I wanted to apologize again for the brevity of the last chapter. Their will be many more interactions with Saphira in the future that was more of an experiment than anything else. Now onto the story.
"Morning sunshine!" I said to Chris.
"Fuck you." he grunted back.
I chuckled to myself. He was always bad in the morning.
"So what's the plan?" I asked to the general populace of the area.
"We head south. That's where the Ra'zac are headed." said Brom.
"The Ra'zac?" asked Chris.
"They are the enemies of all living creatures. They were looking for Eragon back in his home village of Carvahall. They killed his uncle Garrow and burned his home to the ground." replied Brom.
"Why?" Chris asked.
"They were ordered to capture him by King Galbatorix, the tyrant king of this land." replied Brom.
"But if the Ra'zac are the enemies of all living creatures, why do they serve a human king?" asked Chris.
"Galbatorix is very clever. He knows that they are very capable servants. So he offered them what they wanted. An endless supply of food." replied Brom.
"Food?" asked Chris.
"Humans." replied Brom.
Chris stared at him in disbelief. "Holy shit." he said.
"We are looking for them so that we can kill them." said Eragon angrily.
"Well sounds like we have a new job to do, oo-rah?" I said to Chris.
"Oo-fucking-rah." said Chris.
"What do you mean?" asked Eragon.
"We're gonna help you kill those bastards. No matter how long it takes." I said.
"Are you sure? It is sure to be a dangerous journey." said Brom.
"You got problems that we can solve. We're not even sure how to get home yet so we might as well help you." I said.
"Thank you for your offer. It is most welcome." Said Brom.
"So do you accept it?" I asked.
"Yes we do." replied Brom.
"Alright. Now about traveling. You guys can take the horses. We can go on foot." I said.
"On foot? How can you keep up with us on foot for so long?" asked Eragon.
"Well if you go full speed we can't, but if you only go at a walking pace or even a slow trot we can." I said.
"Well we don't go much faster than that. If that's what you want then so be it." said Brom.
"It would be easier though if we didn't have to carry our packs. They weigh about seventy pounds each." I said.
"Well we could put one on each horse." said Brom.
"Saphira could take them as well." said Eragon.
"No." I said. "Saphira is not a pack animal. I wouldn't put that burden on her unless she offered."
"I will carry your things. That way you wont look as suspicious." she said. By the look on everyone's face she had said it to everyone.
"Who said that?" said Chris. He had not yet spoken to Saphira.
"It's the dragon Chris. She can speak with her thoughts." I told him.
"This shit is fucked man. Really fucked. Now there are talking dragons and these weird things that eat people. The giant goat people were bad enough. This ain't nothing like home." said Chris.
"Bro we're marines. Don't matter where we are. We fight and we kill. Just focus on that." I said to him.
"I know man. It's just a lot to take." he said.
"Well Saphira has offered to carry your things. Will you let her?" asked Brom.
"Yes, if she is still willing." I said.
"Yes I am. It is smarter than you carrying it all. You'll look less suspicious if you carry the bare minimum." she said.
"She's right. Carry only what you need. Put the rest on Saphira." said Brom.
"Alright, give us a minute." I said. I grabbed my two KA-BARS and strapped them on my belt, one on the left the other on the right. I also grabbed my three throwing knives. I grabbed my long sleeve shirt and canteen as well. Chris grabbed his KA-BAR, as well as his long sleeve shirt and canteen. He also grabbed his pistol and an extra magazine and hid them under his shirt.
"Alright we're ready." I said.
"Very well. Let's strap the rest of your equipment onto Saphira's saddle." said Brom.
We got everything onto Saphira's saddle fairly quickly.
I felt a presence touching my mind. "Yes Saphira?" I asked.
"If I cannot be there to protect them then at least you can be. Keep Eragon out of trouble if you can. But I doubt you will. He is a master of getting himself into it. But still do your best. I am counting on you. Don't disappoint me." she said.
"On my word as a United States Marine, I will protect your rider, with my life if necessary." I said.
"Good. Thank you, Devil Dog." she said with a hint of playfulness. I laughed in my mind and finished packing our things onto her.
"Alright. Let us be off." said Brom.
With that we set off to the south. Chris and I jogging alongside Brom and Eragon singing our well memorized cadences.