Zar'roc

Murtagh spun and swung his sword right at Eragon's neck. Eragon raised Zar'roc and deflected the blade, pushing Murtagh away from him. The two circled each other, eyes sparkling as they both looked for holes in the other's defense. Eragon blinked as images from Saphira flooded his mind.

Claws digging into flesh, muscle, bone. Blood splattering onto the floor, staining the dirt. Teeth ripping, crushing.

Eragon pushed her mind out of his, and saw Murtagh spinning his sword in that all-too familiar way, taking advantage of Eragon's distraction to attack. Eragon ducked and thrust Zar'roc at Murtagh's legs; he jumped, and came down slicing his sword right at Eragon's back. The Rider rolled away, and Murtagh's sword sliced deep into the dirt. Eragon leapt to his feet and ran at Murtagh; Morzan's son managed to free his sword and rose to block Eragon's attack. Mud flew off of his sword and flung into Eragon's eyes. The younger man cursed and blinked. Murtagh immediately attacked, punching Eragon in the gut with his left hand, then swinging his sword from the right. Eragon coughed as the punch landed, but rolled to the right to avoid the blade. Shifting Zar'roc to his left hand, Eragon suddenly swung upward. Murtagh stumbled backward, and Eragon used the opportunity to take back control. He feinted right, swung left, the red blade cut through the air, seeming to leave a trail of red wherever it went. Murtagh jumped back, parrying and prancing around the clearing, ducking, dodging Eragon's weapon as he looked for an opportunity to defeat the Rider. Eragon sliced at the man, aiming for his side. Murtagh grinned, and caught Zar'roc in his own blade, twisting the red rapier out of Eragon's hands. Murtagh caught the weapon, while Eragon crept backwards. Murtagh raised both swords and advanced on the now-weaponless Rider. Eragon backed into a tree and jumped, looking behind him at the large object blocking his escape. Murtagh lifted both swords up to the Rider's neck, forming an X. Both of the men froze; breathing heavily, sweat running down their faces.

"Okay, okay! You win, now get off!" Eragon yielded, and Murtagh laughed.

"Ha! Four nights in a row! Eragon, you're losing your touch." He joked, moving to sit by the fire. Eragon pouted and removed the enchantments off of the two swords.

"You just wait, tomorrow you're gonna get it!" Eragon muttered. A thud of wings could be heard above them, and both Eragon and Murtagh looked up as Saphira landed in the clearing, licking her dinner off of her muzzle. Both called out a greeting before scarfing down their dinner. Saphira looked at both of the swordsmen.

'Little one, did Murtagh beat you again?' Saphira chuckled. Eragon glared at her.

"Yes, I did! You should have seen it, he never had a chance!" Murtagh teased, laughing. Eragon shifted his glare to him.

"Tonight was a fluke. I would have won if… Saphira's hunting hadn't thrown me off." Eragon blurted. Murtagh lifted an eyebrow.

"Is that so?" Eragon lifted his chin defiantly.

"Of course!" Eragon looked down at his food sheepishly. Murtagh and Saphira were trying not to laugh.

"Well, then, you'll have to prove that tomorrow." Murtagh challenged, climbing into the blankets. "You lost, you take the first watch." He lay down and closed his eyes. Eragon sat, leaning against Saphira's scaly stomach. Saphira laid her head on her paws and closed her large sapphire eyes.

Eragon harrumphed into the silent forest. 'I'm going to kick him across the clearing and back tomorrow..'

Saphira opened one of her eyes to examine her Rider, then closed it again.

'Of course you will, little one.'