Wheww! Sorry for the delay but it was hard to follow up on that chapter with something half-decent.

A lot of the comments from the previous chapter have voiced a similarity between Eragon's elemental powers and Aang the Avatar, and while I freely admit that I thought of it in the writing, I also wanted to impose limitations on Eragon that the Avatar doesn't have and yet keep the potential of Eragon the same as him.

Eragon's journey in this story is going to be a long one if I can figure out where it's leading and this chapter as much as any will highlight how much you have to sacrifice in a war with so many unknowns. All I can hope is that even I don't twist myself into a knot trying to undo them.

So Enjoy!

Chapter 27 – Desperate Plight

"You must remain here, with Feinster and Reavstone fallen, it is that much more important to keep the Jiet river secure," Eragon told Murtaugh as he readied himself for flight once more. It seemed to Eragon that all he did in recent memory was travel on Saphira's back, though Saphira gloried every moment of the wind beneath her wings.

Murtaugh looked unhappy but saw the truth in what he said. After receiving word that even now Aberon was in danger of falling, both of them had reached out to Coalan in Feinster with their minds. The attacks on both cities had come within hours of each other and Murtaugh suspected they were designed to draw away what strength the older Riders brought to Dauth's defences.

The response was simple though uncaring, Eragon thought. Even as he readied himself for the journey towards what was left of Feinster and the Riders he sent there, he couldn't help but think he was abandoning the people of Aberon. The report from Grodin told a grim tale as Murtaugh relayed it to Eragon. The enemy had brought a significant force along the coast to attack Reavstone and their ballistae had worked overtime to counter the dragons they faced. Their tactics obviously as a result of their failed initial attempt to take Dauth, they overwhelmed the city and worked to secure it as it's people fled.

Under specific instructions to disengage rather than face the odds, Grodin along with Jennsen and Ruben had withdrawn rather than fight the increasing numbers. Doing their best to protect the fleeing crowds from their fading pursuit, the three Riders were given orders to fly to Lithgow and Cithri with orders to harry the oncoming army and give the civilian populations time to flee. It was callous to think that in order to save as many people as possible, the vast majority of Surda would soon be in enemy hands; even the protection of Lake Tudosten would not protect Furnost if the enemy's advance were not stopped.

The reason for flying to Feinster instead was a result of cold and calculating logic. Denying the Jiet River further upstream and ergo Leona Lake to the abomination would protect the heart of the continent until some unseen circumstance could turn the army back.

Eragon grimaced at the dangers his students faced as he turned to Murtaugh as he replied, "and what of Umaroth and Glaedr?" asking the question in a hushed tone.

"Umaroth has agreed to stay with you and Thorn so long as Glaedr stays with me," Eragon answered before handing over the velvet sack with the eldunari within. "You will need his strength more than I seeing as how Gadrinne will also be coming with me."

Murtaugh nodded as he drew Eragon into a rough hug and came away gingerly holding the precious eldunari in its drawstring bag. Turning his head to Gadrinne for another parting farewell, Eragon sidled up to Thorn as the dragon's massive head swung up to meet him, the motion inviting a quick scratch on his scaled jawline.

Keep your sword and claws sharp Thorn said to both Eragon and Saphira as Saphira sidled up beside them, and may the wind speed you on your way he intoned in a traditional dragon farewell.

Saphira looped her head over Eragon and touched Thorn's head with her snout, may your enemies cower beneath you Fireshade.

Murtaugh rejoined them as Gadrinne swung into her saddle on Feahlstan's back and Eragon sought to climb onto Saphira's. Murtaugh rubbed up against Saphira's neck as Eragon heard him say look after him Saphira and keep each other safe. The time for taking risks is not yet upon us I fear.

Murtaugh switched to normal speech as he added to Eragon, "I fear that the enemy has more to throw at us than what he has already. I'll keep this city from them as long as possible if you can't make it back, just make sure you stop them from flanking us from upstream."

Eragon nodded solemnly as Saphira and Feahlstad spread their wings and beat a powerful thrust that took them into the air. As they gained altitude, Eragon chanced a last glimpse at the receding city below them and saw too many faces torn with fear turned towards them. We must save who we can, and those we can't we must entrust to help themselves. Murtaugh will do what he can in your absence Eragon Glaedr murmured, guessing the direction of his thoughts

Ebrithil, Glaedr is right Gadrinne chimed in. Murtaugh can always withdraw and meet us at Belatona if he's overwhelmed. Always practical, Gadrinne was one of the more experienced amongst the other Riders, Feahlstad hatching from one of the first eggs to leave Doru Araeba. In hindsight, she would have been more useful in Feinster with Coalan and the others, if only for her calm and measured character, Tov in particular was a bit unpredictable when it came to fighting

Trying to remain optimistic about Murtaugh and what awaited them in Feinster's direction, Eragon sought that calm within his mind as he strove to repeat his elemental experiments. It was getting easier and easier to sense the vast currents of energy flowing in the earth miles beneath them, though accessing it would be a problem with the distance between them, almost like the restrictions of distance imposed on the link of Rider and dragon. He thought he could also sense the untapped energies of the storms that amassed on the horizon to his left; storms that had apparently been amassing ever since the invaders launched their attacks.

It took Saphira and Feahlstad a day and a night of nearly continuous flying to come within sight of Feinster's walls and even in the distance, the dawn showed black smoke drifting from within. Eragon and Gadrinne felt as mentally fatigued as the dragons did physically as they sought to bolster their strength from the energies of their gems and own stores. Eragon even sought to rein some of the energy he was now capable of tapping, though with little success. Trying to channel and store such vast skeins of energy was like trying to swim in storm-ravaged seas, so Eragon resorted to a magical equivalent of cupping his hands and catching water passing him in a fast-flowing river.

Despite their tiredness, they turned eastward as the city drew nearer, desperation filling them as they caught glimpses of scattered fighting in the distance. Gouts of flame and the screams of people and beast alike showed the city's inhabitants trying to outrun their pursuers whilst the dragons sought to clear their vanguard.

Seeing the civilians in peril, Eragon's fatigue vanished like mist burning away on a summer's morn as he drew hard on the stored energy of his ring, Aren. Saphira's pace quickened as he transferred the energy and filled her veins with fire and anger.

A long line of people lay before them as Saphira descended from the heights. Eragon's students could easily have outstripped their pursuers were it not for the slowest refugees on the ground and two days of constant fighting and fleeing were visibly taking a toll on the dragons. Even as they approached, Eragon saw Tov and his dragon pull away from the skirmishes below, the almost-midnight black struggling to gain altitude, though whether from injury or tiredness, Eragon could not tell.

Stretching forth within his mind, Eragon contacted Coalan even as the young Rider took to the air and his dragon belched flame from her maw. Lay down a line of fire and help the civilians retreat as far as you can.

I hear and obey, Ebrithil came the answer as orders were also relayed to the others. Berwyn joined Coalan in the air and the two dragons made another pass across the front of the advancing pursuers. The torrent of flame searing flesh and charring bones made Eragon feel nauseous as the fire lit up the battleground for a few seconds. The distance between the civilians and armed advance increased several hundred yards by the time the fires started to die out and the enemy could come forth once more. The distance however, did not close as quickly as before though, perhaps wary by now of the dragonfire and struggling to place their mages in the front lines. A few of their keener eyes started to raise the alarm as Saphira and Feahlstad broke through the thinning clouds above them.

Eragon had eyes only for the gap between the two forces, the two dragons diving as fast as hunting falcons to land in the no man's land with a sharp THUD! Drawing Brisingr from its sheath and driven by some unknown desire, Eragon jumped from his saddle and drove the tip of his sword into the ground. The sapphire began to pulse with blue light from its many faces and the surface of the blade itself took on a liquid-like appearance, the rune which carried its name flowed from one meaning to the next.

Eragon was about to cast a spell when he felt a shudder in the earth beneath his feet and the near-sentience in his sword licked its length in flame. The dying fires of the dragon's breath flared once again in renewed ferocity and caught the enemy's frontline in its storm. Eragon cringed from the death wails of men whose clothes had caught on fire and watched as the flames stuttered in their rage.

Don't hesitate, warned Saphira in his mind. Keep your focus on the flames and they cannot pass.

Saphira watched from behind Eragon as he did something no other two-legged-person was capable of. She had been sceptical of his newfound abilities and potential as an elemental, but now, seeing with her own eyes, she understood. Eragon was using himself as a channel for a power that would tear a normal mage apart and were he to try containing it within would not survive either. Yet again, it seemed the basic abilities of an elemental kept Eragon alive through instinct rather than training.

Nudging Eragon with her shoulder, she brought him out of his half-trance knowing the fires would now linger long enough for them to escape. The men following drastically reduced in numbers would now have to wait for reinforcements or return to Feinster if they wanted to continue their pursuit.

As Eragon pulled the blue-fire-blade named Brisingr from the ground, his face was flushed in triumph as he retook his place on Saphira. Taking to the air, he said that was less draining than what I did with Angela and Solembum.

What you did was the most basic of what you are now capable of little one, even as casting fire comes as easily as breathing normally for us dragons. All elementals seem to possess this as instinctively as we do, though training will help you hone and expand the uses to which you can put it. The more exercises you do like the one with Solembum will help increase your stamina and reduce mental fatigue in channelling such forces, Saphira explained. What little you did with Angela has obviously increased your mental and physical stamina already.

Taking up formation in the skies above the refugees, Eragon reached out to Tov send word ahead to Dras-Leona. The number of ships coming up from Dauth won't be enough to ferry all these people across the river in one go.

Across the river, Master? Do we not seek the city of Dras-Leona?

Murtaugh will hold Dauth as long as possible, but make no mistake it will fall. Murtaugh will give the people time to flee and make traps all along the river as he withdraws. Leona Lake will surely be swarming with enemy ships in less than a month, Eragon answered.

Then where do we go? Where are we taking these people Ebrithil? asked Berwyn, listening in on the conversation.

We must fly to Ilirea, where we are strongest and marshal the elves when they come. This evil off the shores of Alagaesia has a long reach and even in Du Weldenvarden its presence can be felt. We must reinforce their queen's call to arms and hope they answer in time, Eragon told them.

Keeping an eye on the wary advance of their enemy, Eragon was glad to see the numbers significantly diminished. Soon they will turn back to Feinster and secure their first city on the continent Eragon thought grimly as he watched Tov surge ahead to the masts on the horizon, marking the corsairs awaiting them on the Jiet river.