Erys: An Eragon Fanfiction - (Under Editing)

Chapter Forty

Question of Worth

Erys marched ahead, sullen and quite. She blocked Du Thirr from her mind as she'd done the last few days. No one in the group spoke, save Khyiana and Eirdain in their own private conversation. No one had spoken with Erys since after Keilith's funeral. She remained closed to all attempts to comfort her. Her only companions were her own dark thoughts.

Keilith's spectre walked beside her, never blinking, holding her under his gaze. "Errrryssss," it hissed.

"Leave me alone."

The voice became an eerie wailing singsong. "Erys." He hung onto her name a moment too long.

"Shut. Up."

He fell silent, walking behind her, eyes wide with fury. Still, she wouldn't say the words, the words that banished the dead from her mind, if only for a while. She couldn't bring herself to abandon Keilith.

So, day by day, his presence chipped away her sanity. The unbroken forest floor did nothing to ease the strain on her mind. It began to show as she muttered endlessly to herself—more appropriately she whispered responses to Keilith's spectre, but no one was haunted by him but she.

Eirdain showed concern, but didn't interfere after she'd snapped at him and threatened violence. Du Thirr had given up battering against her mind; they had no desire to speak if she wasn't willing.

Day in and out was the same until at last the monotony of the forest landscape was broken when they came upon the Toark River, flowing south from Terim.  Erys couldn't count the days they'd been on the road; she felt aged when they finally found Toark. And she hadn't aged well.  It was more than a physical ache; her soul was heavy.  She was weary in a way rest wouldn't heal.  What will she had left was slowly breaking.

"We follow the river," she said. It was the first thing she'd spoken since Keilith's death. Her throat felt raw.

"It's the safest path to Surda," Eirdain agreed.

Erys didn't respond.  Eirdain fell back, giving Erys the privacy she desired.  He passed his time wondering on Erys' confession, whether they should leave the renamed Alagaësia, the Rider's Republic. If they managed to escape, it could prove to be the safest course of action. Until he was sure her sanity hadn't abandoned her, he elected to keep his thoughts private.

Dawn began to peak through the trees, breaking his concentration. Travelling, even off the road, was dangerous during the day. There was always the chance of being spotted by a patrol or passing stranger. It'd happened twice already, and both encounters had ended in bloodshed.  Despite cleaning her blade, Erys could still see the stains.

"We should make camp."

Erys dismounted and led her horse to a path of grass to let it sleep.  She removed its tack and settled down to rest.

"Let's try for the lake tomorrow," Erys finally said.  "We'll leave the river then and head for Kuasta."

Eirdain smiled sorrowfully. It was the most she'd said in days, unless he counted the inane babble.

She said nothing else and settled to eat. Food was no longer a comfort for her. She did not taste it, nor did she want it; it was little more than a means to keep up her strength. Day in and out, they had followed their routine until it wore a rut in their lives.