Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Twenty: Iridescent

suspected existed, a craving to experience the things that she had unknowingly sacrificed. The offer of a second chance was too great an opportunity for her to ignore. She deserted her work and devoted herself to the young man and, for a time, they were happy."

"When Linnëa discovered that she had been spurned, scorned, and abandoned, she went mad with grief. The young man had done the worst possible thing; he had given her a taste of the fullness of life, then torn it away with no more thought than a rooster flitting from one hen to the next. She found him with the woman and, in her fury, she stabbed him to death."

"Linnëa knew that what she had done was evil. She also knew that even if she was exonerated of the murder, she could not return to her previous existence. Life had lost all joy for her. So she went to the oldest tree in Du Weldenvarden, pressed herself against it, and sang herself into the tree, abandoning all allegiance to her own race. For three days and three nights, she sang, and when she finished, she had become one with her beloved plants. And through all the millennia since has she kept watch over the forest... Thus was the Menoa tree created. Do you think that the young man was to blame for the tragedy?"

"I think," Eragon said. "That what he did was cruel... and that Linnëa overreacted. They were both at fault."

"They weren't suited for each other," Arya said shortly.

"Perhaps, being home seems to agree with you."

"It does."

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

"Very good, Eragon-vodhr."

"Aye. Well played, Bjartskular." Eragon and Saphira had finally passed the quizzes we took when we first arrived. Alethea and Saphira then left with Glaedr.

"Your voice is rougher today, Eragon. Are you sick?"

"My back hurt again this morning."

"Ah. You have my sympathy." He motioned with one finger. "Wait here."

Eragon and I watched as Oromis strode into his hut and then reappeared with his bronze sword in hand.

"Today," he said, "We shall forgo the Rimgar and instead cross our two blades, Naegling and Zar' roc. Mal, you will switch with Eragon later. Draw thy sword and guard its edge as your first master taught you."

"Gëuloth du knífr," Eragon said, and a winking blue star popped into existence between his thumb and forefinger, jumping from one to the next as he ran it down Zar'roc's perilous length. Eragon and Oromis started to spar. I winced at just how good our Master was. Not once did Eragon land a blow on Oromis

"Move your feet faster," Oromis cried. "He who stands like a pillar dies in battle. He who bends like a reed is triumphant!"

Twenty minutes into the fight when I saw Oromis's illness start to show. Eragon made a move to try and get at least one hit in ended up with him curled on the ground. He continued to twitch in the mud for another twenty minutes. Eragon finally pushed himself to his knees. He spit out a little blood.

"Bit my tongue."

Oromis nodded as if it were to be expected. "Do you require healing?"

"No."

"Very well. Tend to your sword, then bathe and go to the stump in the glade and listen to the thoughts of the forest. Listen, and when you hear no more, come tell me what you have learned."