
The liquid ignited as it combined with the air in his throat. He tightened his neck, clenched his belly, and drew forth the dense-liquid-of-fire from deep within his gut. When the twirling ground was only a few thousand feet away, Glaedr inhaled and drew back his head. The fighting had long since exhausted both of their invisible-spell-shields, leaving them vulnerable to every sort of wound. He flexed his tail and struck snarling-long-fang-Thorn across one leg, stabbing him in the thigh with a spike on his tail. White-dagger-claws scratched Glaedr along his ribs and underside. You will not best me, youngling, he vowed to himself. Glaedr snapped and tore and raked with his hind feet, trying to batter the smaller dragon into submission. They spun around each other, plummeting toward the hard-flat-wing-crushing-ground. Thorn slammed into Glaedr’s left side, his weak side, where he had lost his foreleg. The little-red-shrike-dragon was stronger and faster than Glaedr had anticipated, due to Galbatorix’s meddling. Glaedr regained his balance and looked for Thorn. Then relief as partner-of-his-life-Oromis healed his injuries. Pain as he had not felt for over a hundred years. Bone-bending pain in his belly and in the shoulder of his left wing. The world reeled around Eragon, and again he found himself peering through Glaedr’s eyes. He hefted Brisingr and started toward the magicians, as did Saphira from the opposite direction. “Oh my,” said Lady Lorana, gripping the arms of her chair. The magicians continued to chant, seemingly oblivious to her presence. She knocked aside the shutters with a single blow of her paw, breaking their frames like so much tinder, and then pushed her head and shoulders into the chamber and growled. Please, you must stop them, for the sake of my people!”Īs she finished speaking, Saphira landed upon the balcony outside the room, cracking the balustrade with her tail. They only wish to cause as much pain and destruction as they can before they die.

“But a Shade might just as easily turn against them and everyone else in Feinster as it would against the Varden.” He could not imagine having to fight another Durza. So they are attempting, I do not know how, to create a Shade in the hope that the monster will turn against the Varden and spread sorrow and confusion throughout your ranks.” “They know they cannot hope to drive off the Varden as they are, and Galbatorix has not sent reinforcements to our aid. I have sworn myself to Galbatorix-I had no choice in the matter-so I cannot raise a hand against him or his servants otherwise, I would have arranged their destruction myself.” “They answer only to the king and his new Rider. “Why don’t you order them to surrender?” whispered Eragon. You must stop them, Shadeslayer.” And she gestured at the magicians. A relieved expression appeared upon the woman’s distinguished face.
