As Cailin and Muirgrid were flying according to the woman's directions, Muirgrid was asking Cailin what she planned to do when they arrived.
Muirgrid, I know this might come as a shock, but I want to go in alone.
What? Are you mad? You don't know her strengths. How can you possibly hope to win?
Muirgrid, I have to do this by myself. Please, try to understand.
Yes, I understand. I will be waiting at the entrance.
Thank you.
Cailin, don't try to be brave. If you are in danger, just run. Run towards me and we will leave to safety.
I'll remember that.
Thank you.
Cailin and Muirgrid arrived at a tunnel of trees shortly afterwards. Cailin entered a tunnel made of trees overlapping at the branches. Soon she came to a clearing. On a high stone step sat a stone throne, which held a tall cold-faced woman with flowing hair and a blood red cape was draped around her shoulders. The woman broke into an evil grin when she saw Cailin.
"I didn't think you would make it this far. Where's you dragonly beautiful friend, Muirgrid?" she sneered.
"He knew I had to do this by myself," Cailin replied.
"Very well, I suppose you're here to kill me, correct?"
For an answer, Cailin drew her sword and settled into fighting stance. "After all you did to me, my memories, as well as my dragon, did you really think I would let all that go?"
The woman chuckled. "You are hot-headed, just like your father."
"What are you talking about?"
"Yes, your father was very hot-headed before he was changed."
"Changed? Are you implying my father is Eragon Shadeslayer?"
"I'm not implying, I'm telling you the truth," the woman chuckled. "But if you want to kill me, you will have to defeat me in swordsmanship first." The woman deftly drew her rapier and descended toward Cailin. She swung and Cailin blocked. They began parrying, ducking, slashing, blocking, and sweat formed on their foreheads. When the woman seemed to be losing, a sword pierced Cailin between the shoulder blade and the spine. Cailin's body jerked as the sword was pulled out. Her right arm was now useless. She transferred her sword to her left hand and swung around to challenge the attacker. When she did that, the woman thrust her sword into Cailin's back. She pierced Cailin just below the heart and to the left. The woman pulled her sword out of Cailin's body, her blade stained with purple blood. The blood that oozed from Cailin's crumpled body was red mixed with purple.
"It was harder than I thought to kill you. Good thing I decided to coat my sword with poison," panted the woman. "Oh darn, did I miss the heart? Oh, well if the bleeding doesn't get you, the poison will."
"Should I move the body?" asked the man who had come up behind Cailin to cut her.
"No, she'll eventually die and… disentigrate. By the way, Cailin, you may call me Lucifa."
Muirgrid. Muirgrid lifted his head. The sending was faint, even though he was close by the entrance of the woman's lair.
Help. That sending was even weaker than the first one. Muirgrid knew Cailin was dying. He bellowed into the leafy tunnel. It shook the trees down to their roots.
Lucifa and the man turned around, their faces ashen.
"Do you think whatever that is will come and get us?" asked the man.
"You know, you worry too much,"said Lucifa coolly. "Why don't I end all those petty troubles?" A blood-stained sword lunged into the man's body. "Oh, would you look at that? I didn't miss the heart this time."
Murigrid charred the forest in his wrath. What used to be a tame jungle was now a field of tree stubble. A wave of destruction followed Muirgrid as he tore down everything in his sight. He then came upon Cailin, her lifeless form gave one last twitch of resistance, desperately trying to escape death and hold on to life. She lay still. Muirgrid lifted his head and roared.