Chapter 11: The Summoning
Murtagh dragged Angela to the dungeon and pushed her into a cell. He closed the cell door and locked it. A few minutes later, Angela awoke and looked around. She gasped in fear when she saw Murtagh and sent out a bolt of magic from her staff. However, Murtagh blocked it and grabbed her staff, studying it with interest.
"So this is how you summon your magic, is it?" he asked.
Angela said nothing. She just glared at him coldly and scoffed. Murtagh gave a slight grin and chuckled. He started to walk out of the dungeon when he heard Angela's voice.
"What is it you and Galbatorix want with me?" she asked.
Murtagh turned back to her. "You'll find out soon," he said. "I suggest you rest; we'll come back to get you when we are ready."
He walked out and went up to the throne room to give his report to the king. Galbatorix stood in the room and smiled when Murtagh walked in. The Dragon Rider bowed and held out Angela's staff. Galbatorix smiled and took the object. He chuckled and then looked at Murtagh.
"You have done well, Murtagh. I am very pleased with you. We shall have Angela use her magic soon. I am curious to know what happened at Teirm. Did you destroy the city?" the king asked.
Murtagh nodded. "Yes, I did. Thorn blew streams of flame that engulfed the entire city. It is nothing but rubble now."
Galbatorix chuckled. "I do suppose that Sonic will find out about this eventually. Go back to the dungeon and get Angela; I have some questions to ask her before we make her use her magic."
The Rider walked out of the room and back into the dungeon. He opened Angela's cell and grabbed her, forcing the witch out of the cell and into the throne room. Galbatorix watched her with interest as Murtagh pushed her down, and she fell to the floor on all fours, gasping in pain. She looked at the king with a hateful expression on her face.
"What is it you want with me?" she asked again.
"I wish to know how you summoned Sonic here and transformed him into a dragon. You will tell me everything, starting with the spell you used."
Angela glared at him. "I will never give up the spell. I summoned Sonic here and transformed him by means of a secret ritual in the Ancient Language. I know what you plan to do, and I will never help you succeed in your evil plans!"
Galbatorix sighed and walked up to her, showing Angela her staff. She gasped and lunged for it but Murtagh held her back. The king smirked and knelt down so that he was eye level with her.
"If you do not wish to tell me willingly, then I will force the spell out of your mind and perform it myself!" he shouted.
Angela said nothing. Galbatorix looked at Murtagh and the Rider nodded. The king sighed and forced Angela to stand up. Murtagh grabbed her and held her in place so that she could not move. The king smirked and forced his consciousness into Angela's mind. The witch screamed in pain and tried to put up a mental barrier but it was no use. She felt Galbatorix search through her mind, looking for the spell. Finally he found it and withdrew from Angela's mind. He chuckled and then laughed in triumph.
"Now that I know the spell, my dear Angela, you are of no more use to me. Take her back into the dungeon, Murtagh!"
Murtagh nodded and took Angela way. When he came back, the staff that Galbatorix was holding started to glow. A circle formed around them and Galbatorix started to chant in the Ancient Language. A bright light shot up from the circle and opened a portal. Seconds later, Galbatorix saw a shape appear and fell down, landing hard on the ground.
The light faded as the spell ended. Galbatorix looked at the figure with interest, and gasped in shock. Lying unconscious on the ground was a black and red anthropomorphic hedgehog.