Eragon and Leonor spent the rest of the trip hiding and getting closer to the territory of their worst enemy. It seemed like people who they saw on the streets didn't really care about them.
"It looks like we won't have many troubles. No one cares about us." said Eragon. Leonor looked at him. She could see only his eyes because they both were covered with black clothes.
"Eragon, what's wrong? This is the first thing you said since we left our dragons." said Leonor quietly.
"Nothing. I don't want that someone hears us." said Eragon "And it's too dangerous to talk, even mentally."
"You are right, but still…I see in your eyes that something bothers you." said Leonor.
"I just miss Saphira. I'm worried because I won't be able to find out is she fine or not." said Eragon. Leonor just rolled her eyes.
"Fine." she said.
Next morning they came to a place from where they could clearly see Galbatorix's towers.
"Ok, we are close. Now we need a plan. There a many soldiers here." said Leonor "It will be hard to come in unnoticed."
Eragon just looked deep into her eyes and didn't say anything.
"Eragon? Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Leonor, little bit angry.
"Before we do anything…I need to ask you something." said Eragon.
"What?" she asked surprised.
"Well, Saphira told me that Nasuada was killed. And you were the last person who spoke with her. You also wanted us to leave fast and…" Eragon said while looking at her.
"You think I killed her! Eragon, I can't believe you think that!" said Leonor angrily.
"I'm sorry." said Eragon, trying to calm her because it was easy now for someone to see them "All I want you to do is that you tell me in ancient language you didn't do it."
"No, Eragon! You don't believe me! And I don't care if you don't believe me. No, I won't say anything." she said, still very angry "If you don't believe me, turn around and go back!"
"I think that won't be possible." said someone behind their back. Leonor closed her eyes for a moment. She and Eragon slowly turned around.
"Murtagh." she whispered. He just laughed and looked at Eragon, who tried to attack him with his sword.
"Don't do that." said Murtagh with a smile and soldiers and some men, who seemed to be magicians, appeared "You can't escape now."
The soldiers forced Leonor and Eragon to put down their weapons.
"Now you can't do anything, Eragon. Magicians control your magic." said Murtagh and laughed again. Leonor looked at him. He was so different than the last time she saw him. His dark eyes now had a different glow.
"Let us go." said Eragon, desperate.
"No, Eragon. Don't you remember what I told you last time? I let you go once and you came here asking for trouble. Now you are going to visit Galbatorix." said Murtagh.
"Wow, how dangerous you are." said Leonor smiling "You do everything what your king wants."
Murtagh came closer to Leonor, pulled her close to him and whispered angrily to her ear "He is not my king!"
"Ah, no? Then let me go. You didn't tell me anything last time." said Leonor and looked at his dark eyes.
"Galbatorix will see what he will do with you." said Murtagh and ordered to soldiers that they take Eragon. He pulled Leonor with him. She wriggled, trying to get away from him.
"You can't escape, Leonor." he said, holding her arm with more force. She pushed him with her other arm. But he pulled her with so much force that she ended in his arms. She looked deep into his eyes that seemed so cold. Then she suddenly looked at his neck and saw a little scar. He pulled her fast with him as they walked to the tower.
"You still have that." she said quietly.
"That's none of your business." said Murtagh and didn't even look at her.
They went in the tower and passed many halls. When they came in Galbatorix's throne room, they could hear him laughing. Soldiers put chains on Eragon's arms and Murtagh did the same with Leonor.
"You are finally here! I was waiting for you." said Galbatorix with cruel smile on his face.
"How did you find out?" asked Leonor angrily.
"Oh, Leonor, I wouldn't know…your plan was perfect. But Murtagh was able to read your thoughts." said Galbatorix and laughed.
"What?" asked Leonor surprised and looked at Murtagh. He was just standing there in the dark and didn't look at her.
"Yes, my dear, Murtagh entered in your mind." said Galbatorix.
"That's impossible!" she said angrily "No one can enter in my mind, especially not without my knowledge."
"It's true, Leonor. That's why Murtagh could see only parts of your mind." he laughed.
"And what now? What are you going to do with us?" asked Leonor.
"You will see. There's no need to hurry." he said and weird shine appeared in his eyes "But tell me, where are the dragons?"
"Oh, so you don't know." smiled Leonor "You will never find out."
"We will see about that soon." he said and smiled "If you survive this!"
Leonor looked at him. He made a ball of dark magic and sent it against her. Few moments before the ball could get close to her, two lightnings destroyed it. One was blue and another red. After that the room became quiet. Eragon and Murtagh looked at Leonor, but she kept looking at the floor. Then Galbatorix started to laugh.
"This is interesting." he said. Eragon and Murtagh looked at each other, surprised.
"This is exactly what I wanted to see." he said and Eragon sent his magic against him, but it disappeared in the middle of the room.
"Eragon, Eragon, don't be stupid. You really thought I will let you use your magic against me?" he smiled.
"You are crazy!" yelled Leonor "Everybody knows that."
"Leonor, don't make me angry." said Galbatorix "Actually I don't know why to keep you alive…"
"No!" yelled Eragon "Don't hurt her!"
"This is even more interesting. Young Dragon Rider doesn't want you to die, Leonor, even he thinks you killed one girl." laughed Galbatorix.
"How do you…know?" asked Eragon surprised.
"Ah, Eragon, while you were distracted, trying to save Leonor, I used that opportunity to enter your mind." Galbatorix seemed so proud and happy about that.
"It was you." suddenly said Leonor and looked at Murtagh "You killed Nasuada!"
"Yes, it was me." Murtagh laughed.
"How did you do it?" asked Leonor while Eragon was shocked and just looked at the floor.
"You helped me." Murtagh smiled.
"What are you talking about?" asked Leonor confused.
"When I entered in your mind you were angry on Nasuada and I used your anger to kill her. Everything was perfect because you wanted to leave fast. And now everyone thinks you killed her, so you won't get help from them. They hated you before, but now they want you dead." smiled Murtagh. Leonor looked at him, shocked with his cruelty.
"Eragon, now let me enter in your mind and everything will be fine." said Galbatorix with a smile.
"Never!" yelled Eragon angrily.
"Wrong answer, Eragon. But I will give you a second chance. How about that I give you something and you see how nice would be to join me?" said Galbatorix. Eragon just looked at him and didn't say anything.
"Well, do you want to see some memories I've got about someone you care about? It could change your life." said Galbatorix and looked at Eragon with his cold dark eyes.
"Don't do it, Eragon!" yelled Leonor "If he sends you memories, he can easily get yours."
"You are smart, Leonor. But Eragon will decide." said Galbatorix and whispered something in ancient language.
Eragon saw in his mind a picture of a dark cell. He could see Leonor and Murtagh. Leonor was pressing her sword against Murtagh's neck and Murtagh pointed his sword at Leonor's chest. Eragon was confused and didn't cut the connection with Galbatorix's mind. The pictures kept coming in his head, causing him little bit of pain. But he was too curious to stop. He saw Leonor and Murtagh looking at each other, Leonor's arm shaking. After some moments Murtagh let his sword fell down. In that moment Leonor cut a little bit Murtagh's neck, letting few drops of blood to fall down. Leonor dropped her sword and they kissed passionately. The pictures in Eragon's head disappeared. He was shocked, trying to catch his breath.
"What did you do?" asked Leonor looking angrily at Galbatorix who laughed.
"I just showed to Eragon what you two did in my cell." said Galbatorix and looked first at Leonor then at Murtagh.
"No…" whispered Leonor and looked angrily at Murtagh "You really had to share that with everyone?" He didn't say anything.
"I would be mad on you because of that." said Galbatorix "But I decided to forgive you because you gave me a great idea."
"What now? Another crazy idea?" asked Leonor and rolled her eyes.
"Well I was thinking…Murtagh is my best servant with lots of power. You, Leonor, are also very powerful and of course, you can learn more…You both have dragons. And I have another egg." said Galbatorix with weird shine in his eyes.
"So what?" said Leonor angrily.
"It's hard to find a perfect new Rider. And with parents so powerful, I'm sure your child would be a perfect Rider. Your child would be my best weapon." Galbatorix laughed.
"No!" yelled Leonor "That will never happen!"
"You will change your mind." said Galbatorix and looked at the guards "Take them to their cells!"