Chapter Twenty Three: Feinster
It took them another week to cross the distance between Vroengard and the plain ten miles south of the city of Feinster where the whole Varden and Dward army was gathered, under a massive amounts of wards to obscure their presence, - just a two miles from the eighty thousand soldiers of the empire camped nearby Feinster, waiting for Eragon's arrival to start the battle (ambush was more like it), hidden by some of the most powerful wards Harry had had the time to create that could be used in conjuction with the Alagaesian brand of magic without causing a massive explosion,- making them practically invisible to anyone even if that someone entered their camp and walked right next to them, which had actually happened once or twice.
This attack was a gamble beause if they failed most of the army could retreat to Feinster to regroup and wait for the other twenty thousand warriors coming from Uru'baen and what was more important wait for Galbatorix himself to come to the battlefield. No one had any illusions that Galbatorix would wait for them to thin themselves out, not with the likes of Brom and Oromis by their side, which they were sure that once Galbatorix learned of Oromis he would focus on them prioritizing them as the biggest threat, instead of three upstart Dragon Riders. They were actually counting on that, since all three of them were easily capable of defeating Oromis and Brom in a straight up fight, especially Eragon now empowered by one undred thirty one Eldunari, making him easily the most powerful magician in Alaegasia, right behind Galbatorix, Shades right now being mere bothers for him. Plus that once his armies were focused on the South, the Elves would come from the north and force Galbatorix to divide his forces or hole up in Uru'baen to wait for them.
As Saphira was about to land she was met by Firnen and Thorn with their Riders, ready for battle, seemingly they had forgot to lower their mental barriers and due to Harry's own being what could be called a mental blank for anyone Harry didn't intentionally allow to touch his mind, coupled with Eragon's own bosted mental defenses and his mental signature slightly altered by the Eldunari's, - they must have though they had been found and were being attacked from Galbatorix. Once the saw them they were gretted by the friendly mental nudge of the two Dragons. Murtagh and Aria were engaged in a mental conversation with Eragon, for a few minutes before heading down toward the camp.
From the height in which they were the camp looked like a small town sprawling toward the horizont, the Vardens and Dwarves in the camp moving around, looking like small ants. Once they touched the ground they were awaited with the cheers of hundreds of present Vardens and Dwarves, at the return of Eragon, which in his newly repaired armor (done by Rhunon herself) and body enhancements looked, like every bit of the savior he was supposed to be not forgetting Spahira who had grown bigger since the last time the Dwaves and Varden had seen her and a bit more muscular from the weight training that she had followed for the entire duration of their stay in Elesmera, resuming it from when they had been traveling toward the Varden.
They were greeted by Jormundur, who told them to follow them toward the tent where the leaders of the rebellion were gathered. The road was sometimes blocked by people wanting to watch the hero of the Battle under Farthen Dur and his Dragon, not that Haryr blamed them, the sight of three Dragons walking side by side accompanied by their Rdiers, clad in full body armor, was a sight to behold,- but threats of doubled guard duty were more than enough to disperse the occasional crowd. After a few minutes they arrived before a massive tent, clearly built to allow for the Dragons to at least poke their head in without having to destroy the whole tent, not that a Dragon needed that with their enhanced hearing and telepathy.
The guards at the door bowed before the three Rdiers and Harry and lifted the edges of the tent for the five people to enter and allow the Dragons to peer inside. When the entered inside the found Ajihad, Brom, King Hrothgar and King Orrin athered on a set of maps discussing strategy, although King Orrin was merely listening while the rest discussed. At the sound they made when entering, the people inside the tent lifted their heads to see the newcomers and when their faces registered their faces lit up. Brom straightened up and when for a hug toward Eragon, he looked better now, his hairs no longer a wild mess like during their travel, his beard trimmed and wearing chainmail, he looked like he was in his early fifties and the fearsome and wise warrior he was,- which Eragon returned and Harry was confused for a moment from the emotions coming from them before it clicked, Brom had told him the truth and he hadn't told him, he was practically beggin for a prank.
"Welcome back, I hope your trip was fruitful?' asked Ajihad.
"Very" replied Eragon shortly with more confiudence than he had had in his entire life.
"Good, because we're going to attack tomorrow" said Hrothgar.
"What's the plan?" asked Harry.
"We're going with a pincer maneuver , Orrins cavalry leading the first charge, then the Varden and Dwarf infantry will strike from the sides, here and here" replied Ajihad pointing at the map in front of them.
"Yes and on the way you give them a large enough hole for them to retrat quite easily and without much looses, at most they'll have to abandon their siege engines" said Harry "why don't we just tell them to nicely call for Galbatorix, because it'll have the same effect"
"Told you so" said Brom looking with a triumphant grin toard Ajihad.
"And what do you suggest we do?" asked Ajihad.
"The Empires generals won't expect the Dwarves so we send them to circle them and hit them in the rear once the battle is in need of a little swing in our favour, so even if they try to retreat they will suffer big losses and quite possibly either disband or desert to save their skin" replied Harry at which Brom's grin got wider.
"Great minds think alike" said Brom.
"Where's the other great mind" replied Harry causing all present in the room to laugh.
"Oh, come on, you can't be mad at me for that" said Brom with an exasperated groan.
"You could have told me at least" Harry shot back.
"It was a personal matter" replied Brom.
"Yeah but at least could have saved me the trouble of scheming up over a dozen different ways for him to learn indirectly" said Harry.
"What are we talking about?" asked Hrothgar confused, as did everyone except for Brom, Harry, Eragon, Aria and Murtagh.
"Brom is my father and Murtagh my half-brother from my mother" answered Eragon with a small smile at Harry's murderous glare.
"You knew this too?" asked Harry turning toward Aria and Murtagh.
"I learned of it after you left" answered Aria.
"I knew since Eragon did but it was fun seeing you plot on how to reveal this information to Eragon without violating your oath" replied Murtagh with a laugh.
"You're just begging to be pranked" said Harry smirking, everybodies smiles falling, except for Aria, Ajihad and Orrik, Hrothgar having already pranked once thought that was an accident as Orik was the true target.
"What's so terrifying about his pranks?" asked a clearly confused Aria.
"Its better for your mental integrity, not to know" replied Eragon.
"Okayyyy" said King Orrik at the akward situation.
"So, since when?" asked Harry.
"Since after Farthen Dur, after you healed me" replied Eragon.
"Traitor" muttered Harry before turning toward Ajihad "so what do you think of my idea"
"There is still the problem of them retreating while the Dwarves are circling around them or how they won't be seen" said Ajihad.
"I've already planned for it" replied Harry "I've made this stones that are a portable variant of the wards currently hiding us and they won't retreat because they have numerical superiority on us and because Aria and Murtagh won't be making an appearance until later on"
"Were will they be posted?" asked Ajihad.
"Destroying the Empires siege engines, the only things that can actually harm a Dragon, while under an invisibility enchantement" replied Harry happily.
"How long have you been planning this battle?" asked Brom.
"Three months give or take a week" answered Harry.
"That's impossible, you couldn't have known" said Ajihad surprised.
"I didn't so I prepared for over a hundred different scenarios and locations" replied Harry happily.
"You're sure he is fully human?" asked Hrothgar.
"Yep, pretty sure, at least I was last time I checked" replied Hary causing everyone present to laugh.
"Good, we'll consider following your plan but I want every detail laid out, before we execute it" said Ajihad.
"Of course, has Angela prepared enough hallucinogenics, Solembum?" asked Harry to the shadows a corner of the tent.
"Indeed she had, you know her to well" said Solembum emerging from the shadows of the room in his human form.
"Good, the plan is coming together" said Harry rubbing the palm of his ands together.
Afterwards Harry proceeded to explain his plan to Ajihad down to the smallest detail, surpising everyone at the amount of precesion that the plan held, it was as if he knew exactly everything about how the battle would swing and they were pretty sure that unless Galbatorix himself came to battle they had this in the bag. Afterwards the three Dragon Riders left the tent to discuss what had happened during their trip, at least what he remembered of it (conveniently forgetting to mention that he found out his true name)while Harry got stuck dealing with pleasentries with the rest of the people in the tent, at one point he almost blew up the tent when the Varden council joined them, although the looked more docile, like a whipped dog.
After separating from Mutagh, Aria led Eragon outside of the camp, their Dragons flying away, leaving them alone to talk. Aria sat on one of the stones that littered the plains before them,- Eragon following suit. After a few moments of silence Aria spoke.
"I wanted to talk to you since Elesmera" said Aria.
"I know Harry told me" replied Eragon his tone secure and at peace with himself unlike the boy who left Elesmera.
"Than you also know why I didn't talk to you fter you finished forging your sword" said Aria.
"I do and I thank you, it would have distracted me from my pursuit of finding my true name, whichever way it had ended" said Eragon.
"So I was right you did find it" said Aria with a shocked gasp.
"Do you want to know it?" asked Eragon.
"You know what it implies?" asked Aria surprised.
"I do, me and Saphira know each others true name" said Eragon, as Aria gasped in shock as such type of bonding between Dragon and Rider was accomplished only once between Eragon I and his Dragon, Dragon Riders normally keeping such a knowledge hidden from anyone even their Dragons.
"Didn't it cause problems?" asked Aria knowiung that their bond had now become something even deeper.
"Initially, yes but after a few days of flying we got over it" replied Eragon "back to the matter at hand, what is your answer"
"No' said Aria "not right now, its not the right time"
"You know there will never be a right time for it for itswe that decide when the right time is" said Eragon.
"You have grown wiser, if I had known that finding your true name would have this effect, I would have helped you to find it earlier" said Arya with a chuckle.
"I would like to claim that it was all me finding myself but I had help from the Eldunari, I found in this quest" replied Eragon.
"But there are no Eldunari outside of Galbatorix grasp" said Aria, shock evident in her face, as according to Harry's deal with Oromis he had accelerated their training to the point it revealed the true source of power that Galbatorix had.
"There were but as to where they were, I don't remember, Dragons magic prevents me from doing so" said Eragon.
I understand, how many?" asked Aria.
"One hundred thirty five, I asked for at least some of them to help you and Murtagh but they refused" said Eragon.
"I get it, Galbatorix has thousands, the best chance would be for them to be in the hands of the best of us" replied Aria.
"I'm not the best, I like the rest, its just that circumstances made me look better than I truly am" replied Eragon.
"What you say just proves my point further" said Aria with a mischevious grin.
"I think Harry is getting to you" replied Eragon with a grin of his own.
"I suppose he is" replied Aria with a shrug "you know he is going to kill us for leaving him to deal with formalities?"
"Kill no, make us regret that we were born yes" said Eragon laughing at her question "so I asked a question that night, what is your answer?"
"You already know it, Eragon" said Aria.
"I still want to hear it from you" answered Eragon.
"Yes, I do love you" replied Aria.
"Now what?" asked Eragon.
"Now we see where this goes" replied Aria.
"You're not going to back down later, are you?" asked Eragon.
"Never, Vel einradhin iet ai Alfakyn" replied Aria, swearing an oath in the Ancinet Language.
"You know, I belive in you without the need of an oath" said Eragon getting closer and kissing her.
"That was better than the one in Elesmera" said Aria after the kiss ended.
"You didn't like it?" asked Eragon raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't say that, its just that this was way better" said Aria as she kissed Eragon again.
As the morning came the Varden army moved forward to meet the encamped army of the Empire, thousands of soliders moving silently under the cover of a fog summoned by Harry,their footsteps silenced with an advanced version of Silencio, that affected multiple targets at once, in someone of Harry's level it affected thousand at once. The Dwarves had already left, intending to circle behind the army and minimize the amount of soldiers that could leave for Feinster, the only dwarves left in the army being fifteen dwarves serving as bodyguards for Eragon.
At the same time, two Dragons, their Rdiers and a man clad in a white armor, were flying above the positions of the Empires armiy and were heading for a spot in the back of the army, waiting for an opportune moment to attack the siege engines that the Empire held. From above the saw as the Varden army approached the Empires camp unseen and unheard until they were but half a mile away when the fog couldn't hide the numerous army, - from sight. Trumpets and calls of alarm sounded all over the camp, as the soldiers of the Empire hastily exited their tents and hastily put their armors on, archers run to take their positions, soldiers running to the stables to get their horse etc.
From their position in the sky, the saw two large groups of cavalry bearing both the standards of Surda and those of the Varden,- crash into the sides of the Empires camp. The initial assault was so unexpected that hundreds of soldiers fell without realizing what happened but in a few moments they got out of the shock at the silent cavalry assault and took the counter-offensive. The cavalry would have been crushed under the weight of numbers had it not been for the intervention of the Surdan and Varden infantry that once again broke the Empires lines and caused even more deaths among their ranks. This assault was meant to take out the groups of archers, that were becoming a bother even thought the battle had just started, - but even though the Vardens made a valiant effort they were mostly unsuccessful for even thought they eliminated a few groups of archer in the initial rush, - they failed to eliminate the majority of the archers.
The Empires forces began to gather their forces for a counter attack but it wasn't meant to be as an entire regiment of soldiers of the Empire fell to the ground lifeless, causing panic at such damage since the beginning of the battle. To further demoralize them a roar came from the Varden line as Saphira rose above their ranks, covered in the dwarven armor,- Eragon sitting atop her, wearing his Dwarven armor. At the same time a part of the fog around them was lifted, by the massive currents generated by Saphira flapping her wings, - and the sun shone on her scales, that weren't covered in the Dwarven armor, - and part of the battlefield was bathed in blue light, just before she breathed a majestic column of sapphire colored flame, of the same shade of her scales, - incinerating a group of nearby soldiers, eliciting cheers from the Varden and Surdan warriors.
Saphira then landed right in the front lines and began attacking furiously any soldier of the Empire, unlucky enough to be anywhere near her. Dismounting her, Eragon too, began attacking the nearby soldiers, becoming nothing more than a blue and silver blurr as he cut through the ranks of the Empires army. It wasn't long before both sides were fully engaged and the battlefield was filled with the sounds of metal clashing against metal and the occsinal sound of men taking their last breath but through the entire chaos of the battlefield nobody noticed three figures descend behind the enemy lines, using the still-present heavy mist as cover.
Landing silently, the two Dragons arched their necks so that their Riders could dismount easily and most importantly, silently. After the two Riders dismounted, Harry took out to glass vials, filled with an orange liquid that glowed with an inner light that illuminated Harry's face with an unearthly glow. Murtagh approached Harry, his steel armor, covering every inch of his body except his head and a part of his neck, - not making any noises, though it should have had. Aria was right behind him, walking with feline grace, further enhanced by her bond with Firnen, - wearing the traditional, for elves, - leather armor, enchanted to be harder to pierce than steel.
"Give this to your Dragons and remember five hours, if it passes you came back to me to get more" said Harry in a whisper.
"Good, Thorn has been itching to breathe some fire for quite some time" said Murtagh with a smile.
"Firnen wouldn't mind either" said Aria "he really liked the taste of the potion from back in Elesmera"
"Of course he did, he is a Dragon and this is Liquid Fire Potion, Its like love at first sight" said Harry chuckling lightly.
"More like at first taste" said Murtagh chuckling himself.
"Shouldn't we move, those catapults and ballista will be ready to fire soon enough" said Aria.
"Of course we won't let your boyfriend get hurt" teased Murtagh.
"Harry, you're so dead" threatened Aria.
"I didn't tell anything, I swear upon my magic and soul" said Harry his magic responding to his oath.
"He didn't but you have this glow that I have seen only in the ladies of the court when some young knight was courting them" explained Murtagh dodging a cut on his head by Aria and silently running toward the postion of the siege engines.
"He is right, you know, you seem happier than in a long, long, long time" said Harry following Murtagh.
"Because I am" replied Aria quietly though she was sure that Harry heard it, judging by the way he nodded.
Silently moving through the heavy fog, she saw two human guards protecting their rear and drawing Sverd abr Welde, the blade glowing slightly in the mist. The two guards didn't knew what hit them as Za'rock pierced the heart of one while Aria's sword, the sword of the forest (Sverd abr Welde), separated the others guard head from his shoulder, at the same time. Harry continued to move forward, his white armor helping him further blend, his Silencio charm and his stealth skills not hurting his chances either,- until he came upon a group of five soldiers. Harry landed in their middle and swinging Willbeaker, two of the five fell to the ground a head shorter,- while the other three didn't have the time to regain their bearing as one was cut in two by Willbreaker while the other two were decapitate by Aria and Murtagh.
The continued to approach the position of the siege engines, avoiding sentries and killing them where avoiding wasn't an option. The guards around the first catapult weren't even paying attention to their backs, instead focusing on the battle ahead of them, which was their undoing, as they didn't even notice the blades that cut them down, coming out of the mist. The rest of the engineers didn't even stand a chance against the trio as they were ruthlessly cut down. With two sings of his sword, Harry made that catapult worthless, as any attempt to fire it would casue it collapse in a shower of wooden shrapnel. This was repeated for another three catapults until a guard noticed through the thick mist and sounded the alarm. Harry quickly cut him down but the damage was done as the rest of the guards of the siege engines turned around and rushed toward them.
Smiling, Harry speed forward to meet them midway. He killed two of the approaching guards before the knew what was happening, his armor Ice Spyre, making his moves less visible throught he thick mist,- the rest didn't get out of their stupor soon enough as three more fell at his feet. More guards rushed toward him, leaving the siege engines alone, after all their enemies were before them, right? Smiling as Aria and Murtagh joined him, he continued to cut through them, his flanks covered by Aria and Murtagh, whose elfic enhancements made him a fearsome swordman surpassed only by Harry, Aria, Eragon and probably Galbatorix. There is a fact that is rarely know about elves and that is that they are the best swordsmen and swordswoman in the entire continent, one of them being capable of holding at least thirty human swordsmen on their own but unfortunately for them they were facing probably the best elfic swordswoman, an human-elf hybrid, swordsman that was even better than most elves and Harry himself, while own mastery over the art of swordsmanship were unparalleled in the whole Alagaesia even without his body-enhancing spell, that he was currently using and they were only two hundred average human swordsmen.
The wave of soldiers was easily pushed back as the trio cut througt their ranks as a hot knife through butter. What deal the final blow to the remaining soldiers, was the roar of two Dragons, right behind them. In a show similar to Saphira's, two Dragons rose in the air, covered in Elfic armor, forged and enchanted by Rhunon herself,- the silvery armor shining because of the sun that shone throught the-now dissipating mist,- but not more than their green and red scales. In a matter earily similar to Saphira's opening attack, the two Dragons breathed fire of scarlet (Thron) and green (Firnen) colors, that created a massive wall of fire in the rear of the Empires army and withint that wall stood the charred remains of their siege engines and their engineers, who were unlucky enough to be near them when the two Dragons attacked.
Breathing fire the two Dragons incinerated the soldiers surrounding their Riders and Harry and let them hop into their back while Harry took to the skies and headed toward the Varden forces. The resolve of the Empires army shaken by the appearance of two new Dragons, their rider and the destruction of the only things that could even dent the nigh-impenetrable scales of the Dragons,- their fighting became sloppier and first signs of desertion began to show. Decciding to add to that effect Harry located one of their magicians, one defending a group of archer and a small cavalry regiment, -and killed him, then with three words in the Ancient Language, the soldiers under his protection fell to the ground dead.
This caused the Varden/Surdan army to gain more ground but after an hour of continued fighting, their advance was halted by the superior numbers that the Empire army had, despite the fact that the Empire had lost more soldiers in this battle. Eragon was beginning to get tired from all this fighting, for every soldier he killed ten more took his place, apparently trying to swarm him with numbers and while he knew that that tactic wouldn't work against him, he was too skilled, he also knew tht he could only go on fighting at this level for another good four hours before he was forced to draw power from his surrounding. He only hoped one of the magicians of the Varden could find a magician of the Empire soon enough for him to defeat him and then use a spell, he and Harry had created, to draw energy from other people at incredibly fast rate replenishing his energy stores, fill the diamonds on the belt of Beloth the Wise, a gift of Oromis, - and the gem on Brisingr.
Brom cursed his own old age, as he felt a soldier of the Empire wound him on his arm. With a quick stab of Unbidtr, the soldier died of a pierced heart. Looking at his arm, he saw that it was a shallow cut at most, so it wasn't worth wasting any energy on it and returned to his job, cutting down any soldier that tried to get anywhere near Ajihad. He didn't mid it but he clearly saw the frustration showing on Ajihad's face at the fact that he had only gotten to fight a few soldiers of the Empire that had "accidentally" slipped through Brom's legendary defense. What frustrated Ajihad further was the fact the he had been given a bodyguard, seriously he could fight at least eight Urgals or two fully grown Kulls on his own and win and the council and Orrin thought that he needed extra protection, so they saddle him with Brom, who would be of better use in the front lines causing havoc.
Aria was bored, her stamin as an elf made so that she wasn't really tired, she could go own like this for three hours and still have some energy left but still fighting persons that couldn't even give her a true challenge was boring. Don't get her wrong, they had given her a few superficial cuts but they weren't a challenge like Eragon or Murtagh and they were even further that the slippery Harry or the immovable Eorr, whise mastery of the blade was unparalleled even by elves who had had centuries to hone their skills. Avoiding an overhead swipe with feline grace she let Firnen tear the man in two as she decapitated the next one. With those thoughts she threw herself further into the fight.
Murtagh was excited, not beasue of the fighting or killing, he wasn't a monster or a sadist but he was excited by the fact that the Vardens around him weren't shying away from him like they used to do even after they learned he was going to a Dragon Rider, fearing that he would become like his father, - but were right now fighting alongside him, without any hesitation to lay their lives down for him, if such a thing was needed. He really hated killing people that were forced by Galbatorix, to fight against them being threatened with the safety of their families, he wasn't naïve to think that everybody here was being forced, as they were some that either liked Galbatorix's rule or were enchanted by is charisma,- but still it felt bad. Moving with his newly gained speed, he intercepted a blade meant to hit one of his Varden bodyguards and with a fluid motion he cut the owner of the blade in two. The Varden he just saved gave him an awed gaze but he couldn't focus on him as one of Thorn's wings was pierced by an arrow. His eyes narrowing to the source of the arrow he disappeared in a blurr of speed, even faster than any horse in Alaegasia, and stopped right in the middle of the group of archers, Za'rock becaoming nothing more than a crimson blur as they fell without even realizing what was happening.
Harry was worried, not by the soldiers running toward him, their skills were mediocre at best and his body-enhancing spell was activated, making him even faster and stronger than an elf, so they didn't even stand a chance, no, what worried him was a naggin sensation he had missed something but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't recall what. A mounted soldier of the empire came toward him at the full speed of his horse. With a mental scoff, he sidestepped at the last moment, putting Willbreaker right in front of his heart. The rider's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before Willbreaker pierced his heart and the light left his heart. Hearing a boming noise from the sky above them, he expanded his senses and ignoring the pain and death he felt around him, he focused on the clouds overhead and then he felt it, a presence even stronger than that of the three young Dragons combined and right next to it stood the another presence stood, this presence had nothing special except the fact that he was empowered by an Eldunari.
From the the clouds a metallic Dragon came, the metallic Dragon was three times larger than Saphira, it was made purely of steel and his eys were made out of a redish glass that shined with an inner light. Atop it stood a man covered by a hood and Harry's magical senses warned him that beneath the robe stood a magician empowered by an Eldunari. Raising his hand a beam of violet color shot toward the Varden side of the battlefield and Harry's eyes widened as he realized who the target was. Brom.