How To Find Your Inheritance [Discontinued]

18. Bits of the Past

"So what is your deal with that Eric guy?" Snotlout asked as the group reached the mountains that acted as borders to the hidden village.

"I don't wish to talk about it." Kierra replied curtly as they landed.

"Was he an ex husband?"

Do you wish to be tossed off the side of the mountain? Moonfire asked. I'd be happy to do that if it meant getting you to shut up.

"Uh...subject change!" Fishlegs exclaimed. "Why did the blacksmith call you Queenslayer?"

"Because I slayed a queen singlehandedly." Kierra answered. "She was a tyrant who killed her brothers for the crown and used up her kingdom's gold to throw lavish parties for herself and the court."

"That's evil of her." Astrid commented. "How did you get so close to do it? She must have had great security and wizards and witches to protect her."

"I pretended to be a handmaiden for the queen." Kierra replied and hopped off Moonfire. "Now, start looking for any evidence of this area being broken into. We must find it and fix it."

"Uh, not to be rude or anything, but there is nothing here." Snotlout pointed out and gestured to the open air around them. "Like no roof or barrier."

"There is a barrier." Heather explained. "Throw something at her."

Astrid picked up a small stone and flung it at the dragon rider, who lifted her hand up and the stone bounced away when it got within a foot of her.

"Barrier. Only powerful dragon riders, elves and magicians can create them." Heather said and frowned. "Kierra, what if someone was working with Eric and purposefully let him in?"

"But who would do that?" Fishlegs asked.

"Maybe someone who holds a grudge against Kierra." Hiccup suggested. "Or they were threatened to let him in."

"He's right." Kierra groaned. "I have to check the mind every elf, rider and magician who help keep the barrier up. If I find whoever did this, I will have Angela punish them."

"How?" Eret asked, unsure of how a harmless witch could do enough damage as punishment.

"Oh you'd be surprised." Kierra said shaking her head and Moonfire shuddered.

She once had us sit through a whole reading of why there are no such things as toads and toadstools are actually frogstools. The white dragon explained and shivered. It was so boring and that stupid cat of hers kept poking me with his sharp claws whenever I started to fall asleep!

"She'll do worst of course." Heather added.

"Then we should head back." Hiccup suggested.

"You all go back, I'm going to find the hole and fix it." Kierra said as she climbed onto her dragon. "I'll meet you by the stables."

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"It's been two hours." Alch muttered to Eret as they sat outside the stables with Eragon seated atop his father's lap. "I don't like this."

"I don't like it either." Eret muttered in agreement and held Eragon close. "I should have stayed with her."

"Kierra can handle herself, she has Moonfire with her." Flora assured them as she approached with two plates of food. "She's possibly making sure that the whole barrier around the entire mountain is secure enough."

"I do hope you are right." Eret said, taking the plate from the elf and holding it to Eragon. "Hungry?"

"No! No food!" The toddler yelled, shoving the plate away. "No flesh!"

"He doesn't like chicken?" Eret asked in surprise, earning a laugh from Alch.

"The boy has practically been raised by elves, won't eat any sort of meat."

"Ah, well guess he gets my corn and peas." Eret chucked.

"Peas pwease!" Eragon chirped happily as he grabbed a handful of the vegetables and stuffed them in his mouth.

"Don't stuff your mouth, you'll choke." Eret warned as he tore a strip of chicken to place into his own mouth and placed his plate on his unoccupied knee.

There was a loud screech and they looked up to see Moonfire circling overhead. Eragon gave an excited squeal, forgetting his mouth was still filled with peas as his mother and her dragon dropped down to land close to the stables. As Kierra dismounted, Eret placed Eragon on the floor to allow him to scurry over to her.

"Is everything alright?" Flora asked as Kierra approached them.

The barrier is secured, for now. Moonfire responded. We went around every part of the mountain, throwing around every protection spell we knew and some to alert us when someone attempts to break the spells in any way. Let us hope they're strong enough to hold against Eric's magic.

"They should be, I've been training with Kierra since I was a young bull and she's always been training with her protection spells." Alch scoffed before pulling a serious face. "I just hope that he won't attempt to come again. The others are busy trying to find a possible traitor."

"I never thought we'd have to search for a traitor in our midst." Flora sighed and shook her head. "But remember what Eragon told us, that there would almost always be a traitor among a group. Sloan the butcher betrayed where Kierra's ancestor was hiding just to save his own hide and to save his daughter while everyone in their town struggled to keep him hidden."

"In the end, karma bit him back by taking his sight." Kierra added and looked down at her son. "I pray that no one would dare betray us like that. If Eric knew of my son, who knows what he would do to him."

"If he ever lays a hand on you or our son, I'll kill him and that she-beast myself." Eret vowed and Moonfire snorted in agreement.

No one will hurt this child, ever. The pale dragon agreed as Eret wrapped his arms protectively around Kierra, sandwiching Eragon in between them. Not while we live.