Hallooooo! I am not Chrissy P., so on and so forth, I only own Tania and Ophelia ;)
Chapter Eight
Over the few days it took to reach Daret, Tania and Ophelia fell into a steady routine. During the day, either herself or Eragon would fly while the other rode Cadoc. At night, Tania joined into the sparring, and then they would practice magic, at which neither Tania nor Eragon excelled more than the other.
Tania would fall next to Ophelia, exhausted, by the time they had finished dinner. Usually, she wouldn't even bother to close her eyes.
Every morning, she awoke with a new set of hard-earned bruises, and they would set out again. She felt her muscles hardening, and she steadily grew quicker with the wooden blade they practiced with.
When they reached Daret, Tania doffed her gloves and put them in the saddlebags, so that they could get a pair for Eragon. They had decided that it might be safer if Tania entered with Brom, posing as his niece, than if Eragon rode in with Zar'roc. As Brom said, women were often trusted more not to attack than men.
Daret was on the banks of the Ninor River—as it had to be to survive. The village was small and wild-looking, without any signs of inhabitants. Tania and Brom approached it with great caution. Saphira, Eragon and Ophelia hid close by; if there was any trouble, they could be by their sides within seconds.
They rode carefully into Daret, striving to be silent. Brom gripped his sword with his good hand, eyes flashing everywhere. Tania made sure her trusted knife was within easy reach as they passed the silent houses, gancing to each other in apprehension. It's too silent, she commented to Ophelia. She felt her tense, preparing to dive from the cover of the clouds. She saw the fresh footprints of children, and was reassured that they were indeed recent. But they're hiding.
Brom stiffened as they entered the square to find it empty. A lonesome wind blew through the desolate town, bringing the scent of sweat and smoke to Tania's sensitive nostrils. She frowned, confused.
Brom wheeled Snowfire about. "Let's get out of here." he said. "I don't like the feel of this." He spurred Snowfire into a gallop. Tania followed him, urging Cadoc onward.
They only advanced a few strides before wagons toppled out from behind the houses and blocked their way. Cadoc snorted and dug in his hooves, sliding to a near-sitting stop next to Snowfire. The bay regained his footing as a swarthy man hopped over the wagon and planted himself before them, a broadsword at his side and a drawn bow in his hands. Tania reached automatically for her knife, instinctively searching his face for his intents. Use your mind! urged Ophelia as the stranger shouted, "Halt! Put your weapons down. You're surrounded by sixty archers. They will shoot if you move." As if on cue, a row of men stood up on the roofs of the surrounding houses.
Tania reached out with her mind, brushing against the minds of the surrounding men, looking for their intents. They weren't set on killing them, but if either herself or Brom showed any ill-favor, they would be so peppered with arrows, they would look like equestrian porcupines.
She came back to herself as Brom asked calmly, "What do you want?"
"Why have you come here?" demanded the man.
"To buy supplies and hear the news. Nothing more. We're on our way to my cousin's house in Dras-Leona."
"You're armed quite heavily, even the lady here has an experienced air with that dagger of hers."
"So are you," said Brom. "These are dangerous times, and the monsters that roam our lands now have no regard for who they kill."
"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 to trust only your word."
"If it doesn't matter, what happens now?" countered Brom. The men atop the houses hadn't moved. Tania was sure, by the information she had gathered while briefly brushing their minds, that it was from both discipline and fear mixed.
"You say that you want supplies. Would you agree to stay here while we get 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—which included a longbow that would fit Tania—and then added, "Also, if you have a spare pair of gloves for my niece, they would be greatly appreciated." 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 news from other towns? We recieve word from them rarely, but there have been reports that they too have been beleagured."
Brom turned grave. "I wish it wasn't our lot to bring you these tidings." Tania shuddered, knowing what he would say. "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 we were attacked by two Urgals."
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."
"We saw signs that there was a band of Urgals had ravaged the town," stated Brom. "I think the ones we encountered were deserters."
"How large was their company?"
Brom fiddled with his saddlebags a minute. Tania looked down at Cadoc's mane. "Large enough to wipe out Yazuac, but small enough to go unnoticed in the countryside. No more than a hundred, no less than fifty. If I'm not mistaken, either number would be fatal to you." Trevor wearily agreed. "You should consider leaving," Brom continued. "This area has become for 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 for a couple years—and they place its worth well above their own lives." Trevor looked at them seriously. "We have repulsed individual Urgals, and that has given the townspeople confidence well beyond their abilities. I fear we will all wake up one morning with all 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."
Brom handed Tania the bow and an empty quiver, dug through the items and handed her the pair of gloves, and packed the rest of the supplies in their saddlebags. Tania slung the quiver over her shoulder, then pulled the gloves over her hands, being careful to keep her palms facing downwards. The leather was good and strong, though slightly scarred from use. Eragon would appreciate them. "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 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 the way, and they rode from Daret into the trees along the Ninor River. Tania sent her thoughts to Ophelia, Saphira and Eragon. We're coming back. Eragon, we got the gloves, you can wash your hands now.
Ha ha. Very funny. Ophelia says you were handed a longbow.
Tania sighed. You will probably be teaching me the finer points of archery, I guess. Now I get sore arm and back muscles.
How did you know that you mostly use your back?
It makes sense, to pull back with your back or shoulder muscles than just your arms. Besides, it's not my fault you can't see exactly how bulging your shoulderblades are.
Huh?
Tania sent him a mental image of his back, which she had seen several times while they were sparring.
That could just mean I'm very well-muscled.
Ha! Right. And I'll hit the first knot I aim for with this new longbow.
You might.
And now you're hoping I will so that you can point out that comment, aren't you?
Ophelia butted in then. If you two are done bickering like wolves, I'll be landing in the clearing now. Tania and Brom had reached the edge of the glen where Saphira and Eragon were waiting. She slowed Cadoc to a trot as they broke from the trees.
Ophelia had just landed—Tania had seen the grayish-blue scales changing to dull violet through the trees as she did—and was sitting quietly on her haunches, waiting. Tania dismounted Cadoc and handed the reins and the gloves to Eragon, who took both gladly, and then ran up and threw her arms around Ophelia. Brilliant greens bloomed along her wings as the dragoness arched her long neck down to draw her Rider into an embrace. Tania smiled as she relaxed into Ophelia's shoulder, relieving the muscles that had tensed in Daret. I missed you.
And I you, little one.
I just had to add that. See ya next time!
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Falcon