Glad that you all enjoyed the last chapter. The Twins will always be my most hated characters. In my other Inheritance fic, their mind games are turned around on them. Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!
"You want me to do what?" Briar asked in disbelief. Ajihad was asking for the impossible. "Do you realize what that will do to Eragon? He doesn't have the experience with politics. The council will eat him alive. And what about Hrothgar? The Dwarf King is going to want to see both Riders and Eragon does not have that experience."
"That is why you will be with him." The dark skinned man said. "You will be in front of him until the doors open. If you wish, then you can come behind him or alongside him and his dragon. The choice is yours."
Briar huffed before walking out, meeting Orik in the hall. One of the Twins was also there. The trio exited the hall and walked to the gate she had entered through the night before. People were already beginning to gather. Some were even looking at her, probably wondering what she was doing back in Tronjheim and in the presence of one of the Twins whom she openly despised. She ignored them and swung onto Iris and led the horses into the tunnel, glaring at the Twin and he stayed back while she and Orik moved on.
"It is good to see that you are well, Briar." Orik said. "Where does this dragon come from? We had only been told that one egg had been stolen."
"I stole it from Murtagh." Briar said. "He hatched for me sometime after that."
"I am glad that you are a Rider, Briar. Maybe that it will help even the odds."
"Galbatorix has half of his original Foresworn left, not to mention Murtagh, the only son of that forsaken group. He will be tested soon enough I'm sure. If he hasn't been already."
"And what of this boy? Where does his egg come from?" Orik asked.
"You have a lot of questions, Dwarf." Briar laughed as they reached the large tunnel by the door. "You haven't gotten in trouble, have you?"
"I was following your orders. The Twins would be daft to believe that they can trump your commands. Ajihad knows that."
"They will be out for blood." She said as she dismounted. "Wait here. I'll go get them."
Briar walked down the hall and to the door where she had left her father and Eragon the night before. She was concerned about them. The Twins could have done anything to them in the middle of the night while she slept. The thought made her quicken her pace. They were out for blood. She knew she should have come back for them. But she had been so tired that she trusted in Ajihad to keep them safe. But if the Twins were in some sort of command, then they would be able to get into the room where they had been kept. They could have forced their test on them while she slept. The guards crossed their spears in front of her and she glared.
"Why do you bar my way?" She demanded.
"Orders. No one is to enter unless they have permission."
"Permission?" Briar repeated. "Listen here, you sorry excuse for a bag of bones! You will let me into that room and you will leave the door open. I am taking them to Ajihad. I rank higher than those two sorry excuses for magicians and you will listen to me. Is that understood?"
"Of course, Ma'am. My apologies."
The door opened and Briar walked in. Brom and Eragon got to their feet as she rushed into her father's arms.
"Are the two of you okay?" She asked, checking first him and then Eragon for injuries. "They didn't come back and hurt you?"
"No, Briar. We are quite safe. And hungry." Brom answered as his daughter checked her dragon.
"Briar?" A guard asked. "As in General Briar, Spy Master?" Briar turned. It was the same guard who had spoken to her at the door. He dropped to his knees. "My apologies, Sir. I did not recognize you."
"Seems to be going around a lot lately." She muttered. She turned to her father. "He wants to see all of us."
"He?" Eragon questioned.
"Ajihad. Come on." Briar led the way out and they followed her. Brom stayed at her side until they reached the tunnel where Orik and the horses were waiting. Briar gave them instructions and they began the journey back to the city. Brom was not happy about the idea that they would be shown off in a manner that could be dangerous. He said as much, but Briar had told him that her hands were tied. These orders came from Ajihad, to give the people hope. At the main door, the two Riders mounted their dragons and stood side by side. "Ready?" She asked.
"As I'll ever be." Eragon asked.
"Try not to gawk so much." She chuckled as the doors opened. She watched Eragon's face, remembering the first time she had seen the city. The icicles had held her attention the longest, gleaming in the light that came through them. Then she had seen the mountain city and had been amazed by that. At least until she had met Ajihad. "Eragon, close your mouth and face forward." She said silently and saw him start at the sea of people around him.
"What do I do?"
"Something. These people know me. They do not know you. But this is the first they've seen me as a Rider. Now, shall we?" She drew Undbitr and brandished it with yell and Eragon did the same with Brom's sword. Before they had left the bare room, they had decided that Zar'roc should be hidden until Ajihad deemed it safe for him to wear it. The crowd cheered wildly and the dragons moved forward. The people followed, giving the dragons a wide berth. Briar kept an eye on the Twin who was close behind Brom who was amazing the people in his own right. Her father was a legend among the Varden.
They reached the doors of the city, which opened, and went inside. Briar saw Kylie watching from inside and smiled. Briar smirked and shot off a ball of light over the crowd while Eragon raised his hand. The crowd cheered and they disappeared inside. When the doors closed, the two Riders slid out of the saddles and Briar leaned against Dwerevevindr's leg. Kylie came up to her with a cup of water.
"They have you on water duty?" She asked her friend.
"I volunteered." Kylie said. Briar heard a muffled squeak from her pack and frowned. That was the last thing she needed right now.
"Wait for me in the dragon hold above. We'll talk more later." Kylie winked and walked off after offering Brom and Eragon some water as well. The horses were led away and Briar allowed the Twin to lead them to Ajihad.
The Twin was dismissed and the three of them settled in the chairs around the Varden Leader's desk.
"Ajihad, you know my father, Brom. This is Eragon. He hails from Carvahall in the north. He is Saphira's Rider. This is my dragon, Dwervevindr." The male dragon bowed his head in respect. "He says that if you had not sent me to the castle, he never would have found me. For that, he is in your debt."
"Yes, the castle." Ajihad said. "You were supposed to wait there for instruction."
"When I found the stone, I knew I had to leave. I couldn't wait for orders. It wasn't until after I had left that I found out that the stone I had found was a dragon egg. It hatched for me that night. What of Arya?"
"The healers are still with her. They worked on her all night. They tell me she is resting now and that we shouldn't worry. Kai is there, or should be. She comes from a family of healers and has been of great help to them in your absence."
"When you're not sending her with orders of course." Briar smirked.
"Yes, that." Ajihad turned to Eragon. "Tell me how you found Saphira. And everything that has happened to now."
Briar listened as Eragon related his tale. He paused occasionally and she let him tell the parts where she was with them. Brom kept quiet as well, making the occasional comment. Ajihad watched them all. When Eragon was done, Ajihad stood and clasped his hands behind his back and examined the bookcase. Briar knew this posture. He often held it while thinking.
"This news of an alliance between the Urgals and the Empire is disturbing to say the least. We will be hard pressed to survive, even here in Farthen Dúr. This Shade, describe him."
"Tall, thin, pale. He had red eyes and red hair."
"Did you see his sword?"
"Barely. Briar is the one who fought him."
"It had a scratch on it, Ajihad." Briar said. "He's not dead." She followed his eyes to her arm which she had left bandaged. She hadn't touched it since their escape. She removed the bandage and revealed a jagged scare on her arm. It hadn't gotten infected which was a good thing.
"He did this to you? It is a miracle you are not dead."
"He was trying to capture the two of us." Briar said. "What is the name of the Shade?"
"Durza. He is referred to in this letter as one of the leaders." He handed it to her and she read it while Ajihad translated it for Brom and Eragon. She thought about the squeak she heard while she idly listened to Ajihad speak to Eragon and Brom. It had squeaked when Kylie had spoken in the grand hall. She barely listened to their talk of the Urgals and the Twins. Ajihad had told her the info that morning before he had told her of the parade. She finally moved when Ajihad dismissed them all. She was exhausted and he could see it. They all were. They had made a sprint to the Varden. Things would begin happening, but not until later.
Kind of a filler since I have to now decide if the egg is going to hatch in Arya's presence or not. Thinking yes though, just not sure when. I am open to suggestions. Thanks for reading and please review.