A Tressure Stolen

As Saphira, Eragon, Arya and Durza flew over the Empire they were silent. Eragon, Saphira and Arya were no doubt speaking to each other with their minds. Durza didn't mind being excluded from the conversation in fact he preferred not to be spoken to as he would rather remain silent and be within the comfort of his own mind. Durza didn't know what time it was or how high up they were as he'd had his eyes closed for several hours just thinking hard on the past few days.

No more than a week ago no one knew I was alive. No one knew I had changed. I guess no one had even bothered to remember that I had lived at all. He thought as he listened to Saphira's steady wing beat.

"Durza"

Opening his eyes he noticed the sun not far from sunset. Durza lent to one side to see Eragon's torso twisted around so that he could see him. "We're above Carvahall. Where do we go now?"

As Eragon spoke Durza lent further to the side to spot the small town, he also noticed that Saphira was now gliding in circles as she waited for his reply. Durza closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them all he saw were Eragon and Arya staring at him patiently. Turning is head he followed a hidden path he had laid leading toward the mountain. In the day's he had made it he'd cast a spell so that only he may be able to recognise it. Durza raised his arm and pointed toward to mountain.

"Go in that direction and we should eventually hit the mountain side" He said after a moment of thought then he closed his eyes again and waited.

Saphira glided around and headed towards the final egg.

As Durza sat with his eyes closed he felt Saphira pull up. Opening his eyes he looked around, he knew that they were waiting for further instructions.

"Fly straight up and when I say turn to the right" he said after a moment's thought.

Saphira began beating her wings harder and they began to rise.

"Okay" Durza said after a short time.

Saphira turned right and slowly followed the mountain side.

After a few tense moments for Eragon, Arya and Saphira they came upon a large clearing which would be able to fit a dragon three times the size of Saphira.

"Land here" Durza yelled to be sure she heard him over the wing beats.

Saphira twisted and slowly landing in the clearing, once she had landed she lowered herself to the ground so that they may dismount.

Walking forward Durza said "Okay" he took a breath "this is it. Saphira you can do nothing to help, I'm sorry. But we WILL need a quick escape"

Not a problem She said using Eragon as a mouth piece.

Durza looked at Eragon and Arya both had their swords at their waste and were dressed for a battle. "Follow me and when I tell you to do something DO IT. Is that clear?" Durza asked seriously.

Both nodded. Then Durza turned and walked towards the cliff. Eragon and Arya close behind. All three were silent as they walked towards the uprising mountain. Coming to a solid wall of raged rock they stopped Eragon and Arya both quickly looked at Durza. He could feel their gazes upon his back.

Walking up to the wall Durza placed a hand on the rock. Extending his mind towards the rock he closed his eyes to help him concentrate and slowly began to walk along the wall. As he walked he listened carefully for the everlasting sound within the rock. The sound was so quiet that it required complete silence everywhere to be heard even by a shade or an elf.

Coming to a pause Durza looked at the place where his hand lay. Turning his head he saw that he had walked well over 10meters from his starting point. Eragon and Arya were behind him watching carefully.

He smiled and put his other hand on the solid rock.

Speaking quietly in the Ancient Language he said "I seek an entrance to the Caves of the Lost"

Blocking out all sound from his mind he heard the whisper of his own voice which he had once placed there.

What is the Name of my only love? His own voice whispered back.

"Elise" He whispered in the Ancient Language once again. Then standing up he slowly walked backwards. As did Eragon and Arya, after a moment nothing happened then the rock underneath where his hand had been gave a hard jolt outwards then it slowly slid to the side.

Durza turned and looked at Eragon and Arya who were staring at him. "This is the entrance and exit to the Caves of the Lost" Durza said "The map" he added extending his hand.

Arya reached into her small backpack which was no doubt to carry the Egg in and handed the map to Durza.

Unrolling the map Durza looked at it for a moment.

Holding out his hand he said "Brisingr" a small green flame burst into life above his hand.

"Why is your Flame green?" Eragon asked.

"Why is yours blue?" Durza replied then he walked forward into the cave with Eragon and Arya following.

Durza walked forward until he came to a spot where the path split into three. Looking left the cave run level and curved right. Turning his head to the right he saw that the cave went level for a few meters then gave a shallow drop. Looking straight ahead the cave turned and went out of sight straight away. Looking down at the map Durza turned to his left and walked forward.

It seemed like he'd walked several hundred feet when he came to a fork in the path looking down at the map again he walked to the right. As Durza walked he could hear the steady breathing of Eragon and Arya behind him, their footsteps matching his own perfectly.

It didn't take long before he needed to consult the map once again. This time the path split in to 5. Durza walked down the Path second from the left.

As Durza walked it seemed to him as tho he was more so remembering the path instead of checking the map although he knew he had been.

As he walked he said the turns in his head Left, left, right, left, forward, right, right, forward, right, right, left, right, left, forward, right, left, left, forward. Durza didn't know how long this went on for all he knew was that it was the right way. In some places the three were forced to crouch, even lie on their stomach and crawl through some extremely narrow places.

As Eragon had tried to get through one of the spaces Durza cursed as he had to help him. "Why must your bloody chest be so big?" he had growled.

Finally after what seemed like a life time of walking they came to a dead end. All three were silent.

Breaking the silence "So, isn't this brilliant" Eragon said.

"Did we make a wrong turn?" Arya asked after a moment's thought.

Durza turned and smiled at them, the flame in his hand giving him an intentional evil look.

"This isn't a dead end"

Reaching out Durza touched the rock and in the ancient language he spoke his previous true name.

The rock seemed to grow loose in its place. Pushing the rock forward Durza revealed the entrance to a small cave, somehow created inside the mountain over time. And there on the other side of the room lay the final egg in a hole in the wall. It was a deep yet light green, it had thin white veins wrapping around it, making odd shapes of green.

Arya gasped and stepped forward towards the Egg. But before her foot had made contact with the ground Durza's arm shot out in front of her and held her back.

Turning to look at her he said "if you step in there you will die"

"Then how do we get it? You would have put spells on it to stop others from calling it or lifting it with magic" Arya said staring at the egg.

"I did. I can get it but I will need your help"

In truth Durza didn't need their help he only told them so that they wouldn't suspect his knowledge of forbidden secrets.

"What do you need us to do?"

"I need you both to enter my mind and poor some of you energy into me as this will be difficult" He said.

Then he looked at both of them the rolled his eyes "I won't hurt you or bring about your death" he spoke in the ancient language.

Lowering the barriers around his mind Durza let Eragon and Arya search his thoughts although he kept many things hidden. Closing his eyes Durza lost control of himself and he began chanting in the ancient language. He didn't even know what he was saying. Holding out his hands he felt something smooth drop into his hands. Opening his eyes he pushed Eragon and Arya out of his mind and stared at the Egg in his hands. Arya and Eragon were staring at the egg as well.

"Here take it quickly" he said putting into Arya's backpack.

"We have to get out. Now!" Durza said turning on the spot and running out of the room.

Eragon and Arya were close behind him "Why?"

"Because Galbatorix knows we're here. He knows we've got the final egg!" Durza shouted as they ran.

"You mean he cast a spell to warn him if the egg was moved?" Arya asked.

"Yes it won't take him long to get here either" he replied.

The time had taken them to get there past much quickly as they ran back.

Emerging out on the clearing they sprinted towards Saphira who was waiting for them. All three quickly jumped onto her back and as she prepared herself to take off, a loud deep roar filled the night sky. All head turned towards the roar.

As Durza searched he spotted a ruby dragon flying towards them as fast as possible. Durza looked toward Eragon, Arya and Saphira. All three were hastily discussing what to do. Looking at them then at the dragon Durza made up his mind.

Jumping off Saphira's back he yelled "lure Him onto the ground!" Then he ran off and hid against the cliff before they saw him.

Durza listened as the sound of beating wings grew louder until eventually the ruby dragon landed in front of him. Thankfully it didn't notice him neither did its rider. Durza noticed Saphira growling dangerously at the other dragon.

"Why!" the other rider shouted "Why much you continuously cause Thorn and I constant pain? You know who Galbatorix punishes when you succeed? US! Eragon you may be my brother but if I wasn't forced not to kill you I would!"

Brother. Eragon has a brother? Durza thought

Eragon Jumped off Saphira and walked forward drawing his sword Brisingr. Durza had seen the glyph carved onto its scabbard.

"Arr you got a new sword. Too bad it won't be with you for long" The other rider growled.

"Murtagh" Eragon said calmly "First off you and I are not brothers. We are half brothers while your father was Morzan mine was Brom"

Murtagh somehow seemed disappointed by this "your father beat mine, so I will avenge him and kill you"

Then Murtagh drew his sword and charged towards Eragon. Before Durza knew it they were exchanging blows. They both had different fighting techniques but they seemed equally matched. Eragon dancing on light feet manoeuvred his body around Murtagh. While Murtagh occasionally moved to avoid a blow or to strike back.

Durza stood and breathing deeply Durza filled his body with nothing but the will to cast a spell.

Invoking his true name over the spell Durza yelled in the Ancient Language "Trap" concentrating carefully on what he wanted his spell to do. It also prevented the use of any spells he may wish to use.

Murtagh's body was quickly dragged backwards he began trying to get up but the force of the spell holding him down was too great. As he tried to move his dragon was lifted slowly into the air to hover just above the ground out of reach. Thorn began kicking and struggling against the powerful spell.

Eragon had been left completely stunned as this happened as had Arya. Both were staring at Durza in confusion.

Murtagh tried a counter spell but failed, he tried another and it failed.

"Curse you Eragon!" Murtagh yelled at his half brother. "Why couldn't you just come with me quietly?"

"And join the one who killed the riders?" Eragon spoke with a shaking voice.

"They were weak. They needed a new start!" Murtagh yelled again.

Now Durza walked forward stood in front of Murtagh. Murtagh's eyes went wide with confusion and fear.

Kneeling down next to Murtagh Durza said "tell your King I survived, tell him I'm going to teach Eragon the true limits of magic and finally tell him to give up his search for the name of the Ancient Language. As I have already prevented anyone from finding the word of power" Durza spoke calmly.

But unfortunately Eragon and Arya had heard every word. They knew this was the truth since he spoke in the ancient language.

Murtagh lay on the ground no longer trying to break its grip. Their eyes remained locked for a long moment. A load roar filled the sky. Durza looked up at Thorn struggling against the spell.

"Tell your dragon it's hopeless to escape" he finally said. Then he stood and turned to Eragon and Arya.

"We need to get out of here" he said after a moment.

The three of them quickly mounted Saphira again.

"All three of you will die!" Murtagh yelled in fury "Thorn and I will kill you for this!"

As Durza sat he saw Eragon's head turn and stare at his brother.

"Eragon this is a war you can't have sympathy" Durza said.

Before Eragon could answer Durza yelled "Saphira we must leave now!"

But it was too late. Another roar filled the sky this one was a lot louder. Durza's eyes widened in fear not fear for himself but in fear for his companions. Jumping off Saphira's back Durza ran forward.

Spinning around Durza screamed "GANGA!" his voice showed authority "Get out of here now! GANGA"

Saphira didn't wait to be told again she took off and flew with all haste back towards the Varden. The egg was safe. Durza ran backwards and waited for the black dragon Shruikan to land.

The wind on the clearing spun in great blasts as the large dragon landed. Durza remained still and didn't move. The King sat upon the dragons back on a saddle of fine leather. Jumping off him slowly walked forward and stared at Durza. His piercing gaze turned to Murtagh and Thorn who were still struggling against Durza's spell.

"Release them Durza" his voice was cold "They will leave. This is where you either join me or I kill you. We all know that's what a traitor deserves"

Durza let his hold over Murtagh and Thorn drop. Murtagh quickly mounted Thorn and left. Galbatorix had no doubt forced them to do so with their true names.

"Traitor" Durza said "I'm only a traitor if I had been loyal to you; I wasn't so this is now betrayal"

Galbatorix drew his light brown rider's blade. And Durza drew his own sword.

So Durza stood isolated far above the rest of the world, sword drawn facing Galbatorix.