demanded behind her.
"It's alright. She was just worried." Saphira hummed her agreement and took off, flying above them. Nari slipped back into the saddle and followed Brom as he continued on.
They rode until sundown before finally making camp. As usual, Nari dueled with Brom before dinner. When they finished, they both sat down tiredly.
"Your strength is growing, but you'll never have the strength of men or elves," Brom told her. "But you are fast and smart. You use your surroundings and your wits to keep your opponent off balance. That's good. You must always play to your own advantages. Focus on getting even faster." Nari nodded thoughtfully. "There is one more thing," Brom added, "before we rest for the night. A gift returned, though not for lack of appreciation." Nari frowned faintly, confused, as Brom reached into his pack and carefully withdrew a book bound in wood. The title shown in gold, and Nari recognized the words.
"That's the book I got from the Traders. The one that I couldn't read." She exclaimed in surprise. Brom nodded.
"Du Grind Eom Hûgin is a training tool. It was used for humans or dwarves who were not familiar with the ancient language. More commonly, it was used to train human Riders in the ancient language." Brom carefully opened the tome. "Do you see the lines below the writing?" Nari leaned forward and saw how blank lines stood a few spaces below the words. Nodding, she scanned the text. Brom leaned back, taking the book with him. She glanced up. "Young Riders were given this book when their training in the ancient language began. They would find the words that they learned, and fill in the meaning as they progressed in the language. This also helped them learn how the difference between words such as draumr and draumar."
"Draumar is dreams, right?" Nari questioned. Brom nodded. "So what is draumr?"
"Dream. The words and pronunciation change little, but the meaning changes by leaps and bounds. That is another reason why magic is so dangerous. The slightest misstep in the ancient language could change your spell entirely."
"I'll remember," Nari promised.
"And this book will help you. Once you have filled in all of the words in a sentence, you must read over it. Some will read perfectly, especially in the beginning. Others will need to be changed so that the sentence makes sense. At the end of it all, you'll have a very good book to read." Carefully, Brom handed the book to her.
"Du Grind Eom Hûgin." Nari repeated. "Grind is gate, isn't it?" Brom smiled, nodding. "Thank you, Brom."