She hummed contentedly.I’ve missed you, little one. Crying out with relief, Eragon threw his arms around her. Her weight splintered a table with a sharp crunch. With a final titanic effort, Saphira tore off the rest of the ceiling before jumping into the banquet hall with her wings folded. Saphira roared again, and the soldiers fled, some getting crushed on the way. Eragon and Murtagh pressed against the wall to avoid the falling debris. Confusion scattered the ranks as they tried to dodge the deadly barrage. With a resounding report, the center beam of the ceiling cracked and rained down heavy shingles. Three soldiers turned and ran, but the rest held their positions. She gripped the edge of the opening with her powerful talons and ripped off another large section of the ceiling. Then Saphira stuck her head through the hole in the ceiling and roared. The men formed a menacing half-circle around them. Eragon and Murtagh backed up against the wall, dragging the elf with them. Go in and get them!” Soldiers with nets and spears poured into the banquet room from both ends. He knew of only two heroes of legend who had survived slaying a Shade.Ī man shouted, “That’s it. Where the Shade had been, nothing was left but his cape and a pile of clothes. There was a shattering cry then the cloud vanished. Mist formed in the air around him, obscuring his figure. The Shade howled with agony and writhed, covering his face.

“You’ll have to do better than that if you want to stop me.” The next arrow caught him between the eyes. The Shade laughed and snapped the arrow off with two fingers.

Surprise spread across his face as one of Murtagh’s arrows sprouted from his shoulder. The Shade snarled in rage, swinging his sword viciously. “The dragons!” roared Eragon over the noise, and threw himself out of the Shade’s reach. There was a thunderous reverberation as a chunk of the ceiling was torn away to reveal the night sky. “And what might that be?” asked the Shade mockingly. He had figured out Murtagh’s plan.Saphira, now would be a good time. If the other Riders were this weak, they must have controlled the Empire only through sheer numbers.”Įragon looked up and shook his head. “A powerful piece you may be in the game that is being played, but I’m disappointed that this is your best.

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