Chapter 12: Too Many Wounds

Riley traveled with the sun on her back and a fresh breeze from yesterday's storm on her face. Last night was beautiful and frightening at the same time with the rain pelting the clasps of thunder and lightning. Riley had stayed low against Devron's mane, hiding from the wind.

Now Yazuac lay a few miles in front of them and Riley licked her cracked lips. She had sipped the last of her water three hours ago. Everyone was looking forward to buying more provisions in Yazuac. The blob in the distance became rows of long, low buildings. Riley rode behind the others as they entered the town. But something felt off to Riley. She looked around; smoke drifted out from chimneys—that was okay—but there was no one in sight. It was as silent as the first time Cori had left her and her mother for his travels.

"Do you think something happened? I mean, shouldn't there be kids running around and…" Riley's voice stopped as Brom motioned them to follow him around a house.

"We'll enter from the side."

"Do you think it's a trap from the Ra'zac?" Eragon asked, stringing an arrow to his bow. Brom nodded and put his sword to the ready. Riley took a deep breath. This is it. Time to defeat the Ra'zac.

She loosened the sword at her side and checked her leggings. She had to make sure all her weapons could be obtained without any delays. As they rounded the village, the silence continued. Even the horses quit their nickering. Riley sniffed. Something in the air changed. It was so sweet smelling that her body tingled. It wasn't a good sweet like the kind that you smell with pastries and candies. It was the smell of rich iron. Devron halted as if he could sense it too. The others hadn't noticed and left the alley they were in, fully entering the villager's center slowly. He refused to continue at Riley's nudges.

"Devron," she whispered, "This is not a good time or place to be alone." She tried to move him once more. They made it to the opening and he stopped again. Only this time Riley couldn't pester him on; she couldn't even move herself. Eragon and Brom were ahead.

Riley didn't see them. She was gaping at a pile of the dead. All of the villagers were thrown against each other. Parents, children, the Elders; all jumbled together in a horrid death. She shrunk down to Devron. "Come on." She made it next to Eragon just as Brom dismounted Snowfire.

"Who did this?" Riley asked. Her gaze fell on a baby atop a pile and she shivered. She felt her bones go cold.

"Urgals. A large number of them passed by." Brom paused, looking at the traces left on the ground. He shot up, jumping onto Snowfire. "Some are still here. Run!"

Riley sprinted forward and they skirted the mound at full pace. The village flashed past. Riley could see the village's end from between the lowered backs of her companions. They were almost there. Riley glanced to her right, seeing movement; she was about to yell, to warn the others. But in the next moment she was falling. All of them were being attacked at once.

She flew forward over Devron as her horse's knees were knocked back and he fell on his side. Riley rolled several times before she could stop herself. Dust and grass covered her clothes and was gritty in her dry mouth. She whipped out a dagger from her belt as she sat up. There he was. The Urgal. He turned, searching for her after he failed to find her by the horse.

"Looking for me?" she said, heatedly and jumped up. He let out a guttural laugh and charged. She had unaccounted for his speed. Her attempt to sidestep failed as he was near her in seconds. As Riley dived over to her left, the Urgal swung his muscled arms and struck her side. She went down on her knees and clutched her ribs. She winced but used her position to her advantage. Since Riley was low, she stabbed her weapon into the boot of the Urgal, locking him temporarily in place. Riley stood still for a few more seconds, waiting.

The flash of a horse passed by, Brom on its back. As soon as she saw him near enough, she took off, not standing by to witness her Urgal get clocked in the back with Brom's sword—because he had his own Urgal chasing him as well.

She ran to the side of a building. Looking around, she realized it was a trap waiting to happen. But not for her if she could help it. Riley saw two barrels against the wall. Luckily, one was smaller. She stacked it on top of the other with a little effort. Jumping onto the barrels and balancing easily, she bent her legs and let loose like a copper spring, her short body rising parallel with the building. Riley pulled herself over and tumbled onto her stomach just in time. Her Urgal had recovered from Brom's blow and came crashing into the alley. She peeked over the edge as he slowed in confusion, seeing that her trail disappeared.

"Still looking for me?" Riley shouted down, retrieving all her daggers on her body. The Urgal yelled in anger. Riley held her breath as she raised her arm and flung what was supposed to be her brother's gift. It sailed down and hit its target in the leg, just above the crease. She didn't hesitate. Another dagger was thrown, this time in his right shoulder. The Urgal fell back with the force of it, smashing the wooden makeshift stairs that saved Riley and spilling its powdery contents. He thrashed around, trying to remove the daggers dug deep into his skeletal frame. She hurled two more and still the monster stirred and growled. How many can he stand? These guys are tough. I wonder how the boys are faring.

"This is my last one, Urgal. You shouldn't feel any more pain with this." She aimed, this one had to count. Seconds later, her sharpest and longest dagger landed with silence into the enemy's heart. He went still.

Riley realized she had been breathing hard and her hands bloody with cuts. It must have happened when pulling herself up and accidentally grabbed wrongly in her haste. She stood up on the flat adobe roof, wrapping her hands in her twisted cloak. The pain from her side and cuts returned as the adrenaline went away.

As her breathing lessened, she examined the village streets. The first thing she noticed, more like heard, were the horses. She looked toward the sound. It was Snowfire, and to Riley's great relief, Devron, halfway down the street. But her relief didn't last long.

"Brom!" she shouted and ran to the edge of the roof. She quickly slid down the wall, ignoring the throbbing. Once on the ground, Riley gathered her daggers from the dead body and jogged painfully to the slumped form in Snowfire's saddle. As the horse began to calm, she heard breathing and heavy footfalls behind her. Whipping around with dagger ready to throw, she found that it was only Eragon and Cadoc. Her friend looked sickly. He was very pale and shook as if there were an earthquake.

"I'm fine," both Riley and Eragon said at the same time in answer to each others questioning looks.

"Help me get him down."

Riley nodded. She unstrapped Brom's boot from the saddle and reached up to his stomach, standing on tip toes as Eragon grabbed his back. They pulled, and the unconscious man fell toward them, his weight proving more challenging for the two in their weakened state. Riley moved quickly to cradle Brom's head as they both fell to their knees.

"You're fine, huh? Looks different to me," Eragon said tiredly.

"Same here." Riley laughed which turned into a coughing fit.

Just then a screeching roar filled the suddenly whirling dusty air. Saphira landed yards away, snarling; her teeth glinted as she whipped her head about. It scared Riley more than her encounter with the Urgals.

"No," Eragon answered a silent question aloud.

Riley turned her attention to Brom, his wound needed bandages. She went to her pack strapped to Devron and returned with her supplies. She quickly wiped away the blood and sprinkled healing herbs along the gash on his arm. Absently, Riley wondered why Eragon was speaking out loud as she wrapped her only clean bandage securely around the arm. Was it for her benefit or was it because they were shaken up still. Her hands stopped as the one-sided conversation sunk in. She looked to her best friend.

"You used magic to kill those two? That's why you're so exhausted." She remembered the time at Broms after she experienced such a weird feeling escape her, and how she nearly fainted after from exhaustion. Riley tied the bandage in a knot. Her hands burned and visibly shook from her wounds. She turned them palms up. Even though the slices were shallow, the bleeding had started again while working on Brom's.

Eragon seemed confused by her statement but then noticed her hands. "Here. Let me help you."

"I don't have more clean cloth. I'll be fine."

He sighed, shaking his head and got up. The brown haired farmer boy searched through a few of Snowfire's saddlebags and returned, kneeling next to Riley. He took one of her hands and wrapped thick strips around the center of her palm. As he finished up, he said, "We should leave."

"I agree. There could be more beasts about." Riley flexed her hands. They still stung but it felt less painful with the wrap's pressure. "Thank you."

Devron grunted for Riley's attention. She walked over to him.

"What's wrong?" she said to him. Riley pushed her mind out to her horse and was surprised to find that it actually worked this time, but she wasn't happy about what she found. Something was making him uncomfortable. Devron neighed and raked his front legs on the dirt.

"Oh," Riley said sadly. Her horse had been injured during that first attack. His knees were torn up and spurts of blood ran down his right leg. She examined the injuries more closely. They weren't deep or life threatening, but it could slow down their travels until they heal. With a sigh, she walked to Eragon, who had been getting Brom situated on Saphira's saddle.

"Glad to see you're awake," she said when she came closer to find that Brom was talking. "Um, I don't think I'll be able to ride Devron. He's hurt. But I think he'll make a full recovery after the scrapes get cleaned out. We need to get some water," she informed them.

"Hmm. You can ride Snowfire for the time being," Brom answered, concerned.

Saphira growled quietly in impatience.

It was time to go.