Book 4

Empire

Chapter 1 Galbatorix

Once again war had engulfed the lands of Alagaesia and like before the races of the land had united in one goal and that was the downfall of the empire and it's self proclaimed King Galbatorix. Many people in the world feared him because of the power he wielded that only grew in strength every year. There were a few misguided individuals who wanted to be apart of that power and swore allegiance to him for a taste.

Galbatorix ruled his empire from the ancient city of Uru'baen, which had been once named Ilirea by the elves. Now the city was home to the richest and most influential people in Alagaesia and they were all loyal to Galbatorix; after all they owed their wealth and position to him. The affairs of the war consumed most of Galbatox's time and today was no different; today Galbatorix was meeting with his most trusted advisors; his most powerful spell casters and the generals and commanders of his vast army. Thorn and Murtagh were in attendance as well. Galbatorix himself sat on his black marble thrown with Shruikan lying on a dais that was in a hallow in the wall. Smoke streamed from the black dragon's nostrils and a gold chain hung around his neck and attached to the chain was the last Dragon egg in the world. Rider and dragon listened to a young page give a report on the war.

The boy was nervous but he hid it well and stepped forward unrolling a scroll. "My lord Galbatorix may you live forever…" His voice cracked as he spoke; "…The following is a state of affairs concerning the empire and the war…" He cleared his throat "…In the south Nausada and the Varden have taken control of the cities of Aroughs and Feinster… our spies report that the Varden are preparing to march on Belatona, but they are awaiting the arrival of their troops from Aroughs… The Black Hand has suffered many losses; all attempts to assassinate Nausada and King Orin have failed…" When the young page said this he took a moment to see if Galbatorix was about to have one of his infamous outbursts of rage, but he didn't to his relief. "The Varden have some secret weapon that foils their plans before they even have a chance to implement them… Lord Famer is requesting more spies…" He cleared his throat again; "…Five thousand troops are marching from Kuasta to Belatona to reinforce the city and another two thousand march from Teirm as well... In the north the elves have taken Ceuneon and Gilead …the arrival of the golden dragon and his rider has spread throughout the empire despite our best efforts to quench the news… although our agents are spreading news of Thorn and Murtagh's prowess in battle in vanquishing the golden rider…" When the page said this Galbatorix grunted in aggravation if it had not been for his efforts Thorn and Murtagh would have died at the hands of Glaedr and Oromis. He had always suspected that a few riders survived the purge and the appearance of Glaedr and Oromis confirmed that. ("If there were any more riders… then they would have shown themselves by now…") Galbatorix thought to himself. ("Why are you worried?") Shruiken asked in his mind; ("Even if there are more none of them can compete with… your power…") Shruiken's words offered no comfort because the dragon was mocking him. And it secretly hoped Eragon or another would kill them. The two of them shared a twisted relationship Galbatorix could feel Shruiken's feelings, but the dragon could hide his thoughts from Galbatorix unless he forced the dragon to reveal them in which case Shruiken had found a way to trick Galbatorix into believing the thoughts he was thinking was his own when in fact they belonged to Galbatorix himself. The other problem was that Galbatorix didn't know Shruiken's true name in the ancient language due to the fact that a dragon's character was linked to his riders in a way and Galbatorix had killed Shruiken's first rider and enslaved him. In order to fix the problem Galbatorix invented a name for Shruiken in the ancient language to which he wasn't always bound to obey; it was a sick love hate relationship because their fates were intertwined and Galbatorix could sever the link whenever he wished.

The page continued; "…The elves are planning to march on Narda within the next few weeks, but General Rang is assembling an army to try to retake the city of Gilead."

As the boy rolled the scroll up General Rang stepped forward; "My Lord… If we can retake the city then the elves would be forced to retreat back to the forest of Duweldenvarden or to Ceuneon… Gilead is a strategic point in the north and we must retake it with all speed…"

"And how do you intend to do that…" The question came from Casmuss; Galbatorix's most powerful and trusted spell caster. Casmuss had been in Galbatorix's service since the riders fell a hundred years ago.

Rang turned his attention to Galbatorix on the thrown; "My lord… my generals and I were hoping you would lead us into battle and perhaps create a spell that would give me and my men the speed and strength of an elf…"

Galbatorix sat up; "Interesting plan… very well general it shall be done… is there anything else that needs my attention…"

Rang spoke up again; "My lord I'd like to order more conscripts…"

After Galbatorix agreed another stepped forward; "May my lord Galbatorix live forever… I come to you sire with a most grievous concern… I represent the imperial weaver's guild and our economy has been saturated with cheap lace we believe originate from the Varden…"

Some people laughed Murtagh who had been silent the entire time smiled to himself. "Casmuss what do you know of this?"

He bowed; "Only what lord Famer tells me… it would seem that Nausada has employed her spell weavers to create lace with magic… and sell that lace throughout Surda and the empire at cheap prices…"

Even Galbatorix had to laugh it was ingenious; "We can't have my subjects supporting the varden now can we… very well then I am officially suspending the sale of lace until we win this war…"

"But my lord you can't do that…"

Galbatorix jumped up from his thrown; "You dare tell me what I can or cannot do…"

The man dropped to his knees; "I cry your pardon great one… please take no offense…"

Galbatorix surprised everyone by sitting back down and not killing the man. "Good now leave me alone with Murtagh and Thorn."

The one moment Murtagh had been dreading being alone with Galbatorix had come and Thorn shared this sentiment. When everyone had left the thrown room Galbatorix waved for Murtagh and Thorn to come closer; the sound of Thorn's claws clicking across the marble floor echoed through the thrown room. Murtagh dropped to one knee.

"My lord… the sword of Oromis… the sword Naegling…"

Galbatorix stood up, walked down the steps and took the sword from Murtagh. He kept his eyes down for Galbatorix could at will enter his mind and take anything he wanted. "I did what you told me I cut open Glaedr's chest… his Eldunari was gone…Thorn was of the impression that the elves have it or maybe even Eragon has it…"

Shruiken touched all their minds and said; ("The logical conclusion is that Eragon has it and if that is the case…") The old dragon directed his next words at Galbatorix; ("…then Eragon knows the secret of your power…")

"Be silent…" Galbatorix barked and he gave Murtagh a venomous stare; "If you had obeyed me in the beginning I wouldn't be facing many of these problems…"

("I told you…") Thorn said touching Murtagh's mind.

They both were nervous that Galbatorix was about to punish them again "Eragon will most likely help the Varden attack Belatona… I think you and Thorn should be there to greet them… I have a plan Murtagh and Thorn and the both of you will follow it to the letter… Var Karan Hel en Tu Nor Skulbulba Nak…" Galbatorix invoked both Murtagh and Thorn's names in the ancient language and then he gave them his plan and the spells they would use to capture Eragon and Saphira.

When Galbatorix was done speaking Murtagh raised his head and looked at the mad king. "My lord when we faced Eragon and Saphira on the burning planes they had worn themselves out fighting and using magic… when we faced them again near the Jiet River they… were well rested… and Eragon's power seemed to be equal to that of mine and Saphira out flew Thorn at every turn…" Thorn growled a warning to Murtagh and he apologized in his mind. "…Perhaps if you gave us more Eldunari because even if the plan you gave us works we will be facing Eragon and Saphira at their full strength…"

Galbatorix started pacing and getting angrier he was about to say something when Shruiken spoke up; ("The hatchlings are correct… your plan is good but if they face a well rested Eragon and Saphira they face the possibility of defeat and if they possess Glaedr's Eldunari then they are all the more powerful… They need to be able to over power them both…")

Galbatorix calmed down a little then he looked at Murtagh and Thorn. "I will give you more Eldunari, but if the two of you fail me again you shall suffer the greatest pain in life you have ever felt…"

Galbatorix walked past dragon and rider to the middle of the floor and in the ancient language said; "Well of souls open to your king and grant me the power from within…" With that spell the floor shimmered and opened up into a perfect hole and from inside the hole a rainbow of colors glittered along with voices of a thousand angry dragons trapped within their Eldunari. "Letta…" He barked with a clawed hand and two eldunari of different sizes arose from the well; one was white and the other was the color of the sky. As the eldunari floated in the air the well closed and Murtagh walked up to the eldunari and placed his hands on the glowing orbs. He closed his eyes and with Thorn's help he mentally wrestled with the dragons inside until they were completely under his control then he recited a spell that allowed him to physically bond with the eldunari; they both vanished in a flash.

"Now go and don't fail me again…" Galbatorix said.

Galbatorix and Shuriken watched them depart through a side passage that lead to the dragon keep beneath the fortress and then into the courtyard from where they took off. Galbatorix reached for the green dragon egg on the chain around Shruiken's neck and unlatched the egg.

"Go to the keep I will join you soon…" He ordered the dragon.

Galbatorix went to his private study, summoned the egg keeper, and as he waited Galbatorix went through all the ancient scrolls on magic, spells, and wild magic searching for the name of power. There was a humble nock at the door and a short pudgy man with elf like ears entered. "You wish to see me my lord?" The man asked; he was an egg keeper one who was chosen to care for the dragon eggs when the wild dragons gave the riders one. He was older than Galbatorix by fifty years and he had betrayed the riders to serve Galbatorix during his rise to power and it was he who delivered the last three eggs to Galbatorix after the wyrd fall.

"Yes Graywin… I wish you to begin searching for a candidate for my egg…"

Graywin greedily accepted the egg; "Forgive me my lord… but I thought you weren't going to search again until the war was decided…"

He sighed; "I was but the Urgals have allied themselves with the Varden… and I have screed the Beor Mountains the dwarves are preparing to march an army across the desert and join the varden… time is against me…"

"I shall begin the search immediately…"

Graywin left the study with the egg in hand and Galbatorix returned to his search for the name of power. He was in the study for so long that out of aggravation Shruiken called out to him. Galbatorix closed the scroll he was reading and then he sealed his study with magic. He saddled Shruiken then they went up to the courtyard and took off flying North towards Gilead.