"If I die, you will see to Katrina?"

I recognized Roran's voice in my dream, and then all at once images assaulted me. Roran was kneeling across from Eragon on the ground somewhere that seemed familiar, and Saphira was nearby.

"I shall."

Eragon's reply was both determined and weary.

"Tell her then that I went into battle with joy in my heart and her name upon my lips."

But where were they?

"I shall," Eragon uttered again.

He then muttered something in the ancient language that I didn't quite catch, and said to Roran, "There. That will filter the air in front of us and protect us from the paralyzing effects of the Ra'zac's breath."

I shot straight up from my bedding, my eyes wide. The Ra'zac! Those fools!

Dragging a silly dress over my head, I pushed my way out of the tent and located Eragon with my mind. He was right where I expected him to be, in Nasuada's tent. Cursing silently, I sprinted quickly to it and squeezed past Saphira to get inside. One of her large sapphire eyes turned on me, but I ignored it for the moment.

"Have you lost your mind, Eragon?" Nasuada was saying as I entered. "This is a harebrained scheme that will have catastrophic consequences for everyone in Alagaesia if it goes awry!"

"But-"

"Nasuada is right, Eragon. It's too dangerous to risk it. If we lose you, then everything we've done up to this point will have been for nothing." Arya added.

I snorted, and three pairs of eyes were on me quicker than I could bat an eyelash.

"What opinion have you on this matter, Arianna?"

While Nasuada was the closest thing to a friend I had, she and I both knew that our roles in the Varden came first.

"For the first time in my life, I think Arya and I actually have something to agree on."

"Well you've already seen us go, so why-"

"Stay out of my head!" I growled, glaring at him.

He rolled his eyes at me before turning back to Nasuada.

"Please, you must grant me passage to go. I have to help Roran rescue Katrina."

I tried not to allow talk of Katrina get to me, but the flood of memories of us as children was impossible to ignore.

"As noble a cause as that may be, I simply can't allow you to-"

Nasuada was interrupted by Saphira's roar, which shook the tent and silence everyone within hearing range.

I am sore and tired, and Eragon is doing a poor job of explaining himself. We have better things to do than stand around yammering like jackdaws, no?...Good, now listen to me.

And so we listened as Saphira explained all her reasons as to why we should let Eragon go with Roran to rescue Katrina. And despite myself, I had to admit that they were good reasons. The one that no one could argue with was when she mentioned how the Empire could use Katrina to get to Roran, and through him Eragon.

Besides, if something happens while we're away, Arianna will be here to help.

"What?!" I turned on her, indignant. "And why should I have to be left behind?"

You need to rest, and at least one of you should stay here. Plus. I don't believe Nasuada can afford to risk having you get captured.

Nasuada put a hand to her temple and sighed.

"She's right Arianna. Especially about the last part."

"But I don't want to sit around here and do nothing but worry."

Eragon placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You'll be fine sis."

Glaring at Saphira, I shrugged his hand off and stalked away to find Roran. When I did, I went into a long rant about exactly how much of a pain he was, why I'd like to give him a good punch, and a whole slew of other things.

"And wipe that grin off your face before I do it myself!" I added testily.

"Oh Anna, I've missed your sense of humor."

The twinkle in his eyes left, and he looked me over the way a parent inspects their child for injury.

"What's got you so worked up anyway?"

"You and Eragon. Do you have any idea how much of a bad idea rescuing Katrina is? The Ra'zac are dangerous enough, without adding their parents into the mix. And when were you going to tell me? Huh? After you'd packed all your stuff and loaded it onto Saphira?"

I felt a tear in the corner of my eye that threatened to fall, and I wiped it away angrily.

"Don't you want Katrina to be safe?"

"Well of course I do, but-"

"But what? Either you do or you don't. There's no middle ground here. And it's better to fight the Ra'zac than Galbatorix."

While that may have been true, it didn't mean I liked the idea any more than I had before.

Something of what I said must've dawned on Roran, because his face became slack, and then brightened.

"You mean we're going? They're going to let us go!"

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't die or anything."

Not in the mood to deal with him, I left and went back to my tent. Briam, sensing my foul mood, thought it best not to comment.


The next morning, I woke up early and, accompanied by Briam, walked to the spot where I knew they'd be leaving from. They'd just finished putting the last of their bags on Saphira's back, and all they needed to do was clamber up her back and take off. They became quiet when they saw me, looked at each other, and then looked at me.

Typical men. The thought was absolutely true though. Neither one of them had a clue how to handle me anymore.

Eragon was the braver of the two, and the first to approach. I blew the hair out of my eyes and glared at him.

"Don't be so angry Anna," he chided. "We'll be back soon."

Pulling me into a bear hug, I realized that I couldn't stay angry at him, and it showed on my face when he stepped back.

"Ha! I knew you couldn't stay mad at me long."

"Consider yourself lucky," I scoffed, then grinned. Family was annoying simply because I'd never been able to keep a grudge held against a member of it. And they knew it.

Roran, seeing that my mood had improved, came over quickly to give me my goodbye hug.

"Stay safe," I told them as they seated themselves on Saphira's back.

They just rolled their eyes and waved. Saphira placed her snout on my forehead gently, snorted, and then almost knocked me over when she started propelling her wings. Briam stood behind me to keep that from happening, and we watched in silence as they climbed higher and higher in the sky.

Do you think they'll come home safely?

What does your heart tell you?

Placing a hand on Briam's neck, I smiled. Of course they'd come home safely. Because if they didn't, I'd kill them myself.