Adurna

The Village

Chapter Twenty Seven

Jump now. Derikia ordered once we were above the town. I watched Eragon and Arya leap from Saphira effortlessly and land on a nearby rooftop.

This should be fun. I grumbled, tumbling out of the saddle much less gracefully. The night air whipped against my face and I couldn't help the small squeal of fear I let out as the roof rushed up to meet me.

I landed with a thud against the rooftop. My knees trembled from absorbing the impact, so much so that I ended up tipping forward. I ducked quickly into a roll—the gravel from the rooftop digging into my cheek. Finally, my rolling stopped and I sat up to shake the dizziness from my head, taking in my surroundings for the first time.

I was alone.

Panic immediately gathered in the pit of my stomach. I had jumped right after both Eragon and Arya, so where were they? Had they been captured already? Were they dead? Did they leave me behind? I was only a moment behind them; how could this happen? More and more questions came to mind as I quickly got back to my feet. I was in the process of rubbing the dirt from my cheek as a presence came to mind. I recognized it immediately. Eragon!

Wrong roof. Eragon supplied after a moment of confusion. My brows furrowed.

I was about to answer when I caught sight of a glimmer of light on an adjacent rooftop. I squinted to see both Eragon and Arya crouched low, a small ball of fire resting in Eragon's palm. He raised his other hand, as if in greeting, for me to see their position. I sighed—figures, I thought to myself.

I glanced around the roof for another way across, yet found none. I made my way to the edge of the roof, eyeing the separation between the two buildings. I was fully aware, however, of the long drop below. I glanced back up to see Eragon making his way towards me. I felt him on the verge of saying something, but I turned back around quickly.

Chrystal— He began, but stopped as I spun around sharply and made a mad dash towards him.

I raced across the rooftop, my heart thundering with nerves as the edge rushed up to me. I held my breath before pushing myself off the roof. My stomach dropped as I soared across the wide gap. Finally, after a moment of free fall, I landed with a huff. However, my momentum propelled me into a run as I struggled to stop. I finally skidded to a halt at the edge of the roof, my arms flailing at my sides to keep my balance. My feet must have kicked a stone loose, for a small shower of pebbles cascaded down into the alley below just as two of Galbatorix's men passed underneath.

I quickly ducked out of sight before they could look up. My heart was still beating erratically from the jump, yet I couldn't help the triumphant smile on my face as I turned around. Eragon and Arya stood unamused a few feet away.

"That wasn't so hard." I said brightly as I made my way over to them, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere. Arya didn't reply and instead kept her gaze on the city below, her sharp eyes taking in any obstacles that may get in her way. Eragon let out a huff that might have been a laugh if his face wasn't lined with worry.

I rolled my eyes at their disposition and untangled myself from my bow. I brushed the dust from my trousers before strolling to the edge of the roof. Belatedly, I recalled to stay out of sight as I sized up the gate. It was large; much larger than a city this size ought to have. My brows furrowed in thought, watching Galbatorix's men on top of the gate. There were three, their hands, from what I could see from the roof, rested on their sword's hilts as they surveyed the city below. I wondered idly if I'd have to fight them all at the same time before realizing one thing: that's what Dragon Rider's do.