Eragon followed the robed figures as closely as he could, but staying far enough away that he couldn't smell them. The walk was long, but he managed it, and now they were on the edge of Therinsford. The village was quite large, nearly a town, and it was a place where they could buy horses. The Ra'zac attracted strange looks, but no one mentioned anything. They stopped in front of a stable, handing Eragon a large bag of coins.
"Do as you wish while we're here, we will obtain supplies for the journey to Uru'baen." Eragon nodded. "Be careful, human. There are many people who would wish you harm." With that they entered the stable. Eragon frowned but turned towards the center of town. He found a child, sitting in front of a tavern.
"Could you tell me where Dempton's mill is?" He asked. The boy smiled and pointed towards the edge of town. Eragon ran in that direction, seeing the blades that turned the millstones. Outside the building sat Roran, talking to a man. The man left and Roran sighed. He turned and gave a wild yell when he saw him.
"E-Eragon?!" He cried. "What are you doing in Therinsford?" He hugged his cousin, laughing. "You missed me so much you had to come, eh?"
"Actually, Roran, I'm passing through." Roran gave him a strange look. "I'm on my way to Uru'baen, on the king's orders." His cousin gasped, stepping back.
"What? Why does he want you?"
"I don't know. I'm traveling with Saphira." He said, trying to be vague. Roran had often pulled tricks like this, and he wanted to get back at him. Roran frowned.
"Saphira? Who's that?" Eragon smiled.
"Only the most beautiful lady in all of Alagaesia!" He said, smiling at his trick. Roran looked at him smugly.
"You finally got yourself a girl, then?" He slapped Eragon on the back. "I knew you'd do it! Good looks and charm run in the family, how could a girl resist!" Eragon snickered. "What's so funny?" Roran asked, looking at him strangely.
"I didn't say she was my girl, Roran. But she is beautiful, and she is following me to the day I die."
"Same thing!"
"Not really." Eragon grinned from ear to ear. "You want to go meet her?" Roran laughed.
"Of course!" He said, following Eragon to the edge of town. "Why is she in the outskirts? Can't handle the city?"
"No, that's not it. I don't think the city could handle her." Eragon said, thoroughly enjoying his joke. This was his chance to get back at Roran for all the pranks he had pulled on him. A thick stand of trees was ahead. "I have to warn you, she is a little frightening. She might bite your head off."
"Don't worry, Eragon, I have a way with women."
"If you say so." They slipped through the trees.
Roran gasped at the sight of Saphira, falling back and giving a wild cry. Eragon tried pulling him to his feet, but his legs were rubber. "What is it?!" He cried. The blue dragon came close to him, sniffing.
"This is Saphira. She's my dragon." Eragon said. Roran looked at Eragon in astonishment, then back to Saphira, who was looking at him with one eye.
"You're a rider?" he muttered. He stepped back. "Will she bite?" Eragon smiled.
"No, Roran, she won't. Go ahead, she won't mind if you touch her." Saphira held her neck close to Roran so he could touch her. His fingers trembled and Saphira shuddered. "She says you're tickling her." Roran stepped back.
"She can talk?" Saphira looked at him.
Of course I can talk. What did you think I was, a pet? Roran gulped. Eragon, you've had your joke, take him back to town before he wets himself. Roran punched Eragon in the arm and she flinched, shaking her foreleg. That hurt, you know.
"Sorry, Roran. You always get to play jokes on me, so I thought I'd get back at you."
"This isn't funny, Eragon!" He cried, punching him again. He gasped as he realized the situation. You're a rider! My cousin is a rider!" He exclaimed, shaking him by the shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how you'd react, and when you left for the mill, I completely forgot." He said truthfully. Roran scowled at him.
"You know what Brom said; you're going to live longer than me. You're immortal, you know." He smiled. "Well, come visit me someday, mighty rider."
"I will, Roran. And Saphira, too." Roran smiled at her.
"You were right, Eragon. She is beautiful." Saphira shuffled her legs, looking pleased at the flattery. "See you, I have to get back to work, dragon rider or not. If I have any hope of marrying Katrina…" He left, glancing back at Saphira several times. Eragon was about to follow when the Ra'zac appeared, leading three horses. They rode two black ones, and Eragon was given the reins of a white one.
"The man we bought him from called him Snowfire, but you may call him whatever you wish." One hissed. Eragon jumped into the saddle, shifting uncomfortably.
"How long will it take us to get to Uru'baen?" He asked. One of the Ra'zac hissed, thinking.
"A week or two, depending on if anything else needs our attention." It said. Eragon's curiosity was aroused.
"What would require your attention?" Eragon leaned forward, eager to learn more about his escorts.
"Our master often sends us to investigate any strange happenings around the kingdom." The tall one said. "One of those things would be the disappearance of a dragon egg that was in his possession. The chance that the egg would hatch while in the most obscure place in Alagaesia is almost none, but yet it happened." The short one hissed in agreement.
"You are very fortunate to be able to serve our master. He treats all his rider allies as equals in all but name." They clicked and turned their steeds about, heading towards the road. Saphira took off, roaring to the town below. The Ra'zac clicked in satisfaction at the people's screams and shouts, carrying over the trees.
They reached the road, heading out from the town and traveling south towards Yazuac.