"Excuse me 9S? Could you tell me how you all did that trick yesterday? The one with your weapon appearing out of thin air, I mean." Eragon asked after being reminded during his discussion with Brom about the circumstances of the Urgals' presence in Yazuac. Brom curiously faced the scanner as well, having heard of the event for the first time.

9S, who was the closest to the riders as they trekked on, racked his mind for the best way to explain it. "Well, in the event of attacking or being attacked, You could say I 'think' to myself that I need my weapon, then it's there."

Raising his hand, 9S made the motion of grabbing his sword and the black handle appeared, followed by the rest of the blade materializing quickly. Eragon and Brom watching dumbfounded from their saddles. 9S turned the blade and handed it to Eragon, who was enamored by the lightness of it. "It's wondrous, but how do you do it? Or rather, how is it accomplished?"

Here 9S was at a loss, he scratched the back of his head and gave him the best answer he could offer. "I don't really understand how it works, I was just trained how to do it. I guess you can think of it as the weapon being deconstructed and put into storage and then reconstructed when it's brought out. I couldn't tell ya where it goes though."

Eragon handed the blade over to let Brom inspect it, the boy excitedly sharing his hopes. "It must be magic then! Which means I can surely do it as well, right Brom?"

Brom was brought out of his thoughts, sputtering with impatience. "You dense boy. Have you already forgotten what I taught you? Magic can only be accomplished through the use of words, as well as the expense of your own strength. Neither of which occurred during 9S's demonstration."

"But if it isn't magic, then what is it?" Eragon retorted defensively.

Drawn by conversation, 21O stepped in to answer. "Brom is correct, it is not magic. It's, in fact, technology. The technique is called 'digital reconstruction' and it could very easily be mistaken for magic. You are also wrong about one thing Brom; It requires an immense amount of energy. It works by charging the material with large amounts of energy to superheat it, but only a miniscule chunk at a time. Do you know how ice melts into water, and water boils into steam?"

The two humans nodded. 21O took the signal as the go ahead. "The same thing happens to metal. Heat it enough, and you can pour it like water, heat it up even more, and it turns into steam."

"Wait a moment. If what you say is true, then shouldn't we be burning alive? A smith's forge is hot enough to melt flesh from bone, and that isn't hot enough to boil metal." Brom questioned critically.

21O instructed to hold out their hands. When they did so, she materialized her Dragoon lance beside their palms, and sure enough, they felt a small wave of heat that was shockingly warm, but not dangerously so. 21O elaborated further. "Notice how it forms from one end to the other, not all at once. It heats up a tiny, tiny spot smaller than the smallest grain of sand you could find first, and when that spot melts away from the rest, it's held in place using another technique called 'magnetism'. Since each spot hit is so small, by the time it's separated, the heat has already dissipated into the air."

21O deconstructed the Dragoon lance, and once again felt the rush of heat. "Once the particles are all separate, we use 'magnetism' to keep the particles near us."

"But if the cost in energy is so gargantuan, wouldn't it be easier to simply hold the blade aloft rather than boil it?" Eragon reasoned.

"Sometimes, yes." 9S replied. The Scanner then spooked them by drawing the blade out of Brom's lap and floating over to glide right behind his back. "Like if you are using your weapon frequently in a short period of time. But if you go hours and hours without using it, it ends up costing more energy to carry it like this. Not to mention other things, like the danger of someone bumping into and injuring themselves. Or even forgetting it's there and going to sit down. It's mostly a convenience thing rather than an energy thing."

Eragon grinned and threw a cheeky remark at 9S. "I thought you said you didn't know how it works? Were you trying to dodge the question?"

"You were able to make an arrow explode with magic, can you tell me how that works?" Brom chuckled at 9S's quick wit and Eragon's loss for words.

The elder man shot a discerning look at Eragon, causing him to become wary of the attention. Brom scratched his chin. "I suppose you still have magic on the mind?"

Eragon nodded and made to speak, but Brom quickly continued. "The fact that you've discovered it presents a thorny problem. Few know it, but every Rider could use magic, though with differing strengths. They kept the ability a secret, even at the height of their power, because it gave them an advantage over their enemies. Had everyone known about it, dealing with common people would have been difficult. Many think the King's magical powers come from the fact that he is a wizard or a sorcerer. That's not true, it is because he's a Rider."

Eragon listened intently, along with 9S and 21O. The young Rider himself was curious about Brom's words. "What's the difference? Doesn't the fact that I can use magic make me a sorcerer?"

"Not at all! A sorcerer, like a Shade, uses spirits to accomplish his will. That is totally different from your power. Nor does that make you an ordinary run-of-the-mill magician, whose powers come without the aid of spirits or a dragon. And You're certainly not a witch or wizard, who get their powers from various potions and spells." Brom went on to describe, at length, how young Riders were brought up and instructed to use magic. He mentioned how Eragon's use of magic in defeating the Urgals was quite an incredible feat that no other Rider his age accomplished, which pleased the boy.

21O interjected, her interest piqued by one of Brom's statements. "Do you mean that anyone can learn magic?"

Brom was surprised by the woman's sudden question. "Well, anyone can learn it, but you are still limited by your own innate ability to use it. Some magicians can do it with relative ease after only a few years, while others spend their lives to be able to accomplish something as simple as manipulating a quill on paper. In addition, there is your own unique anatomy, so it's impossible to know if you can use magic until you try."

21O regarded the information, returning to silence as she mentally informed everyone else of her new discovery.

"I still don't understand how this magic works," said Eragon. "Exactly how do I use it?"

Brom looked astonished. "I haven't made that clear?"

"No."

Brom took a deep breath and said, "To work with magic, you must have a certain innate power, which is very rare among people nowadays. You also have to be able to summon this power at will. Once it is called upon, you have to use it or let it fade away. Understood? Now, if you wish to employ the power, you must utter the word or phrase of the ancient language that describes your intent. For example, if you hadn't said brisingr yesterday, nothing would have happened."

"So I'm limited by my knowledge of this language?"

"Exactly," crowed Brom. "Also, while speaking it, it's impossible to practice deceit."

Eragon shook his head. "That can't be. People always lie. The sounds of the ancient words can't stop them from doing that."

Brom cocked an eyebrow and said, "Fethrblaka, eka weohnata néiat haina ono. Blaka eom iet lam." A bird suddenly flitted from a branch and landed on his hand. It trilled lightly and looked at them with beady eyes. After a moment he said, "Eitha," and it fluttered away.

"How did you do that?" asked Eragon in wonder.

"I promised not to harm him. He may not have known exactly what I meant, but in the

language of power, the meaning of my words was evident. The bird trusted me because

he knows what all animals do, that those who speak in that tongue are bound by their

Word."

"And the elves speak this language?"

"Yes."

"So they never lie?"

"Not quite," admitted Brom. "They maintain that they don't, and in a way it's true, but

they have perfected the art of saying one thing and meaning another. You never know

exactly what their intent is, or if you have fathomed it correctly. Many times they only

reveal part of the truth and withhold the rest. It takes a refined and subtle mind to deal

with their culture."

"Excuse me, Brom." 9S asked. "You say all these things about elves, but what are elves?"

"Have you never heard of elves?" When 9S and 21O both answered negative, Brom pondered on how best to describe them. "At a glance, Elves appear very similar to humans in regards to their stature, having two eyes, arms, legs and what-have-you, but the similarities end there. The most common thing people think of at their mention is their pointed ears, but far more striking is their eerie beauty, which can sometimes be described as unnatural. Most men who behold elven beauty are either entirely entranced by it, or outright petrified by it. They are also innate magic users and are gifted with extraordinarily long lives, such that no one knows, even the elves themselves, how long an elf's natural lifespan is."

"Huh, will we be seeing any during our trip?" 9S asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Brom shook his head. "I highly doubt it. The elves rarely trouble themselves with the going-ons of men."

9S fell silent again, clearly disappointed in the revelation.

Before the topic strayed too far, Eragon asked a question of his own. "What do personal names mean in this language? Do they give power over people?"

Brom's eyes brightened with approval. "Yes, they do. Those who speak the language

have two names. The first is for everyday use and has little authority. But the second is

their true name and is shared with only a few trusted people. There was a time when no

one concealed his true name, but this age isn't as kind. Whoever knows your true name

gains enormous power over you. It's like putting your life into another person's hands.

Everyone has a hidden name, but few know what it is."

"How do you find your true name?" asked Eragon.

"Elves instinctively know theirs. No one else has that gift. The human Riders usually went on quests to discover it—or found an elf who would tell them, which was rare, for elves don't distribute that knowledge freely," replied Brom.

"I'd like to know mine," Eragon said wistfully.

Brom's brow darkened. "Be careful. It can be terrible knowledge. To know who you are without any delusions or sympathy is a moment of revelation that no one experiences unscathed. Some have been driven to madness by that stark reality. Most try to forget it. But as much as the name will give others power, so you may gain power over yourself, if the truth doesn't break you."

And I'm sure that it would not. stated Saphira.

"I still wish to know," said Eragon, determined.

"You are not easily dissuaded. That is good, for only the resolute find their identity, but I cannot help you with this. It is a search that you will have to undertake on your own." Brom moved his injured arm and grimaced uncomfortably.

"Why can't you or I heal that with magic?" asked Eragon.

Brom blinked. "No reason—I just never considered it because it's beyond my strength. You could probably do it with the right word, but I don't want you to exhaust yourself."

"I could save you a lot of trouble and pain," protested Eragon.

"I'll live with it," said Brom flatly. "Using magic to heal a wound takes just as much energy as it would to mend on its own. I don't want you tired for the next few days. You shouldn't attempt such a difficult task yet."

"Still, if it's possible to fix your arm, could I bring someone back from the dead?"

The question surprised Brom, but he answered quickly, "Remember what I said about projects that will kill you? That is one of them. Riders were forbidden to try to resurrect the dead, for their own safety. There is an abyss beyond life where magic means nothing. If you reach into it, your strength will flee and your soul will fade into darkness. Wizards, sorcerers, and Riders—all have failed and died on that threshold. Stick with what's possible—cuts, bruises, maybe some broken bones—but definitely not dead people."

Eragon frowned. "This is a lot more complex than I thought."

"Exactly!" said Brom. "And if you don't understand what you're doing, you'll try

something too big and die." He twisted in his saddle and swooped down, grabbing a handful of pebbles from the ground. With effort, he righted himself, then handed the three of them each a rock. "See the pebble?"

They all nodded in unison.

"This will be your training."

Eragon looked back at him, confused. "I don't understand."

"Of course you don't," said Brom impatiently. "That's why I'm teaching you and not the other way around. Now stop talking or we'll never get anywhere. What I want you to do is lift the rock off your palm and hold it in the air for as long as you can. As for you 9S and 21O, this will simply be a test to see if you can. The words you're going to use are stenr reisa . Say them."

"Stenr reisa." They all responded

"Good. Eragon, you first, Go ahead and try."

Eragon focused solely on the pebble, searching his mind for any hint of the energy that had burned in him the day before. The stone remained motionless as he stared at it, sweating and am I supposed to do this? Finally, he crossed his arms and snapped, "This is impossible."

"No," said Brom gruffly. "I'll Say when it's impossible or not. Fight for it! Don't give in this easily. Try again."

Frowning, Eragon closed his eyes, setting aside all distracting thoughts. He took a deep breath and reached into the farthest corners of his consciousness, trying to find where his power resided. Searching, he found only thoughts and memories until he felt something different—a small bump that was a part of him and yet not of him. Excited, he dug into it, seeking what it hid. He felt resistance, a barrier in his mind, but knew that the power lay on the other side. He tried to breach it, but it held firm before his efforts. Growing angry, Eragon drove into the barrier, ramming against it with all of his might until it shattered like a thin pane of glass, flooding his mind with a river of light.

"Stenr reisa," he gasped. The pebble wobbled into the air over his faintly glowing palm. He struggled to keep it floating, but the power slipped away and faded back behind the barrier. The pebble dropped to his hand with a soft plop, and his palm returned to normal. He felt a little tired, but grinned from his success.

"Not bad for your first time," said Brom.

"Why does my hand do that? It's like a little lantern."

"No one's sure," Brom admitted. "The Riders always preferred to channel their power through whichever hand bore the gedwëy ignasia. You can use your other palm, but it isn't as easy." He looked at Eragon for a minute. "I'll buy you some gloves at the next town, if it isn't gutted. You hide the mark pretty well on your own, but we don't want anyone to see it by accident. Besides, there may be times when you won't want the glow to alert an enemy."

"Do you have a mark of your own?"

"No. Only Riders have them," said Brom. "Also, you should know that magic is affected by distance, just like an arrow or a spear. If you try to lift or move something a mile away, it'll take more energy than if you were closer. So if you see enemies racing after you from a league away, let them approach before using magic. Now, back to work! Try to lift the pebble again."

"Again?" asked Eragon weakly, thinking of the effort it had taken to do it just once.

"Yes! And this time be quicker about it."

When Eragon did as he was instructed and began to exercise his magic, Brom turned his attention to the two androids. "Now, try it for yourselves, I'm curious to see the outcome."

9S looked at the pebble in his hand and asked one more question before he made his attempt. "Should we bring everyone else over to try?"

Brom nodded, giving 9S the go ahead to inform everyone of what was going on. Once everyone had gathered close to the two horses, the area was filled with numerous calls of 'Stenr reisa'. The hours dragged on, and only Eragon was able to lift his pebble, albeit in short bursts.

They had already concluded that the androids must not be capable of performing magic (A2 giving up after the first five attempts), but they continued to try anyway, as it occupied them on the otherwise uneventful journey. It was only 9S and 6O left who were still putting their hearts into it, though the former was quickly losing hope.

6O grew frustrated and interrupted Eragon's training, much to Brom's irritation. "Hey Eragon? What are you doing differently than us? I'm two seconds away from shouting at this darn pebble, but it just won't budge."

Eragon, tired and irritable as he was, forgot his awkwardness for the moment as he answered the girl's question. "I found that just saying the words isn't enough. I remembered this strange feeling I had when I shot the arrow and had to draw on it again before I was able to move the pebble. The best way I can describe it is like a pool of light in the back of your mind, but it's hidden by an invisible wall."

6O considered his words, as confusing as they were. She closed her eyes and tried to 'search' around her consciousness. When she found nothing, she angrily said 'Stenr reisa' once more. She was shocked to feel a shiver down her spine, and a space within her head to sort of echo back. She repeated the phrase, although much more curiously, which caught the attention of everyone else. She kept repeating it, gaining in frequency as she honed in on the strange spot with her mind. She soon found what Eragon had described and breached the barrier herself.

"Stenr reisa!" 6O's eyes shot open when the object no longer weighed on her palm, but she didn't see it floating in front of her. puzzled, she looked around until she found it floating above her. It was steadily rising as she watched it in awe.

The group had ceased walking to watch in amazement as the stone reached twenty, then thirty feet. Brom, in a panic, shouted at her. "Release it! Quickly!"

His shout startled 6O, drawing her wide eyes to him. Before she could nervously ask what she did wrong the pebble fell and bounced painfully off her head. "Ow!"

Brom dismounted his Horse and rushed to 6O. "Are you okay?"

6O was spooked by the urgency in his voice. "Yeah, the pebble only hurt a little."

"Not the blasted pebble! How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I think. Whoah-" 6O made to step away from the man, but found her legs to be sluggish, leading to her falling on her back before anyone could catch her.

Devola and Popola fell to her side as Brom kneeled above her, cursing all the while. "Damn!"

"What's wrong with her?" Eragon asked as he joined the group around 6O.

"She expended far too much energy, we have to replenish it quickly, lest it kill her!" Brom laid a hand on her arm and poured some of his own strength into her. When he made the connection, however, he found she still had quite a considerable amount of energy left, definitely more so than any regular human would have, even while rested.

Confused, he investigated further. He poured a good amount of energy into her, which should have made a considerable change in her own reserve, but the effect wasn't even noticeable. He debated on using some of Eragon's strength, but was afraid to since Eragon had been exerting himself at length.

Before Brom could decide on his next action, 6O shocked him by responding herself, though she should have been unconscious. "Kill me? No, I just didn't realize how much power I burned through. No wonder this magic business is so hard."

Devola, having run a proper diagnostic, spoke up to ease any concerns. "She's right. She's completely fine, but she is reading a power level of six percent. It seems that Operator models will divert power from their motor functions first when they reach critical levels. Here, have some water."

6O sat up to drink from a water pouch Devola gave to her. Much to everyone's confusion, Brom laid a hand on 6O's shoulder, and stared blankly at her with a perturbed expression. Brom didn't show it, but he grew fearful as he sensed the energy with 6O swell to staggering proportions. It was greater than any being he knew besides dragons themselves. Even more disturbing was that this energy was replenished nigh instantaneously and from a mouthful of water no less.

"Is something wrong, Brom?" Eragon asked, drawing the man from his thoughts. He noticed all eyes were on him.

With a clearing of his throat, Brom stood. "Not at all. Please forgive my actions. When first casting magic, the effort required is much greater than what it would after becoming an experienced magician. The energy you spent is far beyond what any human could afford to lose."

6O stood up and brushed herself off. "Huh. Well, no need to apologize. If you didn't yell at me, I probably would've used everything I had. I was so focused on the rock."

Brom exhaled, relieved that the situation was not as dire as he thought. "Many magic users go through a similar experience."

6O picked up the pebble and said the same phrase as before. The pebble floated upwards and sat at eye level. This time, 6O let it fall a lot sooner. "It's a weird feeling to lose this much energy in one sitting."

"It will become much easier with time, I assure you. But at least now we know that androids can indeed use magic. I am glad that we can count another magic user in our party."

"6O, can you transfer the data to us?" 2B asked quickly.

Brom and Eragon shared a look of confusion as 6O answered her happily. "Of course!"

A silent moment passed between the androids as they processed the information. Soon, The humans were left dumbfounded as the androids all gave out different calls of 'Stenr reisa', followed by them all successfully levitating their rocks.

9S, growing curious, pointed his palm in the air and shouted 'Brisingr', leading to a bright burst of yellow tinted fire to appear above him. He studied his hand, speaking his thoughts aloud. "It's almost like using our energy weapons, but it leaves a tingly feeling behind."

Eventually the humans' daze wore off, and Brom ushered them on the road again. Eragon returned to his own magic exercise with renewed vigor, not wanting to be out done by the androids who he was now jealous of. The androids wanted to continue practicing, but Brom had requested that they only practice while they were camped, lest they would have to stop and replenish their waterskins every few minutes.

Brom, his mind stuck on the events he bore witness to, and his newfound wariness of the incredible strength of androids, looked back. "6O, can I speak with you for a moment?"

6O strode forward to pace alongside him. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, save my own curiosity. But first, I must commend having the insight to ask Eragon about his own experience of magic to trigger your own. It was very forward thinking of you."

6O looked away, embarrassed by the praise. "Thank you."

"I did wish to ask you, though, what was that business about data transfer?" Brom asked.

6O brightened up, as this was a topic she excelled at. "Oh! After I had used magic, 2B asked for the data so everyone else could get the hang of it right away. You can think of data as being another word for information. Data transfer works very similarly to mental communication, except from what I see, it is unique to us androids."

Brom nodded. "So data is your knowledge?"

The girl thought about it and shook her head. "It's more than that. It's our thoughts, our experiences, even our emotions. When I transferred my data to the others, It wasn't necessarily that they were just watching my memory of it, they experienced using magic. it was as if they had already successfully used magic."

"Astonishing. So you're saying that if you were to spend years learning magic, you could 'transfer data' as you call it, and the others will be just as adept?" The elder queried.

"Well I don't know enough about magic to say for certain, but for practical skills, yes. For example, before coming here, I've never held a weapon or learned how to fight. 2B on the other hand, has been fighting for centuries. When we woke up, 2B gave me a set of weapons and transferred all of her combat data for using them, so now I am just as skilled at using them as she is. Though I'll never be as fast or as strong as her because I'm an Operator model, not a Combat model."

6O's explanation reminded him of their first initial meeting and the conversation they had about the origin of androids. It took the Alagaesia natives extensive explanation to grasp the concept of different 'models'. He could only marvel at the thought of what these ancient humans were like to have been able to create the androids. As best he could tell, they were still very much living beings, human-like in nature, but better in nearly every way he could imagine. At the same time, however, he was more concerned with what drove the humans to make warriors of such skill.

Night soon fell and the time to set camp had arrived. From all his practicing, Eragon had grown tired and irritable, especially in regards to the pebble, which Brom instructed him to keep when Eragon made to throw it away. He then drilled Eragon in the ancient language, teaching him the names of things around them, such as plants and sticks. To end the night, they sparred with each other around the campfire, this time under the silent gazes of the androids who did their best to not distract in any way. It appeared that Brom was just as adept at swordplay with his left arm, for Eragon still struggled to defend against him. When they had gone to sleep, the androids spent their time standing guard and practicing their newly gained abilities as much as they could.

The days to follow carried the same pattern, but it was becoming apparent that Eragon was changing. He first struggled with the ancient language and exerting his magic on the pebble, and trained his sword arm in the evening with brom, leaving him in a constant state of discomfort. Soon the pebble no longer wobbled when he lifted it, and Brom's lessons in the ancient language became more challenging as Eragon mastered the beginning tasks. Their spars became less one sided, with Eragon picking up speed and power and his blocks becoming more steadfast.

Saphira grew as well, her lengthy flights and hunting kept her agile. She stood taller than the horses now and was much longer. Her appearance was becoming far too visible to Brom and Eragons' liking, but she refused to try and dampen the brilliance of her scales.

Following the Ra'zac's trail led them to the village of Daret, the first they have seen since Yazuac. The night before they arrived, Eragon's rest was plagued with nightmares, which was an unnerving experience for the androids, who watched as Eragon wriggled and sweated before waking in a cold sweat. He neglected to say a word to them, and preferred the company of his dragon, so the androids let him be.

Morning arrived and they approached Daret cautiously. Saphira hid closer to the town this time, having learned from Yazuac. During their approach, Brom raised his concerns to the group. "I don't wish to separate us, but I doubt we appear to be a normal traveling group. You androids are far too out of place and we'll surely raise suspicion."

"And we aren't?" Eragon replied snarkily.

Brom shot him a warning look. "We definitely are. My point is that a wary town is more likely to deal with two strangers, and not ten. Especially when most of them are wearing foreign clothing and are carrying no traveling gear of any sort. Not to mention their unnatural hair color. Devola and Popola could be mistaken for shades, and we'd be immediately met with swords."

"I for one agree with Brom." Commander said. She turned her gaze to him. "However, it would also be unwise for us to lag behind in case of another ambush."

"We should also take this opportunity to acquire some more suitable clothing, but it might appear strange for only you two to buy so many sets." 2B suggested.

Brom saw the logic in their arguments and added his own to the mix. "And it would appear equally strange for two men to purchase mostly Women's attire. Very well, We'll bring one of you with us."

"Two." A2 countered, startling Brom as she was often quiet. "One of us can't protect both of you in an emergency."

Brom was about to protest, but Saphira cut in with her own thoughts. The quiet one is right. You would do well to listen to her.

Eragon was surprised by her input. Saphira? How did you know-

"I went ahead and asked her to back me up as soon as you started talking about ditching us." A2 said nonchalantly.

The two men were clearly annoyed that she plotted with Saphira behind their backs, but they were also the most wary of her, as she was the least forthcoming, and after her display in Yazuac, was likely the fiercest fighter. Outnumbered as they were, they relented to the demands of the woman. Brom spoke with agitation in his words. "Well then, now we need to decide who to bring. Unfortunately, though you have the most plausible attire, we cannot bring you Devola or Popola, for the reasons already mentioned. I would prefer to bring the Commander, her dress is only odd because it is ornate, and blonde hair is more plausible than anyone else. But as for who else, I'm not sure."

"It seems that 6O or myself are the next most likely candidates, considering our hair color. You can let one of us borrow a cloak to help hide our outfits." 21O volunteered.

Brom considered the idea favorable, but before he could speak, 2B stepped forward and offered her own opinion. "If we can use the cloaks, I would suggest sending A2 instead. It makes more sense to have an experienced fighter with you, and she is the fastest among us."

Though her words made sense, there was still some uncertainty harbored by Brom and Eragon. A2, for her part, also disliked the proposition. "One problem with that; I'm not the sociable type."

2B was quick to counter. "You're not there to be sociable. You just need to keep an eye out and make it easier for Brom and Eragon to get us supplies."

"If A2 is averse to the idea, why not you accompany us 2B? You seem to be an equally capable fighter." Eragon proposed.

"Because my dark clothing will make me less noticeable when me and 9S scout ahead to identify what is waiting for us, and for when we ultimately place ourselves in position for a counter attack if the situation calls for it. Besides, 9S and myself are accustomed to giving detailed reports."

A2 was already tired of their argument, so she relented with a sigh. "Alright then, don't be surprised if I piss someone off."

"Thank you, A2."

The attacker didn't know what to say in response, so she just defaulted to her usual detachedness. "Whatever."

At Brom's insistence, he and Eragon dismounted to allow the Commander and A2 to ride the horses. He claimed that the arrangement would seem more fitting, as the two men would appear to be guards of the two girls. 2B and 9S ran off in the direction of the Daret ahead of them. The other four androids would skirt around the town and wait on the other side, out of sight. That left Eragon, Brom, the Commander, and A2 to approach the town by themselves. Though the androids held the reins, it was really Brom and Eragon guiding the horses.

"In case anyone asks, your names are Anise and Calana. You two are sisters and we are the guards you hired to guide you to your family in Dras-Leona." Brom told them sharply. Though it slightly irked A2, both her and the Commander answered 'affirmative' in unison.

As the village entrance came into view, 2B relayed what awaited them. Be advised, there are 43 men with bows collected on the rooftops and inside houses at the village center.

Eragon bristled at the news. Saphira, whatever happens, don't come to us. The archers will shoot you out of the sky.

Though she didn't respond, he could feel her disapproval through their link. They rode into Daret, silent and eyes scanning all around them. The cloak the two androids wore limited their vision as they were instructed to keep their gazes down to avoid too much attention. The roads were barren, however. Soon they arrived in the center and made it not a step further as two wagons toppled from behind the houses and blocked their way. A swarthy man swung over the wagon and landed before them, bow drawn and sword on his hip. Eragon was quick to draw his own bow, and pointed it at the man who commanded, "Halt! Put your weapons down. You're surrounded by sixty archers. They'll shoot if you move." On cue, a row of men appeared on the rooftops of the surrounding houses. Eragon's nerves were caught in a bundle. He readied to use magic in case he needed to stop the arrows.

"What do you want?" Brom asked calmly.

"Why have you come here?" Demanded the man.

"To buy supplies and hear the news. Nothing more. We're on the way to reunite with family in Dras-Leona."

"You're armed pretty heavily."

"So are you." Said Brom. "These are dangerous times."

"True. Especially so for two women with only a single guard each." The man scrutinized them suspiciously. "I don't think you mean us ill, but we've had too many encounters with Urgals and bandits for me to trust you only on your word."

"If it doesn't matter what we say, what happens now?" countered Brom. The archers on the rooftops had not moved an inch, but 2B and 9S informed them mentally that they were ready to ambush. Giving the group confidence.

The man then gave them an offer. "You say that you only want supplies. Would you agree to stay here while we bring what you need , then pay us and leave immediately?"

"Yes."

"All right." said the man. He lowered his bow and waved at an archer who slid down and ran over. "What do you need?"

Brom recited a short list, including gloves for Eragon and then added, "Also, if you have it, four sets of clothes for the both of them, and a set for my partner and I, with cloaks and boots to match, I'd like to buy those too." The archer gave him a strange look at the odd request and looked back to the first man, who nodded. The archer then ran off.

"Traveling light, are we?" The man took notice of their thin supplies considering their number.

Brom was quick to explain the discrepancy. "Not by choice. Like you said, bandits. We couldn't leave our charges unguarded to prevent them from taking our horses. I'm simply taking responsibility for the lost property."

The man nodded sympathetically. "My name's Trevor. Normally, I'd shake your hand, but under the circumstances, I think I'll keep my distance. Tell me, where are you from?"

"North," said Brom, "but we haven't lived in any place long enough to call it home. Have Urgals forced you to take these measures?"

"Yes."

While he and Brom conversed, The man kept sneaking glances at the two androids. Though they did their best to hide their faces, they could do nothing to hide their legs which the cloaks failed to cover entirely. A2 having hers nearly completely bare which didn't coincide with the Commanders fine white leather boots.

Thankfully, the man was distracted when he heard the unfortunate news about Yazuac. Before long, the archer arrived, laden heavy with the requested items and being careful to not drop them. Brom frowned at the amount of coin asked in return, but otherwise gave no protest. "As promised, we will leave immediately. May your swords stay sharp."

"Yours as well. I wish you a safe journey." The man bid them farewell. The carts were ordered aside and they proceeded through. They were a ways out of the village when 2B and 9S silently emerged from the bushes and joined them on either side.

"Finally." A2 spat, eager to dismount and stand on her legs. She tossed her cloak to Eragon, who caught it with more than a little disapproval of her attitude. The Commander likewise gave her cloak to Brom, only with much more care.

Once the humans mounted their horses, they continued forward. 9S grabbed a set of clothes off of the back of Snowfire and inspected them. The cloth was much coarser than he was accustomed to, and was heavier as well. The only proper word for what he was holding was 'tunic', as it was too long to be a shirt. It was dark brown and had long sleeves, but was otherwise unremarkable. The collection of clothing consisted of the same brown, as well as beige, pale blue, green, and maroon. The boots all were the natural color of leather. Though simple, it was seemingly well made.

"You would do well to cherish those clothes, I spent a small fortune on everything." Brom grumbled.

"We are very thankful for them, Brom." The Commander said. "When the opportunity arises, we will pay you back for them."

Soon Brom began instructing Eragon about the use of reading people's intentions, and how the skill would be necessary for him to learn. Their conversation lasted until they rejoined Saphira and the rest of their troupe. The Dragon startled them by thrusting her head towards Eragon, her eyes digging into him while she let out a low hiss. Eragon had never seen her this angry, so he asked, What's wrong?

You, she growled. You are the problem.

Eragon dismounted Cadoc with a frown, but had his legs swept out from underneath him by Saphira's tail before pinning him with her talons. Eragon protested, but the dragon refused to let up, all while Brom watched from a distance. Saphira swung her head to meet him at eye level.

You! Every time you leave my sight, you get in trouble. You're like a new hatchling, sticking your nose into everything. And what happens when you stick it into something that bites back? How will you survive then? I cannot help you when I'm miles away. I've stayed hidden so that no one would see, but no longer! Not when it may cost you your life.

I can understand why you're upset, said Eragon, but I'm much older than you and can take care of myself. If anything, You're the one who needs to be protected.

She snarled and snapped her teeth by his ear. Do you really believe that? She asked. Tomorrow you will ride me - not that pitiful deer-animal you call a horse - or else I will carry you in my claws. Are you a Dragon rider or not? Don't you care for me?

It burned him to the core because he knew she was right, but he feared flying with her due to their painful nature. Brom demanded what the matter was and Eragon explained the situation. Brom seemed supportive of Saphira's request. When Eragon finally swore to Saphira that he would ride her the next day, she released him and took to the sky.

The sun was ready to sink into the horizon by the time they made camp. The humans were quick to begin sparring, and did so with vigor until Eragon broke their sticks with a heavy blow. Brom informed him that it was time to move on to actual swords, and showed Eragon the process to dull the blades with magic. The androids took note of the unique sword Eragon carried, and its equally unique name, Zar'roc.

The pair fell back into the rhythm of their spar, only this time with sparks and loud clanging as the blades connected. Saphira had rejoined them upon noticing the difference, wishing to see first hand how well her rider could fight. Eragon was notably slower, obviously not used to the extra weight. By the time they finished, they were covered in bruises. They sat down in lumps beside the fire.

"You're improving." 2B assured Eragon. The words seemed to brighten him a little.

Brom was reminded of another topic he wished to discuss with their android companions. "I have a question for you all. I was out of sorts at the time, but Eragon informed me of how fearsome you were in Yazuac. I am curious, could you assist in training Eragon?"

The question drew an angry response from the boy in question. "Hold a moment! I get battered enough by you. They would tear me to pieces. And shouldn't I be the one to ask them?"

"It may not be in the near future, but there will come a day where I will not be able to keep up with you. I am beyond my prime. I would rather see that day come sooner than later. It would also do well for you to experience fighting against other styles of sword fighting, as well as other weapons for that matter." Brom said firmly.

It was then that they noticed the wariness of their android companions. 2B argued against the idea. "Though what you say makes sense Brom, It would be best to wait until he has learned as much from you as he can, and train himself as much as he can physically. I doubt he could learn anything by sparring with us the way he is now."

Eragon flushed in the face, not expecting such doubt from the woman. "What's that supposed to mean? You just said that I was improving."

"You are, but you still have much more room to grow. We have decades of fighting experience. It would be no contest." 2B replied calmly.

The boy was becoming more agitated. "Maybe, but do you really think yourselves so far ahead to think I can't learn anything by it?"

2B was silent this time, not meaning to offend him. Before she could think of a better way to explain it, A2 cut in bluntly. "It's because you're slow, kid."

Eragon stood up hotly. "I'm not slow! I was quite clever back home."

A2 clicked her tongue. "Your speed. That's the issue. And I don't mean your sword arm. When you two spar, we can see the delay in your reaction times. You can't learn from us because by the time Your brain tells your muscles to move, we'd already have struck. And that goes for the both of you, because you're humans and we're androids."

Eragon looked at her incredulously. Even Brom thought the claim bold. "That's quite the confidence. I've never heard anyone make that boast as seriously as you have."

"Prove it." Were the foolish words out of the boy as he stood up and held his blade at the ready.

9S started to get anxious. "Hey Eragon, that's not-"

"Shut up a second 9S." A2 said while she scrutinized Eragon from the tree she leaned against some twenty or so feet away. "This could be a good learning experience for him."

Those words were unnerving to everyone that heard them. For a split second, Eragon was reconsidering his choices. Unfortunately pride got the better of him, and he decided that he would look like a fool if he backed down now. "Come on then. Draw your sword."

"Hmm, if that's the case…." she said lazily.

She pushed herself off of the tree and gave him a small grin of amusement.

There was a flash of red that caused Eragon to blink, then he wheezed as the breath was driven out of him. That's strange, why can I see the stars?

Next he heard Saphira growling threateningly. When he caught his breath and processed his surroundings, he found A2 standing above him, the heel of her shoe planted on his chest, pinning him to the ground. Saphira's teeth were a hand-breadth away from A2's head, but the girl didn't seem to care all that much.

A2 leaned down, her long silver hair masking his peripherals and creating a tunnel so the only thing he could see was her. She waved her hand, flashing Zar'roc in her grasp. "... I'll just borrow yours if you don't mind."

Eragon was awestruck. He was completely speechless. Saphira, however, did not share his plight. Release him or die.

A2 removed her foot and stepped away from the boy. "Relax. I wasn't gonna hurt him."

Saphira glared distrustingly at the woman until she was far enough for Saphira to place her head between the two of them. She looked down with concern at her rider. Are you alright?

Yes, besides being out of breath, of course. What happened? Eragon asked.

Saphira looked away, her bitterness bleeding through to him. I…

When she failed to answer, Eragon rose to his feet and asked his mentor the same question. Brom was seemingly as awestruck as he had been. "I don't know, Eragon. It appears that A2 did not exaggerate."

Eragon looked to the woman he so callously challenged. "How?"

A2 spun Zar'roc in her hand gracefully before facing the hilt towards him. When he took it, that's when she answered. "I swept your legs out from under you, took your blade, then forced you to the ground because he hadn't begun to fall yet."

"You used magic?" Eragon accused, though his tone was confused more than anything else.

A2 spun and returned to her resting place against the tree. A small smile on her face. "No. You're just slow."

Saphira growled again, but this time, Eragon stopped her. That's enough Saphira. You're only upset that you didn't see it either, I can tell. I was the fool who challenged her.

She won't be so confident when it is the both of us she is facing. Saphira proclaimed proudly.

Eragon slumped back down where he was situated before. His eyes stayed on A2, running their short altercation through his mind. He looked away with a blush when he realized he was staring, reminding himself that she still seemed scantily dressed.

A2 noticed this but chose to ignore it. She thought picking on him for it would make him less willing to interact with the androids. Deep down, she too shared the common love for humanity among the android race, and she did not want the boy to be wary of her. At least, too wary of her.

"Alright, that's enough excitement for tonight. You need rest for tomorrow, young rider." Brom said with a smile.

Eragon grimaced, not wanting to be reminded of what was to come. He and Brom readied themselves for bed, Saphira coiling close to them. The androids separated and took up their posts. In the dark of the night, they practiced their magic, which was becoming less straining.

2B and 9S had made it a regularity to stargaze together. The twins would often sing quietly, enjoying their time together now that they weren't scorned by the world. The two operators, as well as the Commander, studied the wildlife and surrounding nature now that they weren't confined to the bunker. And A2 kept to herself.

"Stenr reisa." The type 3 fists hovered in the air, albeit shakily. It was difficult for A2 to keep both of them aloft separately. She recalled her first encounter with 2B and 9S, and the scout had used a pair of machine heads as weapons, but he fought by propelling them forward, well beyond the reach of his own arms. A2 being an attacker model meant that she didn't have the capability of manipulating weapons with energy, but she could with magic.

She willed the fists to strike an invisible enemy with alternating swings. The fists obeyed, but they were slow and clumsy, taking far too long to respond, and she only managed it for a few seconds before the left fist fell to the ground with a thud. A2 cursed and recalled them.

Left with her thoughts, she wandered aimlessly until she grew tired of that and found a nice spot to sit. It was funny, she thought, that though she had spent more time with others in the last few weeks than she had in decades, she felt lonelier than she ever had. It must've been that she had never spared too much attention on her own loneliness before.

It's no use complaining about it, it's just the way things played out. Still…

"Hello?" A2's head snapped over to find Eragon, sword in hand, scanning the patch in front of him. A2 realized that he couldn't see her, though she could see him fine.

She debated on staying silent or not, but figured that he would probably raise the alarm if he suspected something was off. "Hey."

Eragon nearly jumped out of his boots. He tried to face where he thought her voice came from. "A2."

"That's right. Don't tell me you're looking for another fight." A2 joked.

Eragon sheathed his weapon, mirth entering his voice. "Hardly. I heard a noise and came to investigate."

A2 realized her mistake. "Oops. Didn't think I would wake you up."

He sighed. "I'd have to be sleeping in the first place."

The android was surprised by his answer. "Why aren't you?"

"Nerves, truthfully." He rubbed his tired eyes. "I'm not looking forward to flying tomorrow."

A2 recalled the events earlier today. "I wouldn't trouble yourself too much. That dragon was ready to kill me when I kicked your ass, I doubt she'll let anything happen to you."

Eragon was taken aback by her crude language, but ignored it. "That's not the issue, It's… well, never mind. I don't want to bother you with it, not at this hour. See you in the morning."

"Wait." He paused, not expecting the command from her. A2, for some odd reason, was feeling anxious. She did not know why she had the urge to halt him, but it was too late to stop now. "You won't be bothering me. I have nothing better to do."

There was a long pause, his hesitation apparent. She was sure he was going to refuse, but to her surprise, he didn't. "If you insist. Where are you? I can't see a thing."

"Here. Brisingr." a small yet bright green flame illuminated the area, causing Eragon to squint until his eyes adjusted. A2 stood a few paces from him. Unknowingly, her appearance was somewhat haunting in the green light, with her unnaturally perfect beauty and white hair shining like silver.

"Thank you." Eragon, now that he could find his step, sat down and rested against a tree. "I see you've changed into new clothes."

A2 sat cross-legged in front of him and rested the flame to float between them. "I figured I would wait to change after you went to bed, seeing as what happened last time."

Eragon blushed at the awkward memory. "Yes, well, thank you. I hope these new ones are to your liking, your other ones were a bit… scarce."

"Does me being poorly dressed really bother you that much?" A2 asked. Eragon panicked, feeling far too out of place to speak about such things. A2 found his reaction amusing. "Relax. These are fine. Now, what's got you so bothered?"

Eragon, thankful for the escape, told her his fears. "When I ride Saphira, her scales tear my legs to shreds. The last time we flew, I could hardly walk. And then there is the flying itself. It was enough to make me sick."

"Hmm. Really? From what I know of you so far, you seem to be the type who'd be thrilled to fly." A2 answered.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Eragon grinned. He took a glance at their impromptu candle. "I have to say, I'm a bit envious of your ability to keep that flame alight. It seems you will soon surpass me in ability if you haven't already."

A2 could see that the fact annoyed him. "I wouldn't say that. It may seem like this is easy, but I'm burning a hell of a lot of energy to keep it lit. Judging by how long you can practice it, you're by far more efficient than we are."

Eragon seemed pleased by the praise. He eased against the tree, looking up at the night sky. "I appreciate it, but what counts in an actual fight is who is outright stronger."

A2 propped an elbow on her knee and rested her chin in her hand. "You got a point there, but you can trust that we won't be fighting you, at least, not to the death. After laying you on the ground, I might just agree to Brom's request for fun."

"That's quite twisted of you. I might have to agree with Saphira to let her join me in our next fight after all." Eragon threatened confidently.

He was dismayed to find A2 smiling at the idea. "So we are fighting, huh? I'm looking forward to it."

"You don't really mean to challenge Saphira, do you?" he asked incredulously.

"I've fought bigger and won."

Eragon went wide eyed at the prospect. "What manner of beast is larger than a dragon?"

"Machine, not beast. And some were so big that a single step would shake houses apart." A2 recalled.

Eragon had difficulty imagining such a thing. "And you would fight it alone? I can scarcely think of it. Were the others not there to help you?"

A2 frowned. "Our past is… complicated. We've been enemies longer than we've been friends."

"Really? What happened?"

"I'd rather not talk about it." A2 said curtly.

Eragon sensed the change and tried to reel back. "I'm sorry, I overstepped-"

"Nah, it's just a long story, and a sad one. Not the kind that eases nerves or helps you sleep" A2 reassured.

"I see." Eragon was relieved. "However, Sleep becomes less appealing the longer we talk."

A2 didn't expect such a compliment, and her face must have reflected it, for Eragon blushed and became quite horrified at his own words. "Wait, I didn't mean anything deeper by it, I swear."

She was beginning to understand why 2B liked 9S so much. "Damn, and here I thought I was about to see Eragon the romantic."

"Please. I have no experience with women, there is no need for such names." he pleaded.

A2 shrugged. "All right, but you could've fooled me."

Eragon wondered what she implied by that, but another thought struck him. "Wait, do you mean to say that androids feel love? In the romantic sense, I mean? I thought you were built, not…"

"We definitely do. To simplify it for you, android emotions and personalities are the exact same we feel. Not only do we feel love, we can even have our own preferences on what we like in someone's appearance. The only thing we actually lack that humans have is the 'bits' responsible for new life." A2 explained. Although she kept it to herself that there were modifications a curious android could do.

Ignoring her last statement, Eragon had another question. "But if you know all of that, then shouldn't everyone have known that their actions were wrong during the night of the storm?"

A2 sigh tiredly, explaining one of the aspects of YoRHa life. "Remember, it was only the Commander, 6O, and 21O who didn't know. That's because they are the only ones who have never known anything besides YoRHa, and according to the doctrine, androids were weapons of war, nothing else. The rest of us have much more world experience, and even then, finding what love meant was low on the list of priorities during a war that had been going for thousands of years."

"I see." This gave Eragon much to think about. He then came to another realization. "Then 9S and 2B…"

A2 rolled her eyes. "Madly in love. But they were YoRHa for a long time, and had only recently realized how obsessed with each other they are."

"Does it bother you? I hope that wasn't the reason for being enemies." Eragon asked, surprised at the way she spoke about it.

A2 actually laughed, though it was short. "Do I seem like the main character of a tragic love story to you? The answer's no on both accounts."

Her laugh had made him do so in kind. Eragon had not felt this relaxed in a long time. "No, I suppose you don't. In all honesty, I was wary of you at first, and excuse my rudeness, but you are much more pleasant than you seem."

"Yeah, well, I'm not usually one for being sociable. I kept to myself for a long time." A2 said with a tinge of sorrow.

"You could've fooled me."

The pair chatted with each other like that until A2 informed him that if she sustained the fire any longer, she would fall unconscious. She guided him back to Saphira, where he fell asleep almost instantly. Finding a spot a ways further from the humans' camp, and after replenishing her energy, she continued practicing her magic fists, and found much more success. It seemed her talk with Eragon had brought some peace to her troubled mind, allowing her to concentrate more easily. And even stranger, she was looking forward to their next encounter.

What a world

It's been a little while since I posted on any of my stories, so I decided to split the chapter I was working on for The Gift of Wings. This was a nice breaking point anyway.

Please remember to leave a review. As always, praise is nice but criticism improves the story.