Chapter 9

"What do you mean by that day? Could you be any more specific?" Charlotte said, slightly irritated.

Murtagh said, "It was a few years ago, so that might be why you don't remember. I was younger then, so that's probably why you don't recognize my face. I was ten. My father's bastard friends were drinking again, and they ordered me to get them more drinks. I didn't want a guaranteed punch in the face, so I went to grab some drinks. I was scared. Whenever they drank, their tempers became more vicious by ten-fold. When I did, one of them taunted me and grabbed me by the hair. I asked him to stop, but he got mad at me. He said he had never seen such insolence from a son of the Forsworn before. I dared to order him to do something! How horrid," he said drily.

"Anyway, he went outside and started beating me up. He even got his knife and tried to stab me in the gut. But just as he raised his knife, another knife whizzed past me and stabbed his hand. I remember being surprised at how deep it went. I looked up and I saw you. You kicked him down and said, "Pick on someone your own stupid worth. Don't ever fucking try to hurt him again." I still remember your words and I can remember that day as if it were yesterday. Then, you asked me if I was alright, and bandaged me up. I was and still am extremely grateful to you. I owe you my life. That's why I could never forget you, even if over a decade has passed. And that's why I couldn't fight you."

Charlotte remembered what Murtagh said. The memories started flooding back. The reason she had forgotten in the first place was because she had thought it was all a dream, and had dismissed it as such. One moment, she had been in her house, and the next, she was in a different world. It couldn't have possibly been real. Then, when she woke up, she had been in her bed. It was all so confusing. What Murtagh said was true. She knew it. But what had happened with her memory?

She decided to move on for now, and swallow her feelings for the few minutes she had left. "Why did you stop talking when Klaus was interrogating you? What happened?"

Murtagh hesitated. "I… the king was in my head. He can get into my head really easily. He threatened that if I reveal any more information, my dragon, Thorn, will die. And I can't let that happen. To show me an example, he hurt Thorn. He burned him." Murtagh clenched his fists. "We're connected, me and Thorn, mentally and emotionally, so I felt some of the pain that he felt. That's why I screamed out. Now do you see why I can't answer your questions?"

Charlotte sighed. This was harder than she thought it would be.

Murtagh wore an apologetic expression of guilt and said, "I'm sorry. You deserve for me to help you. And I would, if it were only my life that was at risk. After all, I might not even be here today if it weren't for you. But Thorn's life is at stake too."

After a few more minutes, Durik and the others walked back in. Durik asked, "Did you get anything out of him? Did he tell you what Galbatorix was planning?"

Charlotte said, "No, I'm sorry, we couldn't. He really wouldn't talk."

Durik strode up to Murtagh and said, "Listen here. Tell me! Or else, the ones you love will be put in danger."

Murtagh laughed mirthlessly. "Put in danger."

Then his expression became stone-cold. "There's nothing you can do that will make me change my mind."

Durik stood tall. "I am Durik, leader of the Gard, special division of the Varden. I think I can come up with something."

Murtagh stared at Durik and gave him a defiant, mirthless grin. "I know you. Oh, I remember now. Is this about him? Your brother? Because I killed him? Durik… or should I call you Kili?"