A/N: Sorry for the shortness of the last chapter, but I needed to get it done... so, yeah.
I need at least five reviews before I update, okay?
Disclaimer: Christopher P. is terribly lucky. You all know why.
Taya was five years old, and she was sitting at the edge of her window. She looked down at the ground, hoping maybe today he'd come.
About three years had passed since the boy had promised he'd come for her, and it had been three long years of waiting, and he never came.
Tears pricked the back of her eyes as she ripped a necklace off her neck, tossing it onto the ground.
She lost all hope that day.
--
Taya slowly opened her eyes, and what she found disturbed her greatly. Great, big, red wings were flapping next to her, in the direction, she was sure, of Uru'Baen, to be taken in front of the King.
In front of her was a handsome, muscular man, his black hair whipping around behind him, smacking her in the face. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead got a mouthful of his hair.
Lifting up her hand, she pulled his hair out of her mouth.
"Excuse me?" she asked harshly, glaring. She had a right to. After all, this man had carried her off when she was trying to get to the Varden so she could defeat the likes of him.
The man turned around, and she sat there, frozen. His eyes bored in to hers, and they seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't figure what.
"What?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"N-nothing," she stammered, looking behind at Wyrda.
Wyrda, how are we going to get out of this? she asked nervously.
I have absolutely no clue.
Your wisdom surpasses all, Taya said sarcastically. She turned back to the man and stared at the ground below her, and realized that jumping off the dragon would not be a very good idea.
"So tell me," she said bravely, "what does this blockhead of a king plan to do with me?"
The man stiffened.
"You're very rude, aren't you?" he asked angrily.
"So my stepparents say."
The man stiffened even more, if that was possible. Taya shook her head at the man's weird behavior and stared up at the sky. She wished she was flying with Wyrda, but she had an idea that the man would not appreciate her suggestion.
Wyrda, what are we going to do? she asked worriedly as Uru'Baen drew steadily closer.
We could try to escape.
Taya gulped. This man had a sword, arrows, and magical ability, and all she had were her fists. Also, his dragon was older and wiser than her's, and Wyrda had no training in combat.
Er, I don't think that's such a good idea.
--
A small girl stood in front of a rider, kicking him in the side.
Your rider appears to enjoy his rest, Visii said, snarling. Too much rest when the third rider is being carried off by his enemy.
He was injured, Saphira said angrily, nostrils flaring.
He has magic, does he not?
Eragon stirred, rubbing his eyes. They widened, and he let out a scream, clutching his wounded arm. He looked up at the sky ruefully, remembering he had let the girl go.
We'd best be making our way back to the Varden, Eragon said dejectedly.
Visii snorted.
You're going to fly off to the Varden when Murtagh took the girl? Visii asked angrily. How could you do that? They're not that far ahead, go and bring her back!
Eragon stared at the girl, blinking slowly. The sun hung low, casting a long shadow on the ground.
Can we catch them?
Visii rolled her eyes.
If she is as good as a flyer as Oromis and Glaedr say, we shouldn't have much of a problem, Visii replied, turning around and sticking her hands in a bush.
Right... wait, Eragon began, but was cut off by Saphira.
How do you know about Oromis? Saphira queried.
The girl turned around, holding supplies in her hand. The rider's supplies.
I have my ways, Visii said, then turned into a werecat. I am Visii, a werecat.
Eragon gasped at the werecat, tumbling backwards. He realized how naive he had been, he had been talking to her the same way he spoke to Saphira and Solembum. It was at that moment he realized he still had his hand on his bleeding arm.
Can I have a piece of cloth?
Why don't you just use a spell?
I need to save my energy for the fight with Murtagh.
With an injured arm?
Fine.
Eragon held his hand over the deep cut and muttered a spell, healing the gash in his arm.
Visii added the girl's possessions to Saphira's saddle,
Eragon stared up at the sky for a couple of moments, just thinking about Murtagh and his treachery.
"Ready?" came a girl's voice.
Eragon turned to Saphira and saw Visii sitting on Saphira's back, holding a dagger in her mouth.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Eragon responded, hopping onto Saphira's back, keeping one hand on the hilt of his sword, prepared for anything that would come his way. He would not let his guard down again.
--
Taya twisted restlessly in the saddle, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. It wasn't like she could just lie down.
"Sir," she said to the man, trying to keep her voice as sweet as possible.
"What?" he asked. "Oh, don't call me 'sir.'"
"Then what should I call you?" she asked in annoyance.
He pondered this for a moment. "If we are going to be allies, we might as well be on a first name basis. Call me Murtagh."
Taya nodded her head. "And call me Taya."
Murtagh whipped his head around, locking eyes with her. Taya tried to look away, but something about his eyes kept her head still. They were an endless ocean of dread, eyes so full of pain and wisdom that most would look away, and yet she couldn't.
Taya!
Taya was brought out of her trance, and shook her head.
What is it, Wyrda? she asked, looking back at her dragon.
It's the other dragon! Wyrda cried, trying to move his head around further, but the chains kept him where he was.
Suddenly, another presence entered her mind.
Hello, young one.
Taya was frightened, but then came to the conclusion that it was the other dragon.
Hello...
Listen, we're going to try to free you, whether you want to join the Varden or not. Just follow along...
--
Three minutes later, Murtagh's dragon lurched sideways, rolling in the air. Taya held onto the saddle, trying her hardest not to throw up.
"Eragon!" Murtagh cried, pulling out his blood red sword.
"Murtagh!" Eragon cried in return, brandishing his sword. Eragon's dragon lurched at Murtagh, who brought his sword up just in time to prevent a large cute on his stomach.
"The last thing I need is another scar, little brother!" he exclaimed, lunging forward, only to meet Eragon's sword in midair.
Taya stared at them, wishing she could join a fight. Then, she realized Murtagh was so preoccupied in fighting Eragon, he wouldn't notice if she slipped off onto Wyrda.
She slowly slide her feet out of the extra stirrups on the saddle and hesitantly turned around, lying on her stomach. She pulled herself forward along the dragon's back, the scales scraping her skin through her clothes.
Wyrda, move as close as you can to Murtagh's dragon, she said as she neared his tail.
Alright, but be careful.
Always, she responded, pulling herself to the thickest part of the dragon's tail. Wyrda was now at the tip of the dragon's tail, the chains dangling below them. She could hear the sounds of swords clashing as she slid further down the tail. Wyrda lowered his head so she could climb onto his neck, and she did so.
Finally, she was seated on his back.
Saphira! she exclaimed. I need to break the chains holding Wyrda to...
Thorn? Saphira finished. Visii should be there in a moment with your sword.
Sure enough, a couple of moments later, Visii, still a girl, hopped onto Wyrda's back, as Saphira had gotten close enough for her to jump.
"Thought I'd abandoned you?" Visii said, running her hands over the chains. They glowed light green for a moment before disintegrating.
Taya gaped at this, she knew Visii was a werecat and capable of doing magic, she just hadn't thought she'd see it, since werecats tend to be very secretive about things.
Visii smiled menacingly and handed Taya her sword.
Taya returned the gesture with a grin.
Let's go! she cried, spurring Wyrda forward to catch up to the others.
Wyrda lunged forward, smacking Thorn in the side and sending Murtagh rolling. His sword flew out of his hand, and he tumbled off of Thorn.
"Murtagh!" Eragon and Taya cried in unison, and both dove down. Saphira spun in a circle as she dove, and Taya briefly wondered how Eragon managed to not throw up.
Murtagh fell faster and faster, and his eyes seemed to be darting back and forth between Thorn, Saphira, and Wyrda as he tried to think up a spell to save himself.
Thorn flapped his wings faster, attempting to reach his rider before he landed on the hard ground below.
Wyrda fell behind as Eragon and Saphira caught up to Thorn.
Faster! she cried, leaning forward in the saddle as Visii's grip around her waste tightened.
Wyrda sped up, so he was neck and neck with Saphira, whose sapphire scales shone in the setting sunlight.
As they neared the ground, a sudden mist overcame them, so they couldn't see Murtagh.
Taya heard Eragon swear, and a sudden rush of wind meant Saphira had only quickened her pace.
She heard a faint scream, and then the only sound was Wyrda's wings, beating in the cool air.
Wyrda went faster, and Taya caught a glimpse of blue in front of her. Suddenly, she felt Wyrda slowing.
What are you doing? she asked angrily. Wyrda couldn't be slowing, not when they had to get to Murtagh.
Landing.
Wyrda's talons dug into the ground, and Taya hopped off quickly. She ran forward, to where she saw ruby and sapphire scales glinting in the distance.
Tears sprung into her eyes as she saw Murtagh's figure motionless on the ground. She hardly knew him, he had tried to capture her, and yet the sorrow she felt was the greatest she had felt since her parents death.
She tumbled forward, finally reaching the others. Wyrda soon arrived, making large thumping sounds.
"Is he...?"
Eragon held up his hand, and the area around his feet was splattered with tears.
Taya took her first good look at Murtagh, and found him lying crumpled on the ground, blood trickling off his arm.
A/N: MWAHAHAHA! A cliffhanger! Do you think he dies or lives? Well, you'll just have to review if you want me to update faster, and read the next chapter!