"Who's that with Nana?" A man with a deep voice and straggly beard asked Isabella as she walked into the Great Hall. A room decorated with ancient invaluable relics.
"I don't know some big guy who thinks himself a philosopher or something, I don't know." She replied
"Okay, what's with you? Georgie take your precious jewelry again?" he said mockingly. Annoyed she tripped him with magic causing him to drop all the wood he had in his arms.
"Ooooow. NO USING MAGIC ON US. I will tell mom and have you grounded again."
"Whatever, Alex."
She walked off up the winding stairs onto the third floor.
Eragon walked behind Katrina through a long intimidating corridor with a set of imposing golden doors.
"You guys are really fond of gold I see." Eragon asked curiously.
"Aye you have a keen eye. As we began expanding we stumbled upon rivers filled with gold. Rivers as long as they come. There we began mining and found more gold than we ever knew what to do with. Along we also mined iron ore, coal, and Katchin, the strongest metal ever seen by man."
"Katchin!?" Eragon gasped, "The tales say that such metal has only been seem in the hands of the elves. That only one sword was ever forged by that metal, locked up in a sacred tomb, never seen again. The value of such a rarity is higher than that of a Rider's blade." Eragon said looking at Brisingr.
"Yes we are lucky. But there was only so much luck. We barely found enough to make a reasonable blade, but with the aid of our many smiths it was forged in the finest fires I've ever seen." Katrina spoke with honor and pride, "Like our allies our masterpiece is locked sacredly. Bound by spells and soldies."
Eragon nodded his head impressed. He's heard rumors of how great a place Carvahall had become. It wasn't until he's arrived that he knew the full extent. He was proud of the success of his cousin Roran. To think a simple farmer could become a king in name and glory.
As Katrina and Eragon stepped up to the gigantic doors, Katrina's servant, a women in elegant white robes stepped up casting a spell, which unlocked the doors from the inside. Eragon felt the magic which clogged the senses into the room release for a moment. As if it had pulsated momentarily. Eragon predicted that when a magician unlocks the doors the magic used to conceal Roran's presence is momentarily lifted, a weakness any good magician could exploit. But he commended the magicians on their power to even confuse his senses for a moment. The servant stepped aside and bowed as they began walking.
"Oh, stop that nonsense." Katrina said towards the servant, "I've told you, you don't have to be so formal Nadia, we've known you since you were a babe, and your mother was a great friend. You're as much family as Isabella."
"You flatter M'lady. I would never be so brash as to disrespect you and not bow when you walk by."
Katrina sighed in defeat. "This is Eragon, the one I told you about."
Eragon looked at her and saw she was pale skinned with long black hair that reached the small of her back. She looked to be the same age of Isabella, around 18 or 19, Eragon thought. She had freckles sprinkled on her nose and cheeks. They began to glow when she tried to boldly look up at Eragon. She was blushing. Eragon decided to break the ice, "How are you this fine day?" Eragon extended his hand in greeting and Nadia looked to Katrina for approval. Katrina eagerly nodded for Nadia to accept his greeting, where then Nadia bowed and said, "It is an honor to meet someone as fabled as you. If you need anything please ask, I will do anything for you." As soon as she said Katrina laughed and Eragon snickered. They knew she was overwhelmed and said something without thinking. She put her head down and ran off in embarrassment.
"That girl never changes." Katrina said still laughing.
"She's cute," said Eragon, "but why did you tell her about me and not anyone else?"
"That's for a later conversation. Now may we proceed, Roran has been dying to see you. Literally"
Nadia ran almost in tears, her cheeks a bright red. She ran through the great hall and up the winding stairs onto the third floor where she hid inside one of the rooms. There she began to throw insults at herself for being such an embarrassment to Lady Katrina.
"Nadia what makes you sad on such a beautiful day?" Said a voice from afar.
"Oh I apologize to ruin your day lady Isabella, but I am just too embarrassed to show my face for the rest of my life."
"Stop apologizing, you and I are basically sisters. There's no need for the formalities. Honestly I have grown weary of reciting this to you."
"Yes M'lady"
"SEE!? You don't need to call me 'M'lady', we're friends, family even, call me Izzy. Please. For me." Isabella pleaded.
"Okay, Izzy" Nadia said stumbling on saying 'Izzy'.
"Now, what is your problem? Did Koran try to force himself on you again? That sick bastard, I swear I'll kill him if he did." Isabella said fiercely.
"No, no it's nothing like that. It really isn't anything to worry your day with M'la…..I mean Izzy." Said Nadia softly.
"Nonsense I told you a long time ago that you could tell me anything. Right?"
"Right. I don't really know how to explain it but, an elf looking man with brilliant golden hair and shining blue eyes, is staying as a guest. He was walking with Lady Katrina when…"
"Do you speak of Eragon Shadeslayer? Rider who defeated the Mad King?"
"Why yes miss, he went with your grandmother into the king's room."
"What did he do to you? That smug bastard, thinking he's all powerful. I'll kill him. I don't care who he is"
"No please don't. I was the offender. I embarrassed myself in front of M'lady. I feel so sick, such a prestigious master had to be greeted by such an incompetent person such as I."
Isabella immediately wrapped Nadia in her arms. "You are not incompetent you're the most compassionate person I know. The guy doesn't have the right to know who you really are." She said softly while comforting Nadia. Nadia nodded and let Isabella hold her tight.