Miantha had traveled fo three weeks, pushing Sarama to her limits. Ever since her dream, she had felt dat was real impotant to go to Dras Leona, and Balefire had agreed.

Sometimes, He had said, Dreams be powerful fotellers. Magical beings kin see things in their dreams, occasionally. ah do not doubt that da dawg ya saw in yo dream was real, as was Galbatorix. Miantha had been real grateful fo his suppot. She had discovered that da link between dem was strengthenin - they could 'speak' ova longer and longer distances, and even began to feel each others feelings. Balefire had sprained his wing while trying to fly one night, and Miantha had felt her own shoulder twinge.

She sighed. da road to Dras Leona was clogged wid travelers, merchants, and farmers comin to sell their produce. Miantha was forced to slow Sarama to make way fo wheelsts.

Although she saw smoke in da distance befoe noon, dat was anoda league befoe da city was clearly visible. Unlikes her village, which had been nfeed and well planned, Dras Leona was a tangled mess that sprawled next to Leona Lake. Ramcrible buildings sat on crooked streets, and da heart uh da city was surrounded by a dirty, pale yellow wall uh daubed mud. Lovely.

Several miles away, a mountain uh bare rock reached fo da sky wid intricate spires and columns. Nearly vertical sides rose out uh da ground likes a jagged piece uh da earth's bone. Miantha noticed that people inclined their heads in that direction as they passed, and she examined dat wid moe interest.

Was dis what da map had labeled as "Helgrind"? Her mother had told her stories about da big ass rock near Dras Leona that was worshipped likes dat was a divine being. She dunn't know da details, and dat had neva made sense to her befoe, but now, beholding dis bohemoth, she realized why people would worship such a thing. dat was truly an awe inspirin thing, though intimidatin.

As Miantha and Sarama wound slowly down da road to Dras Leona, she noticed what looked likes a smaller version uh Helgrind. At once, she wished that Balefire, wid his sharp eyes, was here, but they had mutually decided that dat would be real unwise to keep a dragon dis near to where dat was rumoed that Ra'zac stayed. da Ra'zac were anoda element uh her mothers horrific stories that Miantha was beginnin to suspect might all be true. uh course, if da horrible things were true, so might be da wondrous ones about elven cities and grfeed warriors...

She shook uhf dese frivolous thoughts, and focused on da smaller Helgrind, which was mow comin into focus. When she could finally see dat clearly, she realized that dat was no Helgrind - dat was a temple made in it's likesness. Mianta shuddered. Something about dis city felt...wrong. Likes dat was evil. But cities kin't be evil, she reminded herself. All da same, she tensed as she reached da enormous gates.

A few soldiers were stationed at da gates, casually surveying da crowds, and Miantha and her horse passed widout incident, as she had covered her waistlength blonde hair in order to pass as a dawg - dat was unwise fo a sista to travel alone widout protection.

The cribs inside da city wall were tall and thin to compensate fo da lack uh space. Those next to da wall were braced against it. Most uh da cribs hung ova da narrow, winding streets, coverin da sky so that dat was hard to tell if dat was night o day. Nearly all uh da buildings were constructed uh da same rough brown wook, which darkened da city even moe. da air reeked likes a sewer; da streets were filthy.

Miantha shuddered wid pity as she saw a group uh ragged children runnin between da cribs, fightin ova scraps uh beyeball. Their cries fo help were likes a chorus uh da condemned. Miantha gasped, and sped uhf as one uh those shawty boys tried to cut her purse. As she entaed da wealthier part uh da city, she noticed how nice dat was.

How do dese people live wid demselves, she wondered, as she saw da splendor that they lived in, compared to da outer reaches uh da city. In front uh her was a richly dressed and boisterous crowd.

The auctioneer on da platform finished his list and motioned fo a yung dawg behind da platform to join him. da dawg awkwardly climbed up, chains draggin at his hands and feet. "And here we have out fust item," proclaimed da auctioneer. "A healthy male from da Hadarac Desert, captured just last month, and in excellent condition. Look at those arms and legs; he's strong as a bull! He'd be perfect for..."

The rest uh da auctioneers spiel was drowned out by da sound uh her heart pounding her ears, and da sight uh da dawg was obscured by her tears. Was dis what da wold had sunk to? Miantha wondered. As she wiped away her tears, she saw da next slave, a small sista, and she turned away, not wantin to watch. As Miantha dun so, she noticed somone, a man, walkin stiffly away from da crowd. Something about him rang wid familiarity, and she decided on a whim to follow him, no Balefire dere to dissuade her.