Sorry for this late update. I was transported to a place where I had utterly no chance to touch a computer for three days.
Well, I'm back now. And this chapter will be a long one. Hopefully.
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"Katrina is in Uru'baen? Why?" Eragon's face already white face was getting paler.
"The king will seek through the minds of anyone he deems useful. The girl certainly qualifies." Murtagh grimaced. "It would be impossible for him to leave Katrina with the Ra'zac. The Ra'zac are uncontrollable in their hunger."
"I must go save her. And I'm the only chance she has, now that the Varden are nearly without hope."
Murtagh suddenly had a queer look on his face, an expression torn between amusement and irritation. "They will fare better than you think, Eragon."
Eragon raised his eyebrows but did not question further. "Can you tell me where she is held?"
"Of course I can. No oaths bind me on this matter." Replied Murtagh with a grim laugh.
"Then will you?"
"I will. For I know that she is held not fifty feet Galbatorix's quarters, in a room that is made for the more special 'guests' of the palace."
A thought suddenly struck Eragon. "Wait… I recall that you said on our last meeting that you had to find me and capture me alive. Yet, here you are, and we were sparring last night. What happened to that order?"
Murtagh chuckled. "This is when the magical powers of oaths overlap. Galbatorix told me that my only purpose now was to find the keeper, and bring the keeper back to him. My only purpose, you see? All the other oaths now count for nothing."
"But I am the keeper now!"
Murtagh's black eyes suddenly shone. "Yes… and I am going to bring you back to him, though Galbatorix may not know it. But indirectly, I'm also bringing you to Katrina…"
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Riding another dragon was not a thing that Eragon would of liked to experience. It was a strange, alien feeling, and it conjured up images that made him remember the joyful days he and Saphira had together. Saphira, who was most likely still unconscious from the black magic.
"Eragon? Try to shield the power you have within you. Galbatorix would sense the raw power over a league away."
"I will try to, Murtagh."
Thorn was flying effortlessly in the blue sky, and they would be in Uru'baen in less than ten minutes. Eragon put his hood on. His unusual looks would raise too many questions, and more trouble than they could handle.
Murtagh? I can see the towers of Uru'baen in the distance.
Good. Land here, and Eragon and I will go in alone.
Very well. But you know that we are almost demanding a beating from Galbatorix himself by doing this.
I know. But we do not have any choice.
Murtagh and Eragon jumped off the red dragon gracefully, and silently they began to walk toward the dark city of Uru'baen.
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"We will wait until dark." Said Murtagh quietly as they entered a fairly clean inn. "I will come with you into the palace, but that is as far as I will go. You will need to rescue Katrina on your own. Galbatorix must not know of this entire operation. Only until tomorrow can he find out."
"What will happen to you then?"
"I will survive. I haven't exactly disobeyed his orders, and he cannot possibly kill me." Murtagh gave a hollow laugh and passed a mug of beer to Eragon. "Drink up. It will take your mind off things. For a while, at least." He added bitterly.
Eragon's crimson eyes, hidden beneath his black hood, betrayed no emotion as his pale fingers reached for the mug.
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Damn… another one of my famous too-short chapters. But I will lengthen the next chapter until it's over 1500 words. I promise.