A war horn sounded in the distance. The loud footsteps of marching soldiers filled the air along with the shouts of order from officers. The sky was filled with Ravens, Eagles, Falcons, and Hawks waiting for their second course of free carrion.
We will win this battle. He reassured himself.
They had the upper hand in this battle. He had made sure of it. It had taken the empire three days to prepare for attack. That gave Eragon more than enough time to prepare the defense.
It was hard but I got it done.
The twelve elven mages had arrived and they immediately went off to the magicians of Du Vrangr Gata. They were powerful and had much more success than he did in teaching the Varden's Magicians. Possibly it was because they had more time to get themselves ready. Truth be told, the reason was that the elves were more patient then he.
Now the magicians of Du Vrangr Gata were stronger than before with more spells at their arsenal. Even the healers were stronger than before.
Since the elves could also fight it gave him the chance to conserve his strength as he had three of them as his guard. They would place wards around him which would usually drain his own strength. This gave him a better chance since he would be able to use his elven strength to its full advantage if Murtagh were to show up.
He was also able to convince most of the dwarves to stay and fight. He gave them a speech of vengeance to provoke their anger enough to avenge their fallen leader. He had told everyone who the red rider was and he knew that the dwarves now hated Murtagh and would no matter what happened.
Now, as the two armies stood two hundred meters away from each other staring the other down, he couldn't help but finally feel that they had a chance of winning. Although the Empire's large numbers was a factor, he was hoping that most of the enemy magicians would be taken out before the Varden suffered many casualties.
It was just after dawn. No sunlight dared penetrate the thick fumes as if frightened to be attacked.
There was a pause where the only sound was the occasional squawk by a bird above. It was the breath before the plunge. Neither the Empire nor the Varden wanted to make the first move.
Up to that moment the sun had been blocked from the battle field by the putrid smoke that arose from the plains. But then, the smoke shifted and the sun burst through the gap.
The sun light shined on the soldiers armor making it seem like thousands of little suns littered the battle field. Saphira looked like a blazing blue fire as the sun made contact with her. It was a sight to behold as it showed the battle in all its glory.
As soon as the sun hit the Empire charged forward. With a fierce war cry Nasuada yelled "Fight, for your right, for Freedom!"
Saphira let out a huge roar in response as the soldiers in the front redoubled their grip on their pikes.
Friend of my heart, are you with me in this fight? Eragon asked in which Saphira responded by melding their identities to form one entity, neither here nor there.
Like in the last battle he had his guard of dwarves and Kull on the left of Saphira along with two elves. He prepared himself for battle as the first line prepared to retreat.
Then, all hell broke loose as the pike man fell back. He swung left then right. Cleaving helmets while Saphira burned a hole through the men, cooking them alive. Using claw and tooth, she cut down man after man without a second thought.
Scenes of the aftermath of the last battle entered his mind. He saw the fallen men from both sides being eaten by the birds above.
He forced this out of his mind as a squad of fifteen soldiers detached themselves from the Empire and made their way towards Saphira and him. They cut through the soldiers before their guard could react to the change. Even the elves had their mouths open at speed and ferocity that they saw from them.
Morning passed into noon and their seemed to be no end in sight. No matter how many men were killed another took their place. Although he had destroyed all of their siege weapons he still feared if they kept this up the Empire would win my sheer numbers since both sides were losing men at the same rate.
But suddenly, there was a change in the battle. An elf was able to destroy a key magician, who happened to be leading all the others. Now, most of the Empire was left unprotected except by a few magicians. They were being slain by magic left and right ruthlessly. Within the hour the enemy had dwindled down to just a fraction of its previous size.
What surprised him was that Murtagh had not shown himself yet which meant that he really did go back to Uru'baen. The remaining soldiers from the Empire surrendered as they were surrounded by the Varden.
A soldier ran up to him. "Shadeslayer. What should we do now that we have them surrounded?"
"Why do you ask me?"
Then something dawned on him. No, it did not happen. It cannot happen.
He then looked at the soldier. "Where is Nasuada?"
"Lady Nasuada is unconscious. She hit by a hammer in the helm, but she is fine.
He let out a sigh of relief. Thank the Gods above and below.
He turned to Saphira who had been watching impassively the entire time. Come Saphira, we must talk to the enemy.
With that she flew him to the front of the Empire's last twenty thousand strong which were now outnumbered by the Varden. He could feel the elves place every inconceivable ward around him.
He then projected his voice above the sounds of the ending battle around him. "You are the enemy. We can not allow you to leave here to strengthen Galbatorix forces." He paused to allow his implications to sink into them. They now were all looking worried.
One of them shouted out "Please oh mighty rider, spare us."
"Wait. You have not let me finish. You have a choice to make. You can either join the Varden to bring down that tyrant of a king, or suffer the alternative and be slain. You have thirty minutes.
He left the Varden to guard the remaining soldiers as he and six elves went around and started to heal the wounded.
As last time Saphira did not allow him to heal her until he tended to the mortally wounded.
That was a good fight, don't you think Saphira?
Yes. We have finished hours earlier than last time and we have more energy left.
But what puzzles me is the fact that Murtagh did not arrive. Galbatorix should have known that without a rider his army was sure to fall, especially after the dwarves and elves joined us.
Saphira thought before answering, I have been thinking about this as well she said while she watched him heal an almost slit throat. I can understand Galbatorix not knowing about the elves, but the dwarves? They were what allowed us to win the battle last time.
You know what I think, asked Eragon while moving on to the next soldier, I think that the reason Murtagh killed Hrothgar was so he could disable the dwarves so that they would not lose the next battle.
He healed a crushed ribcage.
I think you are wrong Eragon. You forget that Murtagh was supposed to be capturing you. Galbatorix was not expecting to lose the battle, else he would have sent a smaller force. He wiped blood off the face of a fallen soldier and checked his pulse to see if he really was dead.
Although, she continued, I do believe that he ordered the death of Hrothgar to disable the dwarves but I believe he was planning to attack the entire dwarven nation next as he knows now where Farthen Dur is.
Eragon paused for a second before continuing on. That still doesn't explain why those soldiers attacked us. They would not do it on their own accord.
I believe we will find the answer to that very soon. It has been thirty minutes now.
Yes. Let us go find out how many new recruits there are.
With that he made his way back through the corpse laden wasteland towards where the enemy soldiers were waiting. He made his way toward the front and found them all with their weapons placed on the ground in front of them.
When he arrived most of them looked at him earnestly while others looked away. He then yelled out, "How many of you will join the Varden? If you will, go towards your left and prepare to have your mind examined. If not, then prepare for death."
He was surprised when more than half of them formed another group to his left. There were roughly fourteen thousand men waiting to be examined. His surprise was swept away as he saw how many men lay before him valiantly waiting to be slain. These were the corrupted soldiers, the officers, the professional army. The ones who chose to follow Galbatorix rather than be conscripted.
"I give you one last chance. Join us as we work to take down that tyrant or you will die." A few soldiers exchanged worried glances but none moved from their places.
"Very well, prepare to die for your king."
With those final words he, the elves, and the magicians of Du Vrangr Gata joined minds and slew all of the soldiers. They overwhelmed any defenses leaving none standing.
Eragon looked around in shock. This was a massacre. In under a minute, six thousand defenseless men were slain. Men whose family awaited their return, praying to all gods that they came home safely. Six thousand mothers will mourn for their lost sons. Six thousand wives will curse war for their murdered husbands. And six thousand children will cry for their lost fathers.
The implications of what happened brought tears to his eyes. What was worse was that he himself had ordered their destruction. Was he really better than Galbatorix? He believed he was doing the right thing, but, didn't both Galbatorix and Murtagh believe the same for themselves. I'm a monster.
No Eragon. He was surprised that Arya had just contacted him mentally.
Arya, why are you reading my mind? He allowed his anger to be known by Arya. Although he cared for her and did not want to risk their relationship he still would not stand for her to disrespect his privacy.
Saphira's voice filled his head. I let her Eragon. You did not notice because she is listening through me. If you must be angry, be angry at me.
He settled into a fuming silence. Saphira betrayed me!
Eragon, you are not a monster. You should know this. I have said it once and I will say it again. You are not your father.
I know this Arya. But how can you justify what I did.
It is what had to be done. Would you have let them return to Galbatorix where he would gather another army and attack again? Or would you keep them in dungeons all across Surda to be tortured until they lose their sanity?
Arya, I know that it had to be done but it does not make me feel any better. Think for a second. One hundred thousand men marched over to Surda. One hundred thousand men fought for the Empire. One hundred thousand men left their friends and family. And now only two returned, Murtagh and Thorn.
I understand how you feel. But you must learn that sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
Eragon snorted and before he could stop himself, where have I heard that before.
What?
Nothing. I must speak with the enemy.
With that he shoved her from his mind and walked over to the remaining soldiers. He raised his voice so that all could hear him.
"Now it is time to be examined." He thought for a second then said, "Form thirteen straight lines now." He then contacted Trianna. Do not be angry at me but only the elven mages and I will be examining so as to get this over as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Before she had time to answer he turned and contacted the elves and told them his plan.
As soon as the enemy soldiers stopped moving around the scan began. Whenever someone was done being examined they left the line and went to a clearing within Varden where tents were being erected for the new members.
He must have gone through more than a thousand minds. He learned why they had stayed and fought and was confused by it. Before he left, Murtagh ordered the soldiers to attack them. He did not know whether he did that so that they Varden would win or because he thought that the Varden were too far outnumbered to win.
What ever it was he was thankful. They now had fourteen thousand new recruits. After conversing with the elves he found that they now had over fifty new magicians.
We must see Nasuada, said Saphira, to see if she really is well.
Yes. Let us go. Then, soon, we will go to Helgrind and finally avenge Garrow and Brom.
