Thomas followed his mother along the road, wondering where they were going. They had fled the town with no warning, and now they were following a caravan of traders.
"Momma, where are we going?" He asked, tugging his mother's skirt.
"To Uru'baen, to see father." She said, smiling. Thomas smiled and hopped.
"That's where Saphira is going!" His mother looked down at him in confusion.
"Saphira? Who in Alagaesia is that? It sounds so outlandish…" Thomas smiled very widely.
"She's my friend. The king wants her to go to the capital. Can I go see her when we get there?" He thought of seeing the bright-blue dragon, wondering if she would remember her. His mother frowned and thought for a moment.
"If she's near where we're staying, then yes, you can go see her."
"Yay!" Thomas yelled, his mother not realizing that her son's best friend was a dragon.
Eragon
Eragon watched as the Ra'zac bargained with the man at the edge of town for passage. The buildings around them were covered with archers, watching them silently. Eragon stood impatiently, leaning on Saphira. Even though he was a rider, they still wouldn't let him pass. The Ra'zac turned and mounted their steeds, motioning for Eragon to follow. The man watched them leave, signaling for the archers to lower their weapons.
The plains swept out before them, blank, flat, and desolate. There was no movement except for the breeze through the grass. Eragon sighed, wondering how long he would wander the place without his escorts. They hissed and clicked to one another, shuddering at the sight of the place. They began their journey, traveling at a brisk pace along the nearly invisible trail.
The air was dry and hot, and Eragon was sweating constantly. He came from a much colder place, and the warm weather was torturing him. Saphira seemed to be enjoying the warmer climate, and was almost in a good mood.
Eragon, what do you think the king would make us do? She asked suddenly.
I think he would send us to other cities for administrative things. Eragon said. He wiped sweat off his forehead. I don't really know, but we are very important people. Saphira snorted.
Of course we are! We are the only dragon and rider pair other than him, and that means we'll be doing more than sweeping the floors. Saphira extended a wing over Eragon, blocking the sun and cooling the air immensely.
Thank you, Saphira. If the heat kept up like that I might have passed out. Saphira chuckled.
I think it's perfectly fine today, but I must think of you as well, little one. If you are in discomfort I will be as well. She craned her neck to nudge his shoulder with her snout. Whatever happens, this will be far more interesting than a life of pulling weeds.
Unless the king just makes us pull weeds in the royal garden… Eragon muttered. He looked at the short Ra'zac, who was tapping on the side of a flask he had never seen him open. "What's in that?" The Ra'zac held it up, showing the silver insignia on the side.
"Witch-oil." It said with a hiss. "Very useful in our trade. It is a form of acid, burning only things that were once part of an animal, and nothing else. You can put it on anything, and the next living thing that touches it will be burned, and the wounds do not heal for a long time."
"It sounds like a horrible thing to do." Eragon said, grimacing. The Ra'zac hissed softly in a sigh.
"We do not concern ourselves with 'good and evil', our work is about efficiency." The tall one said, turning to his twin. "Try not to lose it, or master will be in a foul mood." He turned to look at Eragon. "What is the most cunning thing you can think to do with it?" Eragon, though he didn't want to, tried his best.
"Pour it on a ladder on your way down so if someone is following you they will fall to their death, or be so badly burned they can't hold a sword." The Ra'zac clicked excitedly together.
"Excellent idea. We will have to try that next time Durza attempts to kill us." The short one said with a hiss.
Saphira growled at Eragon. Don't encourage them.
Sorry, they asked me. He said, frowning. I don't really get them, they're so…
…ruthless. Saphira finished, snorting. Hopefully, we won't have to help them in their 'trade'. I don't like the idea of pouring witch-oil on people.
I don't either… Eragon said, trying to sleep in the saddle while Saphira watched him.
Thomas
Thomas watched his mother arguing with a man. She had been standing in the street, reciting code words to the man to gain access, and now he wouldn't let her in. Another man knocked him aside, looking at his mother warmly.
"Well now, I thought you wouldn't come back. Forgive the old guy, he's a little paranoid. Come on in." He stepped aside, letting the pass. This was one of the worst kept buildings in Uru'baen, but the Varden didn't care about that. The man, Thomas's father, sat down opposite his mother. "So, what did you come here for?"
"The egg that disappeared." His mother said hurriedly. "It hatched for a boy from up north. The dragon was in plain sight right in the middle of town, and the Ra'zac were leading them to this city!"
"My gods…we have to get the boy away from them somehow… Has Brom been seen recently?"
"No sign of him. He should be easier to get after the creatures retreat to their lair, wherever that is. We must prepare to strike at the castle, before the king's lies can take root!"
"I agree. We must prepare for the worst."