What? I looked in the direction he was looking and almost fell off Blackjack. Blackjack, stay circling the camp, I'm going to get closer to make sure it's what I think it is. If it is, they've already seen us.

They'll notice you're gone, Blackjack protested.

"Not if I do this," I muttered under my breath a modification of something similar to the Disillusionment charm from my time among the wizards. I was blending in with the sky and able to sneak off Blackjack. Spreading my wings wide, stopping my fall, I turned to Blackjack and uttered another spell. Now a likeness of me was on his back, acting blissfully unaware of everything.

Be careful, Boss, Blackjack warned as I flew off..

Right back at you, I said.

Now, this little red glint in the distance that was quickly turning into a blob had better not be who I think it is. I could see a large cloud of dust right next to it in the north. The cloud was much closer than the red blob but the red blob was the thing that was worrying me.

As I got closer, I cleared some tall trees and saw a small army. Much smaller than the first battle we fought in. Only about three hundred at the most. I wasn't worried about that, the Varden can take care of that no problem.

It was the massive red dragon and Rider that had me concerned.

Blackjack, I said.

Yeah, Boss?

It's Thorn, go find Eragon and Saphira, I said. Tell them about Murtagh and Thorn and the small force of three hundred with them. I'm going to get closer to see if they have any spells.

Blackjack sighed, knowing he won't be able to change my mind. Stay safe Boss.

Sure thing, Blackjack, I said carelessly. Something had caught my eye down in the group of soldiers and I was no longer listening.

🐉 🐉

Blackjack flew as fast as he could back to the Varden only stopping when he saw Thalia and Vindex. Thalia!

His mental shout startled the dark haired girl so much, she almost fell off the pole she was hanging flowers on. "What, Blackjack? Hades, don't do that!" She said.

Thorn and Murtagh are on their way over with three hundred soldiers, Blackjack said hurriedly.

"What?" Thalia really did fall off now. Vindex stretched his wings and caught her just in time.

Boss stayed behind to check it out more, Blackjack continued.

"Alright," Thalia got up, brushing off her skirts. "Blackjack, you get Saphira-no, Vindex, you get Saphira." She turned to Blackjack, craning her neck to see his face. "He can't talk to Eragon so I need you to do that. I will get Nasuada."

Blackjack started towards the kitchen tent to look for Eragon on foot before realizing he was too big. However, he knocked over several barrels of wine before he did as well as two or three tents, tables and people.

Sorry!

Fifteen minutes later, all leaders of the Varden were on the ramparts, watching for the small army heading their way. The dwarves were there and cursing the dragon and Rider for killing their former king. Arya and the elves were there, probably seeing much more than a dust cloud. Nasuada, King Orrin, Eragon and Thalia were discussing battle tactics on how to fight and defeat the army. Blackjack and Saphria were grounded, waiting for the call to action.

"Nasuada, Your Majesty," Arya started, glancing at the human king "you have to stop the soldiers before they reach the camp. You cannot allow them to attack our defenses. If they do, they will sweep these ramparts like a storm-driven wave and wreak untold havoc in our midst, among the tents, where we cannot maneuver effectively."

"Untold havoc?" King Orrin scoffed. "Have you so little confidence in our prowess, Ambassador? Humans and dwarves may not be as gifted as elves but we shall have no difficulty in disposing of these miserable wretches, I can assure you."

"You prowess is with out compare, Your Majesty. I do not doubt it. But listen: this is a trap set for Eragon and Saphira. They-" she flung her arm toward the rising cloud "-have come to capture Eragon and Saphira, possibly Percy and Blackjack too."

"Galbatorix would not have sent so few men unless he was confident they could keep the Varden occupied long enough for Murtagh to overwhelm Eragon," Thalia added, frowning.

"Galbatorix must have placed spells on those men, spells to aid them in their mission. What those enchantments might be, I do not know, but of this I am certain: the soldiers are more than they appear and we must prevent them from entering this camp."

"You don't want to let Thorn fly over the camp; he could set fire to half of it with a single pass," Eragon said, shaking off his shock.

Blackjack.

Boss! The black dragon shifted restlessly. Where are you? I thought you'd be back by now.

I seem to have gotten myself in a bit of a pickle, Percy answered. If they ask, my name is Ariston.

"What is it, Blackjack?" Thalia asked, coming close.

Call Boss Ariston, he answered. They caught him.

"Dog gammit, Percy," Thalia cursed. "Alright, from here on out, call my idiot of a cousin, Ariston."

He's not technically your cousin, Thalia, Blackjack said.

"Shut up," Thalia rolled her eyes. "It's less complicated this way."

"They are going to expect us to go after him and save him," Nasuada commented.

"Don't bother," Thalia said. "Blackjack and Vindex can worry about him. Eragon and Saphira, you worry about Murtagh and Thorn."

"Is it wise to willingly send Eragon and Saphira into this trap?" Nasuada raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," insisted Arya, "for we have an advantage they could not suspect." She pointed at one of the elves that looked like he had tried turning himself into a wolf. "This time Eragon shall not face Murtagh alone. He will have the combined strength of thirteen elves supporting him. Murtagh will not be expecting that. Stop soldiers before they reach us and you will have frustrated part of Galbatorix's design. Send Saphira and Eragon up with the mightiest spell casters of my race bolstering their efforts and you will disrupt the remainder of Galbatorix's scheme."

"You have convinced me," Nasuada said. "However..."

Blackjack stopped listening. Boss, where are you? Vindex and I are coming.

Back of the army, Percy answered. Got caught getting too close as I tried looking at the spells they put on them. They do know it's a trap for Eragon and Saphira, right?

Of course, but what about us?

Saphira's a girl, Percy said. Galbatorix wants to be able to have more Riders under his command.

Wasn't he the one who destroyed all the eggs? Blackjack asked.

The guy's insane, Percy said by way of explanation. Murtagh's also not alone. He has the Hearts of dragons with him.

Blackjack froze. No.

They too are insane, Percy said solemnly.

The Heart of a dragon was a highly guarded secret. Only the dragons know about it and their Riders. Eragon had not gotten that far in his training as of yet but Percy and Blackjack had. The Heart of a dragon was a way for the dragons to live on after their bodies died away but only if they removed prior to dying. Once their bodies died, their mind and all their magical power would transfer to the jewel that had once laid besides their hearts and they would have to rely on other people to move around.

The dragons do not give their Hearts up lightly for their power after they have died is great and if it happened to get into the wrong hands, it is one way for them to die.

The poor guys, Blackjack said quietly.

🐉 🐉

I said nothing more to him after that. But that was because Murtagh and Thorn had both come up to me. Murtagh looked worse off than last time and Thorn had grown at least four feet. "What's up with your men?" I jerked my head in the direction of the giggling men. I was tied up to a tree at the moment and did not have the use of my arms. "They're giving me a headache."

Murtagh did not say anything, just crouched in front of me. They had tied me up sitting down, my arms stretched behind me and my legs tied together with rope and staked to the ground. An over abundance of rope in my opinion. It wasn't like I had fought with everything I could show. They did not see my wings, did not see my real face.

I did not do too much to change my face, just my eyes, nose and facial bone structure. Now, my eyes were a clear blue, my nose is crooked and my face more circular. I did not want anyone to know my real face for some reason. Nor my real name.

But I knew the reason for my name. According to my father, my mother named me. If Galbatorix managed to break her or into her mind, he would know who I am.

Then, the dark haired traitor reached up and pulled wax out of his ears.

"Of course," my chin sunk into my chest.

"What is your name?" Murtagh asked.

I sighed, rolling my eyes back into my head. "As I told your incredibly giggly men, my name is Ariston," I said slowly.

"Is that your real name?" He asked, tilting his head.

I gave him a look, as if I was debating on his mental capacity. "Yes, what else would I be named?"

"Perseus?"

So I was right. I almost growled. They broke into my mom's mind.

"What kind of name is that?" I asked, frowning.

Murtagh stood up. "The kind he said it is something called Greek," he replied.

"That sounds stupid," I stated, settling down in my spot on the dirt.

Murtagh laughed and went to say something else when a roar came from the not so distant camp of the Varden. Instead of talking to me, he looked at his red dragon, probably speaking with him mentally. "That does not sound like Saphira," he muttered, eyeing me.

"Yes, that would be Blackjack," I said pleasantly. "You saw him on the Burning Plains, I believe."

"Are you his Rider?" Murtagh asked.

"I am," I answered. Tilting my head, I continued, "don't bother trying to capture him."

Murtagh raised a brow. "And why not?"

"Because he's already here," I answered just as we were covered in shadow. Then a roar sounded, shaking the earth and causing the enemy Rider to cover his ears.

"Blackjack!" I shouted. "What took you so long?" I worked my arms enought to snap the ropes with my inhuman strength and ripped my legs free of the ropes.

Vindex flies slowly.

Laughing, I turned to Murtagh, I said, "Nice meeting you officially, Murtagh, son of Morzan, but I'll be going now."

"Actually," Murtagh started, smirking. "I think you both will be staying."

As if on cue, a swarm of giggling soldiers came out of no where. They surrounded me, giggling insanely, and reaching for me like zombies. They all got so close too fast that I could hardly see beyond the zombies in front of me. They were all grabbing and yanking on my arms, it was making me claustrophobic. I did the only thing that came to mind.

Several soldiers flew back as gold and sea-green feathers popped out from my back. Then I leapt, ending up several feet in the air next to Vindex.

Murtagh and Thorn already left, fighting Eragon and Saphira. We were safe from them for now. Then I looked back down only to see Blackjack covered with laughing zombies and only a few getting killed off by his fire.

"Blackjack!" I yelled, my heart raced. They had chains wrapping around his whole body. "No!"

His flames were dying off now, coming out in spurts. Boss, look out!

I turned to see Thorn falling right on top of me. Not having enought time to move, I said a few quick words, creating a shield. It didn't form in time and I fell. Hard.

The fall drained my magic reserve. If I did anymore, I would pass out. The second I was available, I spread my wings and was in the air again, barely a second after Murtagh and Thorn. They went after Eragon and Saphira while I tried to see what I could do for Blackjack.

Blackjack! I called again.

It's not easy killing these guys, Boss, my friend said.

I know, just keep firing fire, I said as I desperately looked around for something to help.

That was redundant, Blackjack commented. He sounded tired, exhausted from fighting the swarm. Boss?

Yeah, buddy? I said, trying to see through the men who took on ant like qualities.

I can't move.

My heart stopped because at that exact moment, Murtagh and Thorn cam back and flew by. They somehow saw the massive chains through the zombies and lifted my dragon into the air. They they flew off, the soldiers following.

"NO!" I yelled out loud and mentally. "Blackjack!"

I feel flattered, Boss, Blackjack was getting faint. You keep saying my name.

Blackjack, this is not funny, I said desperately flying after them but Murtagh must have put a spell on the winds because I was fighting them. He's taking you away!

I'll tell your mom you said hi, Blackjack said before cutting off our connection.

"Blackjack! Come on, buddy, no!" I yelled, my voice cracking. My wings beat against the magic wind tiredly. They were so strong against me, they almost tore my wings off.

Eventually, they were tiny specks in the sky and I had to give up my fight to get to my black and white dragon.

I was in shock when they found me later, staring after the now gone specks of the two dragons and one Rider.

"Ariston?" Arya asked in the Ancient Language behind me. "Ariston, answer me."

"They took him," I did not bother with the Ancient Language. I was too shocked. "He's gone. I can't feel him."