As requested, I have jumped back in time to Briar. And I would like to thank the reader for this since it also gave me an idea for something different in Dras Leona. enjoy!


Briar looked up from her spot next to Dwervevindr. The dawn was coming and it was a beautiful sight to see when watching it from the sea, at least she guessed it would be. They were on the west side of Alagaësia, where the sun set over the sea. But the sky was getting light which meant the new day was beginning. There were only a few hours left to Terim and Jeod. She had told her father that she would go into the city alone a few weeks ago when they had decided on names to give the people. They had finally told Eragon the plan last night so he didn't think she had gone and deserted them. The boy was getting suspicious of her and she didn't blame him. She was an agent of the Varden and had duties of her own to see to within that. But she was also now a Rider and that meant something entirely different.

Eragon's reaction to the plan had been what Briar had expected. He didn't like the thought of her going into the city alone. Briar had had to argue with him before he finally backed down, realizing that she could indeed handle herself, especially after their sparring session that night. Brom and Dwervevindr shared his worry that she would be too easily captured. The dragon had even gone as far as to suggest she stay with him and Saphira in their hiding place. Brom was about to back the idea when he had remembered that she could get them to Jeod easier than if he and Eragon were to go alone.

All this goes through Briar's mind as she saddles her mare and rides away from the camp. Only Dwervevindr was awake to see her off which she felt was better. She didn't want there to be a chance to change the plan and the three of them get into trouble together.

As she rode, the bond between her and her dragon stretched thinner and thinner, but she was still able to sense his presence in her mind. Then he was gone. She hated that their bond wasn't strong enough to cross a few hours from each other. In the quiet and solitude, Briar was reminded of all the missions she had been sent on when she was alone, suddenly finding that she hated it. Ever since Dwervevindr had hatched, she had known that she would always have someone with her, even if they were separated by a few leagues. Now that she was out of his reach, she felt vulnerable even though she was an able enough fighter. She felt like an agent of the Varden again and not a Dragon Rider. Sighing, she put thoughts of Dwervevindr aside and focused on the road. It was starting to fill with people trying to get into the city. She hoped to be able to get into the city without much of a fuss.

The guards blocked her way with their pikes.

"Wha's yer name?" One of them said, bored. Briar hid her frustration and thought about putting on a thick accent to hide her voice, but thought better of it. She was pretending to be Jeod's investor. If she sounded like some uncultured person, they would never believe her and detain her.

"M' name's Nelda. I'm here to see an investee about his business. I represent his investors, see?"

"A woman investor?" The other guard asked, his curiosity peaked. Briar groaned inwardly.

"I picked it up watching m' father and his fellow investors before they went out of business. My client is actually an old friend of his. May I be allowed to pass?" The two guards looked at each other before removing their pikes, muttering a warning to keep from causing trouble. She nodded her agreement and nudged her horse forward.

Terim was much like she remembered it with the worst living conditions being closer to the gate. She steered her mare off to the side and dismounted, preferring to walk instead of ride in the crowded streets. She walked slowly, trying to keep the horse calm as she did so. She had just stopped to look at some wares at a stall when a fluttering caught her eye. It was a notice board. Curious, she moved closer to look, making it that she was curious what was happening in the city and if there were criminals she needed to look out for. Immediately, she spotted her picture. There was no name which meant that the king knew the name of Rose of a bluff but he couldn't find her actual name. That would help her some. But she needed to get to Jeod before someone saw her and turned her in. With the resemblance being almost perfect, it would be hard to play a case of mistaken identity. She moved away from the board, trying to keep her hand from going to the sword on her hip. That would definitely give her away.

She made it to a less crowded street that she knew. It was in the wealthier district on the west side of the city. She was close to Jeod now. She would be safe with him until her father and Eragon arrived. She had expected to see her picture up as a wanted poster, but it still unnerved her, especially with how accurate the picture was. She knew that the king had scryed them, had seen them. For all she knew, he could be watching her now to see where she was going. She shook her head to clear it. If that were the case, there wouldn't be a poster up for her reward. They didn't know where she was. She was safe to go to Jeod. She needed to check in on him for Ajihad anyway since she was going to the Varden and the man would want a report. Not to mention that she needed a safe place for her traveling companions.

Briar was jarred out of her thoughts as a squad of soldiers entered her view. It was more of a company; a small one, but a company nonetheless. Briar stopped and looked at them, making sure to keep her hands in sight.

"Can I help you?" She asked, forcing her voice to sound normal and not defensive.

"We need you to come with us." The captain said.

"Why?"

"There is a woman matching your description. She is wanted." The captain smiled as he looked at her. She kept her hands on the mare, mentally sending her instructions to be on the lookout for Snowfire and to stay with them when they arrived.

"I'm sure there is a mistake, Sir. I represent my clients who have invested with a merchant who lives here. I am on my way to see him. Jeod Longshanks is his name." Briar answered as the company began to circle her. She didn't like what was happening. They weren't believing her. Maybe she wasn't convincing enough. But then again, the picture bore too uncanny a resemblance to her. The king had seen into Murtagh's memories and seen her. They knew she had a dragon. Briar reached for her magic. Before she could get hold of it, the soldiers jumped at her. Briar released the horse and drew her sword, the magic fading from her grasp. It wasn't long before she was in a circle of steel too tight for her to move. There were more of them than she had realized. She didn't want to surrender, but this wasn't worth her life. She could get out on mistaken identity soon enough. She just had to convince the one in charge. Briar sheathed her sword and raised her hands in surrender, glaring at the captain as he smiled in glee.


Briar sat in her cell and thought about her predicament. The lord of Terim, Risthart, had yet to come and see her, to see for himself that she was the wanted criminal. She had been locked in the dungeons a few days now and had kept her mind blocked from everyone, including Dwervevindr. She didn't need him telling her father what he already knew…that she was in the dungeons of Terim. She would get herself out. She should have been more aware of her surroundings. She should have known that coming in alone in plain sight would have gotten her in trouble. Before traveling with her father and Eragon, she would have known that. She wouldn't have let herself be caught. She wouldn't have ridden into the city like she owned the place. She would have snuck in over the walls or in a clump of people. That would have been the smart thing.

"Think, Idiot. You were given the nickname of Fox for a reason. Even Nasuada and Kylie call you a fox when they can get away with it." She sighed and rested her head on the wall behind her and closed her eyes. She could always fight her way out, but she had given Jeod's name in the hope that she would be left alone. If she fought her way out or escaped silently, he would be implicated as being an accomplice. That wouldn't be good for the little business that he had left, according to what the guards had been telling her. His ships had been disappearing along with a few other companies'. Briar didn't like where that thinking had led her to. There were spies within Tronjhiem. If Jeod was struggling, the rest would be as well. Briar thumped her head against the wall, bringing slight pain, but enough to clear her head.

"You'll hurt yourself that way." A voice said from outside her cell doors. Briar opened her eyes and saw a richly robed man looking in at her. Risthart. Finally, after a week, he had come to see her. He consulted a paper in his hand. "You look an awful lot like this woman who is wanted." He said.

"As I have said before," Brair said, "my name is Nelda. I represent investors who have invested with Jeod Longshanks. I was coming to check on his business from him personally."

"Yes, so I have heard." Risthart answered. "But this woman is thought to be a traitor. Working for the Varden is my speculation."

"Who?" Briar asked.

"Surely a woman as well traveled as you has heard of them. The rebel group who lies hidden from King Galbatorix and fights him."

Briar shook her head. "No…my concern is with my clients."

"Why the weapons?"

"Why else do people have weapons?" Briar countered, concentrating on the lord. Her intense stare made him shift uncomfortable, but Briar could see that his mind was beginning to waver that she was the woman who was wanted.

"Lord Risthart, a merchant has come to see you." A soldier called from above. The lord of Terim turned suddenly and was gone. Briar frowned, barely recognizing the feel of magic leaving her and barely registering that she hadn't summoned it while talking to the lord.


Risthart shook his head. Talking to the woman was dangerous. She had a silver tongue. He was almost tempted to let her go. He was better off contacting the king and asking him to have a Rider come and see if she was the woman in question. Risthart downed a goblet of wine to clear his fuzzy head as he entered his study. He seated himself behind his desk and nodded for the merchant to enter. It was Jeod Longshanks, the man the woman had said she had come to see.

"Lord Risthart," Jeod bowed slightly before standing straight. There was a rapier at his waist which the man assured was just for show.

"What is the meaning of this visit, Longshanks?"

"I have come to inquire as to one of your potential prisoners." Jeod answered. "A young woman by the name of Nelda, she represents some of my investors. She contacted me weeks ago saying that she would be arriving last week. She never showed. I thought it a case of misfortune or something came up until I saw the poster in the courtyard this morning. It looks an awful lot like her and I know that sometimes the soldiers can make mistakes when following up on a tip from an outside source." Risthart looked at the merchant. His was one of the businesses that was beginning to fail due to their ships disappearing. Jeod stood calmly, waiting for the man to say something. Risthart wanted to throw him out and call for a Rider to take the woman away. But her story was matching his. With a sigh of relief, Risthart ordered for Jeod to be taken to the woman to confirm her identity. When the merchant had gone, the lord called for more wine, to celebrate his good fortune of not having been killed and replaced over a case of mistaken identity. Before he took a drink of his wine, Risthart looked at it, recalling the fuzzy feeling he'd had. He had had a goblet of wine before going down to see her. That must have been the reason for the fuzziness before. A bad goblet of wine. He downed the drink and went about his business.


"So, Jeod, tell me what has been happening? Did Dad and Eragon find you?"

"They did. Your father was extremely worried about you." Jeod answered, taking a drink from his cup of water. Briar stood and began pacing.

"Your financial situation is not the best, Jeod. Disappearing ships?"

"It points to a spy, I know. I tried to get your father to go back. But he is set against taking Eragon with him. You have some influence, I know you do, Briar." Briar twisted her hair around her hand.

"I can't go back. Not yet. They have no idea that I am a Rider now. Even if Dad did send a message, he will have been loath to mention me as a Rider. It's bad enough that they have been waiting for Saphira to hatch. And with the egg courier missing, having another Rider common knowledge among the Varden would not be best. They will learn about me when I return with the egg courier."

"So you mean to look for her?" Jeod asked. Briar looked at the books, letting her silence be an answer. "They have already left. They said they would wait for you near Leona Lake. They are headed to Dras-Leona to follow a lead on the Ra'zac." Briar was out the door before Jeod could ask her to stay at least the night. But he knew why she hurried. Dras-Leona was the outpost for one of the Forsworn and they were still looking for Brom.


So there is the trouble she got into. Left little hints for future chapters in here. hehehe. thanks for reading and please review. I love it when I get reviews.