Free Riders
Author's Note: Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Comment as you see fit.
Chapter 23: The Storyteller's Tale
In the morning, Blaster double checked his map before he, Eragon, and Brom retrieved their saddle bags from the stable and prepared to depart. Jeod greeted Brom while Helen watched from the doorway. With grave looks, the two men clasped hands. "I'll miss you, old man," Jeod said.
"And you I," Brom said thickly. He bowed his white head, then turned to Helen. "Thank you for your hospitality; it was most gracious." Her face reddened and Eragon, for a fleeting moment, thought she was going to slap him. Brom continued, unperturbed, "You have a good husband; take care of him. There are few men as brave and as determined as he is. But he cannot weather difficult times without support from those he loves." He bowed again and said gently, "Only a suggestion, dear lady."
Indignation and hurt crossed Helen's face, and her eyes flashed as she shut the door brusquely. Sighing, Jeod ran his fingers through his hair. Eragon thanked him for all his help, then mounted Cadoc. Blaster thanked Jeod for his help as well, then mounted Samson, waiting for Brom. With the last farewells said, the three departed.
At Teirm's southern gate, the guards let them through without a second glance. As they rode under the giant outer wall, Eragon saw movement in the shadows. Blaster caught it too, and saw Solembum crouched on the ground, tail twitching. The werecat followed them with inscrutable eyes. As the city receded into the distance, Eragon asked, "What are werecats?"
Brom looked surprised by the question. "Why the sudden curiosity?"
"I heard someone mention them in Teirm," Eragon said, feigning ignorance. "They're not real, are they?"
"They are quite real," Brom replied. "During the Riders' years of glory, they were as renowned as the dragons. Kings and elves kept them as companions, yet the werecats were free to do what they choose. Very little has ever been known about them. I'm afraid that their race has become rather scarce recently."
"Could they use magic?" Eragon asked.
"No one's sure, but they could certainly do unusual things," Brom replied. "They always seemed to know what was going on and somehow or another manage to get themselves involved." He pulled up his hood to block a chill wind.
"Uh, Brom, do you happen to know what Helgrind is?" Blaster asked, while still checking the map on his wrist computer.
"You'll see when we get to Dras-Leona."
Once Teirm was out of sight, Blaster heard Eragon's mental shout to Saphira. It was strong enough for Cadoc to flick his ears in annoyance. Blaster did the same for Sara, but decided to be a bit gentler than Eragon had been.
The two sped towards them with all their strength. Eragon, Brom, and Blaster watched as a dark blur rushed from a cloud, followed closely by a light one. Seconds later, they heard a dull roar as the two dragons flared open their wings. The sun shone through the thin membranes, turning them translucent while silhouetting the dark veins. They landed with a couple of blasts of air.
Eragon tossed Cadoc's reins to Brom and said, "I'll join you for lunch."
Brom nodded, but seemed preoccupied. "Have a good time."
"And I will follow," Blaster said. Brom nodded in agreement.
"It's good to see you again," Brom said to the dragons.
Likewise, Sara replied.
The two hopped onto their dragons' shoulders and held on tightly as they both bounded into the air. Saphira let out a wild bugle and soared in a great loop, Eragon yelling with excitement with his arms in the air. Hold on, Sara warned Blaster, and she too did a loop. Blaster was astonished he didn't fall off of Sara's back, but he decided not to go too in depth of what he just went through.
Not being strapped in the saddle and pulling that move was dangerous, Blaster said. But it was so much fun.
I had no idea you could have done that, Sara replied.
I can do things you would be surprised about, Blaster said. They resumed level flight until noon.
By the lunch hour, Blaster could feel his legs getting sore from riding bareback, and he feared his legs would have wounds like Eragon had when he first rode Saphira. However, when they landed for lunch, Blaster found no blood or scarring on his inner thighs, though they were red with irritation. Eragon and Saphira arrived soon after, Eragon stuffing his hands into his clothes and finding a warm, sunny spot to sit. The chill didn't affect Blaster as much as it did Eragon.
As they ate, Blaster thought about what he'd do after encountering the Ra'zac. However, he was shaken from his thoughts by Eragon probing into his mind. Eragon merely asked Blaster if he would accompany him and Brom on horseback, to which he agreed. Once they were done eating, the dragons flew off while the two Riders walked over to Brom and joined him on the trail. After a time, Eragon slowed Cadoc.
"I need to talk to you," Eragon said to Brom. "I wanted to do it when we first arrived in Teirm, but I decided to wait until now."
"About what?" Brom asked.
Eragon paused for a second. "There's a lot going on that I don't understand. For instance, who are your 'friends,' and why were you hiding in Carvahall? I trust you with my life-which is why I'm still traveling with you—but I need to know more about who you are and what you are doing. What did you steal in Gil'ead, and what is the tuatha de orothrim that you're taking us through? I think that after all that's happened, I deserve an explanation."
"You eavesdropped on us," Blaster accused.
"Only once," Eragon admitted. Blaster sighed.
"I see that you have yet to learn proper manners," Brom said grimly, pulling his beard. "What makes you think that this concerns you?"
"Nothing really," Eragon said shrugging. "Just it's an odd coincidence that you happened to be hiding in Carvahall when I found Saphira's egg, and Blaster Sara's, and that you also know so much dragonlore. The more I think about it, the less likely it seems. There were other clues that I mostly ignored, but they're obvious now that I look back. Like how you knew of the Ra'zac in the first place and why they ran away when you approached. And I can't help but wonder if you had something to do with the appearance of the eggs, and possibly Blaster. There's a lot you haven't told us, and Saphira and I can't afford to ignore anything that might be dangerous."
Brom reigned Snowfire to a halt. "You won't wait?" he asked. Eragon shook his head, which caused Brom to sigh. "This wouldn't be a problem if you weren't so suspicious, but I suppose that you wouldn't be worth my time if you were otherwise." Eragon wasn't sure if he should take that as a complement. Brom lit his pipe before continuing. "I'll tell you," he said, "but you have to understand that I cannot reveal everything." Eragon began to protest, but Brom cut him off. "It's not out of a desire to withhold information, but because I won't give away secrets that aren't mine. There are other stories woven in with this narrative. You'll have to talk with the others involved to find out the rest."
"Very well," Eragon said. "Explain what you can."
"Are you sure?" Brom asked. "There are reasons for my secretiveness. I've tried to protect you by shielding you from forces that would tear you apart. Once you know of them and their purposes, you'll never have the chance to live quietly. You will have to choose sides and make a stand. Do you really want to know?"
"I can't live my life in ignorance," Eragon replied.
"A worthy goal…" Brom said. "Very well. There is a war raging in Alagaësia between the Varden and the Empire. Their conflict, however, reaches far beyond any incidental armed clashes. They are locked in a titanic power struggle…centered around you two."
"Wait, what?" Blaster asked, surprised.
"Us?" Eragon asked, disbelieving. "That's impossible. I don't have anything to do with either of them, let alone Blaster."
"Not yet," Brom said, "but your very existence is the focus of their battles. The Varden and the Empire aren't fighting to control this land or its people. Their goal is to control the next generation of Riders, of whom you are the first. Whoever controls these Riders will become the undisputed master of Alagaësia."
It took a bit to sink in, but eventually Eragon found words again, saying, "But all the Riders were killed except for the Forsworn, who joined Galbatorix. As far as I know, even those are now dead. And you told me in Carvahall that no one knows if there are still dragons in Alagaësia."
"I lied about the dragons," Brom said flatly. "Even though the Riders are gone, there are still four dragon eggs left—all of them in Galbatorix's possession. Actually, now there are only two, since Saphira and Sara hatched. The king salvaged the four during his last great battle with the Riders."
"So there may soon be two new Riders, both of them loyal to the king?" Eragon asked.
"Exactly," Brom replied. "There is a deadly race in progress. Galbatorix is desperately trying to find the people for whom his eggs will hatch, while the Varden are employing every means to kill his candidates or steal his eggs."
"But where did Saphira and Sara's eggs come from? How could anyone have gotten them away from the king? And why do you know all of this?" Eragon asked, bewildered.
"So many questions," Brom laughed bitterly. "There is another chapter to all this, one that took place long before you were born. Back when I was a bit younger, though perhaps not as wise. I hated the Empire—for reasons I'll keep to myself—and wanted to damage it in any way I could. My fervor led me to a scholar, Jeod, who claimed to have discovered a book that showed a secret passageway into Galbatorix's castle. I eagerly brought Jeod to the Varden—who are my 'friends'—and they arranged to have the eggs stolen.
"However, something went amiss, and our thief only managed to get two eggs. For some reason, he fled with them and didn't return to the Varden. When he wasn't found, Jeod and I were sent to bring him and the eggs back." Broms eyes grew distant, and he spoke in a curious voice. "That was the start of one of the greatest searches in history. We raced against the Ra'zac and Morzan, last of the Forsworn and the king's finest servant."
"Morzan!" Eragon interrupted. "But he was the one who betrayed the Riders to Galbatorix!"
"Reminds you how long Riders live, huh?" Blaster commented.
"So?" Brom asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, he was old, but strong and cruel. He was one of the king's first followers and by far his most loyal. As there had been blood between us before, the hunt for the eggs became a personal battle. When it was located in Gil'ead, I rushed there and fought Morzan for possession. It was a terrible contest, but in the end I slew him. During the conflict I was separated from Jeod. There was no time to search for him, so I took the eggs and bore them to the Varden, who asked me to train whomever became the new Riders. I agreed and decided to hide in Carvahall, which I had been to several times before, until the Varden contacted me. I was never summoned."
"Then how did Saphira and Sara's eggs appear in the Spine? Were there two more stolen from the king?" Eragon asked.
"I doubt that," Blaster said, personally recalling what Brom had said moments before.
"There is a small chance of that," Brom grunted. "He has the remaining two guarded so thoroughly that it would be suicide to try and steal them. No, Saphira and Sara were taken from the Varden, and I think I know how. To protect the eggs, their guardians must have tried to send them to me with magic.
"The Varden haven't contacted me to explain how they lost the eggs, so I suspect their runners were intercepted by the Empire and the Ra'zac were sent in their place. I'm sure they were quite eager to see me, as I've managed to foil many of their plans."
"Then the Ra'zac didn't know about us when they arrived in Carvahall," Eragon said in wonder.
"That's right," Brom said.
"If only that ass Sloan had kept his trap shut, they might not have even found out about us," Blaster said. "Dumbass!"
"Yes," Brom said. "Events could have turned out quite differently. In a way I have you to thank for my life. If the Ra'zac hadn't become so preoccupied with the two of you, they might have caught me unawares, and that would have been the end of Brom the storyteller. The only reason they ran was because I'm stronger than the two of them, especially during the day. They must have planned to drug me during the night, then question me about the eggs."
"You sent a message to the Varden, telling them about us?" Eragon asked.
"Yes," Brom replied. "I'm sure they'll want me to bring you to them as soon as possible."
"But you're not going to, are you?" Eragon asked.
Brom shook his head. "No, I'm not."
"Why not?" Eragon demanded. "Being with the Varden must be safer than chasing after the Ra'zac, especially for new Riders."
Brom snorted and looked at Eragon with fondness. "The Varden are dangerous people. If we go to them, you will be entangled in their politics and machination. Their leaders may send you on missions just to make a point, even though you might not be strong enough for them. I want you to be well prepared before you go anywhere near the Varden. At least while we pursue the Ra'zac, I don't have to worry about someone poisoning your water. This is the lesser of two evils. And," he said with a smile, "It keeps you happy while I train the two of you. Tuatha du orothrim is just a stage in your instruction. I will help you find, and perhaps even kill the Ra'zac, for they are as much my enemies as yours. But then you will have to make a choice."
"And that would be…what exactly?" Blaster asked.
"Whether to join the Varden," Brom said. "If you kill the Ra'zac, the only ways for you to escape Galbatorix's wrath will be to seek the Varden's protection, flee to Surda, or plead of the king's mercy and join his forces. Even if you don't kill the Ra'zac, you will still face this choice eventually."
Blaster was in deep thought, as was Eragon. To defy Galbatorix like killing his precious dragon-killers would mean certain death for them unless they went with these three options. Blaster couldn't even think of a fourth. Eragon and Brom began talking about Eragon's mother, and Blaster could feel some sorrow coming from Brom as he mentioned he knew her enough to miss her when she was gone. He soon began missing his fiancé, hoping that he would find Char before it was too late.
Will Blaster get to Char in time? Will the Riders join the Varden? When will Eragon stop asking questions? The answer to these questions and more next time on Free Riders.
I am updating today because I will not be able to Friday. Please R&R, no deconstructive criticism, and also note that last chapter, Blaster said he was a General. To clarify, he's from an alternate reality that is in the future (~2052), and they've added a few ranks, making it easier to get to General in such short time (Since Blaster is 34, as he said a couple of chapters ago), but the rank of General (specifically Brigadier, 1-star, and 2-star) has had some of its abilities taken away from them. And, as you will see in the last fight, Blaster is proud to be a General, but he doesn't enjoy the responsibilities.