Hi! I am SO sorry it took so long to update. I've been super busy with school and then unfortunately became ill; it was horrible. Anyway, enough with the excuses!

Thanks so much to my 6 reviews for the last chapter! On with the story!

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Three

Taiven lay upon his bed looking up at the ceiling hours after Cale had left and pondered the best way to carry out his plan. It would be difficult, but completely worth it. His father was going to pay dearly for what he did. That is, if everything went according to plan. He let his heavy eyelids finally fall as he drifted into a light sleep. A smile was upon his lips despite the constant throbbing pain from his severed tongue.

The light of the morning sun warmed Taiven's empty bed. He was up since the brink of dawn making a list of everything Cale and he would need for their journey. He wrote down the last item and slipped the list into his long shirt sleeve. His hands shook a little as he reached for the handle to his door. Making the list was the easy part, now he had to actually gather the things they would need without looking suspicious.

He fought off the nervous feeling and began to casually – well, as casual as one who was dreadfully uneasy could be – wander around the castle so as not to give any implication that he was doing anything out of the ordinary. However, while he was doing so, he was subtly gathering everything on his list (mostly food) and stuffing them under his shirt or even using some of the secret passageways throughout the castle. Of course, he was making quite a few trips back and forth from his room to disperse of the articles that were obvious to his escape, but he was hoping that the trips weren't all that noticeable.

When he had finished collecting all of the items but one from his list, he made his way back into his room. Four packs lay in the middle of his floor. Two of them were full of nonperishable foods such as loaves of bread, dried meats, etc. Another had almost a gallon of water in four canteens, a few shirts and pants for both Taiven and Cale, and two bows with eight arrows each. The last pack had several sheets of parchment, two bottles of ink and a pen. It also had enough room for the final item on the list. Lying nearby was Taiven's sword and a smaller sword he stole for Cale along with two black cloaks that would camouflage the boys as they traveled by the shadows through the castle and the city.

Then, Taiven suddenly thumped himself on his forehead with the palm of his hand as he realized his problem. The two of them couldn't possibly carry all four packs by themselves. Cale, who was only ten, was very scrawny for his age, and Taiven, though he was fairly strong, could barely carry two and only for a short distance. His eyebrows furrowed as he considered his possibilities at stealing a horse or two. Making up his mind, he heaved the two packs of food over his shoulders, covered himself with a cloak, and made his way down to the stables as the sun rapidly sank in the horizon.

……………

About a couple of hours later, Taiven glanced up through his window at the tiny sliver of the moon that shone brightly though only a fraction was exposed. He gave a heavy sigh. It was time. Taiven grabbed the pack to hold the last item and silently crept out of his room and through the castle to the fourth floor where the royal treasury awaited him. He paused just before the hallway he was in joined the hallway that led to treasury – where the last of the dragon eggs was located. He breathed deeply to try and calm his anxious nerves. He closed his eyes, concentrating on what he was about to do. He slowly peeked around the corner.

At the end of the hallway, two guards were leaning against the wall on either side of huge red oak double-doors. One's eyelids were droopy and the other was undoubtedly sleeping, but the two weren't the only obstacles Taiven had to overcome. Ever since the blue egg was stolen, Galbatorix placed numerous spells and enchantments upon the double-doors and walls surrounding the last dragon egg. However, Taiven knew how to acquire the necessary information for him to pass through unscathed – the tricky part was acquiring such information.

Each guard was given three different passwords every shift. The passwords only worked if all six are said together – and in the correct order – while gradually turning the two handles of the doors simultaneously. And, if that wasn't enough, the guards were taught to put up strong barriers around their minds in addition to knowing if anyone was trying to penetrate their minds. They were to notify the King immediately after an encounter. Taiven wondered if the passwords had to be said aloud, because he highly doubted that he would be able to say them correctly.

Maybe this is just too impossible, he thought, but then his tongue gave a painful throb and the thought was quickly disregarded. He gathered his courage, reached for the magic, and hoped that the spell would work with him only thinking hard on the words. Galbatorix had taught Taiven when he was younger (when his father actually did still teach him things) that one did not have to say a spell for it to work, but Taiven hadn't tried very hard in his lessons. He didn't think that there was a need to learn that technique, since it was easier just to say them. Now, however, he was regretting his lack of interest for different methods of training. With any luck, though, the magic would work for him if he concentrated hard enough. After all, he was Galbatorix's son.

Taiven thought hard on a spell to put the guards in a deep sleep, because in a state such as that, they were less likely to have their barriers up. Seconds passed . . . and then minutes. He was almost ready to admit defeat when, to his delight, two soft thumps were heard from the end of the hall. Without delay, Taiven easily delved into the mind of the guard that was already asleep before the spell, finding the three words and their order. He pulled out of the man's subconscious and delved into the other – only to slam into a fierce wall. Taiven cursed. He wasn't expecting any of the guards to be that advanced with their barricades.

He poked and prodded the wall as swiftly and as gently as possible so as to not wake the guard. After what felt like a half an hour, but was probably only a couple of minutes, he found a break in the wall and extracted the needed information. Taiven quickly withdrew from the guard's mind only to realize that the man was beginning to wake up. Panic flooded Taiven's body, making him shake uncontrollably. His mind raced for the words in the Ancient Language to put the guard to sleep again – but this time, permanently. He focused on the words as best as he could with the constant threat of the guard already warning the King hanging above him.

At last, Taiven felt the guard slip away, and the boy stepped into the hallway to face the doors. His heart then felt heavy. He didn't want to kill them, but there wasn't any other choice. He kneeled in front of the one still in sleep, noticing the steady rise and fall of the man's chest, and reluctantly thought of the words from the Ancient Language. The man's breathing slowed immensely until his chest moved no more. Taiven stood. He gazed dismally at the lifeless guards for several seconds.

It had to be done, Taiven, he told himself firmly, trying to defend what he did. If they weren't dead, they could have alerted the King – if the one hadn't already. . . . It was either them, or me. He gave the men a regretful expression before focusing his attention to the doors.

He played the newly learned phrase over and over in his head and took a deep breath, letting it out very slowly. He shouted the first word in his head, which was supposed to release the magic from the door handles so he could turn them while saying the other words. He reached for the handles – and singed his fingers by the magical shield surrounding them. He cursed again.

What am I going to do? he thought. I'm already this far. He pondered his options and snapped his fingers as an idea came to him. I only hope it won't be too late. Father usually checks in on his guards after a few hours. He ran to his room as fast and as quietly as possible. He opened his door to find Cale sitting on his bed looking extremely bored. The boy jumped up when he saw his friend.

"Taiven! There you are! I've been waiting for ages. Where have you been?"

Taiven scrounged in the pack at his side and pulled out a piece of parchment, a pen and some ink. He scribbled a message and thrust it in Cale's outstretched hand. He then wrote down six words in a specific order and gave them to Cale as well.

I need your help. I didn't want to get you involved in this, but I have no choice now. You're my last chance. Will you please follow me quickly and quietly up to the fourth floor? I need you to say those six words I gave you – Cale looked at the other piece of paper in his hand – in the order they are written down when I tell you to, okay?

Cale looked up. "Of course I'll help you, Taiven. You didn't even have to ask, but Taiven . . . I can't do magic."

Taiven shook his head and scribbled another message.

It isn't magic. The words aren't even in the Ancient Language. They're just passwords. Anyone can say them.

"Oh, okay," Cale replied, finally understanding. "Then let's go!"

They sped off to the fourth floor. Taiven stopped Cale before he ventured into the hallway. He peeked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear. Then, he motioned for Cale to follow him.

"Taiven," Cale whispered with wide eyes, "this is the royal treasury." Taiven nodded as he walked toward the doors, Cale following closely behind. When they were right in front of them, Taiven inclined his head for Cale to begin.

"Release" – Taiven reached for the handles. This time he wasn't singed and he began to turn the handles as Cale continued – "the magic which prevents entry." Taiven opened the doors with elated energy. He motioned for Cale to stay outside while he grabbed several handfuls of money and the huge green egg perched in the middle of the room.

They made their way back to Taiven's room where they grabbed the other pack, the swords, and the cloaks. The boys put the cloaks on and then rushed to the stables where two horses stood ready. One already had the two packs of food strapped on. Taiven helped Cale onto her and then strapped the two packs he held on the other horse. He wanted the egg to stay by him. Plus, he had no intention of telling Cale that they even have the last of the dragon eggs in their possession.

Once they were ready, Taiven urged his horse forward. Cale did the same, and soon they were upon the gates. Taiven dismounted and used his key to unlock them. He led his horse through while Cale rode behind. Taiven was just about to close the gates when a sudden force pried its way into his mind. He desperately tried to put up his barriers, but it was no use. He knew who it was. Taiven fell to his knees and he heard Cale shout something he couldn't make out.

Galbatorix mercilessly dug into every part of his mind, trying to figure out what he had done, how he had done it, and where he was now. The King was close to finding out about the egg when he was suddenly forced out of the boy's mind. Taiven felt something around his neck and arms around his waist. Galbatorix finally abandoned the effort, sending guards to capture the boy instead. Relief swept through Taiven. He noticed that Cale was hugging him around his waist and a necklace with a small teardrop green crystal was hanging from his neck.

Without thinking, he said, "Come on, Cao. We haf coo ge ou of he-a." Then, he stood up and mounted his horse. Cale struggled to mount his, but soon succeeded and followed Taiven's galloping horse through the city – the guards only yards behind.

Yea! Chapter 3 is finished! I hope you liked it!

Hey cool; this is my longest chapter yet! Though, don't expect the succeeding chapters to be as long or longer. Some may be, but we shall see. By the way, should I up the rating to 'T', since I have some people dieing and having their tongues severed? I wasn't sure; maybe just to be safe I should. What do you guys think?

Anyway, please review!