Murtagh wakes in the sleeping barracks after hearing an owl. He carefully touches the minds of the guards to confirm that they are deeply asleep, then opens his chest with a whispered spell to keep it quiet. He takes his bedroll, boots, cloak, and arming sword, but leaves the shield and tabard because stealth matters more and he no longer feels comfortable wearing the guard uniform.

As Murtagh slips toward the rear stairway, he trips near an empty cot and nearly wakes one of the guards. After waiting until the man settles back into sleep, Murtagh dresses in the darkness, secures his belongings, and descends into the underground passages, unwilling to risk a werelight.

Below the fortress, Murtagh finds a tunnel running both toward the city and under the fortress. He reflects that the passages would have helped during Eragon’s earlier rescue and notes that they appear human-made, not elven. In the cityward branch, several iron-banded doors line the walls, and a guard stands watch beside the middle door.

Murtagh considers how to get past the guard without killing him or triggering his wards. Because he lacks confidence in his magical training and wants to avoid noise, Murtagh reluctantly uses the Name of Names to bypass the guard’s protections and casts a sleep spell. The guard collapses, and although Murtagh catches the man, the pike and helmet clatter loudly.

Murtagh hides in the shadows until he is sure no one comes to investigate, then checks that the guard is alive and only asleep. He finds the key on the guard’s belt, unlocks the guarded door, and pushes it open, continuing his attempt to reach Silna before the night ends.