by Eragon (lit)
you have a mark of your own?
Only Riders have them,said Brom. 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.
asked Eragon weakly, thinking of the effort it had taken to do it just once.
And this time be quicker about it.
They continued with the exercises throughout most of the day. When Eragon finally stopped, he was tired and ill-tempered. In those hours, he had come to hate the pebble and everything about it. He started to throw it away, but Brom said, ’t. Keep it.Eragon glared at him, then reluctantly tucked the stone into a pocket.
’re not done yet,warned Brom, don’t get comfortable.He pointed at a small plant. is called delois.From there on he instructed Eragon in the ancient language, giving him words to memorize, from v a thin, straight stick, to the morning star, Aiedail .
That evening they sparred around the fire. Though Brom fought with his left hand, his skill was undiminished.
The days followed the same pattern. First, Eragon struggled to learn the ancient words and to manipulate the pebble. Then, in the evening, he trained against Brom with the fake swords. Eragon was in constant discomfort, but he gradually began to change, almost without noticing. Soon the pebble no longer wobbled when he lifted it. He mastered the first exercises Brom gave him and undertook harder ones, and his knowledge of the ancient language grew.
In their sparring, Eragon gained confidence and speed, striking like a snake. His blows became heavier, and his arm no longer trembled when he warded off attacks. The clashes lasted longer as he learned how to fend off Brom. Now, when they went to sleep, Eragon was not the only one with bruises.
Saphira continued to grow as well, but more slowly than before. Her extended flights, along with periodic hunts, kept her fit and healthy. She was taller than the horses now, and much longer. Because of her size and the way her scales sparkled, she was altogether too visible. Brom and Eragon worried about it, but they could not convince her to allow dirt to obscure her scintillating hide.
They continued south, tracking the Ra’zac. It frustrated Eragon that no matter how fast they went, the Ra’zac always stayed a few days ahead of them. At times he was ready to give up, but then they would find some mark or print that would renew his hope.
There were no signs of habitation along the Ninor or in the plains, leaving the three companions undisturbed as the days slipped by. Finally, they neared Daret, the first village since Yazuac.
The night before they reached the village, Eragon’s dreams were especially vivid.
He saw Garrow and Roran at home, sitting in the destroyed kitchen. They asked him for help rebuilding the farm, but he only shook his head with a pang of longing in his heart. I’m tracking your killers,he whispered to his uncle.
Garrow looked at him askance and demanded, I look dead to you?
can’t help you,said Eragon softly, feeling tears in his eyes.
There was a sudden roar, and Garrow transformed into the Ra’zac. die,they hissed, and leapt at Eragon.
He woke up feeling ill and watched the stars slowly turn in the sky.
All will be well, little one, said Saphira gently.
* * *
DARET
Daret was on the banks of the Ninor River—as it had to be to survive. The village was small and wild-looking, without any signs of inhabitants. Eragon and Brom approached it with great caution. Saphira hid close to the town this time; if trouble arose, she would be at their sides within seconds. They rode into Daret, striving to be silent. Brom gripped his sword with his good hand, eyes flashing everywhere. Eragon kept his bow partially drawn as they passed between the silent houses, glancing at each other with apprehension. This doesn’t look good, commented Eragon to Saphira. She did not answer, but he felt her prepare to rush after them. He looked at the ground and was reassured to see the fresh footprints of children. But where are they?
Brom stiffened as they entered the center of Daret and found it empty. Wind blew through the desolate town, and dust devils swirled sporadically. Brom wheeled Snowfire about. ’s get out of here. I don’t like the feel of this. He spurred Snowfire into a gallop. Eragon followed him, urging Cadoc onward.
They advanced only a few strides before wagons toppled out from behind the houses and blocked their way. Cadoc snorted and dug in his hooves, sliding to a stop next to Snowfire. A swarthy man hopped over the wagon and planted himself before them, a broadsword slung at his side and a drawn bow in his hands. Eragon swung his own bow up and pointed it at the stranger, who commanded, Put your weapons down. You’re surrounded by sixty archers. They’ll shoot if you move.As if on cue, a row of men stood up on the roofs of the surrounding houses.
Stay away, Saphira! cried Eragon. There are too many. If you come, they’ll shoot you out of the sky. Stay away! She heard, but he was unsure if she would obey. He prepared to use magic. I’ll have to stop the arrows before they hit me or Brom.
do you want?asked Brom calmly.
have you come here?demanded the man.
buy supplies and hear the news. Nothing more. We’re on the way to my cousin’s house in Dras-Leona.
’re armed pretty heavily.
are you,said Brom. are dangerous times.
The man looked at them carefully. 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.
it doesn’t matter what we say, what happens now?countered Brom. The men on top of the houses had not moved. By their very stillness, Eragon was sure that they were either highly disciplinedor frightened for their lives. He hoped it was the latter.
say that you only want supplies. Would you agree to stay here while we bring what you need, then pay us and leave immediately?
right,said the man, lowering his bow, though he kept it ready. He waved at one of the archers, who slid to the ground and ran over. him what you want.
Brom recited a short list and then added, if you have a spare pair of gloves that would fit my nephew, I’d like to buy those too.The archer nodded and ran off.
name’s Trevor,said the man standing in front of them. I’d shake your hand, but under the circumstances, I think I’ll keep my distance. Tell me, where are you from?
said Brom, we haven’t lived in any place long enough to call it home. Have Urgals forced you to take these measures?
said Trevor, worse fiends. Do you have any news from other towns? We receive word from them rarely, but there have been reports that they are also beleaguered.
Brom turned grave. wish it wasn’t our lot to bring you these tidings. Nearly a fortnight ago we passed through Yazuac and found it pillaged. The villagers had been slaughtered and piled together. We would have tried to give them a decent burial, but two Urgals attacked us.
Shocked, Trevor stepped back and looked down with tears in his eyes. this is indeed a dark day. Still, I don’t see how two Urgals could have defeated all of Yazuac. The people there were good fighters—some were my friends.
were signs that a band of Urgals had ravaged the town,stated Brom. think the ones we encountered were deserters.
large was the company?
Brom fiddled with his saddlebags for a minute. enough to wipe out Yazuac, but small enough to go unnoticed in the countryside. No more than a hundred, and no less than fifty. If I’m not mistaken, either number would prove fatal to you.Trevor wearily agreed. should consider leaving,Brom continued. area has become far too perilous for anyone to live in peace.
know, but the people here refuse to consider moving. This is their home—as well as mine, though I have only been here a couple years—and they place its worth above their own lives.Trevor looked at him seriously. We have repulsed individual Urgals, and that has given the townspeople a confidence
far beyond their abilities. I fear that we will all wake up one morning with our throats slashed.
The archer hurried out of a house with a pile of goods in his arms. He set them next to the horses, and Brom paid him. As the man left, Brom asked, did they choose you to defend Daret?
Trevor shrugged. was in the king’s army for some years.
Brom dug through the items, handed Eragon the pair of gloves, and packed the rest of the supplies into their saddlebags. Eragon pulled the gloves on, being careful to keep his palm facing down, and flexed his hands. The leather felt good and strong, though it was scarred from use. said Brom, I promised, we will go now.
Trevor nodded. you enter Dras-Leona, would you do us this favor? Alert the Empire to our plight and that of the other towns. If word of this hasn’t reached the king by now, it’s cause for worry. And if it has, but he has chosen to do nothing, that too is cause for worry.
will carry your message. May your swords stay sharp,said Brom.
yours.
The wagons were pulled out of their way, and they rode from Daret into the trees along the Ninor River. Eragon sent his thoughts to Saphira. We’re on our way back. Everything turned out all right. Her only response was simmering anger.
Brom pulled at his beard. Empire is in worse condition than I had imagined. When the traders visited Carvahall, they brought reports of unrest, but I never believed that it was this widespread. With all these Urgals around, it seems that the Empire itself is under attack, yet no troops or soldiers have been sent out. It’s as if the king doesn’t care to defend his domain.
is strange,agreed Eragon.
Brom ducked under a low-hanging branch. you use any of your powers while we were in Daret?
was no reason to.
corrected Brom. could have sensed Trevor’s intentions. Even with my limited abilities, I was able to do that. If the villagers had been bent on killing us, I wouldn’t have just sat there. However, I felt there was a reasonable chance of talking our way out of there, which is what I did.
could I know what Trevor was thinking?asked Eragon. I supposed to be able to see into people’s minds?
now,chided Brom, should know the answer to that. You could have discovered Trevor’s purpose in the same way that you communicate with Cadoc or Saphira. The minds of men are not so different from a dragon’s or horse’s. It’s a simple thing to do, but it’s a power you must use sparingly and with great caution. A person’s mind is his last sanctuary. You must never violate it unless circumstances force you to. The Riders had very strict rules regarding this. If they were broken without due cause, the punishment was severe.
you can do this even though you aren’t a Rider?asked Eragon.
I said before, with the right instruction anyone can talk with their minds, but with differing amounts of success. Whether it’s magic, though, is hard to tell. Magical abilities will certainly trigger the talent—or becoming linked with a dragon—but I’ve known plenty who learned it on their own. Think about it: you can communicate with any sentient being, though the contact may not be very clear. You could spend the entire day listening to a bird’s thoughts or understanding how an earthworm feels during a rainstorm. But I’ve never found birds very interesting. I suggest starting with a cat; they have unusual personalities.
Eragon twisted Cadoc’s reins in his hands, considering the implications of what Brom had said. if I can get into someone’s head, doesn’t that mean that others can do the same to me? How do I know if someone’s prying in my mind? Is there a way to stop that? How do I know if Brom can tell what I’m thinking right now?
yes. Hasn’t Saphira ever blocked you from her mind?
admitted Eragon. she took me into the Spine, I couldn’t talk to her at all. It wasn’t that she was ignoring me; I don’t think she could even hear me. There were walls around her mind that I couldn’t get through.
Brom worked on his bandage for a moment, shifting it higher on his arm. a few people can tell if someone is in their mind, and of those, only a handful could stop you from entering. It’s a matter of training and of how you think. Because of your magical power, you’ll always know if someone is in your mind. Once you do, blocking them is a simple matter of concentrating on one thing to the exclusion of all else. For instance, if you only think about a brick wall, that’s all the enemy will find in your mind. However, it takes a huge amount of energy and discipline to block someone for any length of time. If you’re distracted by even the slightest thing, your wall will waver and your opponent will slip in through the weakness.
can I learn to do this?asked Eragon.
is only one thing for it: practice, practice, and yet more practice. Picture something in your mind and hold it there to the exclusion of all else for as long as you can. It is a very advanced ability; only a handful ever master it, said Brom.
don’t need perfection, just safety. If I can get into someone’s mind, can I change how he thinks? Every time I learn something new about magic, I grow more wary of it.
When they reached Saphira, she startled them by thrusting her head at them. The horses backstepped nervously. Saphira looked Eragon over carefully and gave a low hiss. Her eyes were flinty. Eragon threw a concerned look at Brom—he had never seen Saphira this angry—then asked, What’s wrong?
You, she growled. You are the problem.
Eragon frowned and got off Cadoc. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Saphira swept his legs out from under him with her tail and pinned him with her talons. are you doing? he yelled, struggling to get up, but she was too strong for him. Brom watched attentively from Snowfire.
Saphira swung her head over Eragon until they were eye to eye. He squirmed under her unwavering glare. You! Every time you leave my sight you get into 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 me, 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?
The question burned in Eragon, and he dropped his gaze. He knew she was right, but he was scared of riding her. Their flights had been the most painful ordeal he had ever endured.
demanded Brom.
wants me to ride her tomorrow,said Eragon lamely.
Brom considered it with twinkling eyes. you have the saddle. I suppose that if the two of you stay out of sight, it won’t be a problem.Saphira switched her gaze to him, then returned it to Eragon.
what if you’re attacked or there’s an accident? I won’t be able to get there in time and—
Saphira pressed harder on his chest, stopping his words. Exactly my point, little one.
Brom seemed to hide a smile. ’s worth the risk. You need to learn how to ride her anyway. Think about it this way: with you flying ahead and looking at the ground, you’ll be able to spot any traps, ambushes, or other unwelcome surprises.
Eragon looked back at Saphira and said, Okay, I’ll do it. But let me up.
Give me your word.
Is that really necessary? he demanded. She blinked. Very well. I give you my word that I will fly with you tomorrow. Satisfied?
I am content.
Saphira let him up and, with a push of her legs, took off. A small shiver ran through Eragon as he watched her twist through the air. Grumbling, he returned to Cadoc and followed Brom.
It was nearly sundown when they made camp. As usual, Eragon dueled with Brom before dinner. In the midst of the fight, Eragon delivered such a powerful blow that he snapped both of their sticks like twigs. The pieces
whistled into the darkness in a cloud of splintered fragments. Brom tossed what remained of his stick into the fire and said, ’re done with these; throw yours in as well. You have learned well, but we’ve gone as far as we can with branches. There is nothing more you can gain from them. It is time for you to use the blade.He removed Zar’roc from Eragon’s bag and gave it to him.
’ll cut each other to ribbons,protested Eragon.
so. Again you forget magic,said Brom. He held up his sword and turned it so that firelight glinted off the edge. He put a finger on either side of the blade and focused intensely, deepening the lines on his forehead. For a moment nothing happened, then he uttered, du kn and a small red spark jumped between his fingers. As it flickered back and forth, he ran his fingers down the length of the sword. Then he twirled it and did the same thing on the other side. The spark vanished the moment his fingers left the metal.
Brom held his hand out, palm up, and slashed it with the sword. Eragon jumped forward but was too slow to stop him. He was astonished when Brom raised his unharmed hand with a smile. did you do?asked Eragon.
the edge,said Brom. Eragon touched it and felt an invisible surface under his fingers. The barrier was about a quarter inch wide and very slippery. do the same on Zar’roc,instructed Brom. Your block will be a bit different than mine, but it should accomplish the same thing.
He told Eragon how to pronounce the words and coached him through the process. It took Eragon a few tries, but he soon had Zar’roc’s edge protected. Confident, he took his fighting stance. Before they started, Brom admonished, These swords won’t cut us, but they can still break bones. I would prefer to avoid that, so don’t flail around like you normally do. A blow to the neck could prove fatal.
Eragon nodded, then struck without warning. Sparks flew off his blade, and the clash of metal filled their campsite as Brom parried. The sword felt slow and heavy to Eragon after fighting with sticks for so long. Unable to move Zar’roc fast enough, he received a sharp rap on his knee.
