After some time, the group finally arrived to the nearest village, Cesaen.
"Here we are," smiled Eragon.
"Yes, finally!" cheered Bero, excited to see more people from Alagaësia. "So what will we be doing here?"
"You will stay here," answered Eragon, looking at Brom, "right?"
"Right, you two," Brom answered, pointing at Wiktoria and Bero,"are going to look for an inn while Eragon and I are going to do some business. We will catch up later. Here, that should be enough for the inn and for food." He handed the girls money and helped them get down from the horses.
"And what business are you going to do?" Serzana asked as she watched the girls go on their own way.
"That is of our own knowledge," Brom answered curtly. "Let's go, Eragon."
After they had walk for a while, Eragon asked Brom something that had been bothering him. "Brom, aren't we going to leave Wiktoria and Bero here? We aren't taking them to Tarik Roria, right?"
"They know too much about us. If they come across the wrong people...We don't know yet if they are to be trusted, though what they have told us so far, although far fetched, remains consistent. We can't let them leave."
"And what about Serzana? She is heading to Tarik Roria too."
"Yes, and I don't like it. We must keep a close eye on her," answered Brom with a grimace.
"Her horse is really beautiful. But it doesn't look like any I've seen," said Eragon, thinking about the beautiful black creature. It was so majestic!
"Aye, I agree," said Brom. "I wonder where it comes from. And her too. She hasn't answered any questions about herself and where she is from."
"Isn't it so...so...amazing! I just can't believe we really are here! In Alagaësia!" Bero whispered-yelled, unable to control her excitement as she and Wiktoria walked through the streets of Cesaen, looking for an inn as Brom had told them too. In their excitement, though, they had gotten lost and were now wondering through the quieter and emptier streets. Which was a good thing too, seeing as how the girls unusual appearance brought a lot of attention.
"It is great! I have been dreaming about it for so long!" Wiktoria smiled.
"And now that we are here, we have met Eragon! And Brom. Even though he is absolutely no fun," she giggled, but stopped as soon as her eyes caught something. "Hey, look, that's Serzana," she whispered to Bero and pointed to her.
What had mostly caught Wiktoria's attention though was not Serzana, but the person she was with. She was talking with a man that was dressed all in a black and that carried a weapon partially concealed. All in all, he seemed suspicious and gave then the creeps.
"Come on," Bero whispered and grabbed Wiktoria's hand, pulling her away behind a nearby house where they stood hidden from Serzana yet were still close enough to hear her conversation.
"...But milady, I don't have what you want. I never did," said the man.
"I know you do, so you'd better give it to me, or...I'll take it my way. You know what I mean," said Serzana, her voice almost a hiss. "I don't have time for your games! It's me, Serzana!" She exclaimed with a roll of her eyes.
"It's you? I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you. You don't look like you usually do," noticed the man who now seemed much friendlier towards Serzana.
"Wiktoria..." Bero whispered, "I don't know, but I have a feeling she isn't up to anything good..."
"You know, I had a strange feeling some time ago...like Serzana was using some kind of energy, like magic or something...I don't know..," whispered back Wiktoria.
"Really? Maybe we should tell Brom," whispered Bero.
"Yes, I think so...And maybe we should hear from them," Wiktoria pointed at Serzana and the man.
"Yeah," Bero agreed.
"...Argh, good. I'll give it to you! Serzana...does your father know?" the man asked with an evil grin on his face.
"No! And don't dare tell him," Serzana hissed. "I warn you. If you tell him, I will cut your tongue out." Her tone left no doubt that she was serious.
I wonder what it is, thought Bero and she inched closer, trying to get a better view. They definitely weren't expecting to see what the man gave Serzana.
It was a large stone, about a foot tall with a very smooth surface in a goldish-yellow hue.
"Look, Bero...it look similar to Saphira's egg," Wiktoria whispered as Serzana quickly put the stone away in the bag she carried.
"It does! But I thought only King Galbatorix had dragon eggs!" Bero whispered back, surprised.
"I thought the same thing," Wiktoria whispered suspiciously. They watched as Serzana and the man exchanged a few more words and then parted separate ways.
"Should we follow her? Or the strange man in black?" Bero asked Wiktoria.
"I think we should tell Brom. Serzana and the man...both can fight and have swords," Wiktoria answered quietly.
"Okay, let's go find Brom," Bero said and they both left to find him.
"If I were Brom, where would I be?" Wiktoria asked herself as they found their way back to the crowded streets. "Bero, do you see him?"
"Nope, I don't...oh wait! Is that him over there?" Bero asked, pointing to where she thought she saw him.
"Yes. It is! Come on!" Wiktoria smiled and they hurried through the crowd to where Brom was. "Hey Brom!"
"Brom! We need to talk!"
Brom turned and glared at the girls for having said his name out loud. "About what?" He grumbled.
Bero glanced around them to see if Serzana was anywhere around, feeling relieved when she saw that she wasn't.
"We need to talk about Serzana," Wiktoria whispered nervously. "We saw something suspicious."
"Yes! Very suspicious," Bero added.
"What is it?" Eragon asked, coming back from buying some things.
"Serzana just met with a man in black and..." Wiktoria left off, unsure of how to tell them.
"And...we think that she...that she might have a dragon egg," Bero continued in a whisper so only they could hear.
Brom jumped, surprised. "Are you sure of what you are saying? This is no joking matter!" he growled.
"Shhh...be quiet. We are sure of it," Wiktoria answered nervously. "But...I think we shouldn't ask her about it... here. Look. She met here with a stranger, what if there are more like him here. We should ask her when we are in the forest. She will be alone then," Wiktoria explained what she had in mind.
"That sounds like a good plan. Though it is possible there could be more following her now that she has the egg," Brom said and then sighed, "if what you say is true, then no one will say a word about it until we reach the forest." Brom frowned. "You two need new clothes though, you stand out too much in whatever it is that you are wearing," he said, noticing people pointing at the girls. "Have you found an inn to stay in yet?"
"Umm...not really, as we were watching Serzana," Wiktoria answered.
"I found an inn, want to stay in there for some time?" Serzana asked as she walked up to them with a smile.
"Yes, that would be nice, as these two couldn't find one," answered Brom. "When are you leaving to Tarik Roria, if you don't mind me asking."
"Maybe today or tomorrow. I want to stay for a while, have a rest and go. Why do you ask?" Serzana asked politely.
"Just curious, since we are heading the same way, it would be fitting to travel there together, right?" answered Brom.
Eragon cleared his throat and added, "we would love your company."
Bero looked at Serzana, wondering if she had heard that they had been talking about her. She hoped not.
"It would be a pleasure for me to travel with you all. I really enjoyed your company, especially yours Eragon," Serzana smiled at Eragon in a friendly way. "So when do you want to go. Today or tomorrow?" she asked politely.
Phew, she didn't hear us talking. Good, thought Wiktoria.
Eragon smiled back at Serzana, "we were thinking tomorrow morning."
"Great! We can have some rest. Asala needs it too, I think," laughed Serzana, "come on, the inn is over there," she pointed at an old inn. "We don't have to pay anything," she said proudly.
"Thank you, Serzana. You girls go ahead, Eragon and I still have some things we need to do," said Brom and he left with Eragon.
"Come on girls. Maybe we will go and eat something?" Serzan asked and led the girls to a very old looking building.
"O..okay," stuttered Bero, feeling very nervous near Serzana after what they had seen.
"Come with me," Serzana smiled as she walked inside. "Renald, give us some food please. Maybe the delicious food you used to give me when I was small," she told the old man by the counter.
"Of course," he nodded and went into the kitchen.
"Come on girls, just sit here and wait a little," she told Wiktoria and Bero and pointed at the chairs. "I hope you'll like it," she smiled as she sat next to them.
And I hope it won't be poisoned or something, Wiktoria thought to herself.
"Wait, so you've come here often?" Bero asked. I'd better not let anything slip from my mouth, she thought, knowing very well that sometimes she'd accidentally say what she shouldn't.
"No, not really," answered Serzana.
"Oh..." Bero said and remained quiet after that. What else could you say to someone who could possibly be an enemy? And now that Bero thought about it, where was Saphira? She was dying to meet her.
"Here you are, girls," after some time the old man brought out three bowls of soup and handed it to them.
"Thank you, Renald," Serzana smiled at the old man and he left back to the kitchen. She started to eat her soup but the girls just warily watched her.
I don't know if I should eat this, but it would be rude not to..., thought Bero as she stared down at the soup in front of her. She picked up her spoon and slowly ate a spoonful. "Mmmm...this tastes really good," she spoke, surprised by the rich, delicious flavors.
"So, how do you like it," Serzana asked Wiktoria.
Wiktoria tried it and...It's not that bad. Actually it's pretty good, she thought. "I like it. Thanks," she smiled at Serzana.
"It's good to know you like it," Serzana smiled back.
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence.
"What are we going to do now?" Wiktoria asked once they were finished.
"We should go find Eragon and Brom," Serzana answered calmly.
"Okay, so let's go look for them," Wiktoria said and stood up to go outside.
"Are you sure? They seem to want to be left alone," Bero said, following her.
"I don't know. Maybe we should just go to an inn and wait for them," Serzana stopped Wiktoria. "What do you think?"
"Just go to the inn. I'm a little bit tired," answered Wiktoria.
"Sure, come with me," Serzana answered softly and led them to the inn.
"Do you think Serzana really has a dragon egg?" Eragon whispered to Brom as they walked through the village. He couldn't stop thinking about her.
"I don't know who we can trust more. Serzana or those two girls. We could ask Serzana if we could have a look at her bag. If she doesn't let us, it means she is hiding something," answered Brom.
"If she even has a dragon egg. How could it be possible?" Eragon asked.
"It could be possible if she was able to steal it from Galbatorix. Or if she is working for him. Either way, if she has a dragon egg, she could still be against us and that would be dangerous.
"I don't know what to think. I kind of like her, even if she is supicious," said Eragon with a smile. "Do you think she is using magic?" Eragon asked suddenly.
"She could be a magic user. That would make her very very dangerous," answered Brom, "and don't get sidetracked."
"Sorry," Eragon said. "I just wonder because I felt...something. I'm not sure, but I think she used it once or more." Who is she? he thought. Even if he liked her she could be dangerous. He didn't know much about her. But she saved his life...
"Felt what?"
"It was like a small wave of energy. But I don't know what it did."
Brom raised his eyebrow. "A small wave of energy? And how do you feel?"
"Normal. I don't think she used it on me. Or on anyone else...maybe on herself..," Eragon answered thinking it through.
"On herself..." muttered Brom and fell into his own thoughts. He didn't like what was going on. First, they had to hurry and meet someone in the next village. Now these three girls appeared, all acting suspicious and one possibly with a dragon egg.
"Maybe she wants to hide her appearance? And she is doing it with magic, hiding behind an illusion?" Eragon said, suddenly coming up with the idea.
"But for what reason? I can search for traces of magic on her."
"I don't know. If she is against us, she might want to hide her real look so we can't recognize her later. If you could check it, that would be great," said Eragon.
"Yes, I will, though it might be better to do so until we are in the forest," said Brom. "For now, let's go back to the girls."
"Yes, let's go."
I didn't sense any magic coming fom her before. What I don't know is if those girls are working together with Serzana..., thought Brom. They don't seem to be able to fight, but it could still be a trap...