Sja Fram [Inheritance Cycle | Eragon Fanfiction]

Chapter XXXI: The Varden

Murtagh and I both scowled. "I just found some wolf tracks, but the footprints are as wide as both of my hands and an inch deep. There are animals around here that could be dangerous even to you, Saphira," Murtagh turned to face her. "I know you can't enter the forest, but could you circle above me and the horses? That should keep the beasts away. Otherwise, there may only be enough left of me to roast in a thimble."

"Humour, Murtagh?" I asked with a smirk.

"Only on the gallows," Murtagh rubbed his eyes. "I can't believe that the same Urgals have been following us the whole time. They would have to be birds to catch up with us."

"Saphira said they're larger than any we've seen," Eragon remarked.

"That explains it!" Murtagh said with a curse. "Saphira, if you're right, then those are Kull, the elite of the Urgals." I groaned aloud. "I should have guessed that the chieftain had been put in charge of them. They don't ride because horses can't carry their weight – not one of them is under eight feet tall – and they can run for days without sleep and still be ready for battle. It can take five me to kill one. Kull never leave their caves except for war, so they must expect a great slaughter if they are out in such force."

"Can we stay ahead of them?" I asked.

"Who knows?" Murtagh said, "They're strong, determined, and large in numbers. It's possible that we may have to face them. If that happens, I only hope that the Varden have men nearby who'll help us. Despite our skill and Saphira, we can't hold off Kull."

Eragon swayed in Saphira's saddle. "Could you get me some bread? I need to eat." Murtagh quickly handed him a loaf of bread, before scanning the valley walls. "There'll be one further in."

"Of course," Murtagh replied with forced optimism.

I remounted Istal, "We need to go," I said.

"How is Arya?" Eragon asked as Murtagh remounted.

"The fever's worse. She's been tossing and turning. What do you expect? Her strength is failing. You should fly her to the Varden before the poison does any more damage."

"I won't leave you behind, either of you," Eragon insisted. "Not with the Urgals so near."

"As you wish. But I'm warning you, she won't live if you stick with us."

I shrugged in response, "We'll have to try."

"Don't say that," Eragon insisted, seeming to ignore my statement. "Help me save her. We can still do it. Consider it a life for a life – atonement for Torkenbrand's death."

Murtagh's face darkened instantly and I sighed. "It's not a debt owed. You–" A horn echoed through the dark forest, cutting through Murtagh's words. "I'll have more to say to you later," he said as we trotted off.

Saphira took off, Eragon still on her back. "Don't hate him for his words," I murmured to Murtagh. "I doubt he knows what he's really saying. After all, we're all exhausted and our nerves are frayed." Murtagh frowned but didn't respond.

It was night when Murtagh and I met with Saphira and Eragon again. Murtagh and I were running behind the horses, Istal leading them forward while we forced them onwards. Eragon joined us, matching our pace.

"We saw you dropping rocks with Saphira – ambitious. Have the Kull stopped or turned back?" Murtagh asked.

"They're still behind us, but we're almost to the head of the valley. How's Arya?"

"She hasn't died," I responded between breaths.

"Is there a valley or gorge ahead that I can leave through?" Murtagh asked calmly, and I internally winced.