Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.30 -Trade Off

Dru~

He had confirmation. Galbatorix was our father. I don't know how he felt exactly, but he seemed as if he had assumed it, and only needed the final word.

"Why did you tell me?" He asked.

"Because I know that out of The Three, you probably understand best. You know how to keep a secret."

"And why do you assume that?"

"You knew our father. You knew about us, probably guessed who we were, but you didn't tell Eragon or Arya, did you?"

"I didn't."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Sympathy, maybe. You have enough trouble already, and it isn't even your fault. Its the fact of who your father just happens to be.You don't need more on your hands than you can handle."

"We have handled enough lately.....do you know why we've been staying here?" Murtagh had, after all, joined Arya in teaching us a couple weeks ago.

"I dont know. Best as I can guess its because Arya and Eragon want you to spend as much time as you can with Iara before she leaves."

"Leaves?!"

"Eragon is going to take her and Marumen back to Vroengard while you five stay here with me and Arya."

"Why?"

"They're too young to learn some of the things we plan to teach you."

"Like what?"

"How to use that blade of yours."

"Oh." At the mention of my sword, he gained my attention. Mom had given it to us, said she had gotten them from a friend. Whatever that meant, she had never said. I don't know where my sword was from, nor what the strange runes carved on the side meant. "Do you know what these mean?"

"I do."

"Can you tell me what they say?"

"I guess I can. Its the name of your sword."

"What is it?"

"It reads Naegling."

"What does that mean?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

"I dont know."

"Your sister does too."

"Which one?" He chuckled at my light joke.

"Iara."

"Oh. Yeah. She always has." The conversation lulled, and then the sun set over the sea. After a while, he stood up and brushed the sand off of his knees. He held out a hand. I took it, and he helped me up. Over the small hill, I could see the firelight reflecting off of scales.

"When are they leaving?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. Or morning, depends on what the weather is like."

"So soon...."

"Its not like youre never going to see her again."

"I guess not.." Over the hill to the campfire. Mostly everyone else was sleeping. Luke was awake, however.

"You better bro?"

"Yeah."

"Good, help me with these fire cakes." He had a group of flat stones in front of the fire, and was cooking bread on them.

"Seriously? Its bed time!"

"Its bed time meh meh meh! Im hungry, okay?"

"Fine. Just save the majority for tomorrow."