Nasuada sighed, as she looked down to the servant woman who entered with her tea. She sighed, noting the Nighthawk guard behind her. No doubt he had watched her the entire time to ensure the servant wouldn't poison it. She took the cup, and the guard nodded to her. She took the cup and sipped it, smiling when it soothed her. A young man ran in, smiling. He bowed. "Your highness, the statue is on schedule."

Nasuada smiled at the news. "Good, then we can have the ceremony as planned." She said.

It had been months since Eragon left and Arya sent word that she had returned to Ellesmera she requested the best craftsmen of all races to begin on a statue. "Who is attending so far?"

"All but King Orrin, my lady. He has yet to respond." The boy said.

Nasuada sighed. "Thank you, you are dismissed."

The boy bowed again and ran out of the throne room. A moment later, a messenger ran in, much to the protest of the Nighthawks standing outside the throne room. Jörmundur blocked Nasuada from him, drawing his sword. "Halt!"

"I have an urgent message from Surda!" The messenger said.

"Speak it." Nasuada urged.

"King Orrin has been killed!"

The cup in Nasuada's hand fell, smashing on the floor. "What? How?"

"He was riding with some nobles, and they were ambushed by…." The Messenger hesitated.

"By what?" Nasuada said.

"Ra'zac." The messenger said. "Only one of the nobles managed to escape."

Ra'zac! So the eggs Galbatorix had stowed away have hatched. And of all times! Alageasia was at peace! Nasuada thought. "Will the Noble come to speak?"

"He hasn't left his home since the incident, my lady." The messenger said. "He summoned me to send the news to you."

"Tell no one else, and convince this Noble to come see me." Nasuada said. "Or I will come see him."

The messenger nodded, and left the throne room.

Surda

James held his head, trying to erase the images of his head of the single Ra'zac that had slowly killed King Orrin. Another Ra'zac killed the other Nobles. They tried to get away, but he was the only one that succeeded. He had locked himself in the house when he arrived home, much to the worry of his wife, Catherine. He told her to fetch a messenger and a search party, and once he relayed the message, he said nothing else. He had not moved for days.

"Papa?" A soft voice asked, before the door jiggled.

He got up and unlocked the door, and the door opened. His daughter, Mariya, who was only 9, looked up at him. He leaned down and held her. She hugged him back. "Did I worry you?"

"Very much Papa." Mariya said. "Mother is very worried as well."

James sighed, looking at his daughter occupied his mind, eliminating the horror he witnessed. "I did not wish to worry either of you."

Catherine entered the doorway, and smiled at them. "The search party has come back." She said, and lifted the crown. "They retrieved this, and trusted it to our care."

James stood and took the crown from his wife, kissing her. "I'll put it in a safe place." He said. "I'm sorry for worrying you it's just…what I saw, Catherine."

"It is alright, James." Catherine said. "Dinner is ready, put the crown away and we can eat in peace."

A Fortnight Later

James sighed. "…and once I returned home I sent for a messenger and for a search party. When the messenger came, I relayed the message to you, and when the search party came, I sent them for survivors and King Orrin's crown. The crown is safe within the house."

Nasuada fought to look composed after the horror James described. "We will search for his successor-"

"With all the others dead, Orrin's advisers say that I am the next in line." James said.

Just as Nasuada was about to say something, Mariya ran in, but stopped seeing Nasuada. She curtsied. "Your highness." She said. She looked to her father. "Papa, mother said that dinner would be ready soon. Also, she wanted to invite you, Your highness, to dinner."

Nasuada smiled. "I will be honored to attend." She said.

Mariya smiled and left the room.

"You have a charming daughter." Nasuada said.

"Thank you." James said.

"We must move forward then, if all the advisors say you are to be King." Nasuada said. "I'd like to take now to invite you to the unveiling of Eragon's statue."

"I will attend." James said.

At Dinner, James told the news to Catherine and Mariya. Mariya's eyes widened. "I'm to be a princess, papa?"

James smiled. "Yes, Mariya, you are." He said. "But you have always been my little princess."

Mariya giggled.

After dinner, Nasuada rode to Aberon Castle and summoned all of Orrin's advisors. Once they were gathered, she stood. "Thank you for coming at such a late hour. I promise not to keep you long. Who succeeds Orrin as King?"

"James and his wife Catherine take the throne now that Orrin is gone." The lead advisor said. "Did he not tell you?"

Nasuada nodded. "He did, I wanted to be sure he was speaking the truth." She said.

"James is not one to lie." Another advisor said.

"I had to ask, none the less." Nasuada said. "We shall prepare for the coronations at once."

The advisors all nodded.