Commencé le 22 juin 2022 à 27 juin 2022 (1 à 6)

Brotherhood. chapitre 1 publié sur ao3 le 26 juin 2022. C2 le 29 juin. C3 le 3 juillet. C4 le 5/07. C5 le 7/07. C6 le 9/07

 

Eragon takes a look at his brother.

The latter's looking blinklessly at their target. Eragon always admired this tedious side of his brother as his calmness and discretion would most often than not help during their hunt, besides helping them out in most bad situation. Actually, if Eragon was more expressive, he would just say Murtagh was his model.

The eldest pulls up their signal and Eragon looks back at the deer they were chasing. He holds up his bow and aims at the collar. He waits to see if the animal would be moving before shooting. The deer shifts at the last moment, probably having sensed the danger, and gets wounded at the shoulder. It could have escaped if it wasn't for the blue stone falling from the sky. Murtagh takes the chance and goes to spear it. Eragon runs at his level when the deer falls on the ground, movingless.

"Alright, this deer's meat would assure our meal for at least three days."

Eragon's relieved that he doesn't get any remark on his failure as he knew that Murtagh never took archery on very high esteem, prefering long weapon which would be more useful in close combat. Eragon could never get it, he rather not see his success too closely.

He's only into hunting because it nourrished them, otherwise he doesn't like gory thing. That's also why he's so happy to not having to go to the town's butcher.

"Let's go home, sun's setting," Murtagh says while giving him back his used arrow and then lifting the carcass like it was nothing.

Eragon envies his build. Murtagh would always laugh whenever they talk about it and tell him that's he's just a child. But Eragon's not buying it. When Murtagh was at his age, he was beefier, and Eragon's almost sixteen. They're only three years apart but he always got the feeling it's more.

"Wait, what was the thing that fell?"

Then, without listening to the older, Eragon goes to pick it up.

"Murtagh, look! It's beautiful! It looks like gem!"

"I know what you're thinking and it's a bad idea. If it got there, that means someone wanted to get rid."

"And how? It's the Spine, even the birds won't go there."

"More reason, magic must be implied. Put it back."

Eragon hesitates and Murtagh thought it would be the end of that. Well, that's until Eragon put the stone in his satchel.

"Eragon!" Murtagh scolds him.

"Look, in few days, the Traders would be in town. We just had to sell it and it could assure our stock for the winter!"

Murtagh purses his lips, wanting to tell him that no one would be fooled by some strange blue stone, but Eragon's mind set and he chooses to let it go. The younger will see his own naivety.

 

The way back to their uncle's farm was uneventful and Murtagh was glad their relative was an asocial old man who prefered to live outside of Carvahall. That would also be the one thing that Murtagh related so much to Garrow.

The sight of the modest house with a respectable cultivation brings a sigh from him. The corpse's starting to get heavy and the foul stench's soaking into him. As Eragon helps him to unload the body, Roran comes to get them.

"There you are! And not with empty hands! We're gonna have some warm meal thanks to you two!"

His tone doesn't go unnoticed and his father appears from the door. Garrow glances at the dead body with an obnoxious look then nods slightly to the boys before disapearing inside again. The two brothers couldn't stop themselves from rolling their eyes. Their uncle could never appreciate what they do.

Roran helps them dismantling the body before heading inside with the good parts. They talk about this ruthless winter and the upcoming visit of the traders. Eragon wouldn't stop exchanging look with him.

The following days were solely to welcome the traders and soon, the stone was just a memory for Murtagh.

That is until the day comes.

Garrow gives each of them some money before reminding them to join back to listen the tell of the storyteller Brom.

Roran vanishes in a blink of eyes to woo the girl of his dream while the brothers go to some jewel trader as Eragon insisted on trading with.

Only then, Murtagh remembers of the blue stone. And he almost preens when the trader wouldn't trade or even value the thing as no one ever seen that.

Eragan doesn't stay upset long thanks to having an awesome brother like Murtagh who treats him a beer. It wouldn't be an issue as he would be sixteen soon.

When heading to Morn's tavern, they cross path with their cousin wooing the butcher's daughter, Katrina, with Odele sidelonging them, being Katrina's friend. Odele greets Murtagh, making the couple notice them and Katrina bows humbly to the older with a little flush. Roran's quite annoyed as he could barely made her blush enough to match her red hair.

The tavern's crowded. There are traders everywhere, drinking with the men of the town, but also some royal soldier, much to their surprise. They don't hear a lot and Murtagh makes them leave quickly to not attract attention. It's time for the story anyway.

 

The day ends unexpectandly.

As they live in the remote place of Palancar Valley, the villagers didn't have much attention of the Empire, but Garrow also chose to remain secluded by living at the edge of the town, so the four of them couldn't be really at ear of the current politic situation.

So when hearing of the true version of the History is a huge surprise. Eragon's enticed to know more and wants to ask more from the storyteller but Murtagh's not that interested. He figures he could go and ask Brom more in private.

Eragon himself forgets about the stone as Roran announced his departure.

To woo Katrina, Roran has to gain Sloan's agreement, however the man's not easy to impress. But knowing very well that he can't move him by his feelings, Roran has to at least got an honorable statue. Hence, he asked to work for Dempton the miller and has to move to Therinsford.

Garrow gives him full assent and encourages his son in his quest to woo not only Katrina but also her stern father. Besides, the red hair deserves to be treated that highly.

The day of his departure, the man gives him and the brothers a  speech on life and how to be a great man who follows his decisions. Roran makes them promise to keep a look on Katrina's other suitors.

2.

<p>The stone takes back its importance when two strangers emerged from nowhere.</p>

<p>Eragon and Murtagh were patrolling and looking for Katrina's wellbeing as promised when they saw them. Just the atmosphere around them's bad enough. They give off bad feeling and bad luck. Two dark figures all black. Not only their appearance is threatening but their voice too, even more with their question.</p>

<p>"Have you seen any blue stone?"</p>

<p>Eragon misses a heartbeat. He almost got caught if Murtagh didn't push him along so they keep their way to the butcher. Thankfully, it was only Quirby whose the one being questionned and he doesn't know thing.</p>

<p>Eragon thought they could escape this situation when entering the shop but then the two monsters call on them while they're at the doorstep. </p>

<p>"You two. Did you see any shining blue stone?"</p>

<p>"Shining? Wouldn't you think those two punks would have sell it to keep them living?" Sloan snickers and shoots a condescending look at them.</p>

<p>"Absolutly. Especially if it was as valuable as a gem, we wouldn't have to work elsewhere to be good enough."</p>

<p>Just at this moment, Katrina comes into the shop too and catches Murtagh's look. She gets quickly the implied message and smiles brightly. This scene's enough for the two strangers who leave without a word. Sloan grumbles at the incivility of the strangers before glaring at the boys.</p>

<p>"If you're not going to buy or sell anything, get the hell out of here!"</p>

<p>Eragon would always react badly at the butcher's rude tone but his brother always has a retort to shut the man up.</p>

<p>"If we do have some prey to sell, we wouldn't be coming here. Like you said, we need to live."</p>

<p>Murtagh nods at Katrina before pushing the younger out. Eragon stops sneering when he catches sight of Brom and leaves his brother's side to talk with the storyteller, as he promised himself from awhile.</p>

<p>He learned some more about the origin of the Brodding Empire and those horrible thing the king did due to the madness of losing his half part. Eragon wouldn't know as he grew up without parents only raised by relatives. And as much Garrow and Marian were good to him and his brother, he never got to receive parent's love. Murtagh must have some memories as his mood would become sour whenever he'd mention their parent. He would also say that their father wasn't the kind to give love or would show it in some unnatural way, and would then made a move to his very painful looking scar on the back. That probably was the reason why their mother finally left him. Eragon would then be even more envious of his brother as he got time to live with them for some years, though he had to admit he's not jealous of the scar.</p>

<p>"Eragon?" Brom calls him as he stays quiet for too long.</p>

<p>"I was thinking about my parents. Their lost must be as heartbreaking than what the king's feeling. I mean, I never got to actually meet them but, yeah, must be the same..."</p>

<p>An awkward silence set between them as the man doesn't say anything.</p>

<p>"Actually, you must know my mother, don't you? Uncle Garrow said that you came around the same time my mother came back at Carvahall to give me birth."</p>

<p>The old man stays silent and Eragon almost thinks he won't say anything but got startle when his voice speak up slowly to tell him how he have met his mother and how her temper was.</p>

<p>Murtagh's voice comes up at the same time he's banging at the door. As he enters after being invited, he glances at the bookcase much to Eragon's fun. But his brother says it's time to leave and they do so but not before the storyteller told them that he would be always welcoming them for storytelling or even teach them how to be literary.</p>

<p>Eragon laughs because it seems really funny but Murtagh thanks sincerely the old man's offer.</p>

<p>On their way home, Murtagh tells him how he's going to be working for Horst, the town's black-smith and also the best of the whole Palancar Valley. Albriech, the man's eldest would be working at Feinster, the most known port city of the Empire for nine days and even though his second son Baldor's knowledgeable enough in the matter, having another hand's great. Besides, it was either that or working on infertile field as hunting during winter is as much resulting.</p>

<p>"Murtagh, about those two strangers..."</p>

<p>"Luckily I told you to get rid of it. If they were the trackers, think about the sponsor."</p>

<p>But then encounting a silence, Murtagh's filled of doubt.</p>

<p>"Eragon. Tell me you did get rid of it."</p>

<p>"Well... You're gonna get it if you see it by yourself."</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Murtagh sighs with disappoitment when looking at the sight of the plain ground.</p>

<p>But as Eragon's digging before him, he remembers how his brother's got that insane and useless talent of hiding thing under the ground or even himself. Once, at eleven, he even hid himself under, freaking the soul out of Marian and him. Needless to say, he wasn't ever allowed to touch or dig in the ground for a long time.</p>

<p>Until now, when thinking he could hide some stone he think would be valuable in the future.</p>

<p>"If someone send those scary looking creatures to look for it, it must be already pretty valuable."</p>

<p>"So we just have to sell it!"</p>

<p>"To whom? They didn't look to be the kind to negociate."</p>

<p>"We could ask Brom! He said he travelled before coming here, he must know people who could be interested."</p>

<p>"If he's not himself interested."</p>

<p>"Come on! You have to go see him if you really want to become an intellectual."</p>

<p>He doesn't like his brother's humouring tone.</p>

<p>"It is useful to learn to read and write!"</p>

<p>"For what? We're not gonna leave the valley that soon."</p>

<p>"Well, you're gonna need that to negociate with the old man's acquaintance."</p>

<p>Eragon could only agree to that and leaving the negociation to him.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>So for nine days, Murtagh worked at the forge while Eragon's helping their uncle and then paying a lot of visit to the storyteller.</p>

<p>Whenever Murtagh's there to pick the younger, he's welcomed to borrow some book while the man keep persuading the youngest to learn how to read.</p>

<p>When Albriech comes back, Eragon chooses that day to go into action as Murtagh would be free of work.</p>

<p>"Don't be suspicious."</p>

<p>"I'm not. I'm always asking questions."</p>

<p>But in the end, without knowing how it happens, Brom confiscated the stone and told them he would be leaving so not to involve them. </p>

<p>As the brothers were told to leave the house right away, they exchange a look, not knowing how to react.</p>

<p>In a way, that's a good thing, to Murtagh, at least. On the other hand, they have a feeling of being used.</p>

3.

"Want to pay a visit to Roran?"

Eragon's so glad to have his brother with him. Without Murtagh, he would probably throw a tantrum and demand explanation to the man.

He has a huge feeling of being played by an old friend. In everyway that could mean.

So the unexpected trip to Therinsford's very well welcomed.

They spend the day talking about Katrina with their cousin and even when they are leaving to go back to Garrow's farm, Roran keeps making them promise to check on the girl. Which Eragon promises faithlessly as he totaly forgot about her the last few days.

To change his mind, he asks to pass through the Spine.

Probably the worst decision ever.

Like everybody, they heard about the other species living at Alagaësia besides the humans. Brom said that the first coming on the land were the dwarves and the elves, along with dragons, and that humans were the last. In between, there were the Urgals. Some beast-like being, known for their wildness.

They witness it.

They actually don't have any reason to wander to Yazuak, but climbing those ruthless moutains during winter after sunset must have got them thrilled and they become more adventurous. And the light from the town is quite alluring.

Probably because it was too big to be casual. And that the smell of blood is too strong to be just the butcher making a feast. And mostly it would be because the town's simply got detroyed by an army of beast.

There are corpses of human drowing in their blood and blood bath everywhere with the fire burning the place mercylessly as the wind starts to blow thanks to the cold weather.

The horror doesn't stop there.

One of the urgals comes back to the place and, hearing a toddler crying on his dead parents bodies, goes to end its work.

Eragon, being Eragon, makes his way to intervene because he couldn't stay motionless while looking at the massacre. Murtagh's reflex is to stop him as it's his duty as eldest to protect his brother of danger. But as he's also watching and hearing the boy's cry and his brother's desire to help, he starts to think of a way to win this battle, and without any loss would be great.

As Eragon's strong point is long range shooting, he tells him to make a makeshift slingshot and shot to attract the beast's attention elsewhere from the kid. And Murtagh would push a broken cart against it. If it barely scratches the monster, it does unbalance it as Eragon's still aiming at it. Then, Murtagh uses a stake to hit it repeatedly while Eragon's shooting on its legs to trip him. As the beast fells on his back, Murtagh somehow manages to break his horn and even get his eye before finally knocking it out. Eragon runs over once having got the signal and covered the body of haystack and throw a piquet of fire on it hoping very heavily it would burn it down.

They help the kid make a small funeral rite before helping him reach the next livable town, known as Daret. It wouldn't be really smart to make him walk to Therinsford on the other side of the Spine.

As they hurry to Carvahall, they agree that Brom's departure can't wait.

 

Biding good bye to their uncle first thing in the morning is faster than when it was for Roran's departure. More because the man already gives his speech than because they aren't that close, though that does play a part.

They're more Marian's favorites anyway.

As they're rushing to the storyteller's hut, they're relieved to see the man's still there readying the horse. But as they're hurling him back into the house, the man's caught enough to let the stone be stolen.

"Could it be a dragon egg?"

Eragon's as surprised as Brom. He thought it was just a magic stone.

"The same that got stolen from the Empire twenty years ago? The king's looking for it and it suddenly appeared one day at the Spine, so he sent some minions to retrieve it in the nothern part of the kingdom after forgetting for so long there's still civilization. He even send urgals even though he hates this species so much."

"I always thought your acuteness would be useful."

"And could be use as weapon too! Thanks to it, we even beat an urgal!" Eragon says forcefully. "Look, we don't know much about the Empire's secret but we want to protect our land of menace. And if things starting to become awry because of this stone, I mean, egg, we're taking responsability and bringing it somewhere else!"

They hush and don't let Brom place a word when the latter assures them that was his plan all along and say they can't really trust him on what side he really is, so they insist to tag along. Brom doesn't argue too much. Well, couldn't. 

He have watched the two of them grow up, he knows about their temper even not having raised them.

The trip to Teirm begins with them wearing thick clothes to protect agaibst winter and to dissimulate their face. The objective is to give to egg back the resistance and to not be involved in any useless battle. 

During the passage by the Spine, Eragon sensed more than once the egg warming unusually. Whenever it happens, he would ask his brother to be the holder.

Not once they give this privilege to the man, not sure about his intention, althrough they do follow him to this contact of Varden, the group of resistance against the Empire.

4.

Arriving to Teirm is both a relief and so much more stressful.

Being back in civilization was a solace after being in the wild for so long, but seeing so much royal soldiers in the city goes easily on their nerves.

Thankfully, the egg stays under their thick clothes without trouble and Brom leads them to the house where his acquaintance of Varden lives.

Except, his acquaintance couldn't be at his disposal just because the man shows up after ten years of silence. So when the storyteller tries to arrange the meeting, asking the boys to wait for him, the two brothers choose to enter in the shop next to the estate, not wanting to freeze to death in the middle of the street.

The shop's run by a problaimed medium and inside's full of plants. And it's as cold as outside. Even more awkward, there's this cat glaring at them.

"This cat's weird," Eragon comments.

Murtagh starts a staring contest with it.

"Maybe it's the fortune-teller who changed themselves into the cat because they're actually a witch."

"Wrong. Too bad, you were almost there."

Eragon gives out a manly shout at the woman's appearance. She has bulky hair and a ferocious smirk, the exact image he made of witch. That startles Murtagh who cut contact with the cat to instinctively check on the egg.

"You seem to be in possession of something really interesting," the witch says while putting a satchel on the counter.

Next to the cat who stretches before setting back nicely.

Eragon chances a look to the satchel but the witch ignores it purposefully to stare at a very wary Murtagh.

"I won't fall for your scammy act."

"Language. Or is it also an act to make me prove my power?"

"You pretend to tell fortune, maybe you should show us what's your worth," Eragon put in.

"I'm not playing this game with you boys. I only tell fortune under some conditions."

"Obviously, we did not complete them."

She merely looks at Murtagh to pet the cat. "Unfortunately. But I won't be chasing you out of my shop. There's so much to know about plant."

"Alright. Do you have anything to protect against the cold, or even the weather?"

"Lucky you, I'm a really great botanist myself and do have what you're looking for. Here are aloe bean to protect you against hotness and sunflower seed to protect against cold."

"Which condition?"

Having Murtagh as brother, Eragon comes to know that everything got their adavntage and downside. The fortune-teller smiles appreciatively.

"The seed will keep you warm if you believe it would."

"So everything is about psychology, then."

"Magic is about being mental."

As they're leaving with four of each plant, the owner introduce herself to them by the name of Angela and bid them good bye by wishing them good luck. The cat going by Solembum mews at their departure.

 

At evening, Brom comes to get them to let them know that his acquaintance accepted to see them.

As an intellectual and scholar, Jeod owns proudly a filled bookshelf, much to his wife's aversion. As a trader's daughter, Helen doesn't appreciate how her husband wasted their money and potential of evoluting their situation on those irrealizable dreams.

Even through it's an endless subject of arguing, Helen still acts as a decent host and take care of her guests disgruntly while Jeod meets again with his old friend. Eragon tries to smooth her by talking about trading and also thanking her hosting while Murtagh listens to the men's conversation, as being the holder of the egg at the moment.

He learns how the dragon egg comes to be in this position.

The ambassador of Vardens, an elf with two elves guards, got ambushed by urgals. Before being captured, they send the egg to the closest safe place they knew and it happened to be Brom's emplacement, who's known by the Varden as the one who got his amazing killstreak of forsworn. The name calling for those traitors to the dragon riders species for working for the mad king.

"But the egg ended up at the foot of the Spine and got taken by a farm boy who thought he could sell it," Brom concludes. 

He looks at Murtagh's way but the young man could easily make out that he's actually watching Eragon. Murtagh doesn't react but he sharpens his hearing to listen what his brother's saying. Not much interesting than propositions of how to business thanks to his experience with the Traders.

"The same boy who wants to give the egg back to the Varden as he doesn't want to be involved."

Brom and Jeod start at his sudden comment, absolutely not expecting him to say anything. They both look at each other and Jeod sighs sullenly when Brom asked him where to find the others resistants.

"It says they're in the south. Not Surda because the area's neutral, but since they're trying to find a new dragon rider among the vardens and the elves so to fight against the Brodding Empire, they managed to settle under the Beor Mountains succeeding an alliance with the dwarves."

Brom now gets the sorry look of his friend. Going to the mountains from Teirm would be an exhausting job, especially with two farm boys.

They spend the night at Jeod for planning the voyage to the Varden's camp.

The journey is expected long but safe. They also make sure to leave their trace everywhere so to confuse their possible pursuers.

They stop sometime at Kuasta, Brom's birth place who show up a more talkative side of him, other than his story, and they also celebrate Eragon's sixteenth birthday there. They also stop at Feinster, where Albriech worked, at Aroughs and Reavstone and actually all the town at the coast and even inside Surda to reach the Beor Mountains.

Passing through the mounts becomes easier with the mint bean that help them breathe air they got in the last town sold by some wizards but approved by Brom, who also knew a fair share about magic.

They come across a locality named Orthiad but choose not to stop by. On one hand, they're starting to feel in hurry and also not wanting to let their presence be known in case of ambush. They march along the Beartooth river and finally reach the destination.

Farthen Dûr, the Vardens HQ.

5.

Even having Brom, supposedly a known celebrity among the Varden, it wasn't easy to get into the rebel's base.

The two guards keeping entrance happened to be magic users and they want to enter in their mind to make sure they're not enemies. Thankfully, Brom prevented that kind of situation and taught the boys how to protect against mental intrusion. This gains them some time and an authority figure eventually comes to welcome them.

Ajihad, Brom called, helps to stop the two bald wizards's mental violation and Eragon uses this movement to brandish the egg and impose their presence.

Then again, having a blue stone shining brightly in the dark of a cave would stop all motion.

Ajihad demands they'd be treated as guests of honor and the black man leads them to the Vardens' quarter, noticeably separated of Tronjheim, dwarves' kingdom. So the two brothers don't get to meet any. Yet.

They're given personal quarter, with Brom having a room next door, But before they got to relax, the youngsters ask to know each of the name of the authority figures so to know who to adress when trouble will break through. Eventually, they had to admit they're indeed tired of the journey and end up sleeping for the rest of the day. Tomorow, they will talk about the plan of what to do next.

 

So, they unanimously decide to recue the elven ambassador of the Vardens, detained by the Shade who controlles the urgals. The volunteers and designated in the team are Brom, the boys who keep hold of the egg as they'd like to give back to the ambassador themselves and then finally going back home, and Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter.

She has high temper and knows what she want and insistes to be in the rescue team.

One thing the council of Varden and Ajihad got to complain is that the team is full of youngster and third to four people are no-magic user. So they asked someone from the Du Vrangr Gata to accompany them. A coalition of minor magicians most seemingly ignorants due to incorrect use of the ancient language, much to Brom's displeasure at hearing the name that should be Du Gata Vrangr. The boys get other reasons of dissatisfaction as they heard it's lead by the two bald spellweavers who tried mental power on them the first time. At first, the lot requiered it to be a sorceress as they'll going to the base of a Shade, a dark sorcerer, but Trianna declined saying that she won't be much help if it needs of healing as the trip looks dangerous. So a spell wielder named Carn volunteers, pretending to know about healing spell and how to survive in the wild as they have to go to the north by passing through the Hadarac desert.

But after four months travelling on the seaside, Eragon doubts that they could just use the path of the desert without dehydrate and passing on the way.
They then decide to use the way that skirting around. Nature and some elven town they would be on the way. As they still have to deal with the vegetations and nature could be quite rough, a healer is much needed.

At least, they all know how to protect against mental intrusion.

 

The way to the north takes longer than to reach Beor mountains but thankfully Carn's a delight comparing to taciturn Brom and fiery Nasuada.

The man's in early middle age while the girl's same age as Murtagh. The first tries to be talkative and optimism while the latter just keep pressing and asking questions to Brom. The elder would usually brush her off and keeps on their path until one day he tells them to quicken their pace.

As they approach the Marna hill, the Isenstar river is presented largely to them. Then, looking into the distance, they could see a tower even at their place.

The end of the walk is near but as is their torturous ward of questions and worry. Nasuada particulary would be so demanding Eragon wants to seal her mouth with the egg.

"Do you sense Arya's presence, Brom?"

"Young girl, you won't be asking such question if you also have sensing ability too. Some question can't be answer with evasiveness."

Once again fend off, the girl exchanges a look with the others, who eventually got use of the noncommittal answer.

As they keep advancing, they come to the conclusion to work separately. Brom would enter first and take care of the guards, humans or urgals, while Murtagh would stay on the look-out and anticipate any escape or reinforcement. Hopefully, it won't be those dark and threatening creatures nor the Shade. Eragon would be accompanied by the two Vardens and look for the elf while carrying the egg. Nasuada would be the one recognizing the elf and Carn would be healing her.

Except, when they do find the person, they would have prefered that Brom's with them. Because having to discover a being as frail and elegant dead is quite traumatizing.

Arya, the young elf by their word, is on the floor, her pale skin contrasting shockingly against the dark cell she's imprisoned in. Carn still bend over the corpse and determines the cause of death but as he couldn't find any visible wound, he comes to the conclusion that the elf was tortured. Mentally. Or worse, got poisoned.

The mission is a failure but they still have to retrieve the body, so to let her family have a decent burial.

They rejoin Brom on the first ground, leaving hastily the basement and its dead scent, to meet a stricken man. Brom gives a pray to the poor soul before pressing their departure.

Eragon's even more in hurry, now that he knows his brother is alone outside. He also feels really uncomfortable as they have to carry the death so close.

But fortunately, his brother's running into them too and directing them another way of exit because the one they used to enter would be filled by people that do not welcome them.

Eragon runs at the same pace as his brother, distancing themselves from the others who are following with more trouble, having to carry another weight and still trying to defend agaisnt the enemy. He tells his brother that the elf's dead and how he starts to feel bad while the egg's heating up. Noticing that, Murtagh takes the egg from him and, quickly enough, the heat decreases once the holder changed.

They finally step out from the exit Murtagh lead them, but Brom's voice speaks up suddenly with suspicion.

"Are you sure the Shade isn't waiting for us?"

"Durza won't be there that soon."

That reassures Eragon, but Nasuada senses something fishy. Murtagh continues without giving them the time to talk.

"Because the Ra'zak are slowing him down."

That stoppes the three of the resistance. Brom and Nasuada exchange a dread look while Carn seems to forgot how to breath.

"Who are the Ra'zak?" Eragon asks without doubting anything.

But Brom's faster and bites back. "Since when did you start to associate with them?"

"Not important. What is, it's them promising us that everything will end once we give them back the egg. And that's what we want, right Eragon?"

"Have you lost your mind?' Nasuada screams out. "We're doing all this to defeat the Brodding Empire, because the actual situation isn't good for anyone!"

"I wasn't talking to you."

Eragon has chills from hiw brother cold tone and even more when noticing that Murtagh looking right into his eyes. For a moment, he forgets how to talk or the others watching them. It's just his brother and him, them against the others.

It's always been.

"I just want us to be together."

Murtagh pulls out the hand not holding the egg so he could take it.

Right at this moment, a huge shadow hovers them. Brom abruptly snatches Eragon's collar to pull him behind, taking him away from the traitor. A few feet from Murtagh, the two Ra'zak set behind with their transportation. They seem to be waiting for him.

"Let's go Murtagh, the King's waiting for you."

Eragon shivers at the voice, as dreary than the first time he heard it and finds it weird they know his brother's name. He doesn't end eye contact with his brother, even begging him to choose wisely. However, Murtagh takes a step back and goes to the Ra'zak.

"Murtagh, no!"

His cry vanishes in the air as Murtagh rides the monstruous black thing, as dark as those two creatures. It's known as Lethrblaka and are full-grown Ra'zak.

Eragon tries to hurl to them, but Brom's grip is strong and he just manages to fidget pathetically under it. He wants to bring some reason to his eldest but the old man thought about how he can't fight two opponents, maybe three or four counting the traitor and the lethrblaka, and protect three non-magic users as Carn seem to be losing his mind.

The bat-like wing flap, stiring up windy dust that blind them momentarily.

Only once in the air that Nasuada gives them some hope, as she never once leaves sight of the egg.

For Murtagh who has it in his hands, the dragon egg suddenly heat up at increasing temperature, unbearable for mere human. For outside eyes, it's glowing menacingly with veins streaking its shell.

Unsurprisingly, Murtagh let it go and the egg split the air in his fall before returning back on Eragon's hands, who's eager to keep some of his brother's momento, other than his disappoint look.

As it seems, having Murtagh is much more important for the King as the Ra'zak don't turn back even knowing the egg isn't with them anymore. They keep their flight to the south, to the capital Uru'baen, where the King is said to be impatient to see the first son of his right-hand, the forsworn Morzan.

6.

Brom eventually takes everything in hand.

He tells the group to move to Marna, distancing themselves from the shade Durza who must have heard about Eragon being the new holder of the egg and put a bounty on him. So Eragon couldn't go back to civilization as he would put him and those close to him in danger.

Eragon doesn't intend to go back to Carvahall without Murtagh. He just hope that the people there won't be mistreated by the royal army posted there.

Against his better judgement, he heads back to the Varden's secret base.

On their back, they stop near an elvish town to leave the dead body to its species so they could give an actuel funeral. The elves receive their kind with pain and thank them for retrieving it.

From this interaction, Nasuada gets the Varden won't be having their assistance as they would be mourning one of them.

Back at Farthen Dûr, Ajihad's sorry to hear not one but two loss as Eragon made the other three keep quiet about Murtagh's supposed treason or he would break the egg.

Brom's not actually fooled, he must knows how hard those dragon eggs are and it won't be that easy to break one but he rather not test the boy's patience. Nasuada does too as she really need the egg to be intact so to strike agains the Brodding Empire. Carn just follows his fellow Varden.

Even though they're not the elves, the whole of Varden spend a minute of silence for the deseace. Eragon doesn't got the chance to know her, but he gets that she was important to them and respect the moment.

Thanks to that, he meets the dwarves, and one in particular introduces himself as Orrik and help him go through in his bad time and doubting moments.

The brooding start slowly but poisonously, creeping progressively in him as he's projecting loath and anger on the egg that's the reason of his woe. If it didn't fall in the Spine and he didn't pick it up he would still be with his brother, they would have a peaceful and uneventful life but with each other. They always only have each other, them against the world as Garrow and Marian were there solely for their son.

But Orrik would talk to him and even listen to some of his feelings. Talking is kind of liberating and to help him cope, the dwarf suggests him to learn some magic so he could be useful.

Because his lithe body certainly couldn't do much.

 

After a month living with the Varden, Eragon manages to subdue his anger against the egg and starts to confide his feelings to it when Orrik has his own thing to do.

He also befriend Nasuada, who may be fiery is also a determinate woman with clear objectives. Eragon's not always in agreement with her, but he does admit that as the next generation, he and her have to make everything possible so not have any other victim like the elve Arya. Brom told them that the cause of the death is not only poison but also a suicide. And this statement is dreading and wrong, how one could be so so cruel to push someone to take their own life.

Eragon then starts to have some ambition to change to world.

Fighting the Empire is must as the urgals are just beasts who murder innocents humans, the Shade would torture who he likes to and that some reclused town have to suffer like those in Palancar Valley or even Kuasta. But what he can do by being barely able to use magic.

When he's thinking like that, the egg glows suddenly.

Eragon startles when hearing a crack. He was seat beside of campfire and the fire would crackle from time to time but this one's pretty soundly. He looks away of the red gem, Tronjheim's Isidar Mithrim, to glance et the fire, in case some wood has split and jump out of the camp and causes fire. Instead, the egg he was confiding shakes.

He watches bemusedly a crack forming on the shell and growing as the egg keeps shaking madly. It splits open and two antennas appear, then the rest of the body follow and Eragon's in front of a baby dragon.

He's passing out when he feels being burnt at his leg. The dragon brushes his shin when he didn't react like he should and now there's a weird silver mark on him.

As he learned a lot about dragon in the past month, though without trying reading, he recognize easily the bond that link a dragon and its rider, the Gedwey Ignasia. Eragon would have never thought he would see it on him nor without Murtagh by his side. Thinking about his brother pains him and the baby creature feels it so it mades an incredibly cute sound that Eragon loses composure and starts spoiling it.

A few days later, after sneaking out some food from the kitchen and putting the little wingy thing in the fire so to speed up its capability to breath fire, Eragon finally goes to see Brom. The man not only knew about magic and the tale of the Brodding Empire, Nasuada also told him that he was a rider, but now dragonless. So he would know all the answer about all the questions he got since being rider.

Keeping the fact that the dragon hatched for him, Eragon get all the dragon name it existed to suggest to his because rider and dragon would have telepathic bond. As the baby dragon's still young, it would have to wait before this ability developes.

Another few days pass, with the dragon reaching and actually surpassing his height, a nasal voice speaks up in his mind. Excited to finally communicate with his life-long partner, he immediately proposed all the name brom Told him. But all encounters a condescending sniff. After awhile, Eragon gets there's some misunderstandings and starts proposing name for female dragon. It's still met with contempt though.

'If you're that complicate, I'm just gonna call you by the one I want!'

'As you like, but don't expect me to answer if you seek my assistance.'

Offended that she would ignore him whe he call for help, Eragon steams a little before naming all the women he know. Even the elve that carry her for more than a decade.

'While I do own her my live to this brave elve, the name Arya would never suits me.'

'Angela, then?'

'Do I look like eccentric witch?'

'You just look eccentric to me.'

'Rude. You're lucky I'm not breathing fire yet.'

The nerve. And she's the one who chose him! But this majextuous temps reminds him of something royal, precious. And Brom did say a name with such reverance.

'Saphira?'

'I like it. OK, I keep it.'

'If every new born was as picky as you about their name, we're really glad to be imposing them at their birth.'

'And dragon are seen as monsters. You humans are some insensitives creature too, don't you think, little one?'

Eragon can't retort anything. Not much for the nickname either.

But that thought torments him for a long time and even more when the urgals attack the Varden, lead by the Shade Durza.

 

Commencé le 28 juin 2022 à 02/07/2022

c7 le 13/07. c8 le 18/07. c9 le 22/07. c10 le 24/07. c11 le 27/07. c12 le 31/07. c13 le 4/08. c14 le 7/08. fin

7.

Eragon scans the enemy front line, looking for a familiar face.

He doesn't know how to feel when he didn't find it.

But Saphira nudges at him to focus so he rides her back and fight along the vardens.

Now that he truly bonded with the dragon, he could eadily use magic and defeats a lot of those monsters from distance while Saphira breathes out fire to blaze down the enemy and also showing up her majectic profile. 

The duo don't get to approach the Shade as Brom, the known killer of forsworn, and Ajihad, the one who got to injure the Shade once, are fighting alongside to defeat it.

They win.

The Vardens, but Brom especially, demands to end the battle as he saw that the urgals lose some on their belligerence once the Shade is no more. 

A council of war is hold at the end of hostilities and after locking up the survivor from the enemy rank. At first, only the leader of the Varden Ajiahad and the dwarf king Hrothgar and Brom, the founder of the Varden, were in it but the debate took too long and the council of Varden asks to be part of it. And since the human get to have extra, king Hrothgar asks to have his own extra, thus the council extends with the presence of Orrik, the king's nephew and right-hand, and Eragon, the dragon rider who played a huge part in the victory.

"At the general consensus, we vote to kill off the remaining urgals and exhibit their corpse to scare off those of their species so to prove oou victory over the Brodding Empire."

"General? More like your human visions. And you did pretty much nothing but order around, so the victory is more ours than yours." Orrik said snidely.

Eragon notices that the dwarf king does nothing but smiles at his nephew's cynical remark and himself nodds at that. True, there were more dwarf warriors than human who prevail in the battle as the Du Vrangr Gata did nothing notable. Don't even get him start with the council of Varden.

The lot of them glares at him for siding with the dwarves.

Eventually, for having listen to everyone's opinion, Ajihad gives out his own view.

"We may have win this battle, but let's not get it on ourselves. We must stay focus and interrogate the urgals and see what we can get out from them. Only then, we start to decide our plan."

Brom and Hrothgar agree with that and the examination start.

The result is absolutly not what they expected. If they trust the urgals, the species was manipulated by the Shade who promised them a land just for their species if they work for the Empire. None of them have ever seen the king but Durza said they have his words.

Quickly, Brom and the other two leaders come to the conclusion they've been promised of fake words and were simply used by the Shade for some shady work with nothing in return.

Eragon wouldn't let them get out this easily though. He saw their wrongdoings and it was horrible. So hegoes to interrogate one himself. It was an enforced urgal of eight feet tall, a kull they're called, the leader of Borvek tribe named Garzhvog.

"We do not attack human for nothing. If there were a tribe that slaughter a village in the north, someone must have attract them there and provoke their wrath because we do not fight without being defied first."

'Nor to the defenceless,' Saphira confirmed after probing its soul.

Thanks to their bond, Eragon also gets the gist of the kull's thoughts and knew they tell the truth. The menace deceiving the urgals must be the ra'zak, those monster that took Murtagh from him.

"So now we had to get rid of the ra'zak."

And the king that have his brother in hostage.

The objectif's still the same, but now the Vardens have the urgals and kulls as practice partner and even have them in their rank against the king.

8.

The urgals are usually kept under control by magic.

Although the lot of Du Vrangr Gata aren't that talented to use mind control, the twins do know some spells and manage to put some charms on the urgal who are clashing against the Vardens to strengthen their potency.

They're mostly used to test the humans and dwarves' stamina and strengh as the urgals and kulls are known for their durability powerful hit and enhenced physical stats.

Not everyone agreed to that. Of course not. No one liked the idea to live with the enemy, beast-like beings they fought not long ago. But Eragon and that Trianna woman did great by having the beast under control and the contemptuous bold twin were having too much fun by enslaving the species, and it was enough to reassure the Vardens. Besides, there is Carn as the medic who heals the injured when magic wasn't enough to restrain those six or more feet tall warriors.

Especially when the spell was supposed to be cast by one of the twin. Quickly enough, everyone in the rebellious camp got the gist about their personality who only thought about themsemves and like to put those under them in trouble.

Nasuada, who dreams about justice like she drinks water to live, couldn't let those abuses happen even to former enemies. However, she's only a girl and not even being the Vardens' leader's daughter could change anything. 

Eragon doesn't do thing about the issue as he's determinated to learn a lot about magic and was isolated with Saphira to be powerful enough to defy the king. The only other respectable magic user, Brom, chose to step in as he never estimated a lot about the Du Grangr Gata.

One sparring almost turns into execution as one of the twin was casting vicous spells on the urgal who's much defenseless and Brom unties some of the mental control so the urgal could defend himself. But to everyone's surprise, the beast uses magic and beat the shit out of the magician.

"That should teach you that you always reap what you sow. After all the mistreatment you did to them, you have to expect they would fight back, as does everyone whenever your survival instinct takes over."

Anyway, this twin seemed to be taken care as his neck's broken, but still, Brom goes to check on him.

And all shit hit the fan from there.

The deseaced twin used his remaining force to cast a last spell. It's a red lightning that shot all its way to the air and nearly hit the red gem, pride of the dwarves. If it went out of the mountain, the vardens' hidding under, their emplacement could have been discovered.

"A traitor! He tried to report our position, he's the king's spy!"

"Seize the other twin!"

In a blink of eye, the vardens got hands of the other bold twin and ignoring Brom's cries, they put the remaining magicien on crucifix and burned him alive, to serve exemple to others who would consider betraying the vardens. In the middle of indignant screams of the rebellious soldiers, they all forgot their enmity with the urgals, who were actually a lot like the dwarves, isolated and misunderstood.

(Also having seven toes on each foot.)

The council of Varden gets scared of the sudden uprising and tries to control it by threatening to do the same to the other spell weavers, but Ajihad then passes the law to restrict the use of magic to only heal and concocting healing potion. The magic users, including the urgals and kulls to everyone's surprise, also have to teach how to defend against mental intrusion. Just like that, Du Grangr Vata was no more and the species of urgal get totally accepted within the Varden.

The only ones who could magic to their heart's content were Eragon that no one could control and Brom that no one could order around.

"Restricting magic, that won't be helping us fight against Galbatorix," King Hrothgar says one day during a meeting.

Ajihad sighs but agrees. He look for Brom's approvement before saying what they're all thinking.

"So we had to admit that Galbatorix's law did make sense now."

As the tyrant did pass the law to restrict magic like the Vardens' doing.

"Maybe we didn't have to fight him. We do have a dragon rider with us now, maybe we could just pass an agreement."

The council of Varden tries to say something but one look from Orrik stop them all. Eragon watches how Brom seems to consider it.

"It's true that neither the Shade nor the forsworn are still roaming the empire. There's not much of terror, just some disparity that we could demand to be changed or just do it by ourselves. And if we could avoid all fight, it would be best. Too much lives been spilled."

So it's decided, the Varden will cease the war against the Brodding Empire with an agreement.

As the desicion reaches the rest of the Vardens, Eragon finds a disgruntled Nasuada.

"I do want peace and the change of the world, but I'm not convinced that the king would be so great to listen to our agreement! There are so much to do, slavery's still a thing in the whole empire, there are those problematic supporters of the ra'zak and that king's minion are cruel people who drive an elve to suicide!"

"Well, to be fair, the one who did the latter was the shade and he was defeated. I guess we could let the urgals get rid of those who agree on slavery and they could even have the land of those insane supporters. As for the ra'zak, I'm in charge of their sentence."

"That's really brave of you, really, but what if the king refuses our agreement? We would be serving our head on a silver plate!"

Eragon doesn't really mean it, but having Saphira as lifemate, he starts to get his own snark.

"I don't see any silver plate here, at the very least, woody plate. The Vardens didn't look much wealthy to me."

"You'd be surprised to know that some of them do have valuable silverware and jewelry."

That definitively surprises Eragon. "Anyway, I do get your doubts and your caution, but you can't do anything by yourself if you still want to fight the Brodding Empire, the royal army isn't a joke."

"I have a maternal uncle who's chief of his nomadic clan. They're not part of the Vardens because they wouldn't accept my father but their power is nothing meaningless. I know they will help me if I ask."

Well, Nasuada just keeps surprising him. So, she's not just a fierce and impulsive girl.

"How large is their army?"

"As much as there are Vardens, last I check. Though I didn't see them for awhile."

'So, it could be any less,' Saphira comments.

And Eragon transmits the supposedly wise thought to Nasuada. She just brushes it off with a confident look.

"I can also ask his majesty Orrin's assistance, the king of Surda. He recently took over the crown but his ancestors fight really hard to keep his territory as a neutral area. But with the Vardens last victory and with the urgals siding us, he would totally want to help us in this war."

Or would he want to end this peacefully by siding with her father and Brom and asks for an agreement too. Although, neither Eragon nor Saphira choose to tell her that.

For lack of other choice, Eragon and his dragon go with her. He does appreciate her and is kind of worry for her, besides, Saphira also needs to get out. She's always been under a huge mountain, but now she's three months old, nearly four, she has to spread her huge wings and fly higher and higher to suit her statue.

So, one uneventful day, the two youngsters leave Farther Dûr on the back of the only living dragon to fly to the west.

No one suspects anything, no one knows anything as they're all preparing the agreement a herald has to send to Alagaësia so to bring peace to the world.

9.

Having two charges instead of one for a long distance trip is a grueling first time for Saphira.

Its two companions get it and accept the numerous breaks without complaining too much.

And thankfully Nasuada got knowledges in living in the wild so to help them nourrish during the journey. They usually would take break near the civilization without approaching, fearing the people could be hostile or even greedy enough to want to seize Eragon due to his bounty.

Even through the Shade Durza, the one who put the bounty on his head, is no more.

After some days of flying and several breaks that lessen noticeably, they finally reach the Surda.

However, before they could even step into the territory, they got a telegram from the king himself. And the news aren't goods.

King Orrin couldn't receive them on his soil as he's allied to the Empire and he wouldn't want to give idea if he treats the dragon rider of the Varden. If the two of them insist to see him, the king will take it as affront and would capture the wanted rider and send him to the empire.

Eragon has no idea how the Surda knew he became a dragon rider as he was hidding under Farther Dûr for the last few months and the only enemies who knew were the urgals (formerly) living with the Vardens or the traitors twins that were executed (also formerly as they're dead).

Nasuada gets her idea and shares it insentively even knowing it would hurt him.

It was Murtagh.

He guessed it when not having any news of the Shade as both of them are working for the Brodding Empire and he's also the one who rallied king Orrin to Galbatorix. The right-hand's son surely got his zeal from his father.

Nonetheless, Nasuada has to shut her mouth when Eragon sends her a glare, as he's also Morzan's son.

"Alright, so we have to rule out rallying the Surda to the Varden, but we still have to get to uncle Fadawar, chief of the dark-shinned tribe. With all the infos I last collected, I know they're at the moment near Aroughs."

"So the other side of the Surda territory that we had to follow along without entering."

Except, this doesn't please Saphira, at all.

She's a great dragon, why would she keep low profile? She's a predator, she breathes fire, she could literally end all of the Surda army. While agreeing with everything she states, Eragon with the help of Nasuada manage to calm her down by saying it's not worth their time. And that she couldn't kill off innocent people just because they're doing their job and that, if the king Orrin does put his threat in action, Saphira wouldn't be able to fight the surdan army and defend her two companions, one that still doesn't know to use magic.

Thus, flying to Aroughs while making sure to not pass the border of Surda begins. And as it goes, it's as draining than going from Farthen Dûr to Surda.

And it's not even rewarding when they finally get to the nomadic tribe.

They have to go farther than Aroughs city, off the coast, to only see a devasted camp. Smoke and burnt sense are reeking from the place, countless of half corpses and stacks of disgusting matter are on their way to the sole tent still in place. There are no sound except for the crackling of an invisible fire. No sign of life either.

Until Saphira tells them that she can hear cries and complains from underground.

They find the entry to the hidden base just to see the remaining of the dark-skinned tribe bandaging their injuries and crying the loss. Nasuada's uncle, Inapashunna Fadawar, was alright and doesn't show his surprise to see them there.

"Surda's king ordered our fall. He rallied the Brodding Empire and get rid of all the resistances on his soil. We managed to escape and settle our camp here but then the ra'zak found us and started to annihilate us for no reason. We're the only survivors."

Nasuada's furious and Eragon's no better.

He's only relieved that, once again, Murtagh wasn't part of the slaughter, though the end result may have happen because he's the one who rallied the Surda to the Empire.

'That means he could have been forced to by those monster and the king who has him under his control.'

Saphira doesn't say anything and Eragon actually doesn't have to explain himself other than because they could read each other's mind.

Anyway, it adds another stake for Eragon to defeat the king so he can free Murtagh.

He tells so to Nasuada who's busy helping the injured and leaves her behind when she wanted to follow him. She's needed by her kins and her coming would only slow them down as Saphira isn't fully grown.

So the dragon and its rider fly to Uru'baen.

10.

The capitale city was their objectif.

But there's a lot of hindrance, the first one being Surda, the Brodding Empire's ally. And the king did warn Eragon to not overstep otherwise becoming their enemy.

But the capitale city's located in a place that cutting above the Surda is a must and as time's flying, Eragon forgets about the injunction.

So he's only half startled to be attacked by the surdans when they fly close to Dauth city. Saphira's not and fights back by flying really low and spits fire on the soldiers. Eragon doesn't stop her and even cast them some spells too without fearing anything as he's in the distance.

How could they know that the surdan were really prepared to be attack by a dragon?

An experienced knight aimed at Saphira's chest with a greenish spear as she flies close to him and Eragon warns her about it. The dragon dismisses it saying that human's weapon barely scratches her.

If it's really a human weapon.

The spear touches its target and Eragon feels at the same time the pain shooting through Saphira before their connection's broken. He feels them staggering in the air and closing to the threatening soldiers, so he takes the rein and makes them fly higher and flee Surda's land. But they cover only few yards before Saphira's wings lose streng due to the pain and they just keep falling and tumbling.

They land messily on an empty plain.

Eragon hurries to check on his partner. The wound doesn't seem to be that deep but Saphira's suffering is telling the opposite and who is he to judge people's injury when he doesn't even have medical knowledge. He's a passable healer but knows that all wounds caused by a projectile need the culprit object out of the body.

The emeraud spear looks a lot heavier for his human boy body, having exhausted his strengh in this stupid battle, so he uses magic to remove the weapon. Saphira growls painfully and pushes him out to protect herself from futher hurt.

It pains him to see her like that, but he needs to take the spear off to treat her.

He asks her mentally to bear with it, forcing into her mind that she closed just earlier. Saphira gets to herself, only just for a moment, and bites back the roar while he's extracting the spear.

But even with all the healing spells he knew, the wound wouldn't cicatrize and Saphira's suffering even more. Eragon uses his bare hands to stop the blood from flowing out of his dear partner and blames himself for not doing anything else. He apologizes pathetically for not knowing what else to do while the dragon's crying pitifully. 

It's not like he could hid the wound under some soil as he only knew that useless talent.

If only he didn't think of himself that highly and told someone where he went so he could have some help. Now, he has to suffer the consequences and Saphira will die from loss of blood.

He's lost in his litany of apologizes when a gust a wind stirs up the sand around him. At first, he supposes it was just the wind but a flappy sound that looks a lot like dragon wind alert him. He waits for the sand to settle down and looks with horror a dragon landing close to them.

As he moans at this precarious situation, Saphira's injured and at the edge of death and him not having any weapon to defend himself other than the guilty spear that he won't touch under any circumstance, a rider get down of the red dragon's back.

But much to his dismay, Murtagh's the one running to him.

He thinks he has a fever dream shared with Saphira due to the despair and the need of help and his brain just summoning the one person he really wants to see.

But he comes back to reality when Murtagh shakes his shoulder to wake him of his dizzy state, he also pushs off his hand to look at the wound.

As Murtagh pulls off a wince, he turns to the red dragon.

"Thorn, please."

The dragon approaches its kind, definitively waking Eragon.

"M-Murtagh... what are you doing here?"

"Later, Eragon, we need to save your dragon's life."

"Yes, of course... What can I do?"

"We'll need your power. Thorn's going  to heal her but he'll need all the power to counter the effect of a Dauthdaert."

Doing what his brother tells him, Eragon keeps the question to himself and focuses on lending his energy.

After some long minutes, the wound finally closes up.

Eragon then let the two dragons know each other to finally reunite to his beloved brother. He waits for Murtagh to wash off all the blood on his hands before approaching him. And instead of saying anything, he just hugs him tightly, barely believing that he's really here.

And to think he had to almost lost someone as important to him to find him back.

"Oh, Eragon..."

Is all he heard before being embraced too.

He doesn't know how long they stay like that and he doesn't care.

Murtagh's with him and Saphira's safe, that's all that matter.

11.

Murtagh looks distractly at the campfire they set not far from Melian city thanks to the two dragons who breath fire. Eragon went with his dragon to hunt something to eat for the four of them as he was happy to spend time with now that he's sure that his partner is alright.

Thorn brushes his back to warn him their return and he welcomes back Eragon who let all their catch to his dragon to sit beside him, as if making sure that's he's really here.

That tugs his heart.

It wasn't Murtagh's intent to raise some doubt into his brother's, but what the ra'zak told him, and mainly the letter they gave him, was worth checking by himself. He didn't regret anything he did, but being far from Eragon sure was a trial. Same went for the younger. Though it doesn't stop him to ask questions now that everything calms down.

Eragon chances a look to the two dragons devoring their preys and swallows thickly before turning back to him. Murtagh readies himself at the upcoming flood of questions.

"Where were you coming from?"

Although surprised as he's not expecting it to be the first question, Murtagh answers flatly. "Carvahall."

Eragon expects even less this response and widens his eyes. Murtagh can't help but sniggers before developing.

"Roran's back from Therinsford since last month. He's trying all he has to court Sloan who wouldn't let him have his daughter's hand. It's kinda painful to look at."

Both of them laugh, because they always suspect it would go that way. Sloan won't be fooled by a little experienced miller.

"Uncle Garrow's his first supporter but even him can't keep a straight face whenever Roran's back after another failure. They told me to send you their regards. Not that they know about your bounty, it was not supposed to happen and I made sure that no one from Palancar valley got their hand on it."

He's aware that his last comment just breaks the moment but well, they have to talk about the main subject anyway. As Eragon keeps quiet, Murtagh continues to summarize everything that happened at their village.

"Elain and Horst finally got their expected daughter. She's named Hope. Horst was so happy to see the new-born he took a break from his forge and asked me to replace him."

That set another silence as both of them realize how much time has passed. Murtagh heard about the pregnancy during those nine days he worked for the black-smith and the baby's already a week old. Ten or more months went away since the start of everything.

"Murtagh..."

He waits for Eragon to go on but the younger's waiting for him to look at him, so he does.

"Murtagh, is it true that you're the one who rallied the Surda to the brodding empire?"

Murtagh frowns at the name. Guess Surda is indeed part of the Alagaësia now.

"Yes, about the same time you became a dragon rider, I guess."

He remembers Thorn being all sensitive four months ago when they were on the land of king Orrin.

"What about you?"

Murtagh looks at Thorn's sleeping form, next to Saphira, who looks way smaller now they're both movingless. He shakes lightly his head.

"Thorn's not my dragon. He just let me ride him from time to time. Coming here to save your dragon was his idea."

"Saphira. That her name. And we're really grateful."

"It's alright."

They had to support their own kind.

"Why do the Surda had that kind of weapon? A dauthdaert? Literally the spear of death, even to dragons?"

Murtagh cast a look to the said weapon he covered of tissue and layers of spells.

"Especially to dragons. It was created by the eleves during the first war betwen dragons and elves. Forged by the best and enchanted by a bunch of great magicians, they were the cause of death of a lot of dragons. They were supposed to get rid of it by the end of the war but I heard the lords of Bellatona kept one hidden for several generation."

"Bellatona? The city's under the empire, right? There still are dragons, so why would they... what do the king say about it?"

"When king Orrin told us that some soldiers of Bellatona came to his land with the deadly weapon due to some motion in the Beor Mountain, Thorn and me made our way here as quick as we could."

Eragon pulls a face, wanting to say that he isn't answering his question. But Murtagh couldn't really answer him right now, not sure if he's ready for that.

"Do you feel better now that you work for the empire?"

Murtagh's face falls, debating on how to answer that.

"Eragon... I wouldn't say it's better but neither any worse. At least, now, I know the truth."

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure you're ready to face it."

"What do you know?"

"Well, your dragon Saphira certainly isn't."

"You don't know!" Eragon snaps. "But you could be sure that she doesn't understand how you sided with the ra'zak when she was just an egg. Dragons hate them! They're despicable and eat human flesh!"

Murtagh considers what to say to answer this accusation. After awhile, he nods, admitting.

"Thorn doesn't like them either, but they're an hassle to take care of. Only sunlight and water could be the end of them. I suppose if we get rid of them, everyone could know the truth since even the Shade is no more."

That seems to calm down a lot his brother.

"Great. The Varden said they want to pass an agreement with the king now they realize that the law about restricting magic does make sense. Plus, the vardens got the support of the urgals and did you know they could use magic too?"

"I do, that's the reason the Shade could use them. But you're right, it's great that the vardens want to make an agreement with the empire."

He sees Eragon smiles brightly and he copies him.

"So then everyone will know the truth, you said?"

"Yeah, and everything will end, then we could return to Carvahall together."

Eragon couldn't stop smiling after that. Nor does he stop when going to sleep.

12.

They left their hidding spot to the way to Uru'baen.

If their calculation's right, by the time they arrive at the capitale city, Eragon's bounty will have expired as the agreement between the Varden and the Empire would have passed.

For the time being though, they need to make some stop to feed the dragons who are the one making all the long distance. Of course, the brothers have to eat too, but they'll do it once at their next break at Dras-Leona.

When flying near Bellatona, Saphira growls menacingly, not forgetting it's the city that preserved the killing spear. The said weapon was at Murtagh's side, hooked on his back so it won't be bothering Thorn.

'Don't you think we should pay a visit to this lord, little one?'

'I don't think that's a good idea, maybe once the agreement is passed, but for now, let's keep it low.'

Disgruntledly, Saphira follows Thorn's lead and they land near Dras-Leona. There, Eragon's reminded how the dark-skinned tribe got slauthered by none other than the ra'zak and those monstruous creatures got their supporters here at Hellgrind.

'Like I said, humans are so insensitive they support monster that eat their own kind.'

Eragon is once again faced at the horror the world bear.

Nasuada already mentioned it, but actually seeing the supporters that enslaved innocent boys because their family were too poor to raise them is something else. With sheer horror, he watches mutilated men using uneducated boys to nourrish their idol the ra'zak.

Already having witness what the urgals could do under manipulation by the ra'zak, and now seeing this disguting species actually doing that kind of thing, Eragon has to, once again, do something. He doesn't know if Murtagh's going to help him like he did at Yazuak, but he now has more experiences and Saphira with him.

He charms pebbles on the way to wrap them of water and throw them at the ra'zak, making them shriek. It's not enough as they're really fast, but he cast the light spell to blind and injure them enough to charm another round of watery pebbles. Except, he's not fast enough and gets handled by the slimmier ra'zak. It's ready to bite him and finish him off when it's stopped in the middle of his action, empaled by some thin and long weapon.

Eragon supposes it's Saphira coming into his help, but she confirms him that she's busy finishing off her own wingy enemy, the full grown ra'zak called lethrblaka. So he's only a little surprised to find Murtagh holding the other end of the dauthdaert. The spear's shining of its emeraud glow and glistering of water. The ra'zak wound spread to his whole body, making the creature shake painfully.

It speaks up, looking viciously at his brother.

"Murtagh..." It comes out like a hiss and it is spewing black barf. "We did everything to fulfill your wish. We even let you go when we knew you possessed the stupid egg and made the urgals give you a warning, weren't you the one who said you want to know your father?"

"You're wrong, the only thing I wished was to have a happy family, and he's definitively not part of."

Murtagh presses down the spear and it slices the hideous thing in two, who dissolved instantly into dust. Then, he helps the youngest up who keeps his tongue about the exchange. He probably gets his answers once the battle's ended.

Eragon turns to look for Saphira as she's ending the grown ra'zak by pouring some strange liquid on it. It melts the remaining into nauseous smoke. Thorn gets rid of the bulkier ra'zak with a lot of violence, scaring the shit of the witnesses.

"Now those priests are no more, you lot are free," Eragon tells them.

No one answers him, still trembling with fear. He sighs tiredly, just wanting to quit this place, and helps one of the boy up. The kid wouldn't budge and points at something behind him. Eragon follows its direction. There's something in the dark and Murtagh goes to see it, but freezes mid-step.

Worried, Eragon got closer, forgetting about the boys. He gasps when he sees it.

"Is it-"

He can't go on as he stares at the black egg. A ra'zak egg.

"It didn't hatch yet, we should get rid of it when we can."

Murtagh gives him an appaled look.

"You want to kill it when it didn't do anything wrong?"

"It belongs to the same species than them, its instinct's gonna take over and it will eat us one day."

"We came from Morzan, but we didn't turn out to be forsworn."

Eragon bites himself to not say that it could have happened with Murtagh. But he then prossesses to think about this argument. Dragons were indeed a species that couldn't go along with others, elves especially, but the riders cast were founded by an elve and there are more elves riders than humans.

"So you think we should keep the egg and wait for its companion like Galbatorix did for the three eggs he stole?"

"Thorn made it."

Well, Eragon guess it's not untrue. Not everyone could be as lucky as Saphira for escaping the mad king.

"Fine, let's take it and search around in case there's another."

There are no more and they free the slaves and burn the place down. Only then, they fly to Uru'baen.

 

Ten days after leaving Farthen Dûr with Nasuada, Eragon finally reaches the capital city alongside Murtagh.

13.

While he's discovering the world on the back of his dragon, with this one almost dying, a lot of thing happen on the south.

First, a new Shade got created at Feisnter.

While Eragon and Murtagh were flying to Dras Leona, Nasuada put up her own army after healing the remaining soldier of the dark-skinned tribe and marched to the north after managing to persuade some magicians of Aroughs. Most of them were only attracted by the idea that the law of restricting magic would change and followed her. Seeing magic users in her rank, the magic wielder of Feister got scared and summoned spirit carelessly, thus creating Varaug. The latter put down the ridiculous rebellious and asked for the assistance of king Orrin about what to do to the prisonners.

Two, the agreement from the Varden got to the empire with the herald unharmed and a meeting is granted at Furnost.

The day is set when the brothers get to the capitale city, hense missing it. The vardens will send three representatives to talk at the name of the insurgents. Jormundur of the council of Varden, Orrik the second in hand of the dwarf king and Brom Shadeslayer the killer of forsworn and founder of the vardens. The empire's answer didn't indicate who will be the representatives save they would be two people.

As for Eragon, actually going to the capitale city after avoiding it for so long feels strange.

Everything's calm there and no one's surprised to see two dragons returning to a city full of human. There's also no bounty of him and Eragon wonders if the agreement already passed. He also wonders how the people of Carvahall would react to him being a rider as no one seems surprised to see a young man. And Murtagh did say he's not a dragon rider.

There's suddenly a commotion of sort where a gust of wind stirs up and everyone start yelling, not out of fear but of annoyance. When Eragon looks at them, sellers are protecting their stalls and mothers are keeping their children on the ground instead of covering them from harm. Eragon raises his head when Saphira tells him to and he gets all the trouble when catching the huge shadow that looks a lot like the bottom of an enormous dragon.

Probably Shruikan, Galbatorix's stolen dragon.

Thorn growls once the wind settles and the little group returns on their track to the castle.

The guards keeping entrance let them in easily. And don't even react at Saphira's presence, much to the female dragon's displeasure. Vain as she is.

'Keep your tone when thinking about me. Don't you find it suspicious?'

'Well, they got to see Shruikan on the daily and Thorn, so not really.'

He then catches up Murtagh's pace and follows him through the endless corridor.

They walk for so long, Eragon's amazed when they step into some open space that creatures like dragons could move carelessly. Thorn and Saphira don't wait for permission and flap their wings happily and even fly around for a check in Saphira's case. As she's sending him what she saw, Eragon gets that one way of the numerous entrances lead them to the throne room, so, he's waiting Murtagh to lead the way but then notice that his brother's watching somewhere else.

As he follows the direction, he finds unexpectandly what looks like a stable where a man of mature age comes out. The latter smiles widely when seeing them.

"Murtagh ! You're back!"

Weird out by the wording but even more by Murtagh's own warm smile, Eragon watches the two men reunite and start talking about the dauthdaert in Murtagh's hand. He has the feeling to be the odd one and inserting himself into some intimate conversation.

But how could it be? He's the one who knows Murtagh the best.

"Where are my manners? I'm Tornac, the castle's weapon master but currently grooming the horses."

The name reminds Eragon of something and when Thorn blows a little louder above them, he gets the hint. It's kinda incredible that such an impressing being like the red dragon accepted to be named after some weapon master. So, Saphira's really the one who's picky.

"And you must be the young Eragon that Murtagh talks so much about."

He realizes that he kept quiet for too long to be polite and makes it up by shaking the man's hand. Strong and experienced for someone only grooming horses.

Like Tornac said, he was the weapon master of the castle and most probably also some sort of knight at some point of his career as he looks to have some high statue.

Tornac then asks them to follow him inside, as he will take the lead from here. Eragon follows because Murtagh does and watches with awe how the man places himself before the dragons and their riders without fear.

"So that's why the dragons were out. They want to welcome you guys."

More likely a show to intimidate them. At the same moment, air flow through the hallway, so loud that Eragon thinks it's a dragon rattle.

"And here they are."

Tornac has a strange way to talk about dragon, giving a plurals pronoun just to give them highness. Now, Shruikan's surely impressive and imposing but no need to give it that much credit.

"Are you taking us to the throne room?" Murtagh asks eventually.

"Oh no," Tornac answers him lightly, to Eragon's surprise. "Everyone's not here. We just got a message from the Varden, asking for an agreement, something we couldn't let it pass so two of them went to meet them. But the three others could totally know about your return with an agreable surprise."

Even though he doesn't get all the gist, Murtagh accepts the answer, so Eragon does too without questions. He could ask later.

Eragon just wonders who are those five people Tornac's talking like they're so important and if they're like some replacement of the forsworn but dragonless to the king.

After climbing some infinite stairs, they enter in some spacious room with nice decor and a titanic glassless window to let the dragons fly through. It's not the highest floor, Saphira informs him, but it could easily look so.

Tornac lets them wait there and tells them to make themselves comfortable while he goes to inform their presence. While Murtagh does so by sitting languidly on some sofa that looks really soft, Thorn unfolds his wings again and thrown himself out of the window for a nice fly. Saphira barely looks at Eragon before following the other dragon.

Although really wanting to be at ease himself, Eragon couldn't let his guard down, not till their host announce themselves.

He examines the room stediously, noticing the portrait of some people that couldn't be the mad king, who's probably more focused on his magic than other thing, and is disturbed to find nothing. He goes by the window to watch outside and feels a little dizzy looking down and discovers at how high they are.

But the scenery calms him down as it's look a lot like Carvahall but bigger and busier with its inhabitants and commerces. Afar, he could make up the bell tower and wonders what time is it.

Saphira flows abruptly in his mind. 'Eragon, look down!'

He does as asked, looking for what his dragon pointing out but he could only see the lively streets ot the capitale city.

'Lower! Within the castle!'

So Eragon focuses at this particular spot and details the rampart until he gets that those aren't walls. It is not even stone.

"Murtagh," he whispers breathlessly "what is it? It looks strangely like dragon bones..."

"That's Shruikan."

"What? That's not possible. I saw him flying above us just now. You did too. We even heard him come back."

"Are you sure it was Shruikan?"

Eragon wants to say yes, that the huge shadow could only be Shruikan. But the thing is he only saw the bottom of the thing that was flying in the air, it could have been others entities that stacked up to look like one great body.

"Who are the people Tornac went to get?" He asks while holding onto the wall as feeling himself losing balance.

Murtagh looks at him straight in the eye at the same time Saphira's sending him her view conforting him that's she's coming back to him. But the answer doesn't come from Murtagh, instead, another voice speaks up from the door Tornac's disapppeared earlier.

"The regency council. A setup put in place at the death of Galbatorix, seventeen years ago."

Saphira's flapping angrily her wings but Eragon could only hear the bell ringing right at the end of the twist.

14.

The regency council is a collective of five individuals as Tornac implied.

Each member represented a species on the land of Alagaësia. There's the elf Blödhgarm, the werecat Balthazar, the dwarf Erst Graybeard and the human Daras Guildsward and the kull Yarbog who were attending the meeting with the Vardens.

It was founded directly after the death of all the forsworn and the theft of the blue egg by the former dragon rider Brom, currently known as Shadeslayer. While he was taking the stolen egg to the other resistants, the five created an alliance and took the mad king by surprise and easily overpowered him, having three spellcasters out of five. They let the black dragon die by himself now that it was free from the slavery of the mad king and the body was too colossal to be moved elsewhere.

Then, they presented themselves to the two remaining dragon eggs, but none hatched for them. Instead, they did it by themselves, first the red, then the green one.

"Twin dragons. Of both sexes. No wonder they didn't want any riders."

Once set up, they could easily pass for Shruikan if there were ever attack from reckless enemies.

"Why not say anything? Three elves died while carrying Saphira's egg."

"Terrible loss", the elf Blödhgarm says. "But Islanzadi, the queen of the elves, did ask the ambassador of the vardens to stop her actions. Her daughter Arya didn't want to hear anything or even believe her."

The elf shakes his head, moving his black fur. He gives off a picture of a bipedal wolf and Eragon can't takes off his eyes on him whenever he speaks up.

'And it was her daughter. What an irony.'

Saphira's voice in his mind makes him focus back.

"Does that mean that every elves knew the truth?"

"Indeed, that's why they never involve themselves. They thought it would be best to leave the rest to us," the werecat Balthazar replies.

"And what did you do?" Eragon can't help but snarls. He feels a little foolish to let it off on a boy or a being that looks like a boy. "You just let people believe that the mad king's still ruling, and leaving poverty and misery somewhere that's not the kingdom's area?"

Truth to be told, Eragon doesn't really get to visit the other city of the brodding empire, or would it more suitable to just call them cities of Alagaësia, but he did stop at places like Kuasta and Teirm or even Aroughs and all of the population there thought the monarch is still alive and fear the royal army.

Erst Graybeard, the dwarf, speaks up finally.

"There are actually two reasons for that. Firstly, the Shade named Durza was a dreadful opponent that we couldn't easily defeat because he wasn't fully under Galbatorix's service. He was a madman himself and was doing his own business controlling the urgals, making it even harder to attempt attacking him. There were also the ra'zak and although they were the three remaining of their species, counting out the egg, they were unbeatable and too draining to even chase after. When the dragons hatched by themselves, there were daily showdown between them but the ra'zak eventually set up conditions to settle the situation: they won't turn up at Uru'baen so to rile up the dragons, but they get to do what they want outside, hence their supporters got their own place to idolize them."

Well, not anymore.

"However, the conditions also demand us to not reveal the trickery and the death of the king and they would prevent all our attempts by killing and eating off all our messengers. And secondly, all of the others cities were way too far for us to reach them to pass a messager or treaty. Many of our convoy never returned, either eaten by the ra'zak or killed by the urgals under the Shade."

Even through Blödhgarm looks like a fluffy wolf, his words are as harsh as its nature. Eragon can't believe he's the same species of the dead female elf that he saw from Gil'ead.

"If that could make you better, since your brother Murtagh joined us, it became a lot easier to help the people in remote area. Like the Palancar Valley you both come from or Ceunon by stopping the inhabitants to destroy the tree of the Du Weldenvarden, before the involvement of the elves who would be less gentle."

Eragon doesn't actually know if that makes him feel better. Of course, Murtagh did nothing bad since their parting like he hoped, but he let him believe all of this crap for over five months.

And well, he's not the only one being wronged.

'Better? I was carried for over two decades by strangers and separated from my kinds and believing all this time that we're still in rocky time, how could you say with no care in the world that all went good?! I could have hatched way earlier and not be fearing for my life all this time!'

At first, Eragon thought Saphira's only venting at him, thanks to their bond, but Saphira must be really furious and uses magic to make her statement go through other's mind too, if he guessed it right from their wince. But as no one reacts like she wants them to, she growls and rattles and even destroys the little furnitures in the room to let off stream. The council cast her understanding looks and doesn't try to stop her, not that they could, but the twin green dragons exchange a look, clearly judging her.

They could and they would have got it if they realize that Saphira's only four months old.

When she starts spit fire, Thorn takes pity and pushes her out of the room and they take flight spliting through the air.

Sat in his corner, Eragon wishes he could do the same. Murtagh's presence next to him barely lifts his spirit.

 

Tornac told him that the two others of the regency council would be back by tomorrow morning and suggest them to wait for them beofre they could go back to Carvahall. As the sun's setting, they were offered to stay in the castle for the night and got two separate rooms.

But Murtagh's waiting for Eragon's appearance at his.

Sure, his brother's not a baby anymore, he's sixteen turning seventeen soon, but today's been hard on him and he would probably want to talk now that he had enough alone time.

Except, he must have dozed off because he's startled when Eragon slides besides him, apologizing for waking him up.

"Can't believe you actually slept as if nothing happened."

To be fair, nothing new happened to Murtagh. He knew about this great discovery for four months now. At first, he was probably as shocked as anyone alse, but after watching the dragons flying carelessly like there really were no threats, he came to realize that everything was a huge masquerade put up by terrible creatures. That he could take down if he asked nicely one of the Dragon to lend him some power.

Instead, he chose to prioritize his hometown and help them improve by asking the regency council to rally Surda's king, position currently taken by king Orrin, who happened to be some sort of engineer alchemist. With some well placed words, it was decided by both parties to place some artificial vegetation on easy access for magic user so if they did want to user magic even when restricted then won't be doing reckless thing as summoning spirits they couldn't control. Also, he helped build infrastructures to the remoted civilizations to help people travelling with more options, especially for those who don't possess transportation and as the elves don't like to use animals.

"Well, I was kinda tired waiting for you and the bed's really soft."

Eragon lets out a noncommittal sound and stays quiet. But when Murtagh tries to turn around to look at him, he's stopped midway and basically pushed over.

"Don't move, I don't want you to see my face."

Alright, what was that.

"Murtagh, did you chose to follow the ra'zak because as they said, you wanted to know about this man who did this to you?"

A hand brushes over his scar on his back and Murtagh tries really hard to not back away, always feeling awkward that anyone would aknowledge this ugly thing about him.

"Not at all. I may have been curious of his whereabout and why did he do that to me, but knowing him to be a forsworn, my doubts just got confirmed and I'm very pleased to know he's six feet under. I only went because the letter the regency council gave me through those vil creatures was telling me that the fight against the Varden doesn't need to be and that the dragons have actually hatched. I was only planning for us to check the truth and then give them the egg so we could go home or maybe even help them expand Palancar Valley so the people there wouldn't struggle every year during winter."

If they're patients enough, they could see some marvellous inventions from King Orrin.

"So, we could have avoid all this wasteful battle if only I learned to read."

Well, that did play a part.

Of course, as Brom's the one who taught him to read, Murtagh could have just slide the note to him. But to be honest, Murtagh didn't really think the man would have been reasonnable enough to not set up a revengeful plan to take down those who mistreated the dead elf.

So yeah, if Eragon knew how to read at that time, he would have trust him and went with him to Uru'bean and worked with the regency council. They would have eventually managed to take down the Shade and the ra'zak because the blue egg would still probably hatched for Eragon.

But Murtagh actually had the feeling that Eragon didn't really regret those wasted time. He never actually said it but as his big brother, he always got that Eragon dreamed about an adventurous life, being some knight in shining armour and doing great things. Eragon did believe their parents were a nomadic couple, going from town to villagers to discover the land of Alagaësia and that their mother Selena came back to her hometown after the death of her husband. Murtagh was more realistic, having witnessed the world could be harsh, especially coming from his kins. He knew that he couldn't be dragon rider and do great and good things without a catch and was happy to be proved right.

He shudders when Eragon's hand traces again his scar before stopping in the middle, where the mark is wider.

"Does it hurt?"

"Sometimes."

"You know, when I was learning magic after being officially dragon rider, I tried to look for a spell that could heal it."

That's so nice of his baby brother. But...

"But you didn't find any."

He knows because that's what he did too when the council told him that he could learn magic too, as Thorn accepted to share a subtle bond with him. There's limitation even with magic, sometimes when a wound got scared a long time ago it could be irreversible.

"What are we gonna do, now?"

Murtagh breathes in and out for a long time before answering.

"The council and the Varden set on restricting magic, being one of the user, would you want to live in that kind of land?"

"Are you suggesting that we leave Alagaësia?" Eragon actually sits up to take a clear look at him.

Murtagh thinks it's only fair that he turns around to look at him now.

"Don't you want to? I thought you didn't want to stay as just a farm boy."

"You're the one who said that!"

Well, true, and he never tried to hide it so he shrugs.

"But, indeed, it would be impossible for Saphira to live in that kind of land. And I don't know what kind of treatment they'll give us for being the last dragon rider."

"About that... I don't think you're the last."

"Did Thorn finally bonded with you?"

"No, it's not me I'm talking about." He ignores the younger's disappointment. "Did you met any other elves besides the one in the council?"

"Yeah, some lingering at the border of the forest Du Weldenvarden when we give them the corpse of the elf."

"Well, deep in that forest is the elves' house like you probably guessed and they're hidding the last dragon rider before you came around."

As Eragon keeps quiet due to shock, Murtagh pats gently at his thigh and nudges him to fall back in bed. "Don't worry, we'll be meeting him in no time. Around the same when the Varden would be there."

With that, they finally sleep, spent.

 

 

The following day, it was only formalities for treaties.

As expected, the three vardens invited to the capitale city were as abashed as Eragon to discover the masquerade and nearly blamed each other for hiding for so long when they could just kill off the hindrances like the Shade and the ra'zak.

Restricting magic in Alagaësia became even more supported when the Varden heard that the leader's daughter, Nasuada, got imprisoned at Surda, after being defeated by the new shade Varaug. The latter was more tamed than his colleague and totally agreed to the restriction.

The king Orrin then made his appearance and Eragon's surprised to look at a young man witted spirit and having thousands of new inventions, sometimes just for personal desire, but more often for the best of the Empire. Much to Nasuada's pleasure.

Quickly, paths with easy reach to other cities were built so to send the new changes and welcome the Varden who had to return to civilization. The paths got the layout like natural supplies, some stone set with alchemy demand that the traveler gave out hair or other body cell to be able to have food or water in return. If in need of medical aid, they had to let go of something on them, a piece of cloth or some leaf or even pebble found on the way, because there's this concept in chemistry: nothing is lost, everything is transformed.

That would most likely help people to not use magic without being allowed. The permission was possible only if one sent a letter asking the regency council to allow a spell or to cast some charms for some event. Every magic users had to send that letter, humans, elves, urgals and even werecats.

Speaking of, urgals and kulls got their promised land at Hellgrind even through the brothers Selenasson burn up the structure for the priests. But this species got their own intelligence and built what they always desired. In return, because they're warriors and need to let off some steam, the criminals being judged in the land would be sent there and fight against the warrior to their death. Felons like rapists, masters of slave or human dealers.

Like said before, elves and dwarves were totally allowed to roam on the land without permission, except for using magic. Though neither species accepted, both were invited to deal with the human, the dwarves being the best handymen and the elves wanting to talk about their pro-nature concept. In the end, they will most likely live in their forest or in the mountains, who are also accessible to humans if they follow the rule there. Meaning that elves could totally get out by killing the humans who damage the threes or harm the animals there and that dwarves could beat the shit of the thugs.

The desert of Hadarac, being still a difficult soil, was ignored, but the king Orrin is currently creating lots and lots of creations to help the travelers to have it easy and protections against the creatures there. And at the same time, busying himself with navigation to help merchants ships.

Uru'baen changed its name to go back with Ilirea.

The regency council would still be the one ruling on Alagaësia and the land of south, now that Surda isn't a separated land. Orrin got his laboratory at Aberon but would travel a lot to install his creations. Ajihad converted himself as servicemen for the empire and quickly climbed the grade, being somewhat old hand. His daughter Nasuada having proved that women can fight too, and even lead in time of war, got her own milicia for only women, and Ellesari of the council of Varden was the first to enter.

Although being only a former dragon rider, Brom Shadeslayer could still use magic and didn't like the idea of asking for permission whenever he'd like to cast the fire spell when he couldn't light a fire. So, when he found out that his master of rider, Oromi, was still alive as was his golden dragon Glaedr, he took the chance to go with him to Vroengard. It was said the island's infested by toxic gas that a dragon rider pulled as last card, but since knowing the truth about Galbatorix's death, those rumors could also be untrue. They'll be accompanied by the three remaining dragons.

The day of their departure was the same as the brothers, who wanted to go back to Carvahall before having to leave Alagaësia not wanting to be magically restricted.

While Saphira's saying goodbye to the others dragons, having bonded with them for the last few day in someway that Eragon didn't want to know, Eragon's watching his brother bid goodbye to Tornac. Albeit not as close to the man than Murtagh was, Eragon did understand why the weapon-master was so important. He's a great teacher that taught them the art of sword, some other thing about posture and high society and would also tell them how he took care of the dragons when they allowed him to. All in all, he's the best father figure one could hope.

But he wasn't Eragon's father figure, so he just let this moment to Murtagh.

After biding farewell to Nasuada and others former vardens, Eragon finally turned to Brom who is discussing with Oromi. Strangely enough, he was closer to the elf than the human, learning more about dragon rider with the first than he spent time with the latter. But in the end, they both taught him well, and he's thankful to them. Oromi cut short the farewell to store all the new eggs in the color of turquoise and purple that Eragon tried really hard not to think about their conception and was let alone with Brom.

At first, none of them said anything, feeling awkward, but as he was watching Murtagh thanking Thorn for being his short time partner and Saphira going to the eggs, Eragon thanked once more the man. He did considered him a friend and the man had helped him in more than one occasion. Besides, he also knew him for all his life and it would probably be the last time they see each other, so they shook hand.

Before Brom started wishing him good continuation and to honor his name, the same as the first dragon rider, and most importantly to be careful of the ra'zak egg. Then, the man left him to join back his master who was making sure the dauthdaert is fully wrapped. Eragon took the words at heart, because he was also worried about the unborn ra'zak.

And finally, they made their way to Carvahall.

Like Murtagh and the regency council said, the village changed a lot last time he was there. There were more royal soldiers and lot of the boys in age would enroll to protect their home, boys like Nolfavrell the eldest son of Quimby and Birgit, there were also a lot of framework to protect people against weather and magical plant to help the farmers. As those were plants that Murtagh created, inspired by the witches and wizards they encountered on their journey, it wouldn't enter in the restriction of magic.

Although, Garrow's still a reclused and refused to use any of the improvement. He wanted to do all by himself and not to be in debt of anyone, even if the creator was his eldest nephew Murtagh. However, in the view of his son marrying the butcher's daughter, he will make effort to socialize. On the contrary, Sloan wouldn't budge and allow any relationship between Katrina and Roran.

Much to the latter's pain and the brothers' amusement.

Their return attracted all the villagers as they're seeing a dragon for the firts time, as Thorn never wanted to introduce himself to them and would wait farther for Murtagh whenever they'd be in town. It suited Saphira, who preened horribly and endlessly inside Eragon's mind. Garrow welcomed the boys warmly, having heard of their feats and risks like everyone else. He made up for all the gruffiness by telling them everything he knew about their mother Selena.

Stories the boys will cherish for their upcoming journey.

Before leaving for good their hometown, Eragon asked Saphira to bless Horst and Elain's daughter and Albriech and Baldor's sister, Hope, to thank their kindness. He didn't want to try it himself as he admit to not be that good in ancient language, especially after being mentored by Oromi who said that his refusal to learn to read gave him prejudice.

Then, they flew away on the back of a great blue dragon.

 

They travelled everywhere, but starting by the forest of the elves.

There, the elves welcomed them with their mindblowing culture and their meatless diet but also treated them fairly and even thanking them again for retrieving the corpse of the Queen's daughter.

Also here, Eragon witnessed the birth of the new kind of ra'zak.

This newly born did the impossible and cured his brother's back. Well, not actually cure, but it get rid of the horrid scar and left only a thin mark. Murtagh never felt any pain again and showed less reluctance to change in front of people. Great, as it was a shame to hide this built body.

As they're heading north, rumors started travelling along them that two men were moving around on the back of a dragon and with an eating diseace and bacteria creature. But no one from Alagaësia ever see them again.

 

The end.

Si Saphira avait éclot pour Katrina.

Pour la remercier d'avoir ramener quelqu'un afin de cesser l'argument ridicule qu'il avait avec son père, Eragon lui offre cette jolie pierre en se rappelant d'un message de son cousin. Même si ce n'était pas totalement ce qu'il voulait dire, il s'était pardonné en ne se le rappelant que tardivement.

Sauf que, bah, la pierre, c'est l’œuf de Saphira.

Qui a clôt pour la jeune fille car elle a senti sa gentillesse et que son caractère lui plaisait.

 

Chap 1-4, 

 

Red hair au

• Katrina is the one Blue egg hatch for 

• Eragon did show the stone to Sloan who refuses to deal with. Katrina shows up with Horst and Eragon gift her the blue stone as thank and as compliment of Roran's courtship 

• The egg hatch for the lady earlier than in the Canon 

• Still, the Ra'zak show up and burn Garrow's farm down while Roran was working in the mill of Therinsford and Katrina taking a trip with Lady Saphyr Celeste. Eragon was killed with his uncle. 

• Or would have been if Brom didn't intervene. Roran came back of his work and blame Eragon because he survives but has amnesia and Katrina is disappointed of his behavior and breaks up. She then leaves Carvahall because she's the cause of the havoc even if it's heartbreaking his father. Serve him right to betray humans to those monstruous creatures. 

• She decide make her way to Uru baen, trying to be really careful about not being caught by the Empire. And Brom is conflict to whereas follow her or to make sure his son Eragon is okay. Eventually, he choose his boy since he did give up the war after Selena's (and Saphira's) death

• Yazuac and Dareth were just a passage while she rides lady Saphyr Celeste. They barely saw the Urgals and their artwork. 

• They stop near Gil ead because sustension is need. But not even once Katrina receives the elf's call. And she meet Murtagh. 

• The two grow to each other because of their hair feature. Katrina's true red while Murtagh is medium reddish brown. 

• Katrina's being really soft and nice she makes Murtagh confortable with her personality and the boy choose to accompany her to the capital, concerned by her trial and good being. (edit 28.06.22:)They save the survivor elf detained by the shade durza, Glenwing. they convinced him to take them all to the king.

• They arrive and try to make their way to the throne without being spot. But eventually, contact the king so they can negociate. 

• The king makes sure she sides with him and she became sort of a counselor and that's how Shruikan is released in the sea and explode, taking some Nïdhwal with him. Having a heroic final. 

• Murtagh is still sour about Tornac's death and the king isn't helping with his snark. But he came close to one of the egg. The green one hatches for him. And he hesitated how to name him. Jade or Emeraud. 

• He eventually goes for Jaime. 

• Galbatorix eventually made the red egg hatch for him and named his Fier. After breaking his oath with other ruler of Alagaesia cities so they became more co-governor, he create a neutral place between Dras-Leona, Uru baen, Melian and Furnost 

• The bourg being named Nainailingr (illuminator make bright in ancient language) 

• Galby also makes sure that the Urgals would be executor of those ugly priest and the Ra'zak would enjoy the mercy less warriors 

• Katrina learns that Murtagh and Eragon are brothers

• Galbatorix make them ruler of Palancar Valley, so when they go back to the land of their family, Katrina make all the children learn how to read and write by Brom, the story teller.

• Roran tries to make up with Katrina but she's being cold and spiteful while Eragon is warming up to Murtagh, considering him as brother. 

• But the latter, being angsty, suspected that Eragon couldn't be Morzan's son. And discovers he's Brom's. The covered mole under his father's reign. 

• He tries to make things up with the old man by telling story about Selena, the mother of the boys. 

• The Varden never got any credits mostly because they depends on others. Dwarves are still ermits. Elves mourning about their lost queen's daughter while Surda are trading with Alagaesia cities. Becoming celestial towns. 

• Galby also make a Thauthra Draum (dream follower in ancient language) , a following cities starting Dareth, sliding Gil ead and continuing to Dras Leona so nomades won't have too much difficulties while traveling. 

• Like in canon, he leaves the Spine the fuck alone since it's traumatic to him and make sure to have the less interaction with Urgals, making Durza do all the negociations. So a Neutral shade rather than a dark shade. Totally possible. 

• The Ra'zak got their human sacrifice when the Urgals beat them to nearly death. 

• And Eragon finally become the archer he wanted to be, living with his father and brother and friend Katrina. Sloan is half-upset and half proud of his earl daughter 

 

 First draft in french:

Katrina

Katrina Ismeradottir trottinait vers la boucherie de son père.
En tant que jeune fille bonne à marier, elle ne devait pas agir de sorte à trottiner, mais elle se trouvait jeune et elle était seule en ce moment, alors elle se le permettait. En publique, elle ne pouvait pas agir comme elle le souhaitait car elle devait suivre les étiquettes imposés pour les femmes et rendre son père fier.
Père qui ne l'a rendait pas du tout fière en le voyant embêter un homme la moitié de son âge.
Mais comme elle était digne, elle n'allait pas faire une scène qui serait rapidement su par les villageois, elle alla chercher de l'aide en la personne de Horst, le forgeron que son père ne pouvait que se taire.
Comme prévu, Sloan perdit de son ardeur en voyant l'homme massu et forgé comme son labeur se présenter dans sa boucherie pour cesser le tapage. Horst paya même le morceau de gigot pour le jeune Eragon, cousin de son fiévreux prétendant.
Katrina devait l'avouer, elle n'était pas particulièrement impressionnée par le jeune Roran Garrowsson ni surprise qu'il soit sous son charme, mais elle était agréablement surprise de savoir le fermier toujours intéressé par elle après avoir découvert sln vrai visage. Aussi, elle lui accordait le bénéfice du doute et c'est ainsi que le courtage débuta. Et ce, depuis maintenant trois mois. 
Avant de les quitter, Eragon se souvint du message de son cousin et la transmit à sa destinataire. Il en profita pour lui laisser une jolie pierre, disant qu'il s'agissait de paiement du gigot. Piètre, certes, mais toujours un au contraire de dépendre sur le généreux forgeron.
Katrina accepta l'offre sans se douter un instant de la valeur du présent.

 

Blue core

Tout reprenait sa cadence habituelle.
La Creature ne pouvait savoir ce qui se passait en dehors de sa coquille, et elle n'était pas tant inquiet, mais elle était curieuse du charivari de plus tôt.
Il y avait fort longtemps qu'il n'y avait plus eu de telle adrénaline autour d'elle. La dernière devait dater de quelque jours, elle n'était plus sûre. Alors que son œuf était gardée captive aux côtés de deux de ses confrères par le maléfique humain qui se croyait mage puissant, elle fut arrachée par des mains empressées. Il y eut une confrontation, du sang et des pertes, des siens comme des humains, mais tout fini par se calmer. Commença alors de long voyage où plusieurs êtres se présentaient devant son œuf pour prétendre être son Dragonnier.
Elle en reniflait de mépris. Que croyaient-ils ?
Qu'ils pouvaient être de son niveau avec leur faible personnalité ? Jamais ils ne pourront tenir le rythme. Aussi, elle se mura dans son insensiblerie et resta dans son cocon, se contentant du voyage imposé.
Malheureusement, voyager calmement n'était pas dans le programme comme elle fut brusquement envoyée dans un lointain paysage et recueilli par un esprit simple. Celui-ci eut même l'audace de penser qu'elle n'était qu'une pierre. Elle n'était peut-être pas impressionnante, pour l'instant, mais c'était uniquement parce que personne ne l'avait intriguée pour permettre la liaison entre Dragon et Dragonnier.
Enfin, personne jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit passée dans la main de cette jeune âme pleine de volonté.

 

Red hair

Katrina était charmante pour son statut.
Elle n'était pas particulièrement bien vêtue et entre voisin, elle n'avait pas besoin de bien s'habiller, mais elle avait un agréable physique et un caractère aussi exquis. Cependant, ce qui la sortait du lot était la couleur flamboyante de ses cheveux. Une chevelure aussi lumineux ne pouvait que signifier grandeur avec un destin incroyable.
Or, cela arriva à cette instant.
Elle avait gardé la sphère bleue auprès d'elle par crainte que son père puisse voir et s'en débarrasser. Or, durant toute la soirée, elle l'avait senti chauffer contre sa peau. Ce n'était pas insupportable au point de la brûler mais quelque peu déconcertant étant donné qu'il s'agissait d'un minerai et dont un objet inanimé. 
Elle révisa ce jugement la nuit même, seule dans sa chambre.
Elle songeait à un moyen de répondre aux sentiments de Roran, quand la sphère se mit et à vibrer et à s'illuminer.
Premièrement, il faut savoir que Katrina est une fille sensée, elle ne croyait aux faits que si elle avait vu de ses propres yeux et encore si elle ne trouvait plus aucune explication logique. Ensuite, c'était une fille et son imagination était large. Alors inutile de dire qu'elle fut alarmée lorsqu'une fissure apparut sur la sphère avant d'éclater comme une coquille d'œuf.
Sauf qu'au lieu d'un poussin, il en sortit une Creature qu'elle ne pensait pas en voir de toute sa vie.
Katrina eut juste le temps de se couvrir la bouche avant qu'un son n'en échappa. Un dragon sous son toit était peut-être inconcevable mais si elle alertait son père alors qu'il s'agissait probablement juste d'une illusion, son père s’inquiéterait inutilement.
Seulement, le temps qu'elle se convainc que ce n'était pas réel, le dragonneau s'avança de ses petites pattes vers elle et l'huma. Lorsque son museau toucha son coude, une chaleur aiguë lui brûla l'endroit et Katrina recula pour se préserver. Mais la sensation disparu aussitôt et les yeux azur de la Creature..., non, de l'être lui perçait l'esprit.
Tout ce qui lui vint en tête fut l'idée saugrenue de Roran portant un bébé Dragon et comment cela ne lui seyait pas.

 

Celeste

La jeune âme était décidément le choix parfait. 
Autant sa personnalité était une kaléidoscope autant son esprit était fait d'acier. Elle possédait de plus un vocabulaire bien fourni pour une si jeune âme. 
Elle venait peut-être d'éclore mais elle avait accès à tous les informations de l'extérieur lorsqu'une âme s'approchait trop près d'elle, faisant partager tous ses sentiments et émotions. Pas qu'elle en avait besoin.
Mais cette âme, du nom de Katrina, avait des sentiments purs et droits. Elle savait ce qu'elle voulait et comment faire pour les obtenir. Elle était parfaite pour elle.
De plus, comme elle était fille de boucher, elle pouvait lui procurer facilement de quoi la sustenter. Ce qui lui permettait de grandir plus vite.
Elle apprit à communiquer dans la langue humaine en à peine neuf jours. Et Katrina intégra l'idée de se lier à une créature aussi rapidement et vivait pratiquement en harmonie avec elle en permettant un contact quasi constant. 
Leur lien mental se créa au bout du dixième jour.
'Rouge' fut le premier mot qui s'échangea entre elles. 
Katrina comprit immédiatement que la voix majestueuse et pleine de prestance ne pouvait appartenir qu'à la Creature. Alors qu'elle se passait une main dans sa chevelure vermeille, la Creature songea au moment où elle pourrait cracher ce gaz à la même couleur. Elle avait tellement hâte d'être en total harmonie avec Rina.

En parlant de nom, Katrina eut quelque jour plus tard l'élan de vouloir la nommer. Car toujours la désigner comme Creature n'était pas simple ni esthétique. Or elle ne voulait non plus être présomptueuse et lui donner une dénomination qui allait être gardé, surtout si cela sonnait faux.
Pourtant son premier choix fut définitif.
Bien que la première pensée qu'elle eut lorsque la Creature lui était apparu était la brillance de ses écailles bleus qui lui rappelait la beauté de pierres précieuses saphirs dont elle n'en possédait, elle trouvait que la nommait d'après des minerais était inadapté. Et si l'éclat solennel de ses iris renvoyait au ciel azur d'un jour ensoleillé, Katrina opta pour Celeste, parce que la vue de la Creature volant dans les airs avec ses ailes cérulé qui pourfendait le ciel, ne pouvait que la seoir.

Et Celeste acceptait ce nom avec plaisir, car en tant que Creature primaire, elle devait possédait un nom à sa hauteur.

 

See red

Pour être honnête, Katrina ne pensait pas qu'élever une Dragonne allait être si... flamboyant.

En vrai, quand elle s'est mise à l'idée de partager sa vie avec une telle Creature, elle n'avait pas prévue que cela pouvait perturber son quotidien.

Lady Celeste pouvait être aussi impressionnante et prestigieuse qu'elle voulait, et même monstrueuse lorsqu'elle dévorait les bétails qu'elle lui fournissait, Katrina menait sa vie de fille docile, attendant de se marier au moment voulu et fonder une famille qu'elle espérait beaucoup plus saine que celle de son père avait.

Le passé tragique de la Creature saphir qu'avait raconté le conteur Brom ne pouvait impacter sur le sien. Le fait que l'Empire restreignait leur existant ne la concernait pas, ce n'était pas comme si le roi savait qu'ils existaient, si encore il pouvait situer la Vallée Palencar sur la carte de l'Alagaesia. A aucun moment, elle ne songea au changement que son lien pouvait créer.

Jusqu'à ce que le bouleversement n'arrive en pleine fouet.

Six jours après le départ de Roran pour sa formation de meunier à Therinsford, Katrina se promenait sur le dos de sa Dragonne, ce qui lui faisait sensiblement penser à chevaucher un poney sans ailes, Celeste décida d'utiliser ces deux membres pour lui montrer ses progrès. Si l'expérience fut inattendue, la jeune fille profita du tour aérien comme si elle était née pour.

Mais toute chose avait une fin et Lady Celeste atterrit en prétextant une faim monstre, ce qui n'était aucunement une exagération à la quantité qu'elle consommait récemment. Katrina était d’ailleurs à court d'excuse pour expliquer la disparition de viandes fraîches à son père.

Aussi, la Creature n'attendit pas qu'elles soient de retour au village pour se sustenter et se contenter du gibier de la Crête, laissant sa Dragonnière faire le chemin seule en direction du cottage de Garrow, isolée de Carvahall. C'était purement une coïncidence qu'elles reviennent par ici. La cottage était plus près de la forêt et hors des regards curieux.

Bien qu'il y avait aussi des inconvénients, comme actuellement.

Une fumée épaisse et sombre se dégageait de l'habitat, qui n'en était plus un. Une odeur de brûlée planait dans les airs et la vision du cottage démoli finit de l'inquiéter. Elle dépassa les plantations calcinées pour accourir en direction de la maison incendiée, aucun feu n'était en vu mais les constructions en bois continuaient d'être rongé et s'effriter et Katrina se demanda si les vies qui y résidaient en subissaient de même.

Elle se mit à appeler leur nom, à commencer par son prétendant, mais aucune réponse ne parvint. Sa crainte se mua en peur quand elle vit une main s'extirper sous un poutre. Agissant sous l'adrénaline, elle souleva de ce qui restait du support de ses deux mains et sortit le reste du corps des décombres. C'est en reconnaissant Eragon qu'elle se souvint que Roran n'était en ce moment pas au village.

Elle porta le corps du garçon hors de l'incendie pour vérifier son état. Eragon était faible et salement amoché, mais ce qui préoccupait Katrina était ses marmonnements torturées.

" P- père... "

Ayant toujours soupçonné le désir du garçon d'être intégré à la famille de son cousin, Katrina ne questionna pas l'identité du paternel en question et retourna sur les lieux du sinistre afin de trouver ce dernier.

Mais dans l'état où elle le retrouva, elle se demanda si ce n'était pas mieux si elle ne l'avait pas fait. La jeune fille en avait vu des corps mutilés, son père était boucher et coupait la viande quotidiennement. Elle avait grandi dans un environnement sanglant et de charogne, mais ce qu'elle avait sous les yeux était d'un tout autre niveau.

Garrow avait la moitié basse du corps ensevelie sous une armoire et lorsqu'elle voulu le retirer en le soulevant par un bras, elle remarqua que le membre ne tenait plus vraiment au reste du corps. La terreur la saisit et elle poussa un cri sans pouvoir lâcher le bras. L'horreur de la situation était telle qu'elle appela Roran à l'aide, Roran qui n'était pas là et dont le père mourait dans ses bras. Elle ouvrit même la connexion pour joindre mentalement sa partenaire, mais Lady Celeste n'avait montrer aucune réaction.

La seule personne qui répondit à son appel était la dernière qu'elle s'attendait à voir, mais il valait mieux le vieux Brom que rien. Le conteur se débarrassa du meuble encombrant et défit sa cape pour recouvrir le corps de Garrow et le déposer à côté de celui de son neveu.

Katrina prit conscience qu'elle était en train de pleurer quand elle sentit le vieil homme la secouer les épaules afin de la ramener à la réalité.

" Katrina, je t'en prie, j'ai besoin que tu sois avec moi. Appelles Gertrude pour qu'elle prodige ses soins, la respiration de Garrow est faible mais pas inexistant, or je crains que le temps lui est compté. Ameutes aussi le plus de bras possible pour l'aider à les porter dans un endroit plus approprié. "

Avant même qu'il ne finisse sa phrase, Katrina hochait vigoureusement de la tête et se mit à courir à en perdre haleine vers le village. Comme elle blâmait Garrow de s'établir hors du village.

Elle frappa de ses poings fragiles et abîmées à la porte de la thaumaturge en la priant qu'il y avait urgence. Cela attira l'attention du voisinage et les gros bras se pressèrent à la l'orée de la Crête pour porter secours à l'un des leurs, en compagnie de la vieille Gertrude.

Elle aurait bien voulu les accompagner mais son père l'intercepta et l'obligea à se faire soigner ses mains par Birgit, car il craignait que cela s'infeste. Katrina lui aurait plus répondu que l'état des deux hommes était pire mais elle tombait en effet de fatigue et elle perdit connaissance dans les bras de son père.

 

Cold blue

Celeste avait bien entendu le cri désespéré de sa compagne, tout comme elle avait senti leur présence.

Détrompez-vous, elle n'avait pas pris la fuite. Elle ne fuyait devant personne et surtout pas devant eux. Elle jugeait juste qu'il était trop tôt pour Katrina de les faire face.

Mais ils auraient pu simplement passer leur chemin en ne voyant pas sa présence, elle ne comprenait pas pourquoi ils se sont attaqués à ce simple d'esprit et sa maison et sa famille. Rectification, ils voulaient laisser des traces de leur passage et se sont contentés de ces pauvres âmes isolés. Ce n'était pas eux qui étaient ignobles, ils ont toujours été abjects, mais Celeste s'était quelque peu ramollie l'esprit en vivant tranquillement avec Katrina.

Or, si être douce et tranquille seyait la jeune fille, elle devait aussi prendre son héritage de Dragonnière en main si elle ne voulait pas qu'une chose semblable se reproduise.

Car pleurer la perte d'un proche était une perte de temps et inutile.

Depuis cinq jours, Katrina n'était pas parue à ses côtés, elle lui a adressé quelque pensée mais resta la plupart du temps silencieux pour rester en deuil avec son prétendant. En fouillant un peu son esprit, Celeste comprit que le vieil âme n'avait pas survécu et que la veille était ses funéraires. Elle trouva incongru de l'enterrer près de là où il fut retrouver mort mais, étant Dragonne, elle n'avait pas son mot à dire. Le simple d'esprit faillit recevoir le même cas. A plusieurs reprise, sa respiration fut coupé et son corps raide, mais au dernier nouvelle, son cœur battait encore, ce qui assurait une chance de survie.

Et c'était apparemment une piètre consolation pour le fils du défunt qui ne lui restait plus rien.

Le vieux paternel de sa Dragonnière n'avait de cesse de répéter ces mots méprisables à la jeune qui ne voulait entendre mot et supporter le présentement orphelin en disant que cela ne la dérangeait pas. Il ne fallait pas compter sur le boucher pour compatir même dans ces moments-là.

Celeste ne comptait plus le nombre de querelle qu'elle ressentait gronder dans l'esprit de sa compagne et dont les villageois en étaient témoins. Malgré ce mésentente, Katrina ne quittait pas son père, qui était toujours sa famille.

Ce lien manqua de se rompre au sixième jour du drame, quand, poussé par la colère de découvrir la relation que les deux jeunes entretenaient, le paternel lâcha l'information qui changea tout.

" Il ne peut se blâmer qu'à lui-même ! Il aurait dû savoir tenir son sot de cousin qui prend ce qui ne lui appartient pas ! "

Celeste dressa le museau quand sa vue fut remplacée par celle de Katrina et qu'elle voyait tout ce que sa Dragonnière voyait.

" Que dites-vous, père ? "

" Ce petit d'effronté d'Eragon avait voulu m'échanger son maudite pierre bleue pour un morceau de viande et comment j'ai eu raison de lui refuser ! Voilà, où cela l'a mené ! Brûlé et ayant la gardes royales au dos ! "

Celeste comprit au même moment que la pierre bleue la désignait. Elle savait aussi que cette information troublait Katrina qui songeait que tout ce malheur aurait pu lui arriver si elle en avait parlé à son père. Ou peut-être pas, puisque selon les dires de son père, c'était lui-même qui aurait dénoncé Eragon aux gardes royales.

" C'est à cause d'Eragon que tout cela est arrivé ? " demanda son prétendant à ses côtés.

" Ne dis pas ça, il ne pouvait pas savoir que cela allait créer autant de problème. "

" Eh bien, il aurait dû s'en douter ! Comment pouvait-il ramener un objet non-déterminé de la Crête ? Dire que mon père avait prit du temps pour l'élever, c'est ainsi qu'il le remercie ? En le tuant ? "

" Roran ! "

" C'est vrai ! Tout cela est de sa faute ! Comment peut-il me faire ça ? Père est mort et je n'ai plus de maison ! Je n'ai plus rien ! "

" Tu n'as jamais rien eu. Et tu crois que tu peux prétendre à la main de ma fille ? Ne sois pas ridicule et cessez cette relation sur le champ. "

" Père ! Ne dites plus rien ! Vous ne valez pas mieux ! "

La connexion se coupa et Celeste s'ébroua. C'était intense et passionné et elle sut que Katrina avait prit une décision bouleversante. Quelque instant plus tard, elle apparut à ses côtés avec un regard déterminée.

Elles allaient partir pour Uru'baen pour confronter le roi fou.

 

Scarlett sight

Katrina ne partit pas aussi tôt qu'elle le fit croire.

Elle devait encore préparer leur voyage, comme calculer la distance entre Carvahall à la capital et la quantité de nourriture pour les sustenter. Ce temps permit à Brom de rejoindre son antre, qui se trouvait à la lisière de la forêt pour permettre un départ plus facile.

" Alors tu étais bien l'actuelle propriétaire de l’œuf. "

Celeste ne chercha même plus à se cacher et grogna pour menacer l'homme s'il comptait se mettre sur leur chemin.

" Je dirai plus partenaire. Et puis, lady Celeste n'a plus rien d'un œuf. "

" C'est juste, c'est une majestueuse Dragonne. "

La Creature bomba le torse d'orgueil mais resta sur ses gardes. Bien que orgueilleuse, elle ne se ferait pas avoir par de simple mot d'un humain.

" Combien de jour est-elle âgée ? "

" Une saison. "

" Tu aurais besoin d'une monture pour ce voyage. Et d'un guide. "

" Ah oui ? Et qui donc ? Vous ? Non, je pense que votre place serait auprès d'Eragon. Le jour où il se réveillera, il aurait besoin d'autant de soutient qu'il puisse avoir, comme sa seule famille restant n'est pas disposé à lui en offrir. "

Brom nota bien l'amer de sa voix mais ne commenta pas, il resta cependant hésitant avant d'acquiescer.

" Il n'empêche que tu auras besoin d'une monture solide pour une Dragonne féroce comme... lady Celeste. Et il se trouve que je sais en faire une, avec les bons matériels. "

Katrina se chargea d'en récupérer chez le palefrenier du village et prit soin d'éviter son père et Roran qui lui priaient de changer d'idée. Il n'y avait rien à faire, la jeune fille était décidée et elle allait cesser le régime qui réprimait les Dragons et faire face à l'Emprire. Elle apprit, à cette occasion, un peu plus du conteur ce qui fallait savoir sur les Dragons et aussi qu'il était un ancien Dragonnier.

Elain vint la voir au moment de départ pour lui donner son soutien.

" Birgit aurait bien voulu venir, afin de tenir la promesse qu'elle avait fait à ta défunte mère Ismira, mais Quinby n'était pas d'accord. "

Katrina eut un sourire dérisoire, elle appréciait Birgit car c'était une femme fière et forte mais qui écoutait tout ce que son mari disait car elle était dévouée corps et âme à ce dernier. Elle songea avec horreur qu'elle aurait pu devenir une telle femme si l'Incident n'était pas arrivé. Heureusement qu'elle a eu le temps de voir le vrai visage de son dernier prétendant.

" Tiens, prends ceci avec toi. Il s'agit d'un miroir que mon mari m'a confectionné au moment de faire la cour. Il était encore novice à ce moment mais je l'ai gardé car je la considérait comme un porte-bonheur. "

Katrina fut émue par un telle présent, sachant qu'elle n'aurait probablement plus d'occasion de recevoir ce genre de cadeau. Plus personne ne serait plus à la hauteur pour lui faire la cour. Si Elain n'avait pas un caractère aussi fort que Birgit, la jeune fille était néanmoins admirative de sa position dans leur famille. Albriech et Baldor étaient tous deux des hommes forts et loyaux grâce à son éducation et son couple était des plus sains.

" Sache, Katrina ", poursuivit la femme, " que je te supporte dans ta quête. Je ne sais pas ce qui te motive mais je sais que le désir d'une femme est important et qu'il faut l'encourager quand son entourage a tort. Tu es déçue par les deux hommes les plus importants de ta vie, mais gardes à l'esprit qu'il y aurait alors deux hommes qui vont te surprendre agréablement et je prie pour toi que tu les garderas. "

" Merci, Elain. "

Les adieux furent aussi courts que ça. Elle refusa de voir son père et après un dernier synthèse de Gertrude concernant l'état d'Eragon -inchangé-, Katrina monta sur le dos de sa partenaire et s'envola pour le Sud.

Suivant les conseils de Brom, elle évita la côte littoral et longea la Crête. Le soleil se couchait au même moment et les derniers événements rattrapa la jeune fille qui laissa échapper quelque larme.

 Elle quittait sa terre natale pour une destination qui ne lui promettait rien de bon mais elle n'avait plus sa place dans le village qu'elle avait laissé derrière. Au moins, sa partenaire de vie était avec elle.