Chapter 2

Darkness gave way to light, and Eragon could see the tent canvas above him. He blinked once, observing the golden material for a moment.

"He is awake," cooed Angela's voice.

Turning, he saw Nasuada sitting at her table. She looked up briefly before turning back to the map before her.

"What happened?" He asked, sitting up dizzily. Angela, on a short stool next to him, glanced down at her clasped hands. "Where is Elva?" He demanded.

"She is gone." Angela scowled at him.

"What? Where?" He reached out to Saphira; maybe she would have some answers.

I'm sorry, Eragon… I tried to catch her, but I was too late.

He didn't understand. What had the girl done after knocking him unconscious?

"You should be awfully proud of yourself, Eragon," Angela spat. "First, you cursed the poor, innocent child, destroying her entire life. And then, you left the spell on her and allowed it to drive her mad. Of all the cheating, no-good…"

"Angela." Nasuada's quiet voice interrupted her rant. The leader of the Varden nodded to the door of the tent, indicating Angela's dismissal. "I will speak with him."

The herbalist cast one more dangerous glare in Eragon's direction before disappearing through the flap of material.

Nasuada seated herself next to the cot and paused. For a moment, neither one spoke.

Finally, she broke the silence. "We do not know where Elva is."

He didn't know if that was good news or not. A mixture of relief for the girl being alive and fear for where she might be consumed his mind.

"She caused quite a commotion in leaving," Nasuada said, "catching three of our tents on fire and making a scene. Several soldiers were harmed, and one was killed."

Eragon winced, looking down. Shame crept up his spine and he wished Nasuada would stop, but she continued on in a quiet voice.

"Sooner than anyone could contain her, Elva climbed atop one of the tents and disappeared before the eyes of many. We know not where she disappeared to or what she will do when she gets there."

"I…" He started to say he was sorry, but knew it wouldn't do any good.

"Do not apologize, Eragon. You did the right thing in removing the curse. I only wish you had asked my permission beforehand, so the blame of this tragedy could fall on my shoulders. Your reputation among the Varden is not quite as strong as I would like after this misadventure."

Startled, he scowled a little.

"Your reputation is more important than mine. I'm just their leader; you… you are their hero. But it will take more than a blessing gone wrong to ruin the reputation of a Rider. My main concern is what sort of revenge Elva will take out on us. Surely she is not finished."

"I will try to find her. After all, I was the one who started this mess."

"Do not search. An entire team of magic users, including Arya, have searched the premise for Elva. She is gone, and we can hardly afford to waste our time scouring Alagaesia for her. Her power appeared strong enough that she could be anywhere, according to Arya. Though she never spoke any words in the ancient language, she used much magic…" Nasuada pondered the matter for a moment and then shrugged.

Eragon knew that the ancient language wasn't the only way to control magic, but kept that information to himself. Elva was all the more dangerous, being able to use magic without learning the language.

"So, what now?" he asked.

"We leave for Surda in the morning. I suggest you pack." Nasuada paused, apparently re-thinking her words. "But you will not be with us for long. I will send you to various villages in Surda at first to allow rumors to grow. And then, eventually, you will appear in the Empire; Belatona maybe."

A sudden wave of guilt once again enveloped him. Instead of leaving for Helgrind, where Katrina was, he would be journeying the opposite direction. Roran's disappointed face once again came before his eyes. "Nasuada, what if I appeared in the Empire sooner?" Eragon asked, his mind racing. Saphira urged him on, paying attention more to his conversation than to her task.

Nasuada pondered his proposal for a moment, and then smirked. "In the Empire… somewhere like Helgrind? Where you wanted to go in the first place?"

He laughed a little. "You caught me. But think about it: I would be killing the Ra'zac, one of Galbatorix's strongest weapons. Really, it would benefit the Varden."

"Your reasoning is good, but you and I both know that this is not about the Ra'zac. It is about your uncle, whom they killed, and your cousin, who wishes to rescue a certain prisoner of theirs." She gazed at him in such a way that Eragon felt she understood him perfectly. "It would be foolish for me to allow you permission, you know that, Eragon."

"Surely you would do anything to fulfill a promise to your father," he said. If that would not make her understand, nothing would.

Do not play on her emotions so, Saphira scolded.

I am just putting it into perspective!

Nasuada looked down, her face blank for a moment. Then she said, "Will you have no peace until this promise is fulfilled?"

"None whatsoever."

"Will you act reasonably and according to what's best for the Varden rather than endangering yourself unnecessarily for the sake of revenge?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then go, Eragon Shadeslayer, and take your cousin to Helgrind. I will not be at peace until you return though."

"Thank you, Nasuada," he said, smiling.

"Don't get used to such compromises. Your vow to me is still as strong as the day you made it. One day, you will have to go against your instincts to obey it." She smiled for a moment. It was the first time he had seen her smile since his training.

He almost wanted to stay just to speak with her, but Saphira's prodding encouraged him to leave, seeking out Roran to announce the good news.

The strategy room of Galbatorix's castle in Uru'baen was silent. One candle illuminated the entire room, allowing dark shadows to play about the wall. An enormous table stood in the center with a detailed map of Alagaesia spread across its whole. The hulking form of King Galbatorix sat slumped in an ornate throne behind the table. His azure eyes clouded over, as if his mind was somewhere else. Occasionally, his brow would twitch as if reacting to someone's comment.

So deep was his trance that he did not notice the shadow until it was nearly upon him. Quite abruptly, his eyes focused and he stood upright. His left hand shot out and his tongue prepared to utter a word of death. But there was no need. All that stood before him was a little girl.

"Who are you?" He demanded, his voice irate.

"I am not one to be used as a pet, and I am here to take out revenge upon that ridiculous group of rebels that calls itself the Varden. I wish to reverse my previous habit of shielding others from misfortune." Her voice, eerily like a woman's, rang out calmly and clearly. She showed no fear, which irritated the king.

"Why would I need the help of a child to destroy a group of criminals?"

"I am not a Rider," she said, slowly lifting a hand to her forehead, which was covered in matted brown hair, "but I have a power of my own perhaps greater." The shining oval on her forehead became visible as she brushed aside her bangs. "I am not held down by the bond of a dragon."

A look of confusion entered the king's face. "How did you get in here? I will have my guards hanged for allowing your entrance without my permission."

"There is no need for that; the six guards outside that door are dead. No one else saw me."

He was intrigued now. Sitting casually on his throne, he asked, "And the others in the hallway and outside?"

"They didn't see me."

Galbatorix laughed, throwing his head back. "You little liar. I must admit, you are convincing. But no one can be unseen to guards without using some sort of magic, and no one can use magic in this building without my knowledge."

"I can."

"I am impressed then. You will be a powerful servant."

Her eyes sparkled with rage. "I already said I am no man's pet. We merely have a common enemy, and I have decided that being with you is the best way to cause them harm."

Still amused, Galbatorix nodded. "Think of it that way if it pleases you," he said lightly. Once again his eyes clouded over, and then his expression changed. "Say… I have an idea. Will you follow me?" Without waiting for her answer, he strode to the far end and opened the double doors. Stepping over the dead guards without a second thought, he said to the girl, "We can do a lot together, you and I. I only wish all of my troops were as willing as you to join the cause. You see, I've had some trouble with my second-in-command. He betrayed me. But worry not. Such an event will not occur again. I have made sure of that."

Elva followed him wordlessly, listening carefully to his words.

"My only desire," he changed the subject, "is to restore peace to Alagaesia and bring back the Dragon Riders. Perhaps you can play a principal role in that feat…" His voice trailed off. He was talking more to himself than to her.

They walked up several stone staircases, passing groups of patrol guards along the way. On the final level, there were no guards. In fact, the hallway was deserted.

Galbatorix led Elva down the quiet corridor. Near its end, the walls opened up into a giant room with a high ceiling and a gaping hole at one end. The starry sky could be seen outside.

But neither the king nor the young girl paid much attention to the room. Their eyes immediately fell upon a giant black dragon in the center of the room. It stood at alert, watching their every move. At its taloned feet rested a silver egg.

"This is Shruikan," Galbatorix explained, "guarding my most prized possession. Would you like to see it?"

Elva smirked, looking intently at the dragon egg. "I am not the one it is waiting for," she declared.

"Who is it? Do you know the destined Rider?"

"The Rider is beyond your grasp. It matters not who it is."

"How can you possibly know?" He demanded.

"I know lots of things you don't," Elva said mysteriously. "For instance: I know exactly what Rider Eragon plans to do and how you can capture him."