CHAPTER 17

He who bends like a reed, survives.

Eragon smiled slightly as Oromis' words echoed through his mind from a century ago even as Brisingr ignited with white fire. He could hear Roran engage the Urgals fiercely, and the sound of the dying and dead already rent the air as Saphira wreaked havoc randomly throughout the Urgal army. Pride filled him as he saw Saphira corkscrewing gracefully through the skies to avoid a hail of black arrows, diving once more to attack the frantic Urgals.

His eyes snapped back as he saw in excruciating detail the horde of Urgals mere yards from him, cursing him in their guttural tongue as their weapons flailed in their rage. Still smiling slightly, he waited until a large Kull ran ahead of all others and swung at him with a spiked mace.

Memories of Vrael flooded his mind from Umaroth and the Eldunari, memories of Vrael fighting against a horde of Urgals on all sides. Awe flooded Eragon's mind as he saw what the Eldunari were trying to tell him. Show them what it means to fight Vrael's equal and successor, Eragon Shur'tugal. Turn their own strength against them, thundered Umaroth as the flow of memory stopped.

Yes, Umaroth-elda, replied Eragon reverently as he easily sidestepped the powerfully swung mace. Chips of stone flew everywhere as the mace hit the ground, and the Kull growled as it turned angry eyes on him. The next moment, it toppled forward spitting blood as Eragon buried Brisingr in its chest smoothly and drew it out.

Howling Urgals rushed him on all sides, and he blurred into motion. Brisingr fell and rose in faster than they could possibly react to as Eragon wove through their heavy strikes on light foot, cutting through them effortlessly. Aren glowed brighter with the death of each Urgal. He leapt high into the air to avoid a thicket of spears from behind, his body parallel to the ground. An Urgal shouted a command in their guttural tongue and a hundred bowstrings twanged; a hail of black arrows arced towards him even as he twisted in the air and wove magic.

Now.

Eragon disappeared with a flash of Indigo light and the arrows fell upon the Urgals who had lifted their shields to protect themselves from their own barrage. Saphira roared in exultation as Eragon appeared in a flash of light beneath her, slashing an Urgal's chest smoothly.

Together, my love, said Eragon to his Dragon as he leeched the energy from the Urgals he had killed. Saphira dove once more, tearing apart Urgals regardless of their girth or weapons; Dozens of Urgals fell to the ground as Eragon Kingslayer flickered before them in successive flashes of light, and were claimed by lightning quick strikes of Brisingr.

Eragon wove magic continuously by thought alone as he jumped from one Urgal to the next with his spell of movement faster than they could perceive, using the energy of the ones he had killed to facilitate his next leap. In a blink of an eye, an entire battalion of forty five Urgals keeled over with various wounds as he flashed through their ranks relentlessly.

Give me fire, Saphira! said Eragon as he flashed behind a befuddled Urgal and thrust his sword right through its heart. Brisingr would not be denied as it cut through armor like water, and Urgals cried in terror every time the light appeared.

A large swathe of fire erupted from Saphira's mouth as Eragon slaughtered his way rapidly through the confused Urgals. Using the torrent of energy he had gathered from the Urgals he had killed, he took hold of Saphira's fire and manipulated it with pure will.

The sheet of blue white-fire split a countless number of times, and thousands of arrows of fire lit up the cloudy sky as it fell into the Urgal army. Eragon!, cried Saphira in alarm as a new batch of Urgals fell upon him as they trampled over the bodies of their comrades in their bloodlust.

"Garjzla!", he shouted. Light and power exploded from Eragon Kingslayer and the onrushing Urgals were flung far away like rag dolls. Keening cries of pain filled the air as the onslaught of the fire arrows ceased slowly, leaving droves of dead Urgals scattered upon the battlefield.

He took a moment to glance around the bloodied slopes of the mountain; he could see Roran retreating through the fire and agonized screams filled the air as the Urgals tried to follow his cousin through the terrible flames.

The Urgals eyed him warily as they gathered around him once more to the shouted orders of their commanders. He contacted Saphira who was circling above them menacingly, just above bowshot.

My ploy has not worked, Saphira. The magicians in the army are not reacting to the wall of flames around Carvahall. They are clever not to take the bait, he said to her even as he drew energy from the earth and the fallen.

He waved his hand, and three hundred swords and spears rose into the air from the hands of the Urgals he had killed, rising high above the army. "Brisingr", he said quietly and the weapons were aflame with white fire at his command, shining high in the sky like a sprinkling of stars.

"Ganga", he whispered pointing to the now warily milling Urgals. The burning swords and spears descended like shooting stars at his gesture, and plunged into the Urgal army everywhere. The world turned white as hundreds of explosions rocked the earth for each weapon reaching the earth, tearing Urgals apart mercilessly.

Flaming weapons of death fell into the horde relentlessly, tearing the Urgals apart with explosions of fire and air. Eragon watched stoically as the Urgals were thrown into utter disarray and chaos at his assault. How far I have come, he thought as a burning white spear fell to amongst the battalion trying to rush him from the left. Bits of Kull flew everywhere as fire exploded outward from the burning missile, buffeting against his wards. His eyes turned blue as he took in the scene from Saphira's vision from the sky.

I told you we would become powerful, Saphira said to him as they watched the last of the projectiles wreak burning havoc amongst the Urgals. I could see the strength in you when you slew that Urgal with magic in Yazuac all those years ago. They will all be wary of us now, little one.

I will cross that bridge when I come to it. But these Urgals…they are misguided, Saphira. I hate to rain death upon them this way, said Eragon as immense sadness filled him at the aerial sight. Urgals were fleeing away from Carvahall hurriedly, fleeing back into the passes in the spine. From Saphira's eyes they looked like ants hurrying back into their nests…he could count close to a thousand Urgals lying dead in the battlefield.

"Thrysta", said Eragon causing a gentle wave of air to sweep away the dust and smoke caused by his attack. Everywhere he cast his gaze he could see dead Urgals scattered about the mountain slopes, dead by sword and fire. The remaining fled united as they trampled uncaringly over the bodies of their comrades in their hurry to get away from him.

He sighed as he turned away from the terrified and running Urgals, wondering if they still remembered their own histories. I doubt it, Eragon. From what Umaroth showed us, he and Vrael did not let a single Urgal leave alive.

At least they did not force me to the same extreme, he thought sadly as he continued approaching the ring of fire around Carvahall. The fire around Brisingr extinguished itself as he sheathed the sword slowly. His reached out with his mind as he quested for Roran's presence, and looked all around the burning ring around Carvahall.

Saphira, where is Roran? he asked as he calmly walked through the flaming walls and appeared on the other side. His senses tingled as he saw no trace of Roran, except for the several bodies of Urgals scattered around where his cousin had fought. A spell of finding left his lips as he searched for Roran, and his alarm increased as he felt no familiar presence around Carvahall.

With a great rush of wind, Saphira landed beside him and joined her mind with his to quest for Roran. Roran, where are you?, he cast out powerfully with his mind. Roran-

He flinched slightly as images of another battle abruptly filled his mind;

She slipped through the cracks in the enemy magician's mental shields and killed him with a single word. The soldiers at Therinsford's iron gates cheered noisily as the besieging Urgals all fell down dead as well, unprotected by their magician.

The gates opened with a resounding groan as Holcomb's cavalry broke through the Urgal lines near the gates and surged into the protection of Therinsford. Sahloknir swooped low and unleashed a torrent of blinding golden fire upon the howling Urgals, dissuading those Urgals who tried to attack the flanks of the cavalry making a mad surge into the gates.

She smiled as she saw Carvahall's reinforcements steadily enter Therinsford. From within a defensive position and her aid, they could easily whittle down the numbers of Urgals. She knew that for humans to fight Urgals in an open field put the former at a disadvantage.

But the air near the gates shimmered slightly, and her eyes widened with alarm as she observed the tall male figure who lifted a hand against the last ranks of riders who were to enter through the gates. Her heart caught in involuntary fear as she gazed upon the crimson red eyes of the figure.

"Shade", she whispered. A bolt of black fire arced from the Shade's upraised hand but Sahloknir swooped down rapidly. Her sword whistled through the air as Laetri caught the bolt on her sword and threw it far away into the skies. The humans cried out in fear as the Shade tried to close the gates with magic, but got through as Laetri held them open with a counter spell of her own. The Shade's burning eyes met her blue, and she stared back calmly.

"They are safe. Sahloknir, we have our opponent", she murmured to her Dragon who prepared to land. But the despairing cries of the soldiers on the walls and the howls of the Urgals made her turn her head towards the skies and her breath caught.

A Rider arrayed in black armour floated above them on a bronze coloured Dragon, thrusting a sword of the same colour into the air. The Shade smiled fiercely at her. The Urgals pressed forward at the appearance of their Rider, and she stared torn at the opponent in the sky and the one on the ground.

She had to-

With a light gasp, Eragon wrenched his mind away as apprehension filled his mind. At the same time he heard a clapping sound behind him, and stared as the fires he had erected around Carvahall died completely with a rush. The devastation he had wrecked on the Urgal army became visible as the protecting wall of fire went out, showing him hundreds of dead Urgals strewn everywhere on the mountain sides and burnt to death around Carvahall. Rage like a pool of lava overwhelmed his mind from his Dragon as Saphira's menacing growl shook the earth. His heart clenched with fear as he saw the rending scene behind him.

"Hello, Uncle Eragon", greeted Ismira with a hard voice as she held her black sword to Roran's throat. Eragon glanced at Roran's side which was streaming blood, and his bruised face and then at Ismira. Roran's eyes were streaming tears as he was held at sword point by his own daughter…it struck Eragon painfully at just how much Ismira resembled her mother.

"Let him go", he said quietly as he raised his hand. A fine line of blood appeared across Roran's throat as Ismira pressed her blade.

"If you cast magic, I will kill him. Don't think I won't, Eragon. If Saphira moves, I will kill him. I swear it", said Ismira in the same hard voice. Then she smiled a cold smile and nodded to the mountain slopes where lay the hundreds of strewn Urgals. "I can see why he respects you so much, Eragon. Putting an entire Urgal army to the rout alone?"

She shook her head wonderingly. "I confess myself awed at your might. But Uncle, you made a mistake with your warding of Carvahall", she said as she pressed her blade tighter into Roran's neck causing him to grunt. Eragon's eyes narrowed as rivulets of blood streamed down his neck to soak his tunic completely.

Eragon watched her closely, laying a hand on Saphira's snout reassuringly. His Dragon seemed ready to simply roast Ismira with her fires, and her pure rage was starting to affect his own judgement. Ismira sneered at Saphira and looked up at the sky above Carvahall with distant eyes.

A new roar shook the ground as the Black Dragon Belegroch descended from the churning clouds above Carvahall, and began circling the nearly empty town in an assessing manner. Saphira whipped her head around at stared at the younger Dragon with a killing rage even as Eragon's eyes showed true horror at his niece's intentions.

"Remove your wards, uncle, so that Carvahall can burn under Belegroch's fire", she said implacably. Eragon stood indecisively, his mind churning in turmoil at the situation. Roran had bowed his head in grief even as his daughter's sword cut him, copious tears mixing with blood.

"Quickly, uncle", said Ismira as she pointed at Roran's legs. Eragon's eyes shone with unrestrained anger as they broke with loud snaps, and Roran was held only by Ismira's hand as his face whitened with the pain. "I can break his hands too if you want. Do not try to trick us either…if you do, I will cut his throat without hesitation."

"Ismira, you have gone too far. I will not forget this", said Eragon in a steely voice as his hand reached for the hilt of his sword. Ismira frowned and Roran's arms too broke with snaps, and this time Roran screamed with pain as his hands dangled awkwardly. Eragon closed his eyes as his link with Laetri burgeoned at the same time.

They had been fighting in the skies for a while now, and Sahloknir had the bronze Dragon at a disadvantage. Laetri's heart fell as she saw the numerous cuts on Sahloknir's wings bleeding continuously. The enemy Rider was skilled, but compared to her he was nothing.

Below her the battle raged around the walls of Therinsford, Holcomb leading the defense admirably. But the Shade was directing the Urgal efforts and that more than anything alarmed her. The Shade was not elven at all… he was very much a human. The implications put wariness and fear in her heart more than anything else.

"Sahloknir, he is coming", she said gently to her Dragon. The Bronze Dragon came careening towards Sahloknir with a roar, but her Dragon was far too skilled to be hurt by such straightforward moves. Dodging the bronze Dragon's swipe easily, Sahloknir caught its throat firmly with his jaws. With a growl, the golden Dragon hurtled toward the ground rapidly in an attempt to incapacitate the bronze Dragon.

Before the Urgal Rider could make an attempt to slash at Sahloknir, Laetri lashed out with her mind. Snarling, the Rider fought back fiercely but Laetri suppressed his attempts easily. As she was about to tear through his defenses Sahloknir had neared the ground enough to hurl his opponent forcefully downwards.

Bronze Dragon and Rider crashed forcefully into the ground with an explosion of dust, and Sahloknir landed gracefully beside them. The Urgals paid them no attention as they threw themselves fully into their siege.

The dust cleared, and Laetri saw the Urgal Rider crawling out of his stirrups. Pure evil made itself known behind her and she ignored the Urgal Rider to face the more immediate threat. Turning about, she considered the Shade who was looking at her mockingly.

"Laetri, Daughter of Dellanir. Your beauty transcends anything that I could ever imagine", said the Shade in a deadly voice. "I see you dealt with the young Rider there quite easily. I, however, am a little more difficult to stop."

"But I will stop you nevertheless, Shade", said Laetri as her mind devolved into focus. Dismounting from Sahloknir rapidly, she faced the Shade with a serene expression. The Shade drew a plain-looking sword and raised it with a two handed grip.

"My name, Laetri Shur'tugal, is not Shade. I am Azaer."

Pure desperation raced through Eragon as he opened his eyes. Ismira still held Roran hostage, and looked at him with mocking eyes. He could feel Saphira's anxiety blend with his, anxiety for both Laetri and Roran.

"Ah, a new player enters the game", commented Ismira offhandedly. Then her eyes grew serious once more. "Last chance, uncle."

"Give me your word that if I release the wards, you will leave your father be", asked Eragon, meeting her cold eyes with his own. Ismira's expression grew angry for an instant, before she nodded with a smile.

"How sacrificing you are, Eragon. You will let an entire town burn for one man", she mocked him even as Roran shook his head desperately even though it cut him deeper. "Very well", she said. "I swear to leave my father be after you release the wards", she said in the ancient language.

Eragon nodded and turned with a sigh towards Carvahall. His eyes glowed brightly as he dismantled the wards in a moment, and looked at Ismira. "It is done", he said in the ancient tongue. "Release him", he asserted firmly.

"In a moment, Uncle Eragon."

Belegroch roared once more as he arched his neck, opening his jaws to release a large torrent of bright fire on the centre of Carvahall. Roran closed his eyes in despair, but Eragon watched with relative calmness as the fire fell down on his old home.

And dispersed completely before it made contact.

"You broke your word", said Ismira coldly and raised her sword. Before she could act, a black arrowhead sprouted in her shoulder abruptly and she let out a startled yell of pain. Immediately, Eragon disappeared in a flash of light only to appear behind his stumbling niece.

"Thrysta Vindr!"

A ball of solidified air struck Ismira in the gut, tossing her several feet into the air and to the ground with an audible thump. "Slytha", said Eragon to Roran and watched sadly as his cousin drifted into a painless sleep.

High above Carvahall there was a sound like two boulders crushing each other as the dragon Isidar fell upon Belegroch. Ildarien had arrived, and Eragon could never be more grateful for his arrival. Three presences made themselves known to him, and Eragon nodded gratefully to the Nighthawks who had shot Ismira. Even he had detected their presence at the very last second…they were extremely good at their craft.

They removed their hoods as one, and Eragon could see that they were quite young. Saphira, please deal with Belegroch. Capture him, he said as the woman at the centre stepped towards him and bowed at the waist. The two men bowed as well.

I will teach that foolish hatchling, growled Saphira and lifted into the air with a vengeance. Eragon turned back to the three Nighthawks and queried: "Where are the others of your company?"

"They are still a ways from here, Kingslayer", said the woman in a quiet voice. "I am Maira, and these are Urumviel and Arniel. We will heal Roran Stronghammer if you wish while you attend to your other duties", she offered. Eragon nodded gratefully as anxiety for Laetri gripped his heart once more.

"Secure her", he said pointing to Ismira who lay unconscious on the ground. "And help them subdue the Dragon, Maira. My companion needs me", he said briskly. Urumviel immediately went to Ismira, producing manacles of iron from his sack.

I have him.

He turned his head upwards to see Saphira's jaws holding Belegroch by the neck, and Isidar holding him by the tail. Good, he said bleakly with no trace of pity in his voice for his niece. Surveying the devastation around Carvahall one last time, he stared at the Rider sitting on Isidar.

Ildarien, I must go. Laetri requires help. Erect a ward of fire around Carvahall…draw energy from the earth if necessary. Saphira will also help you. Secure Ismira and Belegroch in Roran's deepest dungeons, and also heal Roran.

Yes, Ebrithil, said Ildarien immediately. Eragon sent him his thanks and nodded once more to Maira and her companions. Saphira…

Go, little one. I can help Ildarien manage things here. Go fast, for Laetri requires your help.

Thank you, he said gratefully and disappeared with a great flash of light. There was still much work to be done, and another battle to be fought.

…

Baron Holcomb strode briskly around the outer battlements of Carvahall, organizing the defense of the city adaptively as the Urgal assault fell upon the main gate. Therinsford's new architecture was both boon and bane during a siege; the fact that it had only one entry into the town left only one point to be defended, but at the cost of extremely brutal attack. He was thankful that Urgals did not use any engines of war in their battles…that would have made matters far more difficult.

But even they knew to use the battering ram.

"Take aim!", he shouted and the archers of both Carvahall and Therinsford raised their nocked bows as one. The gates shuddered deafeningly as the Urgals rammed into it with terrible force. "Fire!"

Sheets of arrows arced high into the air, and fell upon the droves of Urgals like a storm of death. Holcomb watched grimly as several Urgals fell with wounds lethal and debilitating, but still they came. Urgals, he thought, were singularly unsuited to siege battles. He knew how to fight them.

"Fire at will!", he shouted to his men. Volleys upon volleys of sharp arrows flew into the Urgal horde from the battlements of Therinsford; Holcomb looked on with frustration as not many arrows found their mark. Urgal armor had improved considerably from before…and one sensing with his mind told them they were warded somehow.

"Lord Baron!" shouted a soldier, pointing to the skies at the very edge of the Urgal army. Holcomb smiled with a grim satisfaction as he saw Sahloknir falling to the ground, his jaws clamped around the Bronze Dragon's neck. The few soldiers who were watching watched with open mouths as Sahloknir twisted midair and hurled the enemy Dragon into the ground with terrific force.

Even Holcomb had to wince as the Bronze Dragon crashed into the loamy ground with an explosion of dirt. Laetri Shur'tugal had accounted for entire battalions of the Urgal force, and Holcomb could not help but feel rushing gratitude at the thought of the Rider. She had saved several of his men from certain death at the hands of Urgals.

Baron?

Yes, Laetri svit-kona?, he responded, watching carefully as the cloud of dust cleared to reveal a the Urgal Rider and his dragon sprawled senselessly upon the ground. Laetri dismounted lightly from Sahloknir, ignoring the fallen Rider completely as she turned to a man behind her.

Baron, do I have your permission to show you the world from my eyes?, asked Laetri calmly. Holcomb's eyes widened at the request. It was an inherently personal thing, the mind. The fact that Laetri trusted him enough to share her mind with him…he felt truly honoured.

Eragon-elda trusts you, Baron. So I trust you as well, she said in response to his thoughts. I see you agree, she said and Holcomb's world blurred for a moment before righting again. Awe filled his mind as he felt Laetri's mind closely, feeling timeless lyrics of the ancient language reverberate through its vast reaches.

His vision adjusted as he saw through Laetri's eyes, and the world was extremely defined. The elven vision was so refined that it made a human's sight seem dull and nearly blind by comparison. Please observe my opponent, Baron Holcomb, said Laetri to him as they focused on the tall male warrior raising his enormous broadsword into the air with a strong two-handed grip.

I see human features, strongly built. Red hair…Red eyes?, he thought as fear filled him completely as he saw the burning red eyes of the opponent clearly through Laetri's sight. Instruction from years ago came to him and he knew in a moment what they faced here;

Shade!, he whispered desperately. Laetri gently pushed him back into his own body, and he opened his eyes slowly. He looked down at his traitorous hands…they were shaking in fear as he almost unwillingly looked at the edge of the field.

He calls himself Azaer, said Laetri to him as he saw her and the Shade slowly circling each other. He is not young, and will be quite the challenge. Young Baron, I need you to come hither and guard the Urgal rider.

Holcomb cast a quick glance over the battle field, and saw that his men had the siege well contained. Humans were far more sophisticated than Urgals in this aspect of battle. "Lord Brian!", he called loudly and an armoured man rushed to his side from where he had been directing the archers.

Brian was the lord of Therinsford, and his cousin from his father's side. They had seen much and done much together, and there was no other man he would trust so implicitly. Sahloknir took to the air with a large stirring of dust, and Laetri still circled the Shade.

"Yes, Holcomb?"

"Brian, take over the defense. Laetri Shur'tugal requires my help", he said shortly, clasping his cousin's forearm with solemnity. Brian met his eyes for a moment, and nodded firmly. Now, young Baron!, resounded Sahloknir's voice in his mind and he unhesitatingly jumped over the battlements. His soldiers' startled exclamations were for naught as the huge Golden Dragon dived below him, catching him perfectly on his saddle. Holcomb held on for dear life as the Dragon rushed back towards where Laetri was, a rain of crossbow bolts bouncing off his scales and wards.

Why am I needed, Sahloknir?

Riders are best restrained with distractions. We will keep them busy with a mental attack, thus allowing them no time to recover. Restraints are too easily broken with Gramarye, replied Sahloknir patiently as they landed smoothly beside the groaning Urgal Rider and his dragon. Sahloknir stepped forward with a growl, and pinned the younger Dragon with a huge foreleg.

Holcomb followed suit and lashed out with his mind at the Urgal who had managed to crawl out of his stirrups. Strong resistance met his mind, but he kept up the pressure with all the strength he could summon. I could just knock him unconscious?, he asked the gold Dragon with a touch of asperity.

Do not. The Riders have warded themselves with a suicide spell that is malicious to those who are near to capturing them physically. Laetri herself would have taken care of the matter, but as you can see she is busy with that blasted Shade, replied Sahloknir with frustration. Ignoring the siege that continued behind him, he turned his eyes to the duel that raged in front of him.

His ears hurt sharply as he saw Laetri met the Shade's vertical swing with a raised sword, the sound shaking the ground around them. Her hair whipped around as he saw her meet the Shade's unnaturally strong swings with a peaceful grace, moving with an efficiency and power that astounded him.

The Shade was all viciousness and brute strength, and his broadsword came at her dangerously with terrific force. Holcomb winced as each swing of that massive sword split the air with a scream, meeting the Rider's own sword with a deafening clang. He had no doubt that the Shade was strong enough to behead a Dragon with a single swing of that huge blade.

Laetri moved lightly like the most graceful of Elves, meeting each massive slash and swing of the Shade with stunning efficiency, turning her blade just enough to redirect the broadsword elsewhere. The Shade's mouth curled in anger, and the frequency of his swings increased rapidly as he set upon the Rider with burning crimson eyes.

Unbelievable, thought Holcomb as he saw the impossibly fast fight in front of him. The sound of steel meeting steel was so rapid that it seemed to him that it was continuous sound. Laetri's flowing grace with the blade easily matched the Shade's viciousness. He winced again as the ground shook once more, as the two combatants slammed their blades together with explosive force.

Laetri met the Shade's eyes with her own striking blue, and threw him back several yards with a mighty push of her blade. Holcomb felt pride rushing through Sahloknir's mind as his Rider's opponent crashed into the ground forcefully. The Shade does not know who he is facing, thought Sahloknir scornfully as the crimson-eyed man thrust his sword into the ground with a snarl.

Holcomb glanced behind him for an instant, relief filling him as he saw the remaining Urgals contained well by his men. The true battle is here, Baron Holcomb. Watch as the Shade challenges my Rider where he never should have dared to do, said Sahloknir to him. They absently increased the pressure on the minds of the fallen Riders beside them, watching carefully as the Shade raised both hands towards Laetri.

What is he-

Forks of black lightning blasted from the Shade's upraised hands, arcing towards Laetri with a crackling hiss. "Deloi risa", said Laetri softly to the ground beneath her; Holcomb watched open-mouthed as the lightning dissipated itself into the rising wall of earth with a dying crackle. The Urgals at the end of the besieging army had turned their heads towards the arcane battle, and Holcomb absently observed a few of the defenders looking towards them as well.

"Wizard's duel", he whispered with amazement as he saw Laetri square off against a visibly frustrated Shade. The contrast between the two sides of magic had never been more visible to him in his life…Laetri seemed to glow from within with the sheen of magical strength and even he could feel the oppressive presence of the Shade.

And then it began.

The Shade flung fire at Laetri with slashes of his hands, sending them streaking like comets at the Rider. Laetri waved her hand in a circle, and the attacking fire froze into large clumps of ice, which blasted into smithereens. With a flick of her fingers, she sent the countless shards of sharp ice at the surprised Shade who countered with more fire to melt them slashed their hands at the same time, causing bolts of blue and black fire to meet in the air with a fiery explosion.

"Letta du Thrysta" said Laetri simply, pointing at the Shade. Holcomb watched as the Shade sunk down choking…he could only admire the Lady's ingenuity as she created a consistent vacuum around the Shade. Laetri strode toward her opponent with her hand raised, her silvery hair caressing the sides of her face as she advanced towards her retching opponent. She spun her sword easily, holding it in a reverse grip as she came within a few yards of the Shade who was convulsing on the ground.

"It is over, Shade", she said in an expressionless voice. The Shade's eyes widened and he somehow choked out even through the lack of air around him.

"I…am…Azaer!", he declared with madly burning eyes, and slammed a hand into the ground with a wild shout. "Thrysta!"

Laetri was tossed violently into the air as Azaer broke the spell holding him with a visible surge of magic. Simultaneously, several things happened.

The Urgals seemed to go wild in their rage, and the gates of Therinsford broke open with a deafening crash. Holcomb's debilitating assault on the Urgal Rider's mind suddenly gave way…he lost himself within the enemy's mind for a moment before he was expelled with a great effort. Get up!, ordered Sahloknir but he was too far gone to listen. His vision focused slowly, and he saw Urgals rush into the opening provided by the broken Gates of Therinsford. His men held the breach valiantly, but he knew it would not last long. Only skilled soldiers could stand against even the most average of Urgals, let alone Kull. Arrows and pitch were thrown from the walls, but the Urgals were far too fierce to be deterred.

He doubled over in pain as a mighty fist took to his abdomen, and shook his head to clear his watery eyes. Something seemed to lift him clean off the ground, and he opened his eyes to find himself face to face with a helmed Kull. Sahloknir had gone still as he attempted to fight back the Shade's mental assault, and Laetri was lying still in front of her Dragon. Holcomb kicked out wildly as he saw Azaer approach Laetri's beautiful form, looking down with an unreadable expression. But the Urgal Rider held him firmly by the throat, despite the horrific injuries that were evident on him.

"You underestimated me, Laetri Shur'tugal. If you had taken me seriously, perhaps things would have been different", said Azaer almost sadly as he raised his sword high in the air. Holcomb felt something was profoundly wrong as he saw the Shade stand over Laetri's form. The Shade turned towards him for a moment, and he flinched as he met those burning red eyes afire with magic and deadly malice.

"Let him be, Galzra. We have much to learn from him", he commented idly and the Rider flung him away like a rag doll. Holcomb skidded painfully towards Azaer, sadness and rage filling him as he looked around; Screams of pain and anger rent the air as the Urgals pressed forward angrily, carving a bloody path through the defenders.

Horror overtook his rage as he turned his head to see the Shade's great blade whistling towards the prone form of Laetri. Her golden Dragon's snout had sunk haplessly to the ground, his brilliant eyes swimming in pain at the Shade's mental attack. He gathered the last of his magic in a desperate bid to hit the Shade.

It's over, we underestimated him, sent Sahloknir to him faintly, his voice throbbing with pain and fear. Indigo light flashed in front of Laetri just as the Baron prepared his last spell;

Eragon was standing tall as he caught the Shade's killing swing with Brisingr, taking in the scene of the battlefield with one sweeping look. Holcomb sunk back to the ground, spent by the exertions of the day…he was not a young man anymore.

I hope Carvahall is safe, he thought faintly as blackness overtook his vision.

…..

Eragon swept his gaze around Therinsford, watching impassively as the Urgals began to inch their way through the tight defense at the Gates. His eyes took in the unconscious form of his grand-nephew, and then looked at the Urgal Rider who was staring at him with something resembling fear. His Dragon lay behind him, and Eragon could see the numerous injuries that it bore.

"Ah, Eragon Shadeslayer. Your companion here is an enchanting beauty even among elves."

Eragon slowly turned to face the Shade, his blade not faltering in the slightest despite the immense pressure the Shade exerted with his enormous sword. Crimson eyes stared back at him from a face of cruel features, remnants of a poor man who had been destroyed for the sake of power.

Slow, murderous rage ignited in his heart as he glanced below to see Laetri lying unconscious. If he were just an instant late in arriving, the Shade would have killed her. She would be gone, taken away from him forever.

He blurred into motion, slipping under the Shade's raised sword-arm to deliver a crushing elbow to his chest. The Shade spat blood as he flew back several yards to crash into the bronze Dragon. I failed her, he thought miserably as he lifted her form gently into his arms. He could feel the life flowing in her…but it chilled his heart to think that but for chance, she would have died today.

Sahloknir rose behind him as the Shade's mental attack ceased. Eragon slowly walked to the gold Dragon, tucking Laetri's shining silver hair behind her ears. The thought of such beauty gone from the world…his mind pushed it away immediately. He gently floated her to the saddle, strapping her securely to it with a few murmured words. Memories of the battle flowed from Sahloknir to him, and he shook his head at them.

For a moment, irrational anger at Laetri gripped him. If she had not believed the Shade to be so weak, this would never have happened. Go, Sahloknir. Take her to Utgard for now, he ordered peremptorily. His fear of losing her had become a very real thing now, no longer were they safe ensconced in Aiedail. It took root within him like a poisonous weed, feeding his anger and rage and fanning it into a terrible inferno.

Ebrithil, do not blame your-

Go, he said in a hard voice as he turned towards the Shade and the rogue Rider. Sahloknir lifted off wordlessly and flew away towards Ristvak'baen; Eragon completely ignored the battle raging for Therinsford, and walked towards the enemy with anger and hate enough to match the Shade's.

Eragon-

Leave me alone, Saphira. I have some vermin to exterminate, he said coldly and shut off their link with a snap. The Shade looked at him with slight amusement, which turned into apprehension as he lashed out with his mind at both Azaer and the Rider. Mindforce deep and vast as the very ocean fell upon and smothered the Rider and Shade, and Eragon fed it with the rage he found when he saw Laetri unconscious, or Roran tormented.

The Urgal fell down screaming for the pain to stop, and his Dragon gave a weak and mournful cry with him. This was why he guarded his heart so closely! They could never, ever understand how he had mutilated himself all those years ago. Laetri was the only one who had held him together along with their Dragons, and today he was confronted with the cold hard fact that she might die, dieat the hands of people who would never understand how much he needed her to remain himself.

Never again, he promised himself as he raised his hand at the Shade, Urgal Rider and Dragon, closing it into a fist. Agonized screams rent the air as every single bone in their limbs were crushed into pieces. Even the Shade was screaming with horrified pain as his bones had literally splintered into powder.

Quiet! He said coldly to the Eldunari who were trying to reach him. I do not need your counsel.

"I won't kill you", he said calmly to the Shade who was writhing at his feet. He dimly noted the Urgals tribes being pushed away by the defenders…at the moment he did not care. All he wanted to do was to force the pain and fear that threatened to consume him onto the Shade.

"You do not deserve the peace of death. I will make sure you receive something more lasting", he whispered, waving his hand absently at the fallen Urgal and his Dragon. Magic flared within him…sweet magic, torrential magic he embodied all by himself; Bronze Dragon and its Rider were picked up bodily and hurled far into the walls of Therinsford.

Urgals stopped their siege as their Rider slammed with terrific force against the wall of the very keep they were attacking, sliding down slowly to the ground, smearing a trail of blood as they did so. Eragon picked up the Shade by his throat, and slammed into his mental barriers with terrible force.

The Shade was strong, very strong…but not as much as him. He shattered the barriers with a single word, and reached into the very depths of the spirit-man's consciousness. "Hugin", he whispered darkly and the spirits that raced beneath his skin froze at the power of the word. He could feel Saphira and the Eldunari slamming themselves against what separated them from him, but he did not give.

He did not realize that the entire Urgal army were staring at him with absolute horror as he tormented their Shade like it was his plaything. He could feel the strength draining out of his limbs, and reached deeper into the Shade's consciousness and pulled every last shred of power he could from the spirits that were imprisoned within.

You want to escape, do you not?, he asked them as he used the power he had absorbed to craft hundreds of weaves of magic, bringing them together with a single act of will.

With a shout, he bound the spirits to the soul of the man with the spell he had created with his will; The Shade screamed in unutterable agony as all hopes of release were destroyed for the spirits that made him what he was.

You will reform elsewhere, he told the shade quietly as he raised his sword high. And when you come into being again, you will know torment the likes of which no spirit or man has ever experienced. You will know eternal torment.

This will be my message to the one who leads you, he concluded and beheaded the Shade with a single slash of Brisingr. Tossing the body away disdainfully, he turned his gaze towards the Urgals and the defenders who were staring at him with looks of apprehension and fear.

Ignoring the weariness that stole through his mind, he gathered the strength leeched from the Shade moments ago. It was time to end this battle and heal Laetri. And then, he would begin his search for the elven Shade. When he found it…he shook his head. His attention drifted onto the Urgals, and he raised his hand towards them.

"Thrysta", he said once more as he caused the air in the battlefield to thin down and rarefy as Laetri had once shown him. Urgals all around the wall breathed heavier as the air became unsuited for respiration; His strength was leaking out steadily, but he did not care. Lighting a small fire on the tip of his fingers with a single thought, he tossed it amidst the Urgals.

The entire battlefield turned pure white for a single instant as the very air seemed to combust spontaneously. The valley was filled for that one moment with what seemed like liquid light, liquid light that consumed everything in its reach and temporarily blinded the observers. The besieging Urgals did not have time to cry out as they were all turned to ash by the single all-consuming flash of white fire.

And then it faded.

One moment, they were about to force their way inside the town, but now the field around Therinsford was wiped clean of every single Urgal leaving the defenders on the walls and behind the gates struck dumb. The ground before Therinsford was smoking, and portions of it had turned into glass.

Eragon watched with an icy expression as the few Urgals who had survived the burning scattered into the Spine with an almost holy terror. The smallest of shuffles to his right caught his attention, and he turned to see Holcomb trying to rise futilely. The Baron's eyes were resting quietly on him, and Eragon's hands began to shake slightly as he saw the expression on his grand-nephew's face. It was not adulation or happiness as one would expect. No…it was wariness, and hints of fear.

He looked around once more, the overcast sky reflecting the gloom of his thoughts as he did so; The enormity of his actions slowly sunk into his consciousness, and he felt Saphira and the Eldunari enter his mind once more as he released the barriers. They said nothing, only providing a calm reassurance as he stepped away from the Baron.

I…I told you, he said blankly to Saphira as he took several backward steps, his hands shaking visibly. I am not whole. They almost took her away from me. I just wanted to kill them all, to make sure they never did so again, he told her in faint voice. Tears flowed slowly down his cheeks as he remembered how many lives he had taken here; He had not even offered them the chance to flee, like he had in Carvahall.

He had just burned them all. He had killed a Rider and Dragon in his rage, and it tormented him like a thousand knives cutting his soul. She would be ashamed of me, he told the silent Eldunari and his Dragon even as Holcomb sank back to the ground in weariness. He bowed his head as the mental tiredness hit him in a wave, remaining upright only by an effort of will. Rain belched from the skies suddenly, drenching his white robes and soaking his silvery hair. A company of men rode towards the fallen Baron from the gates as he gathered magic slowly.

Go to Utgard, Eragon. Heal Laetri and sleep peacefully, said Saphira gently. I will take care of matters here at Carvahall. Go.

Eragon simply assented and disappeared away from the slaughter field in a flash of Indigo light. The cheers of victory resounded everywhere in Therinsford, despite the rain that threatened to soak them all. But Holcomb alone had seen the play of emotions on the Kingslayer's face, and he shuddered in trying to imagine what the Rider must be undergoing.

Today will change a great many things in Alagaesia, he thought grimly as Lord Brian clattered up to him with a broad grin and awed expression. As his men hoisted Holcomb on to a horse with strong hands, the Baron could not help but sigh at their childishly happy expressions. Young people. They do not see what it costs to win, he thought morbidly as they rode back towards a madly celebrating Therinsford. But they will.

They will.