Erys: An Eragon Fanfiction - (Under Editing)

Chapter Eleven

Arrows Rain

Erys froze as the wall of soldiers approached. She felt a weight in the pit of her stomach so great she found herself unable to walk. She would have collapsed had Keilith not supported her weight. He dragged her toward the back wall beneath the window, escape just barely out of reach.

"Archers at the ready!"

A line of soldiers stepped forward, raising their bows. Half knelt as they took aim. As one knocked their arrows and drew back the string.

"Fire!"

The soldiers released a volley. Keilith tackled Erys so the arrows flew harmlessly overhead. He pulled her to the wall and lifted her onto his shoulders.

"Another!" the man called.

Keilith raised Erys to the window as the archers nocked another round of arrows. She gripped the ledge and pulled herself through as the soldiers prepared to fire another round. She slipped through to the other side and set her weight for Keilith to pull himself through.

She heard a grunt as the next round of arrows embedded themselves in the wall; at least one had hit its mark. Being shrouded by magic was his only hope. Without the aid of sight it was possible it was only a superficial wound.

"Here!" Keilith called as he pulled himself through the window. "I'm hit."

Erys could see the shaft; it looked to be suspended in the air. She had to wonder if the arrow was enchanted or her spell merely had no effect on such objects. They'd have to remove it before they ran, but that led the possibility of Keilith bleeding to death before they could tend to the wound. It might also leave a trail of blood, so no matter where they ran they could not hide. But leaving it in would give them away no matter where they hid.

Momentary indecision warred within Erys. She knew such hesitation would get them killed.

"This way," she whispered, pulling herself to the roof.

"Shouldn't we make for the gate?"

"No," Erys whispered. "We'll never get through. We go over the walls."

"I can't climb," Keilith panted.

"You have to!"

Erys braced her weight as he dragged himself onto the roof. It took only a few seconds, but to Erys it felt like minutes. She pulled herself to the rooftop and let the spell go. They materialized on the roof of the barracks.

Without hesitation, Erys broke off the end of the shaft and pushed the arrow through Keilith's leg. He cried out.

"They're on the roof!" a soldier shouted from inside.

Erys tore fabric from his shirt and bound the wound loosely in an attempt to stem the flow of blood as soldiers flooded the yard.

"There!"

Erys spoke quickly, cloaking them once again. She prayed the pendant Enneniya gave them would last until they found safety. She pulled Keilith along the roof as the soldiers swarmed beneath them. He limped along behind her, slowly. Erys carried his weight as best she could.

"Fire at will!"

Erys pressed herself against the roof as arrows rained down around them. She winced as an arrow flew past her head less than an inch away. Her hair fluttered as the arrow whizzed past. She flinched and tried to make herself less of a target. If either one of them was hit-with Keilitth a second time-they would fail to escape the makeshift barracks. Keilith already slowed them down. He limped as quickly as his leg would allow.