Percy's Point of View
As I got closer to where the noise had come from, I realized it came from Horst's house. I knew that's where Roran had been staying so I assumed the Ra'zac had come to try and capture him. I also realized that someone in the village must have betrayed the rest of us since I didn't know any other way that the Ra'zac could know where Roran was staying.
As I was about to go into the house, I realised that one of the Ra'zac must have climbed out of one of the windows since I saw it drop to the ground just below the window. I also realised that the Ra'zac was attempting to capture Katrina, but she was fighting her hardest to get away. She clearly wouldn't get away on her own, so I hurried over to try and help her. I quickly realised just how strong and fast the Ra'zac was after I tried to attack it and it quickly blocked my sword.
Our swords clashed and despite all my training, the Ra'zac was a tough opponent. So far, the Ra'zac had not loosened its grip on Katrina although she was still struggling to try and escape its grasp. Finally, while I was doing my best to distract the Ra'zac Katrina managed to get free. I told her to run but unfortunately, it was only moments after that when the Second Ra'zac dropped to the ground after climbing out of one of the windows in Horst's house.
I also noticed that its hood had fallen down, and the creature was rather ugly, to say the least. Because I was distracted by the first Ra'zac I couldn't stop the other one as it quickly recaptured Katrina. Now it was getting harder and harder for me to block the creature's blows due to its supernatural strength and speed. I barely managed to avoid being killed by the creature and it left to follow the other Ra'zac.
I guess it didn't try harder to kill me because I wasn't the person it was hoping to get. That was the only explanation I could come up with since I would have thought it would have tried harder since Humans seem to be what they eat for food. Sure I definitely didn't want to become the creature's dinner, I was just surprised.
I was just about to try and follow it when Horst, Albriech, Baldor, and Roran came out of the house, probably intending to go after the Ra'zac and save Katrina. I told them that I'd heard the loud noise when the Ra'zac had broken into the house and come, hoping I could help them. I explained how I'd tried to save Katrina but the Ra'zac had managed to overpower me. We ran to the edge of Carvahall, where we found that the wall of trees had been pulled open and the watchman, Byrd, was dead. Baldor knelt and examined the body, then said with a choked voice, "He was stabbed from behind."
To be honest I wasn't too surprised by that. I thought that someone might have betrayed us since I didn't think the Ra'zac would have known where Roran was staying unless one of the villagers told them.
"Ho! Who goes?" From their stations along Carvahall's perimeter, the other watchmen congregated around their murdered compatriot, forming a huddle of shuttered lanterns. In hushed tones, Horst described the attack and Katrina's plight. "Who will help us?" he asked. After a quick discussion, five men agreed to accompany us; the rest would remain to guard the breach in the wall and rouse the villagers.
We all slipped through the fields and down the valley toward the Ra'zac's camp. At one point Roran stumbled and Horst wordlessly caught him. I could Tell Roran's arm was injured and I knew he probably shouldn't be with us. I didn't say anything though. I understood why he had come, how he would do anything to save the woman he loved. I had been in similar situations before but now I doubted I would ever feel that way about anyone again. I was still hurt from Annabeth betraying me along with anyone else so I doubted I would fall in love again any time soon.
Half a mile from Carvahall, Ivor spotted a sentry on a hill, which meant we had to make a wide detour. A few hundred yards beyond, the ruddy glow of torches became visible. Roran raised his good arm, indicating that we should slow down. Then we began to dodge and crawl through the tangled grass, startling a jackrabbit. We worked our way to the edge of a grove of cattails, where we stopped and Roran parted the curtain of stalks to observe the thirteen remaining soldiers.
We overheard One soldier shouting: ...over half of us killed by a bunch of inbred, cockle-brained woodrats that can't tell a pike from a poleax or find the point of a sword even if it's lodged in their gut, because you don't have half the sense my banner boy does! I don't care if Galbatorix himself licks your boots clean, we won't do a thing until we have a new commander."
"One who's human."
As the man ranted, I couldn't help but wonder if he was looking to die or was just really stupid. I suspected that the Ra'zac would probably kill him for what he was saying.
"Really?" demanded the Ra'zac softly.
It seemed the man hadn't gotten any smarter since he continued his rant, "We've had enough taking orders from hunchbacks like you, with all your clicking and teapot whistling—makes us sick! And I don't know what you did with Sardson, but if you stay another night, we'll put steel in you and find out if you bleed like us. You can leave the girl, though, she'll be—"
I wasn't exactly surprised when the man did not get a chance to continue, because the largest Ra'zac jumped across the fire and landed on his shoulders, like a giant crow. Screaming, the soldier collapsed under the weight. He tried to draw his sword, but the Ra'zac pecked twice at his neck with its hidden beak, and he was still.
"We have to fight that?" muttered Ivor,
"Afraid so," I said, thinking about my encounter with the creatures earlier when they'd nearly managed to get the better of me. While the soldier had been ranting, I'd considered going to try and rescue Katrina while the Ra'zac and soldiers were distracted, but I wasn't sure if I'd have time to find her and get her before the soldiers and Ra'zac noticed. If I tried and they noticed I didn't think I could defeat all of them. Maybe I could defeat the soldiers, but I wasn't so sure about the Ra'zac. Despite being a demigod and a trained swordsman I had barely been able to hold my own against one of them, and trying to defeat both of them would be even more difficult. Not only that, but even if the others helped, I wasn't sure if we would be able to manage it. Roran shouldn't have even been there after what happened to his arm, but I knew he had refused to stay back and go to Gertrude. I understood why he had stubbornly refused, if I was in his position, and someone I loved was in danger I would probably do the same thing. Technically I'd already done something even more dangerous for the girl I loved when I'd fallen into Tartarus for Annabeth.
I quickly shoved that thought out of my head, I didn't want to think about her since she'd betrayed me just like everyone else that I'd considered friends or family. I tried to distract myself by concentrating on what was going on in the Ra'zac's camp trying to decide if I should try and do something.
I saw that the soldiers were frozen with shock as the two Ra'zac lapped from the neck of the corpse. When the black creatures rose, they rubbed their knobby hands together, as if they were washing, and said, "Yesss. We will go. Stay if you wisssh; reinforsssements are only daysss away."
The Ra'zac threw back their heads and began to shriek at the sky, the wail becoming increasingly shrill until it passed from hearing.
We all looked up as well. At first, I didn't see anything, but then two shadowy creatures appeared high over the Spine, eclipsing the stars. They advanced quickly, growing larger and larger until they obscured half the sky with their ominous presence. A foul wind rushed across the land, bringing with it a sulfurous miasma that made us cough and gag.
The soldiers were also afflicted; their curses echoed as they pressed sleeves and scarves over their noses. The creatures paused and then began to drift downward, enclosing the camp in a dome of menacing darkness. The torches flickered and threatened to go out, yet they still provided enough light to reveal the two beasts descending among the tents. Their bodies were naked and hairless with leathery gray skin pulled tight across their corded chests and bellies. In form they resembled starved dogs, except that their hind legs bulged with enough muscle to crush a boulder. A narrow crest extended from the back of each of their attenuated heads, opposite a long, straight, ebony beak made for spearing prey, and cold, bulbous eyes identical to the Ra'zac's. From their shoulders and backs sprang huge wings that made the air moan under their weight. Flinging themselves to the ground, the soldiers cowered and hid their faces from the monsters. A terrible, alien intelligence emanated from the creatures, hinting at a race far older and far more powerful than humans.
Now I was really starting to wonder if we'd be able to save Katrina, I'd faced a lot of monsters over the years but even I was kind of freaked out by those creatures. As we continued watching the camp, I could hear Horst whisper to the other men, urging them to hold their ground and remain hidden, or they might get killed.
The Ra'zac bowed to the beasts, then slipped into a tent and returned carrying Katrina—who was bound with ropes—and leading Sloan. The butcher walked freely. That fact alone made me realise that it had to have been Sloan who told the Ra'zac where to find Roran. I guessed that he was probably still angry about Roran Proposing to Katrina without getting his approval first. He probably hadn't realised that they might end up capturing Katrina instead.
Not long after I'd figured that out Rona seemed to realise the same thing.
"He betrayed us," said Roran with wonder. "He killed Byrd and he betrayed us!"
I could see that Tears of rage streamed down his face.
"Roran," murmured Horst, crouching beside him. "We can't attack now; they'd slaughter us. Roran... do you hear me?"
Horst might have been right, but I was still debating if I should try. I'd faced a lot of monsters over the years and survived, but then again, I'd had help for most of those. I took too long to decide though as we watched the smaller Ra'zac jump onto one beast above the shoulders, then catch Katrina as the other Ra'zac tossed her up. Sloan seemed upset and frightened now. He began arguing with the Ra'zac, shaking his head and pointing at the ground. Finally, the Ra'zac struck him across the mouth, knocking him unconscious. Mounting the second beast, with the butcher slung over its shoulder, the largest Ra'zac declared, "We will return once it isss sssafe again. Kill the boy, and your livesss are forfeit." Then the steeds flexed their massive thighs and leaped into the sky, once again shadows upon the field of stars.
We left after Roran Passed out, although there wasn't much we could have done to save her even if we had stayed. Sure, we could have defeated the remaining soldiers, but our main objective had been to save Katrina and we had failed at that. I felt bad for Roran. I knew how he was probably feeling, and I hoped that we would eventually be able to save Katrina somehow.
Roran clearly loved her and I hoped that they would eventually get to be happy together. Since I'd gotten to know Roran better I thought that we were kind of alike and I suspected he would do whatever he had to so he could have her back, and he probably wouldn't stop trying until they were reunited.
