sorry for all the spelling errors, ppl. usually i'm hardcore about getting it right, but since this computer didn't have word for the longest time i was typing it right onto the website and there's no spellcheck (that works) on here. it should be better in the future.

chapter 4

Evalin walked through the city, running her hands along the stone wall that made up the protective ring around the city. The part of the city she had picked for her walk was covered in broken rock, shards of metal and planks of splintered wood from explosions and fighting. In front of her, the debris floated silently out of her path, landing in neat piles along the stone wall. Magic, for Evalin, was effortless, taking much less energy than it would for most. Not only did she have two dragons fueling her with energy, but as a babe her father had ensured with spells that Evalin would not be tired by magic as easily as any other magic user would.

Footsteps met her ears, and instantly the rocks and wood dropped to the ground, crashing around her. Blodhgarm peered around the corner, magic at the ready, when he saw the girl Eragon had brought back from the forest. No one had questioned his judgment when he brought her back, all hoping that he would tell them on his own. However Eragon was persistently quiet regarding the girl, his only explanation being that she knew about his heroic triumphs and wanted to meet with him. She was an orphan, as far as they were concerned, and Evalin offered no counter explanation. "Good evening. What's a girl doing out at this time?" Blodhgarm asked, catching up with Evalin. He gazed blankly at the stack of debris that ended where Evalin stood and said nothing about it.

"Walking, same as you, silly. I like the smell of night." Evalin answered, eyeing Blodhgarm from the corner of her eye.

"Ah, allow me." Blodhgarm said as Evalin tried stepping over the uneven terrain. With a wave of his arm, the path was clear as far as the wall stretched, the materials stacked as neatly as Evalin's piles. She allowed her face to show surprise.

"You can do magic?" She asked in a childish way. Blodhgarm gazed at the child. He had to admit, she was a good actor.

"Indeed, as all elves can. Tell me, Evalin, do you know anything of the elves?" He asked. Evalin knew plenty about elves, having read books both written about and by elves from her father's library, the only thing in the castle not corrupted. So she knew enough to answer this question no, for if answered yes than Blodhgarm would assume she either grew up in a high class and could read, or she grew up near or with elves, in which he would surely investigate.

"No, not really. I know they are tall, and beautiful. Only what I heard on the streets. But haven't they all disappeared?" Evalin asked. On this subject Blodhgarm could not tell if Evalin was lying or not. Her face and age spoke of innocence, but her eyes, her eyes glittered with deep knowledge, contradicting her statement.

"Indeed, my race has receded into our own territory. But with the terror and threat of Galbatorix, we have surfaced in order to prevent him from taking over all of Alagaesia." Blodhgarm said. Evalin lt out an excited squeal.

"You are an elf? You look nothing like I thought they would. You look more like a dog. Part dog, part man." She said with a small giggle. Blodhgarm nodded, slightly annoyed.

"Yes, I have chosen a different approach to beauty I suppose." He said stiffly. Evalin nodded, her face somber once more.

"You know, I don't really understand what is going on in the world. I hear words such as those you used, 'terror', 'conquer', 'fear'. But I do not understand why. Things seem much easier as a poor girl. No king can rule those who have nothing. For we really have nothing to rule, and nothing to lose in fighting." Evalin said, balancing along the stack of debris Blodhgarm made.

"Wise words from one such as yourself." The elf said with a knowing smirk.

"Yes, I suppose they are. Tell me, could you perhaps direct me to Eragon's sleeping place? Truth is, I started on this walk while the sun was still showing. I've been lost for quite awhile. I'm not really accustomed to cities I've never walked before." Evalin said with a sheepish grin. Blodhgarm nodded sharply.

"Of course." He said, halting his walk. Evalin smiled broadly and jumped off the stack, grabbing onto Blodhgarm's hand. The elf nervously twitched his ears, glancing down at the dark-haired child. He walked as briskly as he could without dragging the girl directly to the armory where Eragon and his dragon were staying. "This is where we part ways, then." He said stiffly.

"Kay, bye!" Evalin said in a most cheerful voice, disappearing into the dark of the windowless building.

Evalin, who hadn't been lost at all, sighed when she heard Blodhgarm walk away. She allowed her childish form to melt away, revealing her more comfortable eighteen-year-old skin. Saphira raised a sleepy head and watched Evalin carefully as the girl made her way up the steps to her temporary sleeping place. She smile and waved to Saphira before disappearing behind brick. The dragon relaxed again, and after a quick glance at her sleeping rider, drifted of into her own slumber. Evalin sat in the upper loft of the armory, thinking about her own two dragons. She had grown accustomed to them always being in her mind, always knowing what they were thinking. She hated the feeling of being alone, alone like she had been for eighteen years of her life. Evalin grimaced at the thought of what Galbatorix might be doing right now, screaming, throwing one of his deadly temper tantrums, ordering slaves about. Evalin knew she'd be impossible to scribe, Galbatorix himself had seen to that, and Shruikan had been careful in his flight, never landing, never flying below the clouds. Yes, evalin's father was most likely doing everything he could to find them, but Evalin was sure he never would. After all, she had gone the last place he would ever look. She had gone to the place she'd been bred to despise, to hate, and to fear. She had gone straight to the Varden.