"You!" hissed Eragon. Murtagh had Zar'roc at Eragon's neck and had a small dagger at Arya's. Vanir, who originally was in front of Eragon, whirled around and whipped out his sword at the sound of Murtagh's voice.

"Yes, me. Now, would the two of you kindly drop your weapons? The same goes for you, master elf."

Vanir ground his teeth and dropped his blade on the ground with a clang. Eragon did so too, and Arya followed.

"I've been waiting here for a long time. Wondering if you'd show up." Murtagh said in a soft voice.

"Galbatorix ordered you to come here?" asked Eragon, through clenched teeth.

"Heavens, no! He simply said: Go find Eragon Shadeslayer, capture him alive, and bring him back to me. He was very… displeased at the last time I showed you mercy, and he was harsh in his punishments." Murtagh suddenly stopped, then continued, "I knew you would come to seek revenge and attempt to rescue your cousin's Katrina, so here I came. Yes, I know her name. During my time here, I searched through her memories, and turned up anything I could use. Now, would you all remove your cloaks and let me see if there is anything dangerous under it?"

Wordlessly, they unclasped their cloaks and let them fall to the ground.

Murtagh suddenly cursed, seeing the empty sleeve. "By the gods, Eragon, what happened to your arm?" Undisguised concern flowed from the words, and the blade on Eragon's neck lifted up a fraction. That was all the rider needed. With a cry, Eragon pulled out his hunting knife from his boot and drove the blade directly at Murtagh's stomach. Swearing, Murtagh backed off a few steps. The elves picked up their swords, and with amazing speed, leapt at the red rider.

The duel was nothing like anything Eragon had seen before. The rider and the two elves circled around Murtagh, each using the most complicated methods they could think of to defeat him; and yet, Murtagh blocked their lightening fast blows easily, weaving a web of steel around him with Zar'roc until it seemed as if he was encased in an crimson, iron shell. But try as he might, he could not break out of the circle.

Eragon took most of Murtagh's attacks first, having sparred with him for a long time, and he knew the style of his swordsmanship best. But he was tiring rapidly, blocking the heavy blows with his one arm over and over again. Soon, Arya was the one who took the brunt of Murtagh's blows. Eragon and Vanir still circled around Murtagh, attacking when chance came and a tiny hole appeared in the defenses of the red rider. They would lunge at it, only to have their swords battered away.

Soon, Arya was backing away from the red rider. She could not hold for long, and in a short time, the circle would be broken.

Eragon!

Saphira?

Ra'zac…Thorn… lethrblaka… attacking us… can't fight for long…a wing injured already…

Eragon cursed. It had been a trap after all. Murtagh on the inside, the Ra'zac and his dragon on the outside.

Arya! Vanir!

Yes, Shadeslayer? Replied Vanir. Arya didn't answer. She was still trying to guard herself from Murtagh's sword. Vanir was attacking warily from behind.

You two get out of this godforsaken place and go help Roran and Saphira. They are being attacked. I will try to hold him off as long as possible.

Impossible! You will get killed, Shadeslayer! And I refuse to leave you!

Go, Vanir. He will not kill me. His orders were to bring me to his master alive. And magic cannot be used in this hole, though I do not know why.

It was true; Vanir felt his touch on magic leave him as soon as he had set foot into Helgrind. The rest of the group felt it as well, though none remarked on it. It was as if a dark, strong magical force was in the mountain, blotting out anything else that was held magic.

It is too dangerous.

You two will both die if you stay here with me! Go and save Saphira and my cousin! I will try to escape from him later.

But…you stand no chance alone. If we stood together--

We would die together. Stop arguing! Leave now before I force you two out!

Vanir sighed. As you wish. But I swear that we will get you out once your dragon is safe.

On some unspoken signal, Arya and Vanir leapt back from Murtagh. They touched Eragon's mind and gave him some of their remaining power before they rushed up the tunnel.

Stay safe, Eragon.

I will, Arya.

Murtagh watched the retreating elves with amusement. "I assume that you told them to leave? Always the hero, Eragon."

"Say what you will, Murtagh."

"Then tell me: What happened to your arm? It was fine when we met a week ago."

"It was dying of shame after it learned that you were my brother. I had to cut it off, put it out of its misery."

The two brothers circled each other, swords in hand.

"I think not. Someone cut it off, but not you."

"You know nothing about it."

"Actually, I do know something about severed body parts." Murtagh raised up his left hand for Eragon to see. The ring finger was missing. "One failure, one digit." Muttered Murtagh. "Galbatorix's own words. And he never lies, in a sense."

Eragon was shocked. He quickly composed himself and continued to watch Murtagh, watching for anything that might betray the red rider's actions.

Suddenly, with no warning at all, Zar'roc lashed out at him. Eragon leaned away from the blow just in time, and struck out at Murtagh's throat. Murtagh parried the blow with a twirl of the sword and began attacking Eragon, each blow faster and stronger than the last. Slowly backing away, Eragon found out that they were going deeper and deeper into Helgrind, and it was getting darker.

Eragon struggled to defend himself. His brother was so fast, and so strong. The only reason he was still fighting was the same as the one that kept him from dying when he faced the seven sorcerers: Murtagh wanted him alive. The red rider could not possibly kill his brother, even with a slightly miscalculated slash. The vows bound him tightly.

Eragon could now no longer hold his sword properly. What magical force there was in Helgrind had cut off the connection with his dragon as well. He was alone. With a slight twist of Zar'roc, Murtagh rapped Eragon's wrist and the rider's blade flew out of his hands. Eragon fell to the floor on his knees, breathing labored, numerous places on his body dripping blood.

"Now, now, there is no need to kneel before me." Murtagh reached out an arm and prepared to pull the younger rider up from the ground. But all he felt was thin air.

Not again… thought Murtagh, his face paling. It can't be…

Eragon had disappeared.

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Read and review! The longest chapter I have ever typed!(for now)

P.S. It might be a while before I do my next chapter. I have to organize my original plotline, as some parts don't fit and some aren't logical. Don't worry, I won't change any of the previous chapters.