Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Forty-Six: Brilliant

"Should you accept our offer, our liege lords do guarantee the safety of Lord Tábor and his family, as well as whoever else, may now be in the service of the Empire, although none will be allowed to maintain their position if they have given oaths that cannot be broken. And if your oaths will not let you aid us, then at least do not hinder us. Raise your gates and lay down your swords, and we promise you will come to no harm. But try to bar us, and we shall sweep you aside like so much chaff, for none can withstand the might of our army, nor that of our Rider's and their Dragon's!"

At the sound of being mentioned, Saphira and Alethea raised their heads and loosed a terrifying roar that shook the ground. Above the gate, I saw a tall, cloaked figure climb onto the battlements and stand between two merlons, staring over the heralds at Saphira and Alethea.

Four other black-robed people joined the man, and those Eragon and I knew for priests of Helgrind by their truncated forms: one was missing a forearm, two were missing a leg each, and the last of their company was missing an arm and both legs, and was carried by his or her companions on a small padded litter.

"That is disgusting." The cloaked man threw back his head and uttered a peal of laughter that crashed and boomed with thunderous force. Below him, the heralds struggled to control their mounts as the horses reared and tried to bolt. My hand twitched, wanting to draw Islingr but I forced myself to remain still.

"None can withstand your might?" The man said, his voice echoing off the buildings. "You have an overly high opinion of yourselves, I think."

And with a gigantic bellow, the glittering red mass of Thorn leaped from the streets below onto the roof of a house, piercing the wooden shingles with his talons. Thorn spread his enormous, claw-tipped wings, and raked the sky with a sheet of rippling flame. I cursed in the ancient language, this wasn't going to be easy.

"You have got to be kidding me," I growled right before Alethea snarled back.

"Dash yourselves against the walls all you want; you will never take Dras-Leona, not so long as Thorn and I are here to defend it. Send your finest warriors and magicians to fight us, and they will die, each and every one. That I promise. There isn't a man among you who can best us. "

"Don't let Mal hear you say that. She'll find that offensive." Eragon replied.

"Don't bring her into this Eragon." Eragon shrugged with a snort.

"She is already in this, more than you think. I do hope you realize that the Varden now has two dragon riders, we can get you out of your oaths."

"I highly doubt that."

"The new rider, she won't take no as an answer," Eragon replied before he felt Murtagh's attention focus on Alethea and Mal. While Mal wore a hood and covered her face with a tight scarf, he was still worried that Murtagh might discover Mal's identity.

As if sensing that eyes were now on her, Alethea took a menacing step forward, growling and revealing her rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"They are going to get themselves captured, brother," Murtagh said, returning his attention to Eragon. "The King is looking for them."

"I think you'll find those two far more dangerous than you think."

I paced in my tent, feeling antsy and unhelpful.

"That's it, I'm going for a ride," I grumbled before swishing out of my tent and towards the stable area. I walked up to the permanent managers. "Is there a horse I can use?"