Murtagh ran as fast as he could to keep up with Fawks. His lungs were burning and muscles screaming as he raced through the town towards the woods. His heart was racing so fast he thought it might explode from his chest but he couldn't stop. In his mind he had the fear that it was Silas but in his heart he knew that there was no other explanation. He gasped as he fell face first into the ground tripping over a root. He sighed and got up to his feet and continued to run.
"Can you see anything?" Murtagh asked to Thorn as he flew over head.
"No," Thorn sighed, "not yet."
"Great." Murtagh sighed. "Where could she be?" He thought.
He froze as he caught a flash of silver and ran as fast as he could towards it
"Marina!" He yelled.
No one answered.
"Murtagh!" He heard Thorn yell in horror.
Murtaghs heart sank as he ran. He stopped and froze in horror at what was before him.
"No." He whispered.
He ran over to where Marina lay in a pool of her own blood in front of him a sword sticking out of her stomach. She was covered with her silver cloak and was pale white.
"Marina!" Murtagh yelled falling to her side.
She didn't respond.
"Marina please open your eyes." He whispered cradling her in his arms.
He realized as he picked her up that she had nothing on underneath the cloak.
"No please no." He whispered.
"Murtagh." He heard her whisper weakly.
His heart skipped a beat. "Yeah it's me." He whispered.
"I knew you'd find me." She struggled in a rugged voice.
"I told you I'd always find you." He said. "Just hold on we're going to get you help."
"It's not all mine." She whispered.
"What?" He asked as he picked her up and ran towards where thorn was waiting.
"The blood." She whispered.
He felt a hint of relief hit him but knew that she was bleeding badly still.
"Marina just hang on." He said as he climbed on Thorn and they headed back to the Varden.
Murtagh watched in horror as the medical staff tried frantically to stop the bleeding. He felt his heart stopping as he watched her start to shake.
"Come on Marina." He whispered.
"It's no use she won't breath." One of the nurses said throwing down the equipment that was in her hand.
They all jumped as the door flung open and a boy with bright orange hair and piercing blue eyes walked in cloaked in royal blue but wore black pants with a brown tunic and stormed over to where Marina lay seizing into shock. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. She was still jumping as he held her.
"You will not die." He said staring into her eyes. "Not by his hands." He said and started to chant in a low voice never breaking eye contact with her.
They watched in amazement as she slowly started to calm down and fell unconscious as he finished. He released her and laid her back down. He sighed and looked over at the doctors.
"Clean up the wound and make sure to bandage it up tight or the bleeding may start again, other then that she'll be fine." He said and walked out.
Murtagh stared after him in shock. "He's back." He heard a nurse whisper.
Murtagh ignored her and left as the doctor finally ordered him out. He stepped out into the hall and sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness." He whispered.
He regained his composure as Eragon called him down the hall. He walked towards his friend and sighed.
"iIHow is she?" Eragon asked.
"Fine now." Murtagh whispered.
"Well come with me then." "Reiley would like to talk to you." Eragon said.
"Great he probably wants to kill me for not protecting her again." Murtagh whispered as they started towards where Reiley was waiting.
They walked through the corridors and towards the library. He sighed.
"I wonder what he wants?" Murtagh whispered.
"I don't know to tell you the truth." Eragon said.
"That doesn't make me feel any better." He said as they entered the library.
Murtagh looked to see Reiley talking to the boy from earlier and froze.
"Ah Murtagh." Reiley said as they approached.
"You wanted to see me. Murtagh asked as he bowed.
"Ah yes I'd like for you to meet Flame." He said referring to the man in front of him.
"So you're the one that failed to protect her." Flame said coldly glaring at him.
Murtagh nodded. "I deserve that." He said.
"You deserve a lot more." Flame said irritably.
"Wait a minute just who do you think you are coming here and judging me." Murtagh asked angrily. Flame smirked.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself." "I am who they call the sorcerer Flame and I specialize in light and dark magic." Flame said coolly.
"Really and just how do you know Marina." Murtagh asked irritably. Flame smiled.
"Because I'am Flame son of Reiley and brother of Marina." He said as Murtagh and Eragon stared at him in shock.