Percy's Point of view

Eragon said, "You have become your father."

A strange gleam leaped into Murtagh's eyes. "No, not my father. I'm stronger than Morzan ever was. Galbatorix taught me things about magic you've never even dreamed of... Spells so powerful, the elves dare not utter them, cowards that they are. Words in the ancient language that were lost until Galbatorix discovered them. Ways to manipulate energy... Secrets, terrible secrets, that can destroy your enemies and fulfill all your desires."

Eragon retorted, "Things that should remain secrets."

"If you knew, you would not say that. Brom was a dabbler, nothing more. And the elves, bah! All they can do is hide in their forest and wait to be conquered." Murtagh ran his eyes over Eragon. "You look like an elf now. Did Islanzadí do that to you?" When Eragon remained silent, Murtagh smiled and shrugged. "No matter. I'll learn the truth soon enough." He stopped, frowned, then looked to the east.

Eragon and I followed his gaze and I saw two identical bald men standing at the front of the Empire, casting balls of energy into the midst of the Varden and the dwarves. The curtains of smoke made it difficult to tell, but I was sure the hairless magicians were grinning and laughing as they slaughtered the men before them. I scowled at the sight but that wasn't all I noticed since I saw Roran crawling toward them from the side.

I was instantly worried as I saw him. I think Eragon and I had the same thought at the same time because we were both about to cast spells to try and protect Roran despite how tired we already were.

Just as we were about to do it Murtagh said, "Wait. I want to see what he'll do."

I looked at him incredulously while Eragon asked, "Why?"

A grim smile crossed Murtagh's face. "The Twins enjoyed tormenting me when I was their captive."

Eragon and I looked at him suspiciously and Eragon asked, "You won't hurt him? You won't warn the Twins?"

I was just about to cast a spell anyway when Murtagh said,

"Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal." Upon my word as a Rider.

Reluctantly I watched as Roran hid behind a mound of bodies. Eragon and I tensed as the Twins looked toward the pile. For a moment, it seemed they had spotted him, then they turned away and Roran jumped up. He swung his hammer and bashed one of the Twins in the head, cracking open his skull. The remaining Twin fell to the ground, convulsing, and emitted a wordless scream until he too met his end under Roran's hammer. Then Roran planted his foot upon the corpses of his foes, lifted his hammer over his head, and bellowed his victory.

"What now?" demanded Eragon, turning away from the battlefield. "Are you here to kill me?"

Murtagh replied, "Of course not. Galbatorix wants you alive."

"What for?"

Murtagh's lips quirked. "You don't know? Ha! There's a fine jest. It's not because of you; it's because of her." He jabbed a finger at Saphira. "The dragon inside Galbatorix's last egg, the last dragon egg in the world, is male. Saphira is the only female dragon in existence. If she breeds, she will be the mother of her entire race. Do you see now? Galbatorix doesn't want to eradicate the dragons. He wants to use Saphira to rebuild the Riders. He can't kill you, either of you, if his vision is to become reality... And what a vision it is, Eragon. You should hear him describe it, then you might not think so badly of him. Is it evil that he wants to unite Alagaësia under a single banner, eliminate the need for war, and restore the Riders?"

"He's the one who destroyed the Riders in the first place!" Eragon shouted as I was thinking much the same thing.

"And for good reason," asserted Murtagh. "They were old, fat, and corrupt. The elves controlled them and used them to subjugate humans. They had to be removed so that we could start anew."

Eragon and I both scowled, even if the old riders weren't doing the best job, that didn't justify killing all the dragons or their riders. It also didn't justify the deaths that this battle was causing. Eragon gestured at the battle and said, "How can you justify causing so much suffering on the basis of a madman's ravings? Galbatorix has done nothing but burn and slaughter and amass power for himself. He lies. He murders. He manipulates. You know this! It's why you refused to work for him in the first place."

Eragon paused, then adopted a gentler tone: "I can understand that you were compelled to act against your will and that you aren't responsible for killing Hrothgar. You can try to escape, though...  I'm sure that Arya and I could devise a way to neutralize the bonds Galbatorix has laid upon you... Join me, Murtagh. You could do so much for the Varden. With us, you would be praised and admired, instead of cursed, feared, and hated."

Murtagh said in a low voice, "You cannot help me, Eragon. No one but Galbatorix can release us from our oaths, and he will never do that... He knows our true names, Eragon... We are his slaves forever."

I had to admit I felt some sympathy for Murtagh despite the fact that he seemed to agree with at least some of the king's crazy ideas. I was a bit surprised when Eragon said, "Then let us kill the two of you."

"Kill us! Why should we allow that?"

"It would free you from Galbatorix's control. And it would save the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Isn't that a noble enough cause to sacrifice yourself for?"

Murtagh shook his head. "Maybe for you, but life is still too sweet for me to part with it so easily. No stranger's life is more important than Thorn's or my own."

That made it clear to me that unlike Luke, Murtagh most likely wasn't going to change. It seemed Eragon came to a similar conclusion because just as I was about to attack Murtagh again Eragon did it first. He leaped forward, both feet leaving the ground as he lunged toward Murtagh, intending to stab him through the heart.

"Letta!" barked Murtagh.

Eragon dropped back to the ground as he was stopped by the spell. To his right, Saphira discharged a jet of rippling fire and sprang at Murtagh like a cat pouncing on a mouse.

"Rïsa!" commanded Murtagh, extending a clawlike hand as if to catch her.

Saphira yelped with surprise as Murtagh's incantation stopped her in midair and held her in place, floating several feet above the plateau. I knew trying to attack Murtagh could just end with me, and most likely Ágrios, in the same situation as Eragon and Saphira, but I couldn't just stand there and let him get away either. I tried to tell myself that he couldn't possibly have the strength to do that, but I didn't really believe it based on what I'd seen him do already. Sure enough, I just ended up being held by the same spell he was using on Eragon. How in the name of Hades did he even have the strength to hold us all in place like that? Ágrios jumped at Murtagh for trapping me which meant he just ended up like Saphira.

I'd heard Eragon cast a spell earlier to try and free himself and Saphira, but it seemed he didn't have the strength to beat Murtagh.

"You cannot hope to compete with me," said Murtagh. "No one can, except for Galbatorix." Walking up to Eragon, he pointed his sword at Eragon's neck, pricking his skin. Eragon resisted the impulse to flinch. "It would be so easy to take you back to Urû'baen."

Eragon gazed deep into his eyes. "Don't. Let me go."

"You just tried to kill me."

"And you would have done the same in my position." When Murtagh remained silent and expressionless, Eragon said, "We were friends once. We fought together. Galbatorix can't have twisted you so much that you've forgotten.... If you do this, Murtagh, you'll be lost forever."

A long minute passed where the only sound came from the clashing armies.

Finally, Murtagh said, "I was ordered to try and capture you and Saphira." He paused. "I have tried.... Make sure we don't cross paths again. Galbatorix will have me swear additional oaths in the ancient language that will prevent me from showing you such mercy when next we meet." He lowered his sword.

"You're doing the right thing," said Eragon.

"Perhaps. But before I let you go..." Reaching out, Murtagh pried Eragon's sword from Eragon's fist and unbuckled its sheath from Eragon's belt "If I have become my father, then I will have my father's blade. Thorn is my dragon, and a thorn he shall be to all our enemies. It is only right, then, that I should also wield the sword Misery. Misery and Thorn, a fit match. Besides, Zar'roc should have gone to Morzan's eldest son, not his youngest. It is mine by right of birth."

A cruel smile appeared on Murtagh's face. "I never told you my mother's name, did I? And you never told me yours. I'll say it now: Selena. Selena was my mother and your mother. Morzan was our father. The Twins figured out the connection while they were digging around in your head. Galbatorix was quite interested to learn that particular piece of information."

"You're lying!" cried Eragon.

Murtagh merely shook his head and repeated his words in the ancient language, then put his lips to Eragon's ear and whispered something to him.

"You're wrong," growled Eragon, struggling against the spell. "We're nothing alike. I don't have a scar on my back anymore."

Murtagh recoiled as if he had been stung, his face going hard and cold. He lifted Zar'roc and held it upright before his chest. "So be it. I take my inheritance from you, brother. Farewell."

I thought he was going to leave but before he did, he eyed Ágrios for a moment, "Another male," he stated before looking at me. "Where did you find him? There weren't supposed to be any other dragons left,"

I scoffed, "You think I'm going to tell you, you would just fly right back to the king and tell him,"

Murtagh didn't bother to reply, instead, he retrieved his helm from the ground and pulled himself onto Thorn. Only after Thorn vanished below the horizon did the magic release us all.

Saphira, and Ágrios's talons clicked on the stone as they landed. Saphira went over to Eragon while I walked over to Ágrios. That fight certainly hadn't ended the way we'd hoped but I was sure we would have to face Murtagh again.