Chapter 9

The warm first rays of the sun felt good on Saphira's scales her little two legs Eragon partner of her heart and mind sat in the saddle on her back ready to take to the skies where they belonged as dragon and rider, few could best her little one in a fair fight and none were her equal, soon all would know it. Once they reached Gil'ead she would show the little two legs round ears the ferocity of her race, the ferocity that they had forgotten over the last century, she also knew that he waited at Gil'ead him and his twisted dragon and she would have her revenge on them both if her little one or his sire didn't get to him first, how she hated him for betraying the riders to the black betrayer but now was not the time for such dark thoughts she stretched her wings, the hatchlings had already taken to the skies and now she would join them. She lunged forward with several large wing strokes she was airborne and gaining height, below her sire-of-her-partner-Brom pulled himself into the white-horse-snowfire's saddle and began riding north east with Eragon's-blood-cousin Roran in the saddle of the chesnut-horse-cadoc leading the other horses behind him. The next few hours passed easily, from high above Saphira and Eragon scouted the skies and the land below for signs of their enemies just before lunch they spotted the village of Daret as they landed Eragon was smiling "Daret is only a few hours away if we keep the pace we have been but I think it's best that we all ride the horses until we pass through."

"Sound advice it would be a bit odd if only two people rode into town with four horses" said Brom as he added some salted beef to a pot along with some vegetables and dried herbs."

Once they'd finished eating and the plates had been scoured clean the four of them mounted the horses and began riding in the direction of the village. As they rode Brom began drilling Roran and Katrina on their knowledge of the ancient language, by the time that Daret came into view Brom was satisfied. Before they rode into the village Brom reigned in his horse "I think we should ride around to the other side it might seem a little less conspicuous if we appear to be coming from within the empire."

Eragon nodded and pulled on the palomino's reigns heading left around the village followed by the others, once they reached the southern road they began to cautiously ride deeper into the village with Eragon in the front, Roran and Katrina behind him and Brom bringing up the rear. Slowly Eragon laid a hand on his sword, something wasn't right, there were no children playing in the street no men or women working, there was a nagging sense of doom at the back of Eragon's mind. As they rode into the village centre Eragon saw exactly what was causing the nagging feeling, as they rode into the village square Eragon first saw three wagons tipped on their sides behind them stood a dozen men bows and spear aimed at the four on horseback.

From behind the wagons came a gruff voice "stay back we don't want any trouble here."

"And neither do we." Replied Eragon "But we most buy supplies for our journey."

From behind the wagons stepped a middle aged man holding a crossbow cocked and with a bolt already fitted to the string. "And what manner of supplies be you needing sir."

Eragon rattled of a short list of the essentials they had to have

"If it please you I'll have someone fetch the items and you can pay and be on your way."

"That seems reasonable." Answered Eragon

The man whistled and from one of the roof tops slid a young man bow in hand an arrow fit to the string though the bow wasn't draw, with a few words the older man sent the younger running of into the village for the things Eragon had asked for.

"If I may ask your name sir" enquired the man with the cross bow

"My name is Evan" replied Eragon with a reassuring smile "and this is my cousin Randall and his wife Kat and his father Neil, I'm escorting them to our home near Aroughs my fathers friend is in need of a strong young man to be his apprentice and my cousin is looking for a trade." Without missing a beat Eragon asked "and what is your name sir if I may be so bold as to ask?"

"I'm Gareth." Said the man

"A pleasure to meet you Gareth." He shook the mans hand from his saddle "why were you chosen to defend Daret?"

"I served in the kings army for ten years, seems to make people feel safer with me in charge at times like these."

"Times like these?" Queried Eragon who slipped from his saddle and started to rub his horses nose

"Aye we've heard awful rumours abroad of a shade and all the urgals in the area seem to be migrating south easterly, and then about two weeks ago we saw Morzan flying over head heading north towards the spine, evil times friend."

Before Eragon could say anything else the young man returned arms full of the supplies which Roran climbed from his saddle and took from him whilst Eragon pulled out a small pouch of coins and counted out the amount for the supplies. Once the items had been stowed in the saddle bags Roran and Eragon remounted as they turned to leave Brom looked at Gareth "we passed through Yazuac a week or so ago to find the whole place and been massacred we would have given them a proper burial but we had no time."

"We'll see to it I knew some of the folks from there they were good people." With that they left Daret and carried on riding towards Gil'ead.

Once Daret was out of sight the dragons landed and Roran and Katrina dismounted handing over their reigns they ran over and clambered into their saddles, then the smaller dragons took off as Saphira prepared to follow Eragon said "look after them up there"

"Of course little one" then she took off and was soon high above the ground.

For the remainder of the day Brom and Eragon rode in silence, Brom led the way whilst Eragon began devising a strategy to gain access to the prison at Gil'ead.

That night as they sat round the fire Katrina looked at Eragon and Brom and asked "what's a shade?"

Brom looked at her "a shade is a magician who summons spirits to aid him or her in their magic but has accidentally or as has happened on a few rare occasions purposely summoned spirits stronger than they can control and so the spirits possess the magician and twist them, you see only the evilest spirits would willingly create a shade."

"And how do you kill a shade?"

"The only way to kill a shade is to pierce its heart anything else would cause the shade to vanish and reappear somewhere else, only two people in history have survived killing a shade Laetri the elf and Irnstad the rider. Now it's getting late off to bed with you we have a long way to go tomorrow."

As dawn lit the eastern horizon Eragon sat leaning against Saphira's leg slowly and methodically oiling her saddle during the half hour it took him to complete the work the others rose and began making breakfast and breaking down the two tents they had with them, once they eaten and everything was stowed away in the saddle bags Eragon climbed into the saddle and looked at Katrina "care to join me this morning Katrina?" He asked and with a radiant smile she walked over to Luneria and gracefully climbed into the saddle as one the three dragons reared and lunged forward and began flapping quickly gaining height. Eragon watched below as Roran and Brom mounted the horses and began riding north easterly towards Gil'ead, once he was assured they were safe from any danger for the time being he reached out his mind to Katrina who opened herself up to him "your mental armour is very impressive, you're certainly getting better at it."

"Thank you Ebrithil." Came her reply "and what shall I be learning today?"

"Nothing I have taken you through the entirety of Tuatha du Orothrim, there is nothing more for me to teach you."

"Then why did you bring me here and leave Roran with Brom?"

"Because I need to talk with you about our assault on Gil'ead."

For several hours the two riders spoke with their minds until finally they landed several miles ahead of Roran and Brom and from Saphira's saddle bags they removed the two tents and began setting up camp. A hour or so later Roran and Brom rode into the camp just as Eragon returned with the fruits of his hunt which was a small doe over one shoulder as the others relaxed Eragon prepared their evening meal, after they had eaten and the dishes were clean he looked at his father "would you entertain us with a story."

"Of course my son and what story shall I tell."

Eragon grinned "whatever you wish."

Brom looked thoughtful for a second before he began his tale.

After a week of heavy travelling the four riders caught their first sight of Gil'ead unlike others towns and villages they had passed Gil'ead's only purpose was the garrisoning of the imperial army and as such it wasn't houses that Roran saw but hundreds of barracks, he looked at Eragon "you expect us to break into there and rescue the elven ambassador?"

"No only one of us will be breaking into Gil'ead the rest of us will be busy out side of the city." He turned his horse towards a small corpse of trees barely big enough to hide them and the horses.

Once they had set up for the night and they had a small pot with their evening meal sat on top of a pile of rocks that Eragon with the help of Saphira was heating with magic so as to reduce the light that a camp fire would produce he spoke "later tonight once dark has truly set in Saphira and I will fly upon Gil'ead and attempt to draw Morzan and his dragon out if they are within the city if not then at least all the soldiers in the city will attempt to bring us down. If Morzan is in the city and he flys out to meet me then I will need the help of you Roran as well as Luneria, Askanir and my father."

"And what about Katrina?" Asked Roran

"Katrina will sneak into the city locate the dungeons and rescue the ambassador of all of us she stands the best chance of success." Answered Eragon as he stirred the pot on the rocks before he continued "now that Morzan knows of my survival then it's almost guaranteed that the king and the rest of the forsworn also know, and there will be pictures of me posted throughout the empire as there are also pictures of Brom and you dear cousin look too much like your father to pass unrecognised by the forsworn."

Once they had eaten they all turned in for what little rest they could get before the coming nights assault.

An hour before midnight they all woke and silently armed themselves from within one of Saphira's saddle bags Eragon pulled two fine chain mail shirts he handed one each to Roran and Katrina who pulled them on over their heads without a word Eragon buckled on his breast plate with Brom's help before pulling a sapphire blue tabard over the top, he then fastened his sword belt to his waist and rolled his shoulders so all the armour settled, as Roran fastened his sword belt he noticed Katrina tie her sword to her horses saddle, she looked at him and spoke directly into his mind "it would be too obvious to take my sword but don't worry I have a knife and I'll be taking my bow as well." And with that she shut herself off from him.

Finally once they were all ready Eragon climbed into Saphira's saddle and looked at Katrina "I'll fly over to the southern side of the city to draw as many troops away from the northern wall that's when you make your move understood?" She nodded and then concealing herself with magic she slipped through the trees and headed for the city. Eragon looked at the others "I'll try and lead Morzan as far away from the city as possible hopefully he's alone but if another of the forsworn appears don't attempt to help me." Brom frowned and his jaw clenched but he nodded which left Roran no room to argue so he gave his ascent as well. Then Saphira lunged skywards and was soon several hundred feet above them, without a word Brom and Roran mounted Luneria and Askanir and waited for the fight to begin.

On silent wings Saphira glided round the city until she was facing the southern wall then as Eragon bent low in the saddle she tucked in her wings slightly and descended on the city below when she was two hundred feet from the walls she let loose an ear shattering roar of pure hated followed by a jet of sapphire flames that bathed the walls and parapet leaving burning men screaming and writhing in agony as she turned to make a second pass she saw her ancient foe the red dragon rose like a ruby dipped in blood and on her back sat the crazed figure of Morzan who had only had time to pull on a chain mail shirt, the red dragon roared her defiance and Saphira felt a small note of smugness cross her riders thoughts that they now had a chance with only one of the forsworn being present. She bathed the battlements in sapphire flames once more before she turned away from the city, she could sense the other dragon gaining on her and that was the point, lead them away from Gil'ead that was what her little one had told her and that was what she would do within a minute they were a mile away from the city and it was then that Saphira turned using all her flexibility and speed and before either of their foes could react she bathed them in fire, the hottest flames she could conjure forth even with wards she knew Morzan would suffer some injury and she wasn't surprised when the flames died to see that the left side of Morzan's face was burnt though his eye shone with pure malice then with a shouted word a ball of red energy shot towards the sapphire dragoness quicker than she could evade and even with Eragon's extensive wards protecting her the force of the blast was enough to throw her away and into the air.

As Morzan began to close the gap Eragon caught a glimpse of his friends over Morzan's shoulder and decided to throw caution to the wind and magnified his voice with magic "give up Morzan you have no hope of defeating me much less my father."

"You think you can best me Eragon I who am a century your senior, you got lucky last time boy and you shall not do so again. As for your father the next time I lay my eyes on him I shall rip out his heart with my bare hands for what he took from me."

Eragon smirked "you seem to be under the impression that I came here alone Morzan clearly that century difference between us has bereft you of all the lessons you were taught as a novice otherwise you would have noticed my friends behind you."

Morzan turned to look behind him and then turning back he sneered "so you did have eggs, Galbatorix long suspected this and it's good to know their minds will be much easier to break and then Galbatorix shall show them the true path of a rider."

As the others drew closer Eragon smiled more "take another look Morzan I'm sure you'll be surprised by just who you have to face this night."

Again Morzan looked back at the two approaching dragons and this time his face was filled with joyous hate "Ah Brom my old friend how good to see you again."

From across the distance that separated them Eragon heard his fathers voice "today is the day you pay for your crimes Morzan"

"You chose the wrong place to face me if you wanted to kill me Brom, here where most of my power resides."

Before anymore words could be exchanged Askanir and Luneria crashed into Morzan's red dragon snapping and snarling trying to gain purchase on the older dragon, once Eragon heard the ringing of swords which meant Brom had Morzan distracted Eragon gave Saphira her cue and she surged forward at the same time he launched a mental attack towards Morzan's mind and it sheered off as if he had punched a sheet of oiled glass, he refocused himself and rather than an attack he sent forth a gentle searching probe. As Saphira crashed into the other dragons Eragon came back to himself and focused on the fight in front of him. The sheer weight was forcing the four dragons to the ground, with a crash that shook the earth the dragons slammed into the ground, Eragon heard the crack of bones as he along with the others were thrown from their saddles, as he shook the collision from his brain he saw Roran doing the same fifty feet away from him and between them Brom and Morzan were wrestling in the dirt swords discarded. Some distance away the dragons were grappling though Saphira was keeping her left foreleg off the ground, Morzan's dragon's left wing was crumpled mercifully Askanir and Luneria seemed unharmed as they were doing most of the fighting whilst Saphira provide sapphire flames whenever the younger dragons were at a safe distance, turning his attention back to Brom and Morzan he saw his father on his back Morzan above him slowly chocking the life from Brom, Roran sat where he had fallen cradling his left arm, as Eragon tried to stand his ankle gave way as he tried to put his weight on it he felt the area and found it broken cursing he quickly focused on his magic and healed his ankle and once he was convinced he was fine he moved over to where the two older men were still fighting. Once there he wrapped his arms around Morzan's neck and began heaving backwards attempting to relieve Morzan's grip on his fathers throat at the same time he slowly felt Morzan's mind ebbing as he slipped into unconsciousness. With a heave he threw the forsworn off his father and offered him his hand helping him up, once he was on his feet he looked towards the dragons to see the red dragon was bounding back to the city where it could find some relative safety. Without word Eragon walked over to his cousin and healed his arm before he helped him over to Brom and the dragons, Brom was busy Examining Saphira's leg "It's a clean break and shouldn't be hard to heal."