Chapter 1
The high-pitched keening and low moaning of grieving women assaulted Eragon's ears as he walked among the hacked, mutilated and ruined bodies that were strewn across the battlefield. For three days the Varden along with their Dwarven allies had worked to cleanse the field of corpses, and twice after he woke and Angela was satisfied with his back, he had attempted to help with the clean up and been struck by racking pains that radiated from the newest scar on his back. He had been examined by Angela, Arya, Olwen and his mother and all told him he was perfectly fine but he could feel in himself that he wasn't, every time a new fit occurred, he was hit not only by a physical crippling pain but by a wave of darkness that assailed his mind, remnants of the shades final actions before Eragon had buried his sword in the fiends heart.
At the moment he was joined by Roran who was looking at the battlefield in revulsion.
"Do you mourn for them cousin?" Asked Eragon watching his cousin carefully
"I'm not sure." Answered Roran "for our losses yes but for the urgals I cannot say, for all my life I have been taught to fear them, then at Yazuac those fears were cemented and my hatred felt justified but then you told us of Nar Garzvhog and the Bolvek clan you knew in the spine." He sighed. "I just don't know Eragon." He looked at his older cousin for signs of a new attack, he was distracted however as he saw Jormunder riding on a grey charger. He stopped a few feet short of the pair and looked at them. "Hail Shadeslayer, Hail Strong hammer," he bowed to them from his position in the saddle something Roran knew the older man would not have done a few days ago "Ajihad is returning and wants you to meet him by the west gate, others have been sent to gather your fellow riders." Continued Jormunder.
"Very well then General we shall go at once" said Eragon inclining his head. During the short conversation Saphira and Breoal spiralled down from where they had been circling high above the two riders, quickly they mounted and the two dragons took to the sky and flew towards the west gate; from on high Eragon could see the group massed below them made up of his fellow riders and their dragons, his parents, Olwen and Orik. Once the two dragons landed and their riders slipped from their saddles to land gracefully upon the ground the two joined the small group.
Orik looked at them as they approached "good I'm glad you made it, we received word from a runner that Ajihad should be returning imminently."
For five long minutes they stood there as one watching the tunnel entrance a mile away until finally there was movement from within the dark depths. The first people out of the tunnel were large burly men who turned and helped out a pair of dwarves they were followed by Ajihad, Murtagh and the twins, behind them came half a dozen more men and the same number of dwarves. Without any words the men and dwarves formed up around Ajihad with Murtagh at his side and the twins just behind them, they made it no more than a handful of steps before more figures leapt from the tunnel and surrounded the small group, a sudden dust cloud surged up and surrounded them all. In the few short seconds between Ajihad's group being surrounded to the obscuring cloud forming Thorn managed to snarl a single word that shocked them all "Urgals!"
The first to recover were Eragon and Jormunder, Eragon leapt from the ground to Saphira's saddle and Jormunder leapt into his own saddle and whilst Saphira lunged forward towards the small conflict Jormunder rode towards Tronjhiem. Katrina cursed that she had left both her bow and her sword in their quarters none the less seconds after Eragon was in the saddle she had followed his example running to Nuanen and leaping to the saddle fastened to the silver dragons back, beside her she saw Roran and Nassuada settling into their own saddles Arya however didn't mount Firnen she ran along side her brother, Brom and Selena all of them with swords drawn. Before Saphira and Thorn were halfway to the fight the dust settled and there for them all to see lay Ajihad and all his guards slain as were all the urgals, the only one left alive was Murtagh though he was sat leaning against a fallen foe clutching at his side, Vervada sticking out of the Urgal that lay before the ruby rider, before Saphira's feet touched the ground Eragon jumped from the saddle and rolled to his brothers side. Quickly he drew upon the magic and healed his brothers wound then he looked around at the brutal carnage "how did this happen?"
"It was the twins they've betrayed us brother." Snarled Murtagh between teeth clenched in pain
Before Eragon could ask another question, a low hoarse voice could be heard from amongst the fallen, turning he saw that Ajihad was still alive his armour was split down the middle of his chest with blood slowly drying around the edges. Eragon went to him as did Murtagh though the latter moved considerably slower kneeling beside the injured leader of the Varden. Ajihad opened and closed his mouth a dozen times during which time the other riders landed and dismounted. Nassuada ran to her fallen father and fell to her knees cradling his head in her lap, from her position she looked up at the two eldest riders silently imploring one of the brothers to help her father, as her eyes fell upon Murtagh's face he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head at which she broke down and began to sob. Murtagh moved to her side and enveloped her in his arms and she slumped against him, it was then that Ajihad found his voice once again "Nassuada, listen to me. I have one final command for you and your fellow riders." He drew in a rattling breath "help the Varden to stay strong, you must keep them from falling into chaos and remember don't trust the council of elders." He forced out one final statement "forgive me for my anger when you were chosen to be a rider Nassuada I should never had tried to deny you your destiny." Then he cast his now failing eyes around at the other riders "peace be with you Shur'tugalar." And with that Ajihad, the leader of the Varden passed away with a final breath.
The despair that enveloped Nassuada was all encompassing, tears ran down her cheeks, she cared not if the other riders saw for here lay the greatest man she had ever known. She heard Murtagh's gentle voice "your father was a great man Nassuada and I am so sorry for your loss." It was then that Jormunder along with Orik and Mika arrived at the head a column of five dozen heavily armed men, when Mika saw his slain father, he faltered however it was Orik who spoke first "Barzul, this couldn't have come at a worse possible time, the Varden will be overturned by this." At that point the dwarf looked around "where are Brom, Selena and Olwen?"
"They went after those that escaped." Answered Eragon coldly
"They shouldn't have gone after them." Said Jormunder "we cannot afford to loose anyone else right now."
"It's to late now though." Said Mika "we'll post guards here to keep watch for their return, it will take a few hours to find guides to lead any expeditions."
"I am willing to lead and we could go after them now." Said Orik his hand grasped the haft of his war axe.
"No Hrothgar will need you now more than ever." Said Eragon his ancient authority coming forth once more.
Jormunder looked at the warriors he had brought with him "carry our fallen brother and leader upon your shields and do not be ashamed to let others see your sorrow for today with have all lost a great friend." Silently six of the warriors laid aside their arms and shields and tenderly lifted Ajihad from where he lay and placed him upon the flat sides of the other warriors shields before they retrieved their own tools of war and as one, they began the slow and teary procession back to the white marbled city of Tronjhiem. Behind them the dragons roared with loss, pain and rage.
Once Ajihad had been borne away Murtagh helped Nassuada to her feet and rather than make her walk he lifted her into his arms allowing her head to rest against his shoulder where her tears dampened his tunic, he looked at the others with a fierce challenge in his eyes and nobody uttered a word as he began to walk back towards Tronjhiem, Eragon stooped and picked up Ajihad's fallen sword and dented shield whilst Roran tore free Vervarda's crimson blade sending an arc of dark red blood flying like deep ruby agates.