The Last Dragons

Chapter 2; Brotherhood

Caleb stared out of their balcony down across the valley far below him. The long shadow of Uru-baen stretched out across the grass as the sun rose behind him. After Morzan had been killed and his Dragon slain King Galbatorix had moved both Murtagh and Caleb into the Citadel that sat on the Western side of the capital city. He had put them together and they looked after themselves for the most part. Nobody but Murtagh and the King himself knew of Caleb's Elven heritage. A few servants knew that two people lived in these rooms but that was all they needed to know, enough to ensure that they ate but no more.

Caleb stared out at a caravan slowly moving towards the City. He wished he was out there with them, in the peace and quiet of the open plains. Under Islanzadi's steady tutelage over the last fifteen years he had become a powerful magician but he had to be careful to hide his magic at all costs from the King so that he wasn't used to further Galbatorix's schemes.

Hiding his mind was harder though. He had to keep his mind from reaching out to any of the magician's within the city but also keep his mind shielded enough that nobody could hear his thoughts but not enough that people knew he was hiding. After years of practice he had the ability flawless, even Galbatorix couldn't feel the difference between Murtagh's mental shields and Caleb's.

Caleb ran his hand across the petals of the flowers in the box on the balcony ledge. The balcony was full of the most beautiful flowers that Caleb had found over the years including some that shouldn't grow in the endless grass plains that Uru'baen stood on. The flourished under his touch and drank in his magic when he offered it. He felt Murtagh's mind spread out as it awoke. Murtagh was predictable, he woke at the same time everyday, he did the same things, he responded to Caleb's words just as he knew he would. Then again Caleb knew Murtagh like no other and to Murtagh, Caleb was probably predictable.

Caleb gave Murtagh a brief smile as he came out onto the balcony wearing only the cotton trousers that he slept in. Murtagh had turned into a lithe muscled man of twenty with a grace in his movement honed from years of training and sparing with an elf. Murtagh was the only human in Alagaesia, other than maybe the King himself, that could best him in sword fighting though that was only if Caleb didn't use any of his body's strength and agility that exceeded Murtagh's.

Murtagh had shaggy black hair that came down in natural strands across his forehead and over his ears in a way that seemed to attract every female's attention within the City whenever the two explored the lower areas. Caleb had similar hair though it was finer and hung loosely down to just below his ears to hide the pointed tips of his ears and down over the tops of his eyes.

Caleb's body was sleeker than Murtagh's, his muscles didn't show up as much but his innate strength could beat even the toughest of men and his magic, according to Islanzadi, could outmatch every magician in the Empire expect for the Dragon Rider, Galbatorix.

"The King left this morning." Caleb muttered with a sly look at his brother but the look faded when he caught side of the angry red scar on Murtagh's back. Evidence of his father's lack of control that Murtagh wouldn't allow him to heal. He always said that it reminded him of what his father had become and would stop him from becoming the same thing. "The market's in the city."

"You want to go?" Murtagh asked as he stretched, easing the tension from his back that gathered from his scar every night. Caleb moved slightly and began to work his hands down Murtagh's spine, easing the knotted muscles there. They didn't speak as he worked and after he finished he stepped forwards and placed his chin on Murtagh's shoulder.

"Do you?" Caleb asked, knowing what the answer was. He felt more than saw the grin spread across Murtagh's face.

"Of course!" Murtagh almost bounced away heading to get changed and accidentally knocking Caleb's chin with his shoulder.

Caleb rubbed at his chin as he turned to watch Murtagh running around the room collecting clothing and changing. Once he'd finished dressing in loose robes. Tying his sword around his waist. Caleb wandered in slowly and grabbed first his sword and then his hooded cloak from the end of his bed. He donned the sword as he spoke. "Promise me something though, Murtagh. Try not to get into trouble this time."

Murtagh winced guiltily. The last time they had gone into the city six months ago, Murtagh had been hit on by a young woman who's betrothed and his friends had then set about trying to get his revenge on Murtagh and Caleb. Caleb had been forced to kill several of them with magic since neither of them had their swords with them since they were being repaired in the blacksmiths. It was something that Caleb hated to do and Murtagh knew that and had been sorry ever since even though it hadn't really been his fault to begin with.

"Of course I wont. We cant betray each other remember."

Flash back

Caleb struggled through into their west wing room with Murtagh right behind him. Ten year old Caleb hated everything to do with formal dinners with the King and he knew Murtagh hated them as well but at least Murtagh never felt physically sick after them. Firstly there was the fact that he had to hide his mind so carefully through the time he was near the Dragon Rider, then there was the constant small hints toward both him and Murtagh about how they were destined for great things and that with time they could help him bring peace to the world.

The final problem was the fact that Caleb, after being connected so intimately with every sort of animal around Uru'baen, never liked to eat meat. He was forced to when it came to dinners with Galbatorix since to refuse the meat would mean he had trained himself in those abilities only the Elves knew. So that was why he was now throwing everything they had just eaten back up into a bucket next to his bed and Murtagh rubbed circles in his back as he gently untied his shirt and slipped it off to prevent it from being stained.

"This cant go on." Caleb muttered once he believe the convulsions were over.

"You mean eating meat?"

"Ne," Caleb said as he switch back into the Ancient Language slightly though he didn't correct himself since he knew that Murtagh knew the word to mean 'no.' "I mean him using us to fight his war."

"How can he use me?" Murtagh sighed as he sat beside him and pulled his shaking frame against his own side. "You're the power magician, I'm just a talented swordsman."

"Don't forget the only known son of a Dragon Rider." Caleb pointed out, he had respected Selena's wish not to tell Murtagh of his luckier younger brother living in the north and had never mentioned Eragon's existence to anyone. "He certainly believes that one of the two remaining eggs belongs to you and that with me around to protect you you'd be almost invincible."

"How can we stop him though?" Murtagh sighed.

"We swear a binding that Islanzadi taught me. It will prevent either of us from ever betraying the other, through word or action. Neither of us will ever be able to do anything that would hurt the other." Caleb explained. "All you'd have to do is repeat what I say whenever I pause."

"Let's do it!" Murtagh decided with a nod as he spun on the bed to face Caleb who turned to face his brother as well.

The words were complicated and long, with almost endless twists of sentence and declarations and throughout the whole thing he was forced to feed magic into the spell till almost every ounce that he had was used. It wasn't an easy spell to cast but it was powerful since it held so much power. Islanzadi had forbidden him from using it until now because of the drain on him. As Murtagh spoke the last words Caleb felt the bon slam firmly closed and the pull on his magic stopped. "It's done." He said simply to Murtagh before he leaned forwards into Murtagh's arms and fell into a deep trance to replenish his energy.

End Flashback

"That's not the point!" Caleb growled out rather uncharacteristically though Murtagh knew that he was only jesting. Caleb reached down onto the chest at the end of Murtagh's bed and pulled out the hooded cloak, he chucked it across the room at his brother. "You're wearing that! I look less conspicuous that way at any rate." He added the last part just to placate Murtagh rather than it being the truth.

Thousands of people walked around Uru'baen with their faces covered. They were only ever forced to take their hoods down when the entered of exited a major part of the City like the main gates, the Citadel or the barracks but Murtagh and Caleb knew how to get passed all of these.

The took the more unused passageways through the citadel to the servants entrance hidden in the inner wall. They slipped out of it and jogged quickly into the throng of inhabitants streaming around the market street rather usefully located near to the servants door.

They wandered the market for several hours, they brought some treats in the way of cakes but they had no need for material goods. If they suddenly owned something else it would be obvious that they'd snuck out of the castle without the King's permission though they were sure he knew what they got up to in the town.

"Look at that, Caleb?" Murtagh gestured towards one of the stalls from the desert tribes and a rather ornate looking robe of many different colours. "Who would want to wear something like that?"

Caleb was prevented from making a snide comment in return when a messenger ran passed them at full pelt in the direction of the castle. In his mind he was repeating a message over and over. "Lord Durza approaching, tell guards."

The messengers that ran between the Citadel and the outer walls were supposed to all know how to shield their minds. In this case though he was almost projecting his thoughts to anyone with the ability to hear them. He grabbed Murtagh's arm gently and steered him into a side alley before letting go. "The Shade's coming." He whispered lightly, not many knew what Durza really was, most accounted him as the King's most powerful Magician but thanks to Islanzadi's tutelage and his own sense he could feel the waves of black magic that rolled off of the Shade. The problem with Durza was that if Caleb got too close to the Shade he would surely sense him, or so he had been warned rather directly from the King.

Caleb carefully spread his senses outwards making sure to not allow his mind to actually make contact with anyone with any mental abilities. Just as he expected he could feel a dark mind just within the north gate of the city. Caleb quickly withdrew his mind and turned back to a patiently waiting Murtagh. "He's coming through the north gate. With that they cross the street and hurried off down towards the southern side of the market where Durza would inevitably avoid.

The rest of their trip was quiet, they looked at several stalls that sold weapons but never gave them much of a look over. Before turning back for the Citadel they wandered into one of the taverns, they brought drinks and settled into a corner. They did this every time they came down into the city and it was always the same tavern as it was the best for travellers and their gossip was always told in loud voices.

"I heard that Durza fellow captured himself an elf!" An aged soldier told his friend near the bar.

"That's a load of codswallop!" His friend argued. "Nobody catches Elves!"

"Well according to my mate up at the Citadel that Durza fellow wants to leave as soon as possible, maybe even before the King returns. He wants to get back to Gil'ead." The first man explained conciliatorily though his voice easily travelled across the tavern. "Why else the rush if he don't have such a prize to return to?" Caleb drained the rest of his drink and Murtagh got the hint and did the same before standing. They walked from the tavern and jogged back to their room without being seen, only then did they discuss what had happened.

"Do you believe them?" Murtagh asked as he flopped down on his bed.

"It's a ridiculous claim, no body has been able to capture an elf alive since they fled." Caleb argued. "I was an exception to the rule. They got lucky."

Murtagh gave him a sympathetic look but said nothing on the gloom in Caleb's expression. "So you think it's a lie then?"

"No, I think they've captured an Elf." Caleb sent Murtagh a smirk at his shocked expression.

"But you just said…" Murtagh started but Caleb cut him off.

"Don't you see, it's such an atrocious tale that nobody would believe it. Who would bother to start it?" Caleb pointed out logically. "Plus, why else would Durza be so anxious to get back to Gil'ead?"

"Can you find out for sure?" Murtagh asked.

"I can try though I doubt she's coherent enough to sense my mind if I try to contact her." Caleb sighed. "Watch me?"

"Of course." Murtagh stood and pulled across the dead bolt on the door. When Caleb cast the spell to stretch his mind across Alagaesia it left him completely vulnerable in body, thus Murtagh would protect him.

He settled calmly on the bed and thanked his luck that the King was gone for the time being, this spell, taught to him by Islanzadi, was too risky to cast with such a Rider as Galbatorix around. He muttered the spell under his breath, more out of habit then any urge to conceal its secrets from Murtagh and fell his world drop away and himself streaming north towards Gil'ead where the elf would most likely be but he instantly felt wards surrounding the prison cells to prevent people from using magic to see anything within them. He cast about the whole City in the hope of finding something to suggest her presence but found nothing of use.

He was about to end the spell when he realised that he hadn't seen anything of Eragon since Selena had died. He redirected the spell and within seconds was looking down over a small town within the Spine. He found Eragon easily in a small farm on the outskirts and was interested to see that he was already asleep which made it much easier for him. The spell allowed him to enter the minds of waking people but they couldn't resist if they slept.

He shut his mental eyes for the briefest of seconds before finding himself within Eragon's dream, or rather his mind since Eragon's dream had just abruptly finished. Eragorn stood about level with Caleb's chest. With a jolt he realised just how similar the two blood brothers truly were. Eragon had his father's black hair, though he kept it loosely like Caleb's own brown hair, but he had his mother's eyes whereas Murtagh had his father's.

"Who are you?" Eragon asked with confusion in his voice. "Is this still a dream?"

Caleb smiled slightly. "If you can ask that question then this is most probably not a dream." He said before looking around the conjured scenery whilst Eragon pondered the question silently. They were in the middle of a field of winter barley that had a slight layering of snow other them. He knelt to study the barley having never seen this type before.

"If this isn't a dream then who are you?" Caleb stood at the accusing question.

"My name is Caleb." He told the human, his brother's brother though he didn't think that telling the fifteen year old that would get him any points.

"Why are you in my dream?" Eragon asked.

"As I said, this isn't a dream. I cast a spell to search for your mind and now we are in it." Caleb told him and watched as Eragon's eyes widened. "I cannot harm you, you are in complete control. You can change what I see and evict me with a single thought though I beg you not to."

Eragon seemed to ponder this and even as he thought the scene changed into the inside of a barn though neither of them moved in the respective positions. "Why are you here?"

"Let's just say I have an interest in your well being." Caleb told him succinctly and the wind picked up as a result of Eragon's annoyance at his blunt answer. His hair flew around his face and by Eragon's eyes he knew they had uncovered his ears.

"You're an Elf?" Eragon stammered out.

"I am, though I have never seen another of my kind, you could say I am an outcast." Caleb said without emotion as he stepped forwards. Eragon flinched back. "I mean you no harm, though since you know nothing of the Ancient Language I cannot swear it in any other language more binding than this one. Even so I swear that I mean you no harm and never will."

Eragon seemed to relax slightly but didn't speak so Caleb wrapped up the conversation knowing that Murtagh would undoubtedly be getting anxious. "I'm afraid that I have run out of time, I will endeavour to speak to you again but in the meantime I bid you not to mention this to anybody. If word got out it would be my life on the line." Caleb admitted. He hated to leave so soon, Eragon reminded him so much of his mother, Selena, that he found it hard to say good bye. "Stay safe, Eragon, your mother said that you were destined for great things and I always believed her."

Before Eragon could speak Caleb found himself seated, once again, on his bed with Murtagh pacing in front of him. "Well?" Murtagh said as soon as he realised that Caleb was looking at him.

Caleb paused but knew he couldn't tell Murtagh about Eragon yet, it pained him ever moment that Murtagh didn't know he had family left in the form of a younger brother but it was knowledge that he would have to come to on his own. Maybe one day Caleb would have the pleasure to tell him and brighten his world. For the time though Murtagh would have to make do with him.

He wondered for a second whether that had anything to do with his not telling Murtagh about Eragon. Was it born out of some desire not to have Murtagh discard him for a brother by blood? Caleb shook his head not wanted to broach that topic even within his mind and smiled at Murtagh gently. "You know that your impatience does nothing to endear yourself to others?"

"Whatever…" Murtagh muttered though he did lighten his anxious appearance slightly.

"I couldn't sense any Elven presence in Gil'ead." Caleb sighed.

"So the rumour was a lie?" Murtagh questioned.

"I didn't say that." Caleb frowned. "There was extensive warding around the prisons that are not normally present. Maybe they were there to prevent anyone, human or Elf from finding her."

"So you think it is true?" Murtagh raised an eyebrow.

"You are still putting words into my mouth." Caleb glared slightly, the look changing his features completely. "It seems possible. The warding specifically countered my spell. Only the King and the Elven spell casters have the power to cast it meaning that whoever built the warding are worried that the Elves would desire to search through them. The Elves are not interested in individual humans."

Murtagh just looked at him for a moment before he nodded in agreement though he looked troubled. "How many Elves are in a position to be caught like that?"

"Only a few, those that live near the closest borders of Du Weldenvarden. They have no purpose to leave the forest and those that live near the border are well protected. Only…" Caleb went pale as the thought occurred to him.

"What?" Murtagh asked.

"I shouldn't be telling you this but if it's true then we should worry." Caleb muttered before lifting his voice as he asked. "Remember when the Varden stole the blue egg from the vaults?"

"Yeah, just before father was killed." Murtagh answered. No sadness was belied in his voice as he spoke of his fathers death.

"An agreement was made between the Elves and the Varden that the egg would be given into the care of an elf and carried between the to factions so that it could hopefully find a worthy person to bind itself to." Caleb lectured. "The couriers are the only other Elves that are in a position to be captured and that would only be possible by someone far more powerful that any of the Kings Wizards. Someone like Durza."

"If they're the ones that were captured then that would mean the egg was captured too." Murtagh pointed out.

Caleb nodded slowly. "If it has then they have no hope of hatching a Rider to counter the King."

"If he has the egg we should do something before it goes into the King's vault." Murtagh suggested.

"And what would that be?" Caleb asked sarcastically. "Run out and try to kill whoever brings it to the city?"

"Why not?" Murtagh argued. "We could do it!"

"What if the King himself flies to collect it?" Caleb pointed out.

"We have to take that chance!" Murtagh growled. "We'll know whether he does though as soon as he returns and gets the news."

"And what do we do when we have it?" Caleb stood from his position and stepped to a position only a foot from his brother. "Go to the Varden? The son of Morzan and an Elf. Raised by the King himself! They'd shoot us on sight!"

"What about to the Elves?" Murtagh whispered.

Caleb sighed admitting that it was possible but another thought nagged at him. "Ever since I was five, since mother died, she's spoken to me at least three times a week. I haven't heard anything from her in three weeks." Caleb took a step away from Murtagh and left the room for the balcony. He stared out at the rapidly darkening sky as if trying to break through the air and see the very forests of his rightful home.

He felt an arm go around his waist and let himself be pulled against Murtagh's side. "You don't understand, Murtagh. I'm the only Elf outside of Du Weldenvarden, I have no true family even within it." Caleb sighed and hung his head. "I've felt so lonely ever since I can remember and you and mum and then Islanzadi were the only things that broke through that despair. Now she hasn't even sought to see if I am still alive, not in three weeks."

"It's not that long, just give it time." Murtagh pointed out. "She return eventually and then you can block her to make your point."

Caleb had to smile at the idea of blocking the Queen of the Elves from his mind, he laughed at the idea, one that would probably shock her beyond anything.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Six Weeks Later

Caleb shot up with a cry from the trance he'd been in. Murtagh was at his side in an instant. Something evil was within Uru'baen, not just evil like the King or Durza or even murderers. These two were breed evil, a blight on Alagaesia that should never have been allowed to survive. They were born evil. His mind wanted him to strike out and utterly destroy them from existence as any other Elf would.

"What is it!?" Murtagh grabbed his shoulders and shook him from his daze.

"The Ra'zac are here!" He whispered as if someone would hear them. They'd only met the foulsome creature twice but Caleb truly hated them. The first time was when they and a group of attendees, though none of the humans had known who or what he had been were hunting in a nearby forest. They'd been split from a member of their guards. They were searching for him when Caleb and Murtagh rode into a clearing and found them plus three horses nearby. The Ra'zac had been eating their lost guard. Everything down to the bone.

Before they could react they'd run off into the forest with their horses scared off by the two as though they recognised them. Later they would discover what they were and that they had been told of Caleb by the King and to their shock that the King allowed them within his Empire. In fact at their second encounter they realised that they were in fact employed by the King. They did what he asked and in return they were given lodgings nearest one of the Empire's largest city as a food supply.

The second time had been in one of their dinners with the King. They'd stormed in and rather than being run out like they should have been the King went with them to listen to their report. After that event, almost six years ago, Caleb had asked Islanzadi about them. They were a race driven to the brink of extinction by the Elves hundreds of years ago after following humankind from their home overseas. Their larvae form took on the shape of humans until they were old enough to 'hatch' and fly off as Lethrblaka to hunt all creatures, not just humans.

"Why are they here?" Murtagh asked.

Caleb gripped Murtagh's hands almost painfully to reassure himself before he slowly reached his mind outwards, yard by yard, until he brushed against the Ra'zac's oblivious yet defended minds. It was a shame that they couldn't be kill via their minds just like Dragons but at least they had no control over their minds and therefore couldn't feel his intrusion. His concern was over Galbatorix sensing him.

"They're reporting to the King." Caleb muttered. "The King summoned them and is sending them north to Palancar Valley to search for the egg."

"So the egg was sent there by the Elf?" Murtagh asked. They had taken it as a given that there was an Elf hidden in Gil'ead and that Durza was trying to get information from them even if they had no proof. Though now that Caleb had the Ra'zac's mission they knew they were being sent for the egg and that the Elf was the courier.

Caleb ignored the question and listened, he heard little more except that they were to go on horseback and that they weren't to kill any Rider if there was one. "He doesn't know whether it has hatched yet." Caleb pointed out.

"Do you think it has?" Murtagh asked.

"I don't know. I cant find Dragons with my mind unless I reach out to them personally. Shruikan is obvious but a new one would be impossible to find with the spell unless you'd met them." Caleb explained.

"And you cant ask her for another way since she is ignoring you." Murtagh grumbled referring to Islanzadi who had still not contacted him in over nine weeks.

"More that she is not trying to contact me." Caleb sighed. "I wish there was a way to contact someone in Du Weldenvarden but even she cant do that. The wards wont allow anything to travel via magic, not even thoughts."

Murtagh nodded though he already knew this. "Try to get more sleep, there's nothing else we can do. If we both run the King himself would follow us. If there is a new Rider out there we cant risk Galbatorix following us right to him accidentally."

"We know he or she wont be killed at least." Caleb pointed out with a little cheer. "Not only the orders but Galbatorix will try to enlist them before trying to kill him. Hopefully the Ra'zac will do something so terrible that they'll never consider it."

"I hope you're right." Murtagh sighed, he might be heartless to anyone other than Caleb but he didn't want the human's last hope killed or worse enlisted by Galbatorix. He flopped back onto the pillows and Caleb realised he was sharing his bed for the rest of the night with his brother who was obviously nervous about their safety with the Ra'zac about.

Caleb lay back too and waited patiently for Murtagh's breathing to settle into that of sleep. He sat back up slowly so as not to shift the bed and awaken him and shutting his eyes he mumbled the spell that would send his mind into that of his choosing. Eragon was in Palancar Valley, the son of a Rider. It was too much of a coincidence.

He opened his eyes to find himself in a forest of pine trees that were capped in snow. Definitely in the north then, though anybody in the deserts of Surda in summer could dream of snow capped trees. He glanced around and saw Eragon staring at him.

"You're back?"

"This isn't a dream if that's what you mean." Caleb smiled at him.

"Why are you here, Caleb?" Eragon asked. He looked suspicious, even more so than the first time they'd met. "It's been six weeks."

Caleb shrugged slightly. "As I said before it is a risky spell to cast so close to others that may sense it."

"Then why do you try." Eragon countered.

"I wanted to be risky?" Caleb laughed it off. He didn't know how to act around Murtagh's brother.

He missed what Eragon said next as a mind, a powerful though young one, tried to enter the spell. He blocked it though the effort made him stagger. "Somebody is trying to end my spell, or spy on us."

"Spy on us?" Eragon's eyes widened slightly.

"I must go!" Caleb prepared to end the spell.

"What did you mean last time about my mother?" Eragon asked.

Caleb knew that there was a chance that if he left now he'd never be allowed back in by Eragon as the younger boy would believe him to be keeping secrets from him. "I knew your mother. I was given into her care when my own mother died in childbirth. She raised me until you were born and then for a time after she returned."

"Is she alive?"

Caleb felt like he'd been punched in the gut and he felt a pang of longing for the woman and guilt for not telling Murtagh and Eragon the truth of their shared parents. "I'm sorry Eragon. I really am."

Eragon dropped his head but looked up sharply as Caleb was forced to his knees, even though he was only in a mental manifestation of his real body. The mind was back and even more deliberate in it's strikes.

"I cant keep this open for much longer before they get through and if they do they'll discover who and where I am, though not you." Caleb rushed. "Listen to me closely Eragon. A great evil is heading for Palancar Valley, be careful of what you say and do and do not mention that your mother is from the Cities as it will call light to your presence. Keep quiet and unnoticed and do not try to fight them."

"Wait!" Eragon called just as Caleb was about to sever the spell.

"I'm sorry, Eragon, I cant." With that Caleb broke the weave of the spell and found himself back in his own body, sweating with the effort of keeping the intruder from the spell and the magical loss of blocking it. Who was that powerful? It should've taken far longer for anyone to track the spell and only and Elf or the King could almost break through his own defences.

He fell back onto the bed and groaned before allowing himself to fall into a much need restful trance.

XOXOXOXOXOX

Carvahall

Eragon found himself startled away. The last time the mysterious Elf had intruded into his dream he'd fallen immediately back into it. This time though he was rather worried. The worry on Caleb's face was stuck in his mind. Who could have troubled the Elf so much.

'Eragon!'

His Dragon's mind reached over to his even from this distance. It was definitely getting more powerful, only a few days ago it had spoken to him for the first time. He really needed to name it. Then he had a sudden thought, was it her who had tried to interrupt them.

'Was that you?' Eragon asked giving the impression of someone trying to knock through a door. 'Did you try to break that spell?'

'Yes.' Was the it's simple answer, the Dragon was obviously proud of protecting him.

'Thank you.' Eragon told it. 'Next time it happens can you let him. I need to find out more about him."

It gave him a worried feeling unable to express itself and Eragon knew that until it was older he could explain properly. But the Elf said he could kick him out at any point and for some reason he trusted him though he didn't know whether he should.

His last thoughts before he fell asleep again was that the Elf had been raised by his mother. He couldn't help but feel jealousy spiralling out of his mind. Caleb had had what Eragon had always wanted. He'd known his mother and, by the way he talked about her, had actually loved her and possibly been loved by her.

XOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter