Disclaimer: I don't own Murtagh, Eragon, Saphira, or anyone or anything else from the Inheritance Cycle. Credit goes to Christopher Paolini and Borzoi Books.

Seek The Light

I'm running, running so arduously. I can't stop, my past chases me. I heard the whispers of hatred, not only my innermost thoughts, but also in my dreams. I fear I'll never be free of the terror that inhabits my heart. I can't shake my fright. The darkness follows me everywhere. I desperately seek the light.

Murtagh knelt on the muddy forest floor and examined the footprints that were left in the earth.

"They came this way," his deep voice vibrated in his chest.

He knew his words went out to no one, for the only thing that could hear his voice was his horse, Tornac.

He stood and peered through the darkness, narrowing his blue-grey eyes in attempt to spy his target.

He scowled when he heard voices in the distance.

"And what of thisss one? If he talksss?"

The hissing voices were unmistakable. They were the creatures he'd been searching for. The Ra'zac.

Murtagh grabbed hold of his horse's reins and speedily guided Tornac forward, intently eavesdropping on the Ra'zac's conversation.

"He would not dare . . ."

"Agreed . . . "

His ears became acutely aware of a sound that seemed like someone struggling. There now was no doubt in Murtagh's mind that the Ra'zac held some individual prisoner.

Murtagh tied Tornac to a tree and dashed towards the sound of the Ra'zac's voices. In mid-flight he pulled his bow from the strap on his back and strung a ragged arrow, holding it firmly between his fingers.

"None of that now!" one of the Ra'zac said to his prisoner in answer to the struggling.

Murtagh slid to a halt in the woods adjacent to a camp where a young and elderly man were being harassed by the Ra'zac.

His wary eyes detected instantly that the Ra'zac were aware of his presence and saw one of the demons lung for the elderly man and take a knife to his throat.

Murtagh promptly aimed his bow, pulled his arm back, then let the arrow go, hitting the Ra'zac in the shoulder. Murtagh brought forth another arrow and aimed at the other Ra'zac, then shot at him as the young man in the camp threw himself to the ground. The other Ra'zac screeched angrily as it threw itself to the ground, narrowly escaping the weapon.

"Damn . . ." growled Murtagh angrily at his failure as he yanked another arrow from his quiver.

Planning to use the war strategy of making it seem like a whole army attacked the Ra'zac, he repeatedly shot arrows at the Ra'zac, then raced to the other side of the camp and released arrows, to make it seem as if he were more than one person.

The smallest of the two Ra'zac seemed too frustrated to continue the attack, so he retreated, brutally booting the prostrate young man in the ribs as he escaped.

Murtagh's eyes snapped over to the second Ra'zac, who seemed to be lingering for an unordinary amount of time. It looked at the young man who grasped his side in pain, then picked up a dagger that lay on the ground in front of him and projected it towards the man.

Murtagh knew he could do nothing he could do as the dagger hurtled towards the pained young man. Murtagh gaped in shock as the elderly man soundlessly stumbled towards the young man and leapt in front of the airborne dagger, taking the blade into his chest.

The young man's face fell in shock and he exclaimed, "No!" as the old man dropped to the ground.

Murtagh's lips settled in a snarl at thought of the Ra'zac doing this to a couple of innocent travelers. They were so ruthless and evil that nothing could stop them from enjoying a kill from time to time.

Murtagh waited until the Ra'zac wholly retreated before stalking onward into the camp. He cautiously approached the two fallen travelers with all intention to help them. He knew that the elderly man was badly injured, and the younger man seemed to have slipped from consciousness.

He went to the older man first and turned him over so that he could clearly see the dagger wound. He expertly slid the dagger out from the man's chest and grimaced when he realized the weapon had slipped between the man's ribs. It was a danger to anyone, much less a man his age.

Murtagh stood and rapidly trailed back to Tornac and lead the horse to the camp. He stopped the animal and reached into the saddlebag to pull out some makeshift bandages. He then returned to the old man's side, cutting the man's robe with his own dagger that he concealed in his boot.

It took Murtagh several minutes to complete the process of bandaging the man, but when he was done, he turned to the younger man and walked towards him.

But on his short journey to the young man, something hit Murtagh in the side, causing him to fly backwards and land on his back. Murtagh leapt up with the agility of a cat and cagily looked around to search for the attacker.

Assuming that the Ra'zac returned for another go at a battle, Murtagh pulled his handsome hand-and-a-half sword from it's sheath. He looked from his left, then to his right and saw nothing. Then, Murtagh could feel eyes boring into him from behind. Murtagh slowly turned and gasped when his eyes rested on his attacker.

Standing before him was a large blue dragon with an elegant and graceful body. It stared at him with crystal-blue eyes and bared ivory teeth. A rumble of a growl emanated from the dragon's chest.

"These creatures aren't stupid," Murtagh told himself, nervously gripping his sword, "Odds are that this dragon is far more intelligent than any human."

Murtagh cautiously sheathed his sword and raised his hands in defense, saying to the dragon, "I'm only here to help, Great Dragon."

The dragon's prideful eyes glittered at the title, but didn't retract its defensive pose.

Then, like a whisper, a female voice entered his mind, "Open your mind, Human."

Although he knew that the dragon only wanted to ensure that his intentions were honorable, Murtagh's instincts took over. He threw mental barriers up in his mind to completely shield his memories from the dragon.

As he ripped the mind connection loose, the dragon jerked back as if the break physically hurt her. She growled louder at Murtagh and tried to reestablish contact. Murtagh slapped her mind probe away like a human would swat at a fly.

"Give it up, Dragon. You will not enter my mind. You shall not hinder my only sanctuary," Murtagh thought.

Although no real connection was made between them, the dragon seemed to understand his meaning. But instead of letting Murtagh pass and help the young man, the dragon slunk between the young man and Murtagh and protectively planted herself there.

"Have it your way, Dragon," Murtagh said out loud, "But if he is hurt badly, it will not be my fault if he perishes."

The dragon snarled at Murtagh and curled her body around the man. Once she settled in close to the human, she cast her glare upon Murtagh, making sure there were no attempts to touch him.

Murtagh lingered, knowing that the man would need help once he came to consciousness. He decided that he would stick around the battered travelers. He had no where better to be.

Besides, what better place is there to find adventure than with a dragon?

Note: I've always wondered what it would be like if you could actually see things in Murtagh's point-of-view. So, I'll try it for a while and see how people like it. I know this first chapter is boring, but I wanted to start off where Murtagh first appears in the book. I can already say, though, that I will not be going systematically through the books and just filling in Murtagh's thoughts when I please. I'll be picking random excerpts from the books that I enjoyed. Also, I have a terribly hard time writing without dialogue carrying the story, so please bear with me on this first chapter!

Anyway, please r&r. Kind comments, compliments, and constructive criticism are loved. Also, if anyone has an idea or a part of the book they want to have formed in Murtagh's POV, please let me know. I am going to be very open to suggestions with this story.