Disclaimer: Don't own Eragon.
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They rode nonstop through the night, dog-tired, yet determined. They slept in shifts, leaving one to guide the horses through the dark wilderness. This was difficult due to the fact that Eragon was the only one of them who knew where they were headed, and he was woken several times during his sleep. There were few incidents where he mistook the directions he had obtained from the elf's mind, and they had to double back.
As the sun rose, the light revealed the column of pursuing Urgals a far behind them, heightening their spirits. Alycie stretched as they walked along, leading their steeds to give them a rest.
"Last day," she said. "The final death race and then...we're free." Eragon yawned.
"If we're not reasonably close to the Varden by noon, I'm going to fly ahead with Arya. You'll be free to go wherever you want then, but you'll have to take Snowfire with you. I won't be able to come back for him," he said.
"That might not be necessary; we could still get there in time," said Murtagh.
"We could," said Eragon, shrugging.
"We've been pressing ourselves to the limit for days. If we don't make it in time...I don't know what I'll do, but I assure you, it won't be pleasant," said Alycie. They sniggered.
"We'll make it," said Murtagh confidently.
They drove on through the morning, rounding an unbelievably gargantuan mountain. Eragon pointed suddenly at a narrow valley ahead of them.
"If we can slip through there without being seen, it might confuse them," he said. Murtagh glanced over his shoulder.
"It's worth a try, but they've followed us easily enough so far." Alycie blinked in confusion, turning. She swore loudly. The column of Urgals was considerably closer than they had been a few hours previously.
"How the hell did they catch up to us?" she asked, her voice oddly high pitched. "They must be juggernauts or something!"
"Calm down and focus on making it to that valley over there," said Eragon. Alycie took a deep breath and followed them.
They entered some trees that made up the Beors' forest. he trees were tall and ominous, with black bark and needles. They had to avoid running into their knobby roots or the strange, large cones that dropped from the branches. Further in, the trees became so dense that Saphira was forced to take Arya and fly above them. The untamed brush and lack of a trail slowed them considerably. The sound of water rushing along the Beartooth River followed them all day.
They reached the valley near dusk, finding it wider than it looked from afar, belittled by the enormous peaks that framed it. A cloud of fog drifted along the ground, chilling them to the bone. Alycie shivered, clutching the spare cloak closer around her shoulders for warmth.
"The Varden are hidden at the end of this valley," said Eragon. "If we hurry, we might get there before nightfall."
"How are we going to get out of here?" asked Murtagh, crossing his arms. "I don't see any valleys joining this one, and the Urgals are going to hem us in pretty soon. Alycie and I need an escape route."
"Don't worry about it. This is a long valley; there's sure to be an exit further in," said Eragon impatiently. He looked at Alycie. "You're going with him then? Positively?" She nodded.
"If Murtagh feels the need to leave and you still need help to reach the Varden, then I'll accompany you that far, but I'm not staying with them," she said. Eragon glanced from one to the other.
"I'll miss your company," he said to them. Murtagh shrugged.
"You'll get new companions. That is if we reach them before the Urgals catch up to us," he said. Eragon nodded.
"Watch Arya. I'm going to fly with Saphira. We'll meet you up ahead," he said. He untied the elf from Saphira, placing her on Snowfire and hopping onto Saphira's saddle.
"Be careful," warned Murtagh. Eragon nodded, taking off. Murtagh took Snowfire's reins, leading him along beside Tornac. He and Alycie dug their heels into the horses' sides, resuming their gallop through the valley. After a few minutes of this, they stopped, dismounting to give Cadoc, Tornac, and Snowfire a rest. They walked along, guiding their steeds through the trees.
"How is he going to survive without us?" said Alycie, smiling. Murtagh snorted.
"He'll stay safe with the Varden," he said. "That is, of course, if he doesn't manage to pick a fight with a dwarf." Alycie's humor turned to wonderment.
"Dwarves? There are dwarves with the Varden?" she asked, her eyes wide and curious.
"We are in the mountains, Alycie," said Murtagh. "Dwarves mine the Beors. They haven't been seen since Galbatorix began his reign of terror. It's widely believed throughout Alagaësia that they've joined the Varden."
"Who else has joined them?" asked Alycie.
"Elves and humans," said Murtagh. "Though the elves have supposedly withdrawn to their forest of Du Weldenvarden." Alycie whistled.
"Amazing. I've never seen anyone of another kindred aside from that elf there," she said, pointing at Arya, who was tossing weakly in her unconscious state. They watched her momentarily.
"Few have. They tend to avoid the Empire," said Murtagh. He looked at her. "Are you having second thoughts about the Varden?"
"Well, they do have dwarves," said Alycie sarcastically, smiling. Murtagh rolled his eyes.
"I won't hold you back if you want to join the Varden, Alycie," he said seriously. Alycie gave him a look.
"I was joking, Murtagh. I've made my decision. Where you go, I go." Murtagh looked away.
"That worries me," he whispered to himself. Alycie opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated as Murtagh suddenly stopped walking, staring at the ground.
"What is it?" she asked, halting as well.
"Take the reins," said Murtagh quickly. Alycie took them without question. He dropped to the forest floor, feeling the ground. Alycie bent over, her eyes widening.
There in the ground was an impression of a wolf's paw. The tracks continued on ahead of them. They were unbelievably large. It was as if an Urgal with paw-shaped feet had landed there from a drop of near twenty feet. They both straightened and looked at each other.
"We'd better keep moving," said Murtagh. Alycie nodded vigorously, handing the reins back to him. They had walked only a few short paces, however, when Saphira landed in a small field next to them. Eragon lay against her neck. He didn't dismount. Murtagh and Alycie rushed over, Murtagh's face turning to frustration. "What's wrong?" he demanded.
"...I made a mistake," said Eragon. Alycie let her breath out in despair. "The Urgals have entered the valley. I tried to confuse them, but I forgot one of the rules of magic, and it cost me a great deal."
"I just found some wolf tracks, but the footprints are as wide as both of my hands and an inch deep. There are animals around here that could be dangerous even to you, Saphira." He turned to the dragon. "I know you can't enter the forest, but could you circle above us and the horses? That should keep these beasts away. Otherwise there may only be enough left of Alycie or myself to roast in a thimble."
"Humor, Murtagh?" asked Eragon, smiling. His muscles shuddered shortly.
"Only on the gallows," said Murtagh, putting a hand to his face, rubbing his eyes. "I can't believe that the same Urgals have been following us the whole time. They would have to be birds to catch up with us."
"It's as if they're not alive at all," said Alycie. "And instead they're machines chasing us, stopping for nothing."
"Saphira said they're larger than any we've seen," said Eragon. Murtagh cursed sharply, slapping his forehead.
"That explains it! Saphira, if you're right, then those are Kull, elite of the Urgals. I should have guessed that the chieftain had been put in charge of them. They don't ride because horses can't carry their weight. Not one of them is less than eight feet tall. And they can run for days without sleep and still be ready for battle. It can take five men to kill one. Kull never leave their caves except for war, so they must expect a great slaughter if they are out in such force." Alycie sank to her knees.
"Urgals more powerful than Urgals?" she asked in disbelief, covering her face with her hands. "I didn't know such beasts existed. We're dead...we'll never make it to the Varden by tomorrow..."
"Can we stay ahead of them?" asked Eragon, looking worriedly from Alycie to Murtagh.
"Who knows? They're strong, determined, and large in numbers. It's possible that we may have to face them. If that happens, I only hope that the Varden have men posted nearby who'll help us. Despite our skill and Saphira, we can't hold off Kull." Eragon tried to sit up, but he swayed unsteadily.
"Could you get me some bread? I need to eat," he said. Murtagh retrieved a hard old loaf from the horses' saddlebags, handing it to him. Alycie bent into a fetal position, not moving. Murtagh glanced around the valley, examining the rock walls of the mountains hopefully. Eragon knew what he was thinking. "There'll be one farther in."
"Of course," said Murtagh strongly. He looked back at the Rider. "We must go."
"How is Arya?" asked Eragon.
"The fever's worse. She's been tossing and turning. What do you expect? Her strength is failing. You should fly her to the Varden before the poison does any more damage," said Murtagh.
"I won't leave you two behind. Not with the Urgals so near," said Eragon determinedly.
"As you wish," said Murtagh, shrugging. "But I'm warning you, she won't live long if you stay with us."
"Don't say that," said Eragon, sitting up successfully in the saddle. "Help me save her. We can still do it. Consider it a life for a life...atonement for Torkenbrand's death." Murtagh glowered at him incredulously.
"It's not a debt owed. You--" He stopped as the sharp blow of a horn sounded through the trees. He glared back at Eragon. "I'll have more to say to you later," he said contemptuously, pointing a finger. He looked down. "Alycie. Alycie!" He bent down, shaking her. "I don't believe it. She's fallen asleep. Alycie!"
"Mneh!" objected the girl.
"Get up. I know you're tired, but we have to run," he said, pulling her roughly to her feet. She yanked her arm away, walking to Cadoc and taking his reins, shaking her head. Murtagh stomped after her, grabbing Snowfire and Tornac and running with them, Alycie by his side. Saphira took off, gliding above them. She flew away after a moment and they looked back to see her and Eragon dropping large boulders onto the Kull army.
They continued to run through the valley, their muscles screaming for them to stop. They eventually hopped onto the horses' saddles, galloping once more. Darkness enveloped them after a while, and they strained their eyes, looking for the waterfall that would end their fatigue. They kept their eyes open for the side valley through which they would escape both the Urgals and the Varden once the elf was delivered safely. So far there had been no luck in that search.
As blackness descended around them, they ran, leading the horses once again, out of the dense trees to find Saphira and Eragon waiting for them on the ground next to the Beartooth River. The waterfall rushed in the distance, pouring its endless contents into the river. They continued to run, passing Eragon, who joined them in their race. He took Snowfire's reins from Murtagh.
"We saw you dropping rocks with Saphira. Ambitious. Have the Kull stopped or turned back?"
"Did you kill them?" rasped Alycie, panting.
"No." Alycie cursed. "They're still behind us, but we're almost to the head of the valley. How's Arya?" asked Eragon.
"She hasn't died," grunted Murtagh. His anger seemed to be building once more. Alycie knew the reason. An escape had not been found. He spoke in a controlled voice of deathly calm, but his words shook with emotion. "Is there a valley or gorge ahead that we can leave through?" Eragon hesitated, panting, glancing sidelong at Murtagh's stony face.
"It's dark," he started, confirming Alycie's fears, "so I might have missed something, but...no."
The effect was immediate. Murtagh let out a loud curse, halting sharply and pulling Tornac's reins so that he stopped as well. Alycie froze, causing Cadoc to nearly drag her away. She tugged his reins, stopping him as well. Her wide eyes watched Murtagh apprehensively. Eragon seemed cautious as well, looking back at the furious man.
"Are you saying the only place I can go is to the Varden?"
"Yes, but keep running. The Urgals are almost upon us!" said Eragon hurriedly.
"No!" shouted Murtagh in rage. He pointed an accusing finger at the Rider threateningly. "I warned you that I wouldn't go to the Varden, but you went ahead and trapped me between a hammer and an anvil! You're the one with the elf's memories. Why didn't you tell me this was a dead end!?"
"All I knew was where we had to go, not what lay in between. Don't blame me for choosing to come!" retaliated Eragon. Murtagh hissed his breath through clenched teeth, swirling around and bowing over, his hands clutching his forehead in fury. Eragon was angry as well, placing his hands on his hips impatiently, his face red. Alycie looked from one to the other, eventually rounding on Murtagh.
"Come on, let's just go. The Kull are catching up," she exclaimed hurriedly.
"Oh it's alright for you to say!" snapped Murtagh. "You're in no danger with the Varden! You're just an innocent little--!" He let out a frustrated roar between his teeth.
"You're not either!" retorted Alycie. "We can negotiate with them!"
"No you can't! Not for me!" shouted Murtagh.
"What's your quarrel with the Varden? It can't be so terrible that you must keep it hidden even now. Would you rather fight the Kull than reveal it?" asked Eragon. "How many times must we go through this?"
"Can't you just tell us? Don't you trust him?" asked Alycie, pointing at Eragon. "Don't you trust me?" There was a long pause.
"Murtagh, unless you wish to die, we must go to the Varden. Don't let us walk into their arms without knowing how they will react to you. It's going to be dangerous enough without unnecessary surprises," said Eragon. Murtagh didn't move. He seemed to be preparing himself to do something. He slowly turned, breathing hard. He finally spoke in a tortured voice.
"You have a right to know. I...I am the son of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn."
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