Chapter 4 – Gil'ead
It had taken them almost three weeks to reach the outskirts of Gil'ead. Along the way Brom had taught him swordsmanship and magic. He had taken both quickly, and was now able to speak fluently in the Ancient Language and was proficient with a sword, not an expert, but proficient. Saphira had grown and was now bigger than Eragon in his wolf counterpart, she was able to fly, and soon she would be able to carry someone. They made camp and Eragon had decided to stay in his wolf persona in case there was any trouble. He had caught the scent of a shade and from Fury's memories he knew they were trouble.
"Eragon, tomorrow we are going to rescue Arya, how do you propose we do it?" Brom asked. Eragon thought about it for a minute or two.
"I think its better if I go alone at night, you are not strong enough to fight a shade if it comes to that, and Saphira will be recognized, I can go in my wolf form cloaked with magic and rescue her." He told them "I need you both hidden in case I need back up and Saphira can carry you when we make our escape."
Little one Saphira said, she was now fluent in both the ancient language and the common one I don't like the idea of you going in there alone, but I agree with your reasoning.
Thank you Saphira. he said, glad she thought she was right, he had learned that a Dragon's logic was never wrong.
Brom sighed, "I guess you are right, but if by morning you haven't arrived, we'll go rescue you," he said with finality.
Eragon nodded his big head and went closer to Saphira and fell asleep, his senses would alert him if anyone got too close to them.
The night of the rescue came, after taking a bath he turned and cloaked himself with magic. He bid goodbye to Saphira and Brom and started running towards the fortress. He sank his claws in the ground and propelled himself forward as fast as he could. Within minutes he made it to the wall and using his powerful hind legs and a spell, managed to jump across it. During the day Brom and him had taken out a map of Gil'ead, how Brom had one he didn't know, but they had chosen the least guarded point for Eragon to make his entrance into the city.
Everything was going well, no one had seen him, something he should be proud of as he was an eight almost nine foot tall white wolf. He saw two guards in front of an entrance to the keep, making sure there were no more guards around; he put them to sleep and ran inside. In the middle of the different smells that belonged to sweat, tears and blood he smelled the intoxicating fragrance of pinecones, something that had no place being there. He surmised that it was the elf and followed it. He came across a tall door and knew that as soon as he opened it he wouldn't have a lot of time to rescue the elf and escape. He expanded his mind and felt the minds around him. There were four guards behind the door, and from where he could feel the elf's mind he felt two more guards. The dark presence of the shade was on the other side of the keep, he wouldn't get a better chance than this. Uncloaking himself to conserve strength he burst to the door.
The four guards weren't expecting a massive wolf to burst through the door they were guarding, and so they were unprepared, in one fluid movement he ripped them to shreds using his fangs and claws. He quickly made his way to the elf's cell. He must have looked terrifying with his muzzle dripping with the guard's blood because the remaining ones took one look at him and started running. He turned to face the cell door and with his fangs ripped it of its hinges.