Chapter 46: A Bigger Problem…

"Stronghammer, we are in need of more men like you!" Nasuada exclaimed, surprising Roran.

"My Lady, it was just a suggestion. I did not mean you to take it literally." Roran was startled at the effect his idea had on the leaders.

A council meeting was in progress, and Roran was present in it with Captain Martland Redbeard, who was now a battle advisor, Orrin, Orik, Jormundur, Nar Garzhvog and Tiranna

"Roran, your idea is spectacular, if we can invade Dras'leona from the inside then attack it from inside as well as outside, they won't stand a chance. Especially if there are elves, dwarves, Urgals and humans together in the group that shall invade the city. I don't believe that the city will stand much of a chance then, and the only places that we need to conquer after it are the Citadel and the Cathedral. And we will have three Dragons and Riders on our side. I would like to see who would be courageous enough to try and fight against us then." Nasuada summarized, satisfied.

"Of course Dras'leona won't stand a chance, even if there are soldiers without pain. But there is another matter, My Lady. There will be fakes of Eragon and Arya, maybe even Murtagh around….who knows, there may be fakes of all the leaders of the Varden here. That is why I think it would be prudent if we know something about all the leaders that nobody else knows. I little cut or bruise on their arm would suffice, or a question whose answer only they know." Roran said, and Eragon had asked him to inform all the leaders of this.

The leaders looked at each other, then Nar Garzhvog pulled out a long dagger and made an 'X' on his left horn. Orrin pulled out a knife and made a cross on his left cheek. Jormundur did likewise, but on his right cheek. Orik stood up and said, "If you wish to figure the real king of dwarves from the fake, just ask me the name of my beloved wife. The answer is Hvedra."

Roran nodded at them, then pulled his own short blade and made a similar cross on his left palm. He showed them his hand, and asked Tiranna to stop the bleeding.

"There, now that we have that matter resolved, I suggest we make a proper plan to capture Dras'leona. I think it will prudent for all the leaders to stay toge-

There was a huge explosion just behind the side of the tent where Orik and Jormundur were sitting, they were blasted forwards and they fell to the ground on the other side. The walls of the tent were torn apart and a couple of dark figures could be seen outside.

With a curse and an oath, Orik and Jormundur stood up, and drew their weapons just as all the other leaders had. The Nighthawks entered the tent and surrounded Nasuada.

Hammer in hand, Roran turned to Tiranna, "Contact Eragon's guards, tell them that a couple of fakes have attacked and we need them."

Tiranna nodded and closed her eyes. The dark figures entered the tent and eyed all the leaders from under their hoods. They wore dark cloaks over them and reminded Roran of the Ra'zac.

"We are the kregoren, and we are here to kill all of you. DIE" They shouted and raised their palms. But there was a blinding flash of red, violet, blue, green and silver light and the figures were blasted back.

The fifteen elves arrived and stood, ready to fight, in front of them.

"Kregoren?" Orrin muttered.

"That is what the fakes call themselves. The one who tried to steal Valinor's egg called himself the same." An elf answered.

The two figures stood up, then pulled off their cloaks. All the leaders gasped, for in front of them stood Eragon and Arya.

"Die, rebels." The fake Eragon shouted and ran towards Blodhgarm, a dark green sword raised. Blodhgarm pulled out two long daggers and began to fight the copy.

Another elf with fair hair pulled out a slender sword and attacked the fake Arya. The remaining elves closed their eyes.

"Be careful Naeivya" A silver haired elf said.

The duel between Blodhgarm and Eragon was impossible for Roran to comprehend because they moved too fast. Their bodies were a blur and the sound of their swords a formidable music. It was the same with the other couple.

But…

The wall behind Roran was blasted apart, making him, Orrin and Tiranna fly across the room and land several feet away. Behind them stood five dark clothed, hooded men with long, pale swords. They grinned at them, then charged with a shout.

Roran got up with a curse and ducked just in time to dodge a slash that would have cut off his head. Snarling, he swung his hammer at the chest of the man, but it bounced off with a dull thunk.

Their armor is thick.

The entire tent was ruined now, and the cloth fell flat to the ground. Everyone fell in an entangled heap under the red fabric, then scrambled out. Roran yelled and brandished his hammer. Orik, Orrin and Jormundur answere his call and came to his side.

Roran blocked another blow, and saw men from the surrounding tents hurrying over to help them. Another twenty men in black clothes joined the earlier five, and fifteen more men joined Roran and his group. The battle was small, but Roran knew that they could win. He charged forward, Orrin, Orik and Jormundur by his side, along with five more men.

He blocked a low blow and retaliated with a smash onto the man's head. The helm did not stop him, and the man fell.

"Aim for their heads." Roran shouted, and attacked another man, just as Orrin parried a blow to his left and Orik cleaved off a man's head to his right.

He dodged to the side and crushed the man's neck, but the man laughed hysterically and continued attacking Roran. In a flash he understood that they were soldiers without pain.

Dodging the sword, he smashed the man's nose and skull. Whirling around, he parried another blow, but Orrin got a gash on his stomach. Roran jumped in front of the king and attacked both the men at once. Knowing he would not last long, he dodged the second man's vertical blow and kicked him mightily in the chest. Then he swung around and bashed the other man's face. Before the second man could react, he gave him a upward blow and finished him. Behind him, Orrin placed a hand over his bleeding wound and fell to the ground.

Orik and the some other men surrounded Roran and Orrin, who was grimacing in the pain. Roran looked at him gingerly, then stood up and said, "I can't do anything for this wound, Your Majesty, but Tiranna can." He nodded at a couple of men, who dashed off to get the sorceress. There were only eight of those twenty men left, but both the fakes were still fighting and six elves were standing there. The remaining elves were fighting the dark clothed attackers.

A human and a dwarf had been killed among Nasuada's guards. Orik's royal guards, Orrin's men had also joined them, so victory was close. There was a flash of white light, and an elf hurried over to Orrin.

"Tiranna is dead, two men attacked her and she was overwhelmed before we could help her." A man with a carelessly grown beard said gravely.

"A terrible loss, but we must get rid of these misbegotten swamps. Go and help the others and make sure that Nasuada is saf-"

"AHHH" A man screamed, and everyone turned around to see a blade protruding from Jormundur's chest. Roran was shocked as he saw Jormundur 's good natured face filled with fear and pain. He looked at Roran with horror, then fell to the ground as the blade was pulled back.

Roran looked at the man, furious, and readied his hammer. He knew he would avenge the death of the great man, and that he would not show anyone any mercy now.

He charged with a yell, as did three other men. Two more sneering men joined that man, whereas five others desperately tried to escape.

Roran made a mighty swing at the man's chest, but the blow was parried and a dagger immediately poked at Roran. But the blade stopped an inch away from his chest due to Eragon's wards, and Roran struck at the man's chest again. The blow was blocked and again the dagger made to jab Roran, but he grabbed the man's left wrist with his own and twisted it, making the dagger fall to the ground.

The man snarled and launched a series of attacks against Roran, who found it very difficult to block and parry the blows, and was saved many times due to the wards surrounding him. But he knew that the wards would soon run out and he had to end the battle as soon as possible.

After parrying another blow, Roran jumped back as the sword neared him, and attacked before the man could pull his sword. His hammer swung at the man's scalp and hit it, splitting it into two. Roran roared in triumph and turned around but something struck his forehead and he was engulfed in complete darkness as he fell to the floor.