Okay, I will start off apologizing. The last chapter was too short. Not to mention it changed to Mirella's perspective, so that may have been confusing. I did write that chapter with a serious lack of sleep, so I may not have been paying attention. However, enough of this and on to the story!


The sixth day after her encounter with Eragon, Mirella finally saw the city of Marna on the horizon. She grinned in relief as she thought of a good warm meal and a long rest from riding. She should have arrived earlier, but her charger had injured its ankle running.

She pushed on, as fast as the animal could manage, until well after nightfall. When the moon was three hands high, she finally slowed the horse to a stop. They would reach the lively city the next day if they started early.

XxXxXxXxX

Murtagh rolled over again in his bed. They would start traveling again tomorrow, although Thorn liked the city. They had been in Bullridge for two days, and he wanted to start heading north before anyone from his past showed up again.

Murtagh didn't like their questions or their pity. That's why he followed Eragon's advice. He would head north where there were less people, and fewer acquaintances. The thought of not seeing anyone for a long time was distressing, to say the least, but he was tired of people. The only company he would have liked then was Eragon's or Nasuada's.

He didn't sleep as well as he'd have liked. He didn't dream of anything that night, either.

XxXxXxXxX

Mirella woke early the next day. The sun had only just peeked over the horizon. She dressed and ate what was left of her food. She checked her horse's ankle and changed his bandages. The animal ate as she worked and they were ready before long.

She mounted the chestnut and urged him forward. If her calculations were accurate, they would arrive by noon at the latest.

Mirella thought about this new Rider Eragon was sending her to. She tried to remember all she had ever heard of the boy. His name was Murtagh Morzansson, he wasn't much older than her, he rode an enormous red dragon, and he had been in Farthen Dûr when Ajihad was murdered.

She didn't think he was as bad as some of the dwarves made him out to be. She remembered he had fought by her side in defending Ajihad and Nasuada. He had also been taken when the Varden's leader was murdered. Everyone had thought he was dead, but news came soon after Eragon and Saphira left that he was alive.

She recalled that, according to a message from Nasuada, Galbatorix had captured him. Then, Murtagh was fighting for the king. She would not have believed it had it not been from Nasuada herself.

The thought of looking for and possibly traveling with a traitor had scared her, but she trusted Eragon's judgement. He had told her that Murtagh had only attacked them because he was under the king's spells, but she had never forgotten. And she had promised to herself that she never would.


Hope you liked this one! I try to update, but with school starting soon I don't know how often I will be able to. I will try to keep responding to as many reviews as possible! ;)