Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Forty-Three: Radiant

"Those doors haven't met me." I hissed with narrow eyes

"Where are the spellcasters now?" Eragon asked.

"They seem to have taken fright at your appearance, Shur'tugal. Especially with the second dragon, no one was expecting the second dragon to be this large."

"As well they should," Saphira growled. "My sister is fierce!"

"Well then, let us go open the gates for the Varden, shall we?" I said as I drew Islingr.

"Yes, and without delay," Arya said. She started forward, then cast a sideways glance at us. "You have new swords."

"Rhunön helped us to forge them."

"And what is the name of your weapon, Shadeslayer?" Blödhgarm asked. Before Eragon could answer a storm of men charged at us. I drew my dagger and cracked my neck.

"They want to dance? I'll dance." I said right before leaping into the ranks of men and slashing at their armor.

"You and Blödhgarm sneak around the men and slip into the towers. We'll keep them occupied in the meantime." Eragon yelled at Arya. Arya nodded, then she and Blödhgarm disappeared into the pools of inky shadows that surrounded the houses behind us.

Eragon the turned around and to my surprise, addressed the men.

"My name is Eragon Shadeslayer! Perhaps you have heard of me, and perhaps not. In either case, know this: I am a Dragon Rider, and I have sworn to help the Varden remove Galbatorix from his throne. Tell me, have any of you sworn fealty in the ancient language to Galbatorix or the Empire? . . . Well, have you?"

"We would not swear fealty to the king even if he held a sword to our necks! Our loyalty belongs to Lady Lorana. She and her family have ruled us for four generations, and they've done a fine job of it too!" The other soldiers muttered in agreement.

"Then join us!" Eragon cried. "Lay down your weapons, and I promise no harm shall come to you or your families. You cannot hope to hold Feinster against the combined might of the Varden, Surda, the dwarves, and the elves."

"So you say," shouted one of the soldiers. "But what if Murtagh and that red dragon of his should come here again?" I stepped forward.

"You leave that to me," I said in a firm voice before raising my voice to shout. "The Varden doesn't have one dragon rider anymore. THEY HAVE TWO!!!!!"

Some of the men charged forward regardless of Eragon's and I's words while to my happiness, a bunch did what Eragon had asked. Eragon and quickly took down the men stupid enough to charge forward.

Arya and Blödhgarm emerged from the guard towers just as the gates groaned and swung outward, revealing the blunt and splintered end of the Varden's massive battering ram. Above, the archers on the parapet cried out in dismay and retreated like rats toward more defensible positions.

Dozens of hands appeared around the edges of the gates and pulled them farther apart, and Eragon saw a mass of grim-faced Varden, men and dwarves alike, crowded in the archway beyond.

"Shadeslayer!"

"These are my prisoners!" Eragon said, pointing at the soldiers kneeling by the side of

the street. "Bind them and see that they are treated well. I gave my word that no harm would come to them." Six warriors hurried to follow his order.