Chapter 9:
She watched him take off, and worry clouded her mind. She could hear the elves coming closer, and she opened her mind so that they could join with her. As they connected, she was surprised to feel Nealin pooling energy with the others, and she asked,
where are you?
Not far off, just let me help. She replied, Arya could vaguely feel amusement in her sister's mind, but there was no time in asking useless questions.
When he saw his brother, hate boiled into his soul and seeped into his mind. Even though Murtagh was forced to kill his master, Eragon knew that Murtagh liked having this power, and therefore he was a liability.
No mercy, Saphira. None. If you get his wing, tear it off. He swallowed as Saphira turned her head and looked at him in deep sadness.
Yes. It must be done. Though Eragon noticed that she sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
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Murtagh was scared as he watched Eragon and Saphira gain altitude, and he watched as they gained an advantage. He fought the urge to level out with them, and he reasoned that they would talk with them first. He wore no armour, not even a breast plate. Zar'roc sat before him, its red sheath gleaming in the moon light. Thorn barely kept in his excitement, and new found energy found its way into his muscles. Murtagh smiled at how immature he could be.
----
When Saphira was directly above them Eragon looked down. Murtagh only looked up at him, and he noticed that he wore no armour, and so he cautiously let a tendril of thought connect with his partner.
Has he become so confident in his eldunari that he wears no armour? He asked,
It seems so, little one. She replied, letting herself come down closer towards them. He pushed past the anxiety in his throat and yelled below them,
'What now, murtagh?' he asked, making his voice sound contemptuous.
'You must take us to Galbatorix? Or he will torture you?' he made his laugh sound mocking, and Murtagh didn't reply.
'You die. Today!' he roared as Saphira took his signal and clamped her wings into her body and dived, her talons outstretched and her jaws open.
'Wait!' Murtagh bellowed, but it was too late. She collided with Thorn, and her talons dug into his sides. And he roared in mortal agony, blood seeping off his sides. Eragon froze. Looking at Murtagh with his cat like eyes.
'What?' he demanded, curious as to why Thorn was not defending himself.
'Please let Thorn go' he gripped his sides and pain showed on his features.
'Let us land so we can talk, we promise not to harm you or Saphira in any shape or form' he continued in the ancient language. Saphira still clung on to Thorn's back.
Let us down, Saphira. Eragon said, keeping his attention on the dragon and rider that hung below them. He let pride flow through connection,
I know that you are holding us all up. And it was true; Thorn didn't flap his wings or hover. Saphira held them up with her strength and Eragon knew that they would plummet to the ground soon enough. He nodded in reply to Murtagh's request and they began to descend towards a clearing that was filled with stones.