After Eragon announced his intentions of taking command of the Varden's spellcasters for the coming battle, he felt several magicians probe his consciousness in an attempt to divine his true intentions. Instead of guarding himself—which would blind him from incoming attacks—Eragon retaliated by jabbing at the minds of the would-be-invaders hard enough that they retreated behind their own mental barriers. As he did, Eragon had the satisfaction of seeing two men and a women flinch and avert their gaze.