Chapter 17. What is Your Name?

Eragon did not know what time of day it was or how long he had been in Urubaen. Everyday from the day he arrived Galbatorix would come to his cell and pull apart his thoughts in an attempt to learn his true name. Eragon loathed every moment of it because Galbatorix's mind was so convoluted and confusing. The contact was affecting him in many ways, his contact with Saphira was there, but it was no comfort because he couldn't speak with her. There was a place in his mind where he found solice and comfort. This place was hidden behind his love or infatuation with Arya. They had become close friends and he had settled his mind with the idea of being a friend. Behind this wall of love was Angela's prophecy who Solembum was and the truth of what really happened between Eragon and Elva. Also hidden behind the wall was many parts of Eragon's character that made up his true name in the ancient language. It was here Eragon found peace when Galbatorix wasn't in his mind.

Galbatorix came at different times of the day once a day. This was to keep Eragon from knowing how much time was passing. Today Galbatorix came to the cell an hour after high noon. He entered the cell and smiled at Eragon. "Hello my young rider… You are something of an enigma. I have been creating slave names for over a century… The longest it has ever taken me to discover a true name is two days… You are an interesting subject… Don't get upset though there has only ever been one other whose name I couldn't decipher… to relieve it I can create you a name in the ancient language. Anyway let us get started…" Eragon pulled away as Galbatorix placed his calloused hands on the side of Eragon's head. The process was long and unbearable for Eragon. The hours dragged on as Galbatorix examined every memory. This time while he was in Eragon's mind he examined his feelings for Arya. When he did this Eragon became nervous and it took the remainder of his strength to not let it show. When Galbatorix withdrew from his mind he stared at Eragon.

"I think your name is linked to your love for this elf Arya…" Galbatorix had been sitting in a chair. He put several words together in the ancient language then he spoke them, but Eragon didn't react. Out of frustration he stood up and punched the wall leaving a distinguishing crack in it. "What is your name?" He screamed out loud. A slight smile appeared on Eragon's face; Galbatorix slapped him. "Don't be so cocky my friend… There are others ways to control you… and Saphira…" He started pacing and stopped to look at Eragon. "My apologies… If you and Saphira would join me freely then I will give you Arya. She can be yours to love for the rest of your lives. Saphira could mate with Thorn and the two of them can rebuild the dragon riders. Oh can't you see it Eragon?"

Eragon looked up and laughed; "The riders will return, but you will not live to see it…"

Galbttorix's face contorted and he screamed in rage and struck Eragon again drawing blood and causing Eragon to lose a tooth; then he punched him in the gut. He grabbed Eragon by the hair and stared into his eyes. Then he let Eragon fall to the bed and walked out.

"You summoned me my lord…" Elva said entering another private study used for writing. Casmuss was there as well.

"Yes I did… I find myself bewildered trying to decipher Eragon's true name…" He looked up from the table. "What are you going to do about it…"

Elva thought about it; "Eragon is a complex person my lord… Why not…" She hesitated, "Why not make him think you brought back the dead…"

"Explain yourself…" Casmuss said.

"Well Eragon never knew his father… If you transmuttated someone into looking like his father Brom and threatened to send him back to his eternal sleep or torture him if he didn't swear loyalty to you…"

"That is the most rediculas thing I have ever heard…" Casmuss yelled.

"True but if anyone can pull it off it is you my lord… Brom's tomb is near Teirm… destroy it and use one of your servants to play the part… You will of course have to take everything Eragon knows about Brom and pour it into the mind of this person…"

Galbatorix leaned back in his chair rolling his eyes around in his head. "It could be done… and if I failed I could always just give Eragon a name in the ancient language he would be bound to obey." He waved Elva off. "Leave me I shall focus on this matter…"

Elva left the study with a guard escorting her to her room. When she entered the room, she started pacing until Solembum brought her some food for dinner.

("We have to get Eragon out of here and it has to be tomorrow night…")

("Why what has happened?") He asked serving her food.

("Galbatorix is getting desperate… and I do not know how much longer that mental barrier will hold…")

Solembum grunted; ("Can you at least wait one more day…")

("No it must be tomorrow…") Elva told Solembum about her encounter with Galbatorix. Then she informed him of what was happening with the varden and how it affected their plans. ("…If they attack all will be lost.")

He sighed; ("Can you convince him to leave the palace tomorrow?")

("Yes I can…")

("Alright… I will summon the spies and tomorrow night we shall fulfill our quest…")

Solembum left the room to prepare for their daring theft of the dragon egg and then Eragon's rescue. Elva had too mentally prepare to face Galbatorix and convince him that he needed to leave the palace.

Galbatorix spent a few minutes in his private study creating a spell to transform one of his spellcasters into Brom and convince Eragon he brought Brom back to life. He was about to cast the spell when a soldier burst in with Elva at his side.

"I left orders that I was not to be disturbed…" the spellcaster who was about to be transformed into Brom breathed a sigh of relief. Physical transformation was a painful process especially for humans.

"My apologies great one, but she insisted on speaking with you…"

The soldier stepped aside to allow Elva to walk in; "Do not be angry with him my lord… I manipulated him into bringing me here…"

"Do not test me girl… your service to me is temporal and you can replaced… Now speak why have disturbed me…"

Casmuss was there and stood with his arms folded watching Elva. "Forgive me my lord the last thing I want is to make you angry…" She took a deep breath; "I came here tonight because I have some fabulous news… There is a girl in Ceuneon who is destined to be a dragon rider…"

"How do you know this?" Cassmus asked.

"Because it would be a great misfortune to you my lord if this girl isn't taken under your wing and prepared for her destiny… your dream is about to come true my lord…"

"Can it be true… Am l so close to victory…"

"It is my lord I swear it…"

Elva repeated it in the ancient language, because in her mind it was true; the girl was meant to be a rider, but not in the way Galbatorix thought.

"I must send emissaries immediately to fetch the girl…" He said after Elva told him how the sixteen-year old girl looked and what village she lived in.

"You could do that or you could make the trip yourself… As you know my lord that in the past, the varden have killed many hopefuls… If your men paid to much attention to this girl then the varden will kill her. If you went to this village in Ceuneon yourself then they wouldn't dare kill the girl…"

Galbatorix stroked his chin; "You have a point… I shall leave tomorrow…" He looked at the spellcaster. "We shall finish this when I return…"

Elva left the room with a smile on her face; "My lord… if what the girl says is true then she is of no further use to us…" Casmuss said unfolding his arms and taking a seat.

He looked at Casmuss; "She has proven herself over and over again… Why do you distrust her?"

"I learned from you my lord long ago not to have someone around you that couldn't be controlled in some form or fashion… Elva is fascinating a wonder in magic, but she is unpredictable…"

He nodded in agreement, "Yes she is all that, but it is a game for me… I have never encountered someone whose mind I couldn't control… It is exciting to me…" He paused. "However I have been studying the accidental spell Eragon placed on her… I intend to use it and create a person completely loyal to me and then Elva will have outlived her usefulness…"

Solembum snuck out of the palace in his cat form at midnight to meet with the five remaining spies. "Where is he?" The spy leader asked pacing back and forth.

"You need to calm down…" A woman said.

"Calm down she says… The werecat is playing a very dangerous game with Galbatorix…" He went quiet when the door opened and Solembum entered. "You are late…"

Solembum grunted; "My apologies…" He handed the man a list.

"What is this…"

"Tomorrow we plan to make our move and I need you five to gather the items on that list and mix it…"

"This is nightshade…" The man said after scanning over the list.

"Yes… enough for the entire city… I need that made and in the city water supply by sundown and no later…"

"Carragon has many of these supplies stored at his estate…" Another woman said glancing at the list.

"What is the plan?" The lead spy asked.

"I can't go into details because if any of you are captured you will put us all at risk… I will say that tomorrow morning Galbatorix will be leaving for Ceunon and tomorrow night we will strike…" They spent the next hour or more ironing out the details then Solembum returned to the palace.