The Siege of Dras-Leona

Eragon watched as the boulders from the catapults arched over the army of the Varden and crashed into the city walls. Chunks of rock flew in all directions as they collided with the city.

The catapults launched their own volley of boulders at the Varden. The dragons launched into the air. The rain prevented Eragon from tracking Thorn and Veravanda. Saphira flew alongside one of the boulders and gave it a shove; the boulder flew of course and smashed harmlessly in the dirt in front of the Varden army.

I won't be able to keep doing that Eragon. Stated Saphira, We need to take out those catapults. I'm on it. Replied Eragon.

The Varden siege towers rolled forward, the catapults managed to destroy two, but ten others kept moving. Eragon cast out his mind and found the crew of one of the catapults.

He gently probed the minds of the crew and found they were formidably defended. Eragon sent to attacks at the barrier around one of the minds. He smashed into it like a hammer, which was blocked by his opponent but distracted him long enough to send a small probe through the defences.

He gave the trooper a burning desire to hack at the ropes of the catapult. Just like at the Burning Plains the man drew his sword and swung at the rope disabling the weapon.

Eragon chuckled slightly and continued to disable the rest of the siege engines. Once they had all fallen silent the siege towers reached the walls.

Saphira soared up into the air and then dived down again, flame erupted from her maw and engulfed the soldiers waiting to fight the Varden. The doors of the towers lowered and the Varden streamed into the weak spot created by Saphira.

Their freedom was short lived as archers in the streets of the city opened fire and cut down the men leading the forlorn hope. Eragon leapt from Saphira's saddle as she swooped low to the wall. He was now on the frontline and could make out the archers about to fire their next volley through the rain.

"Letta orya Thorna!!" he bellowed.

The arrows hung in mid-air and the next wave of Varden came through the tower. Eragon gestured with his hand and the arrows span around to reunite with their owners. The archers flew back as the arrow collided with them.

As the soldiers engaged in fights along the wall, and the edges of the city. Eragon used this moment to search for other sorcerers; he cast out his sense and almost immediately found three of them. He focused on his first, enclosing his consciousness around him cutting him off from his soldiers. Eragon tore away his defences and muttered one of the words of death.

The troops left exposed to magical attack burst into flames as Eragon screamed "Brisingr!"

Eragon was about to focus his attention on the second when the Varden troops on his left flank fell to ten imperial soldiers. The rider drew his sword and charged. He received a blow on his shield and lunged at his first attacker. He withdrew his sword and hacked at a second severing his head from his shoulders. He was forced to give ground as the other eight advanced.

He swung down and cleaved an enemies head in two slammed his shield into another knocking him into two of his allies. He hacked at another's thigh and plunged his sword into his opponent while he was down. Desperate he slammed a mental attack against the enemy magician defending them, it quailed under his attack and he silenced the magician permanently.

He kneed a soldier in the groin and he crumpled. He swung his sword a wide arch causing the remaining soldiers to jump back. Eragon used this reprieve yell one of the words of death and the soldier crumpled to the stone floor of the wall lifeless. The onslaught continued as more of the enemy rushed towards him.

SAPHIRA!! HELP!!

Eragon saw the colossal and terrifying form of Saphira swoop down burning the men beneath her. She stopped for a second to avoid hitting Eragon, and then continued once she had passed him. Eragon was standing alone on the burning south wall of Dras-Leona.

The continued down pour of rain quickly put out the flames, but Eragon was more concerned of the legion of soldier he could see mobilizing in the city. More of the Varden came up through the towers against the wall, but it was to no avail. The imperial army was too co-ordinated; everything the Varden did was countered. They were losing men too fast; even as he planned men were being cut down. Eragon had only seen an army fight like this once, Farthen Dur. That meant there was a shade leading the army.

Saphira, there is a shade amongst our enemies. He told her.

Are you sure?

Yes, the empire is too co-ordinated; it was like when the urgals were under Durza's influence.

It must be in the central tower.

Continue helping the Varden take the wall, I'll get to the tower; I'll call you when you need her.

GO.

Eragon ran to the nearest stairs and practically flew down them. He reached the street. A brave or foolish soldier charged at him and was cut down by him. Most of the soldiers we either further in the city acting as reserves or on the wall.

Eragon saw a nearby building that was abandoned. He ran over to it and smashed the door down. It was a tavern of some-sorts, he cast out his mind and he felt three terrified presences, two were upstairs, the other… BEHIND HIM.

He whipped around and grabbed the thin wrist of a young woman. She had a dagger closed in her hand and her face was tear streamed.

Eragon took the dagger from her hand and muttered, "You're no soldier, hide."

He let the woman go and went for the stairs, but was almost thrown off balance by the woman he had just let go as she threw herself against him.

He grabbed her round the throat in one gauntleted hand and lifted her off the ground. Her black hair was a mess and she seemed desperate.

"Don't try that again." Growled Eragon, "my patience is being tried."

"I'd rather die than let you near my children." She gasped.

Eragon used his mind and found the scared presences again, they were, indeed children. He let go of the woman again, he now felt sorry for her, she was doing what every mother should protecting her children.

"I will not harm your children." Promised Eragon walking up the stairs, "if the Varden come in here, tell them you are under the protection of Lord Shadeslayer."

The woman gasped as he finished his sentence, she hadn't seen his face behind his dragon helm visor so she wouldn't have recognised him from his wanted posters.

Eragon came to the second floor and carefully avoided the room the children were in. He looked at the ceiling and whispered

"Jeida."

The ceiling crumbled under his will and he again spoke in the ancient language.

"Reisa."

He went up through the hole he had just made onto the top of the building. He looked from where he stood to the central tower. The buildings were connected in a straight path. He sheathed his sword and began to run to the heart of Dras-Leona.