Chapter 19- But First we Bargain with a Psychopathic Tree

The next morning we were finally ready to go without a hitch or so we thought.

As we flew over the Menoa Tree Saphira felt a sudden searing pain in her wings and dropped like a rock. When we landed Eragon said, "Saphira; what happened?"

"Pain," she groaned.

"How did it happen?" I asked concerned.

"I made it happen," boomed a sudden unknown voice. We all turned in shock to face the Menoa Tree which had suddenly grown a face in its bark. "Eragon Shadeslayer Bromsson," she rumbled. "You're here for my payment."

Said Rider stepped up to face the tree head on. "You have decided." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"And what may it be?"

"You're beast there; she has not extracted her eldunari?"

"No," replied Eragon carefully and suspiciously.

"I want it," she said simply.

We all stared in disbelief at the tree as more elves gathered round. Saphira stood dumbfounded.

"Oh and I heard about you," said the Menoa Tree mockingly, obviously meaning me.

Suddenly an elf whom I recognized as Rhunon pushed her way through and said, "Menoa, it's been long."

"Rhunon," greeted the tree. "It has been long old friend."

"So friend would you mind telling us why you want Brightscales' eldunari?"

"Well," said the tree as sheepishly as a tree could get. "Im sick of dragons always having the power and the devotion of our mighty race; the Great War was the best time for us when dragons were just another inferior race."

Saphira growled and snarled and roared at this tree.

"So you're jealous of dragons and want Saphira's eldunari to make you more powerful than them?" Rhunon said slowly.

"To put it blandly yes," admitted the psycho tree.

"Well then how about a compromise," offered Eragon.

"What sort of compromise?"

"You can have Saphira's eldunari after the war otherwise if we let Galbatorix live he'll just come here and burn your tree anyway. Ok Saphira?" he asked. She nodded slowly but frowned slightly. She couldn't be happy with the thought of giving up her heart of hearts to a mad tree/elf.

"Hmmm, he'll never get past us," said the mad tree/elf said slyly.

"Fine then two eldunari; Saphira's and another one," counteracted Eragon stretching it a little.

"Deal; but Shadeslayer," she called out as we began to climb back onto Saphira. "I won't forget this and I will get my payment one way or another," she said sternly. He nodded uneasily and we were off again. Though we got the distinct feeling that someone or something was watching us…