Chapter One

Murtagh

It was almost sunrise when Murtagh was suddenly awoken by a thundering roar. It took him a moment to get his bearings, Soon he realised he was airborn still astride his closest companion. The cold breeze rushed around him stinging his cheeks and making his eyes water. The leather saddle straps that kept him bound in place were chaffing against the skin on his muscled calves causing him severe discomfort and a large dent had appeared in his breast plate from the spike that he had propped himself against. They had been flying all through the night and now that the cover of darkness had lifted some, Murtagh noticed Lake Tudosten sprawled out beneath him.

What is it? Murtagh demanded with his thoughts. Reaching out towards his companion for an explanation to the rude interruption.

Look ahead. The familiar deep rumbling tone sounded inside his mind. He did as instructed, craning his neck to get a better view. In the distance he could just about make out a dark silhoutte that blanketed the horizon.

Is that... Before he could finish Thorn interupted him mid sentence.

The Beor Mountains... I can smell the stench of Dwarf flesh even from here. Suddenly unease gripped at Murtagh. Of all the journeys he would under take he had looked forward to this one the least. He was unsure what reception he and Thorn would receive from the Dwarves considering the heart ache they had caused them in the past. He knew the Dwarves were famed for the grudges that they held and they were a very patient people who tended to wait for the right moment to exact vengeance. He must have been thinking out loud again as Thorn soon spoke.

I will never let them harm you little one. The deep soothing tone calmed his nerves instantly as it had so often in the past.

After all these years you still insist on calling me that!

Always. He began to make the deep rumbling sound which resembled laughing that he made often when he found something amusing and a puff of smoke filled the air from his nostrils.

Besides the Dwarves need us more than we need them. Convinced by his friends wisdom he stopped to worry. The dwarves had been desperate for their chance to join the Pact and Eragon had agreed to present the eggs to them. Murtagh and Thorn were both certain that a dwarf would make a terrible excuse of a Rider, but despite their strong protests Eragon had insisted that it was imperitive that they travel there.

It was another hour before they reached the foot hills. Rather than stopping at every town as they had on previous journies they continued on, Gliding through the towering jutted peaks, making a beeline for the hollow mountain Farthen Dur, where the Dwarven Capital Tronjheim was concealed. They had received word before leaving Selenia that King Orik had gathered all thirteen clans there for the Anniversary celebrations.

Thorn was perfectly accustomed to spending days on end on the wing without rest or food but the long journey made Murtagh weary. They had spotted no sign of civilization amongst the towering pillars of stone and Murtagh almost felt greatful to King Orik for making this journey easier for him.

The Dwarves hide like rats in their burrows, scurrying through their bolt holes in the stone to avoid the gaze of their superiors. Thorn grumbled after a while breaking the silence.

There are no Dwarves here He responded in a puzzled tone.

You still have much to learn young one, The Dwarves are everywhere here. They know we are here and i can smell the fear oozing from them. Murtagh didnt respond. Instead he cleared his thoughts and expanded his consiousness drawing on the energy around him as Eragon had taught him. He brushed gently against the stone below with his mind, anxious at what he might find. At first he found nothing but cold emptiness, So he pushed further penetrating the stone with great force. Suddenly he noticed the entire area around him buzzed with energy. it seemed to seep from the mountains themselves as though they were alive. He began to probe further and soon he noticed it wasnt the mountain that emitted the energy as he first believed but instead it was tens of thousands of life forms that resided within. He withrew his consiousness and slowly began to form a reply.

We have arrived old friend.Thorn grumbled softly but didnt respond. He stopped beating his wings and instead hovered above the cloud line. Unease began to creep upon Murtagh again at the prospect of coming face to face with King Orik and the impending doom that he had convinced himself would befall them. He reached for the saddle bag and pulled out the contents, a large brown sack bound with a length of rope which he knew was his only bargaining chip. he placed the parcel in his lap and began to untie the cord. Once opened he peered down into the sack and marvelled at its contents. inside where two medium sized dull coloured dragon eggs, one was black of colour and the other was a dark green. Although dull they were still more beautiful than any gem stone Murtagh had seen. Tucked beneath them was a considerably smaller egg the colour of Amber. The small under developed egg glistened brightly, illuminating the sack with a faint glow.

He thought back to the moment that the Eldunari had selected these three eggs in particular for the Dwarves. He had laughed when he had been presented with the tiny fist sized egg. He had seen eggs inside the vault which were ten times it's size and he was bewildered why this tiny thing would be of any use to them. The Eldunari of the White Dragon, Umaroth had informed him that this egg was the product of relations between Glaedr, The golden dragon that had died at their hands while they were under the control of Galbatorix and Agaravel another Dragon that had stood valiantly against the Forsworn during The Fall. After the history lesson from the ancient dragon even Murtagh agreed that such great parentage could not be denied.

Murtaghs thoughts were interrupted as the clouds broke for a moment, below he spotted a huge welcoming party at the base of the mountain. a Thousand little bodies scurried below like termites in a mound. He wrapped his arms around the spike on Thorns neck and spoke with his mind.

If we are going to die today, Then lets atleast give these bastards an entrance to remember us by. Thorn didnt need to be convinced, He beat his wings propelling them high into the atmosphere, the air was thin and ice cold at such high altitude and Murtagh struggled to catch his breath as they ascended even further. Suddenly he came to a halt and fell into a vertical nose dive. As they free fell through the air they gathered immense speed. Murtagh muttered some word in the ancient language and almost instantly breathing became alot easier to him. As they pierced the cloud line Thorn let out a long deafening roar that echoed across the mountain range causing a small land slide in the distance and quickly fanned out his wings to slow the descent. The spectators below grew larger with each passing second. Suddenly Thorn twisted in the air, maneuvering into a continual backwards somersault which made Murtagh feel sick to his stomach. As he flipped towards the ground he let out a stream of red flame from his maw, which shaped into rings of fire in the sky.

To Murtaghs complete amazement the Dwarves burst into a rapture of cheers. He could not have hoped for a warmer welcome from them. They scrambled to make a clearing and Thor landed with a graceful thud that shook the earth and caused several dwarves to loose their footing to his amusement. Murtagh jumped down from the saddle, relieved to finally be able to stretch his legs again. He was crowded by jubilant dwarves who all rained praises upon them. Suddenly a booming voice sounded over the crowd and all fell silent.

"Hail the Red Rider!" the mysterious voice called. Suddenly a path cleared and Murtagh noticed a pot bellied dwarf with grey hair and a matching long grizzly grey beard hobbling towards him. At first he did not recognise the man, But he instantly recognised the crown that sat upon his head. He bowed his head and sunk to one knee in the presense of the aging King of the Dwarves.

"Your Grace" he muttered while looking down at the ground.

"Stand, you kneel to no knurla here, technically we are brothers after all" He rose slowly and Orik continued to adress him. " Five and twenty long years us knurlan have waited for my clan brother to honour the pact he made t-"

And the Urgal's must wait a year longer yet Nar Garzvhog does not whine. Thorns thundering tone cut in before he could end his sentence, From the look on Oriks face Murtagh could tell that Thorn had also spoken to him directly.

"All i ask is that i might see them with my own two eyes" Orik spoke almost unfazed by the sudden interruption. Thorn let out a low growl but beside that he remained silent.

"As you wish... Brother" Murtagh muttered in response and the King let out a roar of laughter. Murtagh reached for the saddle bags withdrawing the brown sack and set about loosening the cord. Once loose he presented the sack to Orik who snatched at it eagerly as the surrounding dwarves crained their necks to catch a glimpse. The Kings eyes lit up as he glanced down into the sack making him look youthful once more. He didnt speak, instead he clasped Murtagh by the shoulder with his free arm, Pulling him into a tight embrace.

"It is true... I have gemstones of every shape, size and colour within my treasury, but never in my long life have i seen a stone of such breathtaking beauty" He turned to adress his people and spoke proudly.

"This Day will go down in history, Tonight we feast and come dawn the selection will begin!" The crowd erupted into joyful cheers once more. Orik turned to Murtagh and spoke in hushed tones.

" I must insist that the eggs remain under my protection until morning. There are deep dwellers disguised here amongst my people who would seek to steal all three eggs for their own selfish means"

"Very well" Murtagh replied grudgingly. Although he completely disagreed with the notion he knew it would be foolish to argue with the King of the Dwarves infront of his own people.

"Do not worry, My Treasury is the most secure vault in the whole of Tronjheim, the Walls are impenetrable... Now come, let us feast you have travelled such a distance" Orik began to lead him through the crowd and the royal procession followed, taking one of the secret tunnels into the hollow mountain leading to the vast Dwarven Capital, Tronjheim.