Chapter 7. Song of Freedom
The great red ball of light flew through the sky parting the clouds and rumbling like thunder as it flew, carrying the allied forces to safety. It flew across the sea at five thousand feet and started to descend as it approached the ancient Island of Doru Araeba. When the ball of light touched the ground it faded releasing the allied forces. A wave of shock and awe crossed through the Elves, Dwarves, Urgals, and humans as they wondered how they came to be where they are.
"Mother!" Arya screams running over to the Elven lords standing over her lifeless body. It was Lord Dauthdr who explained how she died at the hands of lord Barst.
Eragon tried to comfort her with his mind but she ignored him. He sighs deciding to address the question on everyone's mind. How they escaped Urubaen. ("My friends!") Eragon said touching everyone's mind with Saphira's help.
"The Red Rider!" A Dwarf screamed interrupting Eragon.
"MURDERER!" Orik screamed rushing forward.
He never reached Murtagh as he said the strange word everyone, but Saphira and Eragon froze in place unable to move. "Murtagh release them!"
"Not until Thorn and I had a chance to explain ourselves…"
"Don't trust him Eragon!" Orik yelled, "Kill him if you can!"
Eragon sighs touching Orik's mind and saying out loud, "He is my brother!"
"He killed your father Brom! He killed Hrothgar or does that mean anything to you now?"
("ENOUGH!") Thorn shouts with his mind, ("If not for my rider all of you would be dead…")
("Its true!") Saphira said speaking up, ("It was Murtagh and Thorn who saved us from Galbatorix…")
Eragon looks at Murtagh, "How were you able to turn on Galbatorix and what is that word you keep using…"
"I will explain everything." Murtagh sighs, "Selene! Mother of Eragon and me came to Urubaen to rescue me…She tricked Galbatorix into leaving Urubaen…Don't ask me how she just did…Anyway she disguised herself as a servant and entered the palace. Mother came to my room and knocked me unconscious…"
Murtagh falls silent and Thorn speaks where he left off, ("When my Rider fell unconscious I felt it and flew up to his room as I was in the Dragonhold beneath the palace…When I entered the room from the balcony I roared…That is when Cadmuss…Galbatorix's most powerful spellcaster appeared…The Black Hand Selene was not strong enough to fight me a Dragon and Cadmuss so she fled…")
"As my mother fled she spoke to me in my mind and told me that when I was born she always feared I would one day become a slave to Galbatorix willing or unwilling…So she named me Murtagh, but she also gave me another name…A name I can use to forge a new identity with…"
Eragon frowned, "Mother gave you a new name! What is it?"
"I cannot tell you! Accepting this other name activated a spell that allowed me to forge a new name in the ancient language…That was the first step…The second lie in forgiveness…I had to forgive both Selene and Brom for hiding the truth from me…" As murtagh spoke everyone listened with growing curiosity. "Another step presented itself when Ajihad was captured…I convinced Galbatorix to place him in a room so long as he behaved…Then I used my magic to view and speak with his daughter…"
"That was you?" Nausada asked.
Eragon looks at Nausada, "Nausada what is he talking about?"
"As we traveled from Tronjheim to Surda my father spoke to me as we camped…I thought it was a trick at first but it was really him…"
"Yes…" Murtagh looks at Eragon, "Brother when we faced each other on the burning plains I had already intended to release you as Galbatorix had told me to try and capture you…I made you beg just to put on a show…Little by little I was able to change my true nature and name in the ancient language…"
("When did you break away from Galbatorix?") Saphira asks.
"Thorn and I freed ourselves when I was able to forgive Morzan for not being there as a father…and for attacking me as little boy…Once we freed ourselves I placed a spell over our new names so that if Galbatorix discovered the change he could no longer control us…I also used our old names in the ancient language to create a spell… Abridge if you will into Galbatorix's head…I learned some pretty interesting things. The most horrible of all is that he was on the verge of discovering the true name of the ancient language…"
Blodgharm gasps, "Galbatorix knows the true name of the ancient language?"
"Yes!" Murtagh replies.
"What?" Eragon asks.
Blodgharm answers, "The true name of the ancient language allows the user to control magic in any form in anyone…It also allows the user to break the most sacred rule of magic…That person does not have to rely on the magic of his or her body."
Eragon looks at Murtagh, "How did you learn it?"
"I learned the word two days after Galbatorix did…But by then he had placed a spell on himself…The user of the word must say it out loud…That is why it sounds like gibberish when he or I uses it…He never thought anyone would be able to breach his mind and steal the word…But his spell lingers on me and sense he created the spell using the one word…I cannot reverse it…even with the one word…"
"Can you teach it to us?"
Murtagh shakes his head, "It even looks like gibberish when I write it on a piece of paper…So some rules still apply when using the true name of the ancient language…"
Saphira snorts fire from her nostrils, ("You still haven't answered my question…when did you free yourselves from Galbatorix?")
Murtagh smiles, "Three weeks after Roran's weding…"
Saphira roars as Eragon says, "If you were free then why did you kill Masters Oromis and Glaedr?"
"Because he is a liar sent by Galbatorix and still serves him…This is some elaborate ruse by Galbatorix…"
"Murtagh speaks the truth!" A familiar voice rings out. A wave of gasps fall over those gathered and Eragon falls to his knees as Oromis and Glaedr walk out of the forest.
"Master is that really you?" Eragon asks.
("What does your heart tell you?") Glaedr asks.
("We saw you die! We felt it!")
"I am sorry!" Oromis says in a sad tone of voice, "It was Murtagh's idea…He contacted us the moment we left DuWeldenvarden…Told both Glaedr and I what Galbatorix had discovered and asked us to fake our deaths…"
("You only saw and felt what Thorn, Oromis and Murtagh wanted you to see…") Glaedr said.
"But your Eldunari!" Eragon said.
"We decided that on our own…" Oromis replies, "Murtagh placed a spell on it to keep Galbatorix from seeing the truth…" That is when Murtagh reaches into his saddle bags and hands Oromis his sword Naegling.
Eragon runs up to Oromis and hugs him then he hugs Glaedr. "That was a mean thing to do Masters…"
Then Murtagh walks up to Orik who is still frozen and addresses him with his mind and in the ancient language, "For the death of your King I offer my most sincere apologies…" Eragon joins him as he speaks, "I only did it because Galbatorix ordered me to…and if it was within my power I would restore him to you…He is as much my foster father as he is Eragon's for we are brothers…Know that I intend to fight for the allies of Alagaesia…"
When he stops speaking Murtagh releases everyone and Eragon steps in between Murtagh and Orik. "He is as much my brother as you are…Family forgives!"
Orik sneers and walks around Eragon earning a growl from Thorn, "I…" He sighs, "You share blood with Eragon my foster brother…which is the only reason I haven't opened your skull…I cannot forget nor can I forgive…So hear me well son of Morzan brother of Eragon Shadeslayer…And all Knurlan present…Neither I nor any of my kin will seek vengeance on Murtagh…son…brother of Eragon Shadeslayer…I declare as King of all Knurlan that Murtagh is exonerated…But he nor his Dragon may ever set foot in the domains of Dwarves or his life is forfeit…" Murtagh bows out of respect and Orik walks away.
"Murtagh walks around Thorn and digs in the saddle bags, "I hope this shows my commitment and earns some trust with the allies…" Murtagh shocks everyone by pulling out a green Dragon egg.
"You stole this Galbatorix?" Eragon asked as Murtagh handed him the egg.
"Yes do with it as you will…"
Oromis joins them and Eragon hands him the egg, "Our fortunes have vastly improved and Galbatroix's has fallen…Come we will camp in the old ruins of Vroengard Academy…" As they traveled a mental conversation broke out as Lord Dauthdr and the other Elven Lords and Ladies wanted the egg for the Elves. Eragon, Saphira, Thorn, and Murtagh excused themselves from the conversation. It was Saphira who advised Nausada and the other human leaders not to inquire about the egg.
"The Egg is meant for an Elf!" Elva said to every Elf in earshot and that ended the debate and fear that this egg may hatch for a human.
