The past two weeks had gone by slowly for Murtagh. Thorn and he had been travelling along the course of the Ramr River, Thorn enjoyed bathing in the river as they had done nearly every day. Without the need for haste they had been journeying at a leisurely pace. Each day seemed to be a repeat of the past with a slight change of scenery; they spent most the time flying with each other merging their minds for much of the time so that Murtagh could really appreciate the experience of flying. It had managed to allow Murtagh to truly grasp how amazing flying was. He could feel the feeling of true freedom when they flew together, the ability to do whatever you felt like, the feeling that there was no limit. The freedom he felt with Thorn was unlike anything he had felt before in his life, he now understood how dragons could feel like the most powerful of all beings. They weren't bound to the ground like humans, elves or dwarves, yet even on the ground they were as powerful as any creature. His connection with Thorn was stronger than it had ever been before. Murtagh also enjoyed the times in Thorns mind as it allowed his mind to be free of the worrisome thoughts that were in his mind most of the time..
They had been careful to stay hidden from any humans however he thought that they had been spotted once when they had flown over a group of elves that looked as if they were heading to Uru'baen. When they had spotted them the group of elves stopped and it seemed as if they were looking right at him and Thorn.
When they weren't flying Thorn spent the time bathing in the cool water of the Ramr River. Sometimes Murtagh would join him but sometimes he spent these times by himself. After the nightmare that he had on the 5th night of their journey he had made a habit of scrying Nasuada everyday so that he could assure himself that she was safe. Some of this time he also spent practicing his sword play, doing this by himself would not be as good as duelling with a partner however it would assure that he wouldn't forget how to fight. Going through the forms also seemed to calm his thoughts and allowed him another escape from his thoughts.
They were now close to Gil'ead and Murtagh had decided that he would spend a night in the city, partly due to him missing sleeping on a soft bed but mostly because they required supplies.
When they were a half days walk away from Gil'ead Thorn landed and said his farewells to Murtagh. I know the war is over but make sure that you take care, I would hate to return to fighting just to save you so soon after we found some peace. Murtagh let out a rough chuckle at Thorns words having no doubt that Thorn would tear the whole city apart to find him. I will try, I should not be there for more than two days, three at the most. Stay close to the lake so that I can find you after I am done. After rubbing Thorn's snout one last time he set off towards the large city as Thorn took off into the air.
The night before Murtagh had altered his appearance, many of the soldiers in Gil'ead had seen him as he had fought against the elven army that had lain siege to the city. The last thing that he wanted was for word of his presence to be known. Although it was likely that the elves would have heard about the victory against Galbatorix he wouldn't put it past some elves to still see him as an enemy especially after it had been him who had killed Oromis.
As he approached the city gates he noticed that elves were now posted at the gates and he made sure to keep his mind well protected as well as his face hidden as he entered through the gates. The city didn't seem to have changed a lot since the last time he had been here, however he did see quite a few patrols of elves striding through the streets. When those patrol past through the street he saw many people cowering away from the foreigners and stepping out of the way to let them pass. The elves, on the other hand, seemed at ease during their patrols.
This city brought back many memories for him old and new. It had been here that he and Saphira had rescued Eragon from the imprisonment of Durza and rescued Arya. The most recent memory was one that was much less pleasant to him. He remembered how he had fought for his life against Oromis and Glaedr, no not his for Thorns. The person who had fought them now seemed like a stranger to him. As he remembered the battle here he realized how much he had changed over the past few weeks.
After he had finished buying the supplies he needed the sun had started to set on the horizon so he asked for the closest Inn and made his way there. The inn was called the silver arrow, it was a large wooden building near the outer parts of the city so wasn't likely to be the best in Gil'ead by far. However it seemed to be a place that was away from the main streets and hopefully his presence wouldn't attract any attention there.
The bar wasn't busy and he took a seat with a view of the whole room as well as the door so that he could see anyone that entered. As he waited for his chicken to arrive he sat and drank his ale. The inn wasn't as loud as the few he had visited in Uru'baen and there wasn't even a musician playing. Only two maids were working tonight so it was unlikely that it would get too busy tonight.
Just as his food came to his table the door swung open and a group of laughing men came into the inn as well a draft of cold air. All the eyes in the room glanced at the new arrival and more then a few of the people looked at them with distaste. At the front of the group was a man who walked with an air of ignorance, he was broad with a crooked nose and brown air, however his most distinctive feature was a scar that reached from his left ear to his nose.
The men took seats and the quiet room that he had been in just moments before was no more. After staring at them for a while longer he focused back on his meal and started eating. From what he overheard from the men he gathered that they had been soldiers of the Empire before the Elves had captured Gil'ead. By the time that Murtagh had finished his meal the whole group of men had ale in their hands and were laughing as loud as ever. As the maid took away his dish the man with the scar pinched her leg and the maid let out a yelp and scurried away. A scowl formed on Murtaghs lips as the men let out roar of laughter.
Continuing to watch the group of men his thoughts started to drift as he finished the last of his ale. He thought about how the city had changed, the differences had been subtle but he had noticed them through the course of the day. There was a lot more poverty in the city and there were more beggars in the city then he remembered since the last time he was here. There was also a lot of abandoned buildings and shops as well.
This is the cost of our success. We may have freed the people from Galbatorix but the daily lives of the people haven't improved, for most it had gotten worse. War always has casualties and not all of them are on the battlefield. The people who simply want to live there lives seem to be affected the most even though they want to be as far away from the war as possible.
A sudden cry brought his mind back to the present and he saw that the man with scar had pulled the maid from before onto his lap, he had one arm wrapped around her waist and his other hand was stroking her face. She was trying to struggle free but the man was too strong and he held on tight to here. The scowl from before returned to Murtagh's face and his hand twitched to the hilt of his sword. The maid landed a slap on the man's face and anger flashed in his eyes.
"You are lucky that I even my eyes on you, I was a captain of the soldiers that tried to protect you and all the scum in this bar from the elves that now parade around within our walls!" the man spat out furiously as he brought his lips roughly to the maids mouth.
The inn was silent and all eyes were on the captain. The owner of the inn stood at the bar helplessly with a pained look on his face.
As the man broke apart from the maid a sob escaped from her mouth and at that Murtagh stood up. "I would leave the woman alone if I were you." he said roughly as he glared at the captain.
The captain looked up at him with a surprised look, "Or what? Sit down boy and stay quiet lest you mouth gets you into trouble." laughed the man.
With a couple of strides Murtagh stood before the man and before he could comprehend what was happening to him Murtagh grabbed the arm he had around the maid giving it a hard yank and twist. The howl that left the mans lips could be heard at the same time as the crunch from his arm. The men around him tried to stand up once they realized what had happened but many of them were too drunk to do so and just collapsed onto the floor as they tripped standing up. The three men that weren't too intoxicated made their way towards him with menacing faces and raised fists.
Murtagh yanked out a dagger from beneath his cloak and his lips worked into a cold grin at the challenge that faced him. The men faltered for a second but continued towards him, the first to reach him swung a large but slow fist at his face which he ducked under and landed a blow to the mans stomach, as he doubled over he struck the back of his head with the pommel of his dagger and the man crumpled to the floor.
The next two men arrived in front of him together and were more cautious then there wounded comrade. Then suddenly one of them rushed at him and rammed him into the table behind him causing him to drop his dagger. He landed on the floor he back against a toppled table as the two men came towards him looking more confident. A pitcher was lying on the floor next to him and as the men reached him he grabbed it and swung it at the head of the man closest to him while he kicked the shins of the other man. He jumped up and looked down at the two men on the floor, one on his arms and knees head spinning from the blow to the head the other on one knee, before he could get up Murtagh kneed the man in the head making him collapse.
He picked up his dagger then walked back to the captain who sat in his chair clutching his arm and staring at him with a look of shock. He held the blade against the man's throat and whispered in his ear, "Or else ill slit your throat open".
The knife left a cut on the man's throat as removed it from his neck. The men looked at him with shock and fear, reminding him of the look people had when they looked at him in his dream. Gathering his belongings first he went to the bar, paid for his meal giving an extra two gold coin for the mess he had made in the inn.
The room he got at the inn was a simple one; it had a bed, a table, a wash basin as well a fireplace. Flames suddenly devoured the wood in the fireplace as he uttered brisingr. Slowly walking to the basin he cast a spell and scryed Nasuada. Most of what he saw was blank but just the sight of her being safe set his mind at ease and calmed him. Ending the spell he washed himself using magic to heat up the water.
Just as he was drying his face he heard a knock at the door and his mind was alert in a moment. Quickly grabbing his sword he walked to the door and opened it slightly. His grip on his hand loosened when he saw that it was the barmaid from before. "What would you like?" he demanded.
"Nothing I just came here to say thank you for what you did for me downstairs."
As she spoke he saw here features for the first time. She had black hair that came to her shoulders and blue eyes, her face was pinched and she looked young, no older then himself. She had removed the dress from before and was wearing a nightgown.
"It's okay" he said, his voice slightly softer.
Gingerly she stepped into his room, "I wanted to thank you another way." She finished her word with her face close to his as she planted a kiss on his lips.
Murtagh stepped back with surprise and looked at her in shock. Never before had he been kissed by a girl and he didn't know how to respond. The girl standing opposite him only smiled in response and advanced towards him, wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into another kiss. This time when their lips met a picture of Nasuada flashed in his mind. Vividly he remembered the moment that they had embraced in her cell, in that moment she had been beaten and not like the strong women that most people knew. She had simply been a person looking for the comfort in embrace, and he had been the one to give it to her. At that moment she had awakened his spirit and hope, both of which had been beaten down by Galbatorix, and she had been the women to do it.
This time when he broke away he took another step back to put a good 3 yards between them. The girl in front of him looked at him shocked. The look only flitted across her face though and was quickly replaced by a slight grin.
"Do you have a sweetheart waiting for you at home? I wouldn't be surprised with you being so handsome and all. She doesn't have to know, no-one does."
Her voice ended in a whisper and she was close to him once again. However this time when her hand reached for his face he grabbed her wrist before it could touch him.
"No!" he said in a harsh voice.
"There is no need to be shy" she said playfully as her lips made their way to his once again. Before they could reach his anger coursed through him and his hand pushed the maid away. She stumbled a few steps back falling to the floor and alarm springing up in her eyes.
"I said no!", his voice full of anger. The alarm in the girls eyes were soon replaced by fear and she quickly scurried out the room.
Instantly his anger dissipated and the realization of what he had done hit him. He had harmed someone who had only wanted to thank him for what he had done and he had let his anger take control of him easily. Quick steps carried him to the doorway and he hoped to apologize to the girl for what he had done, but when he was out in the hall way she was nowhere to be seen.
Knowing that he had no chance to catch her now, he made his way back into his room and lay down on the bed. Thought of what he had done troubled him even till the moment that his mind was carried away into the darkness of sleep.