**Thank you for staying with me to Chapter 10… I know it's uber confusing with the time travel; we'll be staying in one time period from now on -- Bear with me as I try to introduce some twenty dragons (haha)
To Eragon's dismay, Thorn was as big as Cyvr. Murtagh also has the control of many Eldunarí's, all hundreds of years old, Saphira added, and Galbatorix has probably suppressed the pain receptors in their bodies, making them immune to our attacks until we stop their hearts' . An orange dragon neared Saphira's left flank. Erisdärné, scales glittering like golden amber, tilted one wing and dropped several feet. On his back, Nälí the elf said, Raudhr Bjartskular! I have never seen a red dragon as dark or full of hate as Thorn. An array of agreements flowed through the minds of the other dragons as they watched Thorn wing his way towards them, roaring savagely.
Two more dragons closed in on Saphira's left side, one aquamarine-opal blue, the other a dark-russet-chestnut. Orlan, the Rider on the blue, Gretiem, said, Incredible. To think Galbatorix would destroy the world…for what? Morenoí, the brown, opened his maw and let loose a plume of flame in fury. In the saddle, Rahín seconded his dragon's anger. We will destroy Galbatorix, starting with Murtagh and Thorn!
As more dragons came up on either side of Saphira, Eragon realized they were forming a V. We're in formation, Cyvr said at the head of the arrangement. If Galbatorix uses Murtagh to talk or attack us, he'll see a coordinated pack of dragons, not a discombobulated herd of sheep. Thorn suddenly stopped a quarter of a mile away. Murtagh's voice sounded across the space in between, causing the formation of dragons to stop short as well.
"I don't want to kill all twenty-five of you," Murtagh yelled, his voice magnified by magic, "I just want Telsy!"
Cyvr answered with a column of flame from his mouth, which Murtagh ignored. "Would you rather all fight the five hundred behind me and die or just let me have her?"
Saphira snorted in frustration. Eragon could feel her tensing, readying to attack Thorn. Before she could make a move, Cyvr whispered in their minds, We'll take Thorn. The rest take the soldiers. Telsy yelled with both her mind and aloud, "Now!"
Thorn didn't even blink as twenty-five of his brethren hurtled toward him. At the last moment Telsy and Cyvr broke out of the formation and tackled Thorn, while the others held the V and headed on to the Empire's soldiers.
Eragon managed one backward glance and saw red-on-white; Cyvr howled as Thorn's claws ripped a gash down his right foreleg, but retaliated with a headbutt to Thorn's chest, pushing the red dragon ten feet away. Telsy was yelling at Murtagh. Eragon could make out a handful of words: "Traitor!" Telsy yelled. "I saved your life! For what? So you could join him?"
Eragon wanted to hear more, wanted to help, but he was forced to pay attention to the soldiers ahead of him. The formation of dragons held for twenty feet then was forced to break apart as the battle exploded.
Within minutes it was apparent that twenty-four dragons could not silence five hundred soldiers. They attacked Saphira and Erisdärné like ants on honey, swarming like bees. The orange dragon roared in frustration, swinging his tail like a club, taking down several soldiers. The soldiers got back up, only temporarily defeated. Ophelia and Jura were having just as much trouble. Ophelia's amethyst scales were covered in gore. She raked her claws through a body of a soldier, throwing another twenty feet away- where Morenoí jumped up and caught it in his mouth like a dog catching a stick.
The soldier was still alive, and thanks to Galbatorix's magic, didn't feel a thing. He just stabbed at Morenoí's snout, while the chestnut dragon crushed his bones before finally stopping his heart.
The aquamarine dragon, Gretiem, was limping but still fighting valiantly, while Ohen the bronze roared in victory as he took out another four soldiers. But every time soldiers died, dragons took massive hits. In the sky, Cyvr was not having an easy time, either. Thorn was stronger but Cyvr had speed on his side as they raced through the clear blue sky.
This is outrageous, Eragon told Saphira as Brisingr, aflame, sliced through a shield like butter. How could Nasuada think we could handle this? Saphira didn't respond, instead decapitating a laughing soldier. Eragon's question was answered not one minute later when the sun suddenly went behind a cloud.
Eragon looked up, confused. There had been no clouds before. Most of the battlers looked up as well and gasped.
The sun was not behind a cloud; thousands of arrows were whistling through the air, leaving the battle in their shade.
"Cover!" Valdrin yelled, throwing up magical shields to protect himself and Ohen. The other Riders followed suit as the arrows rained down. Soldiers fell all around and a cheer arose with renewed strength as the Varden approached on three sides of the Empire's army.
Eragon, Arya said, Telsy needs your help. We can take it from here.
Eragon looked up at the sky and saw Cyvr, almost as red as Thorn from all the blood, fall two hundred feet before landing on the ground. Exhausted, his landing was not half as graceful as it was the day before. Telsy leapt from the saddle just as Thorn landed.
Saphira had seen them as well. Eragon jumped into her saddle as she spread her wings.
Their wards almost depleted, Eragon and Saphira slid to a stop ten feet away from where Telsy and Murtagh were arguing.
Cyvr was simultaneously panting and growling at Thorn. Eragon saw the last three feet of Thorn's tail were missing, a lasting tribute to Glaedr. His attention switched back to Murtagh and Telsy and he wondered how they could stop battling to argue.
"You could have ended your own life the second the Twins took you!" Telsy yelled. Her white sword glistened in the sunlight and she motioned with it as she spoke. "You make me sick!"
Several emotions seemed to rip across Murtagh's face before he managed to control his expression. "You think I had a choice, Telsy? You think I bound myself?" He spat. "Don't accuse me of being a traitor! I was never on any side until I met up with him." Murtagh managed to point at Eragon while keeping his eyes on Telsy. In his hand, Zar'roc glistened with blood. Eragon fought the urge to rip the blade from his hand and replace it with the fiery tip of Brisingr. Saphira's tail twitched as she looked at Thorn. I cannot wait much longer, she hissed, I will rip his head off for killing Glaedr and Ophelia and I will play catch with Murtagh's body!
Eragon stepped forward, but stopped when Telsy glared at him. Murtagh continued as if he didn't notice Saphira slowly approaching Thorn, stalking the garnet dragon like a tiger. "I didn't want to bring you into this," he said sadly, "but you had to steal the egg from me. Now I have to kill you and I never wanted that."
Telsy's blood-streaked face paled as she opened her mouth. "You will never-" Telsy's voice cut off as she doubled over, screaming. This time Eragon ran forward but Murtagh stopped him with a finger. "Don't move, brother," Murtagh said, "or else I kill her where she lays." Eragon glared daggers while Murtagh continued. "If you take one more step, I will make blood vessels in her brain burst with the memories I'm feeding her. The white dragon will die as well."
Before Eragon could even breathe, Telsy yelled in agony again and suddenly Eragon fell to the ground. Telsy was attempting to push the images out of her own head- Eragon's consciousness was closest so they immediately filled into his brain. Saphira's howl was the last thing Eragon heard before he was sucked into Murtagh's mind.
A young, white-haired girl stood in the door frame. "Please help me," Murtagh said, "the King is chasing me!" Telsy stepped aside and the young Murtagh ran inside. He knelt at her feet. "You are my savior. My servant Tornac has been killed and I'm next," he said to the floor, "I owe you my life."
More images flashed; Telsy mending Murtagh's mail and giving him the warhorse, Tornac. Telsy giving him food while Murtagh watched out the window as soldiers marched by. Finally-
Telsy's white face was streaked with tears as she watched Murtagh mount Tornac. "I promise I will return," he said, leaning down. Telsy went to his side, handing him a chain. On it was a shimmering diamond and a sparkling ruby. "Now we will be together," Telsy whispered, "forever."
A roar brought Eragon back to the present. He was kneeling with his face pressed to the dirt, Telsy next to him. He looked up to see Murtagh yelling, Thorn and Saphira grappling nearby. Cyvr was prodding Telsy with his white snout, anger and worry emanating from his pearl-white scales.
Struggling to his feet, Eragon drew Brisingr. With a savage yell, he charged at his half brother.