Disclaimer: Do not own, not making money
Inheritance Book 3: Ride home.
They were about two days travel from Surda and they were just making camp for the night. Sahkur-Rah was pitching a makeshift tent of her own outside. Eragon watched her with interest as she propped some poles on the ground and staked the ends of the canvas to the earth. He watched her fluid movements and realised he knew where her unearthly grace came from. It would be from the dragon part of her heritage that she inherited her movements. There were still some things that bothered him about her though. Where did she come from, why was she here, and was she here to help defeat Galbatorix?
Eragon approached her cautiously. He had to decide the best way to ask these questions without seeming confrontational; he had first hand experience on how touchy elves could be when they feel as if they're being challenged. He stood a polite distance back and cleared his throat.
"You know you don't have to tip toe around me right? I may be ¼ elf but I am not nearly as tetchy as them, so what's on your mind Shadeslayer?"
"I just was curious where you, you know, what I mean to say is… You know never mind."
"Don't act all bashful Eragon, ask away. I promise I won't bite, unless you ask nicely."
Eragon blushed furiously. He was a veteran of two battles now, had killed urgles, had killed kulls, had even killed a shade, and now he was blushing like a boy with a badly concealed crush. What was wrong with him? He cleared his throat and tried asking his questions again.
"I wanted to know where you came from and why you're here."
"I'm from a land called clandvensha and I am here for several reasons. The most prominent one is to help destroy this thing that that you call King Galbatorix in any way I can."
"And the other reasons?"
"I am also here for my safety."
"Why isn't it safe for you back home?"
"You do remember how I am the peace pact between the races where I am from and so long as I and my line survive there will be peace in clandvensha?" Eragon nodded "Well, let me just say that there are several among those back home who do not want peace and take every chance they get to bring about war."
"But in order to do that they would have to kill you."
"Right, so I have come here for my safety as well as those who I'd have to kill to defend myself, and here I will stay for as long as I live."
"Oh, umm, ok." Eragon turned to leave when Sahkur-Rah called him to turn back.
"So what is this I hear about you going to kill Ra'zacs, their parents and save a pretty damsel at the behest of your cousin?"
Eragon stared at her for a moment as he wondered how she could possibly know that.
"I overheard your cousin bragging about how his cousin, the Shadeslayer, would help him save his fiancée from the clutches of the Ra'zacs. I have to ask you, do you have a plan besides flying around and hoping you get lucky enough to kill one?"
"Yes I have a plan and what would you know about the Ra'zacs? It's not like you ever faced one."
"Actually there were several where I came from a long time ago but they were eradicated. We did not think that any of their kind had escaped. So what is this plan of yours?"
"Ummm well actually I plan to draw them out into daylight by flying just out of their range on Saphira, I then plan on attacking them."
"I see and you Plan to kill them how? How many of them are there? What is your fall back plan should this one fail to work? Do you know how to get in their lair without alerting them? Can you answer even one of those questions?"
"Well, no not really."
"In that case I suggest that we, your cousin included, fly ahead back to the elves home and come up with a plan there, because unless we can answer all of those questions then we are not ready to go into battle against those things yet."
"Why do you want to go to Ellesmera?"
"Because I can sense another dragon and his own there; they will be of use to us when we plan this." How could she sense Glaedr and Oromis?
"You are going to help me fight the Ra'zacs? Why?"
"Because they are no doubt helping the king as their kind thrives off of the pain and suffering of others. They are also a danger without needing the backing of a ruler."
"Right and you expect me to explain this to Roran how?"
"I don't expect you to, I will in the morning."
"Good luck getting him to listen."
"Luck will have nothing to do with it."
Roran was glad that they would be on their way soon. It was early morning and they were just about at Surda. He knew that it would be at least two more days before they could leave but He was impatient to save his Katrina. He did not want to imagine what those things had done to her. He just hoped that they would be able to get to her in time. He felt completely confident in his cousin's abilities to destroy those things that had killed his father. He knew that he would not be of much use in the upcoming battle but he wanted to be there for Katrina when they saved her. He heard footsteps approaching him from behind and he turned quickly, expecting Horst or someone else from Carvahall to be there, Instead it was that odd looking rider who had arrived this morning. He turned away expecting her to be there to ask him about his cousin. He did not expect her to grab him by the arm and throw him down on the ground, and then sit on his chest, effectively pinning him there.
"Roran, I am Sahkur-Rah. You and I need to talk."
"You have my attention. But why are you sitting on my chest?"
"Because when I say talk I mean that I am going to tell you something. And by something I mean something that you are not going to like. But you are going to listen to me and before I am done you will agree with me." Her voice held nothing of a threat but Roran decided that it would be in his best interest to listen to her carefully. "You intend to attack the Ra'zacs soon, with your cousin. I wonder if you have any clue as to what you are getting both of yourselves into. Before you say anything I know about your lady love and all that; but if you don't want the two of you to wind up dead with your cousin and Saphira caught and handed over to Galbatorix on a silver platter, you would do well to heed my advice." Roran nodded, if somewhat stiffly for her to go on. He had already decided that he was not going to listen. Something of this must have shown on his face as she slapped him, very hard, before she continued. "The Ra'zacs are more than any mere human can deal with. They are more than even one rider, of any species, can deal with. Even one of them is a match for a dragon, pay attention; if you want even a hope of killing them you will need my help. If you want my help you will do as I say. If you even so much as grumble you will regret it, as I will castrate you and then toss you to the Ra'zacs as a diversion. Do you understand me?" Her voice was so calm and matter of fact that Roran decided that it was wise to not glare at her. "Your protests will be 'that they have your girlfriend; that she is in danger, that you must go and save her immediately'; you will also mention that they have killed someone, or several someone's, close to you and that they deserve to die. While I will not dispute that last one, think carefully on the first one. They wish to lure you and your cousin into a trap. Everyone knows that live bait is the best bait. They also know that the Shadeslayer can scrye her and see if she is alive. So it would be in their best interest to keep her alive. Do you agree with me so far?"
"Yes but they will hurt her."
"And make her cry out in pain so that you will neglect common sense and go to her 'rescue' immediately? Of course they will! I did not say that it would be a pleasant trip in the country for her, and you would not be human if you felt anything but this urgency to go and save her, but understand that if you do, then the rescue mission will end with your deaths and the Shadeslayers' capture. They will torture her, but not to insanity, and they won't do worse than hit her or beat her."
"And how do you know that!" Roran was incensed with this woman. How dare she suggest that they wait to save Katrina!
"I know the Ra'zacs. Unless things have changed drastically they don't have the right equipment to do anything even close to rape, and while they are intelligent, they lack imagination. They will hurt her, and she will need you when we get her, but we will not rescue her if we go in blind. So we will have to wait until we have a plan. Do you understand me?"
Roran glared at her, until he saw that she was not going to leave until he answered. He thought about it. What she said made sense, even if he didn't like it. He also couldn't deny the horrendous outcome if the Ra'zac did capture Eragon; but he did not like it. He finally swallowed his pride and nodded stiffly at her. He did not like it but he would have to live with it. At least until they came up with a plan. He did not know how he would explain this to Birgit though. She was already after his blood for the death of Quimby. She would not hear of waiting for some strange woman who wanted to wait until they had a plan.
"There is more to this than just me and Eragon wanting revenge. A woman lost her husband to them. She wants revenge on them and me for it." Sahkur-Rah looked at him in silent bewilderment for a moment.
"She wants revenge on you, for what?"
"The Ra'zacs were sent there after me, and I hid in the mountains."
"That was very intelligent."
"The townspeople said that I was away hunting."
"That was not, but I am interrupting."
"So they said that they would wait until I returned. Things got really bad. One of the soldiers killed Quimby, this woman's husband. The Ra'zacs took the body and ate him, so we could not give him a proper burial."
"So this woman wants revenge on you for something the Ra'zac did?"
"It was my choice to hide in the mountains."
"Just as it was the Soldiers choice to kill her husband and the Ra'zacs choice to eat his body. Some people define grief stricken stupidity so well it isn't humorous. Tell me her name and I will talk to her."
"But she is mad at me"
"And before I'm done she will have forgotten all about you, because I will talk sense into her. If I can't do that then I will terrify her, and if I can't do that then she will continue to the Ra'zacs lair alone." She got up off of him "What is her name?"
"Her name is Birgit"
Without a hint of a smile the strange woman turned and walked away from him. He didn't know how he felt about her, but he was grateful that he would not be there to witness the confrontation between the two.
Birgit was getting her things gathered before the mornings trek to Surda. Then after they had reached Surda they would head for the Helgrind. They would kill those things that had eaten her husbands' body and then she would have her revenge on Roran. She knew that it was not entirely his fault but he had played his part. She would make sure that her justice was quick and painless. She just hoped that she could make Eragon understand, she would not be able to take a rider, no matter how little training he had. She had just turned around when she was thrown back and pinned to the ground. When she finally had her bearings she looked up and saw that strange woman who had arrived on dragon back just last night. She was looking at her with a face as devoid of emotion as a mask.
"I am Sahkur-Rah and we have much to discuss Birgit."
"What do you want?" She replied in a harsh manner.
"I want to talk sense into you. Is it true that you wish for revenge on Roran?"
"Yes!"
"For what?"
"For his part in my husbands' death!"
"I see and did he order those soldiers to kill your husband?"
"No but he-"
"Did he tell the Ra'zac to eat your husband?"
"No but he-"
"Who came up with the very weak story that Roran was away hunting for a few weeks?"
"I did why-"
"Did you realise that that would make them decide to stay and wait and terrify you until you decided to give him up?"
"What!"
"It would have been much better if you had decided to tell them that he had moved away to a large city, the Ra'zac cannot tell when a person is lying to them. Now then let me see if I have this correct: Roran hid away in the mountains to save himself, oddly enough this would have saved your town as well if they had no idea that he might be near, or come back in the foreseeable future. You told them that he was gone but nearby and would eventually return. A soldier chose to kill your husband for some reason, then the Ra'zac ate the meat and left the bones, and you want revenge on Roran because of this? That makes no sense; it was not his decision to send the Ra'zac to your town. It was not on his orders that soldiers came marching down on your husband. Is there common sense in your wish for revenge or is it just blind stupidity brought on by grief?"
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, you are an abomination! Not even wholly human. Of course you can't understand!" The strange woman got off her and lifted her so that their eyes were level. What Birgit saw in them made her cringe. There was anger, and hurt yes. But there was a cold ruthlessness that unnerved her.
"Oh I understand grief all right. I understand hate, and I understand revenge. But I, unlike you, will only take them within the limits of reason. Is it reasonable to hate and wish revenge on the Ra'zac? Yes of course it is. Is it reasonable to hate and wish revenge on the king who ordered those things to your home? Naturally it is. But it is not reasonable to hate and wish revenge on someone whose only part in your husbands' death was to hide so that he would not be taken! Do you have any idea why they wanted Roran in the first place? They wanted him to lure his cousin into a trap! If they had taken him then Eragon would have gone after him and then instead of being here to help the varden he would, right now, be in the clutches of the king and be used to oppress and torture all of the people in this country, and Roran would be dead, his bones picked as clean as your husbands'. Are you understanding what I am saying to you woman?"
"I understand, I just don't care. I am going to the Ra'zacs to take my revenge on them; I am then going to take my revenge on Roran for everything that he has done!"
"Fine, then you will go the Ra'zacs alone! You will find that I won't stop you."
"But I won't be alone! Roran and Eragon will be there to help me! And then I will have my revenge on Roran!"
"You will find that you will be alone, I am making them go back to the elves home to make a plan that will work against the Ra'zac. I know those things better than they do. I know what we face. If you wish to come with us then you will have to stop with this 'revenge on Roran' stupidity! If you do not you may go to the lair alone, if you only pretend to let go of this hate and then try to kill him to satisfy your bloodlust I will not hesitate to kill you. These are your choices! Now choose!"
Birgit could only stare at this woman. Who was she to dictate who she could and could not have revenge against! She would not stop her from getting her revenge!
Birgit snarled at her "I will have my revenge no matter who you think you are! And I will not wait on your whim! Let me down now!" She began to kick at her midsection. It felt like she was kicking stone. The woman glared at Birgit, disgust evident on her face. She dropped Birgit roughly on the ground.
"You have chosen poorly. Normally I would be glad with the thought that you might learn from it but if you follow through with it then you will not live to see another day. I only ask that you reconsider before you leave. Let the dead bury the dead. Your husbands' revenge can wait. The Ra'zacs are going nowhere, and the dead are beyond concern." The woman turned to walk away but called back over her shoulder "If you choose to leave for the Ra'zac now then you will go alone. If you choose to continue against Roran then you will be confronted by me. If you choose to stop with the blood feud and come back with us to plan then you will be welcomed. Choose wisely."
Two days later found Roran and Eragon discussing possible methods of attack to use when they attacked the Ra'zac lair when a woman rode by on horseback. Eragon Recognized her as Birgit. What was she doing riding away from here? He looked at Roran and saw that his face had gone white.
"Roran what is it?"
"Birgit, she's going after the Ra'zac alone."
"What?" Eragon looked after her and saw that she was heading in the direction of the Helgrind. He started after her when he felt someone grab him and hold onto him in a grip that he couldn't break. He turned and saw Sahkur-Rah looking grimly on at the departing woman.
"We have to stop her; she's going after the Ra'zac!"
"I know."
"Then how can you let her go!"
"I told her we would be going back to this Ellesmera to decide on how to attack the Ra'zac, I told her she could come along. I told her that if she came along then she would have to give up her blood feud with your cousin. Apparently the dead and her anger dictate her actions."
"Why would she be angry at my cousin?"
"That is something even I do not understand. Come on, she has made her choice and she has chosen poorly. Even I can't force her to change her mind."
"But the Ra'zac will kill her!"
"I know this, and I pointed that much out to her, but she apparently has decided that revenge on the Ra'zac for the desecration of the body that once held her husband cannot wait."
"I have to save her!"
"Eragon, there is an old proverb where I am from and it is something that you will have to learn. This old proverb says 'to try to save everyone is to condemn them all to death'. You cannot save everyone. To save this woman she would demand to go after the Ra'zac now. To do so is to kill her, your cousin, his lady and give yourself and Saphira over to Galbatorix. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Then you understand why we can't go after her. It is not easy but it is her choice to make. All we can do is live with it. Come on It's time for us to leave as well."
"Yeah, I guess so."
They had just gotten outside the gates when they were met by Arya and Orik. They had horses and looked like they were ready to ride with them.
"You know it would be a good deal faster if you would leave the horses here and ride on a dragon." Sahkur-Rah said as they stopped beside them.
"But what dragon could carry three people?"
"My Dragon can carry the two of you and Saphira can carry Roran as well as Eragon."
"And how will you get there?"
"I will fly myself."
"What?"
"I will fly, I am ¼ Dragon remember?" With that Sahkur-Rah crouched down and with a loud rustling noise, two great scaly wings burst out of the skin on her back. She looked at them and spoke in their minds.
Try to keep up if you can.
Is that a challenge little flyer?
Why yes, Eressmiss, I do believe it is
With a roar that would have been a whoop of joy for a human Eressmiss took off so fast that both Arya and Orik were very nearly thrown off. Saphira looked at the two of them for a few moments as Eragon finished getting Roran ready for the flight.
I do believe that they have lost their minds little one.
I agree with you.
I do believe that insanity is contagious little one.
I agree with you Brightscales.
In that case hold on tight!
Eragon got a firm hold onto the saddle and Roran just as Saphira hurtled upwards at a great pace. They were moving so fast that the wind was sucked from Rorans mouth as he screamed in sudden terror. Eragon laughed as they reached Saphiras top speed and caught up with Eressmiss and Sahkur-Rah.
"Don't you ever do that again Eragon! If you do I will kill you!"
"I'm sorry Roran but it's not my decision, its Saphiras." With that Saphira performed a barrel roll that sent Roran yelling again.
"Will you stop that you overgrown lizard!"
Let me think about it for a moment. No.
"Eragon make her stop before I throw up."
Saphira, you might want to stop before he throws up.
Why?
Because he'll hit you with it.
Immediately Saphira stopped rolling over in mid air. But she didn't slow down. They had decided to fly over the Hadarac Desert and make their way to Ellesmera that way. It would not take them long to get there. Fortunately it looked as if Arya and Orik were fairing better than Roran. Of course Eressmiss was not making barrel rolls in mid flight like Saphira was. A thought struck Eragon.
You aren't acting like this because Eressmiss is male are you?
No, not entirely. It just feels so good to fly again.
Oh, okay. I was just worried that…You know.
That I would lose my head and do something foolish? No I learned my lesson the last time. Mind you he is a lovely shade of green. There was a low rumbling sound That Eragon recognized as dragon laughter coming from Eressmiss.
And you are a lovely shade of blue but I'm not actively trying to capsize my guests.
And you shouldn't listen in on others conversations
I couldn't help it when I heard my name mentioned, besides a conversation is more fun with three.
I'd say four Sahkur-Rah added. There was a silence for a moment then Arya broke in
Actually five is quite a good number for a conversation.
They managed to fill the day making plans for their attack on the Ra'zac and when night came Roran was giving him odd looks. After the fifth time that he caught his cousin looking at him strangely he decided to find out what was wrong.
"Roran" Eragon said as he sat down beside him "What is it?"
"Nothing" Roran was never good at lying; Eragon could always tell when he was trying to.
"Look, just tell me what's wrong Roran. I can tell there is something wrong so just spill it."
"It's nothing. Really it's just that you've changed so much since I last saw you I'm not sure how to act around you anymore."
"I haven't changed that much."
"So you've always had pointed ears and an insane dragon and I've just never noticed? Eragon, you have changed. Don't try to deny it."
"So have you."
"But I haven't changed as much as you have."
"Right, I guess you haven't. Come to think of it you used to swing hammers at soldiers' heads and incite entire villages to rebellion on a frequent basis when we were kids."
"That's not funny"
"It wasn't supposed to be."
"Look, it takes some getting used to. Knowing that the goofy looking kid I grew up with is the first Rider since the fall of the original riders."
"And knowing that your cousin is responsible for the mass evacuation of an entire village doesn't? We've both changed but we're still the same people."
"So why don't you eat meat anymore?"
"Rider training."
"So something I wouldn't understand?"
"Honestly Roran it's not that you wouldn't understand it, it's just that it's too difficult for me to explain, and I am tired and I just want to sleep. It's nothing really."
Eragon finished eating in silence and rolled out his matt. He didn't understand why Roran was reacting strangely to him but he would have to live with it. The rest of their journey was much the same for the remainder of it. They would fly as fast as they could with Sahkur-Rah in the lead and they would eat and sleep when it got dark. They eventually made to the forest of the elves and they decided to continue on until they reached their destination. What surprised Eragon was that Eressmiss and Sahkur-Rah seemed to be able to find their way just fine. He decided that they must be guiding themselves by focusing on Oromis. It only took an additional twelve hours of flight for them to reach the journeys end and when they did Eragon was not very surprised to see Oromis' hut in the clearing that they landed in.
Oromis was sitting in the clearing making what appeared to be a fairth. At least he had been. When he had heard them approaching he had abandoned it and had brought out his sword. He looked as though he was ready to use it, when he saw that Eragon and Arya, as well as Orik were among his visitors he relaxed somewhat. He was still wary of the people he had not met before.
"Eragon, I take it that things have gone well? But it appears that you have picked up a few people that I haven't met yet, and a Dragon?"
"The man with the scraggly hair and beard is my cousin Roran, the woman with the wings is Sahkur-Rah, and the green dragon is her friend Eressmiss. It is a long story on how they got here but maybe we should sit and discuss-"
Eragon stopped talking as Sahkur-Rah stepped forward with a look of strong concentration on her face.
"You are sick. Why are you sick?"
"That is a very personal and long question young one-"
"I was not asking you how you got sick I was asking you why you are still sick."
"My sickness is of the kind that can not be cured." Eragon heard a note of stiffness in Oromis' voice. He could tell that Sahkur-Rah was not making a good impression.
"That is not true."
"I assure you that it is."
"And I assure you that it isn't, unless of course you did not study what the wild dragons taught you."
"What are you talking about?"
"Wild dragons, you know unbonded dragons. You did study what they taught, right?"
"I have never studied with wild dragons in my life. They were too dangerous."
"Ahh, I see now. What race was the first rider here?"
"Elf."
"That explains a great deal. The first bonded to a dragon where I am from was a human. He and the others after him live among the wild dragons."
"That is insane."
"No actually it's not. When you are bonded with a dragon you become one of them and dragons do not hurt their own. So the first to bond here was an elf, and elves in their infinite logic decided that wild dragons were too dangerous to live among, completely ignoring the possibility that what they could teach would be of great value. So now their knowledge has been lost to you and you do not know how to heal yourself."
"I used to be very good with magic-"
"Really, could you receive energy from the elements?"
"No, that is preposterous. You do not know the first rule of magic clearly."
"Actually, there is only one rule. There are no rules. Not where dragons are concerned."
"You would do well to speak to your elders with respect."
"And you would do well to listen." Eressmiss, I think that we are going to have a great deal more work on our hands than we had planned on.
Too true, young flyer, I would advise a healing for both the elder dragon and the stubborn point ears first. Then I'll teach them. You work on strategy and when they are ready you will teach them the elements and their power. You are better at it than I am.
That sounds like a plan. Not the best possible but I think that that possibility has been lost since they still need to be taught.
"Fine then, Eressmiss and I will heal you and the elder dragon and then I'll begin working on a plan while Eressmiss teaches you some of the more important things that you didn't learn from the unbonded dragons."
"I do not think that you have anyplace to tell me what should and should not be."
"That much is clear. Surprisingly enough I do not care." Eressmiss are you ready?
Yes, as always.
Very well then
Sahkur-Rah and Eressmiss walked to either side of the small clearing and when they were standing exactly opposite of each other Sahkur-Rah whispered in a strange language, it sounded like the ancient language but the words were strange. Eragon felt the earth tremble. Then a ring of fire surrounded both Oromis and Glaedr. At least it looked like fire but it was not hot and it did not burn. Both Oromis and Glaedr looked anxious, and Eragon was as well. He did not know either of these people well enough to allow what they were doing. Before he could think about it he tried to jump over the fire. He was thrown back however and landed on his backside. He tried to get up but something was holding him down. He could only watch as the fire changed to pure white light and engulfed both Oromis and Glaedr. Then there was a strong wind that whipped the trees around. Soon there was a rain burst and a bolt of lightening shot down into the ring. He heard Oromis yell and Glaedr Roar in pain, but he could do nothing. Then it was over. Eragon watched as the light died down and the invisible weight lifted off of him. He jumped up and ran over to both Oromis and Glaedr as fast as he could. He noticed Saphira, Arya and Orik ahead of him as they rushed to their fallen comrades. When he got there Oromis was laying on his side. He appeared to be asleep. He seemed fine though. When Eragon knelt beside him he saw that the scar that had been on his temple was gone. He heard a gasp from Arya as Saphira urged him to look at Glaedr. He rose, carrying Oromis and went over to where the others were standing. They parted so that he could see more clearly. He felt his jaw drop as he saw what they had done. Where Glaedrs' foreleg had been missing was a new leg. It clearly would need a great deal of exercise before it was as strong as the other leg but it was there. The scales were not gold like the rest of him but a pure white. They shone like mother of pearl when the light hit them.
"How did you do this?" He did not look away from Glaedr as he asked. Sahkur-Rah approached from behind as she replied.
"The elements have strong healing powers, what you just witnessed was what the unbonded dragons call a healing. Two healthy ones, a dragon and another of the dragon clan, stand facing each other on either side of those who need healing. Then one calls on the six elements and asks for the energy to heal them. When the elements agree they allow the asker to access their powers of healing. First earth trembles as it hears the call; fire burns the sickness and turns into light which heals. Air gives breath to the living; water cries and lightening strikes."
"But how could the elves not know this?"
"Because they are elves, and in their infinite logic choose to stay away from dragons that were unbonded. They missed a great deal of things that would have been more than merely useful to know. Come on, let's get them someplace warm. When they wake up they will feel tired and possibly cranky, but they will be whole. Eressmiss and I will give them a day to adjust to this then Eressmiss will teach all of you. I should hope that the point ears attempts to be respectful. Eressmiss is a good teacher but does not suffer fools."
Just so's you aren't surprised in the future: Sahkur-Rah has wings, can breath fire and is abnormally strong. basically anything a dragon can do she can do. She is 1/4 dragon after all: Also looking for ideas for pairings. Not against writing slash but i'd be no good at yaoi due to my very weird sense of humor. Also thinking that maybe Oromis/Eragon might be interesting.