A/n: had trouble with this chapter, but I hope you enjoy it! Sorry if there are grammar mess ups but it's late and I don't feel like proof reading, and my beta is sleeping right now I'm sure, so sorry in advance.
Ch. 10
Two weeks after their departure from Surda the three riders sat on a mountain cliff, overlooking a Leona Lake to the west of Dras-Leona. All three were lost in thoughts of what could happen in the next few days.
Roran broke the silence, "So, where do we look first?" he asked.
"Well she must be somewhere none of us have been." Murtagh shrugged, "We could make a list of places we have been then only look were we haven't."
"Yes, we know she isn't in Uru'baen because Murtagh knows that city inside and out, the Ra'zac must still have her with them, so Dras-Leona is our first destination." Eragon nodded as he mindlessly tied knots in a piece of grass.
"I haven't been anywhere in that city so I'm out." Roran muttered frustrated that he wouldn't be able to help in this particular situation.
"I've been in the Cathedral, and most of the side streets." Eragon said, "And I've seen Helgrind through the Ra'zac's minds."
"I've been inside the castle of that city, and most of the inns." Murtagh added, "So we only haven't seen inside houses and perhaps the poor inns, most of the pubs as well."
"I doubt she is in either a pub or a house, so a poor inn most likely." Eragon frowned, "but all the times we have scryed her it has looked as if she has been working."
"Yes, quite a few times it has looked like she was hanging clothes on a line." Roran murmured, recalling with a flinch how her body had looked even more torn up than before.
"So an inn with a clothes line, she must be working under an innkeeper, as well as being watched by the Ra'zac." Eragon deduced, "That narrows our search considerably."
"Why is that? All inns have to wash cloth." Roran grumbled.
"You don't understand how crowded Dras-Leona is, the houses there are squeezed in everywhere possible, so a poor inn probably couldn't afford a large piece of land, there will only be a few." Murtagh explained.
Roran nodded and gazed out to the outline of the city, by tomorrow night, he should be holding Katrina in his arms if everything went according to plan. He looked up as Eragon stood and brushed off his pants.
"We should head out if we intend to be there by morning, remember you three," he said motioning to the dragons, "have to stay well hidden unless one of us calls you." Inarkien and Rahzin dipped their heads while Saphira shifted her great bulk and grumbled deep in her throat.
"I don't like it." She groused, "You three need protection."
Eragon bent down to his pack and withdrew a hooded cloak, "I know you don't like it, but it isn't as if you can walk behind us in the cities, and besides I am far stronger than I was last time I was in this city." He spoke aloud. He walked to her and stroked the side of her face reassuringly, "We will be very careful." he calmed her then withdrew his hand, "Let's be off."
The three men ran took off to climb down the mountain, all three carrying weapons a canteen and food, but nothing more.
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Katrina closed her eyes in intense concentration and reached within herself to touch the more familiar source of magic. It still wasn't easier but two weeks of training her mind had allowed her to touch the power and draw a little upon it quicker, though she could still do little with it. She felt the power trickle through her and she gathered up all she could and before it slipped away she said, "Riesa du stenr!" she felt the pebble lift of her palm but dared not open her eyes in fear of losing the magic, within seconds however the power slipped away, and Katrina opened her emerald eyes to Aris' thoughtful face.
"Better, still not enough to be able to fight with it, but with practice you can get there eventually." Aris said quietly, they had arisen earlier to practice. This pattern had occurred for two weeks every night Aris would teach her words in the ancient language and have Katrina practice blocking her mind from everything. In that area Katrina was talented, even with only two weeks practice Katrina could reach her mind out and close it off from everything as if she had been doing it her whole life. Aris said that if Katrina ever came into contact with a powerful mind they would be able to break in easily, so she had to practice regardless, but for the camp magician Menlor, well, he hadn't suspected a thing yet.
In the mornings Katrina would get up and try to levitate a pebble from her palm, it had taken her a week to merely feel the magic, now it was using it that was taxing her. Aris said the exercise was centuries old, and eventually she would become frustrated enough that she would access the power in huge amounts, after that it would never be that difficult to use it again. Still, Katrina was tired of using the rock, she hated the inoffensive rock.
"It lifted a little more smoothly today, it didn't wobble until in the air, a few more days and I think we can move on." Aris said rising from her seat on her bed of ferns, "That is enough for today though."
Katrina was going to protest but her body was tired, the late nights and early mornings had taken their toll on both the girls, Aris now had circles under her eyes and Katrina was sure she did as well. Aris was confident that soon they would only have to practice at night, but she was nervous to allow Katrina to practice magic while the magician was still awake. He patrolled a night shift. If she was able to test Katrina's mind blocks herself she could decide when she could practice magic and avoid detection, but Aris had to be sure since she couldn't reach out herself.
"Let's get to work then." Aris said and walked out of the tent, heading for the clothes.
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Eragon, Murtagh, and Roran all sat with their backs pressed against the yellow clay wall surrounding Dras-Leona. They were on the western side of the wall, the gates being on the north, they intended to hop the wall with magic. Eragon pulled out his canteen and dug a hole into the crusty earth until it was the size of his hand.
"Perhaps…" he began and poured a small puddle of water into the shallow crevice, "Draumr Kopa." he said quietly over the water, Roran and Murtagh turning to watch as the color on the surface wavered, "Yes! Luck is with us today, she is hanging clothes, so we can look for poor inns, then we should be able to easily spot her." he smiled at Roran, who took a deep breath. He hoped that it didn't just seem too easy, but that it actually would be.
"Let's do it." Murtagh gave a fierce grin to his brother and cousin. They all stood and Eragon cautiously boosted Roran up. Eragon being the most lithe and strong in both body and mind would lift the others up then use magic to lift himself over.
"It's good." Roran whispered and Eragon pushed him over, Murtagh winced as they heard him hit the ground with a grunt.
"Nice." Eragon muttered rolling his eyes, "you next." he jerked his head at the wall while looking at Murtagh.
"Sure, and I'll land on my feet." he grinned and stepped up on Eragon's palm, once more Eragon heaved and Murtagh landed with a thud as well, Eragon shook his head and reached for the magic that was always on the brink of his consciousness.
"Rïsa." He commanded and his feet left the earth, he rose until his feet were above the wall where he released the magic. He landed on the top of the hardened mud and commenced to jump to the ground where the others stood. "That is how you land on your feet." he mentioned to Murtagh.
"If you hadn't thrown me." Murtagh grumbled back, "damned elfin grace." he muttered. Eragon smiled then focused in on their surroundings. They were standing in a back alley, deep from the main street.
"Perfect, we couldn't have jumped anywhere better." Eragon whispered, "Now, we must be very guarded, keep your minds open and aware of the minds around you, don't let anyone recognize you. We stay close to one another, but not as if we are a group, understand?" the two nodded, their faces serious and determined. Eragon made sure his brown hair covered his pointed ears then pulled up the hood to his cloak as an extra precaution knowing that his looks would stand out. "Then let's begin."
The three stealthily crept towards the mouth of the alley, looking down side passages carefully. When they reached the opening Eragon slid into the crowd first, walking a few yards down before tilting his head to the side motioning for Roran to emerge next. Roran walked casually over to a merchant and pretended to browse while Murtagh began to walk up the street.
Eragon and Roran followed his lead, Murtagh knowing the city best, their paces differed Eragon strolling while Roran steadily looked through all the stalls on the street, acting like a choosy buyer.
Finally they came upon the first inn, Roran stopping as if a ware had suddenly caught his interest and Murtagh kneeling down to re-lace his boot. Eragon paused before the inn, looking up as if he had been searching for a suitable place to stay the whole time. He walked in keeping his face turned down and searched the room with his sharp eyes for the innkeeper. A rotund flustered woman noticed him and pushed her way slowly through the common room full of ragged men. She approached him with a tight smile her cheeks a harried red, she obviously wanted no trouble.
The forced smile faltered as she got closer and glimpsed his face, her eyes narrowed suspiciously and all pretense of civility was dropped, "What do ya' want?" she asked a rough undertone to her forceful voice. Eragon knew that this inn was a possibility in being a location for Katrina, the woman looked as if she would have no trouble beating you if you didn't do as she said and quickly.
His low, quiet voice was smooth, shocking her as it usually did people, his clothes looked dirty and worn from travel, and he had worn regular farm boys clothing not the rich fabric of the elves, his voice that sounded like a well bred nobleman's seemed odd and out of place, "I was wondering if your inn perhaps had an available bath, and someone who could wash my clothing, the other inns I have crossed don't have anywhere to dry them." he feigned, praying that inns nearby didn't have clotheslines and she wouldn't see through his lie. He kept his mind open searching for people with bad intentions towards him or his companions.
"Course! I'm the only in this rat hole of town that has a laundry line!" she boasted, Eragon felt pride fill her simple mind, she thought of money and that was it, she kept wondering if he was a thief, or if he would try to trick her.
"That is good, I think I might like a room." he said to her, "You've done well Murtagh, this is the only inn in the poor district with a line, she isn't lying for business, her mind shows it to be true, you two get to work." he communicated with Murtagh and Roran, they were to search the outside for somewhere maids or slaves might live while Eragon searched inside.
"I'll get ya one, but ya might want ta' eat before, I got ta' clean one up, we were full this morning', I'll have one of the wenches draw you an ale." the large woman said pushing him towards an empty table, her mind once again was focused on getting him to spend money.
"You have girl slaves here." he asked, as he took his chair.
"Quite a few, they'll do what you please, if you desire pleasurable company sir." she mentioned, thinking of how much she could charge him for a night.
Eragon had trouble keeping the disgust off his face as an idea struck him, "I am, uh" he had to clear his throat, "very partial to red heads." he finished.
"Have a few of those, drink your ale and I'll send them up to your room to choose from when it's ready." She said as a frail girl set a beer before him. He gave her a nod and picked up the beer as if going to drink as she walked away. He set the alcohol down and without speaking checked it for poisons before lifting it again for a drink. He studied the room, keeping his sharply cornered eyes down, he noticed that the men in the room were mostly slavers from the state of their minds. They viewed people as cattle, chatting boisterously of prices they had gotten for different 'items'. Eragon disguised the sickened look that covered his face by taking a hearty swig of the brew before him.
Eragon heard the door swing open and glanced up swiftly as five soldiers presence entered his consciousness. His gaze flickered back to the mug of beer before him trying to remain unnoticed. He cursed to himself as he realized that one of them had the ability to extend their mind, surely noticing the presence of Eragon's, his consciousness being so vast, Eragon closed of his mind, frustrated. The head man of the soldiers scanned the room, looking for the innkeeper as Eragon had done moments ago. Turning up fruitless in his search his gaze settled on Eragon, the odd man out in the room, him looking the most unusual.
Eragon resisted the temptation to shift and turn his face away, knowing that would give him away, but he hated that he couldn't read the man's thoughts. He watched from under his eyelashes as the man whispered something to one of his men, who then turned and jogged from the inn. Then the man approached Eragon's table.
Eragon stayed calm knowing that he could easily kill these men if they tried to harm him, but that would end their search. He also knew that the most recent wanted flyer of him was a sketch of him before his transformation, they more than likely wouldn't recognize him with his elfin more feline features, he merely looked different.
The captain, as it appeared from the markings on his arm, looked Eragon up and down as he neared the table, his eyes settling on the richly wrought sword at Eragon's side. "Hello there, I must ask, where are you from traveler?" he asked in a staged friendly voice.
Eragon looked up meeting the man's gaze with calm but foreboding eyes, "Distant reaches." he replied taking another drink.
"North or south?" the captain continued.
"Both you could say." Eragon answered again.
The captain gave a forced smile to Eragon's evasiveness, "Do you keep a home in the Empire?" the friendliness had slipped slightly.
Eragon gave the man a sly smile, "Depends, what would you call home?"
"I think it's best if I ask the quest-" the man began in a rough tone just as the innkeeper returned to the room calling out.
"Sir, your room is ready and your requests are filled, everything is waiting in the room." she said. Eragon stood with grace and inclined his head to the man before sweeping through the room to follow the innkeeper upstairs.
"Here it is." she said brusquely leaving him at the door, "all the red heads I got are in there." she said over her shoulder as she trudged down the stairs grumbling about work that had to be done.
Eragon opened the door cautiously, and stepped inside shutting the door behind him. He walked into the room to see four frightened faces looking up at him, all of them shivering in their small clothes.
He held up a cautionary hand, "I mean none of you harm, I simply need to ask you some questions." he studied their faces, disappointed that none of them were Katrina. The girls exchanged wary looks. Eragon released the walls around his mind, and was assaulted by the fear that poured from them. "I simply wish to know if you have seen a girl with light copper hair, about to her shoulder blades, green eyes, and she wears a pale green dress though it is dirty and ripped at the bottom. Her name is Katrina." he said.
One of the girls bit her lip, "You don't mean to rape us?" she asked him carefully.
"No, I am not that disgusting of a creature." he said allowing the revulsion show on his face knowing that it would reassure them.
The one that had spoken us relaxed, "You mean to find this girl, is she your wife?"
"The fiancée of my brother's." he replied easily, it was true, he thought of Roran as a brother though he was a cousin by blood.
"She doesn't work here, we are the only red heads here, if you know she works in an inn, you might try some others though." the girl shrugged apologetically.
"I see, thank you, you may stay here, so you don't get in trouble, your employer thinks I am taking advantage of you, so stay here for an hour or so then leave looking scared and upset. Mess each others hair up as well." he advised heading for the door, "Occasional screams wouldn't hurt either." the girls all nodded and the one that had spoken mouthed thank you.
He left the room, stealing down the stairs while talking to his brothers, "She isn't here, stop your searching, we have to check somewhere else." he paused on the last step, waiting for their response.
"We will meet you in the street as before." Murtagh's voice relayed. Eragon glanced around the corner to see where the innkeeper was so he could slip by unnoticed, she was talking animatedly to the captain, who was listening intently and nodding. Eragon closed his mind again, as he noticed the magic using soldiers was by his commanding officer. He was about to creep out along the wall when the door opened again and the Ra'zac glided in, silencing the whole room.
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A/n: whew! For a chapter I couldn't get started it certainly took off! Sorry to leave you hanging but the chapter is already long, I'll update soon I swear! Review por favor:D