Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Thirteen: Luminescent

"Really? Because the last time I saw you, you had a giant gaping hole in your shoulder." I gave Eragon a look before pushing my shirt to the side so he could see the bandages.

"It's all healed up Eragon." Eragon winced at my shoulder. I covered it back up with my shirt before looking around the room to see Orik, Ajihad, and a woman I didn't recognize.

"Your highness, it is good to see you healed, we were just about to send a hunting party out to flush the rest of the Urgals from the tunnels," Ajihad said.

"Sounds good Ajihad, we need all of the Urgals out before we let the citizens come back." Ajihad bowed his head before turning his head to Murtagh.

"Are you up for joining the hunting party?"

Murtagh nodded before standing in front of me with a stern look.

"Don't try anything funny." I raised an eyebrow at him while he turned towards Eragon. "Keep her from moving around, and she tends to--"

"Not listen to anyone," Eragon finished with a smile. "I'm sure I can find some way to keep her still." I shot a glare at Eragon before getting to my feet and turning to Murtagh as he adjusted his sword belt. At my movement, he looked up. I looked into his eyes before looking at the ground and shuffling.

"I never thanked you, Murtagh." Murtagh gave me a look. "I haven't, so thank you." I walked up to him, and as fast as I could, kissed him on the cheek before retreating to the bed with a slightly red face.

Eragon shot me a look while I gave him a glare that had him putting his hands up in surrender.

"Be safe and careful, who knows how many are still around," I said quietly, the group slowly shuffled out of the room leaving me, Eragon, and the woman I didn't know.

"Here, she's been cranky and bitey that she couldn't immediately go to you," Eragon said as he handed me my rucksack. I took it and settled it in my lap as Alethea's shiny, pearl white head popped out of the bag. I gathered my dragon in my arms and let her waves of relief soak into my skin.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I am so sorry." I murmured against her side. A scaly head bumped against my face.

"It is okay, my rider. I couldn't stop my rage that we cannot be together because of that man. I am fine now that we are together again." I breathed a sigh of relief before my eyes flew up to the other woman in the room.

"Do not fear your highness. Your secret is safe with me." The woman automatically responded.

"Mal, this is Angela, I met her in Terim, she's the one that healed us," Eragon added, I looked from Eragon to Angela before I bowed my head.

"I am grateful that you healed me." The woman waved her hand.

"No need to thank me, young princess, I was doing what was right. I should warn you. My healing only goes so far. You will experience trouble with that arm in the future." I bowed my head again in thanks before moving my arm so Alethea could sit on my good shoulder and wrap her tail around my neck. I continued to rub her head, causing light rumbles to emit from her tiny body.

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It had been three day's since Ajihad, and the others left to flush out the tunnels, and I had a feeling that grew worse every minute. I was down in the central area with Arya, surveying the room when a couple of men tumbled out of the tunnels bloody and worn out. My heart dropped when I saw that Murtagh wasn't with the remaining group; neither was Ajihad.

"We were ambushed by those blasted twins!" Orik snarled, throwing his bloody ax into the ground.

"What do you mean, ambushed Orik?" I asked, walking up to the heaving dwarf, Orik looked at me with a sad look.

"The twins are with the Empire; they ambushed us in one of the tunnels and killed many of our group your highness." I started to have trouble keeping my voice even.

"Where is Murtagh? Ajihad?" Orik swore before plopping his body on the ground.

"Dead, your highness, at least that is what I can assume, it happened so fast." I looked at Arya, who had a sympathetic look on her face.

"I'm going to search the tunnels for any last Urgals," I said stiffly while wrapping my hair up and out of the way.

"I will be joining you, cousin." I looked at Arya, who was preparing her sword and bow and nodded.

"Your highness, it is dangerous, please don't go." Orik pleaded. I looked at Orik.

"Tell Nasuada that she has assumed the position her father once held temporarily and I will be back to discuss the Varden's future with her." With those words, I bolted into the tunnel with Arya at my heels. We ran until we came across a tunnel with the bodies of the group. I took a deep breath and began to step around the bodies, trying to see if they were someone I had known.

When we had checked all of the bodies, there was one uncounted for, Murtagh. I stepped closer to the end of the tunnel and saw bloody, ripped pieces of Murtagh's clothing. I knelt and picked up the fabric in my hand, squeezing in my fist in anger, I was about to get up and leave when I noticed something shimmering next to a piece of torn fabric.

I picked it up and realized that it was the necklace Murtagh had worn and had never taken off. I clenched in my hand as I stood up, I kept the necklace in my hand as Arya and I ran back to Tronjheim. This was the last time I would let someone get close to my heart, and the twins, they will pay.