Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Fifty-Two: Brilliant

"I can't say we understand all of them, but they make things seem ... different."

"I see," Arya murmured. "Do you think the change is for the better?"

"I do. Change itself is neither good nor bad, but knowledge is always useful."

"Was it difficult to find your true names?" Eragon dove into the story of how we discovered our true names.

"I should go. There is much yet to be done." Eragon and I nodded.

"We'll see you tomorrow, then," I said as Alethea climbed into my pack from my lap.

"Tomorrow." Arya began to walk away. After a few steps, she paused and looked back.

"I'm glad that Saphira chose you as her Rider, Eragon. And I'm proud to have fought alongside you. You have become more than any of us dared hope. Whatever happens tomorrow, know that."

Then she resumed her stride, and soon she disappeared around the curve of the hill, leaving us alone with the Eldunarí.

When darkness fell, Eragon and I cast a spell to hide ourselves. We then set out on foot towards the camp.

"Be careful." Saphira chided us from behind. As long as we were quiet, and as long as the men did not catch sight of our footprints or shadows, we could move about freely. We wound our way between the woolen tents until we found Roran and Katrina's. Eragon rapped his knuckles against the central pole, and Roran popped his head out.

"Where are you?" whispered Roran. "Hurry in!"

Releasing the flow of magic, Eragon and I revealed ourselves. Roran flinched, then grabbed us both by the arm and pulled us into the dark interior of the tent.

"Welcome, Eragon, Mal," said Katrina, rising from where she sat on their tiny cot.

"Katrina," Eragon said, greeting her.

"It's good to see you again." She gave him a quick embrace before doing the same with me. "Your looking better Mal."

I smiled back and nodded.

"I think I am."

"Will this take long?" Roran asked, breaking our small talk. Eragon shook his head.

"It shouldn't." Squatting on his heels, Eragon began to chant softly in the ancient language. First, he placed spells around Katrina, to protect her against any who might harm her. He made the spells more extensive than we had originally planned, in an attempt to ensure that she and her unborn child would be able to escape Galbatorix's forces should something happen to us. We hadn't exactly told Roran that we were putting more wards then originally planned. If we had Roran would put up another fight about wasting energy.

"These wards will shield you from a certain number of attacks," I told Katrina. "We can't tell you how many exactly because it depends on the strength of the blows or spells. We've given you another defense as well. If you're in danger, say the word frethya two times, and you'll vanish from sight."

"Frethya," Katrina murmured.

"Exactly. It won't hide you completely, however. The sounds you make can still be heard, and your footprints will still be visible. No matter what happens, don't go into water or your position will be obvious at once. The spell will draw its energy from you, which means that you'll tire faster than usual, and I wouldn't recommend sleeping while it's active. You might not wake up again. To end the spell, simply say frethya letta."