Chapter 12

Cellular felt bad for Saphira as the crowd parted for them as they entered Farthen Dur. Ray was covered in purple slime which he refused to discuss with everyone and Eragon was too distraught about Murtargh to do anything.

Ray went to the Dragon hold to get cleaned up whilst Saphira and Eragon left to meet Nasuada and the Varden council. Cellular was left alone, and decided it best he just perch above the Dragon hold as comfort to the hollow mountain citizens.

Meanwhile Eragon and Saphira were discussing who would be the new leader of the Varden. Eragon and the council said that they would pick Nasuada but Eragon swore allegiance to her before then.

Ray was in a bad mood, his ego was slightly cracked due to the worm thing with Arya and he felt like killing something. Even though the Rider's said that the adrenaline injections didn't increase temper levels in Rider's he was beginning to wonder. He dressed in uniform then started to listen to more music which he was rapidly beginning to get tired of.

He brushed his copper hair until it resembled the usual wavy like passion that girls swooned for. He looked at it now though in disgust at it's childish look. He summoned the magic and channelled it through his Lx5. He shaved his head until naught but stubble remained. He looked at himself satisfied before he left the Dragon hold. Then he stopped to take a long look at his armour, he looked in disgust and shrugged it all off so only his T-shirt and pants remained.

He wondered the streets of the Varden's camp within Farthen Dur until he found a small, crappy cloth shop which sold rags. He exchanged his clothes for the rags and began to wonder the poor parts of the camp. People saw him as a thief or cutthroat as he walked on by. He stared down all the other men that came his way as he went down the lines of houses.

He eventually wondered up to the Varden's central chamber's which were guarded by guards with a determined look in their eyes. He walked up to them but they barred his way stating, "who are you and what's your business"?

Ray here requesting an audience with the council of Elders or whatever they are called. The guards looked at him with absolute distrust until the leader stated "Sorry but…" Ray had already entered his mind and broke through the pitiful barriers the guard had been taught. He planted what he wanted him to say in his head and the guard continued "Sorry we left you waiting sir".

The other guard shifted, surprised as Ray entered the council's chambers where a heated discussion was going on. He saw a table with beverages and a servant so he picked up a tray and began to listen to the politics of the council. He could have just sat down at their side but that would have made them alter there tones if a rider was there so he listened in.

He still had no clue as to why he was doing this to listen to some pompous old fools talk about how Nasuada should act and how they would control her. He noticed something in the other server though, he was also paying close attention and hardly serving a drink.

Just out of interest Ray tried to read his mind but found a quite large barrier there. The Servant looked around panicked by the intruder before he leaped to the table and drew a knife. Ray saw he was about to stab a man he had the slightest respect out of this horrible lot, Jeod and he sprung into action. He threw a bottle of whatever he was serving and it smashed into the servant's head.

The Servant span round dazed as Ray landed on top of him. Guard were running from the front doors as the Assassin regained his dagger and tried to stab Ray. Ray blocked it and twisted it from his grip also elbowing the man and knocking him unconscious. The guards showed up and saw Ray, they immediately wrapped him on the head with one end of the spear and he passed out.

Ray awoke to water being thrown in his face, a mental attack was suddenly detected and he only just had time to shield his mind. He noticed the mental force withdraw and he looked at the figures of Eragon, Arya and some other magicians. "What are you doing" he croaked in his parched voice.

"Eragon took a step forward and held up a piece of sand. "You aren't gonna try that on me again are you Eragon" said Ray. Eragon looked at Ray before gasping "Ray, what the hell were you doing"? "Stopping a assassination attempt Eragon".

Immediately everyone was questioning how he knew the spy was going to be there. "I actually went there to spy on the Elder's myself so I could get an insight on what was happening without a rider present.

"Clever" was all Arya said. "What's with the crummy looks and shaved head then"? asked Eragon. "Well if you find Cellular he'd usually tell you how every time I lose a fight I shave my hair and stumble around for a while". "You lost a fight"? "Can we drop it please" said Eragon. "Why don't you tell us more"? asked Arya. Ray just stared at her before asking "Where is Cellular and now that you mention it Saphira"?

"Oh well they went out hunting a while back, haven't been seen since". Ray took a moment to congratulate Cellular before he asked himself how Cellular had the gall to go hunting with another dragon.

Finally Ray asked "Where is the assassin"? "He's in another cell, he told us you were the brains of the operation and that you had a disagreement over orders" said Eragon.

"May I just have ten minutes completely alone with him"? "Um… sure" said Eragon, not quite knowing what Ray was going to inflict on the man when he got in the interrogation room.