Sja Fram [Inheritance Cycle | Eragon Fanfiction]

Chapter V: Death in Yazuac (Unedited)

I shot up panting, the air leaving my mouth in gusts. I looked about warily; nothing was out of the ordinary. Neither Brom nor Eragon were up; however, Saphira was looking at me warily.

One hand reached up to my throat and rubbed it as I remembered a past memory. The pain lingered in my head for a minute before I got up. I walked over to Istal who also seemed wary, Istal limped over to me and once again I likened him to when I had first rode him on that fateful day. I gently stroked his face and I could tell he had also relived the past that night.

I started brushing him down, Istal rested his leg. The imaginary pain had obviously made him forget that it wasn't hurt. Once again, I rubbed my throat knowing that the scars were probably still covered in dirt from when I was in the forest.

Soon Brom and Eragon were up, they quickly drank the last of their water. I took a sip of mine knowing that I had hardly any left. We quickly tacked the horses up and left our campsite, Brom took the lead.

"I hope we're going in the right direction," Eragon as he shook his water bag. "Because if not we'll be in trouble."

Brom set Snowfire off at a trot with a laugh, "I've travelled this way before. Yazuac will be in sight before dusk."

I scoffed at him, "And how do you know we're going in the same direction?"

"Yeah," Eragon agreed, "everything looks the same for leagues around."

"Maybe he's just seeing something that we don't, or Yazauc is invisible," I said.

"I am not guided by the land, but by the stars and the sun. They will not, and cannot, lead us astray. Now come! Let us pick up this pace so we can get there before nightfall. There is no point in conjuring woe when none exists." Brom said loudly.

"As long as you know your way," I muttered under my breath, still unsure about my two travelling companions.

It was much later in the day that Yazauc appeared, a dark bump on the horizon. Soon a dark winding line appeared at either side of the town.

"That's the Ninor River," Brom announced as he pointed at it.

As we approached Eragon spoke, "Saphira will be seen is if she says with us much longer."

"She should hide," Brom said looked around. "See that bend in the river," Brom said with a frown, pointing at said bend. "Have her wait there. It's far enough from Yazuac so no one should find her but close enough so that she won't be left behind. We'll go through the town and get what we need, we'll then meet her."

As Saphira flew off I noticed she looked back a couple of times, she probably didn't like the plan. As we approached the village, I felt Istal get more nervous and hesitant. My dream last night had made me more nervous and jumpy.

As soon as we approached the small houses we could see smoke from chimneys. However, there was no one on the streets. Istal was standing steady, but I could tell he was tense and ready to respond to any of my commands.

By unspoken agreement, we all stopped just before the first house. "There aren't any dogs barking," Eragon said.

Istal pawed the ground nervously, "No," Brom said slowly drawing the word out.

"Doesn't mean anything by it though," Eragon said.

"No..."

Eragon paused before replying, "Someone should have seen us by now."

"Yes," Brom said.

"Then why isn't anyone out?" Eragon asked curiosity and fear in his voice.

"Could be afraid," Brom said as he squinted at the sun.

"Possibly," Eragon said. Nobody spoke for a minute, "What if it's a trap? The Ra'zac might be waiting for us."

"We need provisions and water," Brom said.

"There's the Ninor," I pointed out, speaking for the first time since the morning.

"Still need provisions," Brom said.

"True," Eragon said in a thoughtful tone. "So do we go in?"

Brom gave Snowfire a gently nudge and turned the white stallion, "Yes. But not like fools. This is the main entrance to Yazuac, if there was an ambush it would be along here. No one would expect us to come from another direction."

"Around to the side, then?" Eragon questioned, Brom nodded and pulled out his saddle.

Eragon strung his bow and nocked an arrow as they turned their horses to trot around to the next entrance. I looked down the road and frowned, "Something's not right." Istal tossed his head and snorted, I looked at him and turned him to follow the others. "Definitely not right," I muttered as I cantered a few strides to catch up.

I drew my sword out, the purple blade gleaming in the light. I followed the pair in front of me and found myself thinking how much Eragon looked like, what I imagined a young Brom would look like.

A small sand-coloured fox darted away as the three of us trotted towards the centre of the town. I looked at the houses that lined the street as we trotted past. The houses were dark and foreboding with shattered windows.

Istal rolled his eyes and tossed his head before stopping. I looked around as Istal stopped, I knew I wouldn't be able to get him to move unless it was really needed. Brom and Eragon turned to face me as I tried to get Istal to move.

"Go on, he won't move, I'll catch up to you in a minute." I said as I gripped my sword tighter.

Brom looked unsure but nodded, I shivered as I spotted a bit of blood on the doorstep of a broken door.

"Istal, if they're attacked do you want to be held as a coward?" I asked my horse as he walked forward.

I sent him into a canter and we entered the centre of the town, I reined him in and swore. My face grew pale and I felt bile rise in my throat. In the middle of the square there were piles of bodies. The clothes were soaked with blood and much of the ground was covered in it. There were children, men and woman. And out of all of them were black arrows, at the top of the biggest pile a black, barbed spear stood out. It was impaling the white body of a newborn.

A crow cawed and dipped out of the sky and perched on the spear. Within seconds the crow fell over backwards with an arrow protruding from its chest. I looked over to where Eragon was clutching his bow in a white hand and throwing up.

I nudged Istal over to them, "Brom do you know who did this?" I asked as Eragon decided he would stay with Brom and I in town.

Brom bowed his head, "Those who love the pain and suffering of others. They wear many faces and go by many disguises. But there is only one name for it, evil. There is no understanding it, all we can do is pity and honour the victims."

Cadoc in the picture