Cadi sat back and examined the wall. She had just spent three hours soaping and scrubbing it, and now, the burnished copper surface was so smooth that she could see her reflection in it. Up and down the wide, sunny hallway, slaves were busy scrubbing away at the walls, floors, furniture, and anything else that Galbatorix wanted them to clean. Satisfied, she packed up her cloths and brushes into her basket and stood up.

"Cadi! Cadi? I need you!"

Cadi looked down the hallway to see the princess, Gabriell, come loitering down the hall, a tall glass held in hand.

"Princess?" Cadi asked, putting down her bucket and bowing. "What is it you want?"

"Daddy wants to see you." Gabriell said with a superior sniff, pulling on her long, blonde braid. "He wants to see you now."

"Yes, your majesty." Cadi said hastily, picking up her bucket. She was about to run off when Gabriell called her back. "Did you just finish washing this wall?"

"Yes, your majesty." Cadi said proudly.

Gabriell sniffed again, and with one flick of her wrist, flung her glass of wine against the wall. The glass smashed, and wine flew all over Cadi. "I don't like it. Wash it again."

Cadi's mouth dropped open as Gabriell sauntered off, flicking her braid over her shoulder. "If you don't go see what Daddy wants now, he's going to be mad!" Gabriell tossed breezily over her shoulder before she turned a corner and disappeared out of sight.

Cadi fumed, but she controlled herself and, picking up her bucket, ran off to see King Galbatorix. She found him waiting in his throne room.

"Your majesty wanted to see me?" she asked, bowing.

The king turned and grunted when he saw her. "Well, you were a while coming."

"I'm sor-"

"Never mind your excuses." Galbatorix said. "I called you here because a servant sent word that the Egg Chambers were not dusted yesterday, and it was your turn to wash it. Why weren't you there?"

"I tried, your majesty, but the door was locked and-"

"Didn't I say that I didn't want any more of your excuses?" Galbatorix stormed. "Go and clean it immediately."

"Yes, your majesty." Cadi murmured. The king turned away, and she scurried as quickly as she could from the throne room.

Galbatorix had never been her favorite person in the castle. She knew many that considered him the hero of the ages and worshipped at his feet, but personally, Cadi thought that he was a lazy person who was all brawn but no courage. In this war against the Varden, he never showed his face, but sent out Murtagh, the young rider training in the castle. Cadi had passed him in hallways many times, but had never had a conversation with him.

She reached the Egg Chamber, and the guards at the door smiled her a welcome. "Is anybody in there?" she asked one of them, her friend Morton.

"Just Murtagh and Gabriell. Murtagh shouldn't give you any trouble…but that Gabriell…you better watch out for her." Morton replied.

"Don't worry." Cadi reassured her friend. "I'll be fine. I'm only in here to clean, anyway. What can she do with Murtagh in there? She'll be on her best behavior in front of him."

They all started laughing, but Cadi quickly looked around for any of Galbatorix's spies and stopped. "Don't laugh- you know how much trouble we might get in if someone hears. Just let me in."

They swung the doors backwards, and lugging her heavy basket, Cadi stepped into the huge, ornate room. The solid gold walls were over ten feet thick, and the floor was covered with a gemstone mosaic. In the center of the room, on a high platform, stood Murtagh and Gabriell. They ignored her as Cadi began mopping at the gemstones with a special mop.

"So, Murtagh, when are you and Thorn going to go out and train with the Ra'zac?" Gabriell asked as Cadi sprinkled flakes of soap over the wet mosaic. "You are so talented; maybe you could teach me a few things! How about it, Murtagh?"

"I can't, Princess Gabriell, because you're not a qualified Rider or Magician. Your father wouldn't allow it." Murtagh replied, not bothering to even look at the Princess.

"But Murtagh, you said yourself that I had talent." Gabriell said wistfully, charm oozing out of her voice. "And you're such a wonderful teacher that I'm sure I would be an expert in no time. Please?"

"Your father is the best, and if you really want to learn you can ask him to teach you." Murtagh said. Gabriell looked around for something else to talk about. Her eyes landed on Cadi.

"Oh, Murtagh, have you ever seen Cadi? Cadi, come here."

Obediently, Cadi placed the mop back into its bucket and approached the platform. Gabriell looked down at her and nudged Murtagh. "Murtagh, this is Cadi. I don't believe you've ever met her."

"I've seen you around." Murtagh said with a slight nod. "Hello, Cadi."

"Cadi is a slave in our wonderful palace." Gabriell said with a slight pout. "It annoys me exceeding that my father allows her into the Egg Chambers, Murtagh. Doesn't it annoy you? Really, what if she was a spy for the Varden?"

"I don't think that's very likely." Murtagh said dryly as Cadi turned back and started to mop the floor.