After speaking with his adopted brother, Eragon found the servant who had escorted the trio to their rooms. The servant then showed Eragon where the two wizards and witch were residing within the castle.

When Eragon arrived, the three were deep in study over various maps of Uru'baen. They were in Hermione's room, and Eragon rapped on the open door before walking in.

"So, you guys are planning the best routes of escape?" Eragon asked.

"Not exactly," Hermione hesitated then added, "We already know how we're going to escape. It's getting close enough to the castle without causing alarm that's the problem."

"We're going to use magic that we don't have a license to use yet to escape," Ron said.

"We could get into trouble for it, but that's nothing new," Hermione said, shooting a venomous glance at Ron.

"Well, how exactly are you to escape?" Eragon asked.

"We'll be Apparating, disappearing from one place and almost instantaneously appearing in a different place," Hermione explained. "It'll be the quickest and hopefully the safest way to leave the Empire."

"Hopefully?" Eragon asked, doubt tingeing his voice.

"Well, even though we practiced Apparating, there's still the possibility that because of the pressure we'd be under, someone would splinch. That's when a piece is left behind," Hermione explained.

"That sounds painful," Eragon said. "You sure you still want to do this despite the risks?"

"I'm positive. I've seen now what Galbatorix can do," Harry said, hard determination in his voice. "He's no better than Vol- I mean You-Know-Who."

Eragon nodded. "Then, we need to set a day. It will take a few days to walk to Uru'baen. You'll want to arrive as inconspicuously as possible."

"True," Hermione said. Ron groaned at the thought of walking the entire distance, and Harry shared Ron's displeasure.

"Couldn't we at least ride a horse?" Harry asked.

"The cavalry needs the horses. Besides, that can be harder than walking," Eragon said. "I doubt any of you know how to ride a horse," all three shook their heads, "so you'd have to learn how to ride, and then, you'd probably get saddle sores."

"So we walk, then," Harry said.

"Think about it this way: at least you won't have to worry about stabling the horses, and having to worry about them," Eragon said.

Ron sighed. He really did not want to walk that far. He never really had to, in his entire life.

"Now, we need to plan exactly how it's going to go," Eragon said. "I suggest you don't stay around in Uru'baen for very long. I don't know what exactly Uru'baen will be like, but I do know that it has dangers any other city has: thieves and cutthroats. Then there's the possibility of slavers."

"But isn't slavery illegal?" Ron asked.

"There's still slavery in some parts of the world. And what do you call house elves?" Hermione asked.

"House elves?" Eragon asked.

"They're magical creatures of our world. They're small, and often used as slaves—" Hermione said.

"They like to work," Ron cut her off. "The only house elf I know who wants to get paid is Dobby. Most will be offended if you try to pay them."

Hermione was about to speak when Eragon said, "That isn't the issue right now. The issue is how you three are going to avoid all of those dangers. Even outside of the city you won't be safe. I know that there are slavers who take travelers as slaves, so you must be very careful."

"You're right. But what do we do if slavers try to catch us?" Ron asked.

"Hopefully it won't happen, but you may have to fight—" Eragon started.

"But we can't fight! We don't have any experience!" Hermione almost yelled it.

Eragon frowned. "Unfortunately, we don't have the time for a full training in swordsmanship for you three."

"We can't use magic in front of them, either," Ron said. "If the Muggles find out about our sort of magic, who knows what will happen?"

"They may find out the hard way anyway," Eragon said under his breath, so low that none of the trio heard him. "Undoubtedly they'll have learned the existence of magic through Murtagh," he said aloud. "Unfortunately for all of us, it was the abuse of power they have seen."

"The Muggles will certainly try to find a way to fight back," Hermione said. "We must try to end the war quickly before the UN decides to drop nuclear bombs on Galbatorix."

"Do you think it would go to that extreme?" Harry asked her.

"Well, at least some bombs," Hermione amended.

"What's a bomb?" Eragon asked.

"It's an explosive device. There are different types of bombs, most of which are designed to kill people. There are a few joke bombs that are designed only to cause discomfort on the victims, though," Hermione explained.

"Some of the damage we saw couldn't have been just Murtagh, though. Plus, I saw some dead soldiers wearing the Empire's colors," Eragon said.

"What could that mean?" Ron asked.

"It means that Murtagh has the resources from the Empire at his disposal to crush rebellion. And from the looks of it, he's been very thorough," Eragon said with bitterness in his voice.

"So, he has the Empire's army at his disposal?" Hermione asked. "Do we know how many magicians Galbatorix has under his control? That work in the army?"

"We don't know for sure. Magicians pose the biggest threat to Galbatorix, so they'd have to swear loyalty in the Ancient Language," Eragon said. "Galbatorix may be mad, but he's not stupid. Anyone with any amount of magical power would either have to be eliminated, or bound by magic to serve him."

"That's why you need another Rider? Not only because of the dragon, but because of the Rider himself?" Hermione asked.

"That's right. Saphira's race is dyeing, because of Galbatorix. He wants to revive it, but only under his rule," Eragon said. "The odds are against us right now. We don't have much time."

"So, let's get to work, then shall we?" Hermione said, picking up a map.

Ron groaned at those words.


It was the next day when the trio left on their journey. Eragon, Roran, and Saphira would leave for their own mission two days afterward. If timed correctly, both parties would strike the same day, leaving no chance for the Ra'zac to leave on a search for the egg, as well as leaving no chance that the egg will get moved again.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione traveled with their guide, a man a bit shorter than average, skinnier than a rabbit, and a hawk like nose. He had introduced himself as "Dorindo", though the trio doubted that was his real name. He looked older than he was, for his hair was gray, and wrinkles lined his face. He looked to be at least sixty or seventy, when in fact he was only forty-six.

"Why can't anyone in Alagaesia have real names," Ron asked in private once they had set on their journey. "Everyone we met, from Eragon to this old wheeze, has a strange name."

"Our names must be strange to them. We're lucky that we speak the same language. Alagaesia could have been much different," Hermione had shot back.

"It's hot here," Ron complained.

"Well, it's in the middle of summer, what do you expect? And we're more south than we normally are this time of year," Hermione sighed. "Don't speak if you're going to continue to complain. I don't want to listen to it."

The trio followed their guide in silence, drawing comfort only from the proximity of each other. They were still in Surda the first night they camped. Their guide's patience with them was running short, for the trio traveled much slower than he had wanted.

"Well, I hope you can keep better watch than you keep pace," Dorindo grumbled when they stopped. "We should have been just outside of Surda by now. We had an early enough start."

"We're out of shape. We don't often get to exercise," Hermione said. "Sorry for slowing you down," she added when she saw anger in Dorindo's eyes.

The man sighed, saying, "We'll, you're on your own when we're in sight of the city. I only hope your slowness doesn't mess up your plans." Dorindo only knew he was to guide the three to the city.

"We'll get used to all the walking soon enough," Hermione assured the guide. She hoped it was true.

"Either that or you'll be very sore once this is all done," Dorindo replied. "Now, who's to take first watch? Even here in Surda one isn't completely safe. Wild animals, bandits and looters, sometimes assassins. Slavers don't dare try to hunt in Surda, thank goodness, but once we cross the border, we'll have to be especially wary."

"Have you faced slavers before?" Harry asked.

"A mean bunch they are. Sometimes meaner than thieves and cutthroats," the man replied gruffly. "They won't kill you or permanently disable you, but the nets aren't too kind either. They're after a profit in selling live humans to work."

"Isn't that the point of slavery?" Hermione asked flatly, trying to keep sarcasm from her voice.

"You know, you're strange for a girl. You've got spirit, and you're tougher than most girls your age. Very few girls would even think about going on a journey into enemy territory," Dorindo said. "And smart, too."

"You'd be surprised at how smart girls and women can be," Hermione said under her breath. Dorindo's round about compliment actually hurt. It meant that he didn't expect a woman to be as good as a man.

The night was eventless. So was the next day, except they had crossed the border in the afternoon. But the day after that, the day Eragon was supposed to leave Aberon with Saphira and Roran to fight the Ra'zac, slavers spotted the group.

"Oh no. Slavers," Dorindo said as a group of people on horseback approached. The trio and their guide could just make out the nets that the horsemen carried.

"What do we do?" Ron asked, panic starting to rise.

"We run or fight," Dorindo informed them. "There's a small chance that we haven't been seen yet, so if we run that way," Dorindo points westward, "then maybe we can stay out of their sight."

"I don't think so," Harry said. "They're coming straight for us!"

It was true. The slavers had veered and were heading straight towards the four of them. It was clear that they had been spotted, and that there was no escape unless they fought.

"What do we do?" Ron asked, this time panic in his voice.

Suddenly a horse stumbled, spilling its rider to the ground. The horse stopped, waiting for its rider. Hermione whipped out her wand and whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa!" A large rock started to hover in the air, and the waiting horse spooked and bolted, trampling the slaver in its path. The other horses also spooked, some rearing before bolting, and some just bolting with their riders attached to their backs.

"I didn't know horses spook that easily," Ron said.

Dorindo didn't seem to notice the wand, and Hermione quickly put it away. But he did notice that someone levitated the rock and spooked the horses. "Who did that?"

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, shrugging. They weren't about to tell Dorindo their secret.

"Well, I thank whoever it was. The slavers left behind are also fleeing!" Dorindo said.

"Let's keep going, Dorindo. We need to reach Uru'baen," Hermione said.

"Alright, then, let's get moving," Dorindo said.

They were about two miles away from Uru'baen when Dorindo said that it was the furthest he'd take them. They were just out of sight of the city. There weren't very many travelers in this direction, either.

"Head that way," Dorindo said, pointing westward, then turn right when you hit the road. "The road will take you to Uru'baen. I hope that your mission, whatever it is, goes well. And that you make it back to Surda alive." And with that, the man left them.

"We're almost there," Hermione said. "And we're on our own now. Wonder if Eragon is at his destination yet?"

"He probably already is there. Let's get on with what we're to do, so we can leave," Ron said.

"I hope Dorindo will be okay," Hermione said. She looked towards the direction their guide had gone.

"I'm sure he will be. Looks like he's heading southwest, towards the road," Harry said.

"Which we better be getting on, too," Hermione said. "Only we'll be heading north once we reach the road."

The trio reached the road right behind a caravan. The beasts of burden ahead stunk, and it was all the trio could do not to wrinkle their noses. They tried to avoid the piles of manure, both new and old, that were left on the road by various beasts.

"That's disgusting," Ron said, dodging a new pile. "Why do we have to travel on the road? It's disgusting!"

"At least we won't have to explain why we came from a direction that had no towns," Hermione replied.

"We'll use the Invisibility Cloak once we find an alley we can hide in. Then, we can get pretty close to the castle," Harry said.

"Good thinking, Harry. You brought it?" Ron asked.

"Of course. I thought we'd use it to get close to the castle, at least, so the egg has less distance to travel once we cast the spell," Harry said.

"I should have thought of it," Hermione said.

"You can't think of everything," Ron told her.

The caravan in front was slow, and it took the better part of three hours to travel the last two miles. It was very late in the afternoon when they reached the gates to Uru'baen. Thankfully, the guards let them pass without a second glance.

Once they had entered the city, the trio set off to find some hidden and vacant alleyway. They finally found one in a rich neighborhood. There was actually paint and glass in the homes here, whereas in the poor neighborhoods the streets were filled with beggars and trash.

Harry pulled out the cloak from his pack, and swirled it around Hermione, Ron, and himself. The three then carefully made their way to the castle.

"Why not go in the castle itself?" Ron asked suddenly, whispering. "I mean, if we're invisible, can't we just walk in?"

"I doubt the doors are left open, Ron," Hermione whispered back. "Now, let's hush before people begin to look about."

The trio then wound their way through the city. IF they hadn't studied maps of Uru'baen before hand, they would have been completely lost. As it was, it took them the better part of two hours to get to the front of the castle. They ducked into a little used alleyway.

"Alright, cast the spell, Harry," Hermione instructed.

"Right," Harry said. "Accio, dragon egg!"

"How long until the egg gets here?" Ron wondered aloud. A second later, it came whizzing right to Harry. Harry caught it deftly, even though it was larger than what he was used to catching.

Pulling the Invisibility Cloak tighter, the trio prepared to Apparate. They could hear shouts and surprised exclamations, then a terrible roar. It was time to go. They Apparated, and arrived safely into their room, the dragon egg with them.

"Everyone make it in one piece?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. Let's just stay in the room for a bit," Hermione said. "And keep the egg hidden, until Eragon gets back."