Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Seven: Luminescent

Biting my lip, I inched over until I was withing his reach. Murtagh pulled out a jar and dipped a rag into it before turning to me. I looked up so he could have access to my neck. With hands far more gentle then I expected, he started to rub the cloth along my neck.

"Is he always this reckless with his life?" Murtagh said after a few moments of silence. I smiled sadly as I stared up at the ceiling of the cave.

"Unfortunately, he's been like this for his whole life. Sometimes it feels like he's ten years behind me instead of two." I replied quietly as my neck stung briefly.

"How old are you exactly?"

"You know it's not polite to ask a lady her age," I said laughing while an endearing blush appeared on his face. "But, since I am no lady.....eighteen, I am eighteen."

Eragon pocketed the few coins we had earned from selling Cadoc, his horse. It wasn't ideal, but we needed the coins, I ended up riding with Murtagh on his horse Tornac since Snowfire had most of the equipment attached to his saddle. We had some close calls with soldiers along our way to Gil'ead but ended up safely beyond Uru'baen's reach.

"There are horses close by." Eragon hissed quietly before Murtagh, and I tensed up. An angry snarl came from my right, and I ducked in time, the attacking Urgal's club missing my head by inches.

"Where did they come from," I yelled while dodging another incoming club. Murtagh and I ended up back to back before I heard Eragon scream.

"Fly Saphira!" At Eragon's scream, Murtagh threw me on Snowfire before mounting Tornoc and forcing me to ride away from the battle scene. We rode hard for a few minutes before slowing down to a trot.

"I can't believe I just left him," I whispered at Saphira landed angrily next to me. "I have to go get him.

"No, you're going to get yourself killed," Murtagh replied sternly. "I'll go back for him."

"I will go back as well, find us a safe place to go for a few minutes little one. We will meet you there when we leave the city." I looked up at Saphira and let out an angry huff before a loud, indignant squeak could be heard from my pack.

"Do what my sister asks my rider." I sighed when Alethea agreed with Saphira and Murtagh.

"Fine, but if you get hurt I will kill you myself," I said glaring at Murtagh and Saphira. "Got it?"

They both nodded with small smiles before I kicked Snowfire and started to gallop in the opposite direction of Gil'ead with Tornoc in tow.

I found a clearing big enough for Saphira and slipped off of Snowfire.

"If you want to get out and stretch your wings, Alethea, now would be a good time," I said, twisting my neck to look at my rucksack. Alethea's sparkling head appeared before the rest of her body flew out of my bag and into the air, growing every second until she was back to her size and soaring through the sky.

Alethea flew for almost an hour before she suddenly shot down towards me and slipped into my rucksack. I saw Saphira's massive form land in the clearing as she shook with exhaustion.

"Saphira!" I dashed towards the worn out dragon and saw several arrows in her wing's. Eragon and Murtagh groaned and slipped off her back in a heap.

"Help your kin first little one." I furrowed my brow before I leaped up her side until I reached the saddle where a severely wounded elf was strapped. "I can feel the connection, you and the elf have ties with each other."