" Yield, you fool ! Yield!"

Murtagh lay, eyes closed and back arched on the stone table. Sweat stood on his forehead in thick droplets and he'd long since lost touch with his body. Under the throbbing, burning, pain of the Twins mental assault his brain strained for freedom. In the darkness behind his eyes colors blossomed and burst across his vision. It seemed the questioner was worried about losing his source of information.

The Twins were enjoying themselves, he could feel it.

" Where is he? Where is the Shade Slayer?"

"Get out…"

" Tell us where he is!"

"No…go to hell!"

"We'll send you there first !"

Murtagh bit his lips as the assault began again. He clenched his fists and concentrated on blocking his mind. He felt the Twins hold waver slightly and inwardly he smiled.

"You are strong, Murtagh Morzanson. But we are stronger. Give in now and spare yourself some pain."

" Get…out of…my head!"

Murtagh summoned all his strength and pushed against the Twins. There was a cry of frustration and the pain ceased.

Murtagh opened his eyes wearily, the Twins were glowering at him. It was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.

" Well?" said the cloaked man, " Did you learn anything?"

The Twins growled " No." The man frowned and Murtagh forced himself to laugh.

"I told you. Didn't I tell you? I don't give up!"

The questioner was hanging over him now , so close Murtagh could see the strange symbols on his cloak. A sorcerer …that was all he needed. " You will break….we're not through with you yet!"

The Twins smiled secretively. Murtagh felt his hackles rise, he knew what that smile meant.

" We've been kind. Now we must be cruel, we warned you."

Murtagh was hurled back ward as the twins' combined consciousness slammed into his already bruised mind. He floundered for a moment , gained control briefly then images began to fill his mind unbidden, memories he'd sought to forget.

He was in the great hall of his father's castle. Morzan sat before the hearth, Zar'roc across his lap, the blade gleaming heart blood red in the fire light as he rasped the whet stone over it again and again. A boy sat on ground by the hearth eating bread and cheese. It took Murtagh a moment before he realized it was himself as a young boy. Morzan's hunting hounds were sprawled about him and he was sharing his food with them.

"Murtagh!" His father's voice was a cold growl, " Stop feeding those mangy curs our food!"

"They're hungry too father."

"Aye, and we feed them enough as it is."

There was a moment's silence, then the boy spoke the words almost as Murtagh remembered them.

"Then why are they so hungry?"

He heard Zar'roc's scabbard fall to the ground as in one motion Morzan crossed the room and struck him. "Do as I say!"

Murtagh saw himself rise and slink across the room. He tripped over Zar'roc's scabbard and went sprawling nearly upsetting a nearby table. Morzan hauled him up by the front of his doublet and raised his fist.

"Morzan!"

The shock of hearing his mother's voice, silent for so many years was nearly enough to make Murtagh lose his guard. But he regained control. Selena's eyes were sad and stormy like his own, she seized Morzan's hand.

"Morzan, stop! He's just a boy!"

"Ten years is old enough to learn respect. He'll learn it or I'll beat it into him."

His mother did not release her grasp, her voice was pleading. " Morzan, please. Put him down, he's your son!"

"You stay out of this!" Morzan spat at her, " The only reason I keep you around at all is because you were lucky enough to give me him! I should just let HIM have you, for all the use you are to me now."

"Stop it!" Murtagh heard himself say, but suddenly his mother grabbed Morzan's arm twisting it painfully behind his back, her eyes wells of cold fire.

"Say it to me again!" she hissed, " Go on, say it! You're not afraid of a woman are you?"

Morzan's face was livid, but it was also terrified. " Selena…." He began.

"Did you think I would just take it? You should know me better, you made me what I am. "

"Selena, the boy…"

His mother's voice was a hiss, " Let him go or this won't be the only hand you'll lose."

All at once he was on the ground, Murtagh saw his mother's eyes soften.

"Murtagh, go to your Tornac."

"No!"

" Do as I say! Now!"

All at once Morzan reached around and broke his mother's grasp. The room seemed to quiver as he threw her away from him. Murtagh saw her strike the wall, then all at once Morzan was on her. A loud slap and a cry rent the air. "I'll teach you to turn on me!"

"Leave her alone!" Holding a silver candle stick like a battle axe, Murtagh saw his child self charge at his father. One swipe and he was on the ground. He watched his father reach for Zar'roc murder in his eyes.

"Murtagh, run!"

His mother threw her arms around her husband, but he threw her off. Murtagh watched as Zar'rocs blood red blade hurtled through the air as his father hurled it at his retreating back. He heard a metallic clang, the sound of his own voice crying out. Then his mother screaming and screaming.

Suddenly he realized it was his own voice screaming now, begging the Twins to stop like a child himself. Then quite suddenly he felt his consciousness waver, wink for one moment and instantly his control was gone.

Unbidden and unwanted images flitted across his eyes. Things he'd seen while with Eragon and Saphira. Things he'd been told, things he'd sworn to protect. He fought to regain control but more and more was revealed and he knew the Twins had succeeded. Murtagh was frantic , he had to regain control while the most important information still remained secret. Still the images played out in his mind. Finally in sheer desperation he forced himself forward then slammed his head back against the rock the blinding pain blotted out all thought. He felt the Twins withdraw , something wet and warm was dripping down his neck. Then the darkness took him.