Brom, Eragon and Erik were all walking in a straight line as the sun was now higher in the sky.
Eragon was still a bit sore from the night before, his arms covered in bruises and he had greeted Brom with a snarl, clearly angry for what he did to him. The storyteller, instead of being offended, had been amused by the younger man's reaction and acted like nothing happened.
Saphira, once she woke up, had greeted not only her rider (which an affection lick on the cheek) but also Erik by nuzzling his fur. Our hero had been taken aback by this but had greeted her back regardless.
After eating breakfast (which had been prepared by Brom), they all packed camp before resuming their journey. The little group traveled swiftly to reach Therinsford at least before noon and, after a while, the road
widened and they saw suddenly saw smoke in the distance.
At the sight, Erik's mind was filled with memories of both Garrow's burning farm and the farmer's battered body and a low growl escaped his throat. He wanted to rush there but was stopped by Brom's voice saying
"You'd better tell Saphira to fly ahead and wait for us on
the other side of Therinsford...She has to be careful here, otherwise people are bound to notice her..."
Clearly, it wasn't the good thing to ask the young Rider as Eragon sharply turned his head to glare at him in a challenging manner. Clearly, he was still angry at the older man for their 'training' session.
"Why don't you tell her yourself?" challenged Eragon.
"It's considered bad manners to interfere with another's dragon..." the storyteller retorted with a hidden smile.
"You didn't have a problem with it in Carvahall !" Eragon snarled back defiantly.
Once again, instead of being offended by the younger man's attitude, Brom's lips only twitched, still smiling as he calmly responded "I did what I had to..."
Eragon eyed him darkly and opened his mouth to say something else but Erik interrupted him by saying in a stern tone.
"ENOUGH ! Do as the old man says ! He may be senile, but he is still your elder and deserves respect !"
Brom looked conflicted because, on the one hand, he was offended by our hero's comment that he was senile, and on the other hand, he was pleased to see Eragon being lectured for his lack of respect. As for Eragon, he was red of embarrassment and anger at the sermon and glared at the White Beast who did not faltered from it.
After a second, Eragon grumbled something under his breath before doing what he was told. Nodding with a huff of satisfaction, Erik was about to resume his walk when Brom's voice reached his ears
"I am not senile..."
Snorting in amusement and ignoring the glare the storyteller was giving him, the Massive White Bear walked again, quickly followed by his two human companions.
Soon enough, however, he stopped, causing Brom and Eragon to look at him with confusion.
"I can go no further..." he declared to his companions.
"Why not ?" Eragon asked him with curiosity.
Erik shot him a 'Are you serious ?' look before using a hand to gesture at himself.
"It's not like I'll be welcome…" Erik added before walking away.
"Where are you going ?!" Eragon asked him.
"Somewhere else..." was Erik's answer before he disappeared through thick bushes… but not before adding
"And if something happen, call me !"
Grumbling, Eragon turned his head to look at Brom before asking in confusion "Why is he leaving ?"
"Like he said, he wouldn't be welcome in the city… the guards will try to kill him and the citizens would panic at the sight of him… He did good in not following us in..." Brom explained calmly to the younger man while eying the area where Erik disappeared.
"But why ?" Eragon pressed on.
"Because he is not human…" Brom simply answered before moving his horse forward, without saying more.
Eragon stared after Brom with narrowed eyes before glancing back at the spot where Erik disappeared.
"Eragon !" Brom's call quickly made him go after the storyteller.
Unknown to him that he was being watched by a pair of glowing blue eyes. Indeed, Erik hadn't completely left but had stayed a bit to watch them enter the city, following them in the shadows. Which was pretty difficult because of the color of his fur.
Anyway, the Massive White Bear watched in silence as he saw Eragon and Brom facing a greasy man at the entrance of a bridge, the only thing separating them from the city. Knowing that his help wasn't needed at the moment, Erik turned tail and left his spot, heading somewhere else.
He walked for a while, until he arrived toward a large clearing near a river. It was far from Therinsford but close enough if case Eragon and Brom were in trouble. He might not like cities but he wouldn't hesitate to go there if his friends were in danger ! Erik then focused on the moment and hummed in satisfaction as the wind ruffled his fur, closing his eyes in contentment. But suddenly, he heard a familiar sound : wing beats. Opening his eyes, he turned his head to see a certain Blue Dragoness landing a few feet away from him.
"Look who decided to leave the sky to mingle back with the commoners~" Erik couldn't help but teasing her.
Saphira shot him a soft glare while saying telepathically 'Watch it !'
Erik smirked at her and seeing it, she huffed in annoyance but did came closer to him… to glare at him accusingly.
'Why didn't you go with them ?'
"Why didn't you ?" Erik asked her back in a calm tone.
Saphira narrowed her sapphire blue eyes at him but did answered his question 'Because if I did, someone would have told the King and he would go after me and my rider !'
"Then you understand why I didn't..." Erik once again answered calmly before adding
"If the King learn of me, what will stop him from trying to capture me to force into serving him ? Or to track you and Eragon down ?"
Saphira staid silent for a moment but then looked back at him 'There is another reason as to why you didn't go with them, isn't it ?'
The Massive White Bear didn't answer at first as he turned his eyes to stare at the river. For a few seconds, only silence could be heard as Saphira patiently waited for him to answer her… and he did when he turned his large furry head to look at the young Dragoness at his side.
"You are right, there is…"
The Blue Dragoness laid down on the ground, her wings folded against her sides, while her eyes were still locked on him, curious about his answer.
"I didn't went with Brom and Eragon because I hate cities..."
'Why ? It is because of the crowd and noise ?' she calmed asked him, curiosity could be heard in her tone.
"Those are good reasons…but no, I hate cities because it makes people weak… both in will and physically..." a growl escaped the massive Bear's throat at the end of his words.
Saphira saw that he was clenched his fists and gently, putted the tip of her tail against his right shoulder. Erik blinked at this but did send a grateful look toward the Dragoness.
'Can you elaborate ?' Saphira asked him curiously.
"In the past, humans were strong and fought to survive… now, because of cities and civilization, humanity is now filled with greedy, arrogant, and cold-blooded monsters !" Erik explained in a deep tone that made Saphira shiver a bit.
'Eragon isn't like that !' the young Dragoness retorted to defend her rider.
"That's because he is not a city-man… he lived in the wild and worked in a farm… He knows the values of hard work and how to survive in the woods… like the humans of old !" Erik answered calmly.
Saphira stared at him for a moment, wanting to refute his words but couldn't.
"I also hate cities because they destroy the wild : walls of stone replace the trees, paved roads replace the grassy grounds, the water is polluted, the wild animals are forbidden to enter them…"
The young Dragoness instantly heard of the sadness and anger in his words and she couldn't help but feeling just as angry as he described her why cities were not good places.
"The land belongs to the wild… as it should be..." Erik's last words echoed in the young Dragoness's head.
'Is this why you never tried to approach Carvahall before ?' Saphira asked him after a few seconds of silence.
"Yes… that and humans are not known as the most tolerant creatures… they would have tried to kill me if I came close to their wretched village..." the massive White Bear answered her with a nod and a tiny growl.
A long silence followed those words. While Erik was staring at the rushing waters a few feet away from them, Saphira was thinking about her companion's words.
00/(Time Skip)/00
The hours passed by until Saphira told Erik that Eragon was calling for both her and him. The sun was slowly declining as the sky was painted with the color of sunset. During their trip, Erik caught the sight of Utgard Mountain were stood the ruins of an old Dragon Riders' Outpost but didn't stop to visit them as his objective was finding Brom and Eragon.
It took the two some time but soon, they managed to reach their human companion.
Brom and Eragon had chosen to make camp by the Anora River and currently, they were all sitting down, having dinner. Saphira was the first one to land and soon, Erik appeared, not at all tired despite having run all the way here.
The Massive White Bear stopped when he saw the new horses the humans had, without a doubt, brought : one was a light bay horse while the other was completely white in color. Both of them were stallions… and they were not afraid of him.
Looking away from the horses, Erik's eyes turned toward the two humans before asking, while sitting down on the ground "Any news about our preys ?"
Surprisingly, it was Brom who answered him "One of the guards said that he saw two dark figures flying in the air the night before last, but nothing since then..."
Erik nodded his large head in understanding "It is not much… but at least, we have a cue..."
Saphira was in agreement with him but Eragon clearly seemed a bit frustrated. He was about to ask the young Rider about it when Brom decided to have another little session with Eragon.
"Catch !" the storyteller called out and Eragon barely had the time to raise his arm to grab the stick before it hit him on the head.
The young Rider groaned in annoyance when he saw another makeshift sword in his hands … and a smirking storyteller.
"Not again !" the young man complained complained with a grimace.
Looking amused, Brom just smiled at the younger man's reaction before beckoning with one hand to which Eragon reluctantly got to his feet.
"Here we go again..." Erik whispered to Saphira with a smirk and the Dragoness returned it with one of her own.
What they were doing wasn't nice at all, but it was just too much fun to see Eragon get his ass kicked by an old man !
Unlike last time, this training session was shorter but unfortunately for Eragon, it was still enough to give him another good set of bruises. The young Rider, once it was over, threw a fierce glare toward the laughing forms of Erik and Saphira before tossing the stick in disgust.
"You shouldn't laugh, Valhir… We still don't know nothing of your skills !" Brom suddenly said from his place, shooting a sideway glance at the laughing White Bear.
A smirk grew on our hero's muzzle as he brandished his icy-looking blue claws and he opened his jaws to say "Don't worry about me, old man~"
"But if you still want to test me… then grab that stick of yours and attack me..." the Massive Bear added, still smirking.
It was the perfect time to try a trick of his… one he saw while reading the book 'The Northern Light' by Philippe Pullman. That and it might be a part of Volibear's side.
Anyway, back to present, Brom looked satisfied as he picked up the stick before approaching the massive form of Erik, under the curious eyes of both Eragon and Saphira.
The Massive Bear was waiting patiently, sitting on his haunches like a human. When Brom was close enough, Erik opened his mouth to say
"Let's make things more interesting..." as he said this, he used one of his 'hands' to cover his eyes, much to the shock and surprise of everyone present.
"What are you doing ?!" Eragon asked him with shock.
"Watch and learn..." was all the Bear said in response.
Brom stared at him for a moment before shrugging as he faced
him. However, if you looked closely, you could see the curiosity and interest shining in his eyes.
Eragon and Saphira both watched as the storyteller moved the stick , feinting attacks while not trying to hit him at all… and the Bear didn't move. Brom looked even more curious as he fake attacked severals time and not ONCE did Erik moved, his hand still covered his eyes.
Saphira's eyes shined with interest as she stared at the scene : if she was in Erik's place, she would have defended herself and here he was, sitting peacefully and still unmoving. Her rider looked just as confused as her but was remaining silent, his own eyes watched the scene with great interest.
Suddenly, Brom stopped feinting and attacked the bear with the stick… but it was instantly flicked aside by Erik's other hand. The storyteller looked stunned for a second and a few feet away, Saphira and Eragon looked just as taken aback as the old man.
However, Brom quickly came to his senses and attacked again and again... but the result was always the same: the hand flicked and pushed the stick away easily. The Bear's movements were faster and more precise than Brom's. The old man attacked relentlessly but not once did his attacks touch his body.
Eragon was completely stunned by what was happening in front of him: Erik/Valhir seemed to know what Brom intended to do before the old man even moved, and when the storyteller lunged at his head, the gray paw easily pushed back the stick... and each time Brom feigned an attack, the massive bear didn't move at all !
Saphira looked just as stunned : she remembered their little fight back in Erik's cave and he had easily beat her. While she knew he was strong, she hadn't expected him to be that good ! There was more to Erik than meet the eyes and the Blue Dragoness grew even more curious of him.
Back to present, Brom was now exasperated and with a battle-cry, the storyteller went into a furious attack (jabbing, lashing, thrusting and stabbing) but, once again, never once did he got pass the paw : they were far too precise and quick to be avoided !
After a few minutes, Brom stopped and he went to sit a few feet away, panting in exhaustion while Erik calmly removed the hand hiding his eyes. The storyteller was sweating profusely and looked out of breath... it was the first time Saphira and Eragon had seen him like this.
Speaking of Eragon, the young Rider couldn't help but looking at Erik with admiration : if Brom had used a real sword on him, he was pretty sure the Massive Bear would have been unharmed !
"That was amazing !" the young Rider commented with amazement from his seat.
"Very impressive indeed..." Brom said with a gleam of awe in his cold eyes, still trying to catch his breath.
'How did you do that ?' Saphira asked him with curiosity but, through her blue eyes, our hero could see that she was just as impressed to him as the others.
Erik would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't feeling good at the looks he was receiving but quickly focused to answer in a calm and neutral tone
"By not being human... You can never fool me, for I can see tricks and deception as clearly as the movements of arms and legs... All because I can see in a way many humans have forgotten..."
"So… humans could do this as well ?" Eragon asked him with slight hope in his tone.
Clearly, he was hoping to be able to do the same one day.
"They could… a long time ago… when humans lived in harmony with the wild..." Erik answered in a deep tone and a sigh.
"And why not now ?" Brom asked him with a frown as a gleam of curiosity shined in his eyes.
"Because Humans had been and still are corrupted by a great plague to the wild..."
"What plague ?" Eragon asked him with a frown, but still curious. Brom, while being silent, looked just as curious as the young Rider.
"Civilization.." was the Bear's only answer as he made himself comfortable on the ground.
Brom and Eragon both blinked in surprise at the answer and opened their mouths to ask about it but were interrupted by Erik who growled
"We should go to sleep now… We will need our strength for tomorrow..."
The two humans looked unsatisfied (it was more obvious with Eragon than Brom) but they did listened to his advice as they both went to sleep. Satisfied that they were listening to him, Erik was about to allow Morpheus to claim him… when he felt a scaly figure laying against him.
It was Saphira.
"Huh ? Shouldn't you go sleeping with Eragon ?" the Bear whispered to her while pointing his head toward the sleeping form of the rider.
'I have done that for a long time now… I am sure he can manage without me for a night...' the blue Dragoness retorted with a little snort while nuzzling his fur.
Erik stared at her for a moment before shrugging : if she wanted to sleep with them, then who was he to stop her ? With a yawn, the massive White Bear slowly drifted to sleep and Saphira soon followed with her body pressed against his.
(To be continue…)
Note : what do you think of this chapter ? I read that the character Volibear was based on the Panserbjorn of Philip Pullman so… why not take it completely ! Regardless I hope you enjoyed it !
