Brom watched as Eragon and saphira flew above the kull dropping massive stones causing confusion among their ranks. He turned back to where he was going spurring snowfire to run faster than before to get to Farthen Dur in order to get help against the kull. He hoped that once they got to the lake they could get Brenden's help.
"We have to go faster." Brom yelled into the wind.
"We'll kill the horses at this rate if we don't get there soon." Murtagh said grim.
"I can run ahead of the horses if I need to get help." Arya said frustrated at the rate they were going at.
"No it's too dangerous, besides we're almost there." Brom told her once again.
"Fine." Arya said angrily.
"Enough we made our decisions and there's no going back now." Murtagh said rolling his eyes, having heard this argument enough between the two of them.
Brom looked back once again to see Eragon flying back as he felt a pressure on his mind. He lowered his barriers to hear Eragon say, "The lake is just up ahead, I'll meet you there. Once we're there you and Arya have to get us in."
Eragon exiting before Brom could respond. Out loud he said, "Eragon says that the lake is just up ahead."
"Then let us ride." Arya said.
They pushed the horses even harder than before. They pushed through the brush trying to get there and gain entrance to the Farthen Dur. They entered the clearing and saw the lake. However Brenden was not in sight. Brom opened his mouth to speak when all of a sudden, 15 feet above the lake a swirling vortex of blue energy appeared.
Brenden erupted out over the lake nimbly rolling onto the shore before he hit the ground, before he saw through the trees that an army of kull, and he saw the astonished expressions of Murtagh and Brom, however Arya had a thin grin on her face before, she regained her regal composure. He smiled back at her and before they gained any suspicions he shot Murtagh and Brom a smug grin before he summoned a large metal bull with massive horns gleaming and a saddle on its back. He leaped onto the bull's back and waited for the kull to arrive.
He Saw Saphira land not to far away and he looked back to see the trio still gaping at him before Brom said, "We must go don't try to fight such an army they will over run you in seconds."
"No they shall not because I have some tricks up my sleeves." Brenden said. "Now run you fools, run."
"When did-" Eragon started.
"NO TIME NOW GO!" Brenden yelled.
And with that they went to the path and dismounted to lead the horses along the path. Brenden turned once again to brave the army of Kull and he once they exited the trees Brenden lifted one of his swords blasted a ball of energy into the air and watched as it spewed masses of energy into the enemy causing mass mayhem among the kull before he charged into battle himself losing blasts of energy into the enemies and as kull were hurled into the air by the bull Brenden shot lightning into them and it would arc around the groups of kull killing them instantly. Soon arrows erupted shot out of the sky slaying kull left and right as they were slaughtered. Sensing victory Brenden dispelled the ball of energy in the sky and turned back to see the group being ushered into a tunnel. He rode to the lake shore and dismounted and returned the bull to where he had summoned it from.
He then ran across the water reaching the entrance to the tunnel in a matter of seconds. Once he reached the entrance he leaped in as it started to close despite Eragon yelling that they had one more with them.
"That was fun." Brenden said grinning.
Murtagh stared at Brenden stunned that anyone besides Galbatorix could take on an army of kull like that alone. He couldn't believe it, that he had just witnessed something until that fight he had believed impossible. He realized then that Brenden might be able to combat the king and that Eragon might not be the Varden's only hope.
He had been ignoring the proceedings when a tall bald man said, "Now in order to enter Farthen Dur we must read each of your thoughts to confirm who you are and if you are telling the truth or not about escaping the Empire."
Brenden glared at the man and said in a threatening tone, " Try it and I will shatter your mind and drive you to insanity, you will not enter my mind and NEITHER WILL YOU ENTER INTO THE MINDS OF ANYONE HERE!"
The bald man didn't seem concerned by this until Brenden sent out an unrelenting tide of thought that pressed against Murtagh's mind but, did not break into his. Murtagh almost laughed at the horrified expression on the man's face and he immediately said, "Oh Powerful one I did not mean offence when I said I must enter the minds of you and your companions, I merely meant that in order to enter the city you have to have your mind read, I must ensure you are not malevolent and are willing to do the Varden great harm. I am only doing my job."
A dwarf with a brown beard spoke up and said, "All you're doing is trying to cause trouble where there is none."
The man was too busy cowering and practically shaking in his fear to take notice of this however but, Brenden wasn't done yet, "Oh I understand the reading of our minds, I meant I don't want you to read our minds."
The man grew a look of anger that he quickly replaced with a look of fear. "Of course oh great one, who would you like to proceed with reading your mind."
"Oh I already contacted her, it's Angela the Herbalist." Brenden said with a wry grin on his face.
"That was very amusing." A voice said from down the tunnel. Everyone looked to see the herbalist walking down with Solembum at her heals. "It's good to see you again Brenden it's been a long time, yet you haven't aged a day."
"It's only been a decade besides I'm immortal." Brenden said smirking.
Angela rolled her eyes at this before saying, "Whatever, let's get this over with, I was sleeping you know."
"Sorry it was either wake you or have this sniveling weasel read our minds." He said indicating the bald man.
"That's insulting to weasels, he's more of a roach." Angela said smiling.
"Now just-" The bald man began.
"Hey the adults are talking, it's rude to interrupt your superiors." Angela said holding back a laugh as the bald man's face was turning as red as a tomato.
All of a sudden Eragon became cracking up as the bald man started spluttering with rage, this got Murtagh to laugh and before long the Brom, Arya, and Saphira were laughing as well as Brenden and Angela continued insulted the man. Once they stopped laughing Angela began to search their minds quickly and gently and confirmed what they all had said about themselves, however Murtagh refused to let her enter his mind, he had told them that his mind was his last sanctuary and it was his and his alone to be in. They warned him what would happen if he didn't allow anyone in his mind but, he was adamant. Brenden told murtagh he understood what Murtagh felt and agreed with his decision.
"Now I am going to go back to my quarters and sleep." She said to them all before stopping at the bald man and saying, "O'bald One."
The man looked like he was going to explode at that but, he took a few deep breaths before saying, "Come with me we are going to see Ajihad."
"About time." Brom muttered under his breath.
With that they went off, Eragon riding Saphira while Brom, Arya, and Murtagh rode on horses and Brenden walked behind them as if he was a rear guard. After traveling for what seemed to be a mile or two they finally emerged from the tunnel. When they emerged they saw that there was a huge fortress inside a hollow mountain, with huge icicles close to the size of houses. Also the fortress was truly massive and heavily fortified and could house thousands if not millions. Word of them must have beaten them to the city because, there were thousands of people waiting for them. The crowd saw them silently until Eragon waved his hand nervously causing the crowd to cheer and Murtagh to grin slightly at him. Saphira roared loudly causing them to pause and then cheer even louder than before. Soon the bald man forced them through the crowd towards the city. Eragon was asking the dwarf Orik about the city and how many humans were in the varden. He soon moved on to asking him various questions about dwarves and how they provided resources for the varden and the dwarves. Orik seemed happy to oblige, Murtagh could tell those two were going to be good friends and thought to himself miserably, "At least when Ajihad finds out who I am Eragon will have another friend."
They continued to walk to where Ajihad's war room was and entered. Murtagh was curious to see who the mysterious Ajihad was, especially after all he had heard about at Uru'baen. Once they entered Murtagh saw 3 men one who looked exactly like the bald man who had been insulted by Brenden and Angela. Murtagh had a suspicion that the two were related. The second man was a tall wiry fellow who had one a thick leather jerkin and a sword at his side. The final man's skin was the color of coal, he was well built and wore a commander's armour, he had a long sword at his side and he held the room at attention.
The dark man stared attentively at all of them stopping a Murtagh he frowned slightly as he studied him before he said in a deep, "I am Ajihad, it is nice to meet all of you, I know Brom and Arya but, I would like to meet the four of you. I also would like to know why the son of Morzan is traveling with you all and why he has not had his mind read."
Orik said, "I know not why they refuse to have his mind read, but I do know that they trust him more than anyone else would."
Brenden spoke up and said, "I did not travel with them the whole time, I came here on my own but, I do know that all but Murtagh would be imprisoned before the king at this time. I trust him as much as I trust any here in this room, except for the twins. They are weasley troublemakers." In emphasis he stomped his foot at them and they flinched, this got a quick little smile out of Ajihad but, he recovered before they saw.
"As it is I cannot guarantee to the safety of the Varden and Murtagh without having his mind read." Ajihad said seriously. "Therefore I must ask that since he refuses to have his mind read, he must stay confined in his room with an armed guard there at all times."
"That seems fair, I would like to know though, what would my privileges be?" Murtagh asked curious.
"You would be fed fine food, and would be able to have your pick of scrolls from the library." Ajihad told him kindly.
"That is perfectly fine with me, I probably would not have left my room even if I was given my freedom." Murtagh said.
"Then this is the perfect arrangement." Ajihad said. "Now I would like to know the story of how you all came here and how Eragon came across Saphira."
Then everyone except Brenden told the story Eragon, Saphira, and Brom telling most of the story with Murtagh joining in for how he came to be hunting the Ra'zac and how Brenden healed Brom. When they rescued Arya, she told some of the horrors she had faced while imprisoned. This renewed all of the anger they had felt when they first beheld Arya's wounds.
They soon finished and looked to Brenden to hear his story when he said, "My part is one you will not know about until after Eragon is with the elves."
Ajihad spoke up and said, "I must know your part in this in order to trust you, tell me know or be imprisoned."
"First of all you could never imprison me. Second of all I have information that could be of use to you in preventing the Varden from being wiped out." Brenden told him calmly.
"What are you talking about Brenden." Brom asked?
"What did you do tell us now." Arya said commandingly.
"Fine, if you wish to know there is an army of kull gathering at the abandoned dwarven city of Orthiad, if you do not believe me send scouts there to find out for yourselves." Brenden said while popping his knuckles absentmindedly."
"We'll make sure to check that, the only reason I am going to let you go free for now, is the fact that you managed to save the five of them." Ajihad said firmly.
Murtagh spoke up at that point and said, "Brenden fought of an army of kull, he saved Brom and he is the reason why we were able to save Arya, and you don't trust him. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard he is the only reason why any of us are alive right now."
"Murtagh's right we have to trust Brenden, he had no reason to trust us yet he did, he even saved Brom from certain death, if you don't trust him I want to have nothing to do with the Varden." Eragon said.
"Ajihad they are right, although they could have chosen to put it more delicately. You need to trust him." Brom said kindly yet firmly. "After all he could probably kill all of us without breaking a sweat if he wanted to."
Saphira finally spoke again saying, "He is a true hunter of the sky and I trust him with my life, if you choose to imprison him, I will tear about Farthen Dur and Tronjheim."
"I suspected no other response from a dragon, although I doubt you could get past the twins." Ajihad told her calmly.
Eragon intervened at that point saying, "Well then the twins must have great abilities for regular magicians, because Brom told me that because I have a dragon I am always stronger than him with spells."
"It's true my normal strength is not quite as much as his but, I could beat him in a duel anytime." Brom said matter of factly.
"Well this is troubling, your strongest spellweaver not counting the elves." Ajihad said frowning slightly.
Arya spoke up then, "We're only stronger than Brom because his dragon is dead. If he had a dragon he would be more powerful than any but, Brenden in this room. Also right now Saphira is young but, if she could control her magic she would decimate any elf except for a select few."
"Well then, it seems that we are luckier than I thought." Ajihad said. "Now I want you all to rest up and recover from your travels. In a few days, I want to test Eragon in arms and in magic, I have an idea of his abilities from what you have told me Brom but, it would be best if he was tested by the twins in magic and by Arya in combat."
"But-" Brom began clearly frustrated with this.
"No, I am in charge of the Varden now Brom and as much as I trust your advice, I would like the input of other sources because it is always best to have a second and third opinion." Ajihad told him firmly.
"That seems...fair." Brom said holding back his anger.
"Now when Murtagh's guards are here I want you all to rest, and I want Orik to show Eragon around Tronjheim it would be good for Eragon to get to know a dwarf and I can think of none better than Orik.." Ajihad told them all. He then told Orik that he was dismissed from the Varden and Orik's face lit up for a split second before he regained his composure.
They soon left because Murtagh's guards were there for him. When they left they all went their separate ways with Brom going with Orik and Eragon, Arya going to her usual quarters and Brenden looking for something to eat.
Author's note: Now you have seen some of Brenden's abilities, I hope that little fight was entertaining, in the next few chapters you'll get a lot more action. Hope you like it. Also the next chapter, we'll fast forwards again a couple days to when Eragon is being tested. Also the Varden will be preparing for the assault of the urgals, Brenden has been laying defenses and preparing Eragon for his tests along with Brom.