I grabbed the weapon I was carving all day. It was originally a pointed branch, but I smoothed it out with Eragon's belt knife and sharpened the end of it like a spear. I handed Eragon his knife and we headed back to the farm.

I could sense that Saphira and Eragon were communicating something. She seemed reluctant to go, but he had a determination that she could not shake. She made an attempt to grab Eragon with her talons and fly him off, but I pushed him out of her reach before she could.

"Saphira no! If he doesn't go, then Garrow dies and his farm will be burnt down!"

Saphira growled at me and made another attempt at him, but he avoided her himself.

"She's right Saphira, I have to go! I have to help him!" he said with a desperation that scared me. He started to sprint down the path with me in tow and Saphira flying above the trees. I was nervous for what was about to happen. I had never gotten in a fight before, and like any normal person, I was afraid of pain … and dying. I gulped and pushed these thoughts out of my mind. Focus I said aggressively in my head.

Once we made it to the farm, we could already see that there was a struggle going on inside. Tables were being thrown and loud voices could be heard.

Before Eragon could push his way through the front doors, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and held him back.

"Are you crazy!? We need the element of surprise! Wait for the right moment to attack." I said and crawled over to an open window to listen to what was happening. Once I looked up a bit into the window, it took all my will power not to gasp out loud. The Ra'zac were grotesque beings that wore long black cloaks with hoods pulled up over their faces. There backs were oddly humped and deformed and their sharp bony hands were covered with gloves. When they spoke, their words were smooth and sinister, with an underlying hiss that made the hair on my arms stand on end. They were even creepier than I read about!

"Where issss the boy?" One of them hissed. They had Garrow up against the wall, holding a vial of some unknown substance over his neck.

"I don't know! And if I did I would never tell you!" Even though it was obvious that he was terrified, his voice still had an air of dignity which impressed me.

"Wrong anssswer …" One of them said and tipped the vial over Garrow's throat. The clear liquid touched his skin and immediately smoked and sizzled. Garrow let out a scream of agony until all the liquid had been burned out, leaving a huge ghastly whole in the side of his neck. I felt Eragon tense beside me, ready to spring at any second. His breathing was ragged and there was a wild look in his eye.

"He is of no use to usss anymore. Kill him," one of them said to another. And as the Ra'zac lifted their daggers to cut his throat, Eragon leapt up and rushed into the house before I could suggest any plausible course of action.

"Eragon no!" I screamed. This was not good. The Ra'zac were startled when he ran through, but only for a moment, allowing Eragon to lash out with his dagger at one of them, barely scratching him at all, before they were on top of him. One of them used the hilt of his dagger to hit Garrow over the head and throw his limp body to the floor, before jumping into the fray.

I rushed in to help, and Saphira let out a fierce roar as she smashed down the door frame with her large, spiked tail to get to them. I managed to whack one of them on the back with my spear, which hardly did more than make him take a few steps forward. They were much stronger than I imagined! He turned on me and lashed out with his knife. I avoided him and tried to pierce him with my spear. I still couldn't see their faces, because their hoods pulled heavy shadows over their malformed faces. As I struggled, I could see Eragon trying to avoid the quick movements of the Ra'zac and Saphira lashing out at one with her claws. The Ra'zac were on the offensive, while we were all on the defensive. This was not how it was suppose to play out! We were supposed to attack before they knew what hit them. But they are a way more formidable opponent than I gave them credit for.

After only a few minutes of constant struggle, which felt like a life time, I could tell things were taking an ugly turn. I had a serious cut on my thigh and a gash on my forehead which oozed blood into my eye, causing me to have to close it. I could sense that Eragon and Saphira were in no better condition.

As I was avoiding another blow for the hundredth time, I quickly looked over to see the Ra'zac that was attacking Saphira pick up a long heavy log from the fireplace and throw it with such force and speed at Saphira's head that she had no time to protect herself. It hit her right between the eyes, and she collapsed on the ground, momentarily knocked unconscious.

The Ra'zac wasted no time to tie Saphira's snout and body, enveloping her wings with tight ropes. I cried out in dismay and Eragon was so distraught that he doubled his efforts to get a hard blow in. I was so dizzy and distracted by all of this, I did not see the Ra'zac that snuck up behind me until it was too late. He grabbed me from behind while the other held out his knife to strike at me. I let out a shrill scream of fright without realizing I was. But immediately I recognized my mistake.

Everything after that seemed to happen in slow motion. The Ra'zac holding the knife out at me slowly put it to my throat, the Eragon jerking his head in my direction and looking at what was happening with pure horror, the Ra'zac that he was fighting taking the advantage and lunging forward with his knife. And then I saw Eragon's face contort in a silent cry of agony as the Ra'zac pierced his chest and straight through to his heart. He slumped to the ground, and lay still. I screamed in dismay and grief. This was my entire fault! I killed Eragon! I killed him! I sobbed and went slack in the Ra'zac's grasp, no longer caring for my own safety. Saphira had begun to stir slightly, and I could only imagine the pure torture she would feel once she became aware that her bond mate was murdered.

One of the Ra'zac picked up Garrow who was still dizzy and out of it, but conscious enough to stand with support. One of them held me with a dagger to my throat, one held Garrow in the same way, and one was already hauling Saphira out toward the street, on his way to the king no doubt. I heard his voice call over his shoulder before he trudged away, and it said

"We have no more use for thesssse two, kill them," he told the other two Ra'zac and left.

I could feel the cool, sharp metal under my throat and looked to see the Ra'zac holding Garrow slit his throat and throw his body onto the floor. He then took out a match and proceeded to ignite it on a piece of wood. I could feel the one holding me press the dagger to my throat, and then everything went black and I felt nothing.

…