Chapter One
A/N: I accidently skipped this chapter so here it is…
Murtagh's POV
I dared not wait to see her leave safely. If the plan failed I didn't want Galbatorix to suspect me. Lately his hold seems to have been growing weaker. I wonder whether this is what Eragon was talking about – whether mine and Thorn's true names were changing. If he thought I was hiding something he would once more shove his way into our heads and take control. If that happened I knew better than to hope that he would ever allow us any sort of free will again. He would bind us to him in so many oaths neither of us would be able to sneeze without Galbatorix being aware.
Galbatorix was currently away from his palace for a few days with Shruikan. Who knew what he was doing, honestly I didn't care. I knew he wasn't attacking the Varden and he wasn't here watching our every move. This opportunity had been impossible to resist, with him gone but with the dark green egg still here.
I knew that Kiana was a secret supporter for the Varden – her brother and his family were already with them. The only reason she was still alive was that Galbatorix wasn't aware of the relation. She had been lucky he had never forced his way into her mind. As it was, she had been a maid in the palace since her early teens, and knew every nook and cranny. She also knew all the ways in and out of the city, and the time when people went to bed and got up.
It was this knowledge that made them put their plan into action at about three hours before dawn. Everyone but the guards on duty was in bed asleep and would be groggy and confused at such a time if awoken.
Back in my room, I checked the bag I had packed with supplies, in preparation of our freedom, one last time then got in to bed and made as if I had been there all night.
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At dawn I awoke suddenly, feeling tired and – different. Thorn too, had just awoken for some reason. Then, in the same second, we both realised what it was that had woken us, and that had us feeling different.
Galbatorix's control over us had ceased. No longer could we feel the oaths we'd sworn restricting our movements. We were free!
I jumped out of bed, dressed, and hung Zar'roc from my belt then ran from the room with my bag on my back. Once outside Thorn landed in front of me and I bounded onto his back. He took off instantly so as to be sure the guards didn't get the chance to realise something was off and try to stop us. As it was they had noticed our sudden movement and were watching us warily. When we fought Galbatorix's spell casters when they tried to reach us with their minds they realised instantly that we escaping. By that point though we up to high and already out of range of their arrows.
With a whoop and a roar of delight at their sudden freedom the two flew in the direction of the Varden's camp.
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