The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Journey Begins

"Give them back," Eragon threatened in a low voice. He was being rather harsh, but then again, he didn't have the same relationship with Brom that I did.

"Why?" Brom snapped back. "So you can run off before Garrow's even buried?"

"It's none of your business!" Eragon barked. Uh-oh, his temper is flared. That's not good. "Why did you follow us?" Brom stole a glance over at me and I averted my eyes shamefully.

"I didn't," Brom growled. "I've been waiting for you here. Now where are you going?"

"Nowhere," Eragon said shortly. He lunged for the skins and snatched them out of Brom's hands. Brom made no attempt to stop him. Eragon turned back to me. "Let's go," he growled. I handed him back the sack of meat and glanced at Brom again.

"I hope you have enough meat to feed your dragon," Brom said in a low voice. Eragon froze where he was standing. Slowly, he turned around, the look on his face one of utter shock.

"What are you talking about?" he said, feigning innocence. How could Brom know? Brom crossed his arms over his chest irritably.

"Don't fool with me, boy. I know where that mark on your hand, the gedwёy ignasia, the shining palm, comes from: you have touched a dragon hatchling. I know why you came to me with those questions, and I know that once more the Riders live." This is not good. I didn't think that Brom would ever betray Eragon, or me, but there's always the chance that those strangers in black forced him to do this.

"How did you find out?" Eragon asked in a hollow voice. Brom looked off into the distance for a moment.

"There were clues and hints everywhere; I had only to pay attention. Anyone with the right knowledge could have done the same. Tell me, how is your dragon?" Brom asked nonchalantly.

"She," Eragon said in a cogent voice, "is fine. We weren't at the farm when the strangers came."

"Ah, your legs," he said knowingly. "You were flying?" Eragon's eyes grew wide and I watched him for a time while he didn't answer. He was probably talking to Saphira. Brom only let a slight smirk light up his face as he leaned against a tree. "I have talked with her and she has agreed to stay above us until we settle our differences. As you can see, you really don't have a choice but to answer my questions. Now tell me, where are you going?" Brom can talk to Saphira! How! Eragon seemed to be just as confused by this as I was. He put a hand up to his temple and started rubbing it tiredly.

"I was going to find a safe place to hide while I heal," he finally lied. I knew what his true intention was. He didn't have to say anything. His heart was lusting for revenge, and he had every intention of filling his insatiable thirst for vengeance. He was going to kill the strangers that destroyed the farm.

"And after that?" Brom asked. Apparently he could also tell that there was more going on in Eragon's mind than he let on. Eragon sighed and glanced over at me.

"I was going to hunt down the strangers and kill them," he said.

"A mighty task for one so young," Brom said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to go around hunting down and killing strangers that destroyed your life completely. "Certainly a worthy endeavor, and one you are fit to carry out, yet it strikes me that help would not be unwelcome." He suddenly pulled out a large pack from nowhere.

"You're not coming with us, are you?" I asked incredulously.

"Of course," he said, his voice bringing on a mockingly hurt tone. "I'm not about to stay behind while you two race off toward sudden death without me. Where's the fun in that?" Brom could be such a joker sometimes. I only smiled fondly at his persistence. Eragon's brow, however, furrowed in annoyance.