Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.44 -Secrets Revealed

Dru~

"What do you mean, tips the scales in our favor?" I asked. Angela sighed.

"Arya, Murtagh; I and Dru need to take a walk for a while. I'll have him back soon."

"Of course." Arya said. Angela trudged past me and out the door. Solembum was behind me.

Go on then, Dru son of Galbatorix. Said Solembum in my head.

How did you know that?

Your scent. You smell of him. One does not so easily forget the smell of prominence.

You met him?

No, but Eragon had your father's blood on his sword, so I got a good whiff. Go. Angela isn't waiting.

I looked back over and out the door. Angela was steadily walking down the path. I started after her, my legs slightly hurting from the burns. Eventually I caught up, after she passed under a very large pine tree.

"So Angela, what do-" I was interrupted as she held a finger to her lips. She closed her eyes for a single second. When she opened them again she smiled slightly.

"There. Now we can talk without being heard. Which wouldn't be bad, but it wouldn't be good either."

"Oh. I should've thought of that."

"Now, exactly what do you know?"

"I know that...that thing came out of my chest."

"I meant about your mother. Not the whole fire-destruction-death sort of thing."

"Oh...well...not much. I guess she had us a few years before the Varden rebelled and when they attacked the capitol." Angela sighed and leaned back against the trunk of a tree.

"I see I have quite a bit to explain..."

"Like...?"

"You're older than Arya."

"What?"

"You heard what I said. You claim to be only forty five, but you are much, much older."

"How old? And how and why and-"

"Let me speak, child! Shush! Your mother was quite the extraordinary woman.. You know of the Shrrg in the Beor Mountains?"

"Yes."

"They're basically a larger version of wolves. Don't you agree?"

"A much much larger version...but yes. Why?"

"Imagine a much, much larger version of a werecat. And then you have your mother."

"Our mother was a werecat?"

"No no, a shapeshifter! There's a difference. Werecats are smaller. And less animalistic."

"What did you mean about our age then?"

"Do you honestly believe that Galbatorix fathered you during the height of his power?" I was silent. "You've never really thought about it, have you?"

"I can't say I have. I've focused on hiding it rather than thinking about it."

"Your mother had you during the first few years of his rise to power."

"But that was...how long ago?"

"Well, eighty years before you thought you were born."

"So I'm a hundred and twenty five?"

"You and your two brothers. I don't know about the others."

"But why?"

"It was easier to get you out of the city safely when your father was at war and there was the chaos of the final battle."

"How do I only look twenty then?"

"Hasn't Arya taught you anything about magic? There are no boundaries if you have enough energy. Even death isn't a boundary. Contrary to what everyone is taught. Its just so they dont kill themselves. Take out your necklace." I lifted it up, and into the light.

"Now open your mind to it. Look in the stones and tell me what you see." So I did. And i was terrified of what i saw. The rubies...Every single one of them was filled with an endless amount of energy. If I truly wanted to, I could probably create an explosion so big the entire expanse of Du Weldenvarden would be gone. And that was within one gem. It took a second before I withdrew back to my own body. I was sweating. And quite surprised that the rubies hadn't exploded by now.

"You see?"

"How....what?" I asked. "How could she do that?"

"Magic. I'll not explain the details, but here's the basics. You know of the explosion that happened in Doru Areaba? Thuviel the elf?" Thuviel had sacrificed himself to try and stop The Forsworn and my father during the fight when they were taking over.

"I know."

"Imagine if one contained that energy within a gem. And you have nine of those very special gems around your neck right now." I was tempted to rip off the necklace and bury it somewhere far, far away.

"Why?"

"Your mother had nine of her own. And she gave up seven of hers for you and your siblings, so she had only two left. The purpose of those is to...well, to cheat death itself. If you are dying, it keeps you alive until you recover or you are healed. And something else, but that is for later."

"So where did the others come from?"

"A bit cruel, but they came from people. Your father did torture enemies quite extensively. And she was quite a lot like Morzan's own black hand, Selena, who is Eragon and Murtagh's mother. In fact, I think the two were friends even as me and your mother were."

"So..what did she do?"

"Your mother killed your father's enemies. Entered their mind and made them commit suicide in the same way your father and Thuviel did. Then she contained the energy before it could escape."

"So there's people around my neck?"

"Nine, yes. And nine around the necks of each of your siblings.

"I have so much to ask.."

"And I will tell. Now, there's a few of the secrets. How did your mother die? That's the one thing I don't know right now." I heard a snap, and turned to see Solembum yawning. He shut his mouth quickly and it made the snapping sound. I looked back at Angela.

"She had her throat cut open in front of us."

"Oh..I'm so sorry. A horrible way to die. Much easier fighting a pack of wild hamsters. Vicious little things, wild hamsters are. They get you with their teeth."