Free Riders

Author's Note: Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Thank you.

Chapter 12: Yazuac Revelation

The storm had allowed them to partially refill their water skins, yet even Blaster's reserve canteen was empty by that morning. Unable to use his power to summon water from the vapor in the air without revealing his powers, Blaster sighed before closing the lid of his canteen and stuffed it in the nearest saddlebag. "I hope we're going in the right direction," said a concerned Eragon, crunching up the empty water bag, "because we'll be in trouble if we don't reach Yazuac today."

Brom didn't seem disturbed. "I have been this way before. Yazuac will be in sight before dusk."

"Perhaps you see something I don't," Eragon laughed doubtfully. "How can you know that when everything looks the same for leagues around?"

"Because I am guided not by the land, but by the stars and the sun," Brom replied, a smile on his face. "They will not lead us astray. Now, let us be off. It is foolish to conjure up woe where none exists. Yazuac will be there."

Turned out he was right. Saphira and Sara found the village first, but it wasn't until later in the day that the rest of them saw it as a dark bump on the horizon. Yazuac was still pretty far away, only visible because of the uniform flatness of the plains. As they rode closer, a dark winding line appeared on either side of the town and disappeared in the distance.

"The Ninor River," Brom said, pointing at it

Eragon pulled Cadoc to a stop, and Blaster followed suit, having been behind Eragon. "Saphira and Saranya will be seen if they stay with us much longer. Should they hide while we go into Yazuac?"

Brom scratched his chin and looked at the town. "See that bend in the river?" he asked, pointing to one of the bends. "Have them wait there. It's far enough from Yazuac so no one should find them, but close enough so that they won't be left behind. We'll go through the town, get what we need, and then meet them."

I don't like it much, Sara said when Blaster explained the plan. This is just annoying, having to hide all the time like a criminal.

I am aware, Blaster replied. But, you know what would happen if we were revealed to the world. She grumbled, but gave in and flew away, low to the ground, Saphira in tow.

They kept a swift pace in anticipation of the food and drink they would soon enjoy. As they approached the small houses, they could see smoke from a dozen chimneys, but no one was in the streets. An abnormal silence enveloped the village. By unspoken consent they stopped before the first house.

"There aren't any dogs barking," Eragon said abruptly.

"No," Brom replied.

"Doesn't mean anything, though."

"…No." Eragon paused.

"Someone should have seen us by now."

"True," Blaster piped up.

"Then why hasn't anyone come out?" Eragon asked.

Brom squinted at the sun. "Could be afraid."

"Could be," Eragon replied. Everyone was silent for a moment.

"Could be a trap," Blaster said. "The Ra'zac could be waiting for us."

"We need provisions and water," Brom stated.

"We have the Ninor," Eragon replied.

"Still need provisions," Blaster said.

"True." Eragon looked around. "So we go in?"

Brom flicked his reins. "Yes, but not like fools," he said. "This is the main entrance to Yazuac. If there is an ambush waiting, it'll be along here. No one will expect us to arrive from a different direction."

"Then we take a side entrance," Blaster suggested. Brom nodded and pulled out his sword, resting the bare blade across his saddle. Eragon strung his bow and knocked an arrow. Blaster unbuttoned his pistol, then drew his own blade.

They trotted quietly around the town and entered it cautiously. The streets were empty except for a small fox that darted away when they got near it. The houses were dark and foreboding, with shattered windows. Many doors swung on broken hinges. The horses rolled their eyes nervously. Blaster's palm tingled slightly, but he didn't even bother to scratch it. He did mutter something about walking into a ghost town, and he would soon regret it. As they rode into the center of town, Eragon gripped his bow tighter blanching. "Gods above," he whispered.

A mountain of bodies rose above them, the corpses stiff and grimacing. Their clothes were soaked with blood, and the churned ground was stained with it. Slaughtered men lay over the women they had tried to protect, mothers still clasped their children, and lovers who had tried to shield each other rested in death's cold embrace. Black arrows stuck out of them all. Neither young nor old were spared. Worst of all, a barbed spear rose out of the peak of the pile, impaling the white body of a baby.

Blaster's heart clenched. He stared at the open eyes of the dead and wondered who would slaughtered so many people mercilessly. What being alive would be this merciless? He wondered.

A crow dipped out of the sky, like a black shadow, and perched on the spear. It cocked its head and greedily scrutinized the infant's corpse. "Oh no you don't," Eragon snarled. He pulled back on the bowstring and released it with a twang. The crow fell over backwards in a puff of feathers, the arrow stuck in its chest. Eragon knocked another arrow, but nausea rose from his stomach and he threw up over Cadoc's side.

Brom patted Eragon on the back. When Eragon was done, Brom asked gently, "Do you want to wait for us outside Yazuac?"

"No…I'll stay," Eragon said shakily, wiping his mouth. He avoided looking at the gruesome sight before them. "Who could have done…" He couldn't force out the words.

Brom lowered his head, but Blaster spoke, his eyes still fixed upon the pile of the dead. "Those who love the pain and suffering of others. They can wear many faces and wear many disguises, but they all go by the same name: Evil. There's no understanding it, and there is no reasoning with it. All we can do is pity and honor the victims, and pray for their families."

Brom dismounted Snowfire and walked around, inspecting the trampled ground carefully. "The Ra'zac passed this way," he said slowly, "but this wasn't their doing. This is Urgal work. The spear is of their make. A company of them came through here, perhaps as many as a hundred. It's odd; I know of only a few instances when they have gathered in such…" he trailed off, kneeling down and examined a footprint intently. With a curse he ran back to Snowfire and leapt onto him.

"Ride!" he hissed tightly, spurring Snowfire forward. "There are still Urgals here!" Eragon and Blaster jammed their heels into their horses. They jumped forward and raced after Snowfire. They dashed past houses and were almost to the edge of the village when Eragon and Blaster felt their palms tingling again. Blaster saw something move to his right, then saw Eragon get smashed out of his saddle by a giant fist. He was soon smashed out of his saddle. He was stunned for a second, but flipped backwards to a standing position, furious.

An Urgal stood over him, face set in a gross leer. The monster was tall, thick, and broader than a doorway, grey skin and yellow piggish eyes. Muscles bulged on his arms and chest, and was covered by a breastplate that was too small for it. An iron cap rested over the pair of ram's horns curling from his temples, and a roundshield was bound to one arm. His powerful hand held a short but wicked sword. Eragon's looked almost exactly like his, but with different armor and a slightly different weapon.

Behind them, Blaster and Eragon saw Brom rein in Snowfire, only to be stopped by the appearance of a third Urgal, this one with an axe. "Run, you fools!" Brom cried to Eragon and Blaster, cleaving at his enemy. The Urgal in front of Eragon roared and swung his sword mightily. Eragon jerked back with a startled yelp as the weapon whistled past his cheek. He spun and fled toward the center of Yazuac.

Blaster faced his Urgal and blocked the monster's blade with his own. For the first time, Brom could see Blaster's fighting style. As the Urgal swung again, Blaster remained on the defensive, toying with his enemy. With every swing of the sword, Blaster held his ground until the Urgal slammed his shield into Blaster's side. Blaster lost some ground and got much angrier. It was time to go on the offensive. Seeing an opening, he stabbed. The Urgal blocked with his shield.

Before he could land another blow, he heard a whinnying. He looked over the Urgal's shoulder and saw blood streaming from Brom's arm, Brom himself doubled over in the saddle. Brom's Urgal howled in triumph and raised his ax for the death blow. Eragon let loose a deafening scream and charged at the Urgal, headfirst. The Urgal paused for a moment in astonishment, then faced Eragon contemptuously, swinging his axe. Eragon ducked under it and clawed at the Urgal's side with a handful of arrows. The Urgal's face twisted with rage and the beast swung again. Eragon dived down an alleyway to avoid it.

Eragon lured the Urgals away from Brom, all except for the one Blaster was working with. He was soon cut off when he went down a dead-end alley. Blaster, even without opening his mind to read Eragon's, could tell that Eragon's rage was increasing, especially after seeing the pile of bodies in the city center. He sighted his arrow, even after the two Urgals raised their shields. He had energy rolling through his body, and he released both his arrow and the energy with one word. "Brisingr!"

The arrow hissed through the air, glowing with a crackling blue light. It slammed into the lead Urgal in the forehead, exploding upon impact. The shockwave killed the other Urgal instantly. The shockwave passed through Eragon without harming him dispersing against the houses. This show of magic distracted Blaster long enough for the Urgal to twist his blade out of his hands. Without his sword, Blaster flipped backwards and withdrew his pistol. The Urgal laughed, then raised his shield.

Blaster pulled the trigger, releasing a bullet with a loud bang. The Urgal groaned in pain as it hit his unprotected arm, then tried to charge again. Another nine bangs and Blaster had emptied the clip. The Urgal was now riddled with bullet holes. The black blood flowed from the wounds and the Urgal fell to the ground, dead.

"I really didn't want to do that," Blaster said to himself. He holstered his empty pistol and made his way back over to the injured Brom. He calmed Snowfire with a soothing thought, then tended to the old man. "Are you okay?" Brom remained motionless. "Brom!" He still didn't respond. Seconds later, Eragon was nearby.

"What of the other Urgal?" Eragon asked.

"Swiss cheese," Blaster said. "He's as dead as the two you blew up." He reached for his sword. "Have you seen my blade?" Eragon wordlessly handed Cratona back to Blaster. He quickly sheathed it, then began to lift Brom out of the saddle. "Help me get him out of the saddle."

Eragon helped lift Brom out of the saddle, but he let go, leaving Blaster barely enough time to take up some of the slack. Eragon definitely looked completely exhausted. Before he could press the matter, screams of rage filled their heads. Saphira dove out of the sky and landed fiercely in front of them, wings half raised. Sara landed heavily behind her. They hissed angrily, eyes burning. Their tails lashed, and Eragon winced as they snapped overhead. Are you hurt? Saphira asked the two of them, rage boiling in her voice.

"No," Eragon assured. Blaster laid Brom on his back.

Saphira growled, and exclaimed, Where are the ones who did this? I shall tear them apart!

Eragon pointed in the direction of the alley. "It'll do no good; they're already dead."

"Mine's got a few new body openings himself," Blaster added, thumbing the dead body behind him.

You killed them? Both Saphira and Sara were surprised at Eragon's revelation. He nodded.

"Somehow," he said. With a few terse words, he told them what happened while he searched for Zar'roc in the saddle bags. He found it, and took one of the long rags off it.

You have grown, Sara said. Eragon merely grunted as he carefully rolled back Brom's sleeve. With a few deft strokes, he cleaned the cut and bandaged it tightly. Blaster double checked the bandage, then thought about what plants he could have used to help in the healing process. Eragon retrieved Brom's sword from the ground, wiped it clean, then returned it to the sheath on Brom's belt.

Perhaps we should get out of here, Sara said. There may be more Urgals lurking about.

And I have a fully-automatic weapon that can take care of them, Blaster insisted. However, I do not think it wise to use such weaponry in this situation. Especially since I don't want to submit Eragon to that kind of danger again. Retreat is the best option.

What of the old one? Sara asked.

Looks like Eragon might have an idea. I think he's planning to let him ride on Saphira's saddle. Especially since the straps on the saddle will keep him in place.

Eragon did just that. He tied the saddle to Saphira's back, then tried to lift Brom without help. His failing strength meant that Saphira had to snake her head past him and lift the old man by his robe. She deposited him on her back and allowed Eragon to slip Brom's legs through the saddle's straps and tightened them. He looked up as the old man moaned and shifted. He blinked blearily and put a hand to his head before looking down at Eragon, eyes full of concern.

"Did Saphira and Sara get here in time?" Brom asked. Eragon shook his head.

"I'll explain it later," Eragon said. "Your arm is injured. I bandaged it as best I could, but you need a safe place to rest."

"Yes," Brom agreed, gingerly touching his arm. He then felt for his weapon. "Do you know where my sword…Ah, I see you found it"

Eragon finished tightening the straps. "Saphira is going to take you and follow us by air."

"Are you sure you want me to ride her?" Brom asked. "I can ride Snowfire."

"Not with that arm," Blaster said. "At least this way, if you should faint, you won't fall off your ride."

Brom nodded, then said to Eragon, "I'm honored." He then looked into Blaster's eyes and got a sense of knowing from him before he wrapped his good arm around Saphira's neck. She took off in a flurry, springing high into the sky, followed quickly by Sara. Eragon and Blaster backed away, buffeted by the eddies from their wings, and returned to the horses. Eragon tied Snowfire behind Cadoc, then, once Blaster had climbed onto Samson, they left Yazuac, returning to the trail and following it southward.

Will Brom survive? When will Blaster finally reveal his weaponry? Will they catch the Ra'zac in time? Find out next time in the next chapter of Free Riders.

R&R if you would please. Thanks.