IMPORTANT! This is Tamara. I had to take over the typing for this story because Brittany's been having computer/internet troubles at home. After you read this chapter, hop on over to our profile and read our other story, which is a lot like this one, except it's about LOST instead of Eragon. It's got fewer chapters, but it's longer because the chapters are a lot longer. We started it the summer after our freshman year, and I wrote the finishing chapter last week. We're juniors now, so our writing drastically improves when you read on. Go over to our profile to read updates on the story we're currently writing, a Harry Potter story. I haven't read it yet, as Brittany actually gets to write the first chapter (I was the starter for the other two), but I'm excited about it, because it's much different from the other two stories. Working title: T and B Go British!
ONE MORE THING: Neither Brittany nor I have read the new Inheritance book, Brisingr or however it's spelled. My spell check will get mad at me either way. So please refrain from putting spoilers in reviews. I have every intention of reading the book eventually. I don't know if Brittany does. She never finished Eldest.

Disclaimer: We don't own Eragon. Just Tamara, Brittany, and the slightly insane plot, now that we've traveled beyond the realm of Eldest, we just make it up as we go along.

Chapter Twenty-six: Evil or Misunderstood? (Brittany's Chapter)

The man slapped her hard on the face, spit flying everywhere. Tamara was about to cry out in pain, but grit her teeth. "Hey! Don't hurt her!" Brittany yelled, flexing against her chains.

"Oh? Do you have something better to offer me?" the man asked, moving over to her.

"Sure, I'll tell you what you want to know, come here." The man moved in front of her, his face inches from Brittany's. "Closer," she whispered. He turned his head and put his ear close to her lips. Brittany took a deep breath and clamped down on his ear with her teeth, making him shriek in pain.

He tore away from her, his ear bleeding. "You bitch!" He punched her in the face and then in the ribs. Brittany was almost knocked unconscious with the first blow but managed to stay awake. She was slumped against the wall, blood dripping from her nose and mouth. The man held his ear, but sneered at Brittany's pain. "Better get used to it. When we're through with you two, you'll be wishing I killed you here."

"Egraz Carn, leave," another man's voice rang out. It was deeper and held high authoritative power within it.

Egraz bowed his head slightly and muttered, "As you wish, Ithro." He left with one final glance at the girls and snorted on his way out.

The other man stepped forward into the light. He had a sliver, short Mohawk that ran down his head and ended in a braided ponytail. He had a short goatee and scars that ran the length of his jaw line. His eyes were grey and unfeeling. They pierced through the girls' and held no sign of compassion or sympathy.

"I am Ithro Zhada…your torturer," he declared. "However, there is a chance that you can redeem yourselves and save yourselves from hours of excruciating pain."

"What is it?" Tamara spat.

"By telling us where the Dragon Riders are hiding."

Brittany and Tamara glanced at each other and instinctively thought of their marks. Brittany pushed her boots up slowly as to cover any sign of the gedwey ignasia. Tamara made sure her shirt was covering her own.

"We are in fact searching for two in particular. Their names are Aiedail and Argetlam, though they go by Tamara and Brittany. You're here to tell us where they are hiding. You both were at the sight of the last battle they fought in, therefore you must know," he continued. "If you give us what we want, Lord Galbatorix will reward you beyond your dreams," he said as he left.

"What are we going to do?" Brittany whispered once she was sure he was gone.

"I don't know, we're definitely in a fix. How you doing?" Tamara asked, concerned.

Brittany shrugged. "Not bad, though I've been better, you?"

"Same, at least I don't have the lovely bruise forming on my face like you."

"Ah, well, you will soon enough if we don't get out of here soon," Brittany mumbled.

"Maybe we can use magic to get out of here," Tamara suggested.

"Let's try." They focused and formed the words for the chains to break, but they didn't even crack.

"They must be magic proof!" Tamara said, exasperated.

"Great, now we really are stuck," Brittany growled.

"So, what do we do?" Tamara asked.

"I don't know, but we can't tell them who we are. Or where Eragon and Murtagh are headed."

"Obviously. Uh-oh," Tamara gulped.

"What?"

"I…my nose…it ITCHES!" Tamara cried.

"That is a problem."

Tamara yanked against her chains, but they didn't budge.

"This is torture!" she groaned.

Brittany looked around. "Strange, Ithro isn't here. Isn't he supposed to be the one torturing us? Not us torturing ourselves?"

They sat on the cold, slimy floor, their arms limp from being attached to the wall. The door creaked open and Egraz appeared, holding a platter of chicken. He smiled and placed the chicken in the middle of the room where they couldn't get it.

Rats immediately scurried over and began feasting on the meat. Egraz left and said over his shoulder, "Sorry, I ate all the dark meat."

Tamara and Brittany were forced to watch the rats eat the delicious smelling chicken as their stomachs grumbled in ravenous hunger.

"This sucks," Brittany groaned.

"I guess the torture has begun," Tamara sighed.

The following days continued as thus: Egraz would come in with big piles of food which the rats ate, and then Egraz would feed whatever was left to the girls. Not long after they had "eaten" Ithro would come in and again interrogate them, in which they always remained silent. Ithro would smile evilly and drag the girls to the torture chamber. Their torturing would include being tickled on the foot by a feather, punched in the face, tickled underneath the armpits, burned by a fire poker, having salt and pepper held under their noses and not being allowed to sneeze, their limbs dislocated from their body and then being jammed back in, and old, saggy males wearing nothing else but underwear dancing before them.

A week later, after their torture for the day was over, Brittany gasped, "we have to make an escape plan."

"Any ideas?"

"Nope."

Suddenly, their door was slammed open and a girl about their own age came in. She was holding a long, curved blade, a quiver of arrows was strung behind her back. She had long, brown hair, and was very beautiful. She wore a green cloak and brown trousers. "Are you the Dragon Riders?" she asked.

"Yes," Brittany said.

"Maybe," Tamara said at the same time.

"I'm Katrina, friend of Eragon. I've come to save you." She broke their chains with her sword and helped them up.

"Where's everyone else?" Brittany asked, rubbing her wrists.

"I'm the only one."

"Why?"

"I've only recently heard where you two were located. After you were taken, the Varden held council on whether or not to save you."

"And?" Tamara probed.

"They denied all rescue attempts," she said sadly.

"What?!" The cried.

"The Varden didn't want to challenge Galbatorix yet, they're not strong enough," she explained. "If they searched for you, they would have to confront him, which would only end in disaster."

"And yet we were here, weren't they worried that they might convert us? That we might give in to Galbatorix and fight for him?" Tamara asked.

Katrina smiled. "They have two Dragon Riders of their own, they felt that the sacrifice was worth it."

"I feel horribly offended," Brittany scoffed.

"Come, I have more to tell you, but we must escape this place first. I've managed to sneak past most of the guards, but we sould still be on our guard."

She led the way out of the room, clinging to the wall as she did so. Just as they were about to leave, she whirled on them. "How strong are you?"

"We haven't eaten in a week, well, anything more than a few crumbs," Brittany replied.

Katrina noted their appearances. The taller one – Brittany, perhaps? had a bruise that covered half of her face. The shorter had burn marks on her arms and chest. Katrina thought that she probably had them elsewhere as well. Both of the girls were dirty with mud, slime, and blood. They were almost skeletal, but their muscles were able to cover most of the bone. Their lips were chapped and bleeding, and both had various cuts and gashes on their bodies. How they had lasted this long was a mystery to Katrina, but she respected and admired them all the more.

"We'll be able to last until we escape," Tamara added, bringing Katrina out of her thoughts.

"Very well, quietly now." They followed her down a hall and then another, sticking to the shadows and quieting their breathing whenever a guard passed by. Through many halls and rooms they passed, until Katrina led them out of the city and into some nearby woods.

Brittany and Tamara collapsed onto some rocks, breathing haggardly.

"We may rest here for a while," Katrina gave them some water from her water skin. "I'll be right back." She left them.

"I can't believe that the Varden just left us," Tamara said, shaking her head. "After all we've done for them, they just leave us there haning…literally!"

Brittany grimaced. "We swore to Nasuada that we would help her. And so we shall."

Tamara smirked. "You and your nobleness. I told you, you read too many King Arthur novels when you were younger."

"Man, I could use a bath," Brittany looked at herself, wincing at what she saw.

"Ditto."

"Here, I have some fruit you can eat." Katrina returned and gave them some fruit that resembled a pear. Brittany bit into it and thought it tasted like a plum.

After they had eaten and felt stronger, they continued their escape through the woods. "So, where are we going exactly?" Tamara asked, batting tree branches out of her way.

Katrina stopped. "That is what we must decide. Do we return to the Varden and forgive them? Or do we survive on our own? Wherever you choose, I offer my services to you." She held out her sword to them.

Tamara and Brittany looked at each other. "Thanks. We'll be needing your services."

"Does that mean we're not going to the Varden?" Katrina asked.

"Yup, we'll have to lay low. Hey! We could be the three musketeers!" Tamara chirped.

"Katrina?"

"Yeah, Brittany?"

"I was just wondering, you were with the Varden when they made their decision, right?"

"Yes."

"How did Brom and Murtagh react?"

"Well, Brom pretty much tore up the council room, arguing with them. He had to be restrained. I've never seen him like that, and I've known him since Carvahall, he's such a different man now. Roran and I talked to him, and we both agreed to search for you, each our own separate way. He had a frighteningly determined look in his eye, and his cheeks were tear-stained." Katrina shook her head. "HE used to be so quiet, except for when he got drunk, then he was raucous. As for Murtagh," she looked at Tamara.

"He hasn't been himself the past few weeks. I'm not sure what's going on, but as I traveled here, I heard many stories. Apparently, Murtagh has been fighting for Galbatorix. He has given him the Varden's plans and leads Galbatorix's army."

Tamara shook her head. "No, that can't be right! Murtagh would never fight for Galbatorix, especially if he knew that I was kidnapped by his soldiers."

"Look, as I've said, I don't know why he's doing what he's doing, but he has betrayed us all," Katrina said firmly.

Tamara glared at her and stormed off. She sat on a broken log, her head in her hands. Brittany walked over and nudged her on the shoulders. "Hey, cheer up, okay? Once we come out of the crowd, Murtagh will stop being so weird and things will go back to normal."

"It just doesn't make sense! Murtagh would never pledge his sword to Galbatorix! There must be something behind it."

Brittany had a sudden idea. "Why don't we try scrying?"

Tamara smiled. "Great idea." Together they used magic to peer into Galbatorix's throne room. It cost a lot of energy and concentration as it was protected by Galbatorix's own magic.

However, they were able to see Galbatorix and Murtagh standing in thin air. They listened closely. "Very good on your victory, Murtagh, your father would be proud," Galbatorix was saying.

Murtagh looked livid. "I will never be like my father. Never!"

"Ah, but you already are young one. You, like your father, have betrayed the Varden, your brothers, and your friends," Galbatorix smiled.

"I did what I had to for something greater than friendship, something that you'll never experience!" Murtagh cried angrily.

"Yes, love, isn't it? I thought as much. Love can be man's source of strength, but coincidentally is also his destruction."

"Is she safe?"

"Oh yes, safe from the evils of the world."

"Is she hurt?

"Mmm…my men are honorable. If they have hurt her, I would have known at once. But, of course, torture is a very painful thing to go through," he stopped.

Murtagh's eyes widened. He lashed out at Galbatorix, who merely slapped him to the ground. Murtagh stood up swiftly and pointed at Galbatorix. "That was not the deal we made when you came to me, telling me you had Tamara in one of your cells. You promised you wouldn't hurt her if I fought for you."

"Yes, I said I wouldn't hurt her. I can't always control the hand of my torturers though."

Murtagh roared in anger and frustration, while Galbatorix laughed at the spectacle. "Now, go lead the army my Dragon Rider and soon you will be reunited with your dear, beloved sweetheart."

Murtagh clenched his teeth and left, the image before them dissolving into thin air.

"Well, that explains that," Brittany said, rubbing her hands together. Tamara didn't hear her, though. She was already way ahead of them, walking through the forest. Katrina and Brittany ran up to catch her.

"Where are we going?" Brittany asked.

Tamara looked at her and smiled mischievously. "To pay a visit to a certain Galbatorix."

Ugh, just rereading our old writing hurts my eyes. It's so much better now (two years later). This story has thirty-six chapters in total, and I plan to update both this story and our LOST story every Saturday. The only reason that this is a day early is because we have a snow day, so I have time.

Review!