Chapter 10
Eragon awoke to find himself in a dark, grimy cell. There was a tiny barred window set ten feet high in the wall. The door to his cell was made of solid steel and also had a barred window. He had a simple bedroll in one corner of the room and there was a pail of clear water along with a piece of bread next to the door.
"Where am – Ah... I remember now... I was captured. I am a prisoner of the Empire now."
As he stood up brushing dirt off the rough cloth tunic he now wore the steel door opened. Four soldiers clad in shining steel plate mail along with Galbatorix entered. Galbatorix smiled. He motioned for the four soldiers to grab Eragon. They dragged him through a series of dark corridors, going ever deeper into the dungeon.
Finally they reached a small room. Inside the room every device of torture ever imaginable was gathered. The stretching rack, the whip, hot irons, and dreaded iron maiden, just to name a few. Eragon's eyes widened in horror as he realized what he was about to go through. Galbatorix's smile widened as he saw Eragon's horror.
"Put him on the rack." whispered Galbatorix.
The soldiers strapped him onto the rack. Eragon started trembling uncontrollably as he broke out in cold sweat. The soldiers turned the crank one entire rotation. The pain on his joints was incredible, even though he was fighting back tears he clamped his mouth shut. Galbatorix would get no cries of agony from him. The soldier turned the crank another full rotation. His elbows and knees screamed in pain as he was stretched out even further. He gritted his teeth as jolts of pain pulsed through his body. He retreated deep into his mind drawing strength from the memories of his childhood. As the soldier turned the crank around for the third time Eragon could bear it no more; an inhuman cry of agony escaped his mouth that that echoed for a full minute.
Scream after scream wafted upwards from Galbatorix's dungeon.
At the captured city of Feinster morale was dangerously low. They had succeeded in capturing it from the Empire but with a terrible cost. Eragon had being captured by Galbatorix. Nasuada sat in on of the houses she had taken as her temporary command center. Around her stood Arya, Blodhgarm, Orik, Orrin, Jormundr, Angela, Nar Gharzvog , and Saphira snaked her head in through one of the windows.
After the battle was over Saphira and Arya had informed Nasuada of what had happened. Saphira shared her memories of the battle with everyone in the room. She kept the conversation between them private. Orik looked completely broken. The dwarf had been crushed when he had been informed that his friend and half brother had been captured. Arya stood in the corner face inscrutable but her eyes held a glint of sadness. Blodhgarm's expression was that of someone who had failed in the most important moment of their life. His normally glossy fur was completely lifeless. Jormundr, Orrin and Nar Gharzvog did not say anything but they were crushed on the inside. Angela face had a deep scowl set on it.
After Saphira finished sharing her information with everyone it was a long time before anyone spoke. Everyone gathered there sat deep in thought. It was Orrin who spoke first.
"We must get him back. We cannot continue this war without him."
"How do you propose we do that? He is in Uru'baen surrounded by the biggest garrison of men in the Empire and guarded by two other Riders." replied Jormundr.
"I will go." whispered Arya.
"As will I." answered Blodhgarm.
"No. I cannot permit that. If the two of you get captured as well who would go to save you then?" replied Nasuada as she stared at Blodhgarm and Arya.
"You misunderstood us. You cannot stop us from going. You hold no power over Blodhgarm and myself." said Arya in a dangerous tone.
"It will not be just Arya svit-kona and I. All of the elves I came with will go. We have shamed ourselves and failed to protect Shadeslayer. It is our duty to rescue him."
"They will not be alone. I am going as well."
"Saphira please consider-"
"Nothing you can say or do can stop me. We are rider and Dragon. One should not and will not be separated. We are meant to be together. So it was, so it shall be again."
As they said this Blodhgarm and Arya left the house before anyone could utter another word; a few seconds later the group still in the house heard a haunting melody in the Ancient Language a bellow from Saphira.
Saphira flew in the direction of Uru'baen. Arya, Blodhgarm and the other elves ran underneath her. The elves had taken the time to disguise themselves to look human. Even Blodhgarm had shed his animal features for the sake of their mission.
Eragon grew wary of the endless torture. His mind weakened day after day. Scars covered every inch of his body. His joints were bruised and purple. His back had been burned repeatedly by hot irons and while they singed he was whipped. Yet he still kept his silence. No matter what kind of torture was inflicted upon him Eragon remained as silent as a rock. Every day the soldiers would drag him to be tortured and every night they would drag him back to his cell.
As Eragon was thrown back into his cell a shadowed figure sat in the corner as Eragon collapsed onto his bedroll completely exhausted, the figure chuckled.
"You're finally here. I told you one way or another you would end up kneeling before Galbatorix didn't I?"
"That voice... Murtagh..." whispered Eragon as he tried to sit up but failed from lack of strength.
"You can't even sit up anymore can you? I feel sorry for you... brother. This is you lot in life, best accept that and swear loyalty to Galbatorix."
"I would never do that... I already swore that I would never serve him."
"Is that so? Well you're of no further value to him then. The only reason he keeps you alive is so that he can torture information out of you. When you get out of here; I have no doubt you will escape somehow. Tell- Tell Nasuada I'm sorry about everything. Tell her I meant every word I said that night." choked Murtagh as he left.
"I'll tell her if I ever do get out of here. You might have confidence in my ability to escape but I'm not as sure in myself as you are..."