I just found a new interest: writing in semi- archaic style, a very interesting (and so far successful) experiment.

I finished two chapters two days in a row... I'm so proud of myself.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Infatuation

Jeannette was avoiding Murtagh. That much was obvious. She still did her chores and followed her daily routine. However, try as he might, he only caught a few fleeting glimpses of her. Damn that Jeannette... is this her way of punishing me? If it is, it's working, so you can stop now.

"Hvass kenna fá," Galbatorix whispered. Murtagh grimaced in pain at the intrusion of his newborn ward. Fatigue weighed down his languish limbs even more, and he was afraid of collapsing any moment.

"Someone seems preoccupied today. Care to share what's going on in that blockhead of yours?" he said in contempt.

"Why ask when you already know?" Murtagh panted, clenching his sword.

"You are so much like your father. He had woman troubles as well," an amused and interested look entered his eyes.

"I am nothing like my father," Murtagh contradicted, "Never call me that again." Despite the threat in Murtagh's tone, Galbatorix brushed it off with a cold grin.

"So you say. When you realize it, it'll be all too late." As if I don't have enough people telling me that already, Murtagh thought as Jeannette's words echoed in his head.

"Enough pep talks." Just as he finished his sentence, a spear threw itself to Murtagh's right side, and he barely managed to dodge it. He was caught off- guard as the spear corrected its direction and headed straight for him. He cursed as the spear penetrated his shield entirely and stopped an inch before his nose while hovering in the air.

"There's no point in training you while you're distracted. I expect your utmost attention next time, and get rid of those ridiculous thoughts of your servant."

"Yes, master." He forced himself to bow awkwardly, despite his exhaustion. With a wave of his hand, Murtagh was dismissed. He was curious though, about one thing.

"The book of black magic that you gave me... I thought I was the only one who can touch it," Murtagh said inquisitively.

"Not quite. Since both of us made a blood bond, our relatives would also be able to gain access to it, but it would reject anyone else. Thus, only me, you, and Eragon would be able to touch it," he explained.

"Eragon?" Murtagh repeated, alarmed.

"I never did tell you the truth, did I? After Selena gave birth to you, she was quickly impregnated again. With failing health, she absconded. After two years, she returned, only to die shortly of a fever. The only reason I remember this so clearly is because your father couldn't stop ranting about her verbally and mentally," he explained with a smug smirk.

"How can you prove that Selena gave birth to Eragon?"

"Selena is peasant- born, and she has blood ties to Garrow, his brother and Roran, his niece. Both of them live in Carvahall, and that is where Raz'ac reported the next Rider to be," he added, getting exasperated.

"But that doesn't prove-" He was desperate for a way to escape this inconvenient truth.

"If you don't believe me, Brom was hiding at Carvahall, waiting to see what Eragon would become. Why would he, a former Rider and creator of the filthy Varden, hide at Carvahall for 20 years?" Murtagh fell silent, struck by the revelation. He couldn't begin to assimilate this. Eragon and I... are brothers? He ran out the door, refusing to believe it. Thorn could help calm him. He walked quickly across to the immense underground chamber to Thorn, which lay below the entire structure of the castle.

---

Jeannette couldn't believe it. She had searched the library inside out, and yet nothing! Not a single word, not a single chapter! The language may as well be nonexistent. Her frustration was building like a volcano ready to explode.

"My, my, haven't you been busy lately," Wynfrith chuckled.

"And only to end up with nothing," she sagged her shoulders in defeat.

"I wouldn't say that. What are you doing in here? You're at your heyday. Go chat with that inane Alanis or take a ride on Reba. A beautiful young woman like you shouldn't spend all her few days inside," he nudged.

"Very well, Wynfrith. It'll be dangerous for me to stay here longer, anyhow," she smiled at him and quickly left. She walked quickly, cursing at her horrible luck.

"What's the hurry?" a voice squeaked from behind. Alanis.

"Nothing. I just think I need to blow off some steam," she replied with a counterfeit smile.

"Why?"

"That's private."

"Are you going to go beat up Murtagh? Can I watch?" she pouted.

"Don't be ridiculous," she snorted, "Although it is a pleasant thought."

"Of course, Jeannette would never hurt her precious Murtagh. You know what, Jeannette? I think you like him," she spat out.

"Are you crazy?" Her face grew a boiling crimson, and it was the worst reaction she could have made.

"Jeannette loves Murtagh! Jeannette loves Murtagh! Jeannette loves Murtagh! Ahhhh! Don't hurt me!" she screamed, running down the hallway. Jeannette chased her in pursuit, trying to take revenge on her.

"Stop saying it!" she cried, covering Alanis's mouth with her hand.

"Okay! Don't you think you're overacting here?" she squeaked in defense. Could I really be infatuated? Jeannette had never fallen in love before, never had a secret crush. She didn't know the answer to her own question.

"I'm not sure if I like him or not," she mumbled, scarlet faced.

"What are you saying? Either you like him or you don't. It's not hard to see the fine line," Alanis explained.

"True, but..." She flushed deeply, and Alanis giggled hysterically.

"You definitely like him. Ooh, isn't this exciting! Forbidden love between a powerful prince and a beautiful servant! It's almost like the fairytales," she laughed.

"Please don't give me your immature anecdotes." I do see the dilemma in that, however.

"Well, you can keep lying to yourself or listen to me. I suggest you grow some balls and tell him that you love him," she commanded Jeannette prissily.

"Over my dead body," she muttered. What should she do? She'll probably give it some time to sort out everything. She couldn't keep avoiding him forever. Sooner or later he's going to track her down.

"Well, don't you have chores to do, Alanis? Or are you just going to torture me for the rest of the day?" Jeannette changed the uncomfortable subject.

"I think Isiah likes me." When Jeannette scoffed, she added, "He asked me to help him. Me, out of all servants! Not only that, but when our fingertips met," she started giggling, "he blushed deeply! He looked so sweet, he was almost edible."

"Ick. I wonder how long this crush is going to last," she sighed. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Could you ask Isiah to speak with me? There's a favor I need to ask him," she said.

"Why don't you ask him yourself? You're perfectly capable of talking," she shrugged.

"I have chores I need to do. Besides, it'll offer you a discussion topic," she replied. Not like you don't have enough topics already.

Alanis gave her a sly look, wondering what she might want to say to Isiah. Suddenly Jeannette had an idea. She remembered where Murtagh and Galbatorix were training. If she snuck in there... maybe she could find a clue, or better yet, the book again. All she had to do was follow her instinct. But if she got caught, there might be terrible consequences. Still, an act of high risk- reward ratio got her blood stirring. All she needed to do was get rid of Alanis.

"Well, I'm going to visit Reba." She walked down the hall, but to her dismay, Alanis followed.

"I'll come too!" Alanis offered.

"No, no," she said a bit too quickly, "Plus I'll be cleaning up the manure."

"Okay, um... isn't the stable the other direction?" Alanis gave a bemused look. After a pink tinge appearing on her cheeks, Jeannette flushed but regained her composure.

"I'm just getting a treat for her in the kitchen," she lied. She felt uncomfortable lying to her best friend, but it was so trivial she didn't care.

"Well, okay, since you want to ditch me so badly, I'll be avoiding you too," she pouted and skipped daintily down the opposite end of the hall. I'm so pathetic. I can't even lie well without making a complete fool of myself.

She walked toward Galbatorix's quarters, a plan hatching in her mind. Go in and look as quickly as I can, then creep out after learning whatever I need. She pushed open the door, and glanced around. The same old lamp, desk, and carpet. Nothing moved or changed. She slowly tip- toed to the intricately carved door, and peeped through the keyhole. She saw only darkness. She squirmed, trying to focus her eyes to see better, but to no avail. What's wrong with me? I saw another room here just a month ago. Frustrated, she kicked the door, and immediately regretted it. A pain shot up her leg, and she jumped while crying 'ow.'

Stop being short- tempered and stupid, Jeannette. Think.

Still, even if I did see something inside, would it matter? There's no knob, so how would I open the door? Murtagh and Galbatorix could probably open it with magic, but how could she? It was totally stupid and hopeless.

Red- face from chagrin and frustration, she stomped to the door. Mid- way, her arm knocked over the lamp. Not again! Careful not to start a fire, she set it up straight. Something was wrong here. She looked at the meager flame carefully. It burned, but the wax candle was the same height as she remembered the first time. There's no way the wax would last that long. She hovered her hand near it, and surprisingly enough, there was light, but no heat. She raised her eyebrows. She took the candle out and set the flame along a piece of paper. Any ordinary fire would devour the paper in seconds, but the flame simply stayed there, doing nothing. Excitement exploded in her. Magic. Was this the answer?

Suddenly something creaked. Her mouth gaped as the door swung open by itself. Cautiously, she crept in, and observed her surroundings. There was a throne made out of a strange compact crystal and a woven map of Algaesia. She closed the door behind her, but she made sure she did not to lock herself inside.

She felt the strong, uneasy presence of magic, but it was very faint. Let's see... where could it be? She walked toward the source of her unease, and approached the map of Algaesia. The source came from behind. She lifted it up, but only to find a cold, stone wall. Adrenaline pumped in her veins. She had the uneasy feeling that she was being watched, but shook it off. Am I supposed to mutter a few magical words and watch the stones open up to a passageway for me? She crouched lower, and realized the vibe did not come out from behind the wall, but rather from below. Was there a floor below this room?

She walked around the perimeter of the room, clicking her heels to see if the floor was really stone or if there was a secret passageway underneath. The rug in the middle of the room... She lifted it up and she smiled victoriously. Lifting up the wooden latch, she found stone stairways leading below. Unfortunately, it was pitch black and she couldn't see anything beyond the fifth step. The lamp! Hurriedly she ran into the other room, fetched the lamp, and went under the stairs. She had to restrain herself from squealing in delight.

As her heels clicked as she climbed down the spiraling stairs, it echoed down the small chamber. An ominous feeling entered her heart, but her elation brushed off her common sense. At last she came to a door. She put her hand on the brass knob. The reticent and curious sides of her fought for control. It's true that I don't know what's waiting for me on the other side, but... Her curiosity won.

Hoping for the best, she turned the knob. To her incredible surprise, it led to a vast, well- lit chamber with wax lights hung on the walls. Laid out on the table on the side of the room was something emerald green. Her curiosity piqued, she approached it and touched the egg. Green tendrils covered the large egg like a web of lightning, and she couldn't stop staring at it. Its surface was smooth and untarnished like the most perfect crystal.

Is this... Galbatorix's unhatched green dragon?

---

The dragon stirred from its ancient slumber at the touch of the new human. Her warm touch was soft, appeasing, and inviting. The green dragon yearned to come out of its round, hard prison. He had been in here forever, and may be here for another eternity. He wanted to come see the world outside and explore great discoveries his ancestors never even dreamed of.

She stroked him, and he dreamed of how it would feel like to have her hand on his bare scales. Was she the right one? She had an appetite for curiosity, adventure, and excitement. Was she brave? The infant dragon couldn't tell. Was she wise? Enough, he thought. Unlike the other people who had touched the egg, she wasn't ravaged by thoughts of avarice and power, only fascination.

She would make a great Rider- one powerful enough to change the entire events of Algaesia's history.

The dragon squirmed.

And that's the end of this one! Yup, it's a cliffhanger! I hope you all enjoyed it. Next chapter:

Chapter 5: First Kiss

Yup, they kiss in the next part! I told you guys I was moving pretty quickly.