Free Riders

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

Chapter 31: On The Run Again

Sara drifted to the clearing no more than about two miles from Gil'ead. Sara was shaking beneath Blaster and she rested her injured wings on the ground. Blaster got off and went to where the horses were picketed in the clearing. The horses snorted nervously, but did nothing else. Blaster pulled out his med-kit from his bag.

Almost as if he had a light, Blaster was looking over Sara's wing. Every little hole he found he healed with magic. It took a moment for him to get everything, and he even noticed that, had they not been flying the way they had, Sara would have taken more hits. Satisfied, he then checked on the elf and Char.

Can you carry them for a little longer as we get out of here? Blaster asked. We cannot take them on the horses and ride fast enough. Flying should be easier with your wings healed.

That they will, Sara replied. I shall carry them. After all, you still love her and would do anything to protect her. And, you should never let an elf die. I will protect them

And I believe her to be safer with you than with me at the moment, Blaster admitted. You were incredible back there. I shall never forget it. Now fly. We shall be behind.

Of course, Sara said. Blaster stepped back as Sara took to the skies, though he sensed a slight note of jealousy from Sara. Seconds after she took off, she was gone. Blaster and Murtagh mounted their horses, then galloped away.

They rode through the night. As they rode, Blaster compiled a list of things he knew about elves. They have extremely long lives, speak in the ancient language, many can use magic, and they disappeared after the fall of the Riders and hadn't been seen in the Empire since. What I want to know is why she's here now. How did the Empire capture her? There must be some reason to all this. Perhaps Char would know, but I want to hear it from her.

Blaster let his thoughts go as they rode. They didn't stop even as their flagging strength began to slow them down. Despite burning eyes and clumsy movements, they continued. Lines of torch-bearing horsemen searched for their trail around Gil'ead, now behind them by at least a league.

In the early morning hours, they finally slowed their horses. "We will have to make camp," Blaster said. "We must sleep—whether they catch us or not."

"Agreed," Murtagh said, rubbing his eyes. "Have Sara land. We'll meet her."

They followed Sara's directions and found her drinking from a stream at the base of a small cliff. Her riders were still slouched in the saddle. Sara greeted them with a soft bugle.

Murtagh and Blaster removed the elf from Sara's saddle and lowered her to the ground before doing the same with Sara. Then they sagged against the rock face, exhausted. Sara examined the elf curiously. I wonder why she hasn't woken up. It's been hours since we left Gil'ead.

I could say the same for Char, Blaster added. Murtagh looked at the elf.

"The only thing I know is that she's the first elf the king has captured, as mentioned before," he said. "Ever since they went into hiding, he's been looking for them without success—until now. So he's either found their sanctuary, or she was captured by chance. I think it was chance, because, if he had found the elf haven, he would have declared war and sent his army after the elves. Since that hasn't happened, the question is, Were Galbatorix's men able to extract the elves' location before we rescued her?"

"We won't know until she regains consciousness," Blaster said. "Also, was it just me, or did I see Urgals as well as soldiers around?"

"The Urgals might be working for the Empire," Murtagh said shortly, pushing back his hair. "And, it seems, the Shade as well. This could be an issue."

Wait, so that means… Blaster said to Sara. He paused. Eragon wasn't just insulting an Urgal leader. He insulted Galbatorix himself. He is their master. And that attack at Yazuac. He thought about the bodies that they never buried. I cannot believe the nerve of someone to do that to their own subjects. I should just walk up to Urû'baen right now and demand answers.

"This will mean war!" Blaster exclaimed, glowering, as if he had been holding back his reaction. "Once the people of the Empire learn of it, they will rebel and support the Varden."

Murtagh rested his chin in his hand. "Even if they heard of this outrage, few would make it to the Varden. With the Urgals under his command, the king has enough warriors to close the Empire's borders and remain in control, no matter how disruptive people are. With such a rule of terror, he will be able to shape the Empire as he sees fit. And though he is hated, people could be galvanized into joining him if they had a common enemy."

"Who would that be?" Blaster asked angrily.

"The elves and the Varden," Murtagh continued. "With the right rumors they can be portrayed as the most despicable monsters in Alagaësia—fiends who are waiting to seize your land and wealth. The Empire could even say that the Urgals have been misunderstood all this time and that they are really friends and allies against such terrible enemies. I only wonder what the king promised them in return for their services."

"And I think I might know why he does that," Blaster said. "Sure, he's in power, but his authority is being challenged by the Varden. People must sympathize with them. There is also Surda. From what I heard from Brom, they have defied the Empire since they have seceded. It seems as if Galbatorix is strong within the Empire, but his arm is weak outside its borders. At least, based on what I've seen. But I would think that people would see through his deceptions."

"They'll believe whatever he wants them to," Murtagh added. "It's happened before."

They all fell silent. Blaster was troubled by his own words. Sara opened her mind to Blaster so that they could talk amongst themselves.

Where is Galbatorix sending the Urgals? Sara asked.

We've heard in both Carvahall and Teirm that the Urgals were leaving the area and migrating southeast, Blaster said. Almost as if to brave the Hadarac Desert.

But, if the King truly does control them, why is he sending them in that direction? Sara asked. Perhaps a private Urgal army is being gathered or an Urgal city is being formed?

Perhaps they have found the Varden and are going in for the attack, Blaster suggested. He shuddered at the thought. I just wish we knew where the Varden are. That's where we should be going. I should contact Brom first chance I get. He then looked behind him. And I wouldn't advise going anywhere near there for several years.

"Thanks for the aid back there," Blaster said.

"I'm just glad I could help," Murtagh said. He rubbed his face. "My main worry now is how we're going to travel with so many men searching for us. Gil'ead's soldiers will be hunting us tomorrow; once they find the horses' tracks, they'll know you didn't fly away."

Blaster glumly agreed, but was soon fixated on the elf again. Reluctantly, he dragged himself upright and said, "We should make a bed for her."

Blaster thought about the same for Char, but, in the little time he had rested, his energy reserves had replenished, and he was already filling his body with more energy. He needed to help Char, but the elf was a priority, so he removed her first. Carrying her bridal style, he set her down and started to take off her leather jacket. He did his best to protect and preserve her modesty, going only so far as to lie her on her back when everything else was removed.

Her back looked like she had been attacked by a weed-whacker. Using his telekinesis, he summoned both his medical bag and the medical bag that was in Char's bag. Her back was nasty, with injuries from scars of whip lashes and brands in the shape of claws. Purple bruises were visible where there were no scabs. By the looks of it, she was tortured to within an inch of her life.

Looking closely at the left shoulder of the elf, Blaster saw a symbol in indigo ink. It was the same symbol that adorned Brom's ring. Blaster looked down and opened up both of the medical kits he had. He would need a lot of supplies form both to heal some of the minor wounds.

"Can you heal this?" Murtagh asked.

"I can always try," Blaster said, looking up from his patient. "She is an elf. She cannot be allowed to die under any circumstances. I will save her. I'm gonna need some bandages and some food."

"We cannot light a fire," Murtagh protested. "That would give away our position. It'll be unwashed cloths, and the food will be cold."

Blaster agreed. Moments later, he was diving into his magic and beginning the process of healing. He skimmed over the minor wounds and went straight for the serious ones, but he did heal one minor wound here and there. It was amazing how much of a beating she had endured to be still alive.

Every so often, Blaster would take a small swig from his canteen before continuing, Sara right beside him for help. He was done before the sun rose.

"Are you done?" Murtagh asked.

Blaster merely bowed his head as if to say yes.

"Will she live?"

"Not sure," Blaster said. "I don't know how much she could take without consequences. But I have to take care of Char now, so, keep an eye on her."

Murtagh nodded, as Blaster went over to where he had placed Char. She looked just as bad and just as out of it as the elf. He had to down one of his blue vials to keep his magic stores up as he healed what wounds he could. Again, Sara was over his shoulder for the entire time for support. Finished at around mid-day, he finally rested, satisfied she would be stable for transport.

"We should start riding again," Blaster said

"No, you must sleep," Murtagh protested. "Especially after the magic you've used."

"I can rest in the saddle if necessary," Blaster said. He was already busy with re-dressing Char and packing up his bags. "Besides, we cannot afford to stay here. Not with the soldiers closing in on us."

Murtagh reluctantly gave in. They resaddled the horses, strapped the elf and Char to Sara's saddle, then he went into his meditative resting state.

FRFRFRFRFR

"But that must mean Blaster is alive," Eragon protested. He had scryed just before going to bed the previous night and found Sara flying with both Char and the elf on her back.

You should have started resting by that time, little one, Saphira said. She and Brom were slowly getting annoyed with Eragon. At least until he allowed Brom to enter his mind and see what he'd seen. They were astonished by this development that had been brought to them.

"Yes, but you didn't see him on Sara as well, did you?" Brom asked. "I doubt that, even at her size, Sara could fly three people out of Gil'ead without needing to rest. He could have followed by horseback but, I don't know."

"Well, we are close to the lake in which the Beartooth River flows," Eragon said. When the Beor Mountains came into view, their monstrous size was revealed. The Spine looked like foothills compared to these monstrosities. "You can scry him if you wish to confirm what I have said."

"Better yet, I can do that now." Brom removed a bowl and muttered. "Adurna, reisa un gath unin du dörnel." The bowl slowly filled with water that poured up from the earth. Once it was full enough, he muttered, "Letta," to stop the flow of magic. "Dramur kópa." With a thought, an image of Blaster could be seen. He was riding on a horse, but he looked fast asleep in the saddle. Brom's eyes flicked over to a grey warhorse just outside his view and instead focused on that, then the rider. He was so shocked that he nearly dropped the bowl off of Snowfire.

"What is it?" Eragon asked.

"He travels with Murtagh," Brom said. "The one and only secret child of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn."

"WHAT?" Brom was astonished to hear both Eragon and Saphira yelling into his ear.

"He travels with the son of Morzan," Brom said. "I only knew of him through his mother. After Morzan was killed, he was more or less adopted by Galbatorix."

"What about the elf and Char?" Eragon asked. Brom shifted his thoughts to Sara and the two on her. While the one was a little fuzzy, having only seen her in a photo, the elf he could see clear as day. For the second time, he nearly dropped the bowl of water. "What now?"

"The elf you have seen I know," Brom said. "She is Arya, the carrier of the eggs. When the Varden got a hold of the eggs, she shepherded them between the Varden and the Elves in hopes they would hatch. After that, I would be called in to train them for a year before they would be sent to the elves."

"So, I will have to go back to the elves with her?"

"Yes, but she too appears to be asleep," Brom said. "If I didn't know better, she looks downright terrible." He thought for a moment. "Huildr du adurna unin du dörnel." The water in the bowl instantly solidified into ice. "I should be able to keep that spell up until Blaster scrys us. That way, we can continue onwards and not worry about waiting for Blaster to catch up. But, if he brings Murtagh along with him, that could be an issue."

"Why?" Eragon asked. "Are his father's sins transferable to himself?"

"No, but he has been in the court of Galbatorix," Brom said. "Who knows how much he's told Murtagh. He could be a spy or an assassin. Unless he's a defector and hasn't made a binding oath, I don't like him with those guys, even if he is being truthful."

Eragon was about to ask why when it hit him. Blaster probably tried to, and failed, to sense Murtagh's motives, which didn't seem possible unless Murtagh had expert training in mind defense. Finally, he said, "So, what do we do?"

"We continue," Brom said. "You've promised not to harm nor deceive the Varden, and I am now showing you where they hide. You have come such a long way and, as a warning, you will be pulled by politics to further one's gains. For this, I have no advice. You must do what feels right and, if possible, make your own path. Just, don't get involved in politics if you can avoid it."

Eragon nodded as they continued into the deep valley of the Beor Mountains.

Is Murtagh being truthful? Will the girls survive a trip to the Varden? What is the next course of action? Find out next time on Free Riders.

So you know, dornel (with the two dots over the "o") is not a word in the ancient language, but i couldn't find a word for bowl on the Inheritance wiki, so I made one up. It is pronounced DOO-er-nehl, if you want to know.

Please R& R. This chapter is a reference to the song "On the Road Again."