Sucked Away: Eragon

XLVI

So while Eragon and Murtagh dueled it out, I was reading. I was reading about what Eragon was thinking during the battle and monitoring Roran in the battle going on outside. The standings at the moment: Queen Islanzadi (Arya's mom and queen of the elves) had been killed at the hand of one of Gal's best servants. Roran was currently facing that man, Lord Barst. Roran was losing. Eragon and Murtagh were kinda even right now, so the end was uncertain right now (even though I KNEW who was going to win.)

The two children in my charge were now quietly watching the duel, and wondering what I was reading. They kept looking at it with weird glances, but they were fine as they could not read it. They had stopped crying now. The boy had stopped hugging my arm and was sitting just slightly behind me. The girl was still on my lap, but she wasn't clinging to me anymore, just sitting quietly enjoying the kind human contact.

Gal was watching the duel with fascination. I don't know, I personally think that the constant clang of metal on metal was annoying, but I was also trying to read at the same time.

The duel had gone for about ten minutes before Murtagh noticed I was holding two children. Then, while he was in a sword lock with Eragon, Murtagh grunted, "Sadie.... why, ugh, are you holding two children?"

I looked up from my book, and the look on my face paused the duel for a minute. They both stopped in the middle of their sword lock, Eragon on top. I pointed one finger at Gal with a scowl and told him, "HE threatened these two!! He was, and still is, a complete jerk!!! Then my...."

Murtagh finished for me, "Oh, he brought out you're big sister side!?"

"Yes!!"

Now everybody was just weirded out. Everyone, including Gal, except Murtagh and I, were extremely confused. Gal was asked first, "Murtagh. You knew about this and did not share this information?"

Murtagh tried to reply, but couldn't form the words to say it without sounding rude. So I answered for him, "Of course he knew!! I'm amazed that you DIDN'T know!! I mean, my family is a major part of my everyday life..."

Gal growled, "Murtagh, we will...."

I cut him off. "Oh, shut up Gal!! You have no one to be angry at except yourself for not being observant!!"

That shut him up. The duel started up again, and against the back wall I could see amusement in everyone's faces. Their eyes were dead serious as they were trying to find a way to kill him. But at the same time the tips of their mouths curled up in a very subtle smile. They knew they were in trouble, but I had just told off the wretched king that had caused them all so much pain. That was funny!

I continued reading my book, about to finish the chapter about Roran vs. Lord Barst:

"No!" shouted Barst even as a pure white light erupted from the edges of his armor. He went rigid, as if chains had pulled every limb to its farthest reach, and he began to shake uncontrollably.

The light blinded Roran and burned his arms and face. He released Barst and fell to the ground, where he covered his eyes with his forearm.

The light continued to pour out from under Barst's breastplate until the edges of the metal began to glow. Then the blaze ceased, leaving the world darker than before, and what little remained of Lord Barst tumbled backward and lay smoking on the cobblestone.

Roran blinked as he stared at the featureless sky. He knew that he should rise, for there were soldiers nearby, but the cobblestones seemed soft beneath him, and all he really wanted to do was to close his eyes and rest...

When he next opened his eyes, he saw Orik and Horst and a number of elves gathered around him..... and in the distance stood a man dressed in black raise a gun, aiming slowly at Roran's.....