Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Six: Luminescent

"What do you want from us." I hissed out. The Raz'ac hissed and clicked in laughter before cutting my neck lightly with the knife. "That was uncalled for."

I pushed myself away from the Raz'ac surprisingly and staggered around as my sight became blurry. The cave became fuzzy before I felt my body hit the ground and left me with one thought — the knife.

When consciousness finally came to Eragon, he opened his eyes and stared at the campfire in front of him. His hands were still tied, but the drug had finally cleared his system, and he could think clearly.

"Saphira, are you injured?"

"No, but you and Brom are."

"Wait, what about Mal and Alethea?"

"Mal is still passed out from whatever the Raz'ac gave her and Alethea is still hiding in her rucksack."

"So they didn't find Alethea?"

"No." A surge of relief flooded Eragon's body as he wiggled to his knees.

"You didn't make that fire, did you. And you couldn't have gotten out of those chains by yourself."

".......No."

"I didn't think so," Eragon replied before looking at the stranger sitting across the fire. The stranger was watching Saphira wearily. "Who are you?"

"Murtagh." The stranger said lowly.

"Why did you help us?"

"You aren't the only enemies the Raz'ac have. I was tracking them."

"You know who they are?"

"Yes." Eragon got his feet before glaring at the ropes wrapped around his hands.

"Jierda." Eragon barked at the ropes before they snapped off.

"I would have helped you and the girl earlier, but the dragon won't let me near you two."

"Her name is Saphira and don't let Mal hear you calling her a girl, she'll punch you in the face," Eragon said before turning to Saphira. "Now let him by, I can't do this alone, besides he saved our lives."

Murtagh glanced wearily at Saphira before walking over to the dark-haired girl named Mal, he picked her up and set her near the fire. He then turned to Brom and frowned.

"How is he?" Eragon asked hobbling to Brom's side.

"Bad, the knife went right between the ribs. You can look at him in a minute, but first, we need to see how much damage the Raz'ac did to you." Murtagh said before helping Eragon remove his shirt to inspect his ribs. "Ouch!"

"Yeah, ouch." A blotchy bruise extended across his chest and skin was broken in places. Murtagh put his fingers to the injury and pressed lightly. Eragon let out a hiss and Saphira growled.

"I think you have some ribs broken. It's hard to tell, but at least two, maybe more. You lucky you're not coughing up blood."

"Yes, I'm lucky," Eragon said before kneeling next to Brom and uncovering his wound.

"I wouldn't do that," Murtagh said but was completely ignored. Eragon put his hand over the wound as Saphira poured her energy into him.

"Waise Heill," Eragon commanded, his palm lit up and Brom's wound healed itself.

"Is he completely healed?" Murtagh exclaimed in surprise.

"I can only mend what's on the surface. I don't know enough to mend what's on the inside. I've done all I can." Eragon said before hobbling next to Mal and healing the light scratch across her throat.

"You need to eat. I'll make some soup," Murtagh said before getting up and heading to the fire.

I let out a small groan as my head throbbed with pain, what exactly happened again. I put a hand to my head as I pulled myself into a sitting position. Saphira rubbed her head against my side with worry in her eyes. My own eyes widened when I remember what had happened.

"Those groveling, foul-mouthed, idiotic insects," I screeched startling Eragon and the stranger next to him. "I am going to skin them alive!"

"Mal, calm down," Eragon said soothingly.

"Do not tell me to calm down Eragon." I hissed, pointing my finger at him.

I got to my feet and let out angry huffs while I looked around. My eyes fell on Brom's prone figure, and I immediately ran over to him and knelt. I placed my hand down on the revealing skin and hissed with anger. Brom must have gotten stabbed.

"Eragon, what happened," I said in a low voice before looking up at him.

"Murtagh is tracking the Raz'ac too, he came across us and drove the two Raz'ac out and in the process, Brom got stabbed."

"Did they find...." Eragon shook his head at me.

"I am here my rider. I haven't left your rucksack." I let out a sigh of relief while Murtagh looked at me in confusion.

"I hid my pet in my bag, I didn't want the Raz'ac to find her, she means the world to me," I said looking at my bag. "Alethea, I don't want Murtagh to know you're a dragon just yet, Brom said the fewer people who know, the better."

"As much as I dislike the idea, you are right my rider. I will stay hidden."

"Mal?" I pulled my thoughts away from Alethea and looked at Eragon.

"Yes?"

"Murtagh made some soup, you need to eat," Eragon said gesturing to the small fire. "Mal, you need to eat."

I sighed and stood up, brushing off the dirt from my dress.

"I will eat, but we can't stay here, the Raz'ac will be back with reinforcements. We need to be far from this place by the time they get here."

"You two might be able to travel," Murtagh said, looking at Brom. "But he can't."

"Saphira can carry him if we make a litter," I said before starting to pack up. Murtagh made the litter while Eragon and I packed up our gear, once Brom was strapped on the litter, Saphira took flight and carried him into the darkness.

"I never thought I would see a sight like that." Murtagh with an odd tone.

"Thank you for helping us, but it is probably in your best interest to steer clear of us," I said while gently putting my rucksack that held Alethea on my back. "We seem to attract trouble."

"Pretty speech, but where will you go," Murtagh said, looking at me while he put the fire out. "Is there a place nearby that you can rest in safety?"

I scowled at Murtagh and prepared Snowfire's saddle for our hasty escape.

"I think I'll accompany you until you are both out of danger," Murtagh said before pulling himself up into his saddle.

"Men," I grumbled before I let out another sigh and pulled myself up onto Snowfire's back, Murtagh had obviously heard my muttered complaint because there was a small smirk on his face.

Eragon mounted Cadoc, and we took off into the wilderness. After riding several miles, Eragon led us to a sandstone formation where Saphira was currently sitting with a pleased look on her face. After we got everyone into the cave, Saphira lumbered in.

We set Brom on the cave floor and tried to get him to drink some water, but he wasn't having any of it. I sat down beside him and rested my head against the cold rock wall while Murtagh and Eragon got a small fire going, and soon enough I drifted to sleep while Eragon and Murtagh whispered to each other.