Arlen and Alaric were sitting by the edge of Cathalorn, watching the Elves at their work restoring the forest, and talking. As it turned out they had a lot to talk about as they had both been through things that few ever did. They talked about many things, but mostly Arlen was thinking of some of the more questionable things that had happened during his adventures.

"Can a Shade die because of using too much energy in a spell?" Arlen asked.

Alaric shrugged. "They can die but I don't know whether they'd die permanently or not. Tyra died that way and we haven't seen her since then, so I'd have to say she's gone for good."

Arlen frowned. The answer didn't satisfy him as the Shades Council had remained hidden for so long under the watch of the Riders. If one of them were still alive the Riders may not know of their continued existence. That led him into his next question. "How did the Shade Council stay hidden for so long?"

Alaric sighed and began to explain. "Well we didn't know Vras was even alive, so that answers that. Tyra kept herself hidden so we kept searching for her with no avail until the Fall and Galbatorix took over. And then there was Raud who we thought had died multiple times in various duels with Riders of old. Each time the Rider and Dragon died in the process and each time they couldn't find any trace of escape. And every time he came back stronger than ever, sometimes decades apart, until the Fall of the Dragon Riders.

"After the Fall, Galbatorix took over and we weren't sure if he killed the Shades or if they were just in hiding. We know that they didn't side with him, seeing as how Durza was the only Shade working as an underling of the Empire, but we didn't know if they died or not. Raud's theft of Artsanna's egg was the first we heard of them in this era."

While the facts did sound believable, he had to ask, "How do you know all this about the history of the Riders of old?"

Alaric hesitated before saying, "We recovered records from the old Rider stronghold on Vroengard." Alaric's answer was nervous as if he were lying. If he were lying, the true answer had to be a great secret, one that someone like Arlen shouldn't know. He decided not to press him for the real answer as if he shouldn't be told it, he shouldn't ask for it.

Instead Arlen asked a different question that had been troubling him for some time. "Why didn't the Empire send help while we were being plagued by the Ra'zac?"

"Well I suppose they have just fought a war on the other side of the Empire, so they still might be recovering," Alaric speculated. "Alternatively, since this is a somewhat remote village, they could have mustered a force and would still be somewhat lost in finding a way here by the time you kill the Ra'zac. Or…"

Arlen could guess what was next and why Alaric was hesitant to say it. "Or they just hate me for aiding Lynde during the rebellion."

Alaric shrugged. "It's doubtful. Queen Nasuada is usually a kind leader, but in recent times her kindness has been taken advantage of. Her sending assassins to kill Lynde may have been her way of trying to gain fear and respect for those who she believes do not deserve mercy. It failed horribly, but I would think she knows how to give charity better than terror. Of course now she's to be removed from power because of her mistake."

Arlen's eyes widened at the news. "She's not going to be the queen anymore?"

"No, you see…" He stopped suddenly and had a look like he was being contacted by his Dragon Magnora. He knew the sort of look from seeing it on Lynde's face from time to time. He held up a hand and said, "I've got to go. Someone's trying to contact me."

Alaric ran towards Magnora in a nearby clearing and got something out of her saddlebags. The way the light reflected off it he assumed it was a small mirror. He began talking to it like a person and Arlen figured out that someone was probably talking back to the Rider Chief as well. Arlen wondered who it was, but that was none of his business.

Alaric's conversation didn't last long and soon he returned the mirror and went back over to Arlen. He had a grave look about him. "I have put off a meeting with the Elders long enough. Now that Naule and her company are here, I cannot avoid it any longer. I shall go as late as tomorrow morning, I think."

Arlen felt something compel him into saying, "Would it be too much to ask to let me go with you as far as Gil'ead?"

Alaric frowned. "Why do you want to go to Gil'ead?"

Arlen quickly explained. "I want to know why the Empire didn't send forces to Cathalorn, and I think Gil'ead is the place find out."

Alaric nodded. "I understand and it won't be much trouble. I would ask though if you believe your family is ready for you to go again."

Arlen hadn't considered that. Last time he went he needed to escape the place of his father's death, but this time… this time it was idle curiosity. He didn't need to find out why they didn't send anyone. It would be a long trip back as well without a horse or a Dragon. It could be weeks before he made it back home. He couldn't leave Leonie and his family that long.

There was some force driving him to do it though. If he had made an enemy of Queen Nasuada, he wanted to know it. And he couldn't just assume that he had or hadn't because it could affect how he acted. He didn't want to be looking over his shoulder the rest of his life for no reason or not look over it at the wrong moment. He had to know for his sake and the sake of his family.

Arlen sighed and said, "Hopefully they will."

That night Arlen went home for supper and found not only his mother and Ehren but Leonie as well. He was surprised to see her there and his mother explained, "I thought it would be good if she had a meal with us. We don't see much of her outside of the tavern. Ehren and I would like to get to know her a little better." Arlen went along with it, and saw that with Leonie here he could tell the three people he was closest to in Cathalorn about his trip.

Dinner was vegetable stew with mainly carrots, turnips, and cabbage in it. He could taste a little beef in it as well, but didn't find much. There didn't seem to be any seasoning in it, but that was alright; something with so many fresh vegetables in it would be hard to find soon enough. It was all the more wonderful that his mother cooked it though.

Throughout the dinner his mother, Ehren, and Leonie all talked. It started out a little cold, but by the end they were laughing together about something or other. Arlen didn't want to end it, but he knew that he had to so that he could tell what he was going to do tomorrow.

At the end of the meal, when all the bowls were empty, Arlen stood up from his chair to say what he had intended to since he came in through the door. They all looked at him curiously, and he hesitated before saying, "I… I am going away tomorrow for Gil'ead." Their smiles disappeared; Ehren seemed merely angry while his mother looked more afraid. Leonie hid her emotions, but Arlen guessed that she was like them and didn't like the idea of him leaving. He summoned the courage to finish his speech and said, "I would like to know why none of the Empire's troops were sent here during the Ra'zac crisis; if they were late or if they were looking for revenge."

Ehren and his mother calmed somewhat, but still looked unhappy. Ehren stood up and said, "You don't have to go. If they want vengeance, then going to them would be unwise and you could die. If it wasn't anything like that, then you don't need to go. I should go instead."

Arlen patted him on the shoulder and said, "If they knew that you were my brother and wanted to hurt me, they'd kill you. If I go, then at least only I would die and the feud would be over. But if that is not the case at all, then at the very least it should be someone who commands respect that asks, and I may be just that person with titles like Shadelsayer and Ra'zac Bane."

Unsatisfied, Ehren said, "At least let me go with you."

"No. Cathalorn needs you here. We don't have time to get another leader of the guard, no matter how fast you find him," looking to their mother Arlen realized she might volunteer—she might even be good at it to with her experience with a blade and dealing coolly with aggressive men for the past twenty or so years—and added, "or her."

Ehren nodded. "I suppose you don't want Mom to go either?"

"I don't want to go," their mother said. "I haven't been feeling too well lately." Arlen looked at his mother concernedly before she added, "It's probably nothing; I'll be fine in a few days."

That wasn't enough for Arlen. "You should see Chelsa about it."

She waved him off though. "I'm fine, just not up for what you're suggesting." That didn't make him feel much better, but he doubted there was much else he could do about it.

"When do ya leave?" Leonie asked, her voice tight and making Arlen worry for her.

He answered simply, "Tomorrow morning with Alaric."

Leonie nodded. After a long pause she said in that same tight voice, "I should go home soon."

"Leonie…" Arlen started as she got up and began to leave. His heart sank as she walked out the door and closed it behind her.

"Go after her!" his mother said urgently. "The last thing she needs is to think you don't care."

Arlen ran to the door and found that Leonie hadn't gotten far. She hadn't even made it down the front porch steps before sitting down with her head hunched over. Arlen slowly sat down next to her and saw tears forming in her eyes with the darkness of the night around her.

He was about to say something when she said, "Before you ask, I'm okay. I'm…" She turned her head to look at him. "I don't want you to go. It was bad enough when you were going to fight the Ra'zac, but it's worse now. Now I won't know if you're alright until you come back."

Arlen tried to put his arm around her but she knocked it away saying angrily, "No, don't try that! I want ya to stay, not for me to feel better about ya leaving."

Arlen was helpless to feel bad for her. He didn't want to give her grief, but he had anyway. As Leonie stood up to get away from him she said bitterly, "Why doesn't your family stop ya?"

He stood and replied, "Because they know I can take care of myself. I have the titles I do for a reason, and that is knowing more than just how to use a blade but how they will. I understand their fighting and so no one can stop me if my arms don't fail. I've lost fights, but I've always survived."

"But what if this time ya don't?" Leonie proposed. "What if this time ya meet your match?"

Arlen frowned. "While I mentioned a possible grudge against me, I doubt Queen Nasuada or the Empire has one that would doom the entirety of Cathalorn to death. I must find out though for all our sakes. Besides, I've fought Riders, Shades, Elves, and a whole lot more; I think I can handle a few soldiers."

"But what if they use magic or bows or something and you can't kill them first?"

Arlen frowned. He had always considered that possibility and was scared of it. It could be the death of him one day and he had no argument to dissuade Leonie from think that either. All he had were the words, "If that happens, weep for me then and not before."

Leonie frowned. "Ya think that helps?"

"No, but I promise you that if no grudge is held against me, I will seek no opponents on the way home," Arlen replied. "If there are bandits, I'll warn them not to attack me by speaking my titles. If a rebellion arises, I shall steer as far from it as I can. If a swordsman thinks me no great challenge and wishes to duel me, I shall refuse granting him whatever rights that go with victory other than my freedom and my life. I shall seek no delay in returning if I can help it, but if I somehow become involved in another adventure, I'll try to let you know."

Leonie lowered her head. "So that's it then? You're just going to fly over there and, if there's no one to fight, walk all the way back?"

"Yes," he said nodding. "I promise."

Leonie sniffled and laughed, "It'll be your most boring adventure yet."

Arlen chuckled, "If I can help it."

Leonie wrapped her arms around him, to which he embraced her. He heard her say muffled through his shoulder "It'd better be" and thought the exact same thing. Hopefully the world was done with Arlen of Cathalorn.