CHAPTER TWO: Hunt You Down
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Coz all of this is all that I can take
And you could never understand the demons that I face
So go ahead and bat your eyes and lie right to the world
For everything you are, you're just a little girl
- Just A Little Girl, Trading Yesterday
Galbatorix couldn't suppress his anger. He'd already killed several soldiers in his wrath, arrested a handful of servants and tortured three or four courtiers. The green egg had been stolen from him. He thought it had been protected…but no. The bumbling idiots who served him were clearly incompetent. Even now, the egg could be anywhere…perhaps in the Varden's possession. He'd already lost one egg and he wouldn't lose another.
Murtagh didn't relish seeing Galbatorix when the king was in such a foul mood, but it wasn't like he had any choice. He entered the throne room and noticed that Galbatorix – he was accompanied by several soldiers, a few courtiers and one of his pet magicians, a young man in his early twenties by the name of Zander.
Murtagh already knew Zander all too well. When he'd been kidnapped by the Twins and practically dragged into Uru'baen, it had been Zander that Galbatorix had assigned to torture him. Just seeing the magician brought back unpleasant memories. Zander offered Murtagh a smirk as he entered the throne room.
"I want that egg back," Galbatorix seethed, turning his livid gaze upon Murtagh, "Get Thorn and hunt them down. Find the egg and bring it back. If you can bring me the thief alive, then do so. I would much like to kill them myself."
Murtagh had no doubt that it was a member of the Varden who had stolen the last egg. He had mixed emotions about this. Hopefully it was someone he didn't know well, so it wouldn't feel like he was betraying them. Galbatorix looked on the verge of a violent rampage, so Murtagh clenched his jaw and inclined his head, wanting to get out of the throne room as soon as possible.
Zander's green eyes sparkled with glee at Murtagh's discomfort. Ever since Murtagh had been brought to Uru'baen, the two had clashed. After Zander had tortured him, Murtagh had done everything in his power to make Zander uncomfortable…but he couldn't go too far, because Zander was powerful and far too valuable to Galbatorix. Otherwise, Murtagh would have already killed him.
Thorn. We have work to do.
Murtagh stalked out of the throne room, feeling a black mood settling over him. He wished the fugitives could get the egg to the Varden. He didn't want Galbatorix to win this war. The only problem was, Murtagh's crimes were great. He had killed Oromis. He had tried to destroy the Varden, although none of this had been done of his own volition.
I pity the poor souls that we hunt tonight. Thorn's opinion was much the same as Murtagh's.
Nothing can save them now, Murtagh confessed with chagrin, Not even Eragon.
PARAGRAPH
Tristan and Ashen fled as fast as they could, fled back towards the Varden. Tristan thought it was best if the egg was in Ashen's possession. She was a girl and therefore less subject to the suspicion of anyone hunting them. The three soldiers that had accompanied them were looking incredibly nervous. It didn't help matters, Ashen thought begrudgingly. It only made her feel afraid.
There was a roar from the star-spangled sky and Ashen looked up to see a dragon passing overhead. It was hard to tell what colour through the darkness, but by the shape she highly doubted it was Saphira. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she grabbed her sword and pulled it from its sheath as she continued to ride hard.
Tristan cursed under his breath as he seized his bow and nocked an arrow. He knew they didn't stand a chance. The dragon landed a few metres in front of them and Tristan instinctively shot an arrow at the dragon. He gripped the reins and pulled his horse sharp left, motioning for Ashen and the others to follow.
Ashen felt on the verge of screaming. They were all going to die. Fighting down her panic, she followed her brother as he led his horse through the sparse scattering of trees and shrubs in the hope of finding some kind of safety. Someone shouted something in the ancient language. Ashen whipped around to see the soldier bringing up the rear fall off his horse, dead. His horse screamed in fear and galloped in the other direction.
"Tristan!" she cried.
Her brother twisted dangerously in his saddle, his eyes widening as he watched the red dragon's fire incinerate another of the soldiers. Ashen was filled with fear, knowing that they were indeed being hunted by Murtagh. Neither she nor her brother were magicians. She was a warrior, but she knew she was nothing in comparison with Murtagh. No matter what she did, he would overpower and most likely kill her.
"Letta."
Ashen's horse jerked to a halt so fast that she toppled over the side. Terrified that the egg she carried would break, she landed heavily on her arm. Something snapped and then Ashen was crying out in pain, not doubting for a moment that her arm was broken. Her vision blurred and then came back into focus. When it did, she realized that someone stood over her.
A dark-haired, handsome man in black. Well, more of a boy really. Ashen gasped as she recognized him immediately.
"Murtagh."
There was no revulsion in the way she said his name. Murtagh tilted his head to the side and observed the girl, injured and afraid. He remembered her now – Ashen. They had been good friends, once upon a time. But that friendship had been obliterated when he'd been forced to serve Galbatorix. It hadn't only been friendship, Murtagh ruminated, there had been something more…
Focus on your task, Murtagh.
Murtagh frowned. Thorn was right, of course. Ashen stared up at him and suddenly her eyes narrowed and her expression hardened. He knelt down beside her and she attempted to push herself backwards, grimacing at the pain in her arm.
"I will heal your arm if you tell me where the egg is. Your brother Tristan has it, doesn't he?"
Ashen's blue eyes flashed with fear. "I'll never tell you."
Murtagh's eyebrows met in a sharp V. "You don't want to do this, Ashen. Don't make me hurt you."
"Then don't!" snapped Ashen, finally clambering to her feet. There was something about the way she held herself – it wasn't that her arm was broken, it was something else…Murtagh couldn't quite pinpoint what.
Thorn knew. She has the egg.
Murtagh knew he could not fail. If he did…Galbatorix would have Zander torture him into madness. He didn't fear pain, he feared the unknown. He gripped Ashen's uninjured arm and drew her to him.
"Give me the egg."
She stamped hard on his foot. "Never."
Murtagh's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to say something, except someone else spoke first.
"Let my sister go."
Tristan stood only a few feet away, his bow stretched taut and an arrow pointed directly at Murtagh's head. The young Rider turned to throw his dragon an irritated glance.
What are you doing? How did he manage to sneak up on me?
I don't know, Thorn sounded surprised, He's stealthy. I didn't see him coming.
Murtagh was torn for a moment, before he released Ashen. She might be confused, but there was no mercy in Tristan's eyes. His older brother Colton had been tortured to death by Durza, Murtagh remembered. He wouldn't see his sister meet a similar fate.
Murtagh!
Thorn's exclamation caught Murtagh off-guard. He whirled around – just as Ashen hit him over the head with the hilt of her sword and his world swirled into blackness.
PARAGRAPH
Durza's eyes glowed like hot red coals above Colton. He struggled against his bonds, but there was nothing he could do. The Shade had restrained him using magic and straps. Even when Colton moved slightly, everything hurt. His head throbbed and it felt like he was on fire.
"I tire of your little game, boy," the Shade sounded impatient, "Where is the egg now?"
Colton didn't say anything, just like he'd been doing for…how long now? Days? Weeks? Months? He knew he hadn't been the only captured by Durza. He'd heard a woman's screams a couple of cells down. Who was she? Colton pitied her, more than he pitied himself. Durza loomed over him, his pale pointed teeth bared in a savage smile.
"You forget that I have been inside your head. How would you like it if I dragged your brother in here, had him beaten in front of you? Would that convince you to loosen your tongue?"
Colton tried not to think of Tristan. He was only seventeen. The boy wouldn't last at all in Gil'ead. And if the Shade brought him here…Colton wouldn't survive watching him tortured. He continued to keep his mouth shut, averting his eyes. He didn't want to give Durza the satisfaction of hearing him give in.
"Or what about your pretty little sister?" Durza's tone made Colton's skin crawl, "There are a lot of lonely soldiers who serve here. They're a long way from their families. I don't doubt that they wouldn't object if I gave her to them…"
No. Not Ashen. She was far too young to face that sort of horror. Even younger than Tristan. No, not his baby sister…
"You stay away from them," Colton croaked, his sapphire blue eyes flicking up to meet Durza's maroon ones.
The Shade smiled, glad at having elicited a reaction. Unlike the elf courier Arya, Galbatorix had deemed Colton to be…disposable. Durza didn't have to worry about healing him when he'd gone too far. Colton would die in this cell, and they both knew it.
PARAGRAPH
"Why didn't you kill him?" Tristan demanded as they reached the Varden and he helped her down off her horse. They were the only survivors of the expedition. Ashen's heart felt heavy. After Murtagh had been knocked unconscious, she and Tristan had escaped. They'd run and they'd hid, but they'd eventually managed to reach Surda once more, and that was what mattered.
"I'm sorry," snapped Ashen, not sounding sorry at all, "I'm not a murderer, Tristan."
Tristan sighed and took the egg from his sister as they moved towards the Varden. A group of people were rushing towards the pair of them, grim expressions on their faces. Nasuada saw the egg in Tristan's hands and her eyes flared with hope.
Eragon, on the other hand, noticed the odd angle of Ashen's arm. His eyes widened and he moved towards her, gripping her arm and muttering, "Waise heill."
Ashen smiled gratefully at him as her bone slotted back into its proper place. Saphira glanced at the siblings and seemed to know immediately what had happened.
Murtagh and Thorn attacked you.
Tristan nodded, his eyes hardening at the memory. Eragon glanced at Ashen's arm with shock in his eyes. He knew Murtagh was ruthless, but he had never known his brother to be deliberately cruel.
"He broke your arm?"
Ashen shook her head vigorously. "No. I…my horse panicked and I fell off onto my arm. I didn't want the egg to shatter."
Eragon smiled knowingly, glancing at Saphira. "Dragon eggs are a little harder to break than that."
Ashen grimaced. "Shame my arm wasn't."
Eragon couldn't help but laugh a little at that. Tristan shot Ashen an unimpressed look. She rolled her eyes. Tristan was sometimes more overprotective than Ashen would like. She was old enough to take care of herself now.
"How did you manage to get away from him?"
Ashen smiled smugly. "The hilt of my sword is just as handy as the blade, it would seem."
Tristan and Eragon were still glancing at Ashen as though she was still injured. She gave her brother a harsh look. Just because they'd lost their brother, it didn't mean he needed to protect her. Ever since Colton had died, Tristan had fought with anyone who practically looked at Ashen the wrong way.
"May I take the egg?" It wasn't really a question, but Tristan held out the egg to Arya. If anyone could protect the green dragon egg, it was the elf princess. She examined it carefully, before walking away with it. Nasuada turned to watch her.
"Arya will find a safe place for the egg here before it will be transported to Islanzadi in Du Weldenvarden. It will be protected there."
Tristan nodded and then glanced over at his sister. Ashen looked pale and tired. He moved across and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"You are weary, sister. You must rest."
"No." Ashen shook her head and jerked out of her brother's grasp. "I…I'm fine."
In honesty, seeing Murtagh had shaken her. He had shown mercy on her, offered to help her if she'd just give him what he'd wanted. Whatever she'd expected, it hadn't been that. Murtagh was not evil. She had seen that for herself. He was a tortured, conflicted person and she pitied him.
Tristan wouldn't understand. Since Colton had died, Tristan had changed. He thought everyone associated with the Empire deserved to be killed. Ashen had once agreed with him. She'd been even more full of vengeance than her brother. But now…Murtagh had changed her opinion. Now, Ashen wasn't sure what to think.
PARAGRAPH
Murtagh had been tortured for his failure. With the young Rider still recovering from what he'd endured, Zander came to Galbatorix. Zander was the most powerful person other than Galbatorix and Murtagh. He was best at infiltrating people's minds.
That was how Galbatorix had managed to discover Murtagh's true name. No matter how strong the barriers surrounding Murtagh's mind, Zander had broken through. He hadn't managed to discover much before Murtagh had forced him out – but he had found Murtagh and Thorn's true names.
The king looked down upon his most loyal magician. Zander was a young man, only around twenty-two or twenty-three. His hair was so light blond that it was almost white and his eyes were a deep green. He looked grim as he approached the king.
"He lost the egg to the Varden, your majesty. He killed the soldiers that were with the thieves. I believe the boy's name was Tristan Reynaldsson and the girl was his sister."
Galbatorix remembered another Reynaldsson…Colton, probably older than Tristan. He had been a thief as well. Obviously, it ran in the family. The king gritted his teeth, incensed.
"I need that egg found, Zander. See if you can locate it. When you do, inform me."
Zander inclined his head. He wasn't like that Rider slime, Murtagh Morzansson. When the king gave Zander a duty, the young magician would follow his instructions to the letter. The egg would be found.