Chapter 13 Prisoners

Eragon sat in a cell with a cot to sleep on and a hole in the floor to relieve himself. He had been trying to free himself but the amulet Murtagh placed around his neck absorbed all the energy he released and when he tried to contact Saphira the amulet absorbed his thoughts as well. He finally started examining the amulet and found that the jewel could hold an infinite amount of energy. Eragon tried to overload it but no matter what he did the amulet never filled up. He examined it again, but he could not circumvent the spell no matter what he did.

("Murtagh must have learned this spell from Galbatorix…") He thought to himself. He gathered all his strength again and with his mind he shouted; ("SAPHIRA!") He waited, but there was no reply. He could feel her presence, but he could not talk with her. His thoughts turned to Arya and he hoped she was still alive. Then he thought of his cousin Roran and then Nausada. A great fear took hold of him as he realized his predicament.

("Murtagh must have contacted Galbatorix by now…") He swallowed hard wondering how he would escape. He escaped capture before and all he had to do was think. ("Okay this amulet absorbs everything I put out… Maybe I could… maybe… Oh maybe I could reverse it…") Eragon tried to draw the energy out of the amulet but he was met with disappointment. He couldn't remove the amulet because of the way his hands were shackled. He jumped when he heard the sound of keys; the door opened and a sad young girl brought him a tray of food under the watchful eye of a soldier. The girl kept her head down as she placed the tray and then checked the straw in the hole she backed out of the prison and the soldier locked the door.

Eragon was grateful for the meal and ate every bit, because the food wasn't drugged and that was something to be grateful for. He drank a goblet of apple cider and belched. Then he went to the window, there was a lot of activity and from the direction of certain shadows Eragon could tell it was still several hours before high noon. He went back to his cot and lay down. He had been laying down for an hour when he heard the keys jingle and the door open. His breath caught as Murtagh entered the cell carrying his sword brisinger. Eragon stood up as Murtagh walked right up to him; they stared at each other for a minute then Murtagh struck Eragon across the face.

"That was for your stupid suggestion and this is for tricking me into releasing you the first time…" Murtagh struck him again and Eragon stumbled but he didn't fall.

Eragon slowly turned his head and looked at Murtagh; "Where is Saphira…"

"In the dragon hold of course… Galbatorix was delighted with me when I told him we had succeeded in capturing you… he is on his way now…" Murtagh started examining brisinger.

"Listen to me Murtagh… you don't have to do this… You defied Galbatorix once and you can do it again."

Murtagh started laughing again; "Oh my brother… I told you not to cross my path again. And here you are… No I cannot defy Galbatorix again. I took your suggestion and found a way to free myself and change my name, but he found out…" Murtagh explained what happened to Eragon who felt nothing but sympathy for him. "…Now if we even think a negative thought against Galbatorix we suffer. No my brother you are going to have accept your fate…" Murtagh returned his attention to the sword as Eragon tried to reason with him. "…Tell me brother. Where did you get this sword?" The question was ignored. Murtagh took a step closer; "It would behoove you brother to tell me everything. When Galbatorix arrives, you won't be able to hide anything from him…" Eragon looked away as he tried to think of a way to free himself. "Have it your way brother, but soon you and I will truly be brothers serving Galbatorix as our father did…"

Eragon looked at Murtagh and smiled; "Morzan is not my father…we are half brothers…"

Murtagh looked at Eragon getting angry; "You lie!"

Eragon shook his head; "Brom was my father not the monster Morzan…"
"Impossible!" As Murtagh did to him on the burning plaines Eragon repeated the same thing in the ancient language. Murtagh was breathing heavy; "So your father seduced my mother…"

Eragon smiled; he regretted the pain he was causing Murtagh, but it was a tactic to use against him. "No… he went there to kill her, but they fell in love…"

Murtagh took a step back deep in his thoughts. "So be it… It does not matter… We are still brothers… Now if you would excuse me I must tend to Saphira and prepare for Galbatorix's arrival."

"If you touch Saphira or hurt her in any way I swear you will suffer…" Eragon said in anger.

Murtagh stopped at the door and looked at Eragon. "Do not make threats you cannot keep…" Murtagh ignored Eragon as he walked down the hall towards the dragon hold.

The dragon hold echoed with Saphira's raging roar as she lashed out and tried to snap the chains on her legs. She had calmed down and spent her time trying to contact Eragon but something magical was preventing her from getting through. Then she felt Eragon's pain when Murtagh struck him and that caused her to get angry. When the servants tried to feed her Saphira snapped at one of the men taking his head off. Blood spattered as she spit the head across the hold.

Thorn was in the hold watching her; he raised his head projecting his thoughts. ("Why fight blue one? You will never escape… Murtagh was given those spells by Galbatorix himself. You will never escape or break those chains…")

Saphira hissed at Thorn; ("Do not speak to me oath breaker… You shame yourself. The blood of our kin flows in your veins… You are a dragon and you should be defying Galbatorix with all your might…")

Thorn roared and huffed smoke out of his nostrils; ("You know as well as I do that power is nothing before one who knows your true name…")

Saphira was about to respond when Murtagh entered the dragon hold. He looked at Thorn and they said something to each other then he returned his attention to Saphira. ("Where is Eragon…")

Murtagh smiled; ("Here in this fortress… He asked me the same question about you…")

("You hurt him… you will pay in blood for that…")

("Unlikely… Tell me where did this sword come from?")

Saphira growled at him; ("Fine don't tell me… Galbatorix will find out soon enough…")

Murtagh left the dragon hold to meet with Xastell, the spellcasters, and his commanders. "Galbatorix will arrive here tomorrow between sunrise and high noon. He and Shruiken have been flying non stop…" Murtagh sat at one end of the table and Xastell sat at the other end. "What are the reports from our scouts?"

Xastell took a scroll from his captain; "The varden are in full retreat… without their rider they are nothing…"

Everyone at the table laughed except Murtagh. "Do not underestimate the varden… Galbatorix tells me that the elves are marching through the spine to reinforce Nausada. Then there is a report that the dwarves are on the march as well… Galbatorix has ordered that our troops remain here until his northern forces arrive… He also tells me that he has created a spell that will give a human soldier the strength and speed of an elf… I will teach this spell to you spellcasters and you will begin enchanting our troops… That is all…"

Murtagh spent the rest of the day helping the spellcasters enchanting their troops. Then he went to his room alone in sorrow at the news that Eragon was only his half brother. He was also sad that Eragon had been captured and his only hope at freedom was about to become a slave of Galbatorix.