Percy's Point of View

Roran was still trying to get the butler to let us meet Jeod, he said,

"Our stay in Teirm is too brief for us to arrange a proper meeting."

"Ah, well, then I regret to say that your time would have been better spent elsewhere. My master has many matters to tend. He cannot devote himself to every group of ragged tramps that bangs on his door, asking for handouts," said the butler. He exposed even more of his glassy teeth and began to go back inside.

"Wait!" cried Roran. "It's not handouts we want; we have a business proposition for Jeod."

The butler raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Aye, it is. Please ask him if he will hear us. We've traveled more leagues than you'd care to know, and it's imperative we see Jeod today."

"May I inquire as to the nature of your proposition?"

"It's confidential."

"Very well, sir," said the butler. "I will convey your offer, but I warn you that Jeod is occupied at the moment, and I doubt he will wish to bother himself. By what name shall I announce you, sir?"

"You may call me Stronghammer." The butler's mouth twitched as if amused by the name, then he slipped behind the door and closed it.

"If his head were any larger, 'e couldn't fit in the privy," muttered Loring out the side of his mouth. Nolfavrell uttered a bark of laughter at the insult and I had to admit that I also found it slightly amusing.

Birgit said, "Let's hope the servant doesn't imitate the master."

A minute later, the door reopened, and the butler announced, with a rather brittle expression, "Jeod has agreed to meet you in the study." He moved to the side and gestured with one arm for them to proceed. "This way."

We followed the butler until we reached Jeod's study. When I entered the room the first thing, I noticed were the many books that sat on the shelves, that immediately made me think of Annabeth, but I quickly shoved that thought aside and instead focused my gaze on the man who I assumed was Jeod. He was tall and had graying hair. He clearly looked tired, His face was lined, careworn, and sad, and when he turned toward us, I could see that a scar gleamed white from his scalp to his left temple. "Do sit," said Jeod. "I won't stand on ceremony in my own house." "May I offer you pastries and a glass of apricot brandy? I cannot talk for long, but I see you've been on the road for many a week, and I well remember how dusty my throat was after such journeys."

Loring grinned. "Aye. A touch of brandy would be welcome indeed. You're most generous, sir."

"Only a glass of milk for my boy," said Birgit.

"Of course, madam." Jeod rang for the butler, delivered his instructions, then leaned back in his chair. "I am at a disadvantage. I believe you have my name, but I don't have yours."

"Stronghammer, at your service," said Roran.

"Mardra, at your service," said Birgit.

"Kell, at your service," said Nolfavrell.

Although something told me we could trust Jeod I also told him a fake name. I blame Mr. D for calling me it most of the time because peter was the first one that popped into my head.

"And I'd be Wally, at your service," finished Loring.

"And I at yours," responded Jeod. "Now, Rolf mentioned that you wished to do business with me. It's only fair that you know I'm in no position to buy or sell goods, nor have I gold for investing, nor proud ships to carry wool and food, gems and spices across the restless sea. What, then, can I do for you?"

Roran replied, "To put it simply, sir, we represent a certain group of people who—for various reasons—must purchase a large amount of supplies with very little money. We know that your belongings will be auctioned off day after tomorrow to repay your debts, and we would like to offer a bid now on those items we need. We would have waited until the auction, but circumstances press us, and we cannot tarry another two days. If we are to strike a bargain, it must be tonight or tomorrow, no later."

"What manner of supplies do you need?" asked Jeod.

"Food and whatever else is required to outfit a ship or other vessel for a long voyage at sea."

A spark of interest gleamed in Jeod's weary face. "Do you have a certain ship in mind? For I know every craft that's plied these waters in the last twenty years."

"We've yet to decide."

Jeod accepted that without question. "I understand now why you thought to come to me, but I fear you labor under a misapprehension." He spread his gray hands, indicating the room. "Everything you see here no longer belongs to me, but to my creditors. I have no authority to sell my possessions, and if I did so without permission, I would likely be imprisoned for cheating my creditors out of the money I owe them."

Jeod stopped speaking as the butler returned with the drinks and pastries that Jeod had asked him to bring. Jeod drained his goblet, then said, "I may be of no use to you, but I do know a number of people in my profession who might be able to help. If you can give me a bit more detail about what you want to buy, then I'd have a better idea of who to recommend."

Roran started listing some of the things we would need, things we might need, and things we wanted but probably couldn't afford. Occasionally Loring or Birgit would mention something Roran had forgotten—and Jeod would glance at them for a moment before returning his gaze to Roran, where it remained with growing intensity.

I was starting to wonder if Jeod knew, or in the least suspected what we were trying to hide. "It seems to me," said Jeod once the list was finished, "that this would be enough provisions to transport several hundred people to Feinster or Aroughs ... or beyond. Admittedly, I've been rather occupied for the past few weeks, but I've heard of no such host in this area, nor can I imagine where one might have come from."

None of us answered so Jeod shrugged. "Well, be as it may, that's your own concern. I'd suggest that you see Galton on Market Street about your food and old Hamill by the docks for all else. They're both honest men and will treat you true and fair." Reaching over, he plucked a pastry from the tray, took a bite, and then, when he finished chewing, asked Nolfavrell, "So, young Kell, have you enjoyed your stay in Teirm?"

"Yes, sir," said Nolfavrell, and grinned. "I've never seen anything quite so large, sir."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, sir. I—"

Roran interrupted: "I'm curious, sir, as to the nature of the shop next to your house. It seems odd to have such a humble store among all these grand buildings."

I guessed Roran interrupted because he was afraid Nolfavrell would say something that would give away who we were.

For the first time, a smile, if only a small one, brightened Jeod's expression, erasing years from his appearance. "Well, it was owned by a woman who was a bit odd herself: Angela the herbalist, one of the best healers I've ever met. She tended that store for twenty-some years and then, only a few months ago, up and sold it and left for parts unknown." He sighed. "It's a pity, for she made an interesting neighbor."

I realized that was who Gertrude had gone looking for, and it seemed that Nolfavrell had realised that as well.

"That's who Gertrude wanted to meet, isn't it?" asked Nolfavrell, and looked up at his mother.

I noticed that Roran shot Nolfavrell a warning look, clearly telling him to watch what he said. I could tell that that made Nolfavrell nervous.

We assumed that Jeod wouldn't recognize Gertrude's name, but it seemed we might be wrong. The merchant's eyes widened with surprise, and he gripped the arms of his chair until the tips of his fingers turned bone white. "It can't be!" Jeod said, focusing his gaze on Roran, studying his face as if trying to see past his beard, and then breathed, "Roran... Roran Garrowsson."

I noticed that Roran was pulling his hammer from his belt and was starting to rise from his chair when I said, "wait," I just had a feeling we could trust Jeod and I also didn't want a repeat of what had happened in Narda. Roran did stop although I wasn't sure if it was because of me.

"It is Roran, isn't it?" Jeod asked quietly. He didn't seem concerned that everyone except me had drawn their weapons.

"How did you guess?" Roran asked.

"Because Brom brought Eragon here, and you look like your cousin. When I saw your poster with Eragon's, I realized that the Empire must have tried to capture you and that you had escaped. Although," Jeod's gaze drifted to the rest of us, "in all my imaginings, I never suspected that you took the rest of Carvahall with you."

We were all surprised by what Jeod had just revealed, but the villagers, and especially Roran were even more surprised than I was. I had suspected that we would be able to trust Jeod, so his revelation didn't surprise me as much. Clearly stunned, Roran dropped back into his chair and placed his hammer across his knees. He said, "Eragon was here?"

"Aye. And Saphira too."

"Saphira?"

Surprise crossed Jeod's face as he realised that none of us recognized that name. "You don't know, then?" he asked.

"Know what?" Roran asked.

Jeod seemed to be considering what to say for a minute. "I think the time has come to drop our pretenses, Roran Garrowsson, and talk openly and without deception. I can answer many of the questions you must have—such as why the Empire is pursuing you—but in return, I need to know the reason you came to Teirm ... the real reason."

"An' why should we trust you, Longshanks?" demanded Loring. "You could be working for Galbatorix, you could."

"I was Brom's friend for over twenty years, before he was a storyteller in Carvahall," said Jeod, "and I did my best to help him and Eragon when they were under my roof. But since neither of them are here to vouch for me, I place my life in your hands, to do with as you wish. I could shout for help, but I won't. Nor will I fight you. All I ask is that you tell me your story and hear my own. Then you can decide for yourself what course of action is proper. You're in no immediate danger, so what harm is there in talking?"

Birgit said, "He could just be trying to save his hide."

Although she could have been right, I had a feeling she wasn't.

"Maybe," replied Roran, "but we have to find out whatever it is he knows." Roran dragged his chair and set it against the door before sitting down again. He jabbed his hammer at Jeod. "All right. You want to talk? Then let us talk, you and I."

"It would be best if you go first."

"If I do, and we're not satisfied by your answers afterward, we'll have to kill you," warned Roran.

Jeod folded his arms. "So be it."

"So be it," Roran echoed.

That was when Roran began telling Jeod about everything that had happened to the villagers. Jeod was clearly amazed as he heard about how we had rousted the soldiers and Ra'zac from their camp, the siege of Carvahall, Sloan's treachery, Katrina's kidnapping, how Roran had convinced the villagers to flee, and the hardships of our journey to Teirm. The only things he left out were how I hadn't always lived in Carvahall, and that I'd found a dragon egg and that it had hatched.

"By the Lost Kings!" exclaimed Jeod. "That's the most extraordinary tale. Extraordinary! To think you've managed to thwart Galbatorix and that right now the entire village of Carvahall is hiding outside one of the Empire's largest cities and the king doesn't even know it...." He shook his head with admiration.

"Aye, that's our position," growled Loring, "and it's precarious at best, so you'd better explain well and good why we should risk letting you live."

After that Jeod said that he was an agent for the Varden. He said that the stone Roran's cousin Eragon had found was a dragon egg and that it had hatched for him. The Ra'zac had gone to Carvahall to capture Roran so the king could use him against Eragon. At first, Roran didn't seem to believe him but As Jeod continued to explain what he knew Roran's disbelief became anger as Jeod revealed why his father had died. His anger seemed to fade somewhat as Jeod explained how close Dragons and riders are, and I wondered if Roran thought of how close I'd already gotten to Ágrios since he'd hatched. Although I could still talk to him while we were in Teirm I still missed him, and I could understand why Eragon did what he did after his dragon hatched.

Eventually, we decided that we all believed Jeod and that we would trust him. He'd already come up with a plan for how we could get to Surda and after we agreed to it Roran sent Mandel to go tell the other villagers about it and everything else we had learned from Jeod.