7 Chapter 7
The butler ushers Eragon out of the house then he starts wandering the streets looking at the shops and watching the citizens going about their business. The streets are mostly vacant as the cold tends to keep people in their homes. The few shops that have a lot of business are either food related or selling winter essentials.
As he is strolling through the town, Eragon does find an apothecary that is in a state of disrepair. The windows are coated with a black substance that hinders his sight into the shop. He smiles to himself for an instant before entering the shop and closing the door behind him.
Inside the shop, Eragon sees a room filled with miscellaneous herbs and plants. On the wooden counter where he expects someone to be manning the store he only sees a very large black cat. The room has a narrow path that meanders through the plants up to the counter. With a closer look, the massive cat appears to be sleeping peacefully until he gets close and its body starts to shift slightly. Eragon walks up to it and does a respectful bow.
"Greetings hunter. Is the alchemist home?"
The cat shifts its head to look at him and starts to yawn and stretch its massive muscles. The cat jumps down from the counter and walks up a flight of stairs in the back. Eragon waits for a good twenty minutes before an older woman descends the stairs and walks up to the counter.
"Welcome to Angela's apothecary. What can I get for you young man? Suffering from some unidentifiable malady? Maybe your spouse finds you insufficient in the bedroom?"
A light chuckle escapes his lips. "I am not here for any potions or herbal remedies. I have heard that you do fortune telling's and would like to request one if you don't mind.
Angela tilts her head and has a quizzical look on her face. "Now who could have told you that I wonder?"
Eragon shrugs. "A grizzled old man that had only one thing go right for him in his entire life."
Angela's facial expression changes to one of comprehension. "Ah, I know of whom you speak. I'm surprised he told anyone else his fortune."
Eragon smirks. "His son was able to pry it out of that old noggin of his."
Angela's eyes widened slightly. "Son, aye? Now you have me curious. Come, follow me to the table over there and I shall read your fortune."
Eragon is led to a small table with two chairs hidden out of sight of the front door. They sit down and Angela procures a pouch that she grabbed from behind the counter and empties its contents into her hand.
"These are the knuckle bones of a dragon. There is no other form of divination that comes close to the accuracy of these. Now what about your future do you want to know the most?"
"I have quite a large task in front of me but I would much rather know what lies beyond it."
Angela nods then throws the knucklebones down on the table. All Eragon can see is a jumbled up pile of bones but from Angela's expression he can tell that she is contemplating the reading.
"This is a very difficult fortune. There are a lot of overlapping signs and they are quite complex. Give me just a moment dear. Let's see… You will encounter a wide assortment of… Performers? Actors? Throughout your journey. These people will be from various walks of life. You will have the choice to shape their future as you see fit. My, this is very strange… Any of this make sense so far?"
Eragon shrugs his shoulders and has a contemplative look. "Somewhat? If you continue, maybe it will make more sense."
Angela looks back down at the bones. "Your path is filled with danger as well as love and friendship. The friends and love interests you meet along your path will aid you in defeating great evils. I have never seen such a strange future in my life. It's like you are a protagonist in a novel or something."
Hearing this, Eragon thinks that she might be right. In his previous life, this world was just a story, not an actual real world. But now he is living in this world. The thought that some demented god threw his soul into Eragon's body just to make a new story for his own twisted entertainment sends a shiver running down his spine. While there is nothing he can do about it at the moment, maybe he can become strong enough in the future to find this god and find out why he was sent here.
Angela straightens up and looks directly at Eragon. "The last bit says that you will cross the ocean to the west where your true destiny awaits. That's all I have for you dear, I hope it's enough to satisfy you."
Eragon stands up and gives her a respectful bow. "Don't worry Angela, that was enough for me to get a picture of what the future holds in store for me. It was a pleasure meeting you. Say goodbye to the hunter for me."
Eragon meanders through the shop towards the front door and tries to leave but the large cat he saw earlier is there blocking his path.
"Wait there young one. I have something to say to you."
Eragon pretends to be startled that a cat just talked to him. "What was… are you a talking cat?"
The hairs on his back rise up. "I am no mere house cat. I am a werecat, and you will listen when spoken too."
Eragon is taken aback by the assertiveness of this creature and decides to abide by its commands for the moment.
"Good. Now when you are in need of a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree, and when you find your power is insufficient, head to the rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the vault of souls. Now be off with you."
Eragon hurriedly leaves the shop as Angela walks behind the counter and stores the dragon bones away while Solembum returned to his perch on the counter. The cat looks at her with a fierce gaze.
"He knew that I was a werecat even before he arrived. His acting skills need work."
"Yes Solembum, I noticed. That boy knows more than he lets on. His future was strange and it seemed to rattle him quite a lot. The future is looking interesting. The winds of change are finally starting to blow over this stagnating continent. I think it is time we leave for Farthen Dur."
"Lead the way soothsayer."
While Angela and Solembum prepare for their journey, Eragon returns to Jeod's abode and promptly falls asleep in the guest bedroom that was prepared for them.
…
That night, Eragon dreams of Arya being tortured by the Shade named Durza in a prison. When he wakes, he yells out her name and jumps up as if to run to her aid before he stops in apparent confusion. Brom was sitting in a rocking chair near the window and was startled by Eragon's outburst. Hearing the name Eragon said, Brom narrows his eyes at him.
"Good morning Eragon. It seems that you had a nightmare. Care to share why you just screamed someone's name in the early morning?"
Eragon recounts his dream, with him knowing that she is in Gilead, he throws in some extra details to make a more accurate picture of where she might be. Brom strokes his beard in contemplation before telling him to forget about the dream. They leave the room and eat breakfast with Jeod and his wife Helen. They then spend the next few days asking some sailors about chartering a ship to Surda but find that all the larger vessels have been moored for the winter and the captains of some smaller vessels refuse their request outright.
While Brom is busy talking to the captains, Eragon explores the city whilst always going out of town every day to check on Saphira. Each night Eragon is still having his dream visions of Arya. The more they happen, the more Brom starts to think that fate is trying to force them in a direction.
Brom knows what prison Galbatorix would keep Arya locked up in and he even knows about who he would trust to be her jailer. The Shade named Durza would be a difficult opponent to defeat even in his prime. Brom knows that even with how proficient Eragon is in swordsmanship and magic, he still falls short when compared to a Shade.
Though the more he thinks about it, traveling to Gilead in the northeast then going through the Hadarac desert would be a decent path to Farthen Dur. If they manage to save Arya then bring her back to the Varden, the elves will not go to war preemptively and with the combined forces of the Varden and elves along with Eragon and himself they just might have a shot at ending the life of Galbatorix once and for all.
After being turned down by yet another captain, Brom finally relents and begins preparations for their ride to Gilead. Luckily, the horses that they had left in a stable at the gate were still there and they were able to reacquire them without any fuss.
They exchange goodbyes with Jeod who gives Eragon a large book written by Heslant the monk titled 'Domia Abr Wyrda' or 'dominance of fate'. This book details the history of Alagaesia from 0 AC to 7982 AC. (for reference, Arya transports Saphira's egg on September 20th 7999 AC.) This book was deemed as treasonous by Galbatorix, causing a nationwide ban and its author sentenced to death by burning at the stake. When he has an appropriate moment, Eragon plans to thoroughly study this tome, hoping to unravel some of the secrets of this world.
With the pleasantries out of the way, they then head off towards the southeast, following the Toark river.
…
Just as they make it past Woadark lake, a piercing cry echoes through the air. Brom recognizes the sound and shouts a warning to Eragon.
"Eragon, it's the Razac and their mounts. Hide in the tree line quickly."
Eragon leads his horse into a thicket whilst calming the creature with his mind. He then hops off his horse and gently places Saphira on the back of it. He pulls out a wooden cylinder and presses down on the topaz gem on the top. He then places the cylinder on the ground next to them and a translucent bubble barrier surrounds the horse and Saphira.
While they lay in wait in the brush they constantly hear the horrible screeching of the Lethrblaka flying overhead, their piercing cries causing intense mental pain. The screeching sounds slowly start to fade as they head north. Just when Brom and Eragon think they have gone, a very loud screech emanates directly from overhead. Eragon had already pulled out his bow and upon hearing the screech above them, nocked an arrow and aimed towards the sky.
Finna Fjandi (find enemy) Eragon shouts before shooting the arrow straight into the sky. The arrow flies up and curves to the northeast then speeds off. A few seconds later, and they hear a startled squawk. Eragon fires another arrow this time taking out one of the enchanted arrows he made just for this scenario. Knowing that he would have to deal with the Lethrblaka in advance, the arrow he fires acts similar to a bola. As the arrow flies through the air it transforms into a rope with two small wooden balls that home in on a wing of the Lethrblaka and wraps around it causing the creature to fall to the ground with a sickening crunch.
Brom pulls out Morzan's blade Zar'roc and prepares for the coming melee. He sees one of the Razac break through the tree line and spurs his horse forwards as it runs towards him with unnatural movements. Just before Brom's sword would strike the creature, the Razac dodges underneath his blade and slashes at his arm. Brom leans to the side to avoid the Razac's blade then leaps off his horse and confronts the Razac directly.
While Brom is fighting the first Razac, the second appears from the tree line and makes a mad dash towards Eragon. The speed of its movement makes its hood fall back revealing a bird-like beak and beady eyes.
Eragon turns towards the Razac and unsheathes his stone sword. He yells Afbrakka (enlarge) and his sword blade pierces the air straight towards the Razac's chest. The Razac tries to dodge but it is moving too fast, only giving it enough time to lean sideways causing the blade to scrape along its side. It screeches in agony but continues its charge.
Eragon shrinks the sword then makes a horizontal sweep whilst making the sword longer partway through the swing. The Razac is caught off guard by the versatility of the sword swings and is again just barely able to dodge the swing by leaping into the air. Its forward momentum is just enough to get in melee with Eragon but he doesn't allow it to get that close.
He yells Aptr (backwards) and his body is pulled backwards, easily dodging the Razac's blade. Eragon swings down with his sword and extends the blade once again. This motion adds an incredible amount of speed to the descending blade, only giving the Razac enough time to shift his body to the side, causing the blade to slice through the Razac's right arm just past the shoulder. The limb falls to the ground and the Razac screeches in agony at losing its sword arm.
In sheer desperation, it grabs the fallen blade with its left hand and charges at Eragon once again. Not wanting to take any chances, Eragon throws a wooden cylinder at the Razac and shuts his eyes. The Razac swings its sword at the object only to get a flash of white light in its face, completely stopping its charge as it falls to the ground clutching its head. Before it can recover, Eragon slashes down with his sword and cuts the creature's head clean off its shoulders.
Meanwhile, Brom is still in an intense melee with the other Razac. Brom's skill in swordsmanship is on full display as he parries every attack the Razac can throw at him. Even though the Razac is way faster than Brom, it can't find an opening in Brom's defense.
Once Eragon finishes off his enemy, the surviving Razac screeches in anger, disengages as a bonus action, and makes a quick getaway, flying off on the remaining Lethrblaka. Brom walks towards the downed Lethrblaka and finds it in a small impact crater. It is badly injured and can only squirm around in pain. He jumps into the crater and chops its head off. He returns to the clearing and sees Eragon standing over the deceased Razac, examining the creature.
"Well done my boy. Not many can resist the paralyzing fear of the Razac and live to tell the tale let alone ending their existence. These creatures are the bane of humanity and we're driven to near extinction. The mad king found some of their eggs and raised them. Since then, they have become his loyal servants. It won't be long before the king gets word that the pair has fought us so let's get a move on. Oh, and before I forget… Was that another enchanted item you made without telling me?"
A bead of sweat runs down Eragon's forehead and he looks away "I made these back in Carvahall which is before I had to tell you about me making enchanted items."
Brom rubs his temples. "Kids these days… Are there more?"
Eragon looks Brom in the eyes "No…" He looks down. "Maybe…"
Brom with a straight face turns around and starts walking back to his horse while grumbling under his breath. "Fighting the Razac was easier than dealing with him. How on earth did Garrow put up with him?"
Before they leave, Eragon walks up to the Razac that he unalived and rifles around in its pockets finding a small bottle with a rope tied around the neck of it. He pockets the bottle and uses a quick Brisingr (fire) to burn the corpse to ashes. He disables the shield he put around Saphira and his horse and they leave the clearing with haste.
