Chapter 13.5: Poor, Poor Era
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Era rode through the night she only stopped for Thorn to get a drink at the Jeit River. There she put on her black cloak over her already black tunic and pants. She rode south along the river all night till dawn then they stopped under some small trees. The forest had cleared up a lot as she went further south. She was on her way to Melian from there she was going south to Surda then from there she had no idea. Era was sure that as long as she kept moving she would not get attached to anyone.
She traveled during the night and slept during the day. She traveled like that until she reached Melian. Outside of Melian a group of riders stopped her. "Halt! What is your business in Melian?" said the biggest man in the group.
Era replied "I am traveling from Beltona to Surda. I was planning on staying in one of your inns tonight."
The man looked thoughtful. Era was not sure of what the men would do so she stretched out her mind to the man's mind but she found it blocked not with magic but with lack of her magic. "We will let you stay for tonight, but you must be gone by morning." said the same man, bringing Era out of her trance.
They led her to the town and forming a circle around her led her to the inn. There the men let her dismount. A stable boy went to grab Thorn's reigns from Era but she held them out of his reach "Did anyone ever tell you that it is impolite to take someone else's horse?" The boy looked very confused but turned around and led her to the stable. Once inside the stable Era led Thorn to a clean empty stall and started untacking him. During all this they boy was staring at her, Era turned to him and said "It is also impolite to stare. Have you been ever taught manners?"
When the boy did not answer but continued to stare at her she blew a strand of hair out her face then whipped around back to Thorn. "You're a girl!" the boy said at last.
Era made a face and was about to make a very sarcastic remark but then she remembered what Arya had told her and just said "Yes I am, how could you tell?" she could not resist the last bit.
The boy rolled his eyes and said "You act like one. What is a girl like you riding on dangerous rode at this time of the night?"
Era inwardly groaned he was one of those types of boys, one of those boys who think they are superior to women just because they have stronger arms. Era turned again to face him and after taking off her hood, she had not done that yet, said " Making the roads dangerous. What else?"
"I would think hiding from the Varden or from that red dragon rider, who has been flying around here lately. Either way you are in trouble with someone with power."
"What red dragon rider?"
"The one that looks like you, except that he is a guy."
"Oh, I'm not hiding from anyone but if you want to know what side I am on. I think it would be safe to say that I am for the Varden." Era said acting like it did not matter much to her.
"Oh good," said the boy then to the guys outside "You hear that she's for the Varden."
Era half expected to get killed right there on the spot instead the men outside just walked away leaving only the boy to watch her.
"Did you hear?" asked the boy eagerly "The Varden just took Dras-Leona"
Era shook her head and sighed she imagined the sight of Roran being reunited with Katrina. She imagined the Katrina smiling and crying at the same time. She wondered what hat happened to Sloan. Then she shook her head, banishing such thoughts from her head.
She finished untacking Thorn while trying very hard to conceal her sword and many knives from the boy. She was certain that if they had a reason to mistrust her they would not hesitate to kill her. "Okay I'm ready to go." She told the boy who just turned around and led her back to the front of the inn.
Inside the inn she was greeted by a girl that looked like the boy, Era assumed that they were sibling. The girl said, "Welcome to our humble inn, my name is Annabelle and my brother who you met before is Noran. We hope your stay will be comfortable."
Era was impressed for how hostile the town itself was the inn was hospitable. She thanked Annabelle. Annabelle then led her to her room and thanked her for coming because ever since the men started to patrol the area over half the inn's business stopped coming. Then she wished Era a good night's rest and closed the door.
That night Era did not have a good nights rest as Annabelle had wished. She stayed up first wrapping her right had with some extra cloth torn off her cloak so it would cover her gedwey ignasia. The rest of the night was spent on working on her magical power that she seemed to be loosing. First she practiced doing things like levitating her bed of the ground for a while. When she found that she could still do that she turned inward. First she tried to make contact with Annabelle's mind but when she could not reach it she just let her mind roam free around the small village and the surrounding countryside. She could hear what some of the cats were thinking and what some other animals were thinking but she could either not able to reach humans or sometimes she would be able to hear a person thinking but not be able to make out what they were thinking. After trying this for a while she finally gave up and lay down on the bed. That's when she realized that before she left she had given up her privilege to be a rider to Yuaza. Then she heard a voice in her head saying You gave up your life's grace for a cause you believed good and just because of this your powers are leaving you. Your dragon may still fly but without a whole rider. You and Yuaza were close but now there is a great darkness that separates you. One day you may ride again but not with Yuaza nor on Agni .
Era was shocked this was a new voice in her head. She had never heard him before though she was not really listening to the speaker. It was like when her parents were lecturing her on something and she just droned them out, except she wanted to listen to this man more than ever but she still droned him out. Era thought simply Why not with Yuaza? How do YOU know who I am? Who are you?
Era could almost hear him laughing as he answered So many questions for one so young! I will answer one of them: I have known you since you were born, Eraganna Artemis Morzansire, I knew your father and I have met one of your brothers. If you are anything like him then you will choose the right thing, for you, you brothers, and your country. It is still your choice.
With that the voice left her head. Now Era was very, very confused who was this person. Who ever it was definitely knew her, she was quite sure that if this person was on the wrong side she was in big trouble. Just then someone slammed open her door. Era screamed.
It was Murtagh holding in front of him Noran with a knife to his throat. Era stared at him her eyes getting more and more intense. It was Murtagh who spoke first "Hello, long time, no see. I hear you have been busy, taking Belatona blaming yourself for that boy's death, then running all the way here with out your dragon. That is no small accomplishment."
Era took a deep breath, and saw Noran's face get more and more scared, then she said "Let the boy go Murtagh we both know you don't have the stomach for it."
Murtagh only held the knife closer to the boy's throat and said "Oh I don't do I killed the Dwarf King, I can kill this boy. Or does he mean something to you?"
"The boy does not mean anything more to me than any other person, but I guess that's the difference between you and me. I value all life and you don't. But what would you do if I told you that killing this boy would harm me, Wyrda? What would YOU do if I told you that that harming this boy and his sister would harm me?"
Murtagh froze and glared at Era, who grinned. They stayed like that until finally Murtagh let Noran go the boy fell down in between the two siblings. Murtagh said "How did you find out?"
Era grinned even more "The women of this family in contrast to popular opinion are very strong, and smart. Not to mention beautiful but everyone knew that already knew that. Do you think that I would not notice you showing mercy?"
"I did not think you would notice. I thought you would be to busy acting immature."
"I was not acting immature, that is how my friend and I act together. Now why are you here? You would never come in and try to scare me like that unless you had reason."
Murtagh was flabbergasted he had no idea that Era knew anything about him. Then again she was with the Varden and Eragon for all most a whole week. She must have picked up something from there.
Or maybe like she suggested she is smarter then you think. Thorn suggested from outside, he had been listening to the whole conversation.
Thorn you are my dragon so aren't you supposed to agree with me?
Not necessarily.
Murtagh cut off the conversation after that, and then he said to Era "Galbatorix sent me to find you, and bring you to him, Alive."
Era's insides froze though she did not show it. She thought that I am to be brought to Uru'baen as a hostage. I will probably be tortured and if the Varden fails end up watching all my friend and family die. This is just great. Aloud she said " So it is to be torture, I can cope with torture."
Murtagh laughed or maybe cried then he said "I have no doubt you can." He took a step forward and then Era passed out. She did not awake again until she was in the dungeon of Uru'baen
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Short chapter but a lot happens. So please review. On the last chapter when I said I was going to have a character sing a song I was going to have Era sing "Close Every Door to Me" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. I decided against it because I had thought up the idea when I was on a sugar high and I do stupid things when I am on a sugar high, also because I got a review answering my question and that was really nice.
Check out my profile please I just updated it and now I want to know what you think. It includes some stuff that you might find interesting about me and some other stuff that I find interesting about other things. Please review. Bye!