Nurtured by the kind and wise,
under Oaks as old as time,
He ran with deer and wrestled bear,
and from his elders learnt the skills
to kill the foe in Durza,
In the land of shadows.
"Eragon? Where have you ran off to? ERAGON?" Roranwas seriously annoyed. Here he was, trying to show his little cousin how to hunt, and all he did was run off, looking for flowers or some wild beast that would probably kill him. A beast that (if it did hurt him) Roran would have to kill. And, as much as he hated to admit it, he wasn't much of a hunter.
Sure he'd been learning since he was 8. But even now, at 14 he didn't have any more skill than back then. It was all he could do to hit the animal, let alone kill it!
"Eragon! If you run off one more time..." Where the bloody hell was that boy?
"Here I am! I just wanted to climb the tree...It was so big! I climbed it like a ladder, and I got to the top!" His voice sounded so proud. It would be a shame to have to introduce his to the world of death at such a young age.
"Eragon, your Un- uh, father wants you to learn how to hunt. It's so important that you do. One day, when you have a farm, a wife and children of your own, you'll have to teach them how to hunt. Now, knock the arrow like I showed you."
Eragon did so. He looked with pleading eyes to Roran's face, so he gave the younger boy what he wanted.
"Perfect! Now, slowly, pull the arrow back...good...now release!" Then Roran got a surprise. For Eragon had shot the arrow almost dead center.
Roran narrowed his eyes. "You've been practicing..." Eragon looked sheepishly at the floor and nodded. "Who with?" As if he didn't know. The only other person who had patience enough to cope with the Question-Asker-of-the-Year was..
"Brom. He said one day, I might actually want to hunt." Eragon stared at the moss covered ground. He figured Roran would come out with his usual "You should be glad I'm helping you! No one else would!" speech...till Roran started laughing.
"Ha ha! The old man's right! I'm not the best, and you should have someone who can actually kill an animal. You should train with him now. How about, I walk you down to his hutch with you, while you ask?" Roran could scarcely believe he was saying it, but the family needed one good hunter.
Of course Brom said yes. The more time he got to spend with his precious son, the better. But he wasn't to know that. Eragon would know in the time to come.
"Steady. Eragon, quiet! That deer can probably hear you a mile off! Hold the arrow steady. Good. Now...Fire!" With Brom's constant nattering in his ear, it was hard for the young hunter to focus. But he did. And he shot the doe right in the chest. Not bad for the 3rd try!
"I got her! I got her!" Eragon yelled excitedly. He was just thrilled he didn't have the shame for going home with nothing while Brom had deer and rabbits galore!
"Eragon. Don't let death excite you. We need to gut her, then skin her as soon as possible, so she doesn't rot."
After getting himself covered in blood, he could understand why some people were vegetarians. But, living in the Spine, he need the nutrients...
Another verse down! :D
This one was harder than the first...it required more thinking. To make it work.
Very happy with the reviewers from the last chapter! And Thanks to you lot, for reading! :D
Enjoy, Shannon. xoxo