Fluffy action (you'll see when you read)
Chapter 28: Fatherly Stroll
"I hope that Nasuada has received our message," Murtagh said out loud to Thorn, who nodded his large, scaly noggin.
I hope so too dear one, he replied, getting up to his paws. No what should we do? They know that we brought good terms; doe's this mean that we are no longer exiled?
I no not my friend, Murtagh muttered. Knowing Eragon, he probably has started towards Ellesmera to warn her. I know very little of that place.
I know, Thorn said with a small snort. The people here have the right not to trust us.
I agree, Murtagh whispered painfully. If only we could take all of this back…I know! Why don't we track Eragon and follow him? We did it when that dreaded king bound us, why can we not do it again? Thorn sniffed the air.
You are my rider, he said. I will do as you say...nothing less. Murtagh got to his feet as well and glanced around the trees that surrounded them.
We must hurry if we want to catch him, Murtagh said. The Elvin trees are…?
Look! Thorn suddenly shouted, lifting his head up to the sky. Murtagh followed his dragon's glance until he came across two dragons, one black and the other sapphire, flying high above them.
Well, Murtagh laughed out. I suppose that he has saved us some work, lad. Come, let us catch up to them.
"You are not going anywhere!" A voice ordered from the trees. Murtagh huddled close to Thorn and balled up his fist, regretting that Nasuada took away his blade when he was exiled.
"What do you want?" Murtagh hissed. "How did you read our thoughts?"
"Come on, boy," the voice growled. "You fought for my friend's brother."
"I was held against my will!" Murtagh shot back. "Galbatorix was a slimy betrayer of the dragons and the people who rode upon them!"
"Control your tongue!" he yelled out, stepping from the forest. Murtagh watched as he unsheathed a sword and placed it to his side. "You are Eragon's family and trusted friend, yes?"
"No," Murtagh said. "I betrayed him which ruined his trust."
"Then how come he made you Draken's godparent?" the man asked curiously. Murtagh and Thorn both grit their teeth.
"How did you know?" Murtagh screamed, pointing a finger at him. He merely laughed.
"I know of all of the tricks," he explained. "Scrying, mind conversations, and every little detail in between. Stave has told me of your progress…and Eragon's." Murtagh spat at the ground.
"If you plan on making me your servant," Murtagh snapped, "me and Thorn will die first."
"I do not want you on our side," the man said. "If anything, you were his downfall. You will be ransomed for Eragon's child!"
"He will never do that," Murtagh screamed. "I will not let him give you his first child. It may not be human, but it is the only part to our family. You will have to just kill me here instead."
"That would be too much fun," the man mocked. "I will if need be, but at the moment I need you alive. Follow me or be killed by my saber."
"Try to smite us!" Murtagh snapped, kicking his right leg out in front of him to take a martial arts stance. "Galbatorix taught me many things…all of which will be ironically used to kill you!"
- - - -
How are you holding up, dear? Eragon asked Saphira while they flew above the forest. Saphira still had Draken with her mouth and every little bit of turbulence caused her to clamp down tighter on her youngling to keep from losing her grip. Draken let out a few fearful chirps and squeals as she did so, but he remained still to give his mother more comfort.
For just a few days old, Saphira joked. He is quite heavy!
Do you want me to take him? Eragon asked. Saphira turned to where both she and Draken were looking at him. He swore that he saw Draken lift a paw to "wave" at him.
Please? Saphira asked. Eragon nodded and flew in closer to pass Draken along. He squeaked in fear as Saphira released him, but Eragon quickly caught him with his teeth before he fell. Thank you, she said to him, moving her jaw around. How much farther?
Oilson is to the North a little ways, Eragon explained. From there, it would be a straight shot into Ellesmera.
Okay, Saphira said, turning to him to show her teeth. I have been doing some thinking while holding our child.
Hmm? Eragon asked. Saphira lowered her gaze down to the forest below.
Why don't we settle back down at Ellesmera? She asked. They would keep our young one safe and Stave would not be able to enter into it. I do not want to run, and I do not want to risk our lives when there is another option available.
We would be safe, Eragon mentioned. If this is what you wish, we will do it. I would prefer to return to the cliffs where we conceived him.
I know, Saphira sighed. Fate happens for a reason.
- - - - -
"Do not be a fool!" the man said calmly, inching forward to Murtagh and his dragon. "Come with me and I will spare your lives."
"One man against a rider and his dragon?" Murtagh mocked. "Oh please 'sire,' spare us!" He laughed and spat on the ground again. "I will not betray my family again. NEVER!" Murtagh suddenly leapt into the air and dove for the man with his fists at the ready. He planted in a good punch along the man's temple, but his foot quickly tossed Murtagh off.
"Before I kill you," Murtagh yelled. "What is the name of this assailant?"
"They call me 'the Butcher," the man replied. "I am rarely polite when it comes to matters like this."
"Today is the day that you get slaughtered, Butcher!" Murtagh screamed, lunging again for him. He placed in a great roundhouse kick into the Butcher's stomach, but the man reached out and grabbed him with his free hand around his throat.
"Come along boy!" the Butcher yelled to his face. Suddenly, there was a loud roar in front of him. He dropped Murtagh and looked into the crimson red eyes of Thorn.
"If this is the way you want it," Murtagh said, getting to his feet. "Thorn, burn him!"
- - - - - - - -
Draken suddenly began squirming in his father's mouth while they flew over Oilson.
What is he doing? Eragon asked. His son's squirming intensified and added to a few muffled chirps.
Your child is hungry, Saphira explained. Eragon sighed.
We fed him before we left, he said. How can he be hungry again? It was a four-month-old deer that he ate.
Well, Saphira said with a chuckle, you cannot let him starve can you?
Okay, Eragon said. There is a large clearing up ahead. We can touchdown and search for food there.
Great idea, my mate, Saphira said, turning away from him. I will see what I can find.
Wait, Eragon said. You stay with our son and I will find the food.
No, Saphira shot out bluntly. All I have done is watch the child while you did the work. This time it is you who will get to relax.
Very well, Eragon sighed. Be careful love.
You be careful.
Eragon shot out a small plume of smoke and watched with a smile as Draken playfully attempted to catch the smoke with his teeth. Saphira? He called out. When will he be able to speak?
Sometime soon, she replied. The fastest way is to always speak to him and explain their meanings.
He seemed pretty intelligent to me this morning, Eragon shot out. I think he already understands us.
You may be right, Saphira replied. I will meet you and our son at the clearing. Stay close to each other.
Of course, Eragon said, slowly adjusting his muzzle to support Draken more comfortably. Hold on, son. We are coming in to land. He listened as Draken let out a loud joyous chirp.
- - - - - - -
Thorn opened his maw and attempted to shoot a stream of flame at the man, but the dragon suddenly shot back in pain. Murtagh looked to see that an arrow was lodged into his scaly cheek, just below his eye.
"There is a lot more than one of us," the Butcher said. "Now with your dragon out of the way, we can continue." Murtagh pulled the arrow out of his dragon's face, but another one soon took his place, impaling Thorn's right eye.
"You do not know where they are," the Butcher explained. "Thorn could be killed before you can defeat us."
No Murtagh, Thorn yelled painfully in his head. Do not do it! Think of your brother. Your family!
"NO!" Murtagh summed up his energy to shout out his refusal. "I will not fall again like I did with Galbatorix. Me and my dragon will die with honor!" Murtagh took to his defensive stance again and prepared to strike, but Thorn quickly scooped him up and flew away. He knew that his strength was weakening, but he also knew that he could carry Murtagh to a safer spot to heal him and continue another time.
I am proud of you, Thorn said to his rider. You refused to back down for your family.
What about you? Murtagh asked as he touched down. I have to heal you.
No, Thorn said. This will be my scar for my treachery.
It was not you who was the traitor, Murtagh said. Do not do this, let me heal it before it is too late.
At least have the wound leave a scar, Thorn compromised. I want to have something to remind me of my past.
The past was in the past! Murtagh cried. I can heal it completely.
Leave…the…scar, Thorn said between huffs of pain. Murtagh placed his hand over the large bleeding hole and muttered the special words to regain sight to his dragon's demolished eye, but he left the wound in total to heal as a scar because Thorn wanted it that way.
You will be cursed with it for your entire life! Murtagh cried. How could you be so foolish?
I am not foolish, Thorn snapped. This is the way I wish to mourn for my…our mistake. Now we need to hurry! Those men could be near.
Let them come! Murtagh scowled.
We have no weapons and you have little strength, Thorn explained. It would be wiser to flee from this. Murtagh sighed and climbed up to his dragon's saddle.
"The scar does suit you well, Thorn," he said out loud. Thorn thanked him and leapt into the air after their family, both praying that Eragon, Saphira, and Draken were safe and sound.
- - - - - -
So what should we do while your mother is away? Eragon asked Draken, who was sitting on his tiny haunches on a small stone. Eragon leaned in closer to him and widened an eye.
Well? Eragon asked. He looked into his son's green eyes and showed his teeth into an awkward smile. He gently went inward to rub his snout against his child's.
I wish you knew how to speak, dear one, Eragon said, shaking his head. He watched as Draken lifted up his head to shoot out a loud squeak. Eragon lifted his forearm to scratch a claw down his son's back, making Draken kick his hind leg underneath his belly at the good feeling. Do you want to take a walk with your father? Eragon asked, taking his claw away. Draken whimpered at the loss of pleasure, but lifted his head up to chirp in agreement.
Come son, Eragon said, motioning with his head for Draken to follow him. There will be no need to cling to my tail this time. Draken waddled beside Eragon, happily swishing his tail and looking up at his father. Watch out son, Eragon said. If you are not careful, you might…? Poor Draken was paying more attention to his father than the grass ahead of him and placed his foreleg into a large gopher hole, making him roll comically into his father.
Trip, Eragon finished his sentence.He leaned down and picked his son up with his mouth. First rule of walking is to make sure that you can see what you are walking on. Do you understand son? Draken bobbed his head and let out a pleasing growl, if one would call it that. Good, Eragon said, turning his gaze in front of him again. He suddenly came upon a few lessons that he could pass down to his child.
This here is a very important herb, Eragon said, leaning down to point out a strange looking plant. This is used to cure many sicknesses and even more injuries. I know because I used it to help your mother. Now, this needs to be mixed with water to work completely. He watched as Draken walked under him and reached out to sniff the plant. He shot back and let out a large sneeze. Eragon looked around to pass any other information to his child and ran across the Death Friend mushroom.
Son, Eragon said, pulling Draken closer to him with his tail. This is something you must always avoid. It is the death friend, which can kill almost instantly. Dragons and humans are both affected by its poison and neither has found a cure. Draken looked at the odd colored mushroom and opened his jaws to hiss at it. Eragon looked up into the sky and searched for Saphira, but she had not yet returned.
This brings me to another point, young one, Eragon said. Directions! Do you see that bright yellow circle in the sky? Draken looked up at the sun and chirped at it. That circle rises in the west and sets in the east, Eragon explained. Moving towards the sun when it is rising would mean that you would be heading west. Now, north and south are tricky, but it is possible to understand. Eragon continued to teach his son all of the important information that he knew, from directions to what the difference is between predator and prey. Even though, his youngling was too young to talk, he knew that Draken had understood the information and tactics that he had given him.
Supper is ready, dear, Saphira chimed into his and Draken's heads. The young dragon chirped excitedly and hopped a few times into the air before sprinting off towards her. Eragon barely had to jog to keep up with his son, but it was still tiring nonetheless.
What do you have here? Eragon asked, as he approached the carcusses of a family of deer. Draken began to dig into the youngest one as Eragon and Saphira began talking with each other.
Where? Eragon asked.
In the forest not far from here, she replied. Murtagh is on his way here now.
I do not know if I can convince the elves, Eragon said, lowering his head down to chomp down on the stag below him.
You must hear his story, Saphira said. From what he has told me, he risked his life and Thorn's for our child.
Where is he now?
He and Thorn are out hunting on their own, Saphira replied. They wanted to find us first.
So we wait for them? Eragon asked. Saphira nodded her head.
They were attacked by Stave's men, she explained. Trust me mate, you will want to hear what your brother has done for this family.
Chapter 28! A two part Fluffy-action thing going on this one. I want to thank every single reader (those who reviewed and those who haven't) for making this story so popular. I think I will throw all three books here in one mega story, but I want your opinions for it (fanfic is still down on emails so let me know by review). Till next chapter:
PEACE!