Triumph

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Thank you.

Ardis awoke as her alarm clock went off. It was the day they were to leave Ellesméra, and Oromis had wished to speak to them before they did.

She pulled herself out of bed. Kazul was, as usual, already awake.

Your morning habits have improved, the dragon observed.

Ardis nodded.

I could even say your sparring habits have, Kazul continued.

Thanks. I suppose they have, Ardis replied. She had gotten better in the months of practice. She also felt as though Unin had had something to do with it. That sword seemed to have magic in it. Eragon had maintained his skill level and become even more agile.

She only sighed a little thinking of Eragon. The pain had begun to dull, and she had managed to not see him with Arya again. Vanir had been true to his word, and she had not seen the elf since the day after Arya's party.

It is good you are getting over him, Kazul remarked.

I don't know if I can, Ardis replied mournfully.

You will, Kazul comforted. You're young, and you have many years ahead of you. Give it time.

How come you are so much wiser than I? Ardis asked.

I'm not, Kazul said, giving a dragon's version of a shrug as Ardis mounted her. I just have more opportunity to be wise.

The young female rider snorted. They flew in silence until they reached the Crags again.

Oromis stood outside his hut. He had a pack on his back, and he wore Naegling on his hip. Glaedr was saddled.

Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Shaheen, Roran, Vanir, Narí, Lifaen, Edurna, and Celdin all stood next to the eldest rider and dragon. Ardis noticed that Shaheen and Roran were standing as far apart from each other as was possible. Ardis hadn't seen them talk since Arya's party.

"Ardis Shur'tugal," Celdin called out, "you are late."

"I apologize, oh wise one," she responded jocularly.

"Yeah, you've kept us all waiting. We got here an hour ago. What's wrong with you?" Edurna shouted.

We've only been waiting for ten minutes, Saphira snorted, projecting her words so all could here.

Oromis cleared his throat, "Since we are all here, I think that we should be leaving now."

"Are you coming with us?" Ardis inquired. She hadn't thought her master would go to Surda with them.

"He wishes to be able to fight," Eragon put in. "He surprised us all. It's good he's going. We'll be able to fly."

We will continue to instruct you in Surda. It will be far simpler. You will go to Helgrind first, Glaedr added.

"Who will go?" Ardis questioned.

Roran spook up, "You, Eragon, Arya, and I will go. The Varden will have the elves to help them if Galbatorix attacks."

Ardis nodded. She and Shaheen rode Kazul. Eragon, Arya, and Roran roder Saphira. The rest of the group rode Glaedr.

"I really don't like this," Shaheen yelled over the wind.

"It won't be that long of a flight, and you'll get used to it," Ardis shouted back.

On Saphira, Roran was voicing sentiments similar to Shaheen's.

Luce awoke from her cell in the morning. Belinda stood at the door, a key ring in her hand.

"So you've finally awoken?" the maid asked.

Luce glared at her. She wore the Solaerix ring on her finger, the only reminder that Siloa had really come back last night.

Belinda unlocked the cell without a word. Luce stood up. She hadn't been able to do that last night. At least her back had healed. Belinda didn't seem to share her opinions, as she looked much put out that Luce could stand with impunity.

"His majesty has asked that you take off for Surda immediately. Word has reached his ears that the riders have already left for Surda," Belinda stated.

"Well, aren't we supposed to wait until they get there?" Luce snapped back.

"Yes, but you'll want to be there when they get there. His majesty wishes for the spy to capture your sister. He will bring her to you and the red rider. You two are to take her to Helgrind and wait," Belinda explained smugly. "The red rider has received these instructions as well.

"Where do we wait?" Luce questioned sharply.

"The dragons are to hide in an empty field near Cithrí. It's been fallow for centuries. You two are to go into Cithrí. The spy will go to the dragons first. Once he gets there, your dragons will contact the two of you. Until then, you shall be completely cut off from contact with them. His majesty wishes to punish you for insubordination," Belinda replied. More than a small hint of smugness crept into her voice at the last sentence.

Luce walked past her and to the dragon hold without speaking another word. The fewer orders she received the better. Belinda seemed to enjoy reporting news of the king's punishment.

Maybe he'll marry her. Then we'll all be rid of her, Luce thought darkly.

True—true, Iormungr put in.

You were listening? Luce asked.

Now and always, the dragon replied.

How do intend to capture Murtagh? the dragon continued.

I don't know. Not yet. I'll have to be sneaky about it, though. I don't want to have to fight him. That could only end badly for one of us, Luce replied.

You mean, if you sneak around, he won't hurt you, and you won't hurt him, Iormungr interpreted.

Exactly, the green rider replied forlornly. Iormungr said nothing after this.

A few minutes of silent walking later, Luce was in the dragon hold.

Murtagh had already saddled Thorn.

"You're late," he remarked.

"I spent the night in a cell. I had to wait for somebody to unlock it," Luce replied. It wasn't entirely true, but that didn't matter.

"I wasn't complaining," he responded. "Are you upset about last night?"

Luce shook her head and pecked him on the mouth because nobody was around. She surprised them both.

They both mounted their dragons, and Iormungr and Thorn took off.

The flight took up the entire day. Nothing truly eventful happened. Murtagh and Luce talked occasionally, though neither mentioned the other night. It had brought about a great deal of pain.

They landed wordlessly in the abandoned field Galbatorix had mentioned at nightfall.

"Do we go into the city now?" Luce asked slowly.

Murtagh nodded.

Iormungr and Thorn had themselves. They were to fly away if anyone who was not the spy came. Apparently, they had been shown what he looked like.

Luce pulled a dress out of her pack and pulled it on over her traveling clothes. She then pulled her leggings off.

"I might as well look normal," she explained when Murtagh raised his eyebrows at her.

He passed her a glove. It was to hide her gedwëy ignasia. He put on the other one.

They made their way towards Cithrí, which was a mile and a half a mile off. The land was covered in hills. None would see Iormungr and Thorn in the city. If they did, they would assume they were Saphira and Kazul, as the colors wouldn't be terribly apparent from the distance.

They entered the city about an hour later. It would have taken only forty-five minutes, but both riders were subjected to a lengthy interrogation. Thankfully, they had worked out a sufficient lie.

They entered a little inn. The man at the desk glanced up at them and demanded, "What are your names?"

"Mort and Lena," Murtagh lied quickly.

Are they going to interrogate us again? Luce asked irritably.

Let's hope not, Murtagh answered.

Thankfully, the man simply glanced suspiciously at them and said, "Your room's on the second floor, fourth door to the left. If somebody's already in there, tell me. We're pretty full right now, and I'm having trouble remembering which rooms are taken."

Murtagh and Luce walked through the inn's bar and up the stairs. They walked down the left corridor until they reached the fourth door. Murtagh opened it and looked in.

"No one's in there," he stated.

"That's a relief," Luce replied. She peered in after Murtagh and frowned.

"There's only one bed," she remarked.

Murtagh groaned, "I suppose you want me to give it up to you."

Luce nodded and pushed past him. "I'll get my bath in the only tub. You just go down to the bar or something," she told him as she stretched out on the bed. She yelped suddenly.

"What is it?" Murtagh asked.

"A wire from the mattress just hit me in the back. That's all," she muttered as he closed the door.

She stripped herself, filled the tub with the water bucket that was sitting in the corner, and lowered her body into it. The water was lukewarm, but she was dirty from traveling and the beating.

Murtagh was sitting in the bar when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and faced Luce.

"Your turn," she whispered in his ear.

"Don't drink anything," he whispered back. "I won't be able to bale you out."

Luce glared at him and stalked off.

He went upstairs and lowered himself into the water.

Shame it was used before, he thought.

He had dressed himself when Luce came barreling into the room. She shut the door behind her.

"They're all drunk down there," she explained breathlessly.

Murtagh just stared at her.

"Have you ever heard of knocking?" he asked.

"It's my room too," she responded.

Murtagh didn't say anything.

Luce lay down on the bed. Murtagh stood over her.
"Why do you get it?" he asked.

Luce shrugged. "Ladies first?"

"A lady and a female are two different things. You're no lady," Murtagh corrected.

"Technicalities," Luce replied.

Murtagh cocked his eyebrows at her. He seemed to think for a moment, and then he said, "There's always sharing."

Luce opened her mouth to protest, but Murtagh covered it with his before she could protest. He lowered himself onto her. She pulled his shirt over his head and explored his chest. His hand went up her dress, and Luce threw her head back and gasped. Murtagh grinned and pulled off her dress.

Ardis walked into her chambers and shut the door behind her. Because of her status as a rider, they had given her a separate room. It was large enough for even Kazul to fit in it. The purple dragon had her wings folded and was sitting by the window. That wasn't what Ardis' mind was on though.

They had returned to Surda, met with Nasuada, and been assigned their rooms. Oromis had told them to get a great amount of rest. She had taken a wrong turn and seen Eragon with Arya. She was trying to keep her tears from falling now.

No one is here to see you but me, Kazul comforted. Cry all you want.

Ardis leaned against the door so that her back was to it, put her face in her hands, and sobbed. She felt Kazul touch her mind.

Ardis, someone's coming. Dry your tears if you wish, Kazul told her.

Ardis stifled her sobs just a bit. The person probably wouldn't come into her room anyway.

She gasped as the door opened and she fell with it. Arms caught her, and a hand was pressed against her mouth. A male voice whispered, "Slytha," in her ear. Ardis crumpled as the man entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Talson flung his light brown hair out of his eyes, put a knife to Ardis throat, grinned maniacally at Kazul, and said, "Do as I say, dragon, or your rider's life is forfeit."

Yes, I made the cliffy quite large. You'll find out in the next chapter how it works out that Talson is the spy. Did that surprise everyone?

Here are the review responses. I didn't get as many reviews as I wanted. How about six reviews for the next chapter?

Amantine: I hope you liked this update.

Teenchic2004: I'm glad it filled in some holes. I thought it was pretty obvious that Siloa wasn't dead. I wasn't sure how obvious the whole "she was really Solaera" thing was.I remember Oromis saying that. Vrael is just really powerful. (Brom said he could have killed Galbatorix, but he was reluctant too. The reluctance has sorta gone away.) He puts himself in this state were he's barely aware of anything, so it's like he barely even in her mind. He went really deep into this when Siloa was with her husband or Claudius. And, yes, I think my taco salad from yesterday knew what you meant.

Parnagan: I'm glad you love it. Like I said for Teenchic2004.

Keyblader-Sleven: I'm glad you like it. Here's the next chapter.

Vixen Hood: Yeah, she is.