Disclaimer: Don't own Eragon.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 07!!!
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"Eragon?"
"He looks like he's in pain..."
"What's wrong with him?" asked Alycie, crouching in front of the immobile Rider and looking into his face with concern.
"I'm not sure."
Murtagh bent and tapped his shoulder. No reply. Saphira sauntered over as well, bending her head to look at him. She seemed as worried as they were. Alycie took hold of the Rider's shoulders and shook him, looking into his face determinedly.
"Eragon! Wake up!" The boy breathed, opening his eyes and looking around. Alycie sighed in relief. Murtagh bent down, looking at him.
"Are you alright? You've been kneeling here for almost fifteen minutes," he said. Eragon looked surprised.
"I have?" he asked. He stood, stretching out his legs. Alycie rose as well, patting Eragon on the back.
"Don't do that again," she said. "You had us thinking--"
"I talked with Arya!" he exclaimed suddenly. Alycie and Murtagh exchanged odd looks. "The elf...that's her name."
"How do you know?" asked Alycie.
"I spoke with her...with her mind," said Eragon. "She's been poisoned with Skilna Bragh, but this state slows its progress. She needs Tunivor's Nectar, which lies closest with the Varden. She showed me the way, but we haven't much time. She has three or four days before death overpowers her. We need to reach the Varden in that time."
"How far away are the Varden?" asked Murtagh.
"I'm not exactly sure. From what she showed me, I think it's even farther than from here to Gil'ead," said Eragon. Alycie pushed her hair back off of her forehead, shaking her head.
"Oh no..." she muttered. "We've just completed one race; please...please not another one..."
"And we're supposed to cover that in three or four days!?" spat Murtagh in anger. "It took us five long days to get here! What do you want to do, kill the horses? They're exhausted as it is!"
"But if we do nothing, she'll die! If it's too much for the horses, Saphira can fly ahead with Arya and me; at least we would get to the Varden in time. You and Alycie could catch up with us in a few days." Murtagh crossed his arms, rolling his eyes.
"Of course. Murtagh the pack animal. Murtagh the horse leader. I should have remembered that's all I'm good for nowadays. Oh, and let's not forget, every soldier in the Empire is searching for me now because you couldn't defend yourself, and I had to go and save you. Alycie put herself in serious danger there too, and now she's not safe anywhere just like us. Yes, I suppose we'll just follow your instructions and bring up the horses in the rear like good little servants." Everyone looked at him in shock.
"What's wrong with you? I'm grateful for what you both did. There's no reason to be angry with me! I didn't ask you to accompany me or to rescue me from Gil'ead. You chose that. I haven't forced you to do anything," he said.
"Oh, not openly, no. What else could I do but help you with the Ra'zac? And then later, at Gil'ead, how could I have left with a clear conscience? She wouldn't have let me go, either," He gestured at Alycie, and then took a step towards Eragon, poking him in the chest. "The problem with you is that you're so totally helpless you force everyone to take care of you." Eragon gaped, then scowled.
"Don't touch me," he snapped. Murtagh laughed coldly.
"Or what, you'll punch me? You couldn't hit a brick wall." He reached out to push Eragon again, but Eragon caught his arm, hitting him in the stomach.
"Oi! Stop it!" yelled Alycie. They ignored her.
"I said, don't touch me!" Eragon repeated to Murtagh angrily.
The other man swore, holding his stomach, then he roared and sprang at Eragon, bowling him over. Alycie entered the fray, trying to pull them apart, but they pushed her out of the way. She fell backwards onto the ground, watching helplessly as Eragon kicked the fire, scattering embers and sparks everywhere. She turned to Saphira.
"Saphira, help me," she said, getting to her feet. "Get them away from each other!"
The dragon roared, whipping her tail down between them as they charged one another. They tried to get at each other over the tail, but Saphira's paws caught them, pinning them to the ground. They struggled against her grip, but to no avail. Alycie walked over and stood between them, hands on her hips, looking from one to the other. Murtagh avoided her eyes, looking forcibly up at the sky.
"Now if you're quite finished acting like rabid Urgal children, I believe we should take the time to discuss the problem like civilized people," she said. "I can tell you truthfully, you won't be standing anytime soon unless you do." She sat, looking at Eragon. "Eragon, would you like to start?"
"Murtagh...what is really the problem?" asked the Rider reluctantly, looking over at his pinned companion. Saphira moved her head, staring piercingly at Murtagh. He tried to look away, but he couldn't ignore her gaze, finally shrugging and muttering something inaudible. Saphira increased pressure on his chest, growling. He looked at Alycie angrily, repeating himself.
"I told you before: I don't want to go to the Varden," he said.
"Don't want to...or can't?" asked Eragon, puzzled. Murtagh struggled against Saphira's leg, cursing.
"Don't want to! They'll expect things from me that I can't deliver." Alycie blinked in confusion.
"Why, what did you do?" she asked. Murtagh rolled his eyes.
"Nothing," he said.
"Did you steal something from them?" asked Eragon.
"I wish it were that simple."
"Well, what is it, then? Did you kill someone important or bed the wrong woman?" Alycie stared at Murtagh dangerously, hearing the end of the question.
"No," he said, looking at Alycie. She relaxed. "I was born." He pushed at Saphira's leg again and she released them. They stood, dusting themselves off.
"You're avoiding the question," said Eragon, nursing a bloody lip.
"So what?" snapped Murtagh, heading to the edge of the camp. He stopped, sighing. "It doesn't matter why I'm in this predicament, but I can tell you that the Varden wouldn't welcome me even if I came bearing the king's head. Oh, they might greet me nicely enough and let me into their councils, but trust me? Never. And if I were to arrive under less fortuitous circumstances, like the present ones, they'd likely clap me in irons."
"Why though? What could you have possibly done to make them hate you so spitefully?" asked Alycie, crossing her arms.
"Won't you tell us what this is about? I've done things I'm not proud of, too, so it's not as if I'm going to pass judgment," said Eragon. Murtagh shook his head.
"It isn't like that. I haven't done anything to deserve this treatment, though it would be easier to atone for if I had. No...my only wrongdoing is existing in the first place," he said, eyes glinting. "You see, my father--"
Saphira suddenly hissed, looking sharply westward. They turned their heads as well and their faces paled. Alycie heard Murtagh curse under his breath. A league away from them marched a long line of dark figures, dressed for war, stretching for a mile. Leading them was a figure in a black chariot, holding aloft a red banner.
"What is it?" asked Alycie, squinting.
"It's the Empire," groaned Eragon. "They've found us...somehow..."
"Yes...but those are Urgals, not men," said Murtagh.
"How can you tell?"
"That flag bears the personal symbol of an Urgal chieftain. He's a ruthless brute given to violent fits and insanity." Alycie and Eragon looked at him in interest.
"Have you met him?" asked Alycie.
"Once, briefly. I still have the scars from that encounter. These Urgals might not have been sent here for us, but I'm sure we've been seen by now and that they will follow us. Their chieftain isn't the sort to let a dragon escape his grasp, especially if he's heard about Gil'ead." Eragon walked to the fire, kicking dirt to snuff it.
"We have to flee! You don't want to go to the Varden, but I have to take Arya to them before she dies. Here's a compromise: come with me until I reach the lake Kóstha-mérna, then go on your way," he said. Murtagh hesitated, but Alycie spoke.
"Y-You could go now," she said shakily. "Eragon could fly ahead with the elf and I could follow with the horses." Eragon shook his head.
"If you leave now in sight of the column, Urgals will follow you. And then where will you be, facing them alone?"
"Very well," said Murtagh, picking up Tornac's saddlebags and situating them on his steed. "But when we near the Varden, I will leave." He glanced at Alycie briefly before turning back to Tornac. She sighed, walking to prepare Cadoc for yet another race. Saphira took off and they left the short-lived camp, tiredly riding off through the Beors in the fading light.
They took turns sleeping in their saddles to further themselves from the Urgal army. The horses seemed ready to keel over at any minute, but they rode vigilantly on, breathing hard. Saphira flew off to hunt near morning, leaving the elf to ride Snowfire along with Eragon. They soon reached a pond, stopping to allow the horses a rest. Alycie walked to Murtagh, sitting next to him.
"I want to go with you when Eragon reaches the Varden," she said. Murtagh didn't look at her, seemingly lost in thought. She continued. "If you leave before he is definitely safe, I will accompany him the rest of the way. Then, I'll take Cadoc and ride back to find you. That is my choice." He looked at her.
"If you do, you will be safe nowhere ever again," he said. The Empire, the Varden, it will make no difference. Do you still want to resign yourself to a life of running?"
"For you," she replied, leaning in and kissing him softly on the cheek. He looked at her longingly, then shook his head.
"Why?" he asked. Alycie opened her mouth to reply, but she stopped, pointing suddenly. Murtagh followed her gaze.
Standing on a hill ahead of them was a score of men mounted on horses. Their leader wore a brown cloak and held a mace. Murtagh slowly drew his sword. Eragon looked up, alarmed, then followed where Alycie was pointing.
"Could they be Varden?" asked Murtagh. Eragon drew his bow, stringing it warily.
"According to Arya, they're still scores of leagues away. This might be one of their patrols or raiding groups," he said. Alycie was watching the distant men. There was something distantly familiar about them.
"Assuming they're not bandits," said Murtagh, mounting Tornac and drawing his bow. Eragon swung onto Snowfire's saddle, covering Arya with a blanket.
"Should we try to outrun them?" he asked.
"It wouldn't do any good. Tornac, Cadoc, and Snowfire are fine war-horses, but they're tired, and they aren't sprinters. Look at the horses those men have; they're meant for running. They would catch us before we had gone a half-mile. Besides, they may have something important to say. You'd better tell Saphira to hurry back," said Murtagh. Alycie mounted Cadoc. She looked at Eragon, who was gripping Zar'roc.
"I would feel much better if I had a nice big sword to brandish," she said, turning to Murtagh with an accusatory gaze. He glanced at her.
"We can take care of them," he said. "You just need to stay near us."
"If they threaten us, I can frighten them away with magic. If that doesn't work, there's Saphira. I wonder how they'd react to a Rider? So many stories have been told about their powers...it might be enough to avoid a fight."
"Don't count on it," said Murtagh. "If there's a fight, we'll just have to kill enough of them to convince them we're not worth the effort." Alycie glanced at him.
"Ruthless, aren't you?" she asked.
"I have to be," said Murtagh.
The man on the hill lifted his mace into the air, and the men began to gallop towards them, whooping and yelling. They brandished their weapons, banging on their shields wildly. At a yell from the mace-wielding leader, the men encircled the travelers, training their arrows on them. Alycie clutched her small dagger, glaring every one of the strangers in the eye, daring them to try anything. The leader crossed his arms, looking them up and down.
"Well, these are better than the usual dregs we find! At least we got healthy ones this time. And we didn't even have to shoot them. Grieg will be pleased," he said. Alycie's face drained of color as realization hit her. Grieg. Every slave knew that name. Grieg was one of the most powerful slave traders in all of Alagaësia. Her hand tightened on the dagger and she tried to catch Murtagh's eye. The leader continued to speak. "Now as for you three," he said to the companions, "if you would be so good as to drop your weapons, you'll avoid being turned into living quivers by my men." His men laughed and the archers smirked.
"Who are you and what do you want? We are free men traveling through this land. You have no right to stop us," said Murtagh.
"Oh I have every right. And as for my name, slaves do not address their masters in that manner, unless they want to be beaten," said the leader. Alycie heard Eragon curse and saw Murtagh's eyes narrow. "Throw down your weapons and surrender!" One of the slavers was eyeing Alycie up and down as his horse pulled up next to hers.
"We got a fine-lookin' lass 'ere, Torkenbrand," he said, smirking suggestively. "In congratulations of our find, shouldn' we take it upon ourselves to celebra'e a little?" The rest of the men laughed and Alycie saw Murtagh stiffen.
"There ain't no rules 'bout untouched slaves tha' I can think of," said the leader, Torkenbrand, showing his filthy teeth in a twisted smirk. The men laughed once again.
Alycie sat perfectly still, staring at Torkenbrand. Then she shot the hand holding the dagger out to the side, slitting the slaver's throat. As the slavers let out an angry roar as one, Murtagh smashed his elbow back into another's face. The man fell from his saddle and Murtagh wheeled Tornac around. He reared and stomped his hooves into the screaming man's back. Alycie grabbed the dead man's sword before proceeding to push the body out of its saddle, slapping the animal's flanks and sending it galloping into the trees.
Eragon held up his hands, muttering something in the ancient language. Blue fire erupted from his shining palm, hitting the ground and exploding into millions of small falling flame drops. Saphira hit the ground, displaying her razor-sharp teeth and roaring at the slavers.
"Behold! I am a Rider! Flee if you wish to live!" shouted Eragon, raising Zar'roc above his head. The slavers complied, scrambling every which-way to escape the dragon.
Alycie watched them, her hate rising uncontrollably. She suddenly jabbed her heels into Cadoc's side, galloping after the running men. She heard Eragon shout in warning, but ignored him, reaching a fleeing slaver and plunging her blade through his middle. She withdrew it, spurring Cadoc on madly towards the next. She nearly hit a sudden wall of sapphire scales, swerving at the last minute. She did not stop, turning sharply to the side to run around her. Saphira's head snaked in front of her, roaring. Cadoc reared and Alycie clutched his neck to keep from falling off. Glaring at the Saphira, she turned, galloping back to Eragon and Murtagh. The latter was standing in front of the headless corpse of Torkenbrand, cleaning his sword. Alycie reached them, swiftly dismounting and marching over to Murtagh.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded. Murtagh looked puzzled. She pushed him. "Steal the vengeance from someone who deserves it, will you? It's my right!"
"You wanted to kill him?" asked Murtagh, perplexed.
"YES!" shouted Alycie. Eragon was marching over, looking at both of them in utter shock.
"Are your brains rotten? Why did you kill them? Alycie, I promised them safe passage, yet you rode off to murder them all like a thing possessed!" Alycie turned her flaming eyes onto him.
"Are you deaf? They were slavers! They all deserved to be killed!" she shouted.
"I don't see why you're so upset, Eragon," said Murtagh. The Rider looked at him incredulously.
"Upset! I'm well past that! Did it even occur to you that we could just leave him here and continue on our way? No! Instead you turn into an executioner and chop off his head. He was defenseless!"
"Well, we couldn't keep him around...he was dangerous. The others ran off--"
"Only because that stupid dragon blocked me from catching them," muttered Alycie. Saphira growled dangerously. Alycie scoffed at her.
"The Urgals would have found him and learned about Arya," finished Murtagh, crossing his arms in a justified manner.
"But kill him?" exclaimed Eragon. "Kill them?"
"They would have killed others!" argued Alycie. "I had a right to kill them!"
"No, you didn't, Alycie! We all know you were a slave and that you think you have a right to kill every slaver you come across, but that's not an excuse to become a cold-blooded murderer!" shouted Eragon. Alycie stared at him, teeth clenched.
"We didn't all know," she said, her eyes flicking to Murtagh. The Rider faltered, but retained his defiant composure. Alycie continued. "I wasn't going to go through that again or let anyone else! By letting them escape you've probably condemned another poor soul to a life of enslavement! I had a right! But what do you know about vengeance? You're just a little farm boy from the middle of nowhere." Eragon walked over to her angrily.
"The Ra'zac went and killed this little farmboy's uncle, burning his house down on top of him. Garrow was the only father I've ever known. You say I don't know vengeance? I followed the Ra'zac for excruciating months for it," he said. He turned to watch Murtagh as he walked to the headless Torkenbrand, wiping his blade clean on his tunic. "And you. He was on his knees for God's sake," he said.
"I'm only trying to stay alive," said Murtagh, looking up at him. "No stranger's life is more important than my own."
"But you can't indulge in wanton violence. Where is your empathy?" hissed Eragon, gesturing at Torkenbrand's fallen head.
"Empathy? Empathy? What empathy can I afford my enemies? Shall I dither about whether do defend myself because it will cause someone pain? If that had been the case, I would have died years ago! You must be willing to protect yourself and what you cherish no matter what the cost," declared Murtagh, staring at him. Eragon shoved Zar'roc into its sheath.
"You can justify any atrocity with that reasoning," he said, shaking his head in disgust.
"Do you think I enjoy this? My life has been threatened from the day I was born! All of my waking hours have been spent avoiding danger in one form or another. And sleep never comes easily because I always worry if I'll live to see the dawn. If there ever was a time I felt secure, it must have been in my mother's womb, though I wasn't safe even there! You don't understand...if you lived with this fear, you would have learned the same lesson I did: Do not take chances," shouted Murtagh. Alycie and Eragon were both staring at him. He gestured at Torkenbrand. "He was a risk that I removed. I refuse to repent, and I won't plague myself over what is done and past. If you wanted him for your own vengeance, I can't help that you were some fifty feet away chasing his underlings for the same purpose." He shot a look at Alycie, who stared coldly back, though her stare was not as hateful as before. Eragon walked up to him, looking him in the eye.
"It was still the wrong thing to do," he said strongly. He turned, walking off to tie Arya to Saphira once more. Alycie walked up to Murtagh, her arms crossed. She stared at his chest, not wanting to meet his eyes for shame.
"Sorry," she said once, then moved to Cadoc, climbing into the saddle once more. Murtagh mounted Tornac, then guided him over to Cadoc, looking at Alycie. She didn't meet his eyes, her face glowing.
"I don't mind your past," he said quietly.
"I do," said Alycie, her voice cracking. Murtagh opened his mouth to say something, but Eragon rode up.
"Let's go," he grumbled angrily, and they rode away from the motionless bodies of the slavers. Alycie glanced at the still-red blade she had taken from the slaver. It hung from her waist, glinting ominously. She had a feeling it would not be the last time she used it.
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