Murtagh tried to avoid Ajihad's eyes, and was glad he was paying attention to only Saphira and Eragon. Less likely for him to be noticed. He happened to glance upon a girl who was looking back at him intently. Her eyes narrowed as she realized with certainty who he was. He put a finger subtly to his lips to tell her to stay quiet.

"Makenna!" commanded Ajihad suddenly and the girl's head snapped up. She stepped forward and bowed. "Please take…" then he paused and his eyes strayed on Murtagh. Murtagh realized he knew but still stubbornly tried to avoid his eyes.

"Seize him!" he commanded.

"He's with me. He saved my life." said Eragon, stepping forward and shielding Murtagh.

"He is the son of Morzan, the traitor." said Ajihad.

"Is it true?" Murtagh had never told Eragon.

"A son doesn't choose his father. This was the only thing he ever gave me." He lifted his shirt to reveal a long scar stretching from shoulder to hip, where a blade pierced him, "I hated that man until the day he died." Said Murtagh venomously.

"Lock him up. If he tries to escape, kill him. Go with him, Makenna…" added Ajihad in a whisper.

Makenna nodded and hurried after the guards. They went through a maze of tunnels until coming to a long passage lit only by brackets hanging at intervals along the wall.

"Leave us." said Makenna quietly to the guards. They bowed and exited.

"You have authority over them?" asked Murtagh rubbing his wrists were they had held him in a grip of iron.

"Some." she said, smiling shyly. She looked into his eyes for a brief moment and he looked back into hers, and saw such sadness, such pain, he could hardly stand to see such a sight on so beautiful a person. He felt as if he could do anything to take the pain away, or at least avenge it, he would gladly, even if it meant going to the very gates of Uru'baen.

"What is your name?" he asked, as they walked a few more paces.

"Makenna" she said quietly, almost in a whisper.

"I'm - -"

"Murtagh, I know." she said stopping and turning towards him.

"I sometimes wish people didn't know…" he grumbled to himself. He had always hated his father, and being know as only 'the Son of Morzan' made it exceedingly difficult to get people to see him as something more then the son of a killer.

"Well, between us. I don't blame you for what…what he did." she said, smiling a little. He nodded.

"You're about the only one…" he said scoffing. He yelled and kicked the wall in frustration. "You know…it's funny…" he said shaking his head and laughing a little, "With only you here to stop me…I could easily escape right now." He suddenly looked at her as if he was going to knock her down and run, but he didn't, just breathed heavily and his arms shaking a little.

"You could. But you won't." she said. Undaunted by his threats.

"Well how do you know?" he said, taking a step towards her, but she gave him no ground.

"Because I trust you."