Free Riders

Author's Note: Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Comment as you see fit.

Chapter 30: Castle Escape Level Final Boss

It wasn't long before they found Char's cell. She was out of it for some reason, and Blaster knew that it was probably because she "pinged" several times as they approached Gil'ead. Blaster picked her up and hoisted her over his shoulder, causing her hair to fall out of its pony-tail that she usually put it in. Murtagh was at the elf's cell before Blaster could walk out of Char's. As soon as the door swung open, they saw the elf looking at them, but she closed her eyes and collapsed. Had it not been for Murtagh, she would have hit the hard floor.

"She's beautiful," Murtagh said. Blaster got a good look at the elf. She wore green leather clothing, boots, and even had leather restraining her long black hair. She had traces of blood on her angular face, and though he could barely see them, her ears came to distinct points. For a second, Blaster thought of a Vulcan that he'd seen on the tv reruns he got on his earth before snapping back to reality.

"She's injured," Blaster insisted. "We need to get her out of here. You mind carrying her?"

"I'll do it," Murtagh said. He slung the elf across his shoulders. Blaster was impressed by the ease, but, after looking at the elf's slender figure, she must have been rather light. As Murtagh passed, Blaster caught a whiff of pine trees. "Now, upstairs!"

Blaster felt a little uneasy. They listened intently for soldiers or anyone else nearby, hoping not to cross paths with them. Once they had reached the top of the stairs, Murtagh laid the elf on one of the banquet tables and looked at the ceiling with a worried expression. "Alright, you can still speak to Sara, right?"

"Of course," Blaster said, setting down Char on an adjacent table.

"Tell her to wait another five minutes," Murtagh said.

There were shouts in the distance, and soldiers marched past the banquet room entrance. "Whatever you're planning to do, I don't think we'll have much time."

"Just tell her and stay out of sight," Murtagh snapped before running off.

As he relayed the message, saying three minutes instead of five, he were alarmed to hear men coming up the stairs. Blaster quickly hid himself, Char, and the elf under one table. About ten soldiers entered the room, sweeping through it hurriedly and only checking under a few tables before continuing on their way. Once they were gone, Blaster started to plaster the wall with explosives. Seconds later, Murtagh returned carrying an assortment of weapons. He set down a strange bow, an elegant sword with no sheath, and a large bag that rattled of metal.

"I found these in the guardroom," Murtagh said. "I've never seen them before, so I assumed they belonged to either the elf or the woman."

"The bag is Char's," Blaster said. "I'll carry that one."

Murtagh picked up the sword—slim and light with a curved crossguard, the ends of which narrowed to sharp points—and fit it perfectly into the sheath on the elf's hip. They couldn't confirm if the bow was hers, but, by the way it was crafted and gracefully shaped, they doubted anyone else would be the owner.

"So, now, we wait?"

"Now," Murtagh replied, taking out his own bow and fitting an arrow on the string, "we wait. Sara should be here shortly."

"Yeah," Blaster said. "If we do this right, we might get out of here without much more than that first encounter. No one I know sounded the alarm that we are here. Barring any interference, we should get out scot-free."

A cold chuckle filled the banquet room. "I'm afraid it's far too late for that."

The two men turned around, Blaster cursing to himself. A man was at the end of the room, alone. A bare sword with a thin scratch on the blade was in his hands. He unclasped the brooch that held his cape in place, allowing it to fall to the floor. He had a thin and compact body, and he had red hair and eyes. Blaster's eyes widened as he realized what he was looking at. It was a Shade, a deceptively agile and strong creature controlled by evil spirits.

"So, my young Rider, do you wish to test yourself against me?" the Shade sneered. "I should have known someone of your caliper was behind these explosions and I let you in unopposed. I will not forget that again."

"No, you won't," Blaster said. He removed Cratona, allowing the crystalline blade to shine in the firelight. He added, in a low breath, "I will stall for time. Since he'll probably want me alive, that'll give you time."

"You won't have to stall for long," Murtagh said.

Blaster stood up and advanced, his sword slightly to the side. The Shade's maroon eyes burned like coals, and he laughed softly. "Do you really think to defeat me, Watcher of the Crux Stones? A pitiful name. I would have expected something more subtle from you, but I suppose that's all your capable of."

"My true name is more complex than what Char might have told you," Blaster said. He crouched down into his ready stance. "You wouldn't be able to comprehend what I've seen, or what I've done. And, since you are here, you are to blame for her current condition. For that, you will pay." The two stared at each other. No one moved, waiting for an opening. Blaster held fast, trying to predict the opening move. Magic is out, for he would probably use magic against me. He must assume I am not good at magic and could win without resorting to such measures. And I wouldn't put it past him.

Before either could move, the ceiling boomed and shook. Dust fell from the rafters, turning the air a slight grey while pieces of wood fell around them, shattering on the floor and tables. Afraid of getting nailed by falling timber, Blaster stole a glance upwards. The Shade took advantage and attacked.

Blaster barely blocked a slash at his ribs. Their blades met with a loud clang, and the impact jarred Blaster's teeth. He's rather strong, Blaster thought to himself. Gripping Cratona with both hands, he swung at the Shade's head. The Shade blocked the blade with ease, whipping his sword around at inhuman speeds. Blaster matched him swing for swing, but he was beginning to tire after a few minutes. Above them came the sounds of iron spikes being drawn across rock. A trio of long cracks appeared in the ceiling and slate shingles fell through. Blaster ignored them, even as one shattered on the floor no more than five feet from him. He had never been matched this closely when fighting with the blade. The Shade seemed to be playing with him.

Blaster's second wind came in a brief reprieve when the two had disengaged. He let his strength increase, and the air around him seemed to crack with energy. Refreshed, Blaster went back at the Shade, matching sword swings with much less effort than before. Confident, he tried to stab and accidentally over-extended. Before he could react, the Shade lazily flicked Cratona out of Blaster's hands. The force sent Blaster to his knees, but he was quick to get one foot back under him. The screeching was louder than ever, meaning Sara was trying to pry apart the roof.

The Shade stared down at him haughtily. "A powerful piece you may be in the game that is being played, but I'm disappointed that this is your best. If the other Riders were this weak, they must have controlled the Empire by sheer numbers."

"Two things. One, I never reveal my best until I've learned about my enemy. Besides, I got cocky. Two, you forget one thing."

"And what might that be?" the Shade asked mockingly.

"The dragons," Blaster said. A loud cracking was heard, and a large chunk of the ceiling was ripped away. Blaster threw himself out of the Shade's reach and fired one of his pistols twice. One shot connected with the Shade's shoulder.

The Shade laughed. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to stop me." A second later, one of Murtagh's arrows caught him right between the eyes. The Shade howled in agony and covered his face. His skin turned grey as a mist formed around him. A shattering cry and then the cloud vanished. What remained from where the Shade once stood was his cape and a pile of clothes.

"You killed him!" Blaster exclaimed. From what he knew, only two heroes survived slaying a Shade.

"I'm not so sure," Murtagh replied.

"That's it," a man shouted. "He failed. Go in and get them!"

Soldiers with spears and nets poured into the banquet hall from both ends. Murtagh and Blaster backed up against the wall, dragging the elf and Char with them. The men formed a menacing half-circle around them, but it wasn't for long as Blaster raised his pistol and emptied the clip into the crowd. At that moment, Sara stuck her head through the hole in the ceiling and roared. She grabbed another section of the roof and began to rip it apart.

Three soldiers ran, and half a dozen others collapsed to the floor, but the others held their ground. Their ranks were suddenly full of confusion as the center beam of the ceiling cracked, raining down the heavy shingles. The two tried their best to keep to the sides, avoiding the falling debris. After another roar, the remaining soldiers fled, some getting crushed in the process. Finally, after one last effort, the entire roof was ripped off. Sara jumped in and folded her wings, crushing a few tables with her weight.

All clear up there, Sara said.

Good, Blaster said. Let's mount up and get out of here before the timers go off.

Blaster went to get his sword and then helped Murtagh get the girls into the saddle. So this is the elf and your friend?

Yes, Blaster confirmed. That's the woman from Eragon's dreams. This, he added, digging Char's bag from hiding, is Char. My fiancé. They then climbed onto Sara. Any nearby watchmen?

There were, Sara replied smugly. They aren't anymore. You ready?

Let's blow this popsicle stand.

Sara leapt onto the roof of the fortress. Bodies of watchmen lay scattered about. "Look!" Murtagh said, pointing. A row of archers filed out of a tower on the other side of the roofless hall.

"Sara, take off," Blaster said. "As high a climb angle as you can manage. Emergency evasive. I will give you the boost when possible." He pulled his other pistol from its holster, spun around, and started firing at the archers, killing several in the process.

Sara unfurled her wings, ran toward the end of the building, and propelled the four over it with her powerful legs. For a moment, they dropped alarmingly. She struggled to gain altitude, and it was made worse as arrows were soon being fired at them. Luckilly, Blaster had used his powers over the air to help them take off. However, Sara roared in pain as he failed to get her out of range of the arrows. Once they were at altitude, Blaster turned around when he heard a massive boom. The little explosives he had planted earlier detonated, causing the entire fortress to begin to collapse in on itself. Finally, Blaster bent over Sara's neck.

Damage report, Blaster demanded.

My wings are pierced, Sara said. I will be fine enough to get us well out of here.

As the injured dragon made her way into the night, Blaster took one last look at Gil'ead before they veered eastward and out of sight.

What's the next plan of action? Will the girls be alright? Is this the last time we see the Shade? Find out in the next chapter of Free Riders.

Please R&R.