The Shadows Lengthen Summary

Eragon wakes with a start as a dwarf is standing over him asking him to come with him quickly since Ajihad is summoning him. Eragon hurries with the dwarf, who prods him forward rapidly, and he is led to a room where Orik greets him with a hushed and urgent tone. Eragon enters, and Ajihad immediately tells all assembled that they are in grave danger. An injured dwarf has escaped the clutches of the Urgals and has brought dire warnings.

An army of Urgals are a day's march away from Tronjheim and they are coming through the tunnels to arrive underneath the mountain. Through the emotional reaction of the few in the room, Eragon asks how they could not have known about the invasion sooner, and Orik responds that there are many tunnels that have gone unused and for...