They hurried through the shadows of the night; Tornac reached the gates just ahead of Murtagh in their haste to leave Urû'baen. The side gate was open just as the soldier Murtagh bribed had said it would be and Tornac bounded through it eager to escape the city.
Murtagh stopped in his tracks as he saw the older man fall to his knees in front of him. The plan had failed. Tornac was on the ground surrounded by the king's soldiers with a deep wound on his back.
Anger froze Murtagh to the spot as he took in the scene before him. Someone had betrayed them and they were going to pay for it. He reached for his sword and lunged at the nearest soldier, stabbing him in the chest and pushing him back onto two of the others. Tornac had seen part of Murtagh's attack and forced himself onto his feet and charged at the soldiers with his sword in hand.
Tornac's attack caused a distraction amongst the soldiers which Murtagh used to his advantage, cutting them down as hard and fast as he could swing his sword. He was extremely capable with a sword, a talent he gained through the teachings of the man who fought bleeding beside him at that very moment.
Pushing his attack forward, he soon came upon the last soldier who had wounded Tornac once more. With a swipe of his sword Murtagh parted the soldiers head from his body and fell to the ground beside Tornac. The older man was hurt beyond repair yet Murtagh tried to help him to his feet while they heard the thundering footsteps of more soldiers making their way to the gate. Tornac used what appeared to be the last of his energy to push Murtagh away from him.
"Go now, you fool!" Tornac panted. "It's too late for me, but you still have a chance if you leave right now!"
The older man's shouting and strength surprised Murtagh, even more so when he rose to his feet and positioned himself so as to lunge at the first soldier to emerge from within the city.
"I won't go without you," Murtagh spoke in his low, controlled voice. Only those few who really knew him would have been able to detect the emotion with which he spoke. "I can't leave you here like this."
"Murtagh, this is the best way to leave me! I'm dying!" he looked at Murtagh with fierce eyes while still managing to hold his position. "You have to go now or else my death will be for nothing. Leave or I swear with the last breath from my body I will kill you myself!"
Tornac staggered then regained his footing. Murtagh knew it was hopeless to stay and fight and so he walked to where the older man stood swaying, grasped him in an embrace and fled into the night.