Unexpected Ally - Eragon fanfiction

Chapter 7 - Slavers & Ra'zac

They stopped at shops that either of them seemed interested in. Sometimes Ruth would look at the dark, claustrophobic houses, they made her want to turn and leave. When they grew hungry, they sat on the curb eating bread, cheese and an apple.

Later, she heard a weirdly familiar voice yelling auctions. Since Eragon was curious -Ruth followed- they travelled toward the voices.

-Eragon-

Ten men stood on a waist-high platform. Arrayed before them was a rich crowd, many of them dressed like Ruth, they were both colourful and boisterous.
What goods are on for sale? He thought

He glanced at Ruth, something he kept doing for he thought she looked elegant. She was wide-eyed and her chest was heaving.

"Are you okay?" he asked

She met his gaze, "We should go"

"Why?" he questioned confused

She simply pointed to the platform where a young man was standing, his hands and feet chained together.

"And here we have our first item" proclaimed the auctioneer "A healthy male from the Hadarac Desert, captured just last month, and in excellent condition. Look at those arms and legs; he's as strong as a bull! He'd be perfect for a shield bearer,or, if you don't trust him with that, hard labour. But let me tell you, lords and ladies, that would be a waste. He's as bright as a nail, if you can get him to talk a civilised tongue!"

The crowd laughed, and Eragon ground his teeth. Ruth tugged Eragon's arm desperately

"We need to go, those are the slavers that I've been hiding from. If they saw me they would capture me immediately. Please, let us leave" she rambled quickly, breathing heavily.
Eragon looked back at the platform furiously, he watched as a young girl no older than 6, torn from her sobbing mother's arms.

The auctioneer scanned the crowd, his eyes set on Ruth and he yelled

"Hey!"

Ruth gasped and turned to sprint. Eragon ran after her. She sprinted quickly darting between houses, her dress billowing behind her. Behind them he heard the auctioneer bellowed

"Get back here!"

She darted among the houses, until she was outside the cathedral

"They might not look for us in here" she said, Ruth grabbed Eragon's hand and dragged him inside. She shoved a hand over his mouth before he could say anything. Once the auctioneer cursed Ruth's trickery and left, she released Eragon. They both panted, standing opposite one another.

-Ruth-

Ruth looked at Eragon

"I'm sorry for just dragging you along but I really don't want to be captured again. It's torture, and just-" she sighed, unable to word the experience without triggering herself.

"It's okay, do not be sorry, those ill-begotten bastards do not deserve you"

Ruth looked at Eragon with a strange look. What has gotten into him? She thought

"Not just you, they don't deserve any of their victims" he stammered

"They don't deserve life" she remarked, straightening the wrinkles in her dress.

She looked around, the cathedral gave her chills, she wanted to leave but now the slave owners knew she was around and there was bound to be one of the slavers looking for her. It was not in their nature to let captives escape. As Ruth pondered the situation and continued straightening her dress.

"What should w-" Ruth turned to where Eragon was standing originally but he wasn't there. She looked around to find Eragon kneeling before the altar and he bowed his head. Ruth sighed, she didn't want to interrupt him so she walked behind him and sat in one of the pews. After a few minutes Eragon inclined his head and rose. He whispered something that Ruth didn't catch.

"Let's go, I hate this place" Ruth said, Eragon nodded in reply.

He turned to leave then froze, Ruth looked too.

The Ra'zac stood in the entrance of the cathedral. Their swords were drawn, glinting in the crimson light. A sibilant hiss came from the smaller Ra'zac. Neither of them moved.

Ruth flinched as Eragon roared loudly, the noise echoed like a thunderstorm. He grabbed his bow and loosed three arrows. The Ra'zac dodged them with inhuman speed. They hissed and hurtled towards them, running through the aisles of pews. Dread clutched Ruth's heart, Eragon reached for another arrow but stopped himself. To their horror a line of soldiers filed into the cathedral, and she glimpsed a field of jostling uniforms outside the doorway.

A vestibule to the left of the altar caught Eragon's attention, Eragon grabbed Ruth's hand, she ran behind him. They bounded through the archway and dashed down a corridor that led to a priory with a belfry. The patter of the Ra'zac feet behind them made Eragon quicken his pace, Ruth pushed herself to keep going. The hall abruptly ended with a closed door.

They pounded against the door, trying to break it open, but the wood was too strong. Ruth sighed in desperation, afraid for her life, although she knew it was useless but she kept pounding. The Ra'zac were nearly upon them, Eragon frantically barked

"Jierda!"

The door splintered into pieces with a flash and fell to the floor. They jumped into a small room and continued running. They sped through several chambers, starling a group of priests. Ruth ripped the dagger from her skirt for protection, in case it were necessary. A priory bell tolled an alarm. They dodged through a kitchen, passed a pair of monks, then slipped through a side door. They skidded to a stop in a garden surrounded by high brick walls. There were no other exits.

Ruth turned to leave and Eragon followed but the Ra'zac were shouldered in the archway. Desperate they ran at the wall, Ruth groaned, her heart was fluttering and panic began to overwhelm her. Eragon jumped, catching the top of the wall with his fingertips. Ruth jumped too but her dress weighed her down. Using her dagger she frantically cut off her skirt. Ruth jumped at the wall again, because she was slightly shorter than Eragon, she brushed the top of the wall. It was just enough for her to keep hanging. The Ra'zac prowled into the garden like predators looking for prey. Ruth pulled herself up to the top of the wall, glancing in front of her she saw Eragon did the same. She jumped off at the other side, stumbled a little before continuing to sprint.

They ran for over a mile before they both had to stop and catch their breaths. Eragon grabbed Ruth's hand again and dragged her into a busy market place. They dived under a parked wagon.

"How did they find me?" Eragon whispered

"I don't know" Ruth replied, she sighed and closed her eyes; exhausted.

Eragon was silent for a minute then said

"I just contacted Saphira, she said to meet Brom at the inn, we can't stop moving we're in grave danger." Ruth sighed

"Why have I joined this adventure" she muttered

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Thanks for reading! I know I keep posting two parts but it's easier 
Read on please and have a wonderful day :)

1152 words