FAteD lOvE: Yup, suspense is a writer's best friend.
Canadien-Girl14: You'll just have to wait and see…
Crystalblade Warrior: Here's some more!
Deadly Creative: Thanks!
Voyfan7: It does my heart good to know that my suspense was that effective. Eragon, what are we going to do with him? He really is quite stupid.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Rock of Kuthian
SAPHIRA MOVE!
But she didn't need Eragon's urgings. The very minute she knew her egg was in danger, Saphira folded her wings and dove down after Shruikan. YOU STUPID BOY! she shouted furiously at Eragon. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? YOU STUPID HUMAN!
Shruikan howled in dismay as Saphira's jaw closed on his tail, but Galbatorix only commanded him to dive faster, for the dragon egg was nearly within their reach. Saphira snarled, knowing that she could not overtake Shruikan. She released his tail and attempted to climb onto the back of the massive beast. She extended her armored neck and unleashed a jet of fire on Galbatorix.
Galbatorix merely laughed and let the fire flow over him, but the evil King emerged unharmed from the attack. A swift word in the ancient language sent her flying off Shruikan's back and spiraling away from her lost child.
Eragon howled in despair as he saw Galbatorix collect the lavender stone in his arms. Shruikan extended his wings to avoid hitting the ground and raced back to Galbatorix's fortress inside the walls of Urû'baen.
RORAN! Eragon called through their mind link. Roran! Galbatorix has stolen the egg. I need you at the palace in Urû'baen as soon as possible.
I'll be there, Roran replied.
Saphira? Eragon asked her timidly, feeling horrible about losing the egg. He just hoped Saphira wouldn't bit his head off.
You really are amazing. Do you know that? she snapped, racing after Shruikan. Only you could manage to lose something so valuable to such a despicable villain!
Would it help if I said I was sorry?
No, Saphira told him furiously. It would help if you got my child back!
Eragon was silent until they reached Galbatorix palace. Shruikan circled the building, waiting for them. Galbatorix has gone inside, he told Saphira as Shruikan came after them. Without saying a word, Saphira landed in the courtyard just long enough for Eragon to dismount before taking off after Shruikan in a deadly rage. I really am sorry, Saphira.
I know you are, came her angry reply. But if you can't get that egg back then I may just tear this whole place apart looking for it. Despite their grim situation, Eragon couldn't help but smile at her determination.
Within a minute, Roran dismounted from Garrow and the green dragon went to join Saphira. Roran glared at him. "Only you could have lost that egg," he snapped.
Eragon sighed. "So I've heard," he said, drawing Mor'ranr. "Come on, we have a world to save." Stoically, Roran drew Otho and followed Eragon into the darkness of Urû'baen's castle.
Inside, the halls were empty. Everyone had gone out to meet the Varden. It seemed that even the maids had gone. The echo of their footsteps flooded Eragon's ears as they traveled towards the throne room, hoping to find Galbatorix there. Wherever he was, he would have the egg with him and confrontation was unavoidable now. They could not allow Galbatorix to keep the egg.
Suddenly, another pair of footsteps was heard in a corridor ahead of them. Eragon and Roran stood still, waiting to see who was coming and whether or not they were a threat.
Does all seem lost?
A strangely familiar voice echoed in Eragon's mind. It was wise, but had an air of clever trickery about it too.
Solembum? Eragon asked.
The werecat made its way out of the shadows of Galbatorix's palace and simply repeated its question. Does all seem lost?
Eragon pondered his question for a moment. Yes, he answered grimly. Galbatorix has the egg and Roran and I must face him alone. Murtagh's dragon is dying. To win this battle, all Galbatorix has to do is kill us.
Then what must you do when all seems lost?
"When all seems lost and your power is insufficient, go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls!" Eragon said out loud with excitement. "Roran, we have to go to the Vault of Souls."
"Great," Roran said sarcastically. "And that is…?"
Eragon glanced down at Solembum. "I'm not exactly sure."
All will be made clear in time.
"But where is the Rock of Kuthian?"
Roran was utterly confused. "Are you talking to that cat?"
Eragon nodded, hastily shrugging off Roran's question. "Where is the Rock of Kuthian?" he repeated, more urgently.
It is… here.
Can you take us there?
Solembum snorted. I cannot do everything for you. But this I will tell you: it lurks far beneath the surface of this castle. Follow your feelings. They will lead you there for many you love know the way. With those words, the werecat disappeared into the shadows from which it came.
"So what did the cat say?" Roran scoffed.
Eragon glared at him. "Solembum's a werecat. He speaks in wisdom and prophecy and is not to be made fun of."
"So what did he say?" Roran asked again.
Eragon quickly relayed Solembum's words to him and asked, "Do you know where the Rock of Kuthian is?"
Roran shook his head. "If this… werecat… speaks in prophecy, then I doubt it's that simple. Most likely it involves those you cannot contact through normal means. If it leads to the Vault of Souls, then Solembum probably wants you to think of the deceased." He paused for a moment and asked, "What is the Vault of Souls?"
Eragon shrugged. "Probably exactly what it sounds like: a large room, or vault, where Galbatorix keeps souls that make him stronger. And if that's the case, you're probably right."
"Right," Roran said. "So who could be stuck there that you love? Most likely they were killed by servants of the King."
"Brom," Eragon said immediately.
"How about Garrow?" Roran asked, surprised that Eragon put the storyteller ahead of the man who raised him.
"Right," Eragon said hastily. "But how would I get them to tell me the way?"
Stupid child, Solembum's voice came back into his mind. How is it that you speak with me? Those in the Vault of Souls can be reached through the same means if you have the strength and power.
I thought you were done helping me? Eragon asked with a grin.
Sometimes your stupidity is too much for me to bear and I need to intervene to preserve my sanity.
Eragon looked at Roran, who had been staring at him strangely when Eragon fell silent and stared down the hall. "You're talking to that cat again aren't you?" he asked.
Eragon nodded, told Roran what he had learned and proceeded to stretch out with his mind for any trace of Brom or Garrow. It was a few minutes before he found a small, distant light. Excited, he surged forward with his magic only to he thrown backward by some kind of barrier. Confused, the Rider tried again with the same fruitless result. Once more, he gathered his strength and assaulted the wall. This time he could see clearly that it was a glass wall of some sort and on the other side, quite clearly, he could see Brom. Newly motivated, he threw his magic at the wall, but all that happened was a small crack.
Significantly weakened, Eragon withdrew from the wall and opened his eyes to face Roran. "Well?" the Green Rider asked curiously.
"I've found Brom," Eragon explained, breathing deeply from exertion. Any energy stored in the belt of Beloth the Wise or in the gem in Mor'ranr's hilt was gone. "But I can't reach him. It takes an enormous amount of strength. I can't do it on my own."
Roran thought for a moment. "I'll help you," he said after a moment.
"What?"
"You said Oromis taught you how to draw on another's strength," he said. "Take mine."
"But you need it," Eragon insisted.
Roran sighed. "It is not my destiny to kill the King," he explained. "It is yours. My destiny is elsewhere; I don't even know where yet. Take my strength. You need it more than I do. If you can't kill Galbatorix, the world will never be safe for me and Katrina."
Eragon sighed in submission after a moment. "Fine," he agreed, "I'll take your energy. But don't let me drain it all from you. I won't let you die."
Eragon closed his eyes again and searched for the wall. He found it quickly; Brom was still staring back at him on the other side. Drawing on much of Roran's strength, he widened the crack he had made earlier and finally the wall shattered, giving him access to Brom's mind.
Show me the way to the Rock of Kuthian.
Brom merely smiled at him and sent him a rush of images. Eragon was vaguely reminded of when Arya had shown him the way to the Varden. There was a staircase a little to their left. They had to take it as far down as it would go. That led them to another corridor, which ended in a stone door without a handle, knob or lock. That was the Rock of Kuthian.
He withdrew from contact from Brom to find Roran dragged to his knees from Eragon's draining his energy. Eragon rushed over to him. "I knew I shouldn't have done that," he whispered.
"Never mind me; I'm all right," Roran gasped. "Did you get the information we need?"
Eragon nodded. "We have to go down a great many stairs, as far down as it'll go, and then take the corridor to the end. Have you the strength to walk?"
"Yes," Roran said, managing to stand on his wobbly legs. He sheathed Otho and looked at Eragon expectantly. "Well? What are you waiting for? Lead the way!"
Eragon was surprised that the road to the Rock of Kuthian and the Vault of Souls wasn't heavily guarded. They managed to descend all the way down the stairs without meeting another living soul. Galbatorix had been sure to get every able-bodied man armed and ready for battle. The corridor at the end of the stairs was much longer than they expected it to be, though, and that was their only hindrance. Roran's strength seemed to be slowly returning, though he was still weak.
When they finally reached the Rock of Kuthian, Eragon simply stood there, unsure of what to do next.
"Speak your name," Roran said impatiently. "Isn't that what the cat told you to do?"
"Yes," Eragon said hesitantly. "But nothing Solembum ever says is that simple."
"It's worth trying," Roran urged him.
"Fine." Eragon agreed, standing before the door and feeling very silly. "Eragon," he shouted at it. Nothing happened and he tried again, "My name is Eragon Shadeslayer."
No, no, that won't due, scoffed Solembum, back again.
Eragon rolled his eyes. Safe both of us some trouble and tell me what I'm supposed to be doing.
You of all people should know that magic uses the ancient language, the cat suggested before leaving the Rider's mind again.
Suddenly enlightened, Eragon turned to Roran. "I have to use my real name," he declared. "The one in the ancient language."
"Great," said Roran sarcastically. "Except for the fact that you don't know what your real name is."
Eragon's hopeful expression quickly faded. "You're right," he sighed. "I don't know my real name, and I have no idea how I would go about figuring it out."
Roran sighed in frustration and leaned against the wall. "So then this was all in vain," he said dismally. "The Varden will fall and we will all be killed. So much for a happy ending!"
Feeling extremely guilty, Eragon said nothing and turned to face the Rock of Kuthian again, prepared to make random guessed at what his name in the ancient language could possibly be, but then he noticed something unexpected.
The doors were opening and someone stood on the other side.
And there are some commercials up for Darkness Approaches on YouTube. I can't post all the links here, so if you want to see 'em, search for Darkness Approaches or kenobiandskywalker. Any comments on them are also much appreciated.