Sorry this chapter took me so long.

The next morning, Leah stopped by Miera's hut before she followed Murtagh and Eragon out of the little town of Barja. Miera had sewn another five dresses overnight and packed them into a sack for Leah. Leah really didn't want the dresses, but she had to be polite. Before she left, Miera handed her an oval piece of amber hanging on a cord.

"What's this?" Leah asked.

"A magical charm."

Leah slipped the cord around her neck. "What does it do?"

"It will keep you from conceiving a child."

Leah blushed deeply. How embarrassing was this? "Why do I need this?"

"Those young men you travel with – they've got their eyes on you, child."

"Uh…sure…" Leah tucked the piece of amber beneath her shirt and quickly left the hut.

Eragon and Murtagh were waiting outside. The three headed on foot out of the town of Barja. Once they were out in the plains, Wyvern and Saphira picked them up and carried them across the sky above the border between Alagaësia and Surda. They flew all day and into the night. Leah rubbed her eyes, trying hard to stay awake. She felt someone's presence in her head. She was too tired to fight it off.

"We're going down, Leah," Eragon said.

Thank God, Leah thought. She was so tired. Wyvern touched down softly on the plains.

"We can't sleep out here in the open," Eragon said, leading Saphira toward a patch of forest.

Wyvern followed close behind Saphira. Leah wavered back and forth between consciousness and sleep. She gave up and fell asleep on Wyvern's back.

When Leah woke up, the sun was shining brightly overhead. She was surprised Eragon hadn't woken her up earlier. She sat up and stared across the dying campfire. Eragon wasn't there. Leah looked around. Murtagh was gone. So were Wyvern and Saphira. Eragon and Murtagh's blankets were still laid out on the ground. Their packs were sitting in a pile by the fire.

They probably went for a walk, Leah thought to herself. But where were the dragons? Had they gone off somewhere without her?

Damn you, Eragon, Leah cursed him. He had made a promise not to leave her on her own again. Suddenly, she felt another presence nearby.

"Eragon? Murtagh? Wyvern? Saphira?" she called. "Where are you guys?"

A black blur jumped out of the brush, tackling Leah the ground. The sound of squirming insects filled her ears. Leah looked up to see a black figure that was human, but not human. A filthy silver blade was in its hand. Leah screamed at the top of her lungs. No one came. The thing raised the blade and plunged it down toward her chest.

Leah's eyes snapped open, and she bolted straight up. She was gasping for air and sweating. Her body was cold, and she shook uncontrollably. The sky was dark. The cloudy night hid the stars and most of the ominous moon. Leah looked around for Murtagh and Eragon. Murtagh was sprawled across his blanket, breathing deeply and peacefully. Wyvern and Saphira were curled up, asleep. A hand rested on Leah's shoulder. She was so startled that she nearly screamed.

"It's okay," Eragon said. "It was just a dream."

"That thing-"

"The Ra'zac."

"That's the Ra'zac? Wait, how do you know what was in my dream?"

"I scryed into your mind."

"You had no right to do that," Leah hissed angrily.

Eragon huffed. "Sure. Your welcome for waking you up."

Leah sighed. She thought about what Wyvern and Murtagh had said about Eragon not being as cold as he seemed. "Eragon, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I've been rude to you lately more than usual. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so hostile to you."

"It's fine. I'm used to it."

"Eragon-"

"Forget it. Go to sleep."

"I'm trying to apologize!" Leah cried.

Murtagh stirred in his sleep.

"I'm trying to apologize to you, Eragon," Leah said, lowering her voice.

"Fine. I forgive you. Now go to sleep." Eragon sat on his blanket and stared blankly into the fire. It was just then that Leah saw how bloodshot his eyes were. Dark rings had settled under his eyes. His face seemed drawn, tired, and depressed.

"You haven't been sleeping much, have you?" Leah asked.

"Not really," Eragon admitted. "I can't sleep anymore."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just… I just have a lot on my mind."

"Like what?"

"Well…you know…just stuff."

"Stressed?"

Eragon sighed. "Yeah."

"Do you want me to tell you what your problem is? Or do you want to figure it out yourself?"

"It's no big deal, really."

"Why can't you just…talk – like normal people?"

"What do you mean?"

"You keep your problems to yourself. The frustration and stress builds up. Then it starts to take its toll."

"I'm not trying to be rude, but what goes on in my head isn't really any of your business."

Leah frowned in frustration. She was trying to be nice to Eragon. "Well, I don't go scrying into people's heads."

Eragon shrugged. "That's true. You're well capable of doing the same."

"I know. But I won't. I'm waiting for you to tell me."

"Why? That's the hard way of finding out what I'm thinking. I just scry into your mind and there's my answer."

Leah narrowed her eyes at Eragon. "Okay, exactly how many times have you scryed into my mind?"

Eragon mused. He began counting on his fingers as a joke. "I don't know – more times than I know how to count."

"You creep," Leah shook her head. "Do you know what I think?"

"Wait, let me scry into your mind."

"I think you've got a thing for me."

"What?! What makes you think that?!"

"Why else would you go rooting through my head to find out what I'm thinking?"

"Well, what if I'm just curious?"

"Then why don't you ask?! Like a normal person!"

Eragon was caught off guard by Leah's statement.

Leah sighed and calmed down a bit. She curled her knees into her chest. "I'd tell you what I'm thinking if you'd just ask."

"Really?"

Leah looked at Eragon in disbelief. "Eragon, just how dense are you? I thought that being so different from the rest of the world would make you want to be normal every once in while."

"I've been secluded for so long that I've forgotten what normal is," Eragon said quietly. And you've forgotten me, he added silently.