Cleaning Up The Mess
Eragon and Saphira waited by the edge of the forest at sunset for the Arianna and Rhudra. Saphira circled overhead close to the trees, while Eragon stood on the open plain and expanded his senses as far as he could.
I don't trust this girl Eragon. Said Saphira seriously.
And you think I do? Replied Eragon.
You agreed to meet them here.
That doesn't mean I trust them.
No sooner had the discussion started, Saphira ended it, They are coming.
A few moments later Rhudra glided into a land, twenty feet from Eragon. Saphira dived down and landed in between Rhudra and Eragon. Eragon stepped around from Saphira in time to see Arianna dismount.
As they weren't trying to kill each other Eragon could actually look at her. She had long golden hair, she was quite tall but still shorter than Eragon and she was thin enough to suggest she had a few lean ears behind her. She was clad in a simple tunic and trousers in elven style of green and brown.
"No weapons." She said, drawing her sword and sticking it in the ground.
"And the rest." Said Eragon suspiciously looking at a bulge near the rim of her boot.
"Fine." She sighed, removing a boot from her dagger as well as other from numerous other places.
Eragon placed his bow and quiver beside him and put his daggers next to them.
"I have no guarantee you've gotten rid of all of yours." He stated, "So I'll keep my sword."
She smiled at this, "Good you'll need judgement like that for what is to come."
"And what is to come?" asked Eragon.
"First, I think we should convince our dragons to not pounce on each other."
Eragon turned his attention to the two dragons. They looked like they were sizing each other up for a fight.
Eragon placed his arm on Saphira's right foreleg, Saphira try subtlety.
Saphira on the outside seemed to back down just like the Rhudra, but Eragon could tell she could spring into actions in a second.
"Right," said Arianna, "Now they at least don't look like one of them could be killed soon lets get down to business."
She and Eragon sat down opposite each other cross-legged by the edge of the forest. Arriana reached into her tunic, an action, which made Eragon place a hand on his sword, and pulled out a scroll. Slowly she handed it to him.
One the note were five names, none of which meant anything to Eragon.
"Who are these?" asked Eragon.
"The five most powerful men in Dras Leona." Replied Arianna, "The Varden won't break into the city, even if they did the paths are numerous and many and the soldiers known them like the back of their hands. For every foot taken a hundred men will be lost."
"So you want me to do, what kill these men?" asked Eragon.
"Simply, yes," replied Arianna, "You'll have to do it certain ways of course, and steal a substantial amount of gold from one of them."
"What why?" asked Eragon.
"If you are here, then I don't have to go back to Galbatorix." Said Arianna, "My goal is to hunt you down, it says nothing about bring you back. Now, these men, one is the governor of the city hated by all, one is the high priest of the Helgrind religion hated by all, the third is the man in charge of the slave trade hated by all, the fourth is captain of the army controlling the army hated by all and the final one is the chief tax man, utterly loathed by all."
"But another will simply take their places."
"These men do not trust each other, and they certainly have assassins ready to move." Explained Arianna, "All you doing it getting them more active."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Eragon suspiciously.
"Two reason," replied Arianna, "I grew up here, what sort of person would I be if I didn't try to make it better, and two, you need to learn to fight dirty."
"What?" asked Eragon.
"Do you really think Galbatorix fights anyone fairly?" asked Arianna, "He cheats anyway he can. You need to do the same, and here is the perfect place to learn."
"And what will killing these men accomplish?" asked Eragon.
"The people of the city will finally have the courage to stand up for themselves." Explain Arianna, "They may not accept Varden rule, but they certainly won't attack them either."
"Why don't you do it?" asked Eragon, "You know so much about them, it would be easy."
"They know me," she replied matter-of-factly, "Plus you're a symbol of hope to the down and outs of the city. You plunge the over paid, over fed bastards into a private civil war, the people do the rest."
"Won't their lives get worse because of the lords killing each other?"
"Not really, the lords will be too busy to focusing on each other to bother with them."
What do you think Saphira? Asked Eragon.
I think this is a trap to get you into the city. Stated Saphira glaring at Arianna and Rhudra.
I agree.
Eragon got to his feet, "Nice story." He said, and gathered up his weapons.
Arianna got up, "Eragon, you need to learn to fight dirty. I will not make another attempt to capture you and here you will do so much good."
To Eragon's surprise, all of this was said in the ancient language. He stopped and stared at her for a long time.
Saphira, what do you think? Asked Eragon.
Ask her to let you search her mind. Replied Saphira, if she truly speaks the truth, we should do it.
I agree.
"We'll do it on one condition." Said Eragon, "I want to search your mind."
"No." replied Arianna backing away, "My mind is my last refuge, I will not let anyone into it."
"You expect us to trust you," demanded Eragon, "Yet you do not trust us."
My rider made her view quite clear Shadeslayer. Growled Rhudra, You do not command her, trust us or leave.
"Fine," snarled Eragon and mounted Saphira.
"Wait!" pleaded Arianna her language switching to ancient, "I swear I will never willing betray you, and if I am compelled to, I will do everything I can to warn you and resist."
"What of your dragon?" asked Eragon "does he agree to this?"
Yes. Stated Rhudra.
Eragon sighed and dismounted, "Fine, we'll do it."