Chapter 2

For a moment, it was perfect. The air was filled with dust and smelled of smoke. The oak throne was hardly recognizable, and the stone wall had cracks running outward like a spider web. And to top it off, Galbatorix's body lay motionless on the floor among the debris. Indeed, it was a perfect moment, if only just a moment.

Shruikan came around the ruins of the throne and roared loud enough to shake the heavens. The dragon had smoke falling from his mouth and fire in his eyes. Eragon brought his sword up and took a step towards the giant black dragon but before he could get any closer, Saphira and Thorn jumped in front.

The two dragons let out roars of their own, each as ferocious as the black dragon's. Shruikan hesitated and the two dragons seized the opportunity and charged him. Shruikan reared up on his hind legs in anticipation of the attack, but the two smaller dragons crashed into him, knocking him over. The force of the dark dragon's fall rocked the entire throne room, making Eragon and the others loose their balance.

Shruikan yelled out in anger while thrashing, trying to free himself from the two dragons who worked furiously to subdue him. Shruikan struggled until he got his legs underneath him and then lifted himself up faster then Eragon would have ever thought possible, throwing the smaller dragons off of him. Saphira and Thorn recovered quickly and crouched low ready to attack again. Shruikan looked from one dragon to the other growling in frustration and then took a step back, crouched low, and launched into the air. He hit the roof of the throne room with such a force that he punched right through it and flew out into the open air, sending giant pieces of stone sailing to the ground behind him.

Eragon watched as a massive slab of the roof headed straight for Elva and Arya. Without time to articulate a spell, Eragon reached out with his arm and willed the world around him to change. It was an instantaneous spell meant to follow a single desire, his desire for Elva and Arya to be safe. Just as the stone was about to crush the girls, they were dragged backwards as if being yanked by invisible ropes. They came sliding towards Eragon until they were safely beside him as the slab crashed into the floor and shattered to pieces.

Before the dust could even settle, Thorn got low and lifted his wings high above him. Then with one powerful jump, leapt high into the air and though the gapping hole in the roof after Shruikan. Saphira started to crouch too when Arya ran towards her, scooped the deathdart from the ground, and jumped onto to her back with impossible grace. Saphira then swung her wings down, shooting them both into the air after the other two dragons.

"Quick, grab Nasuada and lets get out there!" Eragon shouted. Murtagh was already ahead of him, running over to where Nasuada was chained up, while Eragon grabbed Elva.

"How do we get out of here?" Eragon asked.

"There's a door on the far side that leads outside. There aren't any traps to worry about and it opens into the courtyard that's behind this building," Murtagh said.

Eragon put Elva on his back and ran towards the far side of the throne room that Murtagh had just described, while Murtagh cut Nasuada loose from her chains and followed. They had just reached the door when they heard a roar from the dragons. Pain shot through Eragon's arm and Murtagh clutched his ribs. They both looked at each other, each knowing where they pain they felt was coming from. the pain they felt was from their dragons.

"We need to hurry," said Murtagh grimly and went through the door. Eragon was about to follow but couldn't help himself from taking one last look back. His eyes fell on the king, the all-powerful Galbatorix, lying in a heap of ruble. He new he was far away but from where he was it looked as if the king's fingers moved. He stared for a moment longer, but with nothing more to see Eragon tore off after Murtagh.

Once out, they covered the large distance in a matter of seconds and made it through the far gate which now hung on its hinges. From there they worked their way to the streets that surrounded the castle. The whole time, the roars from the three dragons in the sky above them filled the air. Once they turned a corner, they came in sight of some stunned Varden soldiers. Eragon put Elva on the ground and helped Nasuada off Murtagh.

"Lady Nasuada!" said one of the soldiers in disbelief.

"Gather everyone you can to protect these two and find a healer for Nasuada. She's extremely weak," said Eragon.

"Yes sir!" they said in unison, and two of the men took off.

Eragon took a step back and then looked around at the people throughout the streets. He saw that the battling dragons seemed to have captivated Empire soldiers and Varden alike. Nobody was fighting each other. Instead, everyone seemed hypnotized at the vicious battle going on above them. He sensed that they all knew the fate of the entire war rested on this single battle.

Eragon followed their gaze upwards and saw Saphira, with Arya on her back, swerve to the side, dodging a jet of fire from Shruikan. Above them, Thorn fell into a dive aimed straight at Shruikan. The red dragon was like a firey comet dropping out of the sky. He nearly hit Shruikan but the massive dragon spun out of the way. As Thorn flew by, Saphira flew at the black dragon from the side. Shruikan turned and brought up his foreleg as they neared him. Saphira dropped at the last minute while Arya lifted the deathdart. Shruikan's massive paw slammed onto the spear and he roared in agony as it sunk into his flesh. He immediately pulled away and shot off into the distance.

Eragon dropped his gaze and found Thorn heading over to where he and Murtagh were. The red dragon landed on the roof of a building to their right. Eragon noticed how the house adjacent to it gave the impression of giant steps. Eragon took a step towards the house when Murtagh grabbed his arm.

"Eragon, wait."

"We need to hurry Murtagh, what is it?"

Murtagh looked him in the eye and said the name of the ancient language. Just like before, once Eragon finished hearing the word he forgot it. Then Murtagh said a few more words and then said to Eragon, "Okay, I removed the spell that prevents you from remembering the name of names. At least this way Galbatorix can't use that cheap trick to stop us. You should be able to remember it now." Murtagh said the word a second time and this time it stuck in Eragon's head with a resounding boom. It was a single word that carried more power within it then anything else known to Eragon. He shivered.

"That's incredible," Eragon said.

Murtagh nodded and the two of them turned and sprinted towards the house. Just as they neared it, they both jumped up and sailed through the air. They landed on top the roof and continued on without breaking stride. They covered the length of the roof quickly, running across the shingles without missing a step. As they came upon the second building they both jumped up with their full strength, flying through the air towards the roof of the building. Their heightened speed and agility allowed them to jump higher then any human. They landed on the roof in a crouched position and then climbed onto Thorn. In a heartbeat, the red dragon was back in the air, speeding towards the fight.

Once they were headed back, Murtagh turned his head and asked, "So, do you really think we killed him?"

"I don't know," Eragon said. "I never thought that he could be taken out like that, but we did catch him by surprise and it was one powerful attack."

"Yeah, no normal person could survive a hit like that. But then again, isn't he isn't exactly normal."

"Well, if he is just knocked out for the time being, then we need to hurry up and take out Shruikan. I do not want to face them together."

"I agree," said Murtagh.

Eragon was quite for a moment and then asked a question he was already sure he new the answer to. "You were able to change your true name weren't you? That's how you were able to help me back there."

Murtagh didn't respond immediately. Eragon noticed him take a deep breath and then he looked back over his shoulder, the wind whipping his hair.

"It was all because of her. There was just something about her. I couldn't stand to see her get hurt. As the weeks went by I found myself always thinking about protecting her, trying to think of ways to free her, and gradually thinking of hurting Galbatorix. When that started to happen I knew I was changing. You have to understand, when you're pledged to him it's not just a vow, it's a binding of your entire being. Even thoughts aimed against the king seem to disappear before you can finish thinking them. It is complete servitude.

So when I started hating Galbatorix and thinking of ways to get revenge for what he's done to her, I realized that I am not the same person that he bound to his side all those months ago. My true name had changed. After that I waited for my first opportunity to strike back."

Eragon smiled and said, "Well I'm glad you're back on our side. The whole thing with you fighting for Galbatorix and me fighting for the Varden would have just made for awkward situations. Think about how weird family dinners would be."

"Yes, Eragon, because dinner has been my biggest concern lately," Murtagh said laughing. It was the first time Eragon heard Murtagh laugh since their days traveling Alagaesia together. It was more than just the sound of joy, it was the sound of hope.