a/n: Who missed me? So I finally got my hands on a copy of Brisingr and I laughed so hard in the part where Eragon and Roran are comparing bruises and scars, because not five minutes earlier my friend and I had been doing that exact same thing,(I kicked butt.) Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but don't worry I have the next five chapters written and just need to type them.
Vakna
Murtagh was jolted out of a restless sleep when the oak door gave a loud creak and banged against the cell wall. Two soldiers stood in the door way eyeing the room and its occupant with great distaste.
"Up, the captain wants to see you," one of the duo demanded in a gravely growl. When Murtagh elicited no response, the second guard wrenched him from the bed and pushed him through the door. The three traversed the hall in silence, only being pierced by a nail in the bottom of on of the guards' boots clattering against the cobble stone floor. They approached a dark, wooden door. The soldiers straightened their backs and then the younger of the rapped sharply on the door.
"We brought the prisoner you requested to see, sir."
After a moment wait the door was pulled open by the captain and the guards escorted their prisoner inside. "Very good, you may go." The captain barked watching as both of the lesser ranked soldiers saluted before retreating down the narrow hallway. He then started to circle the young man with a cool, calculating gaze. "You don't look like much more then the average piece of mountain trash, yet some how you were able to free the dragon rider and an elf, both of whom were supposed to be extremely well guarded. How pray tell did you do it?" When silence echoed throughout the room he continued on. Are you ready to tell us who you are, it will make everything much easier on yourself."
"Why would I tell a mere soldier my name? It doesn't actually matter if you have my name or not. Even if I told you, you would still hand me over to either the king or the shade so you could try finding out everything I know about the rider."
"A mere soldier? Now aren't we high and mighty?" A voice said from a gloomy corner, making the young man eye it warily.
"That was noble, rescuing that pitiful excuse for a rider like that. If it weren't for you he most certainly would have perished before Galbatorix's wrath. You risked your life to rescue him, yet he leaves you and soon will have no thought at all of you." Came the icy, mocking voice from another corner of the room; causing Murtagh to whirl around and face it and drawing a smug smile from the captain.
"Who's there? Reveal yourself."
"As you wish." Said the mysterious speaker, this time directly behind the teen. The boy spun around to meet the crimson eyes of a shade. Immediately stars exploded behind Murtagh's eyes as a mind probe was rammed into his carefully guarded barriers. Sepia stared blankly into scarlet eyes as both minds fought for dominance in the younger man. After numerous agonizingly slow minutes the dispute was abruptly exterminated; Murtagh stepping back as the connection was cut, surprised at the respite.
"Some one has taught you to defend your mind well."
"It's the only way I would have survived this long."
The captain who had been quietly watching the scene unfold felt the need to reinstate his presence, "Did you or did you not find out what we need to know?"
"Do you not trust my abilities?" Durza purred stalking towards the captain.
"N…n…no, sir. I mean yes, sir. I have no doubt what so ever in you abilities." The captain stuttered backing away from the shade.
"Good!" Durza glared scathingly at the captain for another minute. "His mind is well shielded, but even the strongest shields fall after a time. There are ways to increase the speed at which they crumble; starvation, torture, and if you gain any leverage against them they collapse."
The shade then turned back to face the adolescent who was watching him with terrified fascination. The shade studied him in silence for several minutes, smiling slightly when the boy shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "You remind me of some one." The blood red eyes studied the dark hair and eyes, the way the young man's jaw was set, and the disdainful way he looked at the captain. "Morzan." That one word caused Murtagh's scowl to deepen as he turned his face to look at the wall. "So the rumors are true, the king's right hand man a child, and probably an illegitimate one at that."
"My mother and father were married," Murtagh snapped before adding in a harsher voice. "Though I wish they had never meet. All it ever did was it brought more suffering."
"Awww, not happy with daddy and mommy?" mocked Durza, laughing when the venomous glare was turned in his direction.
"Imagine if your father hated you and your mother so much that you had to constantly fear what he would do to you when you were a child. Or if you father was one of the most notorious people in history. My father and I have no relation as far as I'm concerned. I would rather have been an illegitimate child then be related to that demon."
"If your father was Morzan, then that must mean you are Murtagh. The ungrateful little wretch the king has been looking for." He reached out a hand and ran it down the side of the boys face, causing him to shudder and pull away from the touch. "You really are quite an interesting specimen. It's a pity that the king wants you back. I would very much have enjoyed making you beg for death, it might serve as payback for releasing those others."
"He's Morzan's son?" The captain asked overcoming his shock. "But…but why isn't he like his father?"
"I'll die before I become like that monster, serving a thrice cursed spawn of the devil!"
"How dare you speak of his majesty like that!" Durza snarled. Murtagh gasped as enormous pressure descended upon him, forcing the air out of his lungs.
He chocked out, "It is the truth and more then he deserves." Pain coursed through his veins, accentuating each heart beat as if the agony came from the vital organ. He collapsed to his knees ignoring the shock as they instantly bruised.
"If you simply admit that you're wrong I'll stop." Durza said eyeing his victim as he groaned, placing his head in his hands.
"Never!" Murtagh said in a voice that showed the pain he was experiencing as a spasm rocked his body.
Durza's voice echoed around the stone room as he looked haughtily at the trembling figure. "Very well."
The captain stood by for several minutes before quietly speaking up, "Stop. If anything happens to him the king will be furious at both of us." The shade looked at him in contempt and then stalked out of the room.
A moment passed before Murtagh lifted his aching head from staring vacantly at his shaky hands. "Thank you for helping me, sir." He managed and then swayed, eyes rolling back into his head as he collapsed into uncharitable darkness.
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A light breeze danced through the meadow and a delicate fern swayed, tickling Eragon's nose. He shifted away from it and grimaced as a rock pressed into his ribcage. He cracked open his brown eyes and looked around the sunny meadow, his heart soared as his eyes skipped over the vibrant blowers and lush greenery to the elf. He still felt as if he was in an unreal dream where he had rescued the mythical woman. No other person alive could brag of rescuing an elf, that is other then Murtagh. His cheerful mood evaporated in an instant. Murtagh. He had left, Murtagh, his only friend in the hands of those who sought them.
"Good morning sleepyhead." Saphira greeted gleefully.
"Come on, Saphira, we need to get going." Eragon grunted jamming the few items he had taken out the night before back into the sack.
"Little one what is wrong?"
"What is wrong? I left Murtagh at Gil'ead is what is wrong! He wouldn't have left me."'
"Eragon, it's your duty to get the elf to help now. You will have time for this later."
Several long minutes of strained silence followed this statement.
"Saphira, I'm sorry. Do you think you can carry the elf?" Eragon asked looking somewhat abashed, before abruptly turning to face the two horses. He sighed as he contemplated what to do with them; he had promised to take care of Snowfire, but he felt like he would be betraying Murtagh if he got rid of Tornac. The only thing the two horses would do would be to hinder his progress. He ran his hand over Tornac's forelock, before taking the reins and tying them to Snowfire's saddle. He then carried the elf and placed her on the saddle, securing her legs in the straps.
He walked the horses out of the clearing, before changing into a gallop. The group rode hard for several hours, before Eragon stopped on a low hill.
"Saphira, I admit it I have no idea where we are or were we are going."
"Ask the elf, where we should go." Saphira said nonchalantly.
"Ask the elf?" Eragon sputtered. "Have you not noticed she is unconscious? How am I supposed to ask her?"
"Are you not a rider? Speak to her with your mind."
"But I've never done anything like that before."
"That has never stopped you in the past. I have faith in you, Eragon."
Eragon hesitantly reached out with his mind and brushed against the foreign presence. The elf's conscience drew back and then rammed into his, as a colorful explosion of pain danced behind his eyes. As his thoughts were smothered he desperately cried out, "Eka ai fricari un Shur'tugal!" The elf stopped her attack on his mind in shock.
"A rider!" She exclaimed incredulously.
"Aye, my name is Eragon."
"A noble name, as a rider you shall bring hope to many. I am Arya."
"Arya." Eragon said deciding this name fit the strange, beautiful women better then any other name ever would have. "You are ill, what shall I do?"
"During my captivity, a rare poison, the Skilna Bragh, was given to me, along with the drug to suppress my power. Every morning the antidote for the previous day's poison was given to me. Without it I will die within several hours. That is why I lie in this trance-it slows the effects of the poison."
"How much longer can you remain like this?"
"Unless I receive the antidote, I will succumb to the poison in three or four days. It resides in only two places; my home, and with the Varden. Ellesm'era will be closed to you, instead take me to the Varden."
"But I have no idea where to find them?"
"You must swear never to reveal their location."
"I swear." Suddenly a barrage of images flooded Eragon's mind as the way to the concealed rebels was exposed. "Thank you, I'll do my best to get you to them, I promise." With that Eragon urged Snowfire into a gallop and rode toward the remorseless Hadarac desert.
a/n: So what did you think? Please, please, please tell me! Just review, it is much simpler to do that then to learn how to plant wheat, so do it. Also tell me if you want to hear a funny story about my friend, a bunch of urgals, and me. And give me on your opinion on which horse he should keep. Thanks for reading.
-May your swords stay sharp.
Alex