A/N: OMG! 118 reviews! Holy crap…someone call an ambulance because I think I just had a heart attack! Thanks my loyal reviewers! For those of who have bestowed upon me an unusual amount of praise, thanks!
I apologize for not updating in so long. I've been grounded for the past week and have been unable to access the Internet. I'll try not to let it happen again, though some things can't be helped.
'Scoal' is an Irish word that means 'discharge, loosen, unleash, and fire!' It sounded suitable enough for this chapter.
Thnx my beloved reviewers!
Eleven
Scoal!
Nasuada smiled. "Thank you," she said. "Now that that's settled, we should make haste for the sun halts for no man."
"Don't we want the sun to come up?" Eragon asked. "The Ra'zac are weakest during the daylight."
Murtagh snorted. "No. We're going to lure them out of Helgrind, Eragon. If we can get most of the Ra'zac out of Helgrind, then rescuing Katrina and killing that monster will be less of a hassle. But once dawn splits the horizon, I doubt anything could chase them away from their evil sanctuary."
"There could hundreds of Ra'zac in there," Roran said, his frown deepening. "How are we going to lure them out?"
Nasauda held up two slender cylinder-shaped sticks, as long as Murtagh's palm. "We do so with these. It's called dynamite. It is a highly volatile tool when in flammable contact, and awfully dangerous, yet apparently very useful according King Orrin."
Roran crossed his arms disapprovingly. "Useful," he agreed with a callous expression, "But dangerous. Don't get me wrong, blowing the Ra'zac to smithereens seems a wonderful idea, but I will not put Katrina in any further danger than she is already in." There was something in his voice, a cold, aggrieved detachment that made Murtagh wonder if there was anything in existence that Roran held dearer to his heart.
"Of course not," Nasauda said. "If we were to plant the dynamite inside, odds-on it would put Katrina in grave danger. It might also kill our fiend, which unfortunately Murtagh must slay himself. Therefore, we have devised another plan: There will be two explosions— both of which will erupt on the outside of Helgrind— and will be small enough so that the mountain will not cave in, but big enough to threaten the Ra'zac. King Orrin himself made the calculations. Finally, I have found a use for his interest in natural philosophy!"
There are three entrances to Helgrind," Murtagh continued. "The first is hidden behind a slab of stone, the second happens to be a wide tunnel that leads from Helgrind to Dras-Leona, and as for the third, there is a wide cave mouth at the peak which can only be accessed through flight. That will be our escape route."
Eragon opened his mouth as if to give some cynical remark, but seemed to decide against it. "How do we know that once the Ra'zac are out, they'll stay out? Won't they come filing back in once they realize we're there?"
"They will try, but I am putting barriers on all entrances that will allow us to leave, but will also keep out our foes. That way, we can accomplish what we came here for with diminutive struggle."
A sudden ferocious roar tore through the dark morning, pursued by an uproar of frenzied shouts. An icy chill ran poisoned Murtagh's blood. Thorn!
Murtagh, stay there, Thorn said urgently.
What's wrong?
Just stay there, Thorn snapped. He then retreated from Murtagh's mind, barricading their link, and leaving Murtagh alone in a frosty silence. There was one last roar before the cries of men suddenly dissipated. A dry wind stirred the trees. No one moved. Even the grasshoppers had quite their early chirping.
Murtagh swallowed a fearful lump wedged in his throat. Thorn? There was no answer. He suddenly felt very alone.
"What's wrong?" Nasauda asked worriedly.
Murtagh shook his head. "I don't know," he answered, voice tight. "He said to stay here." Panic gnawed at his gut. Thorn?
Nothing.
Fearing the worst, He was prepared to charge off into the trees, regardless of whatever danger might lurk ahead, when he heard a loud crunch. Birch and alders shivered. Saphira let out a narrow hiss. Then, with a mighty snarl, Thorn tore through the coppice, snapping his jaws at a thin alder and splitting it in half. He snorted irritably, blowing puffs of black smoke. I hate trees!
Relief washed over Murtagh. Are you hurt? What happened? Tell me!
Ruffling his wings, Thorn announced, I just thought you might like to know that a dozen soldiers made the unfortunate mistake of crossing paths with me. He belched a satisfied stream of flames. I am afraid that all but one escaped.
You scared me, Murtagh confessed. You're unhurt?
Sorry to have frightened you. He nosed Murtagh reassuringly. And you need not worry for I am well. Then he spotted Saphira. Ochre eyes gleamed jestingly, he seemed to be smiling. He lowered his gaze to Eragon, arching his long, spiny neck. You are Arrogant, are you not?
Eragon blinked, surprise, and shifted uneasily. Come again?
Arrogant. Is that not your name?
Saphira peered over Eragon's shoulder, barring her pointed teeth threateningly. His name is Eragon,she corrected with a dangerous growl. You would do well not to insult my Rider.
And you would do well not to take my jokes so heavily.
Your jokes are not funny.
Thorn hummed contently, despite Saphira's coldness. One day Saphira, I will get you to laugh. I promise. Then he returned to Murtagh's side. I like her, he said.
Murtagh tried not laugh. I could tell.
Dawn was rapidly approaching. As the night's deep navy hue lightened, they carefully traveled westward under the shelter of trees. Unfortunately, both Thorn and Saphira had difficulty moving considering the span of their bulk and the thin gaps between tree and underbrush. Their wings often became tangled up in the foliage, and they could not fly for fear of exposing themselves to the Ra'zac.
Picking his way over a broken log, Eragon said lowly, "Why are you doing this?"
"You mean why am I here?" Murtagh replied coldly. "It's not for some brotherly love, if that's what you think. I am here only because Nasauda wants me to kill that monster."
"But why? You've made it very clear that no one's life is more important than yours or Thorn's. Surely Galbatorix is furious with you. You've not only broken your oaths, but you've stolen his last dragon egg. He'll be thirsting for your blood the moment he learns the truth, if he hasn't already. So then what reason do you have to risk your life and that of your dragon? Tell me now, Murtagh, for I cannot, and will not, trust you until I know why."
He does have a point, Thorn said, scales bristling as his wings became ensnared again. He snapped irritably at the branches, peeling them off the trees.
Your legs move as slow as a snail, Tree-Slayer! Saphira said from behind, stamping her talons impatiently. Stop biting the trees and move!
Thorn curved his neck around an alder to face Sapphira and huffed. The only reason you are moving more easily than me is because I am the one plowing the way!
Murtagh shook his head. He muttered, "Beinn!" And the trees around them all leaned backwards, freeing Thorn and creating a wide pathway through the wood.
"Impressive," Eragon said, "but you still haven't given me an answer."
Murtagh avoided his gaze. "I told you, I want revenge." His voice was low and heavy, cold as stone. "You cannot even begin to comprehend the meaning of true agony." He forced a hollow laugh. "Besides, where else am I going to go? My life is in danger no matter where I go. The world shuns me, Eragon, the dwarves curse my name, I am an outlaw of the Empire, and all except Nasuada believes my soul is evil."
Eragon looked at him with slight apology. "But what reason do you have to follow the Varden? Don't you think they'll try to control you too? Aren't you afraid of becoming their puppet?"
Murtagh shrugged. "They cannot and will not control me," he said, "because I am a free man. My will is my only law…and I have freely sworn to follow under no commander except Nasauda. I know Nasauda will not make me her marionette and I trust her judgment more than any other man on this earth. I have no reason to love the Varden for they would hang me at the gallows if it were not for her. I would not choose sides because no one would take mine. And yet Nasauda has shown me more mercy than I probably deserve. I have never received such kindness from anyone." He paused hesitantly. "And for that I will gladly obey. My will is now hers."
Nasauda suddenly appeared behind him. "My that was a lovely speech," she said. "You flatter me, Murtagh, really you do. But I am fear that the sun is stirring and unless he is feeling idle this morning, dawn will not wait for us. Let's go before Roran has a heart attack!"
They continued west more quickly now that Thorn and Saphira could keep moving. Trekking further west, the ground began to stipend, rolling up into a sharp hill where the trees thinned. At last, they reached the rise, where a perfect view of Helgrind awaited them. The hill rose over the grove just enough to keep them hidden, yet still provide them a view of both entrances: the one at base, the veiled to cleverly resemble the mountain's black stone, and the cave at the peak.
Nasauda glanced around at the group. "Are we ready?"
"Aye." They replied in grim unison.
Content, she nodded to Murtagh. "Would you do the honor?"
"It would be a pleasure." Murtagh faced the mountain; the essence of evil tainted the surrounding area like a black, pulsing heart. He could not help the uneasiness wedged at the back of his conscious, whispering echoes of all his fears. Yet he was determined to succeed. Failure was not an option. He held up his hand that bore his Rider's mark and uttered a single command:
"Scoal!"
In an instant, Helgrin'd eastern slopes erupted with a hellish fire. A monstrous boom shattered the sky. The earth trembled. All at once, half of Helgrind was consumed in a single colossal cloud, brewed sinisterly with black smoke, crimson, and hungry orange flames. Flaming chunks of rock soared through the air, tails of raging fire gleaming. The whole went silent. Even the insects inhabiting the wood went silent. No one moved.
They waited anxiously in the dark. Moments passed that seemed to be forever. Finally a few Ra'zac and their nightmarish steeds emerged from the gray smoke, tiny black dots buzzing around in the smoke. However, instead of fleeing, they circled the mountain, carefully examining the shattered crags.
"Again!" Nasuada commanded as the Ra'zac soared close to the western side.
The second explosion happened in the same manner. This time, in the aftermath of the blast, a black swarm flooded out of Helgrind's base. They split into three groups, flooding the countryside in all directions. Soon the Ra'zac on their flying mounts joined them, pouring out of the jagged peak like a plague of black locus.
"They know we're here," Murtagh said, alarmed. "Look at their patterns; they're not running away in terror, they're scattering to find the enemy!
"Then there are probably others waiting inside for us," Eragon said.
Nasuada drew her sword. "This is our chance," she said quickly. "Let's go!"
A/N: Okay, don't ask me how they planted they planted dynamite around Helgrind without the Ra'zac noticing. They just did. But who cares? I hated writing this chapter. Maybe the next one will be more fun….
Beinn is a word that I made up due to my lack of knowledge for the ancient language. Mr. P should write a dictionary on his ancient language to give us fanfic authors a break!
Thanks again reviewers!