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She scowled as she looked at the sky ahead. "There is no way I am letting you fly into that." She said to Kuldra.
"So I am supposed to walk next to those things you call horses?"
"Yes. I am not losing you to a storm."
"I am experienced in storms."
"I know you are. But please, for my sanity."
Kuldra looked at her with one eye. "Very well." The eye blinked.
"Normally, I wouldn't go into a storm like that, but we're in for a battering no matter what we do, so we might as well get some distance covered." Brom said from beside her.
"Saphira, you should walk." Florina said, facing the younger dragon.
"She says she is not afraid. Why should she walk if she if master of the sky?"
"Look at the storm. It will be safer." Saphira snorted and took off. Kuldra looked at her as she circled them. Florina mounted Snowfire behind Brom. "Is she always that prideful" She asked Eragon. He nodded.
"Isn't Kuldra flying?"
"No." Florina said and left it at that.
"They are a secretive pair." He said.
"And a close pair. It did not take them long to come to an agreement about flight." Saphira answered. "She does not seem to mind walking even though it slows her down." Eragon watched Florina as she rode behind Brom. He knew that having to share a horse irritated the old man. He looked at the storm cloud as they entered its shadow and admired its exotic beauty.
"Eragon!" He looked down as a giant ripple raced toward them. He braced his shoulders. "Tuck in your wings, Kuldra!"
"Saphira! Land!" Florina looked up in horror and watched as Saphira angled and flew back the way they had come and dive to the ground.
"She's not going to make it."
"Should I help her?"
"You'll only get caught in the wind." Florina gripped a little too tightly to Brom as the gale reached them. "Sorry," she mumbled. He only grunted and they continued to watch Saphira. Florina felt the pain Eragon and Saphira were feeling as if it were her own. The younger dragon did not have the experience to fly a storm like this. Even though Kuldra did, there was still the chance that the wind would have done what it was doing to Saphira.
"Thank you, Little One. That could have been me. I have never flown in a storm like this before." They watched as Eragon folded Saphira's wings and they battled the wind back to them.
"Is she hurt?" Florina and Brom asked at the same time. The pain was evident in Florina's voice and Eragon heard it. Florina climbed onto Kuldra and they walked a little ways farther. Eragon decided to worry about Florina's habits later. Hours passed before the storm moved on. Florina stayed right next to Kuldra through the night and they slept.
"How did you get Kuldra to keep from flying?" Eragon asked as they continued on their way to Yazuac.
"I asked her not to and she agreed."
"But she is a dragon and they are the masters of the sky."
"And I know more about storms than you. Before Kuldra hatched for me, I did a lot of traveling with my father. Not to mention my home is on the coast."
"Easy, Florina. Be patient with him. This boy often has plenty of questions."
"And he needs to keep his nose out of the business of others." Florina snapped at the old man.
"So, how do you know our friends?"
"They employed my father to make weapons for them. When I was old enough, Papa taught me his trade and I started going into Dras-Leona with him. One or more of them would come and buy exactly half of our stock of weapons. The phrase I gave you has changed, but that was the only one you and I knew in common." Florina was silent a moment, then: "Why does Galbatorix want my mother? He does not know of me and Kuldra."
"You mentioned that she is a spell caster. I believe that is the reason. Did she know of Kuldra?"
"My mother is strong. She will not break easily."
"The Ninor River." Brom said, pointing at a dark winding line in the distance.
"Saphira and Kuldra will be seen if they stay with us much longer. Should they hide while we go into Yazuac?"
"See that bend in the river. Have them wait there. It's far enough from Yazuac so no one should find them and close enough that they will not be left behind. We'll go through town, get what we need, and then meet them."
"Fly behind Saphira and then circle the town high enough to be mistaken for a bird. I don't like how quiet it is."
"I wouldn't hide at the bend anyway, not when you are in danger or could be." Florina's mouth twitched. "Be careful." Florina watched the town over Brom's shoulder. She silently loosened her sword, not liking the lack of people in the streets. Brom and Eragon stopped the horses before the first house.
"There aren't any dogs barking."
"No"
"Doesn't mean anything, though."
"… No."
"Someone should have seen us." Florina said.
"Then why hasn't anyone come out?"
"They could be afraid."
"The Ra'zac might be waiting for us.
"We need provisions and water." Florina said. "We go in."
"But not like fools." Brom said. "We go around the side." Florina drew her sword as they turned their horses to go in the side. Her palm tingled as they passed through the houses. She looked away and cried as Eragon killed a crow and then threw up over his horse's side. "Do you two want to wait for me outside Yazuac?" Brom asked, concerned.
"No," Florina said. "I'll stay." She got off the horse and started toward the bodies. Brom followed her a moment later. She ignored his comments. She focused and whispered. "Brisingr." The bodies slowly burned as Brom cursed and grabbed her arm.
"Ride!" He yelled at Eragon and threw Florina onto Snowfire and jumped on himself. "The Urgals are still here!" Florina held onto Brom as he kicked the horse forward. She had a moment before Eragon was knocked off his horse and Brom turn back for him.
"Brom!" She yelled as another Urgal, this one with an axe, stepped into their path. She looked at Eragon. He was staring at the brute in front of him. "Run, you fool!" This got through his head and she saw him run back toward the burning pile of bodies. She jumped off Snowfire, and called for Kuldra to fly lower. She was about to attack the Urgal in front of Brom when a third Urgal ran at her from the houses. "Damn! Hurry Kuldra!" She jumped to the side and the Urgal turned with her. This one had a short sword, like the one Eragon was dealing with. She heard Eragon bellow and Brom be hit by his Urgal. The two Urgals chased Eragon while Florina was forced to fight hers.
"Lead him to where I can get him. He hasn't seen me yet." Florina acknowledged and ran towards the end of town. The Urgal followed her. "Drop!" Florina rolled, feeling a rush of air above her as Kuldra swooped and grabbed the Urgal. It landed right in front of her, torn in two. "Hurry, the old one needs help."
"Brisingr!"
"Eragon." She turned on her heel and ran back and past Brom on Snowfire to where blue waves were coming from between the houses. She ran into the alley and found Eragon against the wall, attempting to stay upright. She didn't say anything, only helped Eragon around the monsters and out of the alley. Eragon's horse met them and they continued forward. They found Brom and still on Snowfire, though the horse was ready to bolt. Saphira joined them seconds later and landed next to Kuldra. While they talked, Florina pulled Brom out of the saddle and lid him on the ground. "Eragon, are there any rags we can use. We need to bind Brom's wound before it gets worse and he dies." It was a moment before she was handed a rag. She tied it around the wound while Eragon cleaned Brom's sword and returned it to his belt. "Saphira, can you carry him? Kuldra is going to fly above us in case there are anymore."
"Is that what happened to that one?" Eragon pointed to the two halves of the third Urgal. Florina nodded grimly. "What are you going to do?"
"I am going to ride Snowfire. I am not taking the risk of you being caught down here alone with how weak you are."
"I can take care of myself."
"My decision stands, Boy. I will ride Snowfire. Now let's go." Florina mounted Snowfire as the dragons took flight.
"Brom, let me heal that."
"You mean,"
"Yes. I learned I had the ability at a very young age." She nodded to his arm and he held it out to her. "Waíse heil." She whispered. Brom struggled not to scratch it as the magic took effect. Once she was done, she went to her bag and pulled out some dried meat that she had packed and munched it quietly while Eragon related what had transpired while Brom was unconscious and Florina was fighting the third Urgal.
"The boy does not trust you."
"I wasn't expecting him to. Would you trust someone who just showed up with a six month old dragon? Not to mention the fact that I can use magic, which he used today. It could have killed him and destroyed the town."
"You are wiser in more than just years. You know the rules of this world, he does not. He has been in that valley all his life."
"Just like I would have been had I not been the daughter of a blacksmith who trades with the Varden."
"Perhaps. And then again, perhaps not." Florina smiled and transferred some more energy into the stone. She had been shocked by how much was in it, as if her mother had been putting energy into it for years before they gave it to her. She laid on her blankets and Kuldra covered her with her wing.
"I'm going to be in the sky today." Florina said, finishing the meager breakfast.
"Will you be safe?" Brom asked. Eragon looked at him sharply.
"I'll be safe enough. I am not a new hatchling. Kuldra and I will be fine." Kuldra snorted a jet of golden flame, scaring the horses. Florina patted her snout.
"I don't like it. What if someone sees you?"
"You underestimate us. Do you forget that Kuldra was there and helped me kill that Urgal? She was circling high enough to be mistaken for a bird, and she was. We have more experience than you think, Old One." Florina climbed into Kuldra's saddle. "We'll meet you for dinner."
"Your lessons,"
"I'll link my mind to yours for the time being. I want to be in the air with my partner of heart and mind." Brom faltered and then smiled.
"Very well. Go, but pay attention."
"Yes, Argetlam." Kuldra took flight while the two on the ground mounted their horses. She listened as Brom explained to Eragon how the ancient language and magic worked. She would make a remark here or there, to help Eragon understand, though he did not like her being in his head.
"Florina," Eragon asked suddenly, "how are you not exhausted after healing Brom last night? Shouldn't you be really tired now?"
"That would be true if I were as new as you to magic. I have been using magic since I was young and so have amassed more strength since then. Also, I am not alone when I cast spell." Kuldra hummed beneath her. Florina paid close attention to Brom as he started to instruct the boy in the ancient language, gaining new words her herself and Kuldra. They flew for the day, keeping an eye for ambushes and Urgals. Florina enjoyed the quietness and being with Kuldra. "Soon, we'll be able to fly and not have to worry about anything." Florina said privately to Kuldra. She got a sense of comfort from Kuldra, both of them at peace.
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