Be warned, this chapter does not contain much action, but outlines Murtagh's betrayal, if one must call it such.
Murtagh jolted in shock, shaken by a sudden blast that shattered his sleep.
Last that he could recall he had been dining on Galbatorix's food, only to have fallen asleep soon after.
Treachery! he thought, Galbatorix must have poisoned the food…
"Oh no, he has no intention of poisoning you," a voice said, "You were merely tired, which is understandable."
Murtagh narrowed his eyes. The voice was familiar, but he could not quite grasp who it belonged to. Quickly, Murtagh turned to look at the speaker. A wave of recognition and understanding passed over him.
"Surprised to see me, are we?" the Twins spoke.
At the moment he had entered the Varden, Murtagh had felt the Twins were evil. He had felt that they held nothing for the Varden, only the power the Varden possessed.
"You!" Murtagh spoke. "You were responsible for the battle. You led Galbatorix's forces to the Varden…"
"Well observed, but-"
"Silence, you imbeciles! You do not deserve to live. You hold nothing for honor, only for power. I see it in your eyes; you discovered that Galbatorix was a stronger ally, one who could grant you more power, so you betrayed the Varden!"
"Do not dare silence us…"
The Twins suddenly sent a beam of light Murtagh, throwing him against the wall, crushing him.
"Our power far surpasses your mere physical strength. I suggest you obey us."
Murtagh's face fluttered between expressions of anger and surprise. His instinct urged him to pounce on the Twins and beat them with his fists until they could not even breathe for air. However, logic reminded him that he would not win, and so he held his ground.
"Much better," the Twins said, "Galbatorix has sent us to instruct you in 'magic', a term which he does not like to use. But first, he requests that you obey his will and fight with him, against the Varden."
Murtagh almost laughed at the frankness of the suggestions. "Do you fools believe I will merely obey him? I will never fight for him. Never!"
"Come Murtagh, there's no-"
"Enough, I will take care of this."
Murtagh whipped around to view the speaker. Galbatorix had come again, just as he had promised. The Twins quickly stepped away and disappeared.
"I believe you dined well, Murtagh?" Galbatorix asked. "And if you should wonder, I did not poison the food. Of course, you do not trust a word I should say. That is, for now."
"You are correct, and I shall never trust it."
"Such malice, Murtagh. What have I done to you?"
"You-you destroyed my home. Why, why was I born to such agony?"
"Ah, so that is what burns inside of you. I have heard of Morzan's malice towards his son, perhaps it was true. I am sorry Eragon, he was a good friend before his position of power grew too much for him."
Murtagh's eyes stretched in surprise, then narrowed in consternation.
Galbatorix is treating my father as if he were a friend, a good friend. He even seems so…No, he is playing mind games with me, trying to get to me.
"What I speak is the truth Murtagh."
Murtagh had forgotten he could read his thoughts. He glared at Murtagh.
"Forgive me Murtagh, but your thoughts pierce like arrows. Overtime, I may teach you to isolate your thoughts, but not now. Murtagh, your father-"
"My father cared nothing for me. Selena was merely his servant, a whim of his. There was no true love, nothing. He hated me. Look!"
Murtagh tore off his shirt, exposing the massive scar that stretched the entirety of his back.
"This is what your good friend did to me."
Suddenly, Galbatorix flinched in anger and gripped Murtagh in magic. However, as quickly as he had reacted, Galbatorix released Murtagh.
"Never mock Morzan. He has remained a friend to me for many, many years. Alas, I am sorry to see what he has done in his old age. It is a pity. He really loved Selena, you realize. Perhaps her despise of him led to more anger."
"Why?"
Galbatorix cocked his head. "I do not understand your question…"
"Why are you being so-so human? You seem to express feelings which, which you just can't possibly do!"
"Why, because I am King? Murtagh, your ignorance is unworthy of you. Do you truly believe the filth that the Varden has taught you? The taints and lies of those who remain loyal to the 'Dragon Riders'?
"No, Murtagh, I am not emotionless no evil. I believe in revolution and a change. Tell me, how well did you know the Dragon Riders of old?"
"I did not. But they were far better than you!"
"Do not be so rash, so easy to assume, Murtagh. They were in fact worse than I was. They were a bunch of old men, foolish old men. As power tainted them, they grew more elitist. When I lost my dear Dragon, they banished me from them."
"Now I know why you despise the Dragon Riders. You hold the grudge that they took your Dragon away. But they did not!" Murtagh walked closer to Galbatorix, anger burning within him.
"No," Galbatorix said, moving closer, "that was only a portion of the problem. The Dragon's themselves sensed something wrong with their partners. I spoke with many of them."
"But, but why would everyone speak ill of you? If you have done so much good, why?"
"Murtagh, I have not claimed to have begun everything anew. There are people who favor my rule, but also those of old who despise it. The place from where Eragon yields, Carvahall, despises me for the harsh taxes I impose. But it is necessary, and their grudge is biased."
"Why, taxing them does not bring relief."
"My dear Murtagh, Eragon has filled you with lies. Has he never told you the proposals I make to those small villages? Where do you think taxes are used? I use them to help better the villages. While the Dragon Riders let the poor villages of old to rot and decay, I have let them flourish and grow equal to the great cities."
"But they have not." Murtagh sneered.
"No, they have not. But that is not my fault. Why do you believe the great cities flourish more and more, and favor my rule? Is it because I pay the lords? Yes, it is. I pay the lords so that their cities can thrive!" Galbatorix spoke and pounded the table nearby.
"The foolish villages," he said, "cling to the bias of old, believing I am a harbinger of evil. I am not. I offered to rebuild many small villages, to give them money."
"But why kill them? Why kill them when they can not pay the tax?"
"It is not my fault. Had they accepted my money, they would have flourished with the tools necessary to pay off my measly tax and so much more! But no, the more they rebel, the more they grow poor. In the end, I am forced to kill them, or my kingdom shall suffer!"
"You mean, you have actually offered them…but they refused."
"Yes," Galbatorix said, approaching closer, "they refused! Tell me, why do you believe I am evil?"
"You have slaughtered thousands. You have destroyed all that is good by killing the Dragon Riders. You have turned your kingdom into a realm of pain. You have destroyed my life!" Murtagh stood ground, panting in anger and exertion.
Galbatorix sighed. "I have slaughtered only when I sense a rebellion will harm my kingdom. And I have told you of the Dragon Riders. They did not care for the land, or their subjects or their friends.
"My former instructor was a dear friend of mine. But he was the one to betray me. Have you ever wondered how my Dragon died? I have heard of Oromis, who still lives, tell people of my venture in the Urgals, where my Dragon died. But oh, did you know, Murtagh, they sent me there! My friends and I were ordered to go to the Urgals. I had achieved the rank of Dragon Rider, but my friends were yet to do so…They died because we were sent on the mission! I was ordered to protect them, but the ignorant council did not monitor the activity of the Urgals. When we were ambushed, I had a set a perimeter of magic, to tell us of intruders. It was weak, but enough that an Urgal could not dispel it. Little did I know, a mage among them destroyed our shield…I was wrong to assume such a thing, but did the council warn me of mages? No! It is their job to monitor the land, and they did not!"
"As for my kingdom, it is not in pain. If you should look at every rebellion that I was forced to put down as detrimental, then you should only live in terror. But look to the cities that flourish. The people of the land only care for what I have done wrong, and spread their lies… But have you heard of how I controlled the lands so that no Urgals or such would mindlessly sack villages, of how I have made the cities flourish, of how I offered the villages protection, only to have them refute it and blame it on me? No! No… you haven't. But you Murtagh, you have.
"Your life was not born to suffering. You are young, Murtagh. The first few years of your life may have been painful, but they were nothing compared to mine. My kingdom had fallen, and at an early age, I was separated and isolated for the Riders damned training. The friends I had were destroyed by the Rider's ignorance. Murtagh, you have wandered aimlessly for years, searching for a purpose. And now, I give you a purpose!
"Side with me, and we shall correct all that is wrong. Your life shall achieve purpose, and you may help me achieve utopia. The land can not suffer anymore. The Varden and their lies must be stopped! They have framed me as their enemy, but if they should merely listen to me and embrace my idea, I would never kill them. You, Murtagh, having a strong hold on Eragon, who has a strong hold on the Varden, you can help me stop the Varden without a giant war."
"I-I…" Murtagh shook his head in confusion. He had ventured for years with hatred in his heart. But he seemed to realize that they were false.
"I-I accept your offer."
"Thank you, Murtagh. Without you, the Dragon lineage shall end. I hope to create a world where the Dragon Riders are not king, but guardians. I will ensure that they do not fall, for as long as I live, they will not fall. But you, Saphira will not mate with my Dragon, but what of yours?"
"I…"
"Murtagh, I have a dragon that is yours. I know more of Dragon lore than any Rider ever knew or wanted to know. I can tell that this dragon is yours. Murtagh, you are a Dragon Rider."
"What! But, I-"
Galbatorix sensed Murtagh was happy to accept, and did not press. "Good, I will show you your egg soon. But first, Murtagh, you must know."
"Know what?"
"Murtagh, Eragon was the son of Morzan and Selena."
Murtagh's eyes burst in shock. The son of Morzan and Selena…
"But, that means, Eragon is my brother."
"Yes, Murtagh, he is your brother. How fit is it that two brothers should bring this kingdom to prosperity? Murtagh, you must persuade Eragon to join us, to see the truth. Can you do that, after I have trained you?"
Murtagh hesitated. "Yes, I will."