Eragon A New Hope

Disclaimer: Not a good writer as I would hope I could be. Also might notice I will be possibly doing something similar to another series called Bloodkin.

Chapter 4

Jack was relling a bit from learning that Brom was there at the farm… it seemed the old man was more than a story teller… then again, The stories that Brom had was only held by him and only told in the village maybe to some passerbys if they were lucky… But the legends of riders and the like was only told here. Jack being perhaps one of the smarter ones here didn't piece together these things yet but now hearing Brom from his dragon he would realize something was up… and well he couldn't stay hidden… Sighing. 'J… just let me come, I need to get my things.' He said as he would start gathering his things… Some smithing tools that he could use on the road a small anvil, clothes, leathers, his katanas he had most recently made in these last three months.

And with even some food he would head his way out of the shop and well he could only hand the keys to Mourn the smith of the town that he learned from. And well now was him to hand the keys there so that Mourn could use the tools and take it all since it was the best… Jack figured that the future would maybe see them back. But maybe not.

Arriving at the farm Jack looked around only to see the broken place… Jack not paying attention to the fact that all the dragons were looking at the wreckage… or that there were another 2 dragons and riders to meet rather that Jack was looking at where he had called home for the last decade, even more. And he would be walking closer to the broken place with a lingering hope that they were alive… Lien joining him soon enough him absently petting her muzzle as she did try getting his attention.

This was a difficult task as he was focused on his family's home, and she saw this and came with him… The others were slow on the uptake and did notice that Jack was looking at his home as they were looking at theirs. With slow realization they had not seen the Forsworn with more than their father and so they came over and helped pull up walls and the dragons moved the major beams of the house… But… there was nothing there… some blood it seemed but nothing more making Jack slump in horror.

And sure it might seem like an issolated incident however someone coming down the road was seen by one of the dragons and they made themselves hidden for the moment so they could see who it was that came. And not a surprise it was Brom that had arrived at the farm taking a look around at the carnage and seeing Katrina, Eragon, Murtagh, Roran, And Jack there… The other two were hidden. The brothers were the first to greet Brom, and this caused the dragons, and the other two to come out talking with him. And getting Jacks attention seeing the brimming tears of sorrow, Brom would not be able to comfort the grey dragon rider, but they had to talk.

First was of course Arya, and Nasuada, They talked saying that they were here to learn from Brom cause of their newly hatched dragons, and they were not ready for the Varden or Elves yet. The brothers, and Katrina saying their parts. The Brothers and even Jack's egg were found in the wilds.

The numb feeling Jack felt would abate as the others talked Brom looking to the Elf and Nasauda… She… her color was not normal around here, but not anything too bad. Given that it was lots of talking.

"So this is the results, and seems the farm family has been separated." Brom said and well he was right just how separated was the question Garrow was potentially alive. Brom turned his eyes to Arya and Nasauda who were first asked. "So an Elf and a girl who appears to be an old friend's daughter has come here." Brom started and sighed having to work on his pipe a bit and get it filled and lit.

"I am Arya of house Drotting, and this is Nasauda, Daughter of Ajihad. Yes she is the daughter of your old friend, I believe." The green Rider looked to Brom… Maybe not the best place to talk but the dragons after sating their curriousity of the farm came and sat behind their riders offering warmth to them… even Jack got this and Jack could only hug onto Lien's leg and just listen into the talking.

Brom the only one left to stay warm on his own. Would be fine with it just yet. Brom looked to them all, "I will ask of you two's tale soon enough. Now… How long?" He asked

Eragon was the first to ask. "How long what?"

"Your dragons; big, Jewel-bright predators that fly." Brom said, seemingly tempted to smack the boy in the head, but keeping his cool here. "How long have you been bonded with one."

"Around two… three months." Katrina said not too sure, and Jack could agree the time seemed to pass by… friends, dragons, talking, and making his own weapons and even the crafting of the magic item to help with energy gathering.

So time passed very fast and the three months… another month or two and it would be spring… But so would the dragons be that much larger. Jack would be interesting in the growth rates… at least hopefully.

"And Garrow is in trouble cause of us." Katrina finished Jack barely coming out of his sorrow.

"These cloaked men." Brom started as it seemed to be the next topic which likely would have been demanded about by the others. Brom rubbing his forehead to his head in stress. "Even this village is not safe anymore. Especially not for you. What happened with Garrow?"

"The Forsworn with the orange dragon, Formora I hear? Took Father away." Roran started only with Jack shaking from his stupor, "And what of my family? They lived on the farm too. Helped with the farm." Jack said sure he was an adult, but still cared about family. Roran, Eragon, Murtagh taking on a sad look, Katrina and even the other two taking on a more sickened look. "Th… dragon Morjera… Its lips was bloodied." Katrina started not able to say more.

Brom looking to Jack, he was the oldest of the riders here, he was 18… but still had that family boy side to him. "I am sorry to say Formora doesn't take many prisoners when she does. If any of your family is alive, They are likely being used as a toy by Morjera." Brom said not too happy. But was just speakign the truth and Jack going to his knees sure he was a man but being hit with the fact he was the last of his family line was not an easy hit to take… Brothers, Sister, Mom and Dad? All of them wiped out in an instant and if alive… would likely be broken beyond recognition.

Brom had to shake him to get him up. "Jack!" And even Lien would be trying to pull Jack out of the stupor of sorrow. It was hard to pull him out of that state. Even his friends were doing the same having to pull him up and huddle with him.

Brom Understood at this point that it was devastating, and was something that no one had to bare before the Forsworn. He could only clench his fist as he remembered what Morzan did to his dragon… He shook his head.

"We have to prepare to leave." Brom said and looked to Katrina. "You are coming too… well of course you are." He said. More or less cause The gold dragon Lunari was with her.

"As much as I love my father. As a rider and friends with them, I cannot let them go alone." Katrina stated.

Eragon, Roran, and Murtagh having around the same words to say since they had to save their dad. Jack having to pull himself together and nod. "Yes to save Garrow." He said though he might want to try and save any of his surviving family if he could…

With them already on the farm Brom only had to return to town to get his things packed up and so he did so. Katrina had to make the quick run into Carvahall as well and sneak into her home for things to leave with. Eragon, Jack, Murtagh, and Roran had to dig through the wrecks of the houses to find their goods. From bows to furs. To clothes to other simple supplies… The boys finding the meat locker and food supplies besides having been smashed open as if the creatures that invaded their farm ate them too.

Once they had their things together gathered waiting with the dragons for Brom and Katrina to arrive, it would be a short while before the two were seen coming back up the road breathless but back. Brom having his own travel pack Katrina giving a bit of a face to the ones there Roran giving his own blush and sighing. "So… Sorry Katrina." He said as he came forth to talk with her only to be pushed. "Hey, I couldn't go with you, father would have noticed you." She said, having to basically climb out the back door to get away since Sloan had seen the orange dragon and other flying creatures fly by and was trying to keep her locked inside. She couldn't stay though.

And in this case would have made it worse since Sloan would have noticed Roran in town. So less a spectacle. And yes Roran and Katrina had been sort of dating since they were 14.

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With everyone gathered it was time for them to have a place to camp for the night even if it was a somber thought and sad… Jack able to gather himself as he leaned more on his dragon's strength for now since he couldn't stand really on his own.

Eragon, Murtagh, and Roran showing the group to the clearing they had… With some pushing of trees there was more than enough space for the dragons and the riders, along with brom to settle down.

"So who all were the strangers?" Eragon would start this camp with.

"They… one is one of the Forsworn. The other two, dark servants of the king. The most likely candidates is the Razac and the Lekbarka. They are one and the same… The Razac are the twisted children taken human form, or as human as they can be. And the adults. The Lekbarka are they, And are not much better, if someone grew a bat and gave it a beak." He said snorting at the idea but sighed. "And yes they all have the power to paralyze humans since we are the prey for the Razac, and by extention the Lekbarka." Brom took a puff of his smoke but was workign on something in his lap… rather several somethings like wooden swords Jack would examine them and be a bit dismayed cause none of them looked anything like his katana like blades that vibrated…

First to be tossed one, was Eragon. Eragon having the idea that he might be able to beat the old man, Was quick to find out… He was easily able to beat him, then teach him a few things. And it went onto Murtagh, and he too was beat… Then was Roran who had more of a strong arm version of his attacks. Showing he was likely going to be a strong wielder… Then Arya who had minor training in Fencing was easily beat by Brom… Arya was at the age where she would start growing into her Elvish strength but it was still a few years away. Then Nasauda was next she was the one to last longer than the others.

Then Jacks turn was up and like before he was not liking the blade. "Ugh… Just a straight stick would be more like my weapons.'

"A rider doesn't complain about his weapon." Brom said and Jack was a bit angered by that but decided to not try and badmouth Brom knowing that the rest got a nice smack down on them Arya and Nasauda maybe exscaping some of the damage. But not all… Jack having to try and use the sword and crossguard like stick and his own style that he had gathered up with the katana blades he had… didn't mesh well. So sure he attacked fastish… but was still giving more than his share of beating on him… bruised… The dragons seemed to be having a hoot over it. Each dragon letting out the growling huffs and smiling.

Jack groaning. Lien you are suppose to be on my side!
Lien's response being I am on your side, its just funny to see a hatchling getting beat by the old one.

Jack huffing and pressing against her, having his own complains that he did his best to suppress and Lien knowing that with the loss of his family she was the only thing he had left. Besides friends he was Alone. Having no love interests in town, It was sort of hard for there to be such.

Now that didn't matter he had to just hope the future would be better… But as they would be going after the Forsworn and hoping to save Garrow in time. There wouldn't be time for anything would there?

Jack just passing out against Lien like with the rest of the riders and their dragons some doing better with their dragons and others worse.

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So I have to explain the Either theory of last chapter… So if it wasn't understood. The Ether theory works on that creatures are not perfect with magic production and sure not every creature can use magic in this world. However it all produces magic energy, Ether.

The Ether will generate from all creatures, cause they will not just simple generate energy till they are full of energy but there is energy waste that leaves the body of the creature, this overture is only cause the creature produces energy in excess.

And this Excess leaves the bodies of the creature and ends up left behind as Ether which will dispate over time. That means that in places where creatures don't live will not have as much ether as other places… But this also means that places rich in magic/ether will be great for this theory. But not as good for places without… Namely the desert… The beor mountains, and burning plains will make the ether theory and gear based on it worse for wear… But else where it will work well enough.