The air was nice and cool, a soft breeze played with the trees that were barely visible under the pale light of the moon. Tonight, I had to join the other soldiers in guarding the gates and walls of the city. It was nice to spend time outside under the star-filled sky, but anything rarely happened at this time. We usually stood for hours, walking around occasionally with our hands on our sheaths, maybe making small talk with the other soldiers but nothing more.

But it gave me time to think, and I didn't know anymore if that was a good or bad thing. It had been eight years. Eight years since Uncle Liam and I had come to this forsaken place. Eight years since I had met Darin. Eight years since I had been imprisoned here.

Ever since then I had been working for the king. He had been furious with me for killing Darin, but surprisingly had let me live and had taken care of me, teaching me everything I now know. It had taken hard work, though, to earn his trust. Not that he ever actually trusted anyone. But at least, I was still alive and had reached my 16th year of age a few weeks ago.

As I patrolled the city's walls along with the other men, I kept repeating Liam's words to myself. They helped me live. The promises I made him and Darin were the only thing that kept me up.

It had taken metime to accustom myself to serving the king. I longingly stared at the world outside of the city, always remembering my travels with Uncle Liam. They seemed so distant, like fading clouds of memories, foggy, but still there, slowly traversing and fading from my mind.

A sore cough interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to my guard duty. It was a couple of hours after midnight when we heard the hooves of a horse fastly approaching. No one ever really came to the city at night, but the king has been expecting someone for a while now. Could it be? I jabbed my friend Phillip on the side who was so close to dozing off, he could have fallen off the wall.

"What's wrong?" he asked, instantly alert.

"I hear someone approaching," I motioned for him to get closer to the other edge that overlooked the outside of the city, and searched for the disturbance.

A dark shadow moved swiftly towards the gates, still too far to distinguish. Once closer, we could see it was a lone man on his horse.

He looked up to us and called out, "please open the gates, I have urgent business I need to attend to...with the king."

"What is your name and what urgent business might that be?" I asked.

"Nothing you need to know about."

"And how can we prove you trustworthy? The king is resting and would not be pleased if he was to be bothered."

"The king won't be pleased if I don't give him the urgent news I carry."

I looked to Phillip but he only shrugged and said, "it must be the one we're waiting for."

I nodded and turned to another soldier and ordered him to open the gates. Then I called out to two other soldiers and ordered them to accompany the man. I'd better follow them, I thought, and this better be the person we are waiting for or else the king will have my head for waking him up.

We led the strange man through the city, to the palace, all the way to the throne room, and had to send a maid to wake the king up. I kept my hand ready on my sword and my eyes on the stranger the whole time. What news could be so important to demand to see the king at this hour?

We waited in awkward silence for the king. The man must have finally sensed me staring at him and turned to look at me. He had a long nose and sharp jaw. His eyes were black and condescending, and it seemed as if he was always sneering. He carried himself with a high demeanor. I kept staring until he turned away.

After about twenty minutes later, the king entered through a different door and walked up to his throne, ignoring us until he was seated. I bowed to himand spoke once it was deemed okay.

"My king, this person has asked to see you urgently."

The man walked up before the king and bowed. "My king, I have important news to bear, that cannot be heard by other ears."

I looked at the king waiting for his answer. I itched to know what this information was all about. Was this the person King Galbatorix was waiting for? There was something about this person that was just, off. The king waved his hands to dismiss us but surprised me when he ordered me to stay.

"Go ahead, speak."

I could tell the man was glaring at me from the corner of his eyes. I would have stuck my tongue out at him if we weren't in the presence of the king, though I have done so before and it has gotten me into quite some trouble.

"Very well, my king. Our spies have sent word about the next travel the egg carriers are to make."

At the mention of this, the king's eyes lit up, as if having heard the news of his long-lost child.

"They will be setting out in..."

The door opened and in walked the Shade I despised.

"You called, my king?"

"Durza, I want you to retrieve what belongs to me."

They continued talking, and I just stood there, forgotten. Dragon eggs. The images of the dragon eggs Darin had shown me resurfaced to my mind. I had promised Darin to tell the Varden about the dragon eggs' new location, but I was never allowed outside of Uru'baen, and maybe...maybe I was a bit scared to leave, to betray the fearsome king.

The Shade left, eager to complete his task with the words "don't fail me" trailing behind. He didn't even sneer or glare at me as he passed by. If only I could let the Varden know...

"Kailee, call the soldiers and have them escort this man. Come back once you are done."

"Yes, my king."

I did as was told, wondering what the king would want. When I went back to the throne room, he had his eyes closed and I waited for him to speak.

"No one is to know what you have heard. If word escapes from your lips, I'll personally make sure you won't ever be able to talk again. Am I understood?"

"Yes, my king." Ouch, that didn't sound good, though I was sure he would do something much more painful and dramatic than that.

"Now, I want you to pay a visit to Mister Leonel. The usual. I am sure you know who I speak of?"

"Yes, my king," I bowed and left once he dismissed me. I detested these 'visits' he would send me to.