Author's Note: Ok so here is chapter 14! A big thanks to these reviewers for reviewing! Emeraldeyedragon, KRM-EditorInChief(thank you for the correction of the city I have gone back and fixed it), shinylikeapenny, tpqcs5, Kyubbi-Sama, whitemagicstar, purpleangle, iceblue. Anyway, here is chapter 15, enjoy!
Green Dragon
Chapter 15: Helgrind
They slowly crept up to the outer part of the city, dodging soldiers and other people as they walked by them. It was harder this time to dodge people since there were more of them. It made it even more difficult because two of them were wanted and not to mention that Saphira had grown so much since the last time that they were here. After a day of hiding and sneaking, they finally reached a comfortable distance from the city to make camp.
Eragon was standing by Saphira taking off the bags that had been tied to her back. She shook her whole body, her winds flapping wildly.
Stiff?
No, I have seen birds do this and wanted to see how it felt. Yes I am a little stiff.
Why? You never been stiff before, are you getting old?
No, besides I am younger then you. So if I am getting old, then that means you are getting old too. She said smudged.
You sshh.
Roran walked up to them, his face grim. Eragon noticed that his cousin kept glancing over his shoulder at the city.
"I've just sent Albriech and Yeanoi to look around the perimeter. They should be back close to sunset."
"Hopefully they won't get caught because if they do, then we are all dead." Eragon said looking over at the city.
Roran nodded his head, "That is true, but they are well trained, besides, the King isn't looking for them, they are looking for us. They will be careful, I also told Yeanoi to contact you or Saphira if something goes wrong."
"Mmmm, let us hope they don't contact us."
Just as Roran said, Albriech and Yeanoi were back at sunset. They came riding up as they were starting to eat their dinner.
"Great we made it back in time for dinner I'm starving." Albriech said as he grabbed a bowl that Roran held out for him. He started shoving food into his mouth.
"So how was it?" Eragon asked handing Yeanoi a bowl.
"Ent bunt tun godo."
"I'm sorry, say that again Albriech?"
"He said it doesn't look so good." Yeanoi said glaring at her stew, "But there is some good news. The Ra'zac's aren't here."
"Where are they?" Roran asked seriously.
"Off somewhere doing something for the King."
"How do you know that? Never mind, what is the bad news?" He asked.
Albriech swallowed the food in his mouth, "Where should we start. Well there are twice as many guards as we thought, oh and you are going to love this part, there is a Shade here."
Eragon choked on his food and Saphira let out a hiss, "Wh what did you say?"
"They have a Shade here, how and why, we don't know." Yeanoi said.
"How do you know there is a Shade here?" Roran said eying them both, "You didn't go in did you?"
"Well…yes we did, but…"
"I told you not to, that was going to be for tomorrow! Didn't you hear me say that we would talk about going in after we knew what was happening on the outside?" He said trying to keep his voice down.
"Oh stop it Roran, get the stick out of your…"
"Yeanoi, that probably isn't a good idea to finish that sentences." Eragon said quickly.
"Fine, just calm down. We heard you, but we had already finish going around the wall and nothing was wrong and we had guessed right so we just went in." She said.
"All right, so you went in, what did you see?"
"Local people, soldiers, a Shade, did I miss anyone Albriech?" She asked looking at him.
"No I think that is about it."
"I meant was anything wrong, were people doing normal things, you get the idea." Roran said taking a bite of bread.
"Everything was normal; the Shade was walking through the streets with some soldiers and a priest. Good thing you three didn't go in or else we would all be dead." Albriech said.
What did the Shade look like? Saphira questioned.
"Well the Shade is a woman for starters. She has raven black hair and black eyes, she about a good head taller than Albriech, oh and not to mention she is evil." Yeanoi said.
"All Shades are evil." Eragon pointed out.
"She is the root of all evil, which is what the villagers are saying." Albriech said, "They said that she is much worst then the last Shade the King had."
"Worst then Durza? That isn't possible." Eragon said thinking that they were lying.
"Much worst, her name is Varina. Her skill in magic is almost as great as the Kings. I think if it wasn't for his oily words that bewitched her, she would have over thrown him already." Yeanoi said stabbing her food.
Eragon looked hard at her, "You know this Shade don't you?"
"Yes." She said tight lipped.
"You knew her? How?" Roran asked.
"Well, before I came to the Vardens, I lived on the island Parlim. There was a school for people who had the magical gift there. I went to that school and so did Varina." She took a breath, "Varina was the top student at our school, but she was into dark magic. The last year that we were there, she got caught sacrificing an animal for a spell and she was exiled."
"Did you hear what happened to her after that?" Eragon asked.
"We heard rumors but nothing more." She said.
"What kind of rumors?" Roran asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, "We heard that she had gotten more into the dark magic, still sacrificing, and other horrible things."
"Why did she need to sacrifice?"
"Because dark magic took away her youth." She said smirking.
"So that is why she needed to sacrifice. I'm guessing she sacrificed young women then?" Eragon asked.
"That's right, how did you know?" She looked at him.
"Read it in a book. So the young women's blood she either drank or rubbed on herself to make her young. She stole their youth." He said.
"Yes, I can tell that she did do that because she looks young and she is incredibly beautiful." She huffed.
Albriech got a dream look on his face, "She was, her soft long black hair, her deep black eyes, and her wondrous womanly curves, and…"
Yeanoi hit him on the head before he could finish his sentence. Her face tight with anger and repulsion.
"Ouch what was that for? All I was doing…"
"Was complementing on the enemy." She snarled, she looked at them, "Forgive him; he is not in his right mind."
"Why? What is wrong with him?" Roran asked eying Albriech.
"When the Shade took the youth, it gave her a young beautiful woman look which no mortal man could resist. But it isn't what she really looks like; you could say that she wears a veil."
I see. She covers her ugly old body with the youth that she stole. She wears a mask of beauty. I'm guessing that if some way she was defeated or by a spell; she would be striped of the mask. Saphira said.
"Correct, if we could stripe her of her magic then she is powerless. Or better yet we should just kill her. " She said with a grin.
"We have to kill her; we don't need a Shade running around helping the King." Roran said crossly.
"He's right; we don't need another person to dodge. Because we already have to run from soldiers, Ra'zac's, Galbatorix, Murtagh and Thorn." Eragon said counting them on his fingers.
After dinner they spent the rest of the night talking about the rescue tomorrow. Since they already knew what was inside the walls, their plans were pushed forward a day. They had to change a few things in their plan since the Shade was here. It would be like rescuing Eragon all over again when he was captured.
They slowly crept towards the city. It was still dark out; they had about two hour before the sun would rise. Their hoods pulled over their heads and their cloaks wrapped tightly around them so they blended with the dark. Saphira was flying high above the city where she wouldn't be seen until she was needed.
They had reached the wall; they pressed their bodies up against it so the guards on duty wouldn't see them. Eragon quickly asked a question to Saphira; once he got his answer he nodded his head. Albriech nodded and threw a robe up, Yeanoi guiding it with her magic. Once the robe was secure they started to climb.
They reached the top of the wall; Albriech was first, his bow out with an arrow strung in it. He held his bow out until the rest climbed the wall, ready to shoot anyone that came their way. Once they were up, they moved the robe to the other side and climbed down.
Eragon was first this time, his feet touching the ground with a soft thud. He had his bow out this time while he waited for the others to descend. Once they were all on the ground they quickly made their way towards the prison.
It seemed to take forever to get to the prison it seemed to Eragon, but they finally made it without being seen. One by one they moved into the prison. They moved as fast as they could without being noticed. Twice they were almost caught by a guard, but with Yeanoi quick thinking she put them in a sleeping spell. After about twenty minutes they reached the bottom floor, but they stopped suddenly. Cold terror ran through the group when they saw who was down at the bottom of the stairs.
A tall woman with black hair wearing a long cloak over her shoulders was standing at the bottom talking to a guard. Even though they were talking quietly, their voices carried up to them.
"The sacrifice it ready for you tonight my Lady." He guard said breathlessly.
"Good, be sure that nothing happens to the sacrifice. I want her to be untouched, or else it won't work. Tell your men if anything happens to her that makes her unworthy, they will answer to me." She said soft.
A shiver ran through the man as she said this, "Yes my Lady." He said bowing and turned away.
The woman pulled up her hood and turned and started to walk up the stairs. The group quickly retreated inside a chamber just in time. A minute later the Shade walked by the spot where they just stood. They watched as she was about to go up another flight of stairs when she stopped. She looked left and right and she tilted her head up and sniffed. Another wave of terror ran through the group, each of them praying that she would just go. Finally after about five minutes she must have decided that there was nothing there and she went up the stairs.
A sigh of relief went through the group after she had disappeared. They waited for a while to make sure that she was really gone then they crept out of the chamber. Quickly as they could without being heard they went down into where the prisoners were.
They ran down to where Katrina's cell was, their footsteps echoing off of the walls. Eragon turned his head to see if anyone was coming, but stopped. Yeanoi was five cells behind where they were. She was frowning with a look of anger. Eragon quickly went to where she was to see why she had stopped.
In the cell were two little children, none of them older then the looks of six. There was a boy and a girl, both of them huddled together. Eragon looked closer at them. Even though it was dark, his elvish eyes could clearly see the bruises,
burns, and scars on the children. Fury ran through his body, whoever did this would pay for hurting these children.
"Eragon we can't leave them." Yeanoi said.
He was about to reply when Roran yelled, "She's not here!"
Eragon whipped around, "What do you mean she's not here?"
"As in she isn't in her cell or in any of the other cells." Roran said running up to him.
"Are you sure she isn't in any other cell?" He asked.
"No, they are all empty besides this one." Albriech said coming up to them.
"That's odd, she was here yesterday." Yeanoi said still looking at the children.
"She was, we checked." Albriech said.
"Then where…" Eragon trailed off as he thought. A chill ran through his spine as he remembered the Shades words. He knew where she was.
"They are going to sacrifice her." He whispered.
Roran looked at him, "Are you sure?"
"He is right; she is going to sacrifice her. Katrina is really young and pretty. It is about this time of the year that Varina will sacrifice someone." Yeanoi said looking at them, "If we are to rescue her today, we have to go now." But she looked back at the children, "But I'm not leaving until we get these children out."
"We don't have the time." Roran said.
Yeanoi looked darkly at him, "You would leave these children to more punishment and then death? What kind of leader are you to leave innocent children? If we leave them they will die. How would you like to tell your love ones that you had the power to save two children but you didn't?"
"She is right, we can't leave them. Saphira can carry them." Eragon said. And before his cousin could say anything he said a spell that made the door open.
Albriech and Yeanoi went into the cell. The children stared fearfully at them, they tried to move away from them, but their injures wouldn't allow them.
"It is all right, we are here to take you to a safe place. Please trust us." Yeanoi said kneeling by them.
Slowly they moved towards them, the little boy pushing the little girl towards Albriech. They must be brother and sister Eragon thought as Albriech picked up the little girl.
"Where's Mama?" The little girl asked.
They looked at each other; they knew that all of the prisoners had been killed three days ago besides these children and Katrina.
"Your mother is no longer here." Roran said.
"Children please don't ask questions at the moment, we must leave now if we are to get out of here unnoticed. We are going to have to ask you to be quite until we get out." Yeanoi said soothingly.
The children nodded; perhaps they already knew that their mother was dead and that they should be quite Eragon thought.
"Right, Albriech and Yeanoi, you will take the children outside of the city. Once you are out, Albriech will stay with them, Yeanoi, we will still need you. Come back as quick as you can, meet us at the sacrificial temple." Eragon ordered.
They nodded their heads and left, Eragon turned towards Roran, "It will be just you and me until she comes back."
Roran nodded, "Then let us go before it is too late."
Albriech and Yeanoi went the other way as Eragon and Roran headed towards the temple. They had about an hour left before the sun would rise so they moved quickly.
They reached the temple; both of them drew their swords as they entered. Torches lined the wall, giving everything a shadow. There were statues everywhere of gods and goddesses. The hall was supported by pillars that were a cream color.
"Do you know where she is?" Roran whispered.
"No I do not; I have never been in here before." He whispered back.
Roran cursed, "Well be better start looking."
There was another hallway on their right, "Let's try that one." Eragon said.
They ran down the hall as fast as they dared. They passed more pillars and statues. Eragon cringed as he saw some of the statues, they were of humans in horrible positions and the statue seemed to be in pain. Trying not to look at any other statue he kept running.
Finally they reached the end of the hallway. They had ended up in a big circular room. There was a table in the middle of the circle; gold chains were bolted to the sides and there were splotches of blood on the table. A big statue of a god was staring down at the table; they had reached the sacrificial room.
"Look there are five more doors, hopefully she is in one of them." Roran said his face pale.
"Let us hope, we are running out of time."
Roran ran to the farthest one on the left and he ran to the second one on the right. There were bars on the door so the priest could look in to see which person was in the cell. He looked through the bars and saw a man, he was dead.
"Eragon I think I have found her!" Roran said happily.
He went over to the cell and looked in. Katrina had her arms above her head in chains. Her head was on her shoulder; her long curly hair covered her face. She had bare feet and her dress had turned into rags.
"It's her." He whispered.
"Katrina, Katrina my love." Roran said anxious.
Eragon muttered the charm and the door opened. Roran ran in and knelt before her, taking her head in his hands.
"She is alive." He murmured.
She was alive; her breath was coming in short and painful. He could see the bruises on her face and her arms, dried blood and sweat caked her face. Her face was thin, and her arms were frail. It seemed that she hadn't eaten hardly anything since she was here.
She jerked as she woke up; she was about to scream but Roran put a hand on her mouth. This only made it worst. She started to fight his hand and her eyes stared blindly at him with terror. Eragon quickly said a spell to calm her down. She slowly went limp and just stared at Roran, he removed his hand.
"Katrina?" He whispered.
"Roran?" She said weakly, a tiny bit of hope in her voice.
"Yes it's me; we have come to rescue you." He said, tears in his eyes.
"We?" She asked. Eragon moved forward to release her hands.
"Eragon and others, we're getting you and your father out." He said taking her in his arms once her hands were released.
"My father is died." She said her body limp.
"I am sorry; it seems that we are too late. " He said stroking her hair.
Eragon didn't want to ruin this moment of reuniting, but he knew they had to go, "Sorry to interrupt this but we must leave now if we are to escape."
"He is right; you will have to tell us everything once we get out of the city. Can you walk? No, then I will carry you." Roran said as he picked her up.
They ran out of the temple and went to where the rope was. The sky was turning to a grayish color as they neared the spot. Somewhere in the distance they heard the clanking of metal, soldiers were walking in the street.
As they came closer he felt Saphira touch his mind. You better hurry, there are soldiers, time is running out. Saphira said.
I know, we have Katrina, how are the children?
They are fine, Albriech is looking after them.
Eragon! You must hurry, she is coming! Yeanoi interrupted his thoughts with Saphira.
The Shade is coming? Where is she and how much time do we have? He asked frantic.
They are about fifteen minutes away from the wall. You must hurry!
Eragon I see them, they know something is wrong. Do you want me to come and get you? Saphira asked.
"The Shade and soldiers are fifteen minutes away from the wall. Do you want Saphira to come and get us?" He asked Roran.
"Do they know what has happened?" He asked.
"I don't think so."
"Then no, if they don't know then we are fine. If Saphira comes then they will know and we all won't be able to escape. Let us hurry and get to the wall before they do." He said.
They ran towards the wall, Yeanoi was standing at the top waiting for them. She kept looking west to see where the Shade was. Katrina was too weak to climb the wall so Eragon and Yeanoi had to use magic to get her up and over. Quickly as they could, they climbed the wall. They had reached the top and pulled the robe up just in time as the Shade and the soldiers rounded the corner.
"Roran get Katrina down to the horses. Tell Albriech to start riding once you get to him. Yeanoi and I will hold them off then we will ride with Saphira. We will then cover you from the air and meet up with you later." Eragon said helping Katrina down.
"All right, be safe brother, you too Yeanoi." He said and he climbed the robe down.
Eragon looked at Yeanoi, "We have to hold them off as long as possible."
"Right, we…"
"Hello again Yeanoi."
They turned around to find Varina standing behind them. She pulled her hood back to reveal her face. Albriech had been right, she was beautiful. Her long black hair was plaited down her back and her midnight black eyes shown with excitement.
"Hello Varina, long time no see." Yeanoi said her voice full of venom.
"It has been a long time since we have seen each other. When was the last time we saw each other, oh yes, it was when I was exiled from Parlim." She said sweetly, her voice like honey, "I see you have improved in society. Friends with outlaws and traitors."
"So have you, made friends with the King I see. Pity I didn't kill you when I had the chance." Yeanoi said heatedly.
She laughed, "You kill me that is funny."
In a blink of an eye Yeanoi threw a dagger at Varina. Eragon dodged the dagger; he hadn't seen the dagger until she had thrown it. Varina moved slightly and caught the dagger without any trouble.
"Very clever, but not clever enough." She said looking at the dagger.
She vanished and a cloud of smoke, she reappeared behind Yeanoi. Eragon gave a yell of warning but it was too late. Varina plunged the dagger into Yeanoi back, the blade poking out the front of her chest. Her face was controlled in pain and shock. Varina gave a twist with the hilt; her mouth was curved in a smile of triumph.
There was a whirl sound through the air and a thud as Eragon's short knife hit Varina right between the eyes. She glared at him as her body faded and turned into smoke. His knife fell to the ground with a clang.
Yeanoi swayed where she was, blood stickled down her chin from her mouth. Eragon rushed forward to grab her, her nose was bleeding now.
"Yeanoi it is all right, I'm going to help you." He said trying to keep his voice calm. Saphira I need you!
I am here. She was by the side of a wall in an instant.
He picked up his knife and then Yeanoi. He then climbed onto Saphira's back. The soldiers were climbing the stairs; some of them were shooting at them. Saphira turned to the side so the arrows would hit her hard scales. She let out a jet of fire making the men back off. Eragon made sure that Yeanoi was secure before he settled in the saddle. Once Saphira knew they were on she took off.
Eragon felt helpless as Yeanoi jolted and coughed up more blood. If they didn't land soon she would die, but they couldn't land, they weren't far enough away from the city. About four miles out from the city they spotted the rest of the group below them. Saphira got ahead of them and landed.
Eragon carefully got off of her back and gently laid Yeanoi down on the ground. She had stopped coughing up blood but her face was deathly pale. At that moment Roran rode up to him, his face grave.
"What happened? What is wrong?" He said and looked at Yeanoi, "Oh my…can she be save?"
Eragon didn't look at his cousin; every inch of his body was shaking. He touched the hilt and her hand came up to stop him. He looked down at her to see her eyes staring at him in pain and they were darkening. She muttered something that was barely above a whisper. He bent down to catch her words.
"Promise…me… you will…kill her and," she gasped, "do not fail… us Dragon Rider…" She coughed and went limp in his arms.
Authors Note: ok so there was chapter 15, I hope you like it. Please review!