Hello all, here is the next chapter of Selena's Daughter. I hope you all liked my prophecy for Florina. It's hard to tell since only one person reviewed the chapter. I do get reviews from none fanfiction readers (those who do not have a fanfic account).
Disclaimer: I only own Florina, Kuldra, and Florina's foster parents. Paolini owns everyone else.
Enjoy!
"We did it!" Eragon exclaimed.
"Yes, we did. Now to see if it was worth it." Florina said, taking off her bow and sword while Jeod took a map from the shelves and handed it to Brom who unrolled it on the desk. It was the same as she had. The center was filled by the Hadarac Desert. The east side was blank and to the south was Surda. Her eyes fell on the Beor Mountains. She knew that somewhere around there, her father was looking for a Kóstha-mérna Lake and the Varden. She looked to where she hoped the lake was a moment before moving her eyes. Brom and Jeod did not need to know that she knew where the entrance to the Varden was. Her eyes moved to the northern edge of the map. Her eyes lingered on Palancar Valley a moment before moving towards the west and the island there. She stared at the knobby hand that was Vroengard until Brom's hand passed in front of her face. "Yes? What?"
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Brom. Did I miss anything?"
"Only some." They turned back to the other two.
"The parchment lists Kuasta, Dras-Leona, Aroughs, and Belatona." Eragon said, turning to the map.
"They are not in Kuasta." Florina said. "I would know if they were. Besides, we are next to the coast and surrounded by mountains. We can rule out Aroughs as well, it is isolated."
"Which leaves Belatona and Dras-Leona." Eragon continued. "I think they are in Dras-Leona since it is bigger and better situated.
"What do the records show?" Florina looked through the parchment.
"Three shipments of Seither oil were sent to Dras-Leona all two weeks apart. One merchant. It happened last year and the year before that." Florina looked up. "I've been going to Dras-Leona for years. There is no merchant there, not even a group of them, who has enough money for that much oil. And," Florina added before Brom could say something, "if what you have told me about those creatures is true, and what I have seen of them myself, Hegrind makes the perfect hiding place for them. They have to be there."
"Ah yes, the Dark Gates. You're right, Florina, that would make Dras-Leona the perfect place for the Ra'zac. It's decided then, that's where we'll go." Florina nodded, noticing Eragon sit up right. The hunt was back on. She slipped out of the room well the old men talked. Eragon followed her out.
"Florina, I want to talk to you." She kept walking until she had made it to Jeod's library.
"What?" She turned to him after closing the door.
"What are you going to do afterwards?"
"What do you mean?" She said, opening the door and walking out. It was clear that Eragon wanted nothing more than to talk and would not betray their secrets.
"After we kill the Ra'zac. What are you going to do?"
"Ah, that." Florina sighed. "I was going to wait until we had gotten closer to Dras-Leona, but,"
"But what?"
"I am not going to Dras-Leona with you."
"What?!"
"Shhhhh, not so loud." She led him through the kitchen and into the garden. "I am not going with you against the Ra'zac. That is your quest, not mine. Once we are close enough, I am going to return home and look for signs of my father. After that, unless he has gone somewhere else, I am going to my friends and stay with them. That is, if you no longer want me around. Even if you do want me around, I am not helping you with them. Too many know me in Dras-Leona and even though I was helped once, that does not mean that I will be again."
"So, you wanted to wait to tell us this?"
"Brom!" Florina wheeled about and saw Brom behind them, done talking with Jeod. "Yes, I was going to wait as I am not entirely sure my course after you are done with your hunt. A few days before we reach Dras-Leona, I am going to return home to see if I can find any traces of my father there. You have that long to decide whether or not you still want me around. If you do, I will travel with you until you are ready. Good night,"
"Kuldra, what is wrong with her!" Florina jumped aside as Saphira tried to grab her in her claws. Kuldra was away hunting but was quickly on her way back.
"I am not sure. She has blocked her mind." Florina jumped aside again as Saphira failed to catch her. She dropped to the ground as Saphira swung her tail.
"Stop! It's me!" Quiet a moment as Saphira calmed down. "Oops? You could've killed me. Where's Brom and Florina?"
"I am right here!" Florina yelled, storming up to him.
"And I'm right here!" Brom called from behind Saphira's wings. "Tell your crazy dragon to release me! She won't listen."
"Let him go! Didn't you tell them?"
"Tell us what?" Florina was furious and the boy and old man could see it. Brom looked at Eragon as Kuldra landed behind Florina.
"I found an Urgal footprint. And it's fresh." Florina began saddling the horses while Brom put out the fire. She looked up when she noticed that her male companions were not helping.
"Florina, can you heal a broken wrist?"
"No. Mama did not teach me all aspects of healing. I do not know how to mend bones, just skin and muscles." Brom cursed and turned back to Eragon while Florina saddled Cadoc and Snowfire. "Stay right above us with Saphira. If anything, you and I can fight them off."
"As you wish." They rode hard for about a mile. Then they heard a distant horn. "They have found our tracks. They know that there is at least one dragon they are hunting."
"Stop!" She called to Brom. He stopped the horses. "The Urgals have found our tracks. They know they are hunting at least one dragon." She whispered before raising her voice for Eragon to hear. "Take the horses and run. Eragon, you get on Saphira and stay with Brom."
"What about you and Kuldra?" The boy asked, the worry and pain in his voice.
"We are going to do our best to give you time. If we do not meet up with you in a few days, go on without us. We will either be dead or on our way to Galbatorix. I pray for the former."
"Be careful, Girl."
"Don't worry about me, Old Man." She mounted Kuldra and the two took flight. "Fly back until we are behind them."
"What do you plan to do?"
"We are going to attack from behind." Kuldra pulled Florina into her mind and let her see through her eyes. Together, they looked for the Urgals. "Damn it all! They are right below Saphira. How the hell did they catch up to them?"
At that moment, Saphira landed in front of the group. "Do we still attack?"
"No, wait. Eragon is injured. We need to be sure that he can escape if need be."Kuldra lowered herself onto the ground quietly and crept closer. Florina cast a spell to muffle her steps. They watched as the largest Urgal advanced on Eragon. Florina tensed.
"Our master wished to speak with you, human." The monster spat.
"Who is your master?" Eragon answered.
"Stupid boy. Doesn't he have the sense to run?"
"Tell him to and then I can roast the lost of them before they can fight back."
"His name does not deserve to be given to one as low as yourself. He rules the sky and holds dominion over the earth. You are no more than a stray ant to him. Yet he has decreed that you shall be brought before him, alive. Take heart that you have become worthy of such notice!"
"I'll never go with you nor any of my enemies! Whether you serve Shade, Urgal, or some twisted fiend I've not heard of, I have no wish to parley with him." The Urgal growled something Florina could not hear and then, "Keep your offer and tell your master that the crows can eat his entrails for all I care!"
"Stupid boy," Florina growled again. "Now!" She shouted as Eragon shouted a word of power. Kuldra dove into the group of Urgals as they went flying. Florina briefly caught sight of Eragon, but it was enough to see him fall from Saphira's saddle. Florina jumped from Kuldra's saddle and to the pair, slicing Urgals as she went. She reached them as an Urgal flew into two different directions. Saphira picked up Eragon and looked at her.
"Come."
"No. You get Eragon to Brom. I will come when I can. Brom will need help killing the rest of them. Besides, their leader escaped. He's seen Kuldra as well as you. Their master cannot know that another dragon is loose in the land."
"We will wait. Keep your mind open. Brom may send me to find you."
"Do not worry. Because of his injury, you will have to travel slowly. I will find you before you reach Dras-Leona."
"Very well. Stay safe, Rider Florina."
"You as well, Saphira." The sapphire dragon blinked and then was gone. Florina turned to Kuldra.
"They have scattered to the winds. They were carrying injured."
"Then let us put them out of their misery."
"I've spent the last two days tracking them down! Even with Saphira, three escaped!"
"I didn't want to kill them."
"It wasn't a problem in Yazuac."
"There was no choice then. And I couldn't control the magic. This time, it just seemed...extreme."
"Extreme!" the old man cried. "It's not extreme when they wouldn't show you the same mercy. And why, oh why, did you show yourself to them?"
"You said they had found Saphira's tracks. It didn't make a difference if they saw me."
"We didn't know for certain! They may have believed they were chasing some stray travelers. But why would they think that now? After all, you landed right in front of them! And since you let them live, they're scrambling around the countryside with all sorts of fantastic tales! This might even get back to the Empire!" Saphira watched as her partner-of-heart-and-mind-Eragon talked with the old Rider. She had learned many secrets in the two days they had spent hunting the Urgals. She had learned that the old man was Eragon's birthfather and that he suspected that Rider Florina's father was not her true father.
"We're still going to Dras-Leona, right?" Eragon asked the old man. Brom rolled his eyes.
"Yes, we can keep looking for the Ra'zac. But we cannot do anything until you've healed. Are you well enough to ride?" The boy nodded. "Good, then we can still cover a few miles today."
"Where are Cadoc and Snowfire and Deloi?"
"Over there a ways. I picketed them where there is grass." Once the horses were ready, they rode in silence for a while. Brom had tied Deloi to his saddle. Eragon kept an eye on the sky, looking for the tell-tale gold that would mean that Florina and Kuldra were alright. He was worried about them. Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Where are Florina and Kuldra?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. Saphira wouldn't tell me. It was as if she had forgotten about them until I mentioned them."
"Saphira?"
"They went to hunt the Urgals."
"They are hunting the last three Urgals. According to Saphira, they sent me with her and then went off on their own. You didn't see any sign of them?"
"No, which worries me. She could have been captured and is on her way to this master of theirs."
"No, she wouldn't let herself be captured."
"I hope you are right."
"Will you swear to me?"
"You can kiss my ass, Black King." She spat before crying out in pain. She had been in his dungeons for months. She regretted not listening to her husband and putting her memories in that stone. She should have seen this coming. But she had hoped she was safe in the small coastal town. She knew that if she were to become weak, the Varden's biggest advantage against the king and the Empire would be revealed.
"Swear to me." His silken voice cooed.
"Go to hell." She hissed back. She felt the hot iron again and screamed until she tasted blood.
What has happened to Florina? Any guesses? Thank you all for reading and please, please, please review. And yes, the end part was her foster mother. Things are moving quickly. THanks for reading!