"What of Brom?" Nari spoke after what felt like hours of sitting, waiting for Saphira to move.
"I'm not sure; he has neither wound nor fever, but he hasn't woken either. He has not moved."
"You should go," Nari said suddenly.
"What?" Murtagh asked. She turned to him, resigned.
"The Ra'zac will return with support soon; I'm surprised they aren't back already if we've been unconscious for as long as you say. Saphira could carry Brom if she were awake, but she's not and I won't leave her. You should go. Ride as far away from us as you can. We can't protect you, and I wouldn't see harm come to you on our account." Murtagh stared at her for a long time before turning away.
"You should eat," he said, an odd note in his voice. "I made soup."
"Murtagh…" She snapped, frustrated. "The king himself is hunting me; he may well send his entire army after me, and I have no idea how long it will be before Saphira wakes, nor how close they might be to finding us!"
"I heard you the first time," Murtagh said mildly, returning with a bowl of soup in hand. "I'll stay. I have reason to want the Ra'zac dead as well; staying with you will probably bring that chance about sooner than leaving." Then, he sat back and watched her eat it with that same strange look in his eyes.
Nari soon chose to ignore him as she began to eat, the warm soup tasting divine. She didn't realize how hungry she'd been until Murtagh was returning with her third bowl of soup. She flushed and slowed, chewing carefully, delighting in every mouthful.
"You're a good cook," she told him surprised. He grimaced, smiling.
"It was that or poison myself. Tornac always said…" he trailed off and Nari felt her curiosity eating at her. She tried to bite her tongue, but it had never been her strong suit. Still, she managed to avoid the more intrusive question.
"Tornac always said…" she trailed encouragingly. Murtagh hesitated.
"He said if I wanted to be a true swordsman, I'd need to go places where there might not be buildings for me to stay in or friendly people around. He taught me to cook over a fire and fish and bandage wounds. I owe him more than I could have repaid in a hundred lifetimes."
Nari noticed the past tense and nodded sadly. "He sounds like he was a great man."
"No," Murtagh said, shaking his head. "He never wanted to be great, but he certainly was a good one." Nari cocked her head, but Murtagh didn't expand, and Nari managed to restrain herself.
Nari finished the third bowl of soup and then stood to check on Brom. Her legs wobbled underneath her, and Murtagh barely caught her before she crumpled down. She flushed, feeling the heat from his arms as he guided her over to where Brom lay on the ground. He was where she had left him, the bandages tossed to one side, but Murtagh had covered him up. She knelt beside him and put a hand to his throat.
His breathing was steady and unlabored. As Murtagh had said, he had no fever or, when she checked, visible wounds.
It was as if he were only asleep, and yet Murtagh had said he had not moved.
Was this her punishment for being so arrogant as to think she was strong enough to save him? Had she worded the spell wrong or was she simply not strong enough? Would she lose them both? She felt her throat close up at the thought of being alone. She'd never been completely alone. Even while hunting in the Spine, she'd had the birds and the animals to focus on and keep her company, and she knew Roran and Garrow would be waiting at home. Despair wrapped itself around her and she sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees and staring at Brom's still face.
Her silent vigil continued until she felt a tickle in her mind. She jerked upright, frantically trying to block her mind, but the tickle continued and grew stronger.
"Saphira," she breathed, realizing that the tickle came from their bond. She twisted around, but Saphira hadn't moved.
Tentatively, Nari reached for their bond. To her great relief, it was stronger now than it had been hours before. No longer did it feel as thin as spider silk, but like a tree trunk. It was nowhere near what it had been, but it was stronger. She reached through, careful not to damage, and sent Saphira feelings of relief and joy and safety. A tentative curl of determination reached Nari and she felt the distant presence become more aware as Saphira allowed herself to wake.
Nari didn't bother asking Murtagh for help; she ran and stumbled and crawled her way to Saphira. Murtagh reached for her, but as soon as Saphira felt the foreign presence, her head snapped up, snarling and snapping at him. Murtagh jerked back, and Nari shouted with both her voice and mind "No, Saphira!"
My heart? Saphira queried, turning her head to look at Nari, relief and confusion in her voice.
He has protected us, sister of my soul. We have slept for three days. Saphira's head arched up, and Nari felt her shock. Then her head twisted to stare at Brom's still form. She felt the relief when Saphira noticed his chest rising and falling.
At least the old one is alright, Saphira hummed.
He lives, Nari confirmed, but he has not woken.
Have you tried to speak with him as you did me? Nari jerked with surprise, and then flushed with shame.
No, she admitted. I did not think of it. She opened her mind and let the past few hours move between them effortlessly.
Oh, my heart, Saphira sighed softly. I will never leave you.
That is not a promise you can make, dear one. Nor is it a promise I can make to you. We live in deadly times. There was nothing Saphira could say to this, and they leaned on each other for several moments, sharing their fears and relief that they were both well.
Tell him that I appreciate that he cared for you while I was unable. There was no apology, but Nari passed on the message to Murtagh anyway. He nodded his acceptance, but remained wary of Saphira. Reach out to the old one, my heart. Nari nodded and went to sit by Brom again. She took his hand and reached for his mind, pleading for him not to leave her. Immediately, she was overwhelmed.
It was a dragon's snarl that woke him, protective and furious. He remembered that snarl. Morzan has made Saphira snarl like that more than once before... He groaned and rolled over, wondering what was bothering his bondmate. A hand grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him high into the air. An elf? He tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy.
"... wearing off.
"... him more."
"...kill…grief." Kill? Kill who? Saphira? Selena? He struggled to reach out to Saphira, but could not muster any connection. Had he been drugged?
"...plan. ….king's instructions...alive." King? Which king? Evander, if they were elves, but what could he have done to offend a fellow that jolly? Surely Oromis would have soothed any ruffled feelings over the way he'd spoken to Rhunön.
"...was killed...them."
"...thisss one? ….she talksss?" She? Brom struggled fiercely to make his eyes open.
A horrible laugh echoed as his eyelids parted. "She would not dare." It was dark, so dark. The light from a fire flickered faintly, but he couldn't see! Why couldn't he see? His connection with Saphira always let him see in the dark.
"Agreed." What was agreed? He hadn't been paying attention!
He felt a jerk, and then he was being yanked closer to the light. He was shoved to his knees and felt himself waver. Had they drugged him?
"Leave him alone!" He heard a woman's voice crying out. "Brom! Brom!" That wasn't Saphira's voice, nor the roar of a dragon. Was it Selena? Had Morzan found out? He shook, trying to shake off the drug. He reached for the words of the ancient language that would clear his mind but came up frustratingly lacking.
A dragon snarled again, but it couldn't be Saphira. Saphira was… Could it be Morzan's nameless red beast? But wasn't he dead? Brom couldn't remember, but that thought felt right. His head was yanked back abruptly, and he heard Selena screams again.
The person holding him howled in pain, letting him go. An elf would not cry out like that. They let him go, and he managed to stagger upright.
"Brom, get down!" Selena shouted. He wanted to scoff at her (as though he'd lay low while she was in danger, didn't she know him better than that by now?) but turned towards her voice and moved that way instead. He heard her voice, closer now, and their attackers hissing. Was she casting? He felt pride, knowing she was protecting them both, and shame that he was unable to help her. More cries of pain came, none in her precious, feminine tone. He was closer now. Then her cry broke through, and his eyes opened fully. Two figures were fleeing, and it wasn't Selena crouched on the ground cradling her hand. The larger figure turned and hurled sharp, glinting silver. Nari! He would not let her come to harm! He hurled himself the last few steps forward, lunging in front of her. He would protect his… Pain! Darkness!
"Still, I'm reluctant to send you off on your own. There are many in this city who would seek to take advantage of a young woman on her own."
The look she gave him was an angry challenge.
"If they try, we would cause just as much attention fighting them off together as I would alone." Didn't she realize that a man could drag her into an alley, cover her mouth so she couldn't speak, and… Didn't she realize that her mother had endured exactly that for more important reasons than this? No, you old fool, he realized, she didn't. Between Roran and himself, no one in Carvahall would have dared to look at her wrong, even if they were inclined to prey on women. She had been sheltered in that aspect, but damn her he didn't want to spell it out.
"Yes, but some men are cowardly enough that they would not attack a woman with company, even when that company is as old as I am," he told her sharply. She still didn't understand, he could tell, not entirely. She wouldn't thank him for sending her back to their room, or for refusing to split up now that he'd mentioned it. They'd fight again and that was the last thing he wanted, especially since she might storm off anyway, and be more distracted by her anger. It was what he would have done, at her age. He sighed, scanning the streets. This area looked safe enough. Perhaps she'd be smart enough to stay here. She was a smart girl, smarter than he'd ever been. "Search on your own, then. Meet me at the Golden Globe by dusk." He frowned darkly, hoping he wouldn't regret this. "I'm trusting you to keep yourself safe and your head down. Do not draw attention."
"I won't," she promised, accepting the gold he gave her and turning on her heels. He watched her go until she was out of sight, and then turned away. He really hoped he wouldn't regret this. He had enough regrets.
Tears fell from her eyes as she tried to keep her sorrow quiet. Tears that he'd caused her to shed.
"Nari," he called softly.
Relief quickly turned into rage at the sight of her blood-soaked form.
"Next time, you will do as I tell you!" He roared, trying not to let her see how hard his hands shook. "If I tell you to ride your blasted dragon, you'll do so without arguing, girl!" Why hadn't Saphira scooped the girl up and forced her to flee without him?! His Saphira certainly would have.
"I won't just abandon you!" She yelled back at him, clearly startled. Had he ever truly yelled at her before? The tears in her eyes made him doubt it. "How could you ask me to? How could I leave you, knowing it might get you killed? They caught up to us, and they would have caught up with you, and you would have been alone! You could have died!" Distantly, he remembered being on the other side of this conversation and cursed fate for it. Outwardly, he couldn't contain the fear that she'd almost died to protect him, when he should've been able to protect her.
"YOU could have died!" Didn't she realize that? Did she believe herself invincible? Had he made her believe that? Had the training he'd been giving her make her arrogant? "Your life, and Saphira's life, is infinitely more important than mine! You will do as I say!" It was the only way he could keep her safe, as was his responsibility as her…
"Why do you look at me like that?" Nari finally asked the question. He sighed, knowing she would not accept another diversion.
"Sometimes, when I look at you, I see your mother staring back at me," he admitted quietly, "and other times, I think there could not be two people more different." Like when you remind me of...
The expression on her face was a mixture of agony and hope, and he hated that he was the cause.
"What was she like?" Brom sighed again, wondering how much he could say without telling her things she couldn't know yet.
"She was full of strength and dignity and pride, like Garrow. Ultimately it was her downfall, but it was one of her greatest gifts nevertheless. . . . She always helped the poor and the less fortunate, no matter what her situation. She loved fiercely, and sought knowledge without reservation." There, that was enough. No need to mention Morzan, or the Black Hand, or her son.
Still, he knew he'd said too much when she stared at him with the faintest hint of comprehension dawning in the back of her mind.
"How well did you know her?"
"Well enough to miss her when she was gone."
Nari!
She stood in the hallway waiting for him, wearing her mother's dress, looking so grown he couldn't help but to freeze in his tracks. She was beautiful; if only Selena were here to see her like this.
Nari!
Nari felt herself jerk backwards, tears streaming down her cheeks. She turned her head away from Brom's still form and met Saphira's blue eyes.
Did you see that?
I did, Saphira agreed, but we should not have been able to do so. The old one has good shields. I felt nothing of them.
You're right. I didn't even try to look, just to speak to him. His mind is wide open, Nari realized, aghast. We have to get out of here. The longer we stay, the more likely it is that someone will see into his mind as I did. The things they could see….
"We need to move," she told Murtagh. "Can you make a litter for Brom while I get Saphira and the horses prepared? It will be easier to be sure Brom doesn't fall. That is," she amended, " if you still intend to stay with us."
"I do," he said. "And I will." He headed into the trees, and Nari turned to the packs strewn around the camp. She quickly discovered that Murtagh had organized the mess that the Ra'zac had made of their packs. Smiling at seeing her mother's journal tucked away safely, Nari saddled the horses and tied their packs to Snowfire to lighten the other horses' loads.
Murtagh returned with two saplings. He laid them parallel on the ground, then lashed the blanket between the poles. After he carefully tied Brom to the makeshift litter while Nari hovered over them, Saphira grasped the saplings and laboriously took flight. Murtagh watched Saphira lift into the air with a strange expression.
"I never thought I would see a sight like that," he said.
"It's pretty special, isn't it?" Nari murmured, watching Saphira gain height.
They rode through the rest of the day and into the night. Finally, Nari called them to a halt. She and Murtagh cared for the three horses and settled Brom nearby. Nari, unable to sleep, decided to take first watch. She woke Murtagh after several hours of peace and quickly fell asleep beside Saphira.
The next morning brought no change in Brom's condition.
I guess the biggest question is, Nari contemplated to Saphira, where do we go now? The Ra'zac are out of our reach. Brom is injured and unresponsive and I don't want to make him worse or threaten our bond, so I can't do magic to try to heal him again. We have no idea where the Varden are and no idea who to contact in order to find out. We can't just keep wandering without direction, though. Should we go back to Joed?
The Ra'zac know what you look like, and so do the Empire's soldiers that were with them in the city. They will have pictures of you posted by now; entering any human city is too much of a risk. Besides, we would only draw the Empire's attention to Joed.
We can't just sit here and do nothing! Nari snarled in frustration. She felt Saphira recoil and shame overwhelmed her. I'm sorry, sister of my soul. I didn't mean to snap at you. I do not like doing nothing, but I'm at a loss without Brom.
I miss the old one as well, Saphira confided. But we cannot know as he does. We do not have the experience that he does.
That's it! Nari exclaimed, sitting upright.
My heart?
We need to know what Brom knows! He knows where to find the Varden; he's been there before. There are probably other members of the Varden like Joed, spread throughout the Empire. If we find one Brom trusts, they might be able to help Brom. Or at least, they'll be able to help us get to the Varden. If I look into his mind again, I may be able to see something we can use.
Saphira was silent for a long moment, nothing flowing from her, and Nari reached out fiercely as terror gripped her heart.
Sister?
I am here, Saphira soothed, understanding Nari's panic. I have not gone; I am only thinking.
Won't you share your thoughts?
Are you sure you do not do this because of his thoughts about your mother the last time?
No! Nari felt shock go through her, aghast. The guilt that accompanied it made her reevaluate. She thought hard, speaking as honestly as she could. Maybe a little, she confessed. I am curious, I won't deny it. He thought I was her, when the Ra'zac attacked. I have always wanted to know of her, to know who she was and what she looked like. But as much as I want to know, I care more for Brom than my curiosity. If I never learn more than I do now, but Brom lives, that would be enough. I truly feel that this is the best way.
I too think this may be the only solution open to us, but still it makes my scales itch. The old one has kept many secrets, some to protect others, some to protect us. His thoughts should not be ravaged this way. Nari flushed, ashamed.
When I first spoke to Brom about this, I remember I was horrified to think someone might see as I have seen, to know my private thoughts. I did not think of it in my eagerness at finally discovering a path for us, and you are right not to like it, sister of my soul.
We have no other choice, Saphira said after several minutes of silence as they thought together.
No, Nari agreed. We don't. We can only hope he will forgive us when he wakes.
Let us proceed then, Saphira stayed.
Now? Nari asked, alarmed.
We are as hidden as we will be, as rested as we can be, and delaying will not make the task easier, my heart.
No, you're right, Nari agreed reluctantly. Now, then.
Rising from her spot beside Saphira, Nari knelt down next to Brom, ignoring Murtagh's eyes on her back.
"Forgive me," she whispered to his still form, and then she dove into his mind.
He had ridden hard, panic in his heart. He had to find her! Perhaps she had only run. Perhaps it had gotten too much, or Morzan had finally stepped over the line. Morzan had not mentioned the boy, but Brom was not supposed to know of him anyway. If Selena had fled, she would have taken the boy with her. He had to check - if the boy was still there, if the servants knew where she'd gone. Morzan was wrong, surely. Perhaps she hadn't fled at all, perhaps he'd arrive to find her returned, unprepared for the joyous news he would give her. Or perhaps the news had already reached her, and her belongings were packed, ready to flee with him and the boy. They could marry, raise the boy and have their own children as well. Give her boy a brother or sister, teach her boy to be a better man than his father had been.
His hopes crashed and shattered at the sight of the servants all wearing black. They would not wear black flor Morzan. His worst fears were confirmed when they told him she was dead.
The Varden, Nari thought faintly, trying to refocus. Trying not to reel from this new knowledge.
The Varden, he thought with a snort. A fitting name, in truth. The organization he'd created would guard the memories of what used to be, as well as guarding the people left from the Forsworn. And if they ever managed to rescue one of the eggs from Galbatorix, they would guard that too. Now if they could find somewhere to stay. Weldon has gathered more people, and they needed somewhere to keep the families safe as well. The elves wouldn't do it, not after Evander fell, and it was safer not to be among them anyway. There was less chance of Galbatorix discovering that Oromis still lived that way. They couldn't shelter in Surda; that was asking for Galbatorix to swoop down and burn them all. Perhaps the dwarves?
"Né ûdim estvarn oen dem formv vrem! Knurlan oc etal sheilven!"
Brom smiled, pleased. The dwarves would fight fiercely, despite their distaste for the dragons. Truly, this was vindication for them; the dragons of the Forsworn has caused more than enough damage to justify the long-held Dwarven prejudice. Appealing to their pride had helped too.
With the dwarves, Nari agreed, relieved to have found something. That made sense, combined with what she'd heard Brom and Joed saying. Didn't they say Tronjheim?
"It's settled then. Brom will guide the future Rider through the first half of their training and then the Rider will be sent to the elves to finish their training."
"And what if the egg chooses an elf?"
"If that happens," he scoffed scornfully, "there isn't much I could teach them anyway." Arguing erupted around them.
He needed to go. The longer he stayed here, the longer she was alone. She was precious, far too precious to risk. This would be the most dangerous time, as well. If anyone was going to get suspicious, it would happen now, with Morzan freshly dead. He only hoped that, since Morzan had died in battle, the Oathbreaker would not think it necessary to be thorough with the servants' minds. A gardener who quit months before was less suspicious than one who, as the servants whispered, spent quite a bit of alone time with the lady. If Galbatorix were to find out, it would only be a matter of time before she was taken. He would rather be Galbatorix's pawn than allow her to be harmed.
"It's settled then. Brom, you'll need to go into hiding. Keep your head down; we'll set up messengers to get any news you have to us. If you're found, head for Gil'ead. We'll have an agent there, Dormand, who will be able to get you to us safely without drawing attention."
"I'll go to Carvahall," he said, trying not to display his eagerness. There could be traitors in the Varden; if there weren't now, there would be. He would not risk her like that.
"Carvahall?" Brom wasn't sure who asked the question, but he wasn't the one who answered anyway.
"It's a small village to the northwest, in Palancar Valley. It's relatively close to Du Weldenvarden, and I know our queen would not object to Brom's prescience should he have need." Arya was not as small now as she'd been when she'd been born, but she was young for an elf. Would his-
It's her! Nari gasped, jerking away from his mind.