Chapter 4. Battle of the Dread City

With the arrival of the Dwarven army Nausada commanded a force greater than that of Galbatorix. As Nausada made her way towards Dras Leona Queen Islanzadi marched on Narda with half her forces. Lord Dauthdr took the other half to retake Gilead. When they reached the city the allied forces hid in the countryside while Eragon, Arya, Angela, Roran, Jormunder and Trianna snuck into the city to open the gates from the inside.

Eragon, Roran, and Jormunder killed three guards and took their armor. When the guards changed the trio took the place of the gate guards. They killed the other men and opened the gates. Eragon sent a mental signal to Arya who signaled the allied forces and they attacked.

The defenders of Dras Leona were caught completely off guard. "You men with me!" Eragon said taking command of three hundred men. He led them to the temple of the Helgrind. As they approached three hooded men stood before the main entrance. Eragon gasped as the arrows fired by his troops were dispelled by a black shadow type shield.

"You killed our master Shadeslayer…Now we shall avenge him…"

The three robed creatures spoke in unison and as they spoke Eragon's men fell into the fetal position holding their ears. Eragon was unaffected, "Nu Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya…" Eragon sneered as the magic he unleashed was consumed by the mysterious trio.

"Your magic will only feed us!"

The men were completely helpless and unable to fight. Eragon draws his sword and attacks. The robed men fight him unarmed and block Eragon's attacks with their hands and forearms. One of the transforms his hand into a black blade and stabs at Eragon. Who leaps backwards into a flip and is joined by Arya and Blodgharm. They fight but the trio is faster than Arya and Blodgharm. Arya loses her footing and slips. "NO!"

That is when Saphira lands spewing fire from her mouth killing the three robed men. ("Are you alright?") Saphira asks to Arya.

"I am fine brightscales…Thank you."

Eragon sneers as the fire dies down and all that is left are three piles of black rocks. "What in the world…"

"Dark magic…Creations of that Shade Varaug…" Blodgharm said.

The men that came with Eragon are reluctant to enter the temple. So Eragon summons Daven, Trianna, Ryu, Synen, Angela, and Solembum. They enter the temple killing every priest and acolyte they discover. They spare the slaves and servants setting them free. It is Trianna who finds Varaug's secret laboratory and burns it and all the magical experiments.

Trianna had gotten separated from the main group and found a secret passageway. "There you are!" Daven said walking down the steps into the wine cellar.

"What you were worried about me?" She asked flirtatiously.

"You need to be careful…All the priests haven't been accounted for…" That is when a shadowy figure grabs Trianna and drags her into the passage.

"Trianna! NO!" Daven screams throwing out his hand as the passageway closes, "LETTA!" The door slides to a stop. ("Someone help!") He calls with his mind. Daven falls to his knees as the passage door is too heavy for him and someone with magic is pushing against his strength. A few seconds before passing Daven receives a power boost from Eragon and he stands up shoving the passage open.

Soon he is joined by Eragon, Arya, and Angela. "Someone grabbed Trianna…" Daven said taking a torch and waving it up the dark tunnel.

"I sense a maze of tunnels beneath the city…" Eragon said.

That is when they are joined by Blodgharm, "Blodgharm…you and the others should remain here…"

"Remember what happened the last time we separated." He said sarcastically referring to the creation of Varaug.

"Right…Dianah and Ryu can come with us…"

So Eragon, Arya, Angela, Ryu, Dianah, and Daven entered the tunnel passage. "Stay together!" Eragon warned.

"Help me!"

"Trianna!"

Before Daven could run off Eragon grabs him. "It may be a tric…Someone using magic to trick us…"

"Eragon is right…I cannot feel Trianna's presence anymore…" Arya said.

"This way…" Angela said as if she had been in the catacombs before.

"How do you know?" Eragon asked.

Angela smiles, "Because I helped build this maze…Now follow me…"

After a mile of twisting and turning the walls cut Angela, Arya, and Ryu off from Eragon Daven and Dianah. "Arya! Angela! Can you here us?" Eragon screams but there is no reply. That is when the floor opens on a slant and they all fall slide down through a shoot into a crystal cavern.

When Eragon awakens the Priest with no legs and arms is sitting on a litter before him. Eragon and the others are held prisoner by crystal cocooning their bodies. Their heads are free. When Eragon tries to use magic the crystals absorb his energy. "Nice try…Shadeslayer…The crystals before feed on magic it is useless…"

"Release us!"

"I will after we take you and your friends to Galbatorix…When he has you he will give us you Razac eggs…"

"I knew it!" Eragon said.

"Oh yes…Galbatorix kept all the Lethrblaka's eggs as tribute…He placed powerful spells on them so that they would not hatch without his permission. Now summon your Dragon so that we may contact Galbatorix or watch your friends die…"

"Don't do it Eragon our lives mean nothing in the greater scheme…" Dianah said.

"Don't listen to the Elven she witch." When Eragon remains silent the Priest nods and they drag in Trianna. "She dies first!"

Before the guard can kill her an explosion throws the guards to the ground and from the hole Angela emerges and whistles. Her whistling vibrates the crystals in the cave and shatters them. Eragon and the others are now free. "That is impossible unless you are…"

Angela points her hand at the High Priest silencing him, "That will be enough of that…" The other guards and priests in the cave drop their weapons and bow to Angela. The High Priest is levitated into the air. "What shall I do with you?" With a flick of her hand the High Priest is slammed into the wall and Angela whistles again the shattered pieces of crystal come together and imprison the High Priest.

"How did you?" Eragon asks.

She winks, "Tell no one…"

Meanwhile the battle rages on the city as some of the citizens take up arms against the allies. Under spells they fight to the death, until Neida realizes this and works with her fellow Elves and the Du Vrang Gata to remove the spells. When the battle is finally over Nausada makes a speech before the steps of the fortress inspiring the Varden and their allies.