Hey everyone!
Back with another update. Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter. All the reviews were positive and I look forward to what everyone has to say about this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The meeting on the bridge at Therinsford happened exactly the same way in the books. Apparently this guy has been scamming travelers for a long time. It explained why the coin purse Brom cut was so full, and why the man was so fat.
The interaction with Haberth, the stable master, went very similar to the books but with a different selection of horses. I could spot a too young snowfire, he needed another 6 months to a year to be the prized horse he would become. So we got a good strong looking light bay, I suspected it was Cadoc but wasn't sure. In the end I decided it was as good a name as any and we were on our way to our only other stop.
We also made an extra stop at a general store to look for a ring or a necklace of some sort. Now that I had extending my mind outwards and touching other beings, Brom wanted me to practice handling energy and transferring it to a gem. There weren't a lot of options in the store but I decided on an emerald necklace. I could hide it under my clothes and use it to hide my abilities better. After getting the necklace we decided to leave. I wasn't really sure what route Brom was going to take but decided it didn't really matter as long as we made it to Teirm.
"You have an old friend in Teirm, yes?" I asked Brom about an hour outside of Therinsford.
"Yes...you know an awful lot about me."
Deciding to ignore that comment I continued the conversation. "What is your goal with this visit?"
"Like I told you, we need to get away from Eragon and train you." He replied. At my 'there is more to it than that stare' he relented. "I wish to set up a safe passage for us, when the time comes, to Surda. Where after that we will ride for the Varden."
"You want to avoid Uru-Baen as much as possible don't you."
"Yes, the journey will also give me time to prepare Eragon for his life as a rider, to do that I need a few months with him. He will be involved with a lot of politics during his time there."
"Why not go through Du Weldenvarden?" I asked.
"The elves will want to keep him there and train him for who knows how long. I mean to force their hand, Galbatorix cannot be allowed to grow any stronger." Brom said.
I digested his plan for a few minutes before I responded. "He reaches his goal." I said very seriously, testing to see if Brom knew what I meant. His reaction told me everything.
Brom's head snapped to me "If that is the case. How was he defeated?!"
"I am not sure, it was never stated in the books." I lied. Why can't I remember how he was defeated. "You are right in the need to force the elves to act. How do you know what Galbatorix seeks?" Morzan?
"When I finally killed Morzan, he had been boasting about something to me for years, little hints and clues as to what Galbatorix was doing holed up in Uru-Baen. It wasn't until our final duel that he finally told me he was searching for the name of magic. Some know of what he seeks, Oromis and Islanzadi to name a few. They seek his True Name, to stop him before he finds it. They also believe his quest impossible, another reason for their unwillingness to move on him." Brom replied.
"We will have to discuss this and plan later. For now I need to learn the Ancient Language, I know I can't do magic yet but I want to have a head start for when the time comes." I decided to switch topics.
"Where would you like to start?"
"Well, vocabulary and also with the grammar. How is a sentence structured and things like that." I replied.
When Brom cleared his throat I knew that it was going to be difficult.
The trip to Teirm took around 3 weeks and in that time I had learned a lot. During the day while we were on the road we did nothing but talk about the Ancient Language and practice attack and defense of the mind. I could hold Brom out of my mind for a good 5 minutes but he was constantly using new tricks on me and making it harder on me. I found I was a natural at attacking another's mind, mostly I used tricks and imagery to get what I wanted. I was making good progress with the mind arts and I was happy. I was still learning vocabulary of the ancient language but I had sentence structure and pronunciation down. All I had to do was learn basic vocabulary and then Brom would start speaking to me in only the ancient language in private but it would be a few weeks before that happened. People used to become fluent in languages in 6 months in my old life, that was my current goal and timeline for the Ancient Language. It looked like it may be accurate with how fast I was picking it up. I was never really good with any other languages beside English in my past life, it must be the young mind of Roran that was aiding in my education.
At night we would spar, after about a week and a half Brom realized that I was ready for real swordplay. My body was naturally muscled so I didn't need a lot of adjustment time to get used to the weight of a real sword. I had yet to bring up the fact that the original Roran used a hammer and shield because I knew I would fight against mostly sword users. I wanted to know the attack patterns and how to counter them, what better way to know that then to learn it myself? It was obvious that I would never be a legendary swordsman but I was determined to be above average. Eventually I decided that I would try out a warhammer when I was consistently keeping up with Brom in our spars.
The progress I was most proud of was that I was now able to draw out energy of other beings once I was in their minds and in control. I had begun to pour a lot of energy into my necklace during the day, I had taken also over hunting because I wanted the energy of the kills to go to my necklace, I already had a sizable pool of energy stored. I was using the same technique as Eragon in the books to store up on energy. The only problem I had run into was the same thing that made the elves and most dragonriders vegetarians. It was a terrible feeling when somethings soul leaves their bodies and you are attached to their mind, feeling them enter the void was an experience he wouldn't wish on anyone. It gave you a whole new perspective on life and death and I could also understand the decision to forgo meat altogether, eventually I would make the transition also but I always ate my kills and never killed animals solely for the energy. I also needed the nutrition to help aid my physical recovery as I didn't have access to the alternative nutrition sources from vegetables on the road. It was a necessary evil, one that would eventually stop.
Magic was great. After I told Brom about the concept of drawing fresh water out of the ground, we never lacked for water. He was also extremely impressed with getting gold out of the ground, it got us some upgrades in clothing and it also bought me a sword and dagger with the necessary sheathes. I didn't want to use Zar'roc and Brom had no other sword so a stop in Yazuac at the blacksmith was necessary. I had the sword around my waist at all times now, along with the dagger secured in a unique sheathe running horizontally across my back, the handle sticking out towards my right side. Both in positions for me to draw with my right hand. If it came down to my left hand then my hand to hand combat would most likely be my best option anyway.
Another thing that had been upgraded was my appearance. I had gained some weight that was pure muscle and Brom claimed that I grew another inch in 3 weeks, which wasn't crazy to me considering I was on the back end of puberty. It was never specified how tall Roran was in the books but I stood at about 5'10 foot now and it seemed I was going to end up at about 6'1. My hair was getting longer and I had the beginnings of a beard. I was going to let it grow out some more before I began trimming it, I wanted it well maintained. That was obviously my last life influencing me because never before had I cared about my appearance.
I had introduced Brom to the idea of cleaning ourselves with magic every morning, it took us a good 5 hours on deciding the spell. You didn't want to just get rid of all the bacteria on your body, after all a lot of it was necessary. Another thing that I noticed was that Brom seemed to get younger with every day that passed. The constant movement and a better diet was great for him, it was obvious his connection to magic was enhancing that in only the way a former dragonrider could. I had a theory that with exercise, dragonriders that lost their partners could live very very long lives if they kept themselves fit. Brom certainly seemed livelier than when I had first approached him that day outside his hut, happier also. Maybe they would keep their immortality if they ever got over the passing of their partner. Most would be unable to do so.
We reached the gates of Teirm around 3 in the evening. Riding into the city was easy, the guards at the gate didn't even stop them or anyone else like they did Eragon and Brom. Must be because the lack of Urgal activity unlike in the books. Or maybe they were looking for Eragon and Brom for the king in the books?
Teirm was an impressive city, in the end it was just as described in the books. The walls were 100 ft. tall and around 30 ft. thick. The building getting taller and taller the closer they got to the center of the city. The other thing was how many people resided here, it was described as a small ocean town but I would definitely call it a city. A rough estimate put it at about 10,000 people which I considered a lot considering I grew up in carvahall. I was actually very impressed.
The journey to Jeod's house was actually pretty easy, he was well known within the city it seemed. I even recognized Angela's house on the way, it was easy considering the oversized cat lounging on a bench outside. It took everything I had not to reach out to Solembum's mind and speak to him. Now is not the time.
Arriving at Jeod's house, we were greeted with his wife Helen answering the door.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she said.
"Hello, I was wondering if Jeod was available to speak?" Brom responded.
"He isn't home yet but is due to be back soon. May I ask why you wish to speak to him?" Helen was actually very polite, it may have been due to our expensive traveling clothes. When did I get so materialistic?
"I am an old friend of his from before he was a merchant, this is my nephew Roran. I wanted to stop by and visit him while I was in town." Brom answered without giving his name. I wish he would've kept mine to himself also.
"He does not wish for me to allow anyone in the house without him home. Is it possible you could come back in a few hours, he should be home then." I noticed she never let us see her left hand, it was always hidden behind the door. A dagger most likely. I didn't blame her, two unknown men show up at her door with finely dressed clothes and swords around their waists. She probably thinks us mercenaries.
Or maybe it's because his ships are already being intercepted by Galby. Did it happen this early in the books?
"Of course, we need to resupply anyway. We can do that and return here after that. Have a safe evening." Brom said as we turned away and walked back towards the horses.
"Have you ever had ale before?" he said as he turned to me with a grin.
"I like what you're thinking." I replied smiling.
The ale here was not as good as back home. After the war I am going to have to introduce them to real alcohol. It was weird thinking of after the war. As of now he had no plans, just try to survive and make a difference. Maybe he could introduce technology, teach magic to everyone, make the need for technology a little as possible. What if we could use both...a way to produce energy with technology?
His thoughts were interrupted by their arrival at Jeod's house again. Can you feel him in the house this time? I said touching Brom's mind.
Yes, he's definitely here this time. He replied.
It took him a few seconds to reach the door. "Hello, are you the… Brom?!" Jeod's mouth was on the floor at the recognition of Brom.
"Hello old friend, careful saying that name too loud please."
"Of course. Come in, Come in." He ushered us through the door. He was obviously still shocked at seeing his old friend.
They embraced as soon as the door closed. "It's good to see you again! What are you doing here?" Jeod asked.
Brom seemed to sober up at the question. "Is there somewhere we can speak alone?" he said while pointing at his ears.
"Follow me." He said as we walked through the house to his office. "Helen we'll have two more joining us for dinner tonight, if you need us we'll be talking in my office." He closed the door behind us as he said that.
Brom started speaking in the ancient language. I wasn't able to understand everything but I did catch 'unwanted listeners' towards the end.
"I need your help again." Brom said as soon as he finished the ward.
Jeod never missed a beat. "Of course. I have some minor influence around here, what is it?"
"We need to secure a ship to Reavstone."
"That is no problem at all, that is where I ship the goods for our…" He trailed off as he looked at me.
"He knows everything." Brom supplied at his stare.
"Everything?" Jeod looked very intrigued at that statement.
"Literally everything" I supplied, it was the first time I had spoken since we had arrived.
"Anyway, as I was saying that is where I ship all the goods that go to the Varden." Jeod said after a moment of thought.
"It gets a little more complicated." Brom said running a hand through his hair.
Jeod's face turned inquisitive. "How much more?"
"There will be a dragon and its rider." I said deciding to move the conversation forward a little. I couldn't help but laugh at his facial expression as he processed that piece of information.
"The egg hatched?" He seemed a little weak on his legs so he moved to his chair behind the desk. He seemed elated and shocked.
"Not yet, but it will in about a years time. When it does, we'll need to get to the Varden, away from Galbatorix until we're ready to attack." I decided to take over the conversation.
"We'll need a crew loyal to the Varden, to protect the rider. We also do not have an exact timeline so they need to be ready to go at a moment's notice." I said before he could respond. "Is it possible?"
"Ok ignoring the fact that you can now predict when a dragon egg hatches. None of my crews know where the goods they ship go to." He stood back up and started pacing before he answered. "It will be hard to get an agent to the varden with all the details. Even harder is getting Ajihad to send anyone without the dragon even being hatched..."
"We will not be able to let the Varden know." At this point I was enjoying torturing him with these conditions.
"Why?" Jeod stopped pacing with a frown.
"There is a problem with sending someone to the Varden. Someone with an influential position in the Varden is feeding Galbatorix information. Our best option is to not send anyone and show up unannounced."
"Then it will be impossible to do anything but smuggle you into Surda. There is no way I can have a crew and a ship ready to go without the Vardens resources. You'll just have to show up when you can and wait for the next ship to leave. Even then the dragon would have to follow on land without being on the ship. Why not go to the elves?" He turned to Brom as he asked.
"They would never let him leave in time to defeat the King. I won't let the dragon be separated from its rider, we will have to set sail and she will have to fly during the day and stay on the ship at night. I will take over the crew with force if I have to." He answered.
"The crew won't like that. We've waited 100 years, you can't wait a few more" Jeod responded.
Brom was rubbing his hand through his beard when he responded. "Within the next 2 years Galbatorix will be too strong to defeat, dragon rider or not. We have to move as soon as the dragon hatches."
"Ok so go through the Hadarac." Jeod said.
"We have reason to believe we'll be pursued by an Urgal army." I was actually laughing out loud when I delivered another bomb.
Jeod threw his arms up in the air "What the fuck?!"
"The Urgals have no navy. I doubt Galbatorix will give them his navy either. They cannot follow us on the sea. Ship is the safest way to get them to the Varden safe and sound." Brom supplied.
Just then Helen decided to open the door, "Dinner is ready!"
A/N: How do you think I am getting Brom's character? Let me know in the reviews.