Chapter 27:
Long Way From Home
Eragon awoke early, and he could just see the orange sunlight beginning to pour over the horizon. A slight breeze was blowing in from the south, which quickly brought him to his senses. He looked around for Galbatorix, and saw a gray shadow hovering on the horizon. He blinked to make sure he was judging the distance right, and was. He then glanced around to deduce his surroundings, and noticed several different things. First off, he could see their destination far off in the east. Another was their speed: they had slowed down considerably since he had fallen asleep, but so had Shruikan. He blinked again, wiping his eyes to rid himself of any lingering drowsiness. He looked up at the sky, and could see clouds, and also flocks of geese intersecting their path to migrate south. Leaves were being swept up towards them, and one got stuck on Saphira's eye. She quickly closed her eye, spouting a jet of fire to incinerate the hindrance.
Ah, good morning, little one. How did you sleep?
Not the best sleep, but better than some. Did they try anything while I was asleep?
No, they kept to themselves, but I am sensing a heightening amount of energy emanating from them...it worries me.
I can sense it too, he replied with a quick look back at their foes, it gives me the feeling of impending doom... How are you?
I'm doing alright, they have been the same distance away for some time now. The only thing
I need now is food; I need sustenance, or my energy will rapidly deteriorate in the coming hours. I don't know how much longer I can keep this pace up.
Don't worry, we'll get there soon. He stroked the side of her neck, and kept his hand there, staring intently at their objective. He searched for the grove that would signal their journeys end, and spotted it almost immediately. He told Saphira to turn right, and she veered sharply, dropping a few hundred feet in a couple of seconds. He opened his mouth to give a loud yell, but no sound came out; instead, he got a few bugs to the mouth. When Saphira pulled up and landed, he stuck out his tongue and spit four times before he finally felt that he was rid of the horrid taste.
They looked around to see if they could see it from Saphira's chosen touchdown zone, but could not find, although Eragon could sense it. It was almost impossible to spot it through the thickets that seemed to be choking the conifers that inhabited most of the area, so he decided to try and venture through them. He didn't get very far before he got caught in numerable places, and it wasn't until after getting stuck for the umpteenth time that he decided to use magic. He cut through a couple branches, which gave him just enough room to jump over the last bush. He turned around to tell Saphira to come, but she was gone.
He looked around, and then felt a sudden pressure. He looked up, only to find Saphira fly over the other side of the thicket. She landed with a heavy thud, and then walked over to meet her. They both made their way towards their destination, their one hope, the thing that would end the war once and for all.
It was the stone they had seen on the way to Belatona; It was The Rock of Kuthian.