Disclaimer: I only own Florina and Kuldra
Bold is conversation between Eragon and Saphira
Bold+Itialic is conversation between Florina and Kuldra
"What name will you be using, Florina?" Eragon asked. She remained silent. She had been thinking about that the whole way to Terim. Brom had decided that he and Eragon would go by the names of Neal and Evan, his nephew. She knew that she needed to convince Jeod of her identity. She bit her lip in thought.
"I wish I could use my own. But if there are traders from my home here, they will tell the guards immediately. I am supposed to be dead." She bit her lip some more.
"Florina, make a decision or I will make one for you."
"And you will not be able to tell it if you do." She promised. Brom and Eragon had learned not to tempt fate when trying to tell her what to do. Florina saw Brom's hand twitch as he tried to keep from rubbing his throat. The movement escaped Eragon's notice.
"Any thoughts, Kuldra?"
"I have been thinking. I do not like that you have to hide who you are."
"I don't either. I am not being looked for like Brom and Eragon. I think it would be safe for me to use my own name."
"And if anyone recognizes you."
"I will tell them I managed to escape before the roof fell and that I couldn't find my father."
"Good. You shouldn't have to hide who you are."
"Well?" Brom asked irritably.
"I will go by my own name."
"And if you are recognized by it?" Eragon asked, his suspicions rising."
"I would be recognized no matter what. No one else looks like me. I would rather tell them that I managed to escape the burning building than have them believe I am a ghost. It will be easier to tell them that I am now an orphan because of what happened that day."
"Very well." Brom grunted and they rode on in silence.
"She is a strange one. She travels with you, but she does not trust you fully." Saphira commented to Eragon. "What do you make of her?"
"She has secrets. Secrets I don't know about and that may be dangerous. I keep trying to figure out what the meaning of the greeting she and Brom exchanged when we reached the plains and found her there."
"She was looking for him. You didn't happen upon her. If we had not arrived when we did, she would have gone into the valley to find him." Eragon didn't say anything and rode on in silence.
Florina looked up at the gate. She did not share Eragon's wonder. She had seen so many cities. She looked ahead and saw the guards. She smiled, glad to have an authentic excuse. She sat up straight on her horse as the guards blocked their way.
Wha's yer name?" One asked. Florina let Brom lead.
"I'm called Neal," Brom said in a wheezy voice. She looked at him and had to keep from laughing at the expression of happy idiocy on his face.
"And who are th' other two?"
"Well, I wus getting' to that. This'ed be m'nephew Evan. She'd be Florina, a friend o' the family"
"And yer business here?"
This time Eragon answered, dropping his voice into a thick accent. "He's visitin' an old friend. I'm along t' make sure he don't get lost, if y' get m'meaning. He ain't as young as he used to be—had a bit too much sun when he was young'r. Touch o' the brain fever, y'know." Brom bobbed his head pleasantly.
"An' you?" The guard said to her."
"I'm here to make sure they both stay out of trouble. When Evan's mother heard I was coming this way, she asked me to come along to make sure they both stayed out of trouble." She said, not changing her voice.
"Right. Go on through. Just make sure he doesn't cause any trouble."
"He won't." Florina and Eragon promised together. They urged their horses through. Brom straightened in his saddle once they were far enough away from the guards.
"Touch of brain fever, eh?" He growled to Eragon.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun." Eragon teased and then turned to Florina. "Us, get in trouble?"
Florina just smiled. "This way." She said, suddenly remembering the way.
"Shouldn't we ask where he lives?"
"I know where he lives." Florina answered and kept riding down the street, to the west side of the city. They rode in silence until they came to their destination. She stopped in front of an herbalist's shop and frowned.
"Florina, what is wrong?"
"I can't remember which one is his." While she looked between the houses, Eragon and Brom noticed the herbalist's shop and the short, curly haired woman by the door. Brom walked up to her.
"Could you tell us which house Jeod lives in?"
"I could." Florina looked down at the voice and smiled.
"Will you tell us?"
"Yes." Florina stayed silent and watched, struggling to hold in her laughter. She had forgotten Angela lived here. After a moment more, Angela looked up. "Of course I'll tell you! all you have to do is ask. Your first question was whether or not I could tell you and the second was if I would tell you. But you never actually put the question to me." Florina could not hold it in any longer and laughed. The three of them looked at her. Angela's eyes lit up. "My, my, my, if it isn't an old friend. Florina, my girl, how are you?" She stood up and Florina dismounted.
"I am fine, Angela."
"Last I saw you, you were only about the height of my waist at most and seven years old. My, how you've grown."
"It's good to see you to, Angela. How's the cat?"
"Same as ever. What can I do for you, Child?"
"I need you to jog my memory. Which house is Jeod's? I have been here before, but as you said, it was long ago."
"It is the one on the right, Child. Will you be in town long? We have much to discuss." Florina looked at Brom. "Possibly a few days. I am helping these two on a quest of theirs and they are helping me."
"Oh, well then, you come and visit soon. I want to know what is so important you would travel this far without Caleb."
"Count on it." Florina took Deloi by the reins and led them to the house on the right. She left them to dismount and knocked on the door. Brom and Eragon joined her.
"Maybe this is the wrong house. Let's try the other." Eragon said.
"This is the house." Florina growled and knocked again. She wasn't going to admit it, but she remembered more than she was telling them the longer she was in Terim. She knew it was thanks to her mother. She had blocked the memory until she had come back by herself.
"Yes, what do you want?" A blond haired woman asked.
"Does Jeod live here?" Brom asked.
"Yes, he is my husband. Is he expecting you?"
"No, but we need to talk with him." Brom answered.
"He is very busy." She answered.
"Helen, tell him that Caleb's daughter waits for him on the doorstep." Helen's eyes widened. Brom bristled that she had taken control from him.
"Also tell him," Brom interjected, "that a friend from Gil'ead is waiting outside with her."
"Very well." The door snapped shut. Brom turned on her.
"Why did she have that reaction to you?"
"I have been here before, if you haven't guessed already. Remember what I told you before. We have friends in common. Jeod happens to be one of them." The door flew open behind her and she was pulled into a hug.
"Florina, I've been worried that you wouldn't make it here. Caleb told me you had left to find an old friend to help you. He told me to keep an eye out for you should come here."
"It's good to see you to, Jeod." She managed as he let her go. His eyes fell on Brom.
"Brom…?" He whispered, eyes wide.
"It's good to see you Jeod. I am glad that memory has not failed you, but don't use that name. It would be unfortunate if anyone knew I was here." While they talked, Florina handed Deloi to Jeod's butler. It was understood that she was staying with them for sure. She followed the three of them to the citadel. Jeod looked at her sideways but only nodded. She wandered around the office, looking at the odd papers and such. "Eragon, could you go check on the horses and make sure they are all right? I don't think I tied Snowfire to the ring tightly enough." Once Eragon was far enough away, Jeod turned to Florina.
"You should leave as well,"
"Tall I am young;
Short I am old;
While with life I do glow,
Unûr's breath is my foe." She said quickly and decisively.
Brom and Jeod both looked at her in shock and confusion on Brom's part. "You be a candle." Jeod finally whispered. "Tell me your story since you and your parents came here last."
"Later, tell us of you."
"Not much to tell. After Gil'ead, I went back to the Varden and asked what else could be done on my part. There was not much and so I became a merchant and I've been doing that for almost eight years now."
"I never expected you to become a merchant." Brom said in wonder. "After all that time you spent in books. And finding," Florina drifted off again as they reminisced.
"And you Florina, it is time you tell me your story." Jeod said suddenly. "Why are you with this crotchety old man?"
Florina bit her lip and then pulled off her glove. Jeod's eyes widened in shock. She put the glove back on. "For about six months, seven know I think. About two months ago, I went to Dras-Leona in my father's place since it had been discovered that he was supporting the Varden in his own way. I only escaped because Ajihad didn't tell the traitor the new phrase, the riddle I just told you. When I returned to Kuasta, I found my home and my father's forge practically destroyed. I barely managed to get him out. That's when he told me that the Black King has my mother and to find a man named Brom in Carvahall. I've been traveling with these two since."
"And you're dragon?"
"Her name is Kuldra." Jeod turned to Brom.
"You should return to Tronjheim."
"And take Eragon there? They'd tear him apart. It's the worst place he could be right now. Maybe in a few months or a year. Just imagine how the dwarves will react once Florina gets there. Add Eragon to that mix. He has no allegiances there like Florina does." Florina grunted her disagreement.
"I am quite independent, Old Man."
"There are in need of your wisdom."
"No. Ajihad will have to get along without me." Florina frowned as the two men talked more and let her consciousness spread out and felt a spell.
"Eragon."She thought sadly and put a shield down to block his keen ears. She jumped when Brom placed a hand on her shoulder and the shield dropped. "We'd better go out and join Eragon. I get worried when he's left alone. That boy has an unnatural propensity for being wherever there's trouble."
"Are you surprised?"
"Not really." Florina stood and followed them out. Her mind wondered as she followed them. Her eyes fell one Eragon.
"How much do you think her heard?"
"I don't know. You'll just have to trust that what was spoken between the three of you does not fall from his tongue in a drunken conversation. Are we going to go to the Varden?"
"Possibly. I want to learn from Brom. But fighting with the Varden will be the only way to rescue my mother. We'll have to see. I hope Papa made it to them, if that is where he went. Maybe when they get close to their prey, we will go and check for some sign of where he went. Maybe Jeod knows if Papa got word to him."
"So he says."
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. More memories will come to light. Prophecies in the next chapter. THanks for reading and please review!