Voila! Chapter 5!
I do not own Eragon or anything from the books.
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So much had happened since Eragon had faced off against Murtagh, Rider versus Rider. The Varden had won the battle and were now slowly moving up through Alagaësia toward Urû-baen and Galbatorix. Soon after the victory, Eragon had removed the curse he had accidentally placed on Elva. To make up for the trouble he had given her, he had even replaced the curse with the blessing he had intended to give.
Now he and Roran were nearing Helgrind. Together they would save Katrina and finally avenge Garrow's death.
Riding Saphira, they had quickly covered the distance to the Ra'zac stronghold. Now as the tall stone spires came into view, the dragon glided to the ground.
"What are we doing?" Roran demanded, "The Ra'zac are right there! We're so close!"
"We're going to wait until dark so they don't see us coming."
"Fine." Roran didn't admit it but he realized that his impatience to save Katrina could have cost him and his cousin their lives. Scolding himself, he silently promised not to make any more stupid mistakes
The three of them settled down and waited for nightfall.
When the sky was black the men mounted the dragon. Luckily, the sky was cloudy and the moon was a little more than a sliver.
Saphira flew the young men closer, trying to be as silent as possible.
Suddenly, a horrible screech filled the air. A large, dark shape pulled away from the spires of Helgrind.
"No! Now we have to fight them in midair," Eragon cursed, "Hurry, Saphira!"
Another screech tore through the night air as the Ra'zac mount noticed the dragon closing in. Saphira roared in reply and reached out with her claws to tear at the evil creature.
Without warning Roran leapt from Saphira's back, landing on the mount that had yet to take off. His hammer came down with a loud thud on the beast's head, making it unsteady. He immediately smashed its neck with hefty blows.
"Foolish," the Ra'zac nearby hissed. Under the creature's stare, Roran's limbs began to feel stiff. But his anger and hatred wouldn't allow him to halt.
With an empowered scream, he rushed at the Ra'zac, raising his hammer for a death stroke.
Not far above, Saphira snapped at the mount she grappled with, tearing a chunk out of its shoulder.
The battle went on for several hours, neither side gaining any real advantage. Eragon sent few spells at the Ra'zac, saving as much of his energy as possible.
Finally, by some manner of luck, Saphira was able to grab the Ra'zac from the mount's back. She wasted no time in tearing the monster in two. Black blood rained upon the ground below. The mount, realizing its defeat, tore itself from the battle, but not before receiving several more wounds from Dragon and Rider.
"No," Eragon told Saphira as she moved to give chase, "we need to help Roran." The blue-scaled dragon landed behind the remaining Ra'zac. Seeing the trap it was in, the dark creature hissed and backed toward the stone wall.
"It's over!"
"Not yet." The Ra'zac lunged at Roran, the terrible beak-like mouth exposed and ready to devour his flesh. When it was within arm's reach, Roran's hammer swung up under its jaw, throwing the creature backwards. With his already bloody hammer, Roran pounded the Ra'zac's skull, continuing even after blood began to leak out.
"Roran, Roran!" Eragon placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder, bringing him out of his manic trance. "It's dead." Roran looked up at Eragon, small black droplets clinging to his face. "We have to save Katrina now."
"Katrina," Roran whispered. Before Eragon could do anything, his cousin took off toward an opening into Helgrind.
The first chamber was large enough to fit Saphira 5 times over. The young Rider imagined the Ra'zac mounts living here, eating their victims whole. The doorway out of this chamber was large but still too small for Saphira to fit through.
"We'll be back soon," Eragon reassured his Dragon before chasing after his cousin, who had already rushed headlong into the heart of the menacing structure.
Helgrind was separated into a number of chambers, apparently natural, which were connected by winding tunnels. Once Eragon caught up with Roran, the two of them wandered down through the stone structure, looking into every room they passed. Bones were strewn across the floors of several of them.
Finally, deep within the dark structure, they come upon a series of locked doors. Roran swung his hammer, splintering the nearest door. Another strong blow and a large chunk of wood broke off.
"Katrina?" He looked inside only to find it empty. The next few were empty as well. Roran broke through another door to find a figure huddling in the corner.
"Katrina?" The figure stirred and turned toward the door.
"Roran? Roran, my boy!" Sloan rushed to the door as quickly as his weakened body would allow. "Thank the fates you've come!" The butcher's voice was hoarse and scratchy. "Let me out of here before those things come back."
"You betrayed out trust and let your own daughter get taken by monsters. Why should I let you free?"
"Please, Roran," he pleaded, not even trying to mask his guilt, "I was foolish, I realize that now."
"Where is Katrina?"
"I don't know. She must be near, I've heard her crying."
"If she is hurt…"
"Roran!" While his cousin had been interrogating the butcher, Eragon had continued the search, breaking the locks with magic. One door down and across the passageway from Sloan's cell he had found Katrina.
Shoving the door aside, Roran hurried to his love's side. She , like her father, was weak and pale, but alive. He held her in his arms, the world around him vanishing.
"Roran?" she looked up with weary eyes. Oh, to hear her voice again was like a glass of water in the desert. She reached up slowly until her fingers brushed his beard.
"I knew you would come." Her voice was dry and scratchy. She was lifted easily into Roran's strong arms. His eyes never left her face as he carried her out.
Realizing Roran was temporarily oblivious to the world, the Rider released the traitorous butcher himself.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" Sloan crawled out of his prison, squinting at his savior. "Eragon? Is that you?"
"I've learned a lot since I left," he nodded, "So don't try anything." He slipped the man's arm over his shoulder and guided him out. Before his transformation in Ellesmèra, Eragon would have collapsed under the weight. Now, though, he could carry Sloan like Roran was carrying Katrina; the only thing stopping him was the awkwardness of the idea.
The butcher's eyes darted everywhere, searching for the monstrous captors. When they reached the outer chamber, the weakened man cried out in fright at the sight of the large dragon. His cry echoed against the stone, making him flinch. Saphira craned her neck down until it was even with the butcher's. A small growl rumbled in her throat, almost as if she remembered the man from before she hatched. Sloan shrunk back as far as he could. Eragon gave her an annoyed look and she backed off.
"Take Roran and Katrina first." She lay down as flat as possible so that the still hypnotized couple could mount easier.
When all five of them were on the ground, Eragon suggested that they rest in Dras-Leona before returning to the Varden. As the sun began to peek over the horizon, the group neared the city.
"Eragon," Saphria called. The rider turned to the dragon. "You shouldn't enter the city."
"Why not?"
"Do you not remember the last time we were here? You and Brom were nearly captured." A pang of sadness stabbed the boy's heart when he remembered the old Rider.
"But the guards were no threat, the Ra'zac were. And they're gone now. We'll be fine," he reassured her. While Saphira kept out of sight as best she could, the four humans entered through the now open gates. They stopped at the first decent inn they came across and stepped inside. The innkeeper stood behind the bar wiping it down with an old rag.
"Excuse me, madam. We could use some rooms."
"Dear me!" she exclaimed, "I should say you do!" She pulled out a slate and examined the chalk marks on it. "I'm so sorry dears. We're full up. You can wait to see if anyone's leavin' or I can recommend a nice place nearby that'll take you."
"Mornin' dear," the woman called over Eragon's shoulder before he could answer. He turned to see a young woman in a simple dress come down the stairs. She had a new-looking set of saddlebags over one shoulder, another, more worn, in her hand and a sack slung over the other shoulder. Was it his imagination, or did the newer bag move?
"Looks like you've been shoppin'. That's a nice saddlebag you bought. I guess you'll be leavin', then?"
"Yes. My business is done and my master will want me back soon." The young woman smiled sweetly.
"Well, be sure to come back next time you're in town."
"Thank you." Eragon noticed that she didn't say "I will." There was something about her, but before he could figure out what, the innkeeper spoke.
"Looks like we've got an opening. The room's 4 coppers a night." The Rider pulled out a silver piece and laid it on the bar.
"We'll need supper as well." They were shown up to their room and Eragon set to work tending the newly liberated father and daughter.
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Sorry this took so long. My computer was on the fritz for awhile. Hope you enjoyed it. And don't forget to review.