Chapter Two: A New Day
Eragon woke refreshed. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes,he splashed his face with cold water, then ate breakfast, chatting cheerfully with Garrow and Roran. He raced through his chores and went into the woods, saying, "I'm going for a walk. I'll be back by evening." Garrow simply nodded.
When Eragon reached the place Miranda had indicated, he only saw a small campfire with a rabbit roasting over it and a dappled gray filly. Suddenly, a lone figure dropped out of a tree to his left. He relaxed when he realized it was Miranda. "Good afternoon," she smiled. Eragon grinned in return. "Where's your pack? You-"
"Look up," she suggested. Then she swung up into her tree. Eragon did so and was astonished to see a large tree house. He easily joined Miranda inside. "Welcome to my home," she said cheerily. "How did you build this?" he asked incredulously. "I didn't. It's probably been deserted for more than a year."
"Are you sure?" he asked, worried. Its owner might come back, and would likely be angry, whoever he is. "Miranda shook her head vigorously. "No. There were spider webs everywhere, and it was empty save for a short note."
"May I see it?" he asked.
"Of course!" she nodded, handing him the piece of yellowed paper. It read:
May the one who finds this sanctuary
live in happiness and peace whilst she stays.
Eragon rolled his eyes. "She, huh? So what are men, chop liver?" A small smile graced Miranda's countenance. "I think it was written by a woman who grew tired of the fact that everything says 'whilst he stays'. Frankly, I agree!" she laughed. The pair talked a while longer, but alas, evening touched the sky, and Eragon returned home.