Chapter Nine

Brom had stayed out under the stars that night. For some reason, he felt that being in the same house, as Sareh would cause her dreams to be frightening the whole night through. He couldn't stand to bring her pain. Saphira had lain beside him, curing her tail protectively around him. The rough texture of her scales against his linen encased arms comforted him. Saphira believed in Sareh, the two of them had an understanding about Sareh and her powers.

"Saphira?" He felt his dragon shift beside him.

"Yes Brom?"

"Why didn't you press Sareh to share what she saw?" Saphira turned her head, one great eye fixed on his face.

"Do you really need to ask that?" Brom gave her a look that in essence, expressed his need.

"Saphira—I love her. I want to make sure she's safe, but I can't do that if I don't know what's happening to her." Saphira gave a dragon's version of a shrug.

"I care for her too Brom, but the images I saw were what were near the surface of her consciousness. Remember, I taught her how to close off her mind, even to me." Brom sighed. This was going to be difficult. He was leaving tomorrow, and the only difficulty he had foreseen was leaving Sareh. Now not only did he have to leave her, he had to leave her without knowing if she was going to be safe. Saphira nudged Brom's shoulder with her great nose.

"She is strong Brom, she will understand it on her own." Brom leaned back against the dry, rough scales, the odd warmth emanating from his dragon lulling him to sleep. His slumber was restless leaving him to wake before the sun rose. He watched as it crept over the horizon, one leg pulled up to rest his elbow upon, hand hanging limply. Saphira stirred as rays of light crawled up the meadow, reaching for their shadows.

"Tell me you slept Brom."

"All right, I slept." Saphira glared at him as she stretched, her maw of a mouth gaping to reveal rows of gleaming, sharp teeth. She smacked her reptilian lips to unglue them. She met Brom's gaze,

"I believe it's my duty to tell you, you're not a very good liar." Brom shrugged and picked his coat off the ground, shaking it free of loose grass and dirt.

"Sleep didn't seem so important."

"It is when you have to begin patrolling again." Before Saphira could chastise him further the two realized they were not alone. Sareh had come to their patch of land, a shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Brom dropped the coat, uncaring of it gathering dirt again.

"Sareh." Sareh met him as he moved forward. She wrapped her arms around Brom's waist, laying her head on his chest. Brom kissed the top of her head, pulling her close.

"Did you sleep?" he asked her, wondering if her dreams had been overrun by disturbing images once more. Her slight nod against his chest reassured him slightly. She looked up at his worried face.

"Did you sleep Shur'tugal?" Brom couldn't look her in the eye for that one. Sareh sighed.

"I wish you would trust in me." Broom looked at her in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"I do!" Sareh shook her head.

"You're afraid I can't handle what I see." Brom touched her face, fingers tracing over the contours of her features.

"I just don't want you to face whatever this is alone." Sareh smiled, leaning into his touch.

"I won't be. I know I can communicate with you and Saphira, if I need help, I'll tell you. Please trust in me." Brom rested his face against her hair. His time was running short, he and Saphira had to report in soon. It was the last thing he wanted to do now. To leave.

Sareh sensed this and touched her hand to his face, a mirror of his own. Her hazel eyes met his blue ones, her calmness rushed through him like a river. He would never understand how she could be so calm when she was the one who was facing such terrible powers. Saphira moved forward to catch Brom's attention.

"We have to go Brom." Brom looked back at Saphira, willing her to stop talking about leaving. When he returned his gaze to the woman he had fallen in love with, he saw that she had heard Saphira. She looked at Brom and nodded.

"Go." Brom knew he had to. His heart didn't want to. Sareh pushed against Brom's chest, backing him up until he bumped into Saphira's side.

"Go Shur'tugal. You have a duty to Alagaësía." Brom turned and mounted the dragon saddle upon Saphira's back. He watched Sareh as Saphira prepared to fly, his eyes never leaving her, even as Sareh became smaller and smaller in the distance. Finally Brom could no longer see her, but he knew that through Saphira, he and Sareh would know they would stay in contact. He could only hope that the terrible dream that Sareh had been put through would return during his absence.

He and Saphira arrived at their destination, reporting in and taking over for Morzan, the friend that Sareh had heard and seen while testing her powers. The two dragon's faced each other, treading air as a swimmer would water, staying afloat as their Rider's exchanged news.

"I don't know if you've heard Brom, but Galbatorix's request for another egg was turned down." Morzan spoke, hoping to share some new piece of information. He was sorely disappointed when he had found that his friend was clearly informed.

"I heard, I also heard he didn't take it well." Morzan was slightly puzzled.

"You've been hiding out in the wilderness doing who knows what—how could you know of the denial so soon?" Brom pursed his lips, should he share his betrothal? Would that put Sareh in danger?

"Let's just say I've been in contact." Morzan shook his head; the movement caused the sunlight to strike the blood-red stone in the hilt of his sword.

"I see. Well, now that you've returned from the wilds, feel free to patrol The Overgrown Bushes, the pimple on the face of Alagaësía." Brom chuckled and bid his friend goodbye, Morzan's dragon wheeling away and heading towards their own holiday, or wherever they had decided to travel. Brom sighed and patted Saphira's neck.

"Shall we?" Saphira let out a large puff of smoke.

"Oh yes, I do so enjoy flying over this forest." With that, she headed towards the ends of The Spine. What they didn't know, is that someone had a plan for them and it was going to happen through someone they mutually loved.