Progress (Chapter 16)
(7 months after Galbatorix dies)
Roran strode up to Horst and Baldor, standing side by side, like true father and son. He took into account the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding mountains, the slopes of the hills half cast into shadow by the looming peaks. Which although could not compete with the Boers for Grandeur or sheer scale, they certainly had a noble, majestic air to them. Bringing his sweeping gaze earthward, he looked upon the unfinished town and then joined in the conversation with Horst and his son.
"It's looking rather good, isn't it" he commented.
"Mind you," Horst replied, "We still have a lot of work to do."
"I think what Father is meaning to say" said Baldor, with a hint of amusement, "is that it will look amazing once it is done."
"Why does it not strike me" said Horst, jokingly, "That my son knows me better than I know myself."
"Perhaps" suggested Roran lightly, "it is because he has known you for more than 10 minutes."
"Aaah that would be it" said Horst smiling. "Now where be Hope and Albriech, they can't have gone far, after all, I saw them working around half an hour ago."
"They would be over there" said Baldor, pointing to a group of women and men standing in one of the unfinished houses having some lunch.
"Hmmn, alright, well we don't really need to join them do we, or them us" replied Horst.
"So why did you ask where they were" said Baldor, amusedly.
"Well, you never know with Albriech, he might just forget Hope is clinging onto his neck for dear life, like a drowning sailor grasps a piece of floating wood, and start working again. Although I am sure" he added as an afterthought, "Hope would have one hell of a good time doing that, she seems to like being rocked, and it's about the only way for her to fall asleep."
"Oh" smirked Baldor, "so that's the reason every night there's a raucous coming from your tent. Here I was thinking of something else."
"Not at all" bemused Horst, with the air of one trying to keep a straight face, and failing "I really have no idea what you are trying to suggest son."
"Of course you don't" said Baldor, playfully punching his father on the arm. "Now" he addressed Roran, "how's your side of the town going, rather, I should say quarter, but anyway."
Roran was startled at being addressed, he had been deep in thought, staying quite the whole time, and was unaware of where their conversation had headed, and thus had no idea what they were talking about at first. It took him a few short moments to gather his wits,
"Mightily well, I must say. We might be halfway through building the houses-" but before he could say anything else, Horst interrupted him.
"Halfway done, that's a very good job. Although I must say, you can't have contributed much too it, with your runty little legs and arms" he added jokingly.
Roran feigned mock horror at this accusation, and replied with "How did you guess, I thought it wasn't obvious that I wasn't strong," conveniently flexing his large, if not enormous muscles, to convey the point.
Baldor tutted, and said "None of that here, Muscle flexing is off the limits in this village, didn't you know, it's the Queen's edict."
After a few moments, he scathingly said "You're just jealous of these babies," flexing them even more, to show how big they were, and they all quietly laughed together, even Baldor.
"Aaah, where were we" said Roran, catching up to speed, "That's right, we still have to fit the houses out with ceilings, lay the sewage network, divert water from the nearest creek, outfit the houses and organise someone to go buy stones, or at least find a place to quarry for stone, lay the streets and build the wall."
"So" Horst commented, "not much to do then, is there."
"I can list some more" said Roran teasingly, as Baldor pulled a face, "or maybe not."
"Any news from anyone" asked Horst, Roran shook his head. "Not even your little cousin, Eragon"
"More like a brother" Roran snorted, "he's much closer to me than a normal cousin would be."
"Do you reckon you will ever see him again" questioned Horst, but before he could reply Baldor interrupted.
"Dad" said Baldor, "I don't think that that's a question he wants to answer or a topic he wants to talk about it, either way not the best choice of things to ask him."
Roran who really didn't care about it, quickly interrupted the rapid fire verbal exchange and put it out there that, in a serious tone, to properly convey his feelings, "I don't really care, it doesn't bother me. Well at least for the moment" added Roran, to their questioning glances.
"You see" said Horst triumphantly, "I was right, it's not going to offend him in the slighte-"
"Shhh," said Baldor, recognising that this was not the moment to interrupt him.
"He was gone longer when he unceremoniously abandoned us to our fate, this time I have had plenty of warning. Although," he added miserably, "That of course, does not make it any easier, in fact it probably makes it harder."
"But" Horst persisted, despite some ominous warning glances from his son, "Do you reckon you will ever see him again."
Both Roran and Baldor sighed simultaneously, although probably for differing reasons he thought Roran.
"It's a tricky question to answer" he admitted, "and there are different ways to interpret it. However" he continued, quickly stopping Horst from voicing his thoughts, "I think I will. Someday" he added as an afterthought.
"See the problem is that, I am likelier to see him when I am older. As of now, he, well at least I assume so, and I are very busy."
"But" he continued, oblivious to all attempts by Horst to intervene in the monologue with some questions, "would I really like to see him when I, and, by extension, him, are older. He will have aged insignificantly, and I will be still weathering the years, like there is no tomorrow. Which raises the question, would it be appropriate to see him. Sure it would be a happy re-union, but it would be distressing for both him, in the long run, and I, in the short run."
"I know that dragon riders have a longer lifespan than those of humans, and most dwarves" said Horst, which caused Baldor to look at his father with surprise, and even a hint of respect, "but really, that is nonsense; he will have aged, just as you will have aged."
"In some ways, I wish that was true" said Roran mysteriously, "and in others, not, but the fact remains that he will live a long life. Much longer than you and I can even comprehend" he said in a voice of wonder and awe, as well as a shade of fear.
"Not possible," replied Baldor wittily, "I can count to a hundred. I'll show you if you want" he said mischievously.
"But really" asked Horst, "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, it is really simple in some ways, and in others, it defies logic and reasoning" said Roran, but before he could interrupt, Horst spoke.
"Stop speaking like those darn elves" instructed Horst, in a slightly annoyed tone-of-voice, causing both Baldor and Roran to grin, with the air of someone who had done something they shouldn't have.
"Put simply, Eragon, and dragon's rider in whole, are immortal" he whispered,
"Immortal, Invincible, Invulnerable or Indestructible, or a combination, take your pick" Baldor whispered back.
"Immortal" confirmed Roran, "However there are a few pitfalls. He can still die by sword, or poison or any other method of killing a human, or even an elf, and he could catch a disease or something that is incurable, unlikely as that might be."
"That's it" said Horst, a little too loudly, for Baldor shushed him before he could continue talking. "Sorry," he apologised, "but there not pitfalls, they are the spice of life, well except for illness's" he acceded as an afterthought, most likely spurred on by Baldor's curious gaze.
"This is not a fact too bandy about lightly, however, and I would appreciate it, not for my sake but everyone else's, if you kept this quiet. Since, however, I cannot make you speak an oath in the Ancient Language, or even know how to make a correctly structure sentence in it, I am going to trust you by your words and honour, too not to go around releasing this information" he finished, in a light tone, but with all purposes and intents on the correct response.
"Don't worry" confirmed Horst, "We wouldn't let it slip, even under torture, although I think that will be the least of our worries if we so happen to be in that situation."
Satisfied, Roran turned to face Baldor, who's response was still incoming, and by the looks of it, he was still in deep thought. Just before he was going to prompt Baldor, who was taking a much too long time in considering the matter, Baldor started, and launched into his response with a question of his own.
"That must mean," Baldor said, "Elves are invulnerable, aren't they Roran."
Roran grimaced, but couldn't help admire the conclusions that Baldor could draw from information, Baldor was always one of the best people he knew at judging and reading others, as well as, Roran confessed, being one of the more smarter people he knew, although that had changed when he was in the Varden. The people under Nasuada's command were very good at their job, and were so smart that often Roran could not understand how they came to the conclusions they did.
"Yes, yes they are," he said, inclining his head in a gesture of respect, "very smart Baldor, but god knows where you came up with that from, with your pitiful little brain" he added, in a joking tone of disgust, to which Baldor just smile.
"Now, now boys, let's keep it civil, although that's a definitely a most laborious task for Roran" Horst said indulgently, to which the boys quietly chuckled.
"Just don't let it slip either; otherwise I'll have your heads on a platter before you can say 'Mistake'" joked Roran.
"I would like to have my head on a silver platter, if you do so please" Baldor said. He stated it in such a manner-of-fact tone, that all three of them smiled at the dig.
"What are you three girls talking about" shouted Albriech, cupping his hands to make his voice reach, while walking over to them. Hope looked as if she was having the time of her life, bouncing up and down in a makeshift contraption designed to help someone carry her around.
"Just about how silly you look with Hope bouncing up and down in that infernal contraption of yours" Baldor shouted back, causing Baldor to grin, and Hope to giggle. They waited until they were in speaking distance, not shouting distance, to resume their conversation.
"So, how goes it brother" asked Albriech,
"Fine" stated Baldor, warily eyeing Albriech, who now had a shy-looking Hope peeking over his shoulder, "But you should know that we are about to go back to work, and that you're going to have put sweet little darling here, into mother's care."
He glanced at Hope, who giggled, and then immediately hid her head behind Albriech's bulk, which was rather large.
"That's fine" Albriech said, "She is definitely ready for a nap, she's had enough excitement for today" as he reached behind his back and ruffled her dirty blonde coloured hair.
"I'll put her away" volunteered Horst, leaving the boys to talk to themselves. Horst picked her up, and then waltzed away, bouncing up and down, an evidently delighted Hope, who's giggles, could be heard from miles away. Roran shouted after him,
"Don't forget about what I said."
Horst acknowledged his reminder with a wave of his hand, but otherwise didn't turn around.
"What's this thing you speak of" asked Albriech, but Baldor, and he to a lesser extent, shook off the question like it was nothing.
"Nothing" Baldor, taking the liberty, stated, "It's just a trivial detail."
Albriech didn't seem to think so, and was about to ask a question, but then thought better of it, and instead said "What's it to me. After all, ignorance is bliss, my dear friends, and you would do well to always heed my advice. Some of the times that is," he added in response to Baldor's snort.
"Remember the time-" started Baldor, but Albriech quickly interrupted him before he could finish.
"Don't start on that" said Albriech warningly, "You have done plenty of fool hardy things in your lifetime."
Thankfully, they were distracted by a wild Nolfravell, who beckoned them to come his way, shouting as he did so.
"Nasuada, she's on the scrying mirror." He took a brief, though relatively deep, breath, and continued with his flying tirade "She wants you Roran, or rather maybe I should say the Earl of Carvahall."
Roran ignored the friendly jibe, those could come later, but nonetheless, he hurried to Nolfravell's side, who immediately took off. Cursing, Roran chased after him, building his running tempo into a steady, fast pace.
(PoV Change)
Nasuada patiently waited for Roran, the young man whom she had come across, had said he was working in the town somewhere, which was only a few hundred metres away. She wondered what to talk about with Roran other than the recent dealings throughout the empire, after all, it had been a pretty eventful month. After a few minutes of contemplation, the boy arrived back, and a few seconds later, he was followed by an extremely puffed looking Roran. Nonetheless, he straightened up and commanded his authority, in a way she would never be able to muster. She was once again thankful they were not on opposite sides; otherwise they would have grind each other to smithereens to ensure supremacy. She was interrupted from her less than pleasant thoughts, namely involving thinking about how she would tackle a rogue Roran, as unlikely as it may seem, by Roran bowing, and simultaneously, the boy leaving the view of the mirror, and presumably exiting the tent.
"Your majesty" he said, "What need do you have of me?"
"Well many needs, as it so happens" replied Nasuada, not giving a titbit of information away.
"Please expand" said Roran, concern and thoughtfulness etched deeply into his face.
"If I told you that, in an act of war, I would be able to call on you, would you say yes" she asked,
"depends on the circumstances" replied Roran, with the skill of an elf in evading direct questions. "As it happens, I do have a family to look after, but if my Queen wishes so, so shall be done."
"Aah," stated Nasuada, "but the question did not directly concern my wishes; it was whether you would be able do, or would want to do it, in fact."
Just before Roran was going to reply, a split second after he had opened his mouth, she added "Your honest opinions."
This caused him to pause, and think for a few moments, while she twiddle her thumbs and idled away his response time. "I agree, but I have two terms, One, I will be able to choose to battle or fight at my discretion, and secondly, I will not fight far from home no matter how far the dire the situation is, or how much death and destruction is being caused."
"You can have one of the two options, but not both" she responded quickly, before he could continue talking.
This time, it took him a little more than a few moments to gather his thoughts on the subjects, but she could see the cogs whirring in his brain, and she thought it wouldn't be long before he came to his decision. She was proved right, for a few seconds later he responded
"I will choose the first option, but bear in mind that I do not wish to fight again. The pen should be mightier than the sword, and it would do good to test that hypothesis" he added.
"Well" she mused, "That's that matter sorted."
She supposed this was what prompted Roran to quickly bow, say good bye and head towards the apparent exit of the tent.
"Hang on a minute Roran" she called out, "We aren't done yet."
He slowly turned and headed back towards the scrying mirror, "We aren't" he asked questioningly.
"We aren't" she confirmed, "This time, the matters are a little more complicated and immediate in their seriousness. Firstly, and foremost, we have had reports of a shade and we tracked down raz'ac eggs, although Eragon said that there could have been"
"That's why there was a big part of Carvahall burning down yesterday, and all the men lying around slaughtered" he joked morbidly, but all of the intent and purpose of the joke was lost in her.
"Oh, you're serious" he grimaced, "my mistake. What is the status of finding this shade, assuming we even know what to look for?"
"Well, I am not sure Eragon told you, but a Shade is not to be trifled with. Even the elves are worried a little, and they, if you remember, are all tucked away safely in their forest. Although, I am not sure they are worried for the same reasons we are" she finished.
"How many men, or spell casters, would it take to take down a shade? Say spell-casters that have the ability of those blasted twins that we slew, in the battle of the Burning Plains" he stated.
"I'm not exactly sure" she admitted, "but Eragon would probably not even think of approaching a shade one-on-one, without Saphira's help or strength. If it does help" she added, realising that she hadn't answered his question, "Eragon, when he was at his prime during the course of the war, probably would have been able to defeat both the twins."
"Aaah" replied Roran thoughtfully, "So this does pose a major problem, any idea of when to expect an attack."
"Well the thing is" said Nasuada, pausing for a few moments.
"You were saying" Roran reminded her.
"Yes, the thing is that the dwarven shade has yet to materialise"
"Materialise" said Roran sceptically, "and by that you mean, what exactly?"
"It has yet to walk this earth, which is a problem in some ways, and in other ways not." When she had finished, and Roran still had a confused look on his face, she added "A dwarf had a vision of the shade, and subsequent searches around the area, by the strongest magicians of the dwarven race I might add, have revealed nothing. Not even a hint of magical presence, or so they tell me. Although this fact really doesn't mean anything if Shade's are as adept magic users as Eragon says they are."
"By the way" remembered Roran, "speaking of my cousin, have you, or anyone, had news of him."
"Oh yes," she replied, "He spoke to me about numerous things, but none of much importance. However, he did ask after you, and asked if all was well, to which I replied, and I am going to paraphrase, 'To my best knowledge, he is well, Arya safely delivered him to villagers of Carvahall, although since then I have heard little to no news of him.'"
"Well, that's good" said Roran absentmindedly, "but I wonder why he didn't bother to scry me, after all, I am his only remaining blood member, apart from Murtagh."
"Maybe he's just busy" Nasuada suggested lightly, but he was too immersed in his thoughts to notice much, "I am sure that he will scry you soon, and I am sure that he does remember who you are, and how important you are to him."
They continued to idly chat for the next few minutes, but she noticed that Roran was increasingly becoming withdrawn, and answers were a lot harder to extract from him than normal, so she eventually cut the conversation short and wished him good luck. Just before he exited the tent, and she called on the magician to end the spell, she remembered something she was going to tell.
"Oh, and Roran, we'll have one of these meetings every month, if not every fortnight. And don't go looking for the shade, Strong hammer" she called out playfully.
Midway through his bow, he smiled and chuckled at the thought of it, but didn't otherwise make a noise, before turning around and walking straight out of the tent without a backwards look, and a second thought.
She plumped herself down on the recliner lying to the side of the scrying mirror, and watched thoughtfully as the magician ended the scrying spell, before bowing to her and leaving the scrying chamber. How things progressed, she thought, when you put a few good, strong men, or indeed women, to a job of their fancy.
A/N: Extremely sorry for the infrequent/irregular updates, I have got exams coming up and so my timetable is a little bit stretched, that said, I am happy that I got a relatively decent amount of words uploaded, and even a little bit of content/plot.
I was originally going to make this a longer chapter, and include 2 more PoV's and extended dialogue, but thought better, and uploaded this instead. The next chapter, however, will contain the 'Deleted Scene's.'
Have a good day,
WiseBeyondYears