Erys: An Eragon Fanfiction - (Under Editing)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Justice Wrought

The company continued their march through the Spine at a slower pace; much to Erys' frustration, they spent more time resting than she would of cared, though she admitted it benefited her health. Slowly, her strength began to return, mounting in tandem with her irritation.

Their food supply remained steady. Du Thirr and Khyiana hunted for themselves, freeing the need for Erys to obtain their meals as well. For once, fortune favoured them. With Du Thirr in good health, their situation was not so dire.  But Erys put no stock in fortune.  The world gave and took with little regard for one's wellbeing. She could just as easily find herself bleeding out or lying in a cell.

"Should we at least consider her warning?" Keilith asked. It'd been on his mind since Erys brought up. Really, it made sense. They'd find saftey outside the Republic.

Erys ignored him. She urged her horse forward, ahead of the group. "Not until we find my mother," she grumbled under her breath.

Silverflame whinnied and bucked, throwing Erys to the ground.

"Hey!"

He bolted back the direction of Eirdain and Keilih, but stopped upon seeing Du Thirr and turned back toward Erys. Keilith dismounted and grabbed the reins.

"Easy, boy!"

"I'm fine, thanks," Erys said picking herself up with a scowl.

She heard the grunting just a moment too late. A great horned beast, eyes yellow and skin pale, charged from the forest, swinging a broadsword.  Three more broke past the underbrush behind it.

Erys—momentarily taken aback—had no time to mount a defence or even raise her blade.  Eirdain and Keilith jumped before her, blocking the first blow with their swords.

"Wait!" Keilith pleaded. "We don't want trouble!"

The creature swung again, knocking Keilith's sword from his grasp. Erys charged to defend him. He swatted her aside easily. She landed hard; she nearly impaled herself on her own sword.  It flew from her grasp and landed in a patch of grass several feet to her right.  Eirdain shoved his blade through the only weak spot he could find, a break in the armour just underneath the arm.  It howled and turned, arching its blade for Eirdain's neck.  He pulled his blade free and ducked, swiping at the back of its knees.  He cut the ligaments in its legs.  It crashes forward and Eirdain shoved his blade though the creatures brain.  He turned to see Du Thirr unleash a bellowing roar and descend on another of the creatures. 

The third bellowed in return and thrust his blade toward's its opponent.  Keilith dove aside, but was unable to avoid his grasp.  The Urgal squeezed his neck and shoved his blade through Keilith's stomach. Keilith jerked as the Urgal's blade ripped  through his gut like it was nothing more than butter.  He grabbed the sword, trying to push away, succeeding only the shredding the palms of his hands.  Keilith gave a sick gurgle as the Urgal pulled away, and he fell, trying to hold his insides intact. He began to cough up blood, choking on it as he struggled to speak.  The Urgal raised his sword to decapitate Keilith who swayed on his knees.

Du Thirr tore into the Urgal. It ripped itself away, leaving an dangling in Valdr's jaw.  Before they could kill it, it slipped away, thundering into the underbrush, roaring all the way. Erys started to follow before Keilith's strained wheezing reached her ears. She stopped and turned to see the damage; there might still be hope she could heal him.  She knelt and pulled his hand away from the wound.