Eragon stood grimly side by side with Saphira. The two stood on a small steep hill about a half league from Belatona. The siege had started.

In the distance he could see the city's walls. Though smaller than Feinster's they were better guarded. The gate was heavier, thicker. A shell of vicious spikes and thorny outcroppings had been placed to encase the dank brick walls. Upon the walls stood hundreds, perhaps thousands, of troops armed with bows. They shot flaming darts into the Varden below. Each arrow, however, was capable of no harm as the Varden's troops had gathered into a tight group and shielded themselves as one great unit.

It was a distraction, this frontal attack. Little did the Empire know, a group of spellcasters and elite warriors were beneath Leona lake. They would break through the thin barring of the canal and seek to unlock the city's defenses. Once inside a flare would be shot into the air indicating their success, and drawing the city's troops away from the main gates.

Only once Jormundur had given the order would Eragon and Saphira be allowed to enter the battle, though, as Saphira reminded him, Eragon no longer strictly owed his obedience.

Watching the battle was not easy. With every death, on either side, Eragon's heart twanged with pain and regret. He worried so for Arya who was part of the underwater break-in. He worried for Orik, and even Garzhvog.

The night churned with screams and moans. The surrounding valley seemed to stand on ceremony for the great sorrow that engulfed the city. Sweeping winds twisted and morphed the anguished cries into a noise inhuman. A light drizzle had begun to fall worsening the feeling of dread and oppression of those who waited for their turn.

Both Rider and Dragon stood in total silence, each burning with a different emotion. While Eragon was in mild awe of the horror before him, Saphira burned with a lust for blood. Her nostrils expanded allowing the winds to bring her the fuel that would fire her into a fierce frenzy; the scent of blood. Eragon could tell it took her great restraint to simply remain still.

He rested a hand on her side in attempt to soothe her. She did not heed his action, only stared with glistening eyes.

Blodhgarm stood with his peers below Eragon. The twelve elves stood straight backed, heads perked, ready for any sign of immediate danger.

Eragon noticed catapults being constructed on the walls. If not for his elven senses he would not have been able to see it from such a distance. But see it he did. And once these engines were assembled they began wreaking havoc below. Massive stones and pots of oil were being flung below, killing scores of men at a time. The Varden who were capable of stopping arrows could do nothing to defend themselves from being scorched or crushed.

Saphira...

I know, she said, but we agreed to remain put.

For how long? Must we watch them die needlessly.

She remained silent for a moment before asking, What about Blodhgarm?

Eragon sighed and glanced at the elf. This is exactly what Arya warned me about last night.

Saphira snorted and swung her head around to eye Eragon. This is your decision, Eragon. Let no one else sway you. I chose you because of your heart, what does it tell you?

Eragon thought for a second. Let's go... and quickly.

Eragon decided to tell Blodhgarm. "Saphira and I leave to dismantle the Engines!" He yelled.

Blodhgarm turned and looked up through the steady worsening rain. "No! I must insist Shadeslayer, Saphira, that you do not!"

Eragon mounted Saphira. "We appreciate your concern."

Blodhgarm spoke again but what he said was lost in the roar of the storm as Saphira took off through the tremulous night towards the city.

Belatona was relatively bare. Behind it's walls lay a sprawling of low shack-like houses. Very few stood over two stories, and those that did stood out like giants amongst dwarves. The city was roughly pentagonal in shape and larger than Eragon had expected. The Leona Lake shimmered behind with choppy waters. The surface was pocked with rain drops.

As they approached the city most of the archers abandoned the walls. The ones who didn't, they remained purely because they were too traumatized by fear to move. Eragon saw many of the Varden gaze up at them, forgetting to protect themselves. What a sight we must be, Eragon thought.

Without hesitation Saphira swooped down upon the first catapult. It was clear that most of the siege engines had been put together hastily. Despite Belatona being a city of carpenters and engineers, the handiwork was relatively weak at the joints.

With her great hind legs, Saphira crashed into the machine and dragged it off the wall. It fell below with a great crash, leveling the unfortunate soldiers who stood below. Dozens of arrows crashed off of Eragon's wards. While Saphira took out three more catapults, he felt out and around with his mind for a sign of any magician who could threaten him. To his surprise, he found none who posed a danger.

Then a great pressure grew on his mind. He would have panicked had he not recognized the antagonist as Angela. Eragon! Return at once! Orders from Jormundur.

I can't watch while these machines slaughter my friends!

A noble sentiment, one that will be totally in vain if you get killed. Back away now, you've done enough.

Alright...

He told Saphira to head back away from the city. She did so with out question. She flew hundreds of yards until they spotted Jormundur on his steed. Orrin sat mounted next to him. When they spotted Saphira their expressions were less than impressed.

Saphira landed in a small clearing, created when the Varden's soldier scurried away. Eragon dismounted and dropped before the two leaders.

Orrin wasted no time. "What the blazes do you think you are doing?" He shouted. "You were told to remain where you were."

Before answering Eragon reached out to contact Blodhgarm. Come join us... He showed the elf where they were.

Then he replied to Orrin, "Your Majesty, we had to do something. Why wait and watch if we could fix it?"

Jormundur urged his horse forward a few steps. "I'll tell you why." He said in a low, almost whisper, "I must know you will follow my orders without question. I understand that technically you don't owe me your allegiance, but it will do the Varden no good to have you running amok, acting on your whims."

Eragon clenched his fists. "So that was the point. Just to see if I would follow your orders? You let people die. Still are!" He turned to see his elvish guards enter the clearing. Still talking to Jormundur and Orrin he added, "Once I see the flare go up I won't hesitate in joining the battle. Find another way of testing my obedience, one that doesn't require people to get hurt."

Jormundur and Orrin remained silent. Eragon turned to Blodhgarm. "Be ready to enter the city at the signal."

The elf's yellow eyes narrowed, a sharp tooth was visible beneath his feral lips. "Shadeslayer, if you insist on leaving us at every turn we cannot do our duty properly and keep you safe. Did you not apologize to us for that exact thing after the last battle?"

Eragon sighed. "I know, and I apologize again. The problem is we lack mobility if you remain with us." The elf looked dissatisfied so Eragon added, "Once in the city I promise we will not leave your side. It is in the tight corners of street fighting that we will be most vulnerable."

Blodhgarm hesitated, then dipped his head in a slight bow, and back away to converse with the others. Eragon sighed then looked, again, at Belatona, noting how much Saphira's intervention helped.

He waited on edge watching for any sight of the light. With each minute he grew more anxious. Men were dying left and right, and all he could think about was Arya's safety. Seconds passed to minutes, minutes to hours, with no sign of success. No one could contact any of the spellcasters for the distance. Eventually Eragon could watch no more.

After discussing it with Saphira, he turned to his guards. "Follow us, if you will. We make for the lake. And fast."

He set off along the ground with Saphira. Instead of heading towards the city he head at an angle away so that they could loop around without being seen. When they walked through the Dwarven section of the army Orik hailed them.

"Where go you!" He shouted over the wind.

"To see what takes Arya so long! We can't stop." They didn't either. With a pace that would have been a sprint for an ordinary man, they made their way out of the army. Pulling away from the crowd they began to curve with the city towards the lake. His elvish guards followed close behind.

Eventually they approached the part of the lake near where the river converged. He looked around but could find no sign of Arya, or anyone. They must be underwater.

Perhaps. Saphira padded around a bit before adding, I can't go with you. I'm to big to fit in the canal.

Eragon nodded, then gestured to Blodhgarm, who sidled over. "Shadeslayer?"

"We enter the lake. Saphira cannot follow."

With that Blodhgarm cast the spell necessary to travel underwater. As they waded through the choppy waters, Eragon noticed Blodhgarm's magic shaping the water into that of a bubble that surrounded them. They remained along the soft lake floor instead of floating like normal.

To Eragon's horror the bed was covered in bones. At least some of them were human, what the others were he couldn't even guess. Some were only partially decomposed and when trodden on they would grip to his legs as if life still animated them.

Blodhgarm held aloft a strange werelight, as did the five other elves. The other six of his guards had remained with Saphira, much to her annoyance. The soft light emitted from their palms surrounded them in a dark green glow. The water rippled and wavered like a candle around them.

It took a good hour until a slight, almost unnoticeable ascension began. It became harder to keep their footing as the slope grew steeper and steeper. It was then that the green of the water grew brighter in one small area in front of them. The wall of water before them turned brighter and more translucent until it dissipated all together. It was replaced by a group of people who sat in a round metal tunnel, ten feet high and wide. Only one stood, in front of a large gate which forbid any passing.

Eragon at first didn't recognize anyone until the person who stood turned. It was Arya, but she looked more tired than he'd ever seen her. He started, rushing forward to her.

"Arya! What has happened?"

She took in who was with him before saying, "They must have known we would try to exploit this weakness. A ward was placed... you shouldn't have come." Eragon expected her to be surprised at his appearance, but she seemed to take it in stride.

Eragon looked at the others who appeared to be as weary as she. "Why? What ward was placed?"

She gestured for him to sit. He did so. "One that would not allow us to leave the way we came. You can try."

Eragon stood and made to step out of the tunnel into the water only to be blocked by an invisible barrier. He tried again to no avail. Then he returned and sat down.

Arya spoke again. "As you can see it is impossible to leave. The only way out is through the gate, and not ten minutes ago we grappled with three of Galbatorix's magicians, before they fled. We must find a way to break the barrier and enter the city... without unduly tiring ourselves."

Eragon frowned. "Why is that?"

Arya smiled ironically. "There is a score of powerful magicians waiting on that side."

Blodhgarm gestured around, "But we are here now, surely we can best them."

"Perhaps, but, as I say, we must first break through the gate, which is heavily guarded by wards unknown. It could exhaust most of our energy."

A short, well built man across from them laughed. "But we've no choice do we? Let us break through and kill as many as we can."

Another, taller, man told him to shut up.

Together they all sat in silence before Eragon stood and said, "We are wasting time, and lives. We must try. I can call Saphira."

Arya hesitated, "Do so. Make sure she doesn't engage them until we are out of the tunnel."

"Right."

He reached out with his mind and told her what to do.

I will be there. She said with concern thickening her voice.

Eragon nodded to Arya who rose to his side. Together, with the help of the other elves, they began to press upon the wards on the bars. Slowly and cautiously at first, but with each second they grew bolder and more confident, pushing harder and harder. Finally the gate gave way, Eragon felt his breath release as the metal clattered to a fall in front of him. He smiled- it hadn't been too difficult.

He was about to step past into the other side of the tunnel when a commotion behind halted him. He turned and found one of the elves had fallen. Blodhgarm already knelt by her side, as did Arya and another. They uttered frantic words in the ancient language. The human warriors watched in shocked awe.

The unconscious elf spasmed and writhed on the floor, despite Arya and Blodhgarm's efforts to still her. Her eyes turned a bright shade of red and white foam began frothing from her mouth. Then she grew still. One of his guards began to weep, until finally Blodgharm stood. "Elgwed has passed into the abyss." A feral snarl laid bare his razor sharp teeth.

Eragon stood silent as blessings were pledged onto the body. After a few minutes Arya whispered into Eragon's ear, "This is why you must be more careful. That could have been you."

She then took their weeping companion by the arm and pulled her into a gentle embrace. She turned to the human men and said, "Guard her body with your lives. Remain here until one of us returns."

Eragon caught her eye and gestured to the other end of the tunnel. Arya nodded and said, "Come. We leave to avenge Elgwed."

Eragon turned and walked past the fallen barrier. Despite his confidence to the contrary he pent up his breath as he passed the gateway. He was unsure if any curse lingered. However his progress was unfettered.

The underground tunnel ran a longer distance than Eragon expected. It turned this way and that, and every now and then they had to climb a small set of ladders to access the next part. The smell grew more offensive the further they went, and the air began to cool. Eragon slowed when he heard a soft patter of rain ahead. He felt Arya close behind.

She grasped his hand and said, "Let some one else go first."

Eragon knew she wouldn't accept anything different, so he nodded in agreement.

Blodhgarm said, "And I insist that it is not you, Princess. I will go." Without waiting for a reply he strode forward like a great horror of the night. His fur shimmered in the pale light.

Only a few paces forward the tunnel curved upwards at a 45 degree angle. It had harsh steps hammered into its surface. At the far end the night's sky was visible; it cracked and flashed with lightning.

Blodhgarm dropped down on all fours and began the swift incline to the top. Eragon and Arya followed close behind with the four other elves coming last. At the top the bloodwolf stopped and sniffed the air. He slowly poked his head out of the tunnel and rolled his eyes. It occurred to Eragon how animal and savage the elf actually was. Blodhgarm then gestured the way was free.

One by one they broke into the cold, wet air. Eragon took a deep breath and couldn't help but let his lips curl up into a reluctant smile of satisfaction. He then took notice of his surroundings.

They were gathered in the middle of what looked like a park. Little cobbled paths ran off in different directions. Lining these paths were trees and luscious lawns of wild grass. The tunnel they'd just traversed opened into a little gated pond. In the pond grew many different flowers and plants. A well sat in the very center of the pond from where, Eragon guessed, most of the city's drinking water came from. The scene would have been pretty in different circumstances.

Eragon glanced at a small wooden sign which stood out of the water, waist height. On it a plaque said, 'Galivard's Pond.' Eragon then looked up and around listening for any sign of the enemy magicians.

The elves began prowling around like predators stalking their prey. It was then that Eragon turned to Arya and asked, "Where are they?"

She faced him and began to answer, "I-" Then her eyes narrowed, she started forward. "Eragon!"

Pain burst like starlight in his eyes. Then all went dark.