Chapter 14: Control
Murtagh looked around at his new room, or holding cell was more like it. There was a cot in one corner, and though there were not literal bars around him he was magically imprisoned in the room. In one corner, there was a small desk with one piece of paper and a quill and ink bottle. The other one held a device Murtagh had learned to hate; it was a device used for torture with shackles and leather straps used to restrain and a gag right next to it on an end table.
"Thorn, will we ever get out of this mess? Even though we managed to change our true names Galbatorix is still managing to hold us here against our will. Eragon was right about being able to change our true names, but it won't be much longer before the king will guess them again." Thorn and Murtagh were still being kept apart when they slept, thus causing great strain and discomfort for both of them while at the same time making the king's job easier.
"I don't know, Little One. I feel like we are close to freedom and can taste the edge of it on my lips. Still, with Galbatorix threatening to kill the boy if we leave I don't think we have much of a choice. If we cannot break free of him maybe the Martin can. Plus, if we leave he will only have Galbatorix to learn from and will be a potentially powerful enemy in the future. We must stay though it pains me too." Murtagh listened to the words and he knew they were right. If he was soulless like Galbatorix he wouldn't worry about it, but he had a conscience.
"You're right, as always. Speaking of escaping how is the plan coming along?" Despite Galbatorix's best efforts Murtagh and Thorn still had enough time in their minds to start forming an escape plan.
"It is slowly coming along. The time I think we have the best chance of escaping is when Shruikan will have to hunt again. He could last a couple more weeks, but it would be uncomfortable and he will most likely leave in about ten days."
Delighted, Murtagh considered the prospect of Shruikan again being gone when they tried to escape. "I like it. So, how are we going to get past Galby? What my best idea was is telling Martin about the plan and having him as our decoy. Then we might be able to catch Galbatorix off guard like we did last time. The king will have more wards then he did last time, but we could still be able to catch him by surprise if we're lucky. Thankfully the last time we fought, the king only had wards up to protect him from a life-threatening injury, and we barely knocked him unconscious."
"Yes, I think something along those lines will have the best chance of working. Shall you inform Martin or shall I inform Lanthanide of the plan."
"I think I'll inform Martin myself. Martin is learning quickly from Galbatorix and has a very quick-witted and resourceful mind. He may be able to help us plan this escape as well. What do you think of him, personally I think that he has a good heart and can do what's right if given the chance." The sun was just starting to rise, and he could just make out the glimpse of the gray pre-dawn through the slightly cracked door.
"Oh, I quite agree. With his intellect he can help us plan. Martin is a capable young man, and he knows what's right and wrong. I just hope that he won't have to live his life from a child to adult as Galbatorix's slave. You at least were able to have some years before you were enslaved. However Martin has barely had a life to call his own."
"It's true. I would feel absolutely terrible if we didn't do everything we could to help free him of his fate. Somehow I think it will all manage to work itself out and one of us will escape, but I just wish that the egg could have been stolen by the Varden. Now Eragon is even more outmatched." Knowing that he only had a minute or two before Galbatorix showed up to give him his daily dose of morning torture, he lay back down on the cot and feigned sleep.
Again, he was correct and within seconds he heard the sound of Galbatorix's footsteps. Then Martin, who had a similar room to Murtagh's, awoke to the sound of Murtagh screaming. The twelve year old boy liked the older Rider and hated the way the king treated him. "If only we could find a way to escape this twisted horror called fate. Thankfully he's only made me a name slave so far. Hopefully, this war will end soon, or we can find a way to escape this mess."
After a half hour of constant screaming the noise subsided, and then Murtagh entered his mind, "Thorn and I have just come up with an escape plan. In ten days we will be able to make our move. Sadly, if we do escape I will have to put you in bonds to stop you from fighting me and returning to Galbatorix. Are you agreeable, Martin?"
"of course, Murtagh. Ironically enough I was just thinking that we need to get out of this mess. So what's the plan?"
Unknowingly Galbatorix was being plotted against, and soon he would find out just how tricky Murtagh can be. Morzan's son had already defied him multiple times, and had been punished for it dearly.