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Book: Paolini, Christopher - Inheritance Trilogy, Book 2 - Eldest (v1.5) by Unknown
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men, some of them with picks in hand.
The two sides spoke, then simply faced each other, like growling dogs
waiting to see who would strike first. After a long moment, the men of
Carvahall moved aside and let the intruders pass.
What happens now? wondered Roran, rocking back on his heels.
By evening the soldiers had set up camp in a field adjacent to the vil-
lage. Their tents formed a low gray block that flickered with weird shad-
ows as sentries patrolled the perimeter. In the center of the block, a large
fire sent billows of smoke into the air.
Roran had made his own camp, and now he simply watched and
thought. He always assumed that when the strangers destroyed his home,
they got what they wanted, which was the stone Eragon brought from
the Spine. They must not have found it, he decided. Perhaps Eragon man-
aged to escape with the stone.... Perhaps he felt that he had to leave in order
to protect it. He frowned. That would go a long way toward explaining
why Eragon fled, but it still seemed far-fetched to Roran. Whatever the
reason, that stone must be a fantastic treasure for the king to send so many
men to retrieve it. I can’t understand what would make it so valuable.
Maybe it’s magic.
He breathed deeply of the cool air, listening to the hoot of an owl. A
flicker of movement caught his attention. Glancing down the mountain,
he saw a man approaching in the forest below. Roran ducked behind a
boulder, bow drawn. He waited until he was sure it was Albriech, then
whistled softly.
Albriech soon arrived at the boulder. On his back was an overfull pack,
which he dropped to the ground with a grunt. “I thought I’d never find
you.”
“I’m surprised you did.”
“Can’t say I enjoyed wandering through the forest after sundown. I kept
expecting to walk into a bear, or worse. The Spine isn’t a fit place for
men, if you ask me.”
Roran looked back out at Carvahall. “So why are they here?”
46
“To take you into custody. They’re willing to wait as long as they have
to for you to return from ‘hunting.’ ”
Roran sat with a hard thump, his gut clenched with cold anticipation.
“Did they give a reason? Did they mention the stone?”
Albriech shook his head. “All they would say is that it’s the king’s busi-
ness. The whole day they’ve been asking questions about you and Er-
agon—it’s all they’re interested in.” He hesitated. “I’d stay, but they’ll no-
tice if I am missing tomorrow. I brought plenty of food and blankets, plus
some of Gertrude’s salves in case you injure yourself. You should be fine
up here.”
Summoning his energy, Roran smiled. “Thanks for the help.”
“Anyone would do it,” said Albriech with an embarrassed shrug. He
started to leave, then tossed over his shoulder, “By the way, the two
strangers. . they’re called the Ra’zac.”
47
SAPHIRA’S PROMISE
The morning after meeting with the Council of Elders, Eragon was
cleaning and oiling Saphira’s saddle—careful not to overexert himself—
when Orik came to visit. The dwarf waited until Eragon finished with a
strap, then asked, “Are you better today?”
“A little.”
“Good, we all need our strength. I came partly to see to your health and
also because Hrothgar wishes to speak with you, if you are free.”
Eragon gave the dwarf a wry smile. “I’m always free for him. He must
know that.”
Orik laughed. “Ah, but it’s polite to ask nicely.” As Eragon put down
the saddle, Saphira uncoiled from her padded corner and greeted Orik
with a friendly growl. “Morning to you as well,” he said with a bow.
Orik led them through one of Tronjheim’s four main corridors, toward
its central chamber and the two mirroring staircases that curved under-
ground to the dwarf king’s throne room. Before they reached the cham-
ber, however, he turned down a small flight of stairs. It took Eragon a
moment to realize that Orik had taken a side passageway
The two sides spoke, then simply faced each other, like growling dogs
waiting to see who would strike first. After a long moment, the men of
Carvahall moved aside and let the intruders pass.
What happens now? wondered Roran, rocking back on his heels.
By evening the soldiers had set up camp in a field adjacent to the vil-
lage. Their tents formed a low gray block that flickered with weird shad-
ows as sentries patrolled the perimeter. In the center of the block, a large
fire sent billows of smoke into the air.
Roran had made his own camp, and now he simply watched and
thought. He always assumed that when the strangers destroyed his home,
they got what they wanted, which was the stone Eragon brought from
the Spine. They must not have found it, he decided. Perhaps Eragon man-
aged to escape with the stone.... Perhaps he felt that he had to leave in order
to protect it. He frowned. That would go a long way toward explaining
why Eragon fled, but it still seemed far-fetched to Roran. Whatever the
reason, that stone must be a fantastic treasure for the king to send so many
men to retrieve it. I can’t understand what would make it so valuable.
Maybe it’s magic.
He breathed deeply of the cool air, listening to the hoot of an owl. A
flicker of movement caught his attention. Glancing down the mountain,
he saw a man approaching in the forest below. Roran ducked behind a
boulder, bow drawn. He waited until he was sure it was Albriech, then
whistled softly.
Albriech soon arrived at the boulder. On his back was an overfull pack,
which he dropped to the ground with a grunt. “I thought I’d never find
you.”
“I’m surprised you did.”
“Can’t say I enjoyed wandering through the forest after sundown. I kept
expecting to walk into a bear, or worse. The Spine isn’t a fit place for
men, if you ask me.”
Roran looked back out at Carvahall. “So why are they here?”
46
“To take you into custody. They’re willing to wait as long as they have
to for you to return from ‘hunting.’ ”
Roran sat with a hard thump, his gut clenched with cold anticipation.
“Did they give a reason? Did they mention the stone?”
Albriech shook his head. “All they would say is that it’s the king’s busi-
ness. The whole day they’ve been asking questions about you and Er-
agon—it’s all they’re interested in.” He hesitated. “I’d stay, but they’ll no-
tice if I am missing tomorrow. I brought plenty of food and blankets, plus
some of Gertrude’s salves in case you injure yourself. You should be fine
up here.”
Summoning his energy, Roran smiled. “Thanks for the help.”
“Anyone would do it,” said Albriech with an embarrassed shrug. He
started to leave, then tossed over his shoulder, “By the way, the two
strangers. . they’re called the Ra’zac.”
47
SAPHIRA’S PROMISE
The morning after meeting with the Council of Elders, Eragon was
cleaning and oiling Saphira’s saddle—careful not to overexert himself—
when Orik came to visit. The dwarf waited until Eragon finished with a
strap, then asked, “Are you better today?”
“A little.”
“Good, we all need our strength. I came partly to see to your health and
also because Hrothgar wishes to speak with you, if you are free.”
Eragon gave the dwarf a wry smile. “I’m always free for him. He must
know that.”
Orik laughed. “Ah, but it’s polite to ask nicely.” As Eragon put down
the saddle, Saphira uncoiled from her padded corner and greeted Orik
with a friendly growl. “Morning to you as well,” he said with a bow.
Orik led them through one of Tronjheim’s four main corridors, toward
its central chamber and the two mirroring staircases that curved under-
ground to the dwarf king’s throne room. Before they reached the cham-
ber, however, he turned down a small flight of stairs. It took Eragon a
moment to realize that Orik had taken a side passageway
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