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---Chapter Six---

Fight or Flight

by: ElfLuver13

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"Your dragon is staring at me," Caitrin said, becoming unnerved at the unwavering scarlet eyes upon her. Thorn had failed to remove his eyes from her, watching her every step in the clearing with a hooded gaze in the early dawn.

"He's thinking," Murtagh explained. "It has nothing to do with you."

"What, dare I say, could he be thinking about? As a dragon?" Thorn gave an outraged growl, loud enough to resonate in the surrounding forest. Caitrin shrunk back at the sound. "Did I say something?"

Murtagh laughed at the pure naivety in her voice. Silently he scolded Thorn for making noise and scaring her out of her wits.

"You wounded his pride. He can think, quite well in fact. I wouldn't suggest another comment like that again, your safety isn't guaranteed." Thorn settled back into his curled up position with a haughty attitude and finally, to Caitrin's relief, turned his attentions elsewhere.

"I offended him then?" She asked in horror. She suddenly felt fortunate to still be alive.

"Come on, we need to make it out of this forest. I was hoping to make it to Petrøvya within the next three days," Murtagh said, finishing the knot on the horse's saddle.

"Hoping?"

"We're taking precautions because of the impending encounter with that Varden group. It will now take us four days, and maybe even another two after that if we have trouble on the borders of Surda." He swung up on the saddle, and with another of his trademark grins he patted the space behind him. Caitrin dragged herself over to him and reluctantly swung up behind him, wondering if she was ever going to get a separate horse to ride.

Murtagh's hair smelled like soap. Soap! Lavender soap at that! It disturbed her to know that he smelled of Lavender. What would the king say?

"Are you smelling my hair?" He asked, suspiciously glancing over his shoulder. She shook her head innocently and continued her monotonous task of watching for danger. The only danger she saw was of the non-existent, boring sort. A leaf here, a rodent there.

"Does your dragon know where those Varden are at the moment?" She asked, then heard him murmuring those words and could almost see his eyes changing from their usual grey to crimson slits.

"They are near, apparently they have been following us. They'll probably catch up with us at midday," he answered. He reined the horse to the left sharply and urged him into a faster pace. She felt something behind them, a presence. She gripped him tightly and dared a glance over her own shoulder.

An arrow flew at them with surprising accuracy and speed, giving her barely enough time to grab Murtagh's shoulders and pull him to the side to avoid the weapon. He turned the horse around to face whatever was attacking them, eyes narrowing in uncertainty when he found nothing. Another arrow assaulted them, followed by three others. All of them were coming from the exact same place in the tree directly above them.

"Show yourself!" Murtagh challenged. Behind him, Caitrin drew her blade and waited for a reason to return the favor of aggression. The horse stood still, hooves planted firmly but ready to move and ears cocked for any sound. The tree shook, and a pair of legs were seen from the tree. A torso and covered face soon followed. The figure dropped smoothly to the ground, landing in front of them with a soft thud.

"Who are you? What do you want with us?" Murtagh questioned.

"You are Galbatorix's informants. I am a rebel against your tyrant king," the person, who could be called a man by his tone of voice, answered with a calm air. It was accompanied by an assured, confidant presence.

"How would you know this? Varden, I presume?" Murtagh probed.

"You presume well. I have seen the tags with his seal that you wear. My company and I wish to hinder Galbatorix in any way we can, and therefore we will be glad to be rid of you."

The next few moments seemed to happen slowly. The man lunged at the horse with two long knives drawn and ready. Without a second thought Caitrin thrust her sword from behind Murtagh and impaled the man, killing him instantly.

"Thanks," Murtagh said. He dismounted the horse and pulled the body from the sword, careful not to spill blood on his clothes or much on the ground. "We can hide him in the brush. I think you can guess who this man's companions were."

"The Varden spies. He wasn't one of them?" She asked.

"There is an old man and a younger apprentice. The older one's skill is legendary, even more so is his pupil's. This was someone who accompanied them to do the dirty work, less skilled in the ways of politics," he explained. He wiped his bloodied hands on the man's tunic before rejoining Caitrin on the horse.

"I hope you're good at acting," Murtagh told her. Midday was soon approaching.

"You there! Travelers!" They had stopped at a stream to rest when a small company of five appeared on the other side. The spies were among them.

"Grab my hand," Murtagh whispered urgently before facing the party across from them. They urged their horses through the stream to meet them (the company) as Catrin fought the compulsion to back away. Murtagh grasped her hand tighter, pulling her into him to wrap an arm around her waist and hold her close.

"Perhaps you can help us, we seem to have lost one of our companions further back," a man said. Caitrin and Murtagh assumed him to be the leader. He had an angular face, sandy blond hair to his shoulders, and startling green eyes. His clothes spoke of wealth, clearly defining his status among the group and elsewhere. The older man and apprentice Murtagh had warned of stood off to the side of the group. Caitrin watched as the older man leaned over to the young male and whispered something into his ear. His eyes snapped immediately to Caitrin. She broke the gaze and looked away as she felt a cold sweat break out on her skin.

"I'm afraid we haven't met anybody, to our good fortune. We're running from her father, he did not approve of our love and refused her hand to me," Murtagh said convincingly. Caitrin added a sad smile for effect and leaned in closer to him. The man conferred with the older spy before coming back to them.

"Aelric has seen you in Furnost, is that where you came from?"

"It is. We would appreciate it if you were discreet of our whereabouts, her father is still looking for us," Murtagh pleaded. The man nodded quickly, assuring him. "I would look for your friend back at Furnost, perhaps he lost your group and returned to the last place he saw you."

"Thank you for your advice. Good fortune to you, young lovers!" The man wheeled his horse around and splashed back through the stream at a gallop, the rest following him. Caitrin sighed in relief as Murtagh released her. He looked at her in alarm when she abruptly burst into laughter.

"What are you amused at? We narrowly escaped discovery and here you are mocking me?" He looked at her incredulously.

"'Her father is still looking for us', I'm surprised they even believed that. I had no idea we were supposed to be playing runaway lovers, I wonder where you got that idea from our little scene in the alley," she wondered.

"It was the first thing I thought of, it must have been believable, they believed it didn't they?" Caitrin sobered herself, her face becoming serious.

"The older man whispered to the younger one, and then he looked at me. I think they know, or have a very strong suspicion."

"In that case, we'll be riding as much as we can to get across Surda's borders to Petrøvya."

Short, I know. Sorry about that. I had to get something out. Your reviews keep this story alive! I appreciate any comments and help you can give me!

Also, thanks to my beta, Agent047.

-ElfLuver13