A/N: Well, here's a chapter that I've been dying to get out, but didn't have the guts to do it. It's the main reason why I didn't update in THREE months. Well, I'm hoping from here I can start piecing together some of the plot that I've been trying to build up. Anyways, thnx reviewers! I hope this makes up for my three-month vacation, since the last chapter was a little skimpy. From here on out, there's going to be a lot going on!

Twenty-Five

Conundrums

Murtagh was pacing the room, fuming with an irrational anger. "They don't trust me!" he ranted, as if he were surprised by his own words. He let the fury bubble over, spilling it out to Eragon, who seemed more interested in the torn silver links of his chain mail.

"After that whole thing with Gonoszság Skämd, you'd think they'd at least trust me a little!"

Eragon sighed. "You're being silly," he said. "I mean, I think you're overreacting. People tend to seek out a scapegoat when things go wrong. So, naturally, since you were under Galbatorix's control—and not of your own accord—" he quickly added, "—you're first on their blame list."

Eragon's words were true enough, but that didn't exactly help simmer down his temper. "I just thought that whole thing was over," he said.

No, said Thorn, you had hoped deep within they would trust you.

Frantically, Murtagh turned to Eragon. "You trust me, don't you?"

Eragon looked up with a very serious expression, as if he were thinking very hard on the answer. "No," he said.

Murtagh felt like he had been slapped. "What!"

"Just kidding." Eragon said, his frown breaking into a smile. He looked at the chain mail again. "You know, I've been thinking, the Unseelie and Gonoszság Skämd have a lot in common with the Ra'zac."

Murtagh stopped his pacing. Curious to hear what Eragon had to say, he said, "Keep going."

"Well, for one, they all stink. They have that same rotting stench."

"And they're flat out creepy."

"And," Eragon said. "Most of the Unseelie had those twisting horns and those same claws just like Gonoszság Skämd. Except," he added, "they were much smaller."

"Yeah, but the Ra'zac don't have horns," Murtagh pointed out. "They have beaks, and they can't swim, where as most of the Unseelie have fins or wings. Surely means the Unseelie came to and from Vroengard by means of air and water."

"But," Eragon said. "They all stink. And all of them— the Unseelie, Ra'zac, and Gonoszság Skämd— seem intent on destroying everything innocent."

The truth broke over Murtagh's mental horizon. He remembered what Orik had said about the monster under Helgrind.

To destroy all things good and whole…

"So, you think that despite these minor differences, they're somehow connected?"

"Yeah," Eragon said, his brow puckered. "I think that they might have come from the same place. No one's sure where the Ra'zac came from, though some people swear that they followed the humans from oversea."

The claws of anticipation grabbed at his insides. Slowly, the pieces were beginning to fall together!

"And Galbatorix sent for help from across the sea!" He met Eragon's frowning gaze. "The Unseelie came to Vroengard after the Fall when the Riders were destroyed. They're the ones who are helping him!"

Eragon agreed.

"There's only one problem with you theory," Murtagh said. "Orik said that Gonoszság Skämd had manifested from all the evil deeds committed by humans."

Eragon shrugged it off. "Monsters don't simply 'manifest' out of thin air, Murtagh," he said. "That was just a dwarf story, I've heard it. Even if there was a little truth to it, you can't conjure an evil race out of evil deeds. It's not possible."

However, Murtagh was not going to dismiss Orik's story so easily. The dwarf's words stuck in his mind, reiterating over Murtagh's thoughts again and again.

Don't forget the man-beast, Thorn echoed. That one came from far away, too, and I don't think it was entirely human.

The image of a man-like beast wrapped his thick cloak of mangy brown fur, flashed across his mind's eye, his rooted behind the bear skull. Its polished antlers gleamed in the foggy moonlight.

The messenger, Murtagh thought. I wonder what Galbatorix meant by 'messenger.' The Unseelie don't seem to be the communicating type.

They're just like any other race, said Thorn. They come in all shapes and sizes. Each creature is different and bears the story of its race, bringing with the history its own secrets, however dark they may be.

I wonder how Galbatorix found them, Murtagh wondered.

He said, "We should tell Nasuada. In fact, let's run it by those elf magicians and see what they have to say. Too bad Arya isn't here, though Nasuada and her aren't getting along well."

A strange expression came over Eragon's face at the mention of Arya. Murtagh failed to name visage. Was it sadness?

"Nasuada's still upset?" he asked at last.

"Arya wanted her to consider training," Murtagh replied. "But you know Nasuada. She's got plans of her own. Doesn't want to leave the Varden. Actually, I agree with Arya on the matter of training."

Whatever Eragon's reply, it was lost in a loud crash, followed by a hideous, thundering roar that shook the entire castle.

"What was that?" Murtagh asked.

There was another rumbling crunch. It was the sound of stone being crushed under gargantuan claws. The castle trembled pitifully.

Someone screamed. Outside, the streets were filled with various cries and the chorus of clashing, but the shrieks of panic were drowned out by another hideous thundering roar. It took Eragon and Murtagh only a second to understand.

The castle was under siege!

Eragon! Saphira's voice shrieked through both of their minds. Eragon's he's here!

"Who?"

But a second later Murtagh recognized that hideous, tumultuous roar. The color drained from his face and his insides immediately went numb. He was momentarily flabbergasted, frozen in place. After a fourth deafening roar Murtagh finally found his words.

"Shruikan!"

He whirled around to an equally stunned Eragon. "That means Galbatorix must be here. Here! Why would he leave Uru-baen? He never leaves Uru-baen!"

Eragon, Saphira said again as Eragon quickly, silently, threw on his torn chain mail, Shruikan's destroying the castle! I don't see Galbatorix anywhere, but you must come quickly!


I'm coming, Eragon told her. To Murtagh he said, "Where's Thorn?"

I'm here with Saphira, replied Thorn. We can't take on Shruikan alone. We're not big enough—

He broke off for some unknown reason.

Thorn?

The Unseelie are here, too, and the Ra'zac.

Where's Galbatorix?

I don't know. Search for him. You know how.

Murtagh drew his sword. Its steely edge flew out of the sheath with a metallic hiss. "Eragon, go join Saphira. Find Nasuada," he said. "From there, I don't care what you do, just don't die!"

"Where're you going?"

"To find Galbatorix."

"You can't fight him alone!"

The stone floors shivered stalwartly, beckoning him to come forth. Murtagh smiled bleakly. "My will alone shall bar me from death's empty call."

A/n: Well, it's a nasty turn of event from here. I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring up the upcoming string of events. God, there's just so much I'm dying to tell you! If you have questions about the plot, ask me. Please ask me. I love it when you ask questions. BOOYA!

Thanks reviewers!