Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon. Anything familiar belongs to Christopher Paolini, but everything else belongs to me.
Chapter Eight
A painful grunt sounded as a dark-haired boy was thrown ruthlessly on the stone ground. When he lifted up his head weakly, his forehead was slightly bleeding from where his head had hit the ground.
Tight ropes bound his hands, and already the skin had been rubbed raw on his wrists. Murtagh was greatly in need of help.
"You will come obediently to our master," a particularly vicious Urgal snarled.
"Yeah…right," Murtagh spat angrily, and the Urgal bared his crooked, yellow teeth in a low growl.
"I would not speak with such confidence if I were in your position!" the creature sneered. In an instant the Urgal drew back his leg and kicked Murtagh powerfully. The blow hit him square in the chest, and the man's head drooped.
"No!"
Kaiya's head jerked up as she awoke from her troubled sleep. The sky was a faint purplish color, and the moon could still be seen clearly over their heads. Her head was curiously sore, as if she had banged it against something rock hard. Any tiredness that she felt had immediately vanished as she pondered the dream she had experienced.
That man—Murtagh—I have dreamt about him before. He is in danger, but why have the Urgals taken him for their prisoner?
A snort from one of the horses caused Kaiya to jump slightly, and she arose from her uncomfortable sleeping position. Tesu was still asleep away from the remains of the fire. Rubaes was curled up and sleeping, a low humming coming from his throat. It had been two weeks since they had departed from Furnost, and on the horizon they could see the faint outline of the Hadarac desert.
Rubaes's growth had amazed her: already his head was slightly higher than her shoulder. No longer could she keep him hidden in a cloth, nor let him ride on her lap. His scales glittered like liquid fire, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. His crimson eyes were fierce and penetrating. It surprised Kaiya how much difference there was between them. Rubaes was powerful and ferocious-looking, and a personality to match. He was arrogant and stubborn, but a caring and protective quality was hidden under his rough appearance.
I wonder what Rubaes would say if I told him of my prophecy dream? Somehow I feel that this Murtagh is of great importance in the future, as well as the Eragon boy. Kaiya nodded with her conclusion, then let her gaze stretch up into the vast, open sky.
You are thinking about Murtagh and Arya, a voice commented calmly. Eragon glanced over to an immense sapphire dragon beside him. Across her face was a stern expression.
And what else would I be thinking of? Eragon replied crossly. It has been a week since Murtagh's capture, and Arya has yet to return.
Do you expect her to appear just like that? She is probably trying to catch up with us.
Eragon frowned slightly; I still don't understand why we couldn't wait for them. Why did the elves have to come at the worst possible time: Ajihad dead, Murtagh and the Twins captured, Arya gone, the Varden still recovering from the battle. I shouldn't have agreed to leave until they returned.
You did what was expected of you. Saphira replied calmly. It is your responsibility as a Dragon Rider to go and train with the elves.
Ignoring her sensible response, Eragon turned away from Saphira and looked around him. A dozen flawless elves sat near him. Each had a magnificent weapon made to perfection close by. It was still early in the morning, yet many of them were getting ready for another long ride that would take the entire day.
Leading the group was an incredibly skilled elf named Haldin. He had long, blonde hair that stretched down to his chest. A master at the bow, he carried a hand carved bow on his back.
A murmur that rose through the elves brought curiosity to Eragon. He sat up slowly and found Haldin walking towards him, a troubled look across his fair face.
"Word has just reached us that the two remaining eggs have been stolen from Galbatorix's castle." he said gravely.
"Stolen?" Eragon repeated dumbly. "But how?" Questions exploded through his mind. Hadn't Brom said that it was suicide to try and steal the eggs from Galbatorix?
Haldin sighed and replied, "No one is sure how they managed to steal it. But it was done at the one time the King was vulnerable: when he had left Urû'baen and left the eggs."
"But isn't that a good thing? Whoever stole the eggs are against Galbatorix, right?" Eragon persisted.
Haldin shook his head, "It is impossible to tell. Galbatorix has been trying to cover it up, but there is extra security around all of the surrounding cities. The Ra'zac are also trying desperately to track the stolen eggs."
Slight anger surged through Eragon at the mention of the Ra'zac. He could hear Saphira questioning him, but Eragon ignored her. "Is anybody going to try and make contact with them?"
Haldin laughed slightly. "Eragon Shadeslayer, I doubt that if the King's personal assistants have not caught them, we have a chance to. Besides, we must reach Orthíad on schedule, and to do that we must travel at a steady pace."
It took the weary boy a moment to take in what he had said. "Orthíad? Why are we going west?" Eragon finally asked in surprise.
"The Urgals have been massing an army in the east, on the border of the Hadarac Desert to the Edda River. It would be much more hazardous to try and get around them, though it would take far less time to reach Ellesméra."
They started traveling not long after, and Eragon started talking to Saphira. If what Haldin says is true, then there is a chance that another Dragon Rider will come in to play, Eragon concluded.
I knew that it would happen eventually; it was merely a matter of time. We shall have to be ready for this Rider, whether they are an ally or enemy. Saphira stated to him. In the sky, Eragon watched the sapphire beast dart through the sky gracefully, and he felt strangely anxious. Whoever has stolen the eggs shall be in for a rough time…I bid them luck.
By the time Tesu had woken up, Kaiya had already gotten the horses saddled and ready to go. She was sitting on a fallen, rotting log, lost deep in thought. Rubaes was next to her, prodding her for information on why she was had been so quiet.
Rubaes, I am only thinking of my fight back in Furnost… something happened there that I cannot forget.
Then it would be wise to open up your mind and tell me of this secretive thing. Rubaes replied testily,
Kaiya nodded slightly, finally agreeing with Rubaes's words. Do you remember when you said that you heard someone uttering a foreign language? I think that those words are connected to magic, and that is what happened with the red flames.
Rubaes's eyes lit up at the mention of the Kaiya's words. He rested his crimson head on her knee and murmured, I doubt that we can find any answers to this riddle alone. Perhaps when we reach the Varden our answers can be solved. Until then, we can only wait and ponder what few things we do know.
Stroking Rubaes's back, Kaiya inquired with a small smile, Now how did you become so all-knowing, my dear friend?
A dragon has his ways, Rubaes replied back slyly.
After riding until midday, a wild thought struck the famished and sweaty girl. Kaiya slowed down Raiden to a leisurely walk and did a quick calculation in her head, trying intensely to remember the past things thrown in the depths of her mind.
What is wrong, Kaiya? Rubaes asked casually. He was gliding by her in the air, stretching his wings and enjoying the wind that ruffled under him.
I-I think that it is my birthday, Kaiya replied slowly, her brow furrowed in thought.
Rubaes snorted, obviously not caring, and flew a bit higher. Kaiya shot a glare at the beast but said nothing else to him.
I am sixteen years old today; it seems so unimportant compared to everything else that has been thrown at me.
Hunger gnawed unmercifully at her stomach for what must have been the thousandth time, though Kaiya knew better than to ask her brother if they could stop to eat their meager lunch. Instead, she passed the time thinking only to herself.
Look behind us Kaiya; what is that? Rubaes suddenly asked. His voice was suddenly sharp and serious with no trace of his earlier calmness.
Turning around, Kaiya say two objects on the brink of the horizon. For a second she thought they were merely wild animals, but all belief of that flew from her mind when she saw one stand up from a crouching position.
I cannot tell from back here, but it looks like two people, Kaiya said in the same tone as her dragon.
Then I suggest you tell the boy that we have visitors, Rubaes stated testily.
Kaiya looked from Rubaes and back to the objects fading in the distance. I should not worry Tesu when they are probably mere travelers or hunters.
A low growl came from the crimson dragon. Do you think it wise to act with such carelessness when we are running from the Empire? One clumsy mistake could cost us anything from the other egg to our very lives. Anything out of the ordinary should be considered dangerous to us.
Then act as if it is dangerous, Rubaes; I shall not tell Tesu. Kaiya replied determinedly.
Over the next days, Kaiya and Rubaes saw no further things out of the ordinary. While Rubaes was still suspicious, Kaiya paid no mind to the strange incident.
It was merely a traveler and nothing more, the girl told Rubaes carelessly. If only she had taken more of a precaution in the matter.
