Murtagh enters Bachel’s cavern alone because Thorn cannot face the confined underground space. Moving quietly to avoid waking bats or alerting the Draumar, Murtagh descends ancient cut-stone stairs into a hot, sulfurous depth that seems older than settled Alagaësia. Murtagh keeps brief mental contact with Thorn, who guards the entrance and reports that the village still sleeps.

At the bottom, Murtagh finds a strange cavern lit by green slime, filled with mushrooms, brimstone vapors, and a flagstone path. Murtagh discovers a glowing stone like the one taken from Sarros in Ceunon, then follows the central of three tunnels because it is decorated with carved stone, opals, and unfamiliar runes. The tunnel leads to a marble chamber with dragon-headed censers, magical flames, and a lidded well whose crystal pane reveals vaporous depths below.

Murtagh identifies the chamber’s central structure as the likely sacred well Grieve mentioned and wonders whether it is the source of Bachel’s power and the bad dreams afflicting Nal Gorgoth. When Murtagh probes the well with his mind, oppressive sleep and disturbing visions press on him, and he senses tunnels and chambers descending toward a pulsing glow. Bachel and Grieve then arrive, having apparently reached the chamber through another route, and Bachel carries Niernen, the Dauthdaert once used to kill Shruikan.

Bachel and Grieve circle Murtagh around the Well of Dreams and demand that Murtagh kneel and swear fealty. Murtagh refuses, saying he and Thorn will never again kneel from fear or desperation. To keep Bachel talking, Murtagh asks about Saerlith, Galbatorix, Morzan, and the Forsworn, and Bachel claims the Draumar shaped Galbatorix after Jarnunvösk’s death, used him and the Forsworn as instruments to destroy the Riders, sheltered Durza, Galbatorix, and Morzan, and opposed the old Riders because the Draumar considered them corrupt obstacles to a new era.

Murtagh realizes that if Bachel’s claims are true, the Draumar were dangerous enough to influence or resist even Galbatorix. Murtagh still believes Galbatorix would never truly serve anyone and concludes that Bachel herself may have posed a real threat to the king. When Murtagh again refuses submission, Bachel opens the well’s crystal pane, releasing a green sulfurous vapor that clouds the chamber and attacks Murtagh with sleep and visions.

Bachel and Grieve assault Murtagh physically and mentally while the vapor fills Murtagh’s lungs. Thorn lends strength from afar, but Murtagh trips, inhales the fumes, and loses the ability to focus on spellwork or defense. As Murtagh sees the black sun and rising dragon again, Bachel declares that she serves the power of dream and commands Murtagh to sleep; despite Murtagh’s resistance, Murtagh falls unconscious.