What are they doing here, so close to the Empire's border? Katharean frowned as they soared around the edges of the vast encampment. How can you be sure this is the Varden, Obsidian? It could well be that Galbatorix's own troops have set up camp here...who knows how the balance has shifted in the last few months?
I know, because the air is thick with Saphira's scent. He replied, as though it should have been obvious enough for her to guess. How you humans can be so numb to the world around you, I will never know.
Not so numb, perhaps. She replied, closing her eyes as she let the barriers around her mind fall away and searched the surrounding area for any signs of Eragon. She combed the entire encampment twice before finally conceding that he was nowhere to be found.
Perhaps he is concealing himself.
His thoughts he will most definitely be concealing, but I should still be able to feel his consciousness. Other than yours, his is the mind I am most familiar with. Trust me...if I can't feel him that means he's not here.
And nor is Saphira. Obsidian grunted.
But you said you could smell her. She reminded him.
Her scent is fading...at a guess I would say it is about a day old, but no more.
So we've only just missed them? She realised, shaking her head. Typical.
She closed her eyes again and instead focused on finding Nasuada. This time, she was more successful. She showed Obsidian silently where the leader of the Varden was, and he burst through a low hanging cloud, soaking them both.
I was planning on having a nice hot bath later on, if you don't mind. She grinned, wiping moisture from her eyes. Obsidian chortled, good-naturedly as he made his way steadily to where Nasuada was. As they flew, several of the men and women below them cried out in alarm and even fear, but they ignored them.
It hasn't been that long, surely they must recognise us! Katharean exclaimed when she heard a man cry "Demons! Demons in the sky!"
I think that's the reason they are so afraid...you have to remember, they all think we are dead.
Superstitious fools.
Quite. They must think we are some manner of wraiths. Obsidian chuckled.
It is no laughing matter. If the people we are fighting with fear us, we are no better than Galbatorix.
Yes, well, it can't be helped. Once we speak with Nasuada, she can address the Varden as a whole. Obsidian assured her.
By then, word will already have spread. If we're not chased out with torches and pitchforks, perhaps somebody might actually be pleased to see us alive. She joked, nervously. Obsidian snorted.
I wish Eragon and Saphira were here. She thought, anxiously.
As do I, Katharean. He agreed, longingly. As do I.
There! Land over by the red pavilion. She instructed, pointing. Nasuada's inside.
Nasuada's pavilion was set apart from the rest of the small tents, providing them with more than enough room to land, despite Obsidian's size. The moment he alighted on the soft grass, Katharean slid from his back. No sooner had her feet touched the ground than six spears were thrust into her face, forcing her back against Obsidian's flank. She pressed herself against him, ignoring the sharp stabs of pain from his rough scales, and held her hands out in a gesture of peace, surveying the faces of the guards before her. Two men, two dwarves and two Urgals, all of whom she recognised as Nasuada's own personal guard. Obsidian growled, warningly at them, but they did not falter.
"Ah...Garzhvog, isn't it?" She greeted the largest of the Urgals, whose name was the only one which stuck in her mind. "It's me...Katharean! You know...Katharean...you've threatened me more than once in the past, I would have thought you might remember me." She offered a small smile, but Garzhvog did not relax, nor did he show any signs of recognition.
"Katharean Athem and the dragon Obsidian are dead. They were killed in battle by the Rider Murtagh and his red beast." Garzhvog grunted, without any detectable emotion. She risked a glance at Obsidian, who rolled his eyes.
"Uh...no, see...we were not killed, it was...well, it is difficult to explain, but...we're alive! See?" She spread her arms further, as though hoping they would suddenly understand. They did not.
"What trickery is this?" Garzhvog snarled. She narrowed her eyes, growing irritated. If not for the fact he was Krull and towered over her by more than a foot in height, and for the half-dozen spears aimed directly at her face, she might have slapped him.
"It is no trickery! Do you not believe your own eyes? I mean, I knew Urgals were less than intelligent, but even beasts know better than to doubt their own senses!" She snapped, angrily. The two Urgals glowered at her, fiercely, and she was more than a little surprised when all six spears withdrew from her face. Her confusion must have shown, because one of the men explained:
"That's Katharean Athem, all right. Who else would have the mettle to speak to an Urgal that way when his weapon is at her throat?"
She nodded, gratefully.
"Sorry about that, Garzhvog. I should have known better than to let my temper run away with me." She smiled, apologetically.
He grunted, though whether it was in annoyance or acceptance, she could not tell.
"May I speak with Nasuada now, please?"
She need not have asked, for at that moment, Nasuada's tired voice floated towards them from inside the large tent.
"What is all the commotion out there? How is anybody supposed to sleep? You could wake the..." She pushed past the entrance flap and stopped dead when her weary eyes landed on Katharean and Obsidian. "...dead." She finished in a strangled whisper. She looked from Obsidian to Katharean to her guards and then back again, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Katharean...? What on...how are you...?"
Katharean smiled, warmly, and strode quickly over to her to pull her into a friendly embrace.
"It's so lovely to see you, Lady Nasuada. I apologise for the absurdly early hour...I hope we did not interrupt a particularly pleasant dream." She grinned, as she pulled away. Nasuada blinked in bewilderment.
"Not at all...by all accounts, I am most likely dreaming still."
Katharean chuckled at the other woman's wide-eyed shock.
"You say the sweetest things." She joked. "Why don't we go inside? You should probably sit down...you look like you've seen a ghost!"