Grave Circumstances
Erys limped back to her chambers with a new assortment of bruises. It was yet another day Murtagh had thrashed her near to death; she'd been too slow to block or strike. The blade was heavy in her hands. Even now, she'd barely begun to learn how to truly properly hold it. Whenever she failed to block, she received a new bruise.
She removed the protective edge around Arvindr and sheathed the blade. She propped it against the wall and laid back. Eirdor stuck his head through her window, but she ignored him and pressed a hand to Khyiana's Eldunarí.
"If I were to leave, would you follow?" she asked.
Khyiana acknowledged her presence, but said nothing.
"Humph."
Erys covered the Eldunarí and turned her thoughts to her mother as she did every night. What hell had she gone through? What had she yet to endure?
Erys jumped as Eirdain knocked at her door. She turned her back to him. No doubt feeling intrusive without an invitation, he sat at the entrance to her door without breaking the threshold.
"You hate me?"
"Not you."
She felt Du Thirr's hurt through her link, despite blocking their thoughts. She suppressed the guilt welling up inside her.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"Are you leaving?"
Erys looked to her bag, packed and ready to go. She'd wrapped her blades as well.
"I keep it ready," was all she said.
"Murtagh will let you go eventually—"
"But how long?" Erys demanded. "My mother could be dead by then. She might already."
"Mine too."
Erys looked up in surprise; she'd assumed by his demeanour she was gone. If that wasn't the case, for what reason did he wait?
"I don't—?"
"I'm with you. You have to know that? In whatever you do."
She hardened her gaze. "Then why did you give him my book?"
Eirdain blinked in surprise. "You would've killed yourself eventually. I thought he could help. And he did!"
"At what cost?"
"Magic comes with a price," Murtagh said.
Eirdain and Erys jumped. They hadn't heard him approach. Erys pulled herself to her feet wincing and turned to face the door.
"Would you rather that price cost you your life or your time?"
Erys didn't answer.
"Ailden!"
She ducked her head. "My time is my mother's life."
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Erys: An Eragon Fanfiction - (Under Editing)
FanfictionIn the time Eragon has been absent from Alagaësia, the riders have fallen to vices. Few have been able to raise to fulfill the roles the riders had originally been given, and a dark sect-reminiscent of the Foresworn-has risen to power. The cities...
