Cultists drag Murtagh from his cell to the temple courtyard for Nal Gorgoth’s festival. The valley is choked with black smoke from the ground vents, and the courtyard has been transformed with Bachel’s throne, a feast table, an altar, banners, and gathered villagers in scale-like ceremonial clothing and masks. Murtagh sees Thorn chained, muzzled, and still weakened by vorgethan, while Bachel presides with Grieve beside her and Lyreth among the guests.

Bachel begins the recitation of dreams. One by one, the villagers describe visions of bloodshed, vengeance, and a future world rebuilt under Azlagûr the Devourer. Lyreth, excited by the dreams, mocks Murtagh as a slave again and hints that the Draumar may become the foundation of a future power. Murtagh keeps trying to reach the energy hidden in the yellow diamond, but the lingering drugged barrier in his mind blocks him.

After hours of rites and feasting, Bachel orders the villagers’ offerings brought forward. The Draumar present warped wooden carvings inspired by their dreams, and Bachel burns them as an offering to Azlagûr. She then has the captured prisoners brought in as “initiates,” including Uvek, and blows a drugged vapor into their faces. Most prisoners step forward and swear loyalty to Bachel and Azlagûr, seeming to receive some uncanny force through the oath, while Uvek and a few others refuse.

Bachel declares the remaining prisoners sacrifices and says Uvek’s time is over now that she has Murtagh to command. She leads Murtagh to the altar and kills the first prisoner with Saerlith’s black-bladed dagger, reading the man’s entrails as a sign that Azlagûr has blessed the Draumar. She proclaims a future in which Murtagh and Thorn serve at the head of the cult’s march and even overthrow Eragon.

Bachel then gives Murtagh the dagger and orders him to sacrifice the next prisoner, a terrified woman. For a moment, the idea of belonging to the Draumar and gaining their protection tempts Murtagh, but he rejects Bachel as he once rejected Galbatorix. Realizing he cannot overcome the mental barrier alone, Murtagh reaches through the haze to Thorn and Uvek, and their combined strength allows him to unlock the diamond’s stored energy.

Murtagh channels that energy into the blackstone charm and speaks Uvek’s Urgal word, “Shûkva,” triggering healing magic that clears his mind. He stops the dagger just before it strikes the woman and, knowing his physical wards are exhausted and the odds are terrible, chooses to fight. Before Bachel can react, Murtagh shouts “Vindr!” and thrusts the dagger toward Bachel’s heart.