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I woke up to the sound of banging on the door. The sun had yet to peak over the trees but I could hear the sounds of the waking world. It was the morning after I spoke to Brom. I barely had time to eat supper last night before Garrow was blowing out the lights for the night. Eragon was already asleep by the time he finished eating.
I have completely forgotten him.
He had been avoiding Eragon, not speaking to him for the last few days with everything going on. I should speak to him, we are more brothers than cousins, I should act like it.
The beating on the door continued. As he stepped out of his door, he noticed his father had a rusty sickle in his hand as he went to open it. "Who is it?!"
"It's Brom, you old bag of dirt!" Is he here to see me? "Did Roran not tell you I was coming?"
Garrow turned to face him. "What does he speak of?" he asked as he grabbed the door handle.
"I do not know." I genuinely didn't know why Brom was here at this hour. When the door was finally opened, he could see a horse fully saddled with a pack and everything. Where is he going?
Where are WE going. He heard Brom correct in his mind.
"What are you doing here at this hour Brom?" Garrow stated. I realized Garrow still had the sickle in his hand.
Irritation swelled in my stomach. Get out of my head before I beat you within an inch of your life. I did not want someone inside my head I don't care who it is. Brom's presence retreated as he responded, follow my lead. What was he getting at, maybe he finally went crazy.
"You did not tell him?" Brom said as we locked eyes.
Realizing what he meant I deciding to do as he told me "I did not have the chance."
Ignoring me after that statement completely, Brom turned to address my father directly. "Your son wants to be a traveling merchant, he came to me late yesterday evening to ask for advice. We eventually came to an accord. Before I pass from this world, I wish to introduce him to my contacts in Teirm so that he can establish a means to trade. If he performs admirably, I will then take him to some of the surrounding villages to do the same. We will be back in no less than 3 months time." And just like that Brom was walking back to his horse. "Say your goodbyes Roran, it may be awhile before you see your family." There is no way that will convince father.
I had forgotten how willing Garrow was to let Roran make his own way in the world because he didn't even question Brom's story at all.
Garrow had turned to look at me halfway into Brom's speech. "Is this true son?" he said as Brom finished, looking at me with wide shocked eyes.
It took me a moment to respond. I didn't want to be away from my family but I realized that Brom was right. In order for the timeline to stay as close as possible to the books, I had to leave. Making my decision I replied "Yes father. I meant to bring it up last night but.." He had me in a hug before I could even finish.
"I knew this day was coming, I just didn't expect it for the next year or so. Come, I have something for you."
As he lead me into the house I realized he was going for the stash he gave the original Roran in the books. He's never wanted us to be farmers. It's a hard life, before the 'merge' its all I ever wanted, and now….. My thoughts were interrupted by him shoving a bag with some gold into my hands. "I have been saving this for you for years, take it. It's not much but I also want to give another gift, my blessing."
He needs this more than me. Embracing him, I realized how much taller I was than him. He barely came to my chin. "Your blessing I will take father, but the coins I have no use for. Eragon will need it more than me. Your blessing is all I will ever need. Keep this, do what you will with it. Save it for Eragon, fix the farm up, whatever you desire. I will learn how to make plenty under Brom." I was only half lying, taking gold from the ground via magic was apparently an easy thing for Eragon, Brom could manage it if I asked him to. Too bad Roran couldn't use magic, I wonder if the 'merge' changed anything.
"Are you sure? I saved this for you son." Garrow said as we broke apart. My damp shirt told me he had been crying.
"I will see you soon father. Hold onto it for me if you are truly determined, I may have a use for it later. I have one more person to say goodbye to." I said as I was turning to enter my room and wake Eragon.
"I thought you had forgotten about me." Eragon said as he stepped out behind the door frame. He's been eavesdropping.
"Come here little brother." As we embraced, I could tell he was angry. His whole body was rigid and he seemed hot.
"Do you have to go?"
"Yes, this is something I have to do. One day you will understand." I said.
"I will never leave, I will never abandon Uncle." He was definitely angry.
Garrow cut in before I could respond "This is life's natural course Eragon. Come, I have words for both of you." This is the same speech as in the books, he really has prepared for this. "It's time I said them, as you are entering the world. Heed them and they will serve you well." His eyes hardened as he made eye contact with both of them. "First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior, whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen." He visibly paused as his eyes softened. "Of the affairs of love… my only advice is to be honest. That's your most powerful tool to unlock a heart or gain forgiveness. That is all I have to say."
"Wise words, old friend." Brom cut in from the doorway. "You would both do well to remember them." Get your things, it will only get harder the longer we wait. Brom said privately to my mind.
Once again agreeing with the old bastard I did as he said. After gathering my things I hoisted the pack onto my shoulder, I once again said goodbye and hugged them both before I turned and walked out without looking back. If I look back now I might stay.
I walked alongside Brom as he rode his horse down the trail we were following. There hadn't been any talking since we left the farm and that was almost 2 hours ago. I was having an internal struggle, did I do the right thing? I was not an impulsive person by nature but that was by far the most spontaneous thing I had ever done in either life. It was obvious Brom was letting me come to peace with what he had forced onto me.
"There was too great a risk. I could not let you interfere with his development. If what you say is true and he was chosen by the egg as a farm boy, he needs to be a farm boy. I could not risk you changing something so crucial to this world. Do you understand boy? This is the only way." Brom's voice was light as he started and hardened towards the end.
"I know."
"This also gives us an opportunity to get you trained as you obviously need to be. You will be a target for the empire simply because you are related to a Rider. You will have to grow strong in mind and body."
"I know. When do we start?"
"Now, but first I must know what you know. What do you know of mind magic?"
Pondering that question for a second I responded "I know it allows you to reach out and touch the minds of other living beings, even steal their life force. Information gathering, privacy, it can be used for a multitude of things, interrogation. I also know that the Riders of old were almost constantly broadcasting their mind to their surrounding to help be constantly aware and lightly touch the mind of everything around them. I have many more theories of what it can do but I have no idea how to do it." I finished with a thoughtful expression.
"A sound understanding, you've got what it can do. We will work on how to actually do it." Brom said from his literal high horse.
"It can be taught? It was never fully explained if mind magic or magic in general could be taught or if it was inherent."
Brom was silent for a long time. "Do you know the story of Eragon the first?" At my nod he continued. "What I am about to tell you is one of the most guarded secrets of the order before the fall. Before the elves formed a pact with the dragons, only rare souls of every race had the ability to utilize magic. After the pact, every elf gained the ability to use magic, along with a pseudo-immortality, enhanced physical, and mental abilities. Then when the humans settled and spread across Alagaesia, they wanted in the pact also. The elf king granted their wish after much debate between the riders and the elves. The riders council of elders thought humans too cruel to be allowed in the order. The king believed magic to be a gift everyone should be able to use and the king eventually won enough votes in the council and humans were added to the pact. The results were not the same as before, in fact it looked as if nothing had happened but that is not the case. Since that day every human has the ability to use magic, but it has to be unlocked in some way, whether it be a dragon egg or extreme stress. This was realized quickly by the order and an emergency council was called. The decision was made and the elders sealed the knowledge. To anyone who investigated it would look as if the spell only worked with humans that were chosen to be riders."
"How did you find this information if it was sealed?" I asked dumbfounded by the revelation. The council really was full of old stubborn elves.
"My master was on the council and was informed upon his induction. He passed the information on before the fall, in case they all died. He also theorized that whoever cast the spell, altered it for humans. He claimed that it should have had the same effect as it did on the elves."
"Oromis" I said without thinking.
"So you know of him also?" Brom said intrigued.
"Yes and his companion. So how do we unlock my magic?" I said without letting Brom continue asking questions, the less he knows the less we can change.
"Truly I do not know, I have never done it. I agreed with the council for a long time after the fall and didn't see it as my place to give humans more power. I have since realized my hatred for my peers led me to this thinking. Now I am not so sure what the right decision is." He paused for a moment before continuing. "We will start with getting you used to mind magic, I will try to guide your mind out to touch other living animals like my horse here. After we do that I suspect it will happen naturally."
"Sounds like as good a plan as any." I replied with a shrug, trying to hide my excitement of learning real magic.
Then let's begin. And just like that he grabbed onto my mind and guided it outwards. It is almost impossible to describe with words but the best I can compare it to is a feeling of immediate vertigo that disappeared after a second and then a head splitting pain rushed through his skull. After another 5 seconds I went into instant panic mode. PUT ME BACK! I screamed mentally and then I was on the ground puking my guts up.
After emptying out all of the contents of my stomach I focused on getting my bearings right. Brom looked down with a face of worry but I could tell he was also intrigued. After regaining my composure I feel something, like a sixth sense, no that's not right, like a muscle that wasn't there before, or a tunnel my mind had never been down. Like all three combined. There was no other way to explain it.
"I couldn't describe it any better." Brom supplied out loud, he was obviously still connected to me mentally.
"Disconnect with me for a second." And just like that I could feel him withdraw. It was as if I could physically feel him stop touching me.
"Connect." Immediately I could feel his touch. Ok that got a lot easier to feel.
Good. That is enough for the day. We should look for a place to camp. The sun sets soon. Brom told me.
How long have we been talking, it was just mid-day. Brom had already retreated from my mind no doubt looking for a suitable campsite.
After absolutely wolfing my venison, bread, and cheese down beside the campfire, I started to explore with my newfound ability. I was very cautious at first, scared my mind would leave my body and never return but it was obvious that was not the case. It was as if I always had an anchor. I could see how, with some practice, one could do this constantly and still be functional. It would eventually become second nature. Deciding to be a little risky, I reached out to Brom who was across the campfire, it felt like a mile. That will improve with time. I thought as soon as I finally touched his mind.
His body jerked and instantly I was hit with an image of a blue saphire like stone, no a dragon egg, Saphira. I did what I thought was the equivalent of a mental knock and he softened and lowered his defenses once he realized it was me.
Yes, this was my Saphira the day I first saw her. He stated wistfully.
Sorry for intruding, I was just practicing. I forgot how intimate an act such as this was. I could definitely understand why it was considered so.
It is ok, years of training kicked in. With that he stood up and threw the stick he was whittling away at towards me. I caught it with a grin, "I have been expecting this."
"Good, then you know magic will not solve everything. Good old fashioned violence is normally the easiest way of defending oneself. Prepare yourself."
After that we began and let me tell you something. Brom was an absolute beast when it came to swordplay. Arthur Dayne had nothing on this old man. It didn't help that apparently I was no talent when it came to swords. I walked away with too many bruises to count and he had this shit eating grin stuck to his face for the rest of the night.
"Try me in hand to hand combat and you won't be smiling anymore." It was not an empty boast. I had worked damn hard for my black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and I was proud of it. Taekwondo experience didn't hurt either.
"Oh?" He said as he stood back up. "Ready for another beating?"
"Absolutely" and we were off. I had him in a rear naked choke in less than 30 seconds. Letting go of him we circled each other and I decided to limit myself to striking, won that bout in 2 minutes.
"I have seen enough. The ease with which you defeat me without a sword is impressive considering I have experience in weaponless fighting. Too bad most of your enemies have a weapon. From now on you will focus on swordplay" Brom said as he sat back down. "Get some sleep, tomorrow we will reach Therinsford and get another horse. We need to get reach Teirm and back in 3 months."
Teirm can't be that far right?
A/N: Reviews are appreciated. I'm sure I will get some push back on what I did to the magic of the humans. Let me know your thoughts.