Free Riders

Author's Note: Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Comment as you see fit.

Chapter 13: The Might of Magic

The road out of Yazuac led through a rocky area, veered left, then continued along the bank of the Ninor. Varieties of ferns, mosses, and small bushes dotted the pathside. It was refreshingly cool under the trees, but it wasn't enough to lull Eragon or Blaster into a sense of security. They stopped briefly to fill the waterskins and Blaster's canteen, then let the horses drink. Glancing down, Eragon saw the Ra'zac's spoor. Showing it to Blaster, the alien confirmed that they were headed in the right direction. Saphira and Sara circled overhead to keep an eye on them.

It disturbed both of them that they had seen only three Urgals. The villagers had been killed and the village itself ransacked by a large horde, but where was it? Blaster and Eragon tossed around ideas as to why they had only seen the three. Some of those ideas included them being the rear guard, to a trap left for anyone following the main force, to even deserters, keen to ransack the village while the main force marched on.

Eragon's thoughts then turned to how he had killed the Urgals. It was with magic, something a farm boy from Palancar Valley shouldn't be able to do under normal circumstances. He had somehow become a sorcerer, yet Blaster acted just as confused as Eragon was. However, neither knew how to use this new power again or the limits and dangers that might come with it. Eragon wondered how he could have this ability, if it was common among Riders, and why Brom didn't tell him about it if he knew.

They conversed with Saphira and Sara to check on Brom's condition and to share thoughts. The dragons were just as puzzled as they were. They shook the thoughts from their mind and asked the dragons to find a spot to settle down for the night. While the dragons searched, they continued along the Ninor.

The summons reached them just as the light was fading. Come. Saphira sent an image to them of a secluded clearing in the trees by the river. They changed their direction and sped up to a trot. With Saphira's help, it was easy to find, but was so well concealed that even Blaster doubted that anyone else would notice it.

A tiny, smokeless fire was already burning when they entered the clearing. Brom sat next to it, tending to his arm, which he held at an awkward angle. Saphira and Sara were both crouched behind him, their bodies tense. While Saphira questioned Eragon, Sara looked intently at Blaster and asked, Are you sure you are alright?

It'll take more than a shield to the side to get me down.

We should have been there sooner.

Do not fret. We've all made mistakes today. We should have high-tailed it out of there when we had the chance to. Her gratitude of that remark washed over him and he smiled. Eragon looked at Brom and asked, "How are you?"

The old man glanced at his arm. "It's a large scratch and hurts terribly, but it should heal quickly enough. I need a fresh bandage, though. This one didn't last as long as I'd hoped." They boiled water to wash Brom's wound, then Brom, with the help of Blaster, tied a fresh rag to his arm. Finally, looking to Eragon, he said, "I must eat, and you look hungry as well. Let's have dinner first, then we shall talk."

When their bellies were full and warm, Brom lit his pipe. "Now, I think it's time for you two to tell me what transpired while I was unconscious. I am most curious." His face reflected the flickering firelight, and his bushy eyebrows stuck out fiercely.

Eragon nervously clasped his hands and told the story, up to his little state of unconsciousness, without embellishment. Brom remained silent throughout it, his face inscrutable. When Eragon finished, Blaster picked up where Eragon left off and told Brom that he had taken care of the last Urgal seconds after Eragon passed out. Brom looked down at the ground. For a long time, only the snapping fire could be heard. Finally, Brom stirred. "Have you used this power before?"

"No," Eragon said. "Do you know anything about it?"

"A little." Brom's face was thoughtful. "It seems I owe you a debt for saving my life. I hope I can return the favor someday. You should be proud. Few escape unscathed from slaying their first Urgal. But, the manner in which you did it, Eragon, was very dangerous. You could have destroyed yourself and the whole town."

"It wasn't as if I had a choice," Eragon defended. "The Urgals were almost upon me. If I had waited, they would have chopped me into pieces."

"If you had waited, I would have abandoned mine and rescued you," Blaster said. "I am proficient with the sword."

Brom stamped his teeth vigorously on the pipe stem. "You didn't have any idea what you were doing."

"Then tell me," Eragon challenged. "I've been searching for answers to this mystery, but I can't make sense of it. What happened? How could I have possibly used magic? No one has ever instructed me in it or taught me spells."

Brom's eyes flashed. "This isn't something you should be taught, much less use!"

"Well, I have used it, and I may need it to fight again," Eragon protested. "But I won't be able to if you don't help me. What's wrong? Is there some secret I'm not supposed to learn until I'm old and wise? Or maybe you don't know anything about magic!"

"Boy!" Brom roared. "You demand answers with an insolence rarely seen. If you knew what you asked for, you would not be so quick to inquire. Do not try me." He paused, and relaxed to respond in a kinder way. "The knowledge you ask for is more complex than you understand."

Eragon rose hotly in protest. "I feel as though I've been thrust into a world with strange rules that no one will explain."

"I understand," Brom said. He fiddled with a piece of grass. "It's late and we should sleep, but I will tell you a few things now, to stop your badgering. This magic, for it is magic, has rules like the rest of the world. If you break these rules, the penalty is death, without exception. Your deeds are limited by your strength, the words you know, and your imagination."

"What do you mean by words?" Eragon asked.

"More questions!" Brom cried. "For a moment, I had hoped you were empty of them."

"He does have a right to know," Blaster commented. "Eragon, when you shot the Urgals, did you say something?"

"Yes, brisingr," Eragon replied. The fire flared and a shiver ran through Eragon. Something about the word made him feel alive.

"I thought so," Brom said. "Brisingr is from an ancient language that all living things used to speak. However, it was forgotten over time and went unspoken for eons in Alagaësia, until the elves brought it back over the sea. They taught it to the other races, who used it for making and doing powerful things. The language has a name for everything, if you can find it."

"But what does that have to do with magic?" Eragon asked.

"Everything!" Brom replied. "It is the basis for all power. The language describes the true nature of things, not the superficial aspects that everyone sees. For example, fire is called brisingr. Not only is that a name for fire, it is the name for fire. If you are strong enough, you can use brisingr to direct fire to do whatever you will. And that's what happened today."

"Hold on," Blaster suddenly said. "Okay, one: why was his fire blue? And does that mean that mine will be tinted white? And two: how come it did exactly what Eragon wanted if all he said was fire?"

"To answer your questions in order," Brom said, "the color varies from person to person. It depends on who says the word. As to why the fire did what Eragon wanted, that's a matter of practice. Most beginners have to spell out exactly what they want to happen. As they gain more experience, it isn't as necessary. A true master could say water and create something totally unrelated, like a gemstone. You wouldn't be able to understand how he had done it, but the master would have seen the connection between water and the gem and would have used that as the focal point for his power. The practice is more of an art than anything else. What you did was extremely difficult, Eragon."

Eragon thought for a moment, conversing with Saphira. He then had a thought and voiced it. "Saphira and I just realized something. You can use this magic, can't you? That's how you started the fire our first day on the plains."

Brom inclined his head slightly and said, "I am proficient to some degree."

"Then why didn't you fight the Urgals with it?" Eragon demanded. "In fact, I can think of many times when it would have been useful—you could have shielded us from the storm and kept the dirt out of our eyes."

Brom refilled his pipe. When he was done, he said, "Some simple reasons, really. I am not a Rider, which means that, even at your weakest moment, you are stronger than I. And I have outlived my youth; I'm not as strong as I used to be. Every time I reach for magic, it gets a little harder."

Eragon dropped his eyes, abashed. "I'm sorry," he said weakly.

"Don't be," Brom replied as he shifted his arm. "It happens to everyone."

"Where did you learn to use magic?" Blaster asked. He already knew, but he had to appear as ignorant as Eragon was.

"That is one fact I'll keep to myself," Brom replied. "Suffice to say, it was in a remote area and from a very good teacher. I can, at the very least, pass on his lessons." He snuffed his pipe with a small rock. "I know that you have more questions, but they must wait until morning." He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Until then, I will say this to discourage any experiments: magic takes just as much energy as if you used your arms and back. That is why you felt tired after destroying the Urgals. And that's why I was angry. It was a dreadful risk on your part. If the magic had used more energy than was in your body, it would have killed you."

"So it's like this fire," Blaster said, gesturing to the fire. "It will only burn so long as it has some sort of fuel and oxygen. Once it burns through the fuel and it cannot reach another source, it will die."

"Correct," Brom replied. "Also, you should use magic only for tasks that can't be accomplished the mundane way."

"How do you know if a spell will use all your energy?" Eragon asked, frightened.

Brom raised his hands. "Most of the time you don't. That's why magicians have to know their limits well, and even then they are cautious. Once you commit to a task and release the magic, you can't pull back, even if it's going to kill you. I mean this as a warning: don't try anything until you've learned more. Now, enough for tonight."

As they spread their blankets for the night, Sara commented with satisfaction, We are becoming more powerful, Blaster. Both of us.

The question then becomes what we do next, Blaster replied.

Whatever we want, she said smugly, settling down for the night.

Blaster barely even meditated that night. He spent some of his time sifting through the loose bullets still in his ammo bag. Once he refilled the clip, he placed it on top of its neat pile, only to have all the newly formed piles fall over as he shifted his weight slightly to stand up. As he sat, watching the embers burn themselves out, he began to hear something in the back of his head. It was similar to how he was able to communicate with the dragons, but there was something familiar about it.

Blaster, I know you are out there, the voice said. It didn't take long to figure out it was Char.

Char, is that you? He tried his best, but got no response.

I don't know where I am, Char said. I have been here for a few months, and I need help. Can't reach Alice to message you. You should have been here by now. I hope for my sake as well as yours that you come to rescue us. Arya and I are in deep trouble if you don't. Find us, Blaster. Please!

The presence left his mind as quickly as it had arrived. He thought long and hard at those words, then opened his mind as far as it would go to shout one thing.

I WILL find you, Char! My mission will not allow me to find you at this moment. But I will come. It will take me some time, but I will come. I promise.

How can Char contact Blaster? Where is she? Where will the group go next? Find out next in another double-header "episode" of Free Riders.

Please R&R.