The Name of Names

~38: Battle Ready~

Eragon stood alone in the middle of the training ground, watching as the black speck drew nearer. He felt surprisingly calm, and knew that if he acted wisely, there would be a chance at winning this.

At the moment, Ismira had the advantage of numbers, with Onvyr, his dragon, the Shade, Fenrir and herself. But, he assumed that Begnaz had succeeded in scrying Vanya and Murtagh, and that they were on their way across the sea.

He considered his options in attacking, in the event that the others didn't arrive soon enough. He would need to kill the others first, so as to even the scales. The only problem would be if Ismira had placed unbreakable wards around them.

I could use nonverbal spells, but it may be best to leave them until we are sure they will work. He decided, seeing how much distance the two specks had traversed.

His thoughts were silent as they kept gaining ground, until finally he could make out colors and people. Fenrir's size was clearly enhanced, as he looked as big as Saphira now. Onvyr's dragon looked larger too, although not quite as large.

Ismira sat atop Fenrir, her red hair streaming out behind her in the wing. She lightly jumped to the ground as they landed, and smiled when she saw Eragon.

"Hello, uncle." she said warmly.

"Ismira, this is madness. What do you hope to accomplish?" Eragon cut to the point, seeing both Roran and Katrina similarities within their eldest daughter.

"What Galbatorix started. There needs to be absolute control over magic, and in case you haven't noticed, Nasuada's ragtag group of spellcasters aren't doing a good enough job." any pretend niceties she had put on at the beginning were dropped. "You could help me with this!"

Eragon felt out with his mind towards the other companions she was with, and almost frowned when he couldn't sense the shade.

"Galbatorix's reign was evil. There was a reason we strove to end it." Eragon said, "He cared not for the lives of his people, and his mind was bent on other things. You should want to be nothing like him. As for Nasuada's group of spellcasters," he continued, "they will soon be lead by a Rider, and then they will be solidified. This is a relatively new era of rule, Ismira. Allow it time."

Ismira's green eyes met Eragon's brown ones. "I don't think that will work, Uncle."

Eragon's eyes flicked over to the shade by her right side. His eyes were pale blue, almost white, and his hair was pitch black, with streaks of midnight blue. Around his waist was a belt, and on the belt was a sheath with a pitch black handle. As Eragon watched him, he unsheathed the blade, holding it loosely in his hand.

Eragon's eyes moved now to his former student, on Ismira's left side, "Onvyr," he spoke directly to the Rider, "Can you not see the foolishness of this path?"

Onvyr shook his head, "Eragon, you are the one who is mistaken in this matter."

Determination settled over Eragon, and he drew Brisingr with a hiss. "I will not allow such a course of action."

"But you cannot stop it if you are dead." Ismira drew her own sword, and Eragon recognized it as the one he had given her. Ironic, eh? I might be killed by my own gift.

"We shall see who dies first." Eragon spoke easily, now realizing the dilemma he may face. The shade he could kill without any inhibitions. Onvyr would be harder to do so, as he was his former student. But Ismira, he felt he could not. He thought of Roran and Katrina, and how devastated they would be. And then he thought of Ismira's goals, and realized it must be done. Even if his cousin hated him afterward, it was necessary. A dark cloud settled on his heart, bringing sorrow and determination.

The two Riders and Shade advanced on him, and mental daggers attacked Eragon's mind. He went on the defense mentally, chanting a poem Oromis had taught him in order to keep all other thoughts from distracting him.

Not thinking, and using instinct entirely, Eragon fended off the three with Brisingr. With the Shade attacking brought back memories of Durza, and he determined that he would conquer.

The wards he had placed around himself saved him several times, when his back had been turned, fending off one opponent, while the other had taken a slash at his back. The wards had made the sword miss, and Eragon knew he would have to be more careful in the future. Even with the energy stored in Brisingr and Aren, Brom's ring, his energy wouldn't last forever.

Then, he felt Saphira's presence beginning to come closer, and a small smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. Victory was possible.

Saphira increased her rate, speeding towards the island and leaving Kaldar behind, even as he increased his own rate.

Vanya saw Eragon backed against a wall, with a shade and two riders fighting him at one time. She was impressed as she saw his excellent sword-play, fending off two blades with one, and ducking underneath the third.

Onvyr glanced up and saw the dragons approaching, telling Ismira.

She watched as Eragon took this opportunity. She heard him shout, "Brisingr," as his sword ignited and he thrust it through Onvyr.

Vanya gasped in horror, her hand covering her mouth as Onvyr crumpled to the ground, and Eragon's wards blocked a thrust from the Shade. 

It was necessary. I can feel he took no pleasure in this kill. Saphira told her, as Evarinya drew closer.

Soon enough, Saphira's feet touched the ground, and Murtagh and Vanya leapt off. Drops of water sprayed from behind her, and she started to draw Wyrda, distantly wondering where the water came from. Blocking Brisingr at the same time, Ismira barked, "Letta." and then a wordless word that reverberated through their minds and then faded away.

Vanya felt helpless as her movement was completely inhibited, and she was frozen. Saphira and Murtagh were similarly frozen, and Vanya realized Kaldar was not present. She shook the thought aside, and then realized that she couldn't feel anyone's mind around her. Another spell, she thought bitterly.

Vanya could do nothing as she was forced to watch Eragon fend off both Ismira and the Shade. He was holding up well considering the circumstances, but she knew he couldn't hold off forever. The odds were tilted steeply against him.

The answer came to her in a burst of remembrance. Concentrating completely on her wish to move through the spell that blocked her from the other's minds, she reached for the magic. After several attempts, it worked, and she felt the minds around her. Not hesitating, she went to Murtagh and Saphira's, joining with theirs.

Vanya? Murtagh asked, to be sure.

Yes. she confirmed, still watching Eragon battle Ismira and the Shade. Glancing around, she noticed Onvyr's dragon, lying ominously still. Fenrir sat, still but ready.

And then a loud roar pierced the silence, and Kaldar swooped down towards the shade.

The shade's face upturned, and his mouth started forming words in the ancient language to stop him just as the dragon's talons sunk into his body.

The shade stiffened, and then his skin started turning white, and then something like dissolving happened to it. Blinding light came out of him as he abruptly disappeared.

"Kaldar!" Vanya screamed both mentally and physically as Ismira thundered a word in the ancient language, freezing him. Her face was tensed, and a small vein thumped on her neck.