Galbatorix killed Suníl a month later.
Eragon and Roran were furious; Murtagh was worried. If Galbatorix had killed Suníl, Circe still hadn't told him how to get by Eragon's oath to Nasuada. It had been a month since they had given her that job and she still hadn't done it. She had seemed so eager to help during their last meeting. They forced Murtagh to find out why she hadn't done her part yet.
She was right where he thought she would be, sitting with her late father's mount in the stables. Thorn had told him that. She wore all black as a sign of mourning. Her eyes seemed distant, like they weren't staring at anything in particular. At least she wasn't crying.
Murtagh walked over and sat down next to her. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, hoping to help her get over her father's death and get her mind back on their rebellion. "I'm sure he was a good man… err… Kylrian."
Circe sighed. "I'm all alone now, Murtagh," she said dejectedly. "My father was the only one I had, and now he's gone. Galbatorix doesn't care about anyone but himself."
"Don't say that," Murtagh told her. "I care."
"I mean that I'm the only Kylrian left in Alagaësia," she explained sadly. "And I'm not even a pure blood. I didn't mean to imply that you don't care. You're the only friend I have here."
Murtagh felt himself smile. "I'd rather have one friend than none. There's no reason to just give up, Circe, listen to me. It's not over yet." He put his hand on her shoulder; she was shaking. "Why have you not told Galbatorix how to get by Eragon's vows?"
Circe turned her eyes away from Murtagh. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"It would have saved your father's life," Murtagh told her. "Why didn't you tell him?"
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Circe started trembling even harder and tears formed in her eyes. "I don't believe it. It's all my fault," she lamented. "Why didn't I just face him? I killed my own father!"
Murtagh shook his head, immediately regretting what he had said. "No, no, no," he said, trying to be soothing. "That's not what I meant!"
"But it's true," Circe whispered in horror.
Murtagh sighed. "Maybe so," he said calmly. "But you can't change the past. Do you want your father to have died in vain?" Circe shook her head no. "Then you've got to lie to Galbatorix, help get Eragon out of the castle."
Circe sighed. "I am afraid," she admitted, not looking at Murtagh.
"Afraid?" he asked. "Look I know Galbatorix is intimidating…"
"No," she cut him off. "It's not like that. With my father dead, even when he was weak and dying, there's nothing to stop Galbatorix from hurting me. You said yourself that you've seen how he looks at me. You know what he wants from me."
Murtagh suddenly understood. That was the very reason why he wanted to get her away from the palace. How could he not have guessed?
"He's done it before," Circe whispered in terror. "That's why Suníl started selling his magic for my protection. Now, I'm afraid that when I tell him, he'll do it again. There'll be nothing to stop him."
"And I understand that," he said. "Eragon understand and Roran understands," he lied. "But you have to face your fear. If not, you will live with them for the rest of your life! Is that what you want?"
She shook her head. Murtagh continued, "Then go now and tell him. You are still a servant in this castle, and Galbatorix made me his heir. I order you, Circe, you must do this now."
She rose solemnly, looking much like the incarnation of death with her black, flowing gown and cloak. Her expression was one of sad gravity and she stared at Murtagh and bent her knees in a fake curtsy. "As you wish, My Lord," she said, spitting out the last words with venom. Without another word, she strode out of the room, leaving Murtagh speechless behind her.
That was not very wise, Thorn's voice echoed through his mind. You cannot afford to make her an enemy. After Galbatorix, she is the most powerful mage in the land.
Murtagh walked into the dragon stables shaking his head. He glared at Thorn. She's not going to do anything to hurt us. She's not brave enough.
Thorn snorted. You know very well that she hates people who boss her around. That's why she's helping you, to get rid of Galbatorix.
Saphira touched his mind too. Eragon and Roran are waiting for you. They want to have another meeting.
Tell Eragon I'm on my way up then, Murtagh said grumpily. Who had made Eragon in charge of this rebellion?
Maybe he's in charge because it was his idea? Thorn mused.
Shut up! Murtagh shouted as he made his way up to Eragon's room.
"Finally," Eragon said as Roran walked into the room. "I called you fifteen minutes ago."
"Sorry," Roran apologized with a goofy smile on his face. "I was with Katrina."
"Oh," Eragon said, wistfully thinking of Arya. She'd been on his mind a lot in the past month. It seemed that everytime he saw Roran and Katrina together, he thought of Arya. But what was he so hopeful for? Arya had made it clear that she had no romantic interest in him.
Roran sighed. "It's Arya again, isn't it?" he asked.
Eragon nodded glumly. "I just feel jealous I guess. I mean, you've got Katrina. Saphira's been looking at Thorn differently and it's obvious that Murtagh cares about Circe…"
Roran nodded. "Look I know how it feels to be separated from the one you love. Remember how Katrina and I were separated? I would say not to give up hope, but if Arya made it clear that she doesn't have any feelings for you… you aren't doing yourself any good."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Eragon said dryly as Murtagh walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
Murtagh took one look at Eragon's sad face and turned to Roran. "He's upset about Arya again. Isn't he?" he asked. Roran nodded. "It's kind of pathetic," Murtagh said. "I mean, she doesn't even feel the same way."
Eragon glared at his older brother. "Oh yeah," he said sarcastically. "You're doing a whole lot better with Circe."
Murtagh looked shocked. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.
"Oh don't act like you don't know," Eragon said with a sly smile. "We've seen the way you look at her, heard the way you talk about her."
Roran mocked him, " 'Oh, Circe will never turn us in! She could never do that; she's too nice and sweet and kind and beautiful!'"
"Shut up!" Murtagh said angrily. "Is this why Saphira sent me up here? To be made fun of?"
"Hey, you started it," Roran pointed out.
"Aye," Eragon agreed. "But no, this is not why I asked you to come to a meeting. I want to know what Circe told you. Why has she waited to tell Galbatorix how to break Eragon's oath?"
Murtagh sighed and sat down. "She is afraid," he said simply.
"Afraid?" Eragon asked in disbelief. "That's it? She's afraid? I know Galbatorix is scary and everything, but that's why she waited? She seemed so eager to help a month ago. I would have never guessed anything was wrong. She continued with our lessons and everything."
"You do not understand," Murtagh said gravely. "I know that she told you about how her father was selling his magic to Galbatorix to protect her, but do you know what he wanted to protect her from?"
Both Eragon and Roran went silent at Murtagh's serious tone and shook their heads no.
"Shortly after they came to the palace, Galbatorix raped her," Murtagh continued quietly. "Suníl was furious and started selling his magic in order to protect his only child from Galbatorix. Now that her father's dead, Circe is terrified to even go near Galbatorix. She says that she was even scared to before her father died."
There was a moment of silence before Eragon said, "That may be so, but she should have risked it anyway for the sake of our rebellion. We cannot afford to waste time like this. Galbatorix-,"
"Could send us into battle at any moment?" Murtagh finished his sentence for him. "Yes, Eragon, we all know that. But give her a break. Nobody's perfect. Not even Arya."
Eragon seemed to shrink back a little, but he looked like he would have bitten Murtagh if a messenger boy didn't come into the room.
"Rider Eragon, sir," the servant said as the three turned to look at him. "The Rider King Galbatorix has sent me to bring you to him along with Rider Murtagh and Rider Roran. He wishes your presence in the throne room."
"Circe's done her part then," Murtagh whispered to Eragon as the servant led them through the labyrinth of hallways toward the throne room. "This must be about breaking your oath to Nasuada."
"Then why does he want you and Roran too?" Eragon asked.
"He must be sending us away right after this," Murtagh mused. "The elves must have definitely reached Isenstar Lake by now."
Galbatorix watched from his gilded throne as Eragon, Roran and Murtagh were brought before him. He was smiling down at them, happy that Circe had told him how to break Nasuada's oath. Little did he know that she'd given him false information.
Murtagh noticed one thing out of place in Galbatorix's court. Circe wasn't standing at Galbatorix's left hand like she usually did. Where was she? What had Galbatorix done to her? Then he saw it, the magical cage sitting on a pedestal where Circe should have been. There was a black cat inside. Murtagh suddenly felt extremely uneasy. There was no doubt in his mind that this animal was Circe. Kylrians could shape shift.
Galbatorix's booming regal voice broke him from his thoughts as the king addressed Eragon. "I told you, Shadeslayer, that my mages would find a way around your insignificant oath to the Varden, and they finally have." Galbatorix took a piece of paper out of his robes and held it like a weapon in his hands.
Eragon stepped forward and glared at Galbatorix defiantly. "I will not break my oath."
Galbatorix laughed. "You will obey me willingly, or suffer my wrath."
"I would die before I joined you," Eragon vowed. He had to make this convincing. If he just agreed and didn't fight back, Galbatorix would know that he was up to something.
Galbatorix gave him an evil, maniacal, sadistic grin and Eragon felt Galbatorix prying his way into his mind. While he was careful to guard the part of his mind that held their plan for escape, Eragon allowed Galbatorix to access the part that controlled his actions, and Galbatorix made the blue rider recite an oath of loyalty to the Empire in Kylrese.
Eragon fell to the ground as Galbatorix withdrew from his mind. Roran and Murtagh looked down at him briefly, just to make sure that he was all right.
Galbatorix addressed them next. "A while ago, I spoke of an imminent attack of the elves at Isenstar Lake and Gi'lead," he said. "The time has come. Tomorrow at dawn, the three of you will journey to the banks of Isenstar Lake and prepare for battle. Eleven hundred of my best men will be ready for you to lead." Galbatorix paused and made eye contact with Murtagh, sending chills down his spine.
"There will be no failure this time," he said icily as he sat back down and waved his hand, dismissing them.
Roran and Murtagh dragged Eragon to his feet and left the throne room. At the stairs, Roran left them to go get Katrina and bring her to Eragon's room so they could discuss their plans for the morning. Neither Eragon nor Murtagh spoke until they reached Eragon's room, protected from listeners by magic.
"Are you all right?" Murtagh asked his younger brother after he sat down in his usual chair. Throughout the month, they had had many other similar meetings in Eragon's room to discuss their plans and recent events. They had each come to claim their own chair.
Eragon nodded with a sigh. "I have a head ache, but that's all," he answered.
Murtagh nodded too. "He's done that to me plenty of times," he explained to Eragon with a shrug. "You get used to it eventually."
Eragon grinned, thinking of the next day when they would hopefully be free from Galbatorix. "If all goes well, I won't be around long enough," he said.
The door opened and Roran walked in with Katrina. They both took their usual chairs in the room. The only one not present was Circe.
"What's this emergency meeting all about then?" Katrina asked. "Roran wouldn't tell me in the hallways. He said that in this castle, even the walls have ears."
Eragon nodded to Roran. "He was wise to wait," he said. "Galbatorix has finally ordered us to Gi'lead. We're leaving at dawn."
Katrina's face lit up with joy. "Finally," she whispered, looking to Roran. "Maybe we can finally have a proper wedding!"
Roran nodded, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "All in due time, my love."
Eragon shifted uneasily in his chair as glanced over at Murtagh. He looked equally uncomfortable. "Roran?" he asked. "I believe we have more important things to discuss."
"Sorry," Roran muttered in apology, straightening in his chair.
Eragon turned his attention to Circe's empty chair and then to Murtagh. "Where is she?" he asked.
"You didn't see her?" Murtagh asked. "She was in Galbatorix's throne room a few moments ago."
"What are you talking about?" Eragon asked. "No she wasn't."
Murtagh laughed quietly. "Did the elves not teach you see the unusual? Or does Kylrian magic escape your eyes?"
"Stop talking in riddles," Eragon said dangerously.
"Again, you forget your place, little brother. You have no authority to order me around," Murtagh said. "Did you not see Galbatorix's new pet?"
"Yes, but what does that have anything to do-,"
"Everything, Eragon," Murtagh replied, cutting him off. "You do remember what Circe told you the first night you met her? She told you that Kylrians were the only beings to master shape shifting. Now, she is not here while Galbatorix carries around a caged cat. You are not stupid; put this puzzle together."
"But how? Why?" Eragon wanted to know.
Murtagh sighed impatiently. "My guess? Galbatorix scared her into it and then caught her and locked her up. The cage is magic proof. She can't change back while she's still in it."
Roran spoke next. "We can't leave her there," he said to Eragon. "We need the witch for our escape plan."
"I know," Eragon said, clearly trying to think of something.
"I'll go get her," Murtagh volunteered.
"Of course he will," Roran whispered to Eragon. Murtagh shot him a dangerous look.
"She'll be in Galbatorix's private chambers," Murtagh continued. "I'll go tonight and meet you guys in the dragon stables at dawn." He stood up to leave.
"Good luck," Eragon wished him.
"You're going to need it," Roran added.