As Murtagh and Thorn return through Nal Gorgoth, a blind old man recognizes Murtagh as a “crownless prince” and babbles about red, black, and white dragons, a white sun, black sun, and dead sun. Murtagh questions the man about the black sun, but the man only claims to have dreamed of it and gives Thorn another cryptic warning about choosing between service and endless sleep.

Back at the temple, Murtagh rests but cannot sleep. He cautiously searches with his mind for hidden forces beneath or near the village and finds only a few unexpected minds: one beneath the temple and several atop its highest tower. The lack of an army should reassure him, but Bachel’s secrecy keeps him tense.

In the courtyard, the Draumar prepare another feast while Bachel leads white-robed acolytes in chanting. Alín explains that Bachel is praying for warm winter weather and calling dreams to free the minds of the thralls brought by her warriors, then avoids answering whom Bachel prays to. Murtagh realizes something is wrong with the way the Draumar use dreams to convert prisoners.

During the feast, Murtagh waits for the right moment to challenge Bachel. After Bachel deflects his questions, Murtagh openly demands answers about the Draumar’s goals, Bachel’s visions, the being she serves, and the Dreamer of Dreams. He throws down Saerlith’s clasp as evidence of his investigation and asks whether Bachel served the Forsworn or Galbatorix.

Bachel refuses to submit to questioning, declares that she serves a power greater than Murtagh can imagine, and calls on the Dreamer of Dreams. Instead of striking directly, Bachel’s cry shakes the entire valley, causing avalanches, terrifying animals, and forcing the Draumar to prostrate themselves. She then crushes Saerlith’s clasp with a flash of golden power, proving herself far stronger than Murtagh and Thorn expected.

Murtagh decides that fighting Bachel immediately would be reckless, so he sits and pretends to resume the feast. Privately, Murtagh and Thorn agree they should leave Nal Gorgoth but first must avoid sleep, because Bachel seems to be delaying them until dreams can break or convert them. Murtagh plans to investigate the cave as a possible source of Bachel’s power, then escape and seek help from Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Fírnen.