"Saphira!" Eragon shouted as he woke up. His face was disheveled and his expression panicky. "Argetlam is there a problem?" asked Laufin, a well built elf. Buttoning up his tunic, Eragon shook his head slightly. After the elf had gone, he felt Saphira's worried consciousness inquire.

What is it, little one? Anyone we have to fight?

No, Saphira, just a dream. But it was disturbing. Y-you were gone! Captured!

It's okay, little one, Saphira said, in soothing tones. But behind them, was worry. We'll talk to the Eldunarí tomorrow.

…

There was no tomorrow. The first of the dragon riders was going to arrive, and the speed of the preparations had doubled. According to Eragon's wish, caves were made inside the forest, so the riders could learn to survive.

Eragon was nervous. What will I say to the student, Saphira? Will they respect such a young teacher?

For Helzvog's sake, Eragon, this is the fifty-seventh time you have asked the same question. Concentrate on the Rimgar, I am going to hunt.

Eragon sat up rigidly, tense. I'm coming with you.

Why?

Valdr. One word signified all of Eragon's intentions, and emotion.

Bah, forget it, little one. With that, she unfurled her massive blue wings and rose up into the air, her scales glinting in the afternoon sun.

"Beautiful sight isn't it?" said Blödhgarm, who had snuck up like the wolf he was.

"Aye."

Eragon continued doing the third level of Rimgar, shuddering in the anticipation of the stretching he would have to do, when Gleadr taught him the fourth.

Eragon walked to his house and took out shiny new mirror. "Draumr Kópa" he whispered. There was a shimmer on the mirror, as if it was a bowl of water with the clearest of mages, only to be blurred by a dropped stone.

Then, the vision cleared, and Eragon saw Nasuada in her throne room. It was a fairly large hall, although it was like a termite compared to the elephant of the rider's hall. "Greetings, Shadeslayer, I have not seen you since a long time." "Hello, Nasuada." She wore a green dress made of Satin. Surrounded by hoards of nobles and earls, the atmosphere around her was serene. For all her regality and royalty, she was still young, and it awed Eragon on how the young queen could handle all those bickering and selfish nobles without suffering a nervous breakdown. The nobles were staring at him with gaping mouths and wide eyes, as if he were a blare, the half-breed creatures on Stenr Abr Shur'tugal. "How go the preparations, Eragon?" "Fine, I'm excited." Eragon responded.

"Nervous, aren't you?"

"No I am not!" shouted Eragon, exasperated and trying his best to lie convincingly, but to no avail. "How are things in Alagaësia? Peaceful, I presume?" Nasuada had become tense and rigid and said in a steely voice "Goodbye, Eragon, being a queen gives a lot of stress, and I am tired. I must go."

After the connection was severed, she dismissed the audience and went to her bedroom. At least she could lie convincingly enough to fool Eragon. Nothing was well. Many of the soldiers who were not bound by oath to the dead dark king and had wanted vengeance had formed a rebellion against the new empire, and she had just sent a squadron of men under the command of General Stronghammer to raid a hideout. An assassination attempt on king Orrin which was supposed to be secret had spread like wildfire across the realm at the cause of an eavesdropping maid, and there were rumors that the disbanded slavers were grouping again.

She was longing to hear from Murtagh. By Helzvog, I love him. She had hated her experience of her capture, imprisonment and torture in Uru'baen, but when Eragon had offered to ease the pain she suffered and relived, she refused. She wanted to remember them, for, with the pain, there was Murtagh's affection too. She still remembered the beautiful grey eyes piercing her own, and Murtagh trying to preserve Nasuada's modesty while healing her secretly.

There was a knock next door, and Elva came inside without even asking for permission, much to the protests of the Nighthawks. "I feel awkward right now Nasuada, I think it may have something to do with you." With this, Elva took her weaving and sat down on a stool, while Nasuada continued to discuss the details of the Elven alliance with Vanir and another elf. For a half hour, they talked and then, Elva stiffened, and yelled "Nasuada, duck!"

Nasuada ducked, and so did Vanir, but the other elf did not make out heads or tails of the situation and was easily struck in the eye with a small sharp dart. He could not say anything before the dart's magic started and the elf's skull imploded and collapsed with a bang. Elva too fainted with a yelp. Vanir was off in a second, running with beautiful grace and speed, determined to find the assassin. She brought out a mirror and called Trianna.

"Draumr Kópa"

"Greetings, Arya Dröttning"

" Greetings to you to, queen Nasuada."

"One of your elves has been killed. Assassination attempt."

Arya was wearing, not her simple black leather clothes, but a beautiful green tunic, and boots of the same colour too. Támerlein rested on a table, and Arya's hand was on its pommel. Fírnen sat behind her throne, just his neck and head visible. At the word 'killed', a fierce flare rose up in her emerald eyes. She said in a steely voice, "who did it?"

"I do not know. Vanir left without saying anything, hot in pursuit after the assassin. I do not know why everyone we have helped is trying to kill me. If not for Elva, Vanir or I would have been killed. And the werecats have ended their alliance, on a friendly note, to the cause of Yelloweyes being killed in another attempt. I presume that you will not do so, right?" the fear and doubt reflected of her words.