Disclaimer: Don't own Eragon.
Alright, this is like the longest chapter to come so far, so be very very happy.
HOLY CRAP 80 REVIEWS! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME MUCH!!!
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
The sun was nearly midway through the sky when Alycie awoke the next morning. Murtagh had already hunted and returned. The fire was searing the prey already as she sat up, looking around.
"It's about time," said Murtagh from his place by the fire. "You were tired."
"Today's the day..." said Alycie, letting her breath out in a sigh. Murtagh nodded.
Alycie stood, walking to Cadoc and taking her dress out of the saddlebags. She walked to the fire, taking out her dagger and spreading the worn dress on her knee, cutting away the frayed hem. She cut the dress short so it would fall to her knees, and then carved a small slit out of the neckline, making the appearance more provocative. Taking a small stick from the fire, running the little flame along the loose threads along the newly cut hem, burning them away.
"You don't have to do this," said Murtagh. "I could get by another way."
"No. I can do this," said Alycie. Murtagh looked at her in disapproval.
"Take your dagger," he advised.
"Of course," said Alycie.
"We'll go at night," said Murtagh. "I'll disguise myself and go in after you. If anything happens, run out of the city as fast as you can." Alycie nodded. After the meal, she stood, taking the dress.
"I'd better change then..." she said. Murtagh put down his bowl.
"Do you want me to go?" he asked.
"No, I'll be quick," responded Alycie, turning and walking to the edge of the clearing.
She unfastened her tunic, pulling it off and tugging the dress on. It fit a little looser than it once had, but it accomplished the desired effect. She slipped out of the pants underneath the skirt. Folding them up, she packed the clothes into Cadoc's saddlebags, slipping the dagger out of her shoe and slipping it into the back of her dress. She turned to find Murtagh staring at her.
"What?" she asked, folding her arms self-consciously.
"I...just noticed...on your back," he said, a strange pained edge to his voice. Alycie looked down.
"Oh."
"Where did you get them?" asked Murtagh.
"Whips," said Alycie. He had seen the many scars that striped her back. The signature of slavery. "For my mistakes." Murtagh didn't press further.
Soon he walked to Tornac, withdrawing a beard, and cloak. He hunched himself over like an old beggar man, dirtying his face beyond recognition. He took the two sparring sticks and lashed them together as a crutch. He walked back to the fire.
"Well, do I look like an old beggar man?" he asked. Alycie nodded, grinning.
"It will suffice," she said, standing. She pulled one of her sleeves down below her shoulder at the neckline and struck a seductive pose. "Do I look like a seductive flirtatious whore?" Murtagh laughed.
"You could never," he said. "But it will do." Alycie smirked.
"Let us go then," she said. "Dusk will be here soon, and we are traveling on foot."
"Saphira, wait for Eragon's command. I'll tell him to contact you when I find him," said Murtagh. Saphira inclined her head in understanding.
They rode Tornac the first mile out, and then Murtagh coaxed him into returning to the wooded area, still visible in the distance. He waited while Alycie walked ahead onto the road. She had taken a cloak to shield herself from view until it was necessary. Her dagger was cold against her spine as she walked along. Dusk had fully fallen when she reached Gil'ead. Looking back as she entered the city, she spotted the hunched figure of Murtagh two hundred yards behind her.
She walked quickly through the streets, finding the prison in the center. There she waited at a distance, eyeing the two guards. One was young, obviously new to the force, and the other seemed as if he had served for a while, standing perfectly straight and still. She watched the street for a few more minutes, then, as she spotted the disguised Murtagh turn a corner, she threw her cloak aside, taking a deep breath, and walked up to them.
"Please, sirs, coul' one o' you fine gen'lemen go an' stop the figh' in The Figh'in' Cork? My li'l brotha' is sure to ge' 'imself hurt an' they won' listen to me!" she said in a pleading voice. The older guard looked to the younger one, giving him the order. He ran off down the street. Alycie watched him go, and then turned to the remaining guard, turning on her seductive act.
"'Ello there luv," she said, pulling a sleeve to reveal her shoulder and looking at him flirtatiously. "Wot's a big, strong man like you doin' alone this late in the eve?" The guard looked down at her, for he was a good foot or two taller. His brown eyes regarded her dully in his unshaven, frowning face.
"On duty, Miss. Can't let nobody pass," he said. Alycie drew in close to him, pressing her back against his chest and sliding with a sigh.
"'S so cold ou'," she said, her hands rubbing her exposed arms. "You cold? We coul' warm each other up a bit..."
"There's an inn down that way if you're cold. They have a nice fire running constantly," said the guard, but Alycie saw him gulp nervously. She stuck out her lower lip.
"So far away, though," she said, turning to face him, her cleavage rising and falling with her breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Murtagh growing near. She placed her hands on the guard's stomach, sliding them up over his chest to his neck, wrapping around and standing on her tiptoes to reach his face with hers. "Why don' we jus' go someplace a li'l more...private?" she asked in a whisper. The guard began to protest, but Alycie held a finger to his lips, turning her hand and curling the finger, beckoning him to follow. She drew her hand back, surprised to see that his face followed. She lead him around the corner of the prison, pushing him up against the wall and forcing her lips onto his. His arms wrapped around her, holding her to him. She opened an eye, seeing Murtagh hobble towards the entrance to the building. He was in. She unfastened one of her arms from around his neck, reaching back to the back of her dress and reaching inside, drawing out her dagger. The guard suddenly pulled away just as she had it out completely, removing his helmet as he looked at the ground in shame.
"What am I doing? Miss, I'm sorry, I am a happily married man and I love my wife very much. I've known her for over eight years and even though it was an arranged marriage, I'm happy, and I wouldn't betray her for the world," he babbled quickly. Alycie's eyes roved over the face of the young man, taking in the small scar that was traceable along his brow.
"Jurdan?" she asked, taking a step back in amazement. The guard narrowed his eyes.
"How do you know me?" he asked. Alycie pointed at his scar.
"You got that when you knocked over a table and a mug broke and cut you," she said. "I thought I'd never see you again after that blonde woman took you to be betrothed to her daughter." The guard squinted at her.
"Alycie?" he asked. "No, not Garrick's little sister..." Alycie nodded.
"It's me," she said. Jurdan smiled widely, and then drew Alycie into a strong hug.
"Alycie! What are you doing here? In...in that..." His smile faded and he began wiping his mouth. "Uch! I never shoulda fallen for that! When Urelia sees me she'll...but what are you doing? You must be freezing." Alycie pressed her hand over his mouth, looking around. She looked him in the eye.
"Don't say my name," she said quietly. "I'm trying to keep a low profile. Going on a mission, you see." Jurdan furrowed his brow.
"I can't help you if you're against the Empire," he said. "That was the only road I could take. I'm in the king's army now. It got me out of slavery and into a nice job."
"I don't expect you to help me," said Alycie. "I expect you...to be lenient. Let me into the prison, and do not raise the alarm. That's all I ask." Jurdan thought.
"Young Movel won't be back for a while. He's horrible with directions. Very well, I'll let you in, but you better not get caught or it's my head they're lobbing off." Alycie hugged him in gratitude.
"Thank you, Jurdan," she said.
"Go quickly now," he said, putting his helmet back on and straightening once more. Alycie darted around the corner quickly, slipping soundlessly into the building as Jurdan resumed his post.
Alycie crept along the torch lit stone corridors of the Gil'ead jail. She wasn't only looking for Eragon. Or Murtagh. There was another on her mind, whose memory was refreshed by the discovery of Jurdan outside. She turned a corner, finding a hallway full of locked wooden cell doors. She looked into each one, peeking between the crisscrossed sturdy wooden bars to study the captive within before moving on to the next. After fifty doors, she was becoming frantic. The soldiers could discover her at any moment. She needed to search faster.
"Garrick?" she hissed as she passed the doors. "Garrick, are you there?" A movement five doors ahead made her stop sharply, looking around in alarm. Then she saw what had caused the movement. Three fingers were sticking out of the small barred cell door window. She walked to the door, looking inside.
"Alycie," whispered the man at the door.
"Garrick, is that you?" she asked.
"Alycie, they captured me, I'm sorry I didn't meet you," said Garrick. Alycie barely recognized him. His face had sprouted a short beard from his time in captivity and his arms and legs were shrunken from lack of food. Alycie held his fingers tightly, happiness and sadness tearing at her.
"I'll free you," she said, holding up the dagger and beginning to work it into the lock in an attempt to break it.
"No! No, Alycie don't. I am too weak to escape! They will be deporting me soon to Urû'baen where I am to serve in the king's army. I will find a way out on my own. Do not put yourself in danger."
"I can't leave you," said Alycie, pushing on the dagger with all her might.
"Alycie, no! Leave!" exclaimed her brother.
"What have we here?" came a cold, drawling voice from down the hall. Alycie's blood seemed to freeze in her veins as she turned her head to look at the owner of the voice. He was tall and lithe, with long, blood red hair and pale skin. Evil seemed to emanate from his very skin. His body dissipated, reassembling two feet from Alycie in a wisp of smoke. She gasped. His eyes were the most frightening shade of deep, dark red. A Shade!
"Run!" Garrick shouted at his stupefied sister. She began scrambling to her feet, her eyes unable to break away from the cold, red ones of the Shade.
"A fruitless attempt," said the monster of a being, holding out a hand. Alycie was suddenly lifted to her feet by an invisible force. She watched as the Shade surveyed her. "So, what is this? An attempted rescue of a lover? Or is it family?"
"Please, I beg of you, don't hurt her," said Garrick from his cell. The Shade ignored him.
"So, which is it? Lovers or family?" Alycie didn't answer. "I suppose I'll have to just take a look-see..."
She let out a cry as a mind-numbing pain engulfed her skull. It felt as if a blade were drilling it's way through. Visions of memories began flashing through her conscious mind, some of which she didn't even recall. The Shade was searching her mind for his answers. Visions of a young Garrick flashed before her, then one of every year during their enslavement. Then more recent memories began to appear. Flashes of the Ra'zac, her delirium, and the tomb of Brom. Eragon appeared, riding Saphira, standing next to the diamond tomb, being captured by the Urgals, sparring with Murtagh. Murtagh! Murtagh's frustration, Murtagh sparring, Murtagh's face as she closed in to kiss him--
"NO! STOP!" Alycie cried. The Shade withdrew from her mind, interest evident on his facial features.
"Well...well well well...this is a predicament for you, isn't it?" he said in his dangerous voice. Alycie closed her eyes tightly, trying to block the lingering pain. A small group of soldiers entered the hallway, having heard Alycie's cry.
"Lord Durza, who is--" started one.
"Take this girl out of here," said the Shade, tossing her to the soldier. "We have no need to imprison her. She is weak and insignificant." But his eyes told another story. They were staring at her, plotting as a smirk crossed his face. Alycie didn't see any more, however, for she was dragged out of the hallway, helpless to resist.
Then, suddenly, they stopped. Alycie was vaguely aware of the fearful expressions upon her captors' faces. Then one let out a battle cry.
"CHARGE!" he yelled. Alycie was dropped as the soldiers drew their blades as one, rushing into the hall. The yells of a fight echoed along the stone walls as Alycie saw a hooded figure stop over her, dropping a piece of wood to the side and looking at her. He drew a yew bow from within his cloak, knocking an arrow and pulling the string back. He let it fly.
"Thrysta!" came a cry from within the hallway. A thud followed and the hooded figure let fly another arrow, yielding a scream from the hall. The hooded figure knocked another arrow. "Don't kill him!"
Alycie recognized the voice as Eragon's. Her mind was clearer as she sat up, getting to her feet. Her eyes settled upon the wood the hooded figure had dropped and she recognized it as the makeshift crutch Murtagh had constructed back at the camp. She turned, taking a step to return to Garrick's cell, but the hooded figure, Murtagh, clutched her arm, holding her still. She struggled briefly, muttering her brother's name, but Marek sent her a serious look and she stopped, turning her attention to Eragon in the hall.
"The elf's in the last cell to the left! I don't know about your sword, but it's probably in the guardroom upstairs. All the weapons are there," said the remaining soldier. Eragon muttered a word and he collapsed to the floor.
"Did you kill him?" asked Murtagh. Eragon looked at him, narrowing his eyes.
"Murtagh! Is that you?" he said finally.
"Yes." He lifted his beard briefly. "I don't want my face seen. Did you kill him?"
"No, he's only asleep. Alycie...what are you wearing?"
"There's no time to explain," said Murtagh. "We have to get up to the next floor before anyone finds us. There'll be an escape route for us in a few minutes. We don't want to miss it."
"Didn't you hear what I said? There's an elf in the prison. I saw her! We have to rescue her. I need your help," said Eragon.
"Mad..." muttered Alycie. Murtagh growled, running down the hall to the door the soldier had indicated.
"An elf...this is a mistake. We should flee while we have the chance." He removed a ring of keys from his cloak. "I took it from one of the guards." Eragon held out his hand for the ring and Murtagh handed them to him with a shrug.
The Rider tried the keys until he found the right one, turning it. Alycie walked over to them, her mind still feeling sickly open. The pain from the probe still throbbed through her mind every few seconds. It must have shown in her face, because Murtagh cast her a worried glance. She shook her head and assumed a more confident composure.
The door swung open, revealing a stunningly beautiful elf standing there. She lifted her head high, her dark green eyes lifting to Eragon's. She collapsed suddenly, and Eragon rushed forward to catch her. Her long river of midnight hair covered her face as Eragon lifted her more upright.
"She's beautiful," breathed Murtagh as his eyes landed on her. Alycie had to admit he was right, though it wasn't amazement that burned in her blood at the sight of the elf.
"But hurt," Eragon said in response to Murtagh.
"We can tend to her later. Are you strong enough to carry her?" Eragon shook his head. "Then I'll do it." Murtagh lifted the elf onto his shoulders, yelling, "Now, upstairs!" They rushed to a stone staircase at the end of the hall, climbing it quickly.
"How are we going to get out without being noticed?" asked Eragon.
"We're not," said Murtagh. They arrived in the soldiers' banquet room and Murtagh laid the elf on a table. "Can you talk to Saphira for me?" Murtagh asked Eragon.
"Yes."
"Tell her to wait another five minutes."
"Shh...listen," said Alycie. Soldiers could be seen passing the entrance to the staircase that lead to the banquet room.
"Whatever you're planning to do, I don't think we have much time," said Eragon.
"Just tell her, and stay out of sight," hissed Murtagh, running out of the room. Alycie gave Eragon a last look and followed him. They edged along the stone hall, sticking to the shadows. Murtagh peeked into a doorway before running inside. Alycie followed.
They seemed to be in a weapons chamber. Bows of all sorts hung upon the walls, arrows filled barrels, and swords of various craftsmen lay upon the tables. Murtagh quickly found Zar'roc, handing it to Alycie as if it burnt his hand to touch it. Then he examined the bows upon the wall.
"This looks like elf craft," he said, pulling down a particularly elegant bow. He did the same with a curved sword.
"Murtagh, we can't wait long for Saphira," said Alycie. "A Shade is here." Murtagh looked at her.
"A Shade? We have to tell Eragon. If there's a Shade here, Saphira needs to come immediately," he said. Then he paused. "How do you know?"
"Spotted him in the hallway," lied Alycie, "on my way to find you."
"Come." Murtagh swept out of the weapons chamber once more. Alycie looked around at the many blades wistfully before following him.
When they arrived back in the banquet room, they found Eragon sitting under a table, a mug of beer in one hand and a hunk of bread in the other. Murtagh quickly shouted the predicament to him and asked him to relay the message to Saphira.
"Let's just hope the Shade doesn't find us," he said.
"I'm afraid it's far too late for that," came a cold chuckle.
The threesome whirled around to find the Shade, Durza, standing on the other side of the room. In his hand was a long, thin blade with a visible scratch upon it. Durza reached up, unclasping his cloak, and let it fall to the floor.
"So, my young Rider, do you wish to test yourself against me? I shouldn't have trusted the captain when he said you ate all your food. I will not make that mistake again."
"I'll take care of him," muttered Murtagh, reaching for his blade.
"No. He wants me alive, not you. I can stall him for a short while, but then you'd better have a way out for us," said Eragon quietly. Alycie was staring at Durza. He had dragged her away from her brother, who was going to join the king's army, and whom she might never see again. He had invaded her mind, flipping through her secrets and memories like a book, carelessly tossing it away once finished. And now he was going to fight, and probably kill, Eragon. Something snapped. Alycie shot out a hand and grabbed the hilt of Murtagh's sword, drawing it in a flash. She charged at Durza.
"NO!" shouted Murtagh. She didn't hear him. Her blade met the Shade's with a force that reverberated down her arm painfully. Durza laughed.
"So you came to challenge me. You must have a death wish."
"So I hear," replied Alycie coldly, her heart thumping as if it would beat out of her chest. Durza moved, whipping his sword around like a snake, aiming for her head. She blocked the blow just in time, feeling the force take it's toll once more. Immediately she regretted her rash decision, as she so often had in past.
The Shade didn't stop; swinging the blade so fast that it was all Alycie could do to keep up. Panic began to show in her movements as she realized the Shade was merely playing with her. He was going to amuse himself, like a cat toying with a mouse, and then he would kill her swiftly and mercilessly. That is unless he preferred to drag it out long and painful.
He drove her back into a table and twisted Murtagh's sword from her grip. She stared at him in fright, and then fell to the floor, pushing herself underneath the table in an attempt to escape. Above her, she heard, rather than saw, Eragon swing Zar'roc at the Shade, resuming her fight. She grabbed Murtagh's fallen sword and crawled out from under the table, moving aside in time to avoid a falling stone as it fell from the ceiling. Saphira had arrived. Alycie ran to Murtagh, who grabbed his sword from her, sheathing it, and took hold of her shoulders, shaking her roughly.
"What were you THINKING!?" he shouted at her over the screeching noises of Saphira's talons against the roof. "You could have been killed! Taking on a Shade when you can barely fight an eighteen-year-old boy! You must be mad!" He pulled her sharply as another stone fell where she had stood. He drew her into an embrace, then held her with one arm as he drew his bow. Eragon and Durza were moving towards them now. Eragon's strength was visibly failing. The Shade disarmed him suddenly, sending him to his knees.
"A powerful piece you may be in the game that is being played, but I'm disappointed that this is your best. If the other Riders were this weak, they must have controlled the Empire only through sheer numbers," spat Durza.
"No, you forget something," said Eragon, looking up at him.
"And what might that be?" asked Durza contemptuously.
"The dragons!" cried Eragon just as the ceiling was ripped away. He scrambled out of the Shade's reach and Murtagh let an arrow fly into the creature's shoulder.
"You'll have to do better than that if you want to stop me," he said, breaking the arrow easily. Murtagh's next arrow imbedded itself between the Shade's eyes. He let out a roar of rage, dissipating into wisps of smoke, leaving only clothes where he had stood.
"You killed him," exclaimed Eragon.
"I'm not sure," said Murtagh.
Men's shouts echoed through the room suddenly and an armed crowd ran into the room, brandishing spears and nets with intimidating cries. The threesome was forced up against the stone wall, dragging the elf along with them, as the soldiers formed a ring around them, blocking their escape. Saphira's head appeared where the ceiling had been minutes before and she let out a menacing roar. Her talons gripped the remaining ceiling and she tore off another portion angrily. Three soldiers dropped their weapons and ran out of the room as fast as they could. The main support beam of the ceiling cracked suddenly, and the roof fell in, showering the remaining soldiers with shingles. They covered their heads, yelling as they turned and followed the wiser three out of the banquet room. Eragon ran forward and threw his arms around the dragon as Alycie and Murtagh pulled the elf to her. They secured the elf in the saddle and climbed on. Alycie held tightly to Murtagh, for Saphira was not made for many riders, and the saddle did not extend to the sharp spikes that lay behind her.
"Can she carry us all?" she asked Eragon.
"She can try," replied the Rider. "Saphira, you have to take off. Now!"
The fearsome dragon unfurled her wings, leaping out of the roofless hall and propelling herself off of the building. She dropped sharply at first, but steadily began to gain altitude. Alycie looked behind them in time to see a volley of arrows launch in their direction.
"Watch out! Archers!" she called. Saphira roared as they struck the membrane of her wings, veering left to avoid any more. Eragon leaned onto Saphira's neck, stroking her comfortingly.
"We need to land soon. She can't go on much longer with all of us," he said.
"Tell her to try and get to the clearing," said Murtagh.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
REVIEW!!!