Brom laughed. "That's a good point though. I'm only part human. Would you be disappointed if this is all the hairier I ever got?"
"Hmmm," Brin mused as if really contemplating it. "Yep, I guess so." Then she snickered. "Of course not, Brom. You're beautiful. Wait, that didn't sound right. Handsome. And very manly. Very, very masculine indeed. I love how soft it is, though my hide is tough enough for far stiffer."
"Hide?" Brom skeptically repeated. "Please, Brin. Don't refer to yourself like you're an animal."
"I do have yellow eyes, sharp teeth, and gray skin. And black claws," she added, almost as an afterthought, while once again trailing her fingernails along his chest. "Beastlike
enough in some people's minds."
"I want to feel those sharp teeth somewhere," Brom requested. "Nicely this time." She leaned forward and obligingly fulfilled his request on his ear as he continued, "When you bit me in Ellesméra, you told me you might let me bite you sometime. Did I return the favor to your liking?"
"Mmhmm," Brin breathed. "It was marvelous, Brom. Everything you did, everything you said. It felt sublime. I'm so glad we had this night together. Now no matter what happens
next, I won't have any regrets." She yawned and rested her forehead against his temple. "I'm finally feeling tired. What time do you think it is?"
"Maybe four or five. It was about midnight when I came out here. We fought for over an hour—"
"And wrestled for at least three more," she interjected with an impish laugh. "Will or Var will be back out before long. The sky is starting to lighten in the east."
"There's a blanket in the long boat," Brom said, using magic to summon and dry it. Then he spread it out over them. "So my kiss on your lips, huh? It will be difficult to fall asleep
after that."
Brin breathed a drowsy laugh. "Your kiss on my face, anywhere you want, works just as well."
So Brom kissed everywhere on her face except her lips then pulled it down to his throat. "Let's sleep while we can," he muttered. "Big day tomorrow. I love you, beautiful Brin."
"Love you too, handsome," she managed before drifting to sleep in his arms.
Another celebration happened on Brom's twentieth birthday, though it was of a much different nature and far from the ship sailing toward Vroengard.
Eragon and Arya could have had no way of knowing that the species Eragon and Saphira thought they doomed to extinction was actually reborn on the day of their first son's birth
with the hatching of two pitted blueblack eggs.
And now, twenty years later, the two eldest Ra'zac awaited their transformation in the dark tower at Helgrind, while the younger pair eagerly looked on. Unlike during the hatching
of these latter two, where Tenga, the elder Ra'zac, and a half dozen priests of Tosk comprised the zealous audience, only Ra'zac were present for this night's show.
The full moon intermittently peered out from behind scuttling black storm clouds, casting eerie shadows into the cavernous opening atop the highest monolith. A bolt of lightning
stabbed through the night, splintering the sky into a dozen uneven fragments. A similar pattern appeared on the carapaces of the transforming beasts, jagged fissures split open
under the pressure of unfurling wings.
The accompanying boom of thunder muffled the screeching clamor of this nightmarish metamorphosis. And so the process slowly continued until the entire shiny black exoskeleton
fell away to reveal a slimy gray hide and powerful batlike wings.
The creatures writhed and stretched, snaking long necks from side to side as they tested their new form. Rimless black eyes glistened in the darkness as a blaze of electricity
sizzled across the sky.
Snapping their thick beaks, which would rapidly gain size in the coming weeks until they surpassed the length of a grown man, the Lethrblaka emitted triumphant shrieks. Their
younger siblings joined in the cacophonous symphony, melding with the sinister sounds of the storm.
The four monsters shared one thought: We must find the Shade. But before even that, time to hunt.
The next morning Brom awoke to his friends standing around them in a circle, most of them smiling and whispering. Though he and Brin were right out on the main deck, their
exhaustion had compelled them to sleep right through sunrise.
As Brin groggily returned to awareness, she began to push herself upright. Brom held her in place, and a confused look crossed her face.
"What's going on?" she slurred in a voice thick with sleep.
"I'd let you up," Brom replied, "but you're naked. We both are. Do you really want the others to see us like that?"
Brin's expression of sleepy confusion quickly cleared, and she then gazed at him with focused eyes. "Naked?" she repeated, bending one knee so her leg slid along his. Then she
smiled. "Yes we are. So last night wasn't a dream?"
"No," Brom refuted. "But I seem to recall that we made one another's dreams come true."
Brin's smile widened as Var loudly snickered. Nefin and Ajh joined him. Then she looked up. Keeta and Zadí were both smiling in knowing understanding, though Hanna looked
slightly mortified.
"Nice night, then?" Var casually asked. "And we just thought it was the storm out here. Zadí and I didn't see you on the other side of the long boat as we made our way below
deck."
Brom chuckled and tucked one hand behind his head. "Brin and I thought it would be a good idea to elope. We made it as far as we could without nabbing the long boat." Their
friends laughed again.
"Congratulations!" Zadí cried. "Good timing, too."
"Thank you, little sister," Brom accepted. "So I would imagine you have already eaten breakfast."
"Yep," Ajh confirmed. "And we came up to discover what had become of you other two. I can understand why you didn't make an appearance."
"Yes," Brom regretfully agreed. "We'll have to have a real honeymoon some other time. Perhaps my new wife and I should clothe ourselves and quickly eat so we can come up with
a plan for what to do when we reach Vroengard."
"So how are we going to do this?" Brin questioned. "Our clothes are torn."
"Hanna would mend them," Nefin began with a chortle, "but she's too embarrassed thinking about how they got that way and why." He laughed more loudly when his younger sister
blushed crimson.
"I'll go grab some pants for Brom," Nefin continued. "Then maybe Brin can wrap up in the blanket to head down."
Brin shrugged her agreement and snuggled back into Brom's chest, apparently content to wait until Nefin returned, which happened but a moment later.
"I wish you weren't so fast," Brin complained, and Brom couldn't help but agree as she finished, "I like my current location."
"Everyone who doesn't want to see me naked turn around for a second," Brom instructed, quickly memorizing the way Brin felt pressed against him. He had no idea when they
would enjoy a repeat of their first night together.
Hanna not only turned, but she fled down to the berth cabin. Keeta and Zadí respectfully faced away. Then Brin shifted off of Brom so he could stand, her eyes admiring as he
quickly pulled on the pants Nefin gave him.
Holding the blanket around herself, Brin also arose and smiled at him. "See you in a minute, handsome."
Brom returned the smile and nodded, keeping his eyes on her back until she disappeared down the ladder.
Keeta and Zadí followed Brin to the berth cabin.
"Brin!" Keeta exclaimed. "Did you plan for that to happen last night?"
Brin felt a silly grin of infatuation split her face. "No, Keeta. But it seemed like it was supposed to. I could tell Brom wasn't asleep. I couldn't sleep either. It seemed like there was
a palpable tension in the air with the storm. And right when I heard the first rumble of thunder, I ovulated."
"Wait!" Zadí interjected. "So are y
ou pregnant? Surely Brom would have noticed with his mind!"
"Yep," Brin verified. "I am, and he did. So you'll most likely have a nephew within a few months of your baby coming."
Zadí squealed her delight at the thought and threw her arms around Brin in an exuberant hug. "How exciting!"
"Congratulations!" Keeta seconded before asking, "So how was it?"
Brin's grin had never left. "Amazing. But almost painful at first. We fought for over an hour and Brom finally subdued me, so the initial tension had gotten so much worse by the
time we were married. Brom insisted on performing a little ceremony, if you can call it that. Needless to say, he was pretty aroused. I was completely fertile, and I still had to
focus on relaxing."
"That's how it was for me too," Zadí agreed. "And Var waited until I was fully ready and let me be totally in control. My whole body started trembling. It's such an incredible
feeling."
Brin nodded. "And he thought only of me, of course. He has worried before that I would be disappointed he's not like an Urgal ram, but that didn't seem to be a problem." She
snickered as she recalled the previous night.
Zadí laughed. "I'm so happy for you two. He has wanted this for so long, and I know you have too for the past couple of months. I'm glad you could experience it before whatever
happens next."
Zadí glanced down as Keeta cleared her throat. Brin also looked when Keeta tilted her head toward Hanna's hammock.
"Oh, Hanna!" Zadí regretfully cried. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you!"
"Sorry, Hanna," Brin repeated.
"It's nothing," Hanna dismissed. "I'm more used to open discussion of this than most elves, but I still can't seem to fully overcome my awkwardness. But it's insightful, no matter
how I otherwise feel. Hopefully I'll eventually need this knowledge."
Zadí giggled. "No doubt. Ajh is probably thinking the same thing up there as Brom brags about his conquest." Hanna timidly smiled as another blush blossomed on her cheeks.
"Do you really think he's bragging?" Brin wondered.
"Pff! Of course!" Zadí insisted. "If he finally bested you, he's definitely bragging. And I'm sure he and Var are giving their eager audience an equally insightful lesson."
The girls all laughed. Brin was finished dressing and brushing her hair, so she headed back toward the ladder, stopping first to use the privy before returning to the main deck
where the others awaited.
After eating and enjoying more goodnatured bantering with his friends—all save Will, at least, who remained at the helm throughout—Brom made himself get serious.
"So we're almost to Vroengard," he started. "And we need to have a plan. We were fortunate when we faced the Shade that our lack of preparation didn't backfire. I'm not sure we
should rush to face Tenga in the same way. There are over a hundred other people living on that island, and from what I can tell with my mind, they're all magicians. That could be
very problematic."
The others shifted uneasily, glancing around at one another.
Brom continued, "I have also learned that they don't seem to have many wards protecting them. Anyone have any guesses as to why?"
Hanna suggested, "Perhaps, like Trianna's eel, they are somehow immune to pain and therefore don't feel a need to protect themselves from threats that would normally cause
injury."
"I was thinking the same thing," Brom agreed. "In order to have survived on Vroengard for any length of time, they are somehow protected from the poison that permeates the
whole island. But if we have to fight them and they can't feel pain . . ."
"Then every blow must be a death blow," Nefin gravely finished. "We would be so outnumbered that we wouldn't be able to afford anything less."
Brom solemnly bowed his head. "If these magicians stand with Tenga against us, we will be required to take some lives. Up until now, we haven't killed like that. Trianna's eel was
the only living creature we have slaughtered. Her other assistants were already dead. I know this thought is as repulsive to all of you as it is to me."
"I hate to be the one to suggest this," Var said, "but someone needs to. Brom, couldn't you, Hanna, and Nefin reach out with your minds once we're closer and quickly end their
lives? Wouldn't that somehow be more humane?"
Brom's face tightened angrily. "I could do that, but I won't. In my mind, there's a distinction. That seems like coldblooded murder. They would have no warning, no chance to defend
themselves. I'm not a god to decide when a person's life begins and ends. But if we face them and they attack, we'll be fighting to defend ourselves. And we're more evenly matched than you think. Most of you former Dragon Riders might no longer have magical abilities, but I can guarantee you're all better fighters. In that regard, these magicians
don't stand a chance, not even if they're armed. I just want it to be a level playing field. If Hanna and Nefin can maintain some wards to guard you all against magical threats, then
it will be a big group of people who can't feel pain fighting against a small group of incredibly skilled warriors. No magic to throw things out of balance."
"So maybe we should decide who will protect whom with wards," Hanna recommended. "I'll protect myself, Ajh, Will, and Var. I already know . . ." She awkwardly trailed off.
"That I want to protect Keeta," Nefin finished. "You're right, sweetie," he reassured Hanna, playfully winking at Keeta. "And I'll also protect myself."
"I offered to do more because I know Nefin will be a big part of the fighting," Hanna explained.
"Yes," Brom said, "he will. Nefin, we'll need you to take out as many as you can with your bow. I know you can get every arrow right through an eye."
Nefin grimly dipped his head.
"I will protect Brin from magical attack," Brom went on, "but I'm not sure how much energy we can afford to put into physical wards. Those who will be fighting all have excellent
armor and shields from Rhunön. Do we feel this is sufficient, on top of our fighting abilities, to keep us from grievous physical injury?"
"It should be," Ajh said. "I know you'll be completely focused on engaging Tenga, and Brin will act as your physical ward, in a sense. But if we ask Hanna and Nefin to maintain
those types of wards as well, they might be overwhelmed and begin to falter in sustaining the magical defenses. Then the rest of us just fighting—me, Var, Will, Keeta—would be
susceptible to any spells the magicians cast."
"That's a good point," Brom granted. "So we've determined how to defend ourselves from magical attack and we are agreed that we will almost certainly be expected to end
people's lives if we encounter a conflict. But I still don't know what to expect as far as right when we arrive. I don't know where these people will be right then. Tenga might be
waiting for us on the beach. We might have to trek through the mountains. We just need to be as rested and alert as possible. When the moment comes that I'm sure Tenga means
to fight, I will immediately make myself invisible. I'm already hiding my mental presence from detection, and I'm hoping he will be surprised and confused if and when he realizes my intentions. And those will be to mentally thwart any magical attacks he directs toward you, as well as to disarm all of the countless wards he no doubt has protecting himself so
he can be killed by any regular weapon."
"My first priority," Will called from the wheel, "is to find Lena and make sure she's safe. If she happens not to be right with Tenga, we'll have to meet up later."
"Of course," Brom said.
"And I'll stay as far away from the fighting as possible," Zadí stated. "Maybe the ship will need some looking after."
Var smiled. "Good idea, sweetie. But I don't think you should stay alone with the ship if all of us head inland. I want you to be close enough that I can k
eep an eye on you."
"Because I'm bound to get into so much trouble," Zadí teased, rubbing her adorable little belly. "I'll stay close but out of harm's way."
"Perfect," Var approved, pulling her against him with an arm around her shoulders.
"If we aren't using physical wards, I'll also stay out of harm's way," Hanna echoed. "I can perform my task without being immediately present, and then no one will have to worry
about defending me from stray arrows or something."
"A mahvelous plan, sugar," Ajh drawled.
Hanna shared a shy smile.
"Anything else?" Brom then asked, feeling like they had done a fairly decent job of planning when there were still so many unknown factors.
"Yes," Nefin worriedly said, gazing at the distant horizon. "What's that?"
They all turned to look and saw foreboding black clouds roiling across the sky toward the ship with unnatural speed and an almost tangible malice.
"That is our luck running out," Will dryly commented. "Let's get the sails down before that hits or we'll capsize for sure."
And everyone hurried to fulfill his order before the terrible tempest struck.
After Tenga left Lena bound in the Vault of Souls, he took the elven twin sisters and likewise fettered them to one of Aras Thelduin's highest peaks. There he intended to leave them
until they truly did starve to death. He was taking no chances this time.
You really are a softy, he indulgently reprimanded himself. If you could just find the nerve to actually end someone's life, you might have avoided all of these problems. But no matter. It is still thrilling to imagine Lena and these elves slowly wasting away. Miserable creatures! How it irks me that they tricked and lied to me all these months!
Then he went back to his quarters. Though he had replenished his vitality using Bid'Daum's energy, he was filthy and hungry. So he bathed himself, ate—feeling a twinge of regret
that he would no longer enjoy Lena's fine meals—and indulged in a long slumber. No need to hurry. He wanted the nine children to sail as close to Vroengard as they could before
they experienced the magnitude of his foul temper. Then he could dash their hopes when they were highest.
When he awakened, Tenga wrote a long record of his twomonth exile in the barren wilderness between Ilirea and Helgrind. Documenting his life experiences was a centuriesold
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