Eight

The Grove

As the days went by, Surda's boarder quickly came and went. Soon Surda became nothing but a slender strip lining a melancholy horizon. As they drew further into Alagaësia, the skies lost their robin-egg hue, swallowed up by a dark, hungry overcast. The air was now damp, cold with a lingering scent of rain. Murtagh cursed at the weather. When Nasuada asked him what was wrong, he said, "The daylight might be the only advantage we have over the Ra'zac. But with this dreary overcast…I had hoped for a nice hot, sunny day."

Murtagh looked over the side of the saddle and pointed to a thin, muddy highway running tightly through a small copse. The road was laden with broken branches, leaves, and a few fallen trees. "There was a big storm here not too long ago," he said.

Continuing North, Murtagh noticed the consistent evidence of wrathful weather. He hoped the weather would stay relatively calm. Rain they could handle, but ferocious winds? Even Thorn can't fly through that kind of weather.

Despite Murtagh's concern, they came closer to Leona Lake within almost record time. It was dusk when Thorn landed along the lake's shoreline. They skies were still as gloomy as ever and in the distance, Helgrind's evil silhouette loomed ominously against the setting sun. "We'll wait here until midnight, as planned," Murtagh said, unsaddling Thorn. "Then we'll head to Helgrind."

"What about Eragon?" Nasauda asked. "We've been traveling for days and we've seen no sign of him or Saphira."

"We've either bypassed them, or they're already at Helgrind," said Murtagh. "After all, they did have a pretty good head start." He stared out across the lake. Leona's dark, glossy surface was smooth as black glass. The waters were undisturbed, unmoving. Emotionless. A heart with no pulse.

"Either way," said Nasuada. "We're going to kill that monster." She paused. "You don't think they've been captured, do you?"

Murtagh grunted. "He better not have."

For dinner they ate dried meat and bread. Fire was unnecessary since the smoke might attention; the night seemed darker without it. They ate in silence, anxiously waiting for the arrival of midnight. "Murtagh," Nasuada said quietly. He couldn't see her clearly, but he could tell that she was holding Vrîend'dräco.

"Yeah?"

"What does Vrîend'dräco mean?"

Murtagh frowned. He thought for a moment, thinking through his knowledge of the ancient language. However, he could not find the meaning. Then he remembered Arya saying that she didn't know what it meant either. "I don't know. I don't think it's a word in the ancient language, and the possibility of it being dwarf or Urgal is highly unlikely."

Nasauda rolled it around in her hands, examining the treasures' perfect shape. It was at least eight inches long and weighed only a few pounds and yet when she tapped it with her knuckle, it seemed hard as stone beneath the silk.

Perhaps, said Thorn. It is a human word? His ochre eyes glowed like burning embers.

It's not in my vocabulary, Murtagh replied.

Thorn nudged him playfully. That's not what I meant, silly. Don't you think it might be a word from the desert-dwelling humans?

Maybe, Murtagh said. But why would the elves call it a human name and not one from the ancient language?

How should I know? Thorn said in a sarcastic voice. I'm just an intelligent-fire-breathing-lizard-with-wings.

Still, you might be right. Arya said that she herself didn't know what it meant.

I suppose we'll know soon enough.

Hurry, Eragon begged the sun, leaning against a tree. Morning seemed to be taking its sweet time as the three of them waited in the shelter of the little copse. Through the branches he could see Helgrind. An anxious chill ran up his spine. Hell's ground, he thought grimly. Eragon didn't like being so close to the mountain and not doing anything. He glanced at Roran, whose abhorrence for the Empire was more than evident on his cold features.

He heard Saphira shift in the trees they hardly fit in between the trees. Eragon, Saphira said with a sense of urgency. Do you sense them?

Eragon frowned, hand falling to his sword reflexively. Who? The Ra'zac?

Saphira hissed. No, Murtagh and Thorn. They are near. I can sense them.

What are they doing here?

It's obvious, Eragon. Galbatorix wants Roran and us dead or alive. He must have sent them back to try again. She swished her tail crossly, waking a helpless birch. She ignored it as it fell to the ground. Traitors...

We can't fight Murtagh now, Eragon said heavily. I'd rather avoid it if possible. His power suppresses our own and we already have the Ra'zac to worry about. But if he does get in the way, I will kill him.

A large shadow drifted across the trees. Eragon looked up. Too late.

Thorn glided over the copse once, circled, and landed in the middle of a tiny clearing. It was a tight squeeze, but he managed. Murtagh helped Nasauda out of the saddle. She said quietly, "Let me explain everything."

Murtagh shrugged. "I doubt anyone would listen to me."

Nasauda smiled slightly and touched his hand reassuringly. "A pity," she said softly and disappeared.

"Whyme?"Murtagh groaned and started off after her.

There are many reasons why, said Thorn.

Murtagh ignored him. Aren't you coming with us?

With a spiny tail, Thorn pointed to the narrow to the trees. I don't think I can fit. Not without plowing through those twigs.

Are you sure?

Maybe. But I might have to loose a few pounds.

Murtagh laughed lightly. Be careful.

Be wise, Thorn replied.

Reluctantly, Murtagh followed Nasuada into the grove. He regretted leaving Thorn alone so close to Helgrind and the Ra'zac.

The trees rustled slightly. The sound of a sword being drawn rang through the night followed by a low growl. Nasauda halted. Straightening up, she called, "Put that away, Eragon."

There was a moment of silence. "Nasuada?" both Roran and Eragon called sounding bewildered.

Murtagh rolled his eyes, but he said nothing.

"It is I," Nasauda said and stepped out of trees, head held high. "And I have brought allies."

Eragon's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. Anger washed over his elf-like features. Saphira hissed. "What are you doing here? And what are you doing with Nasauda?"

"Murtagh and I have come to help you with your rescue, and to kill a monster," Nasauda said smoothly.

Eragon pointed to Murtagh with the tip of his sword. Suspicious clouded his eyes. They stared each other down with unwavering gazes. "You trust him?" Eragon spat. "After what he did? Nasauda he's working for Galbatorix and he betrayed the Varden!"

"Murtagh has freed himself. He has promised follow my cause and I have asked him to come." She then explained everything that had taken place since Murtagh's freedom.

When she was finished, Eragon thought for a moment, chewing on her words with apprehension. "You've promised to follow Nasauda's cause? Truthfully?"

A shadow fell over Murtagh's face. "I'm not going back if that's what you mean. Galbatorix enslaved us. We suffered under his rule for almost a year." He smiled wryly. This time, he spoke in the ancient language." I want vengeance for everything I went through in Uru-baen. His head is mine, Eragon."

"Good," Roran said, glancing up at the sky. He fingered his hammer anxiously. "I don't know much about you, and I don't understand this 'true name thing,' but time is running out for Katrina. And any enemy of the Empire is my ally."

"But—" Eragon started.

"But nothing, Eragon," Roran said coldly. "We don't have time argue. Once we rescue Katrina and are far away from Helgrind, then I will decide whether or not to trust him." And he said no more on the matter.

A/N: This chapter was hard to write. I had no idea what I was going to do. Now that I have it figured out though, things should be fine. I know I promised it would be exciting, but I promise, next chapter things will get fun. Lots of action.

Anyways, I'm very disappointed because I just finished reading an interview of the Eragon Movie cast members and Murtagh didn't get crap of recognition! What's going on here? Eragon may be the main character, but Murtagh is way cooler than his baby bro any day of the week…I don't think they even mentioned Nasauda. I say that if there's going to be a sequel, Murtagh had better get more interviews…grrr…