The Varden: Mind Probing (An Eragon Love Story Part 52)

Guards pushed through the men holding the spears, grabbing them and dragged them through a long corridor. Neither Eragon or Murtagh refused. Soon enough, the corridor opened up into a large room. Other corridors and stairs branched off here and there. Walking swiftly towards them was a small crowd of people. In front a tall, dark skinned man dressed in fancy armor looked at him. His dark eyes blended in with his skin color. In a calm, loud voice he asked, "Which one of you is the rider?"

When the guards let go of him, Eragon stepped forward. "I am. My name is Eragon."

"I am Ajihad, leader of the Varden. If you are the rider, call you beast inside."

A short man made his way from behind Ajihad. He too was dressed in a fancy armor. "If it attacks, you will die first."

Eragon called his dragon. "Saphira, bring Kiara, but be cautious." He looked from Ajihad to the short man. It was here that he realized that he was a dwarf.

Dashing through another opening from the waterfall, Saphira entered. On the ground she shook off the water and turned to Eragon. He crossed the room to her and reached up to grab hold of Kiara's hand. She was awake, but weak. "This is Princess Kiara. She is ill."

"Our healers will make her well." Ajihad bellowed. "Kiara is welcome here anytime. Her mother was one of my dear friends. A shame that her father is corrupt." As he said this, his eyes landed on Murtagh. After he stared at him for a while, Ajihad raised up his hand, snapped his fingers and said, "Seize him!"

Immediately, the guards grabbed him and started to drag him away.

"No!" Eragon cried, pulling out Zar'roc. "He saved my life."

"He is the son of Morzan, the traitor!"

Shock spread across Eragon's face. "Morzan!" He look to meet Murtagh's eyes. "Is it true?"

"A son doesn't choose his father." He broke free from the guard and lifted up his shirt to reveal a deep scar stretching across his back. "This is the only thing he ever gave me. I hated that man until the day he died."

"Lock him up!" Ajihad shouted.

"Why?! Kiara is the daughter of the King, yet you let her pass."

"She can be trusted as an ally. He cannot."

Another voice filled the room. "Hold up, Ajihad. If you will permit, we can test his loyalty." The person who said this stepped forward into the light. He was tall and slender. On his head no hair grew. Behind him, another man revealed himself. He look almost exactly like the other man. "Twins" thought Eragon.

"Only if he will cooperate." Ajihad sighed.

"Tested?" Eragon and Murtagh said simultaneously.

"Aye. You see no one can pass through without the Twins testing your loyalty. They do so by probing your mind."

A gasp escaped Eragon; he did not like this at all. Murtagh's face soured, it was apparent that he refused to let anyone search his thoughts and memories.

"Well?" Ajihad asked, breaking the silence.

With a sigh, Eragon turned to the Twins. "Alright, go ahead." A wicked smile formed on their faces as they walked up behind Eragon and placed their cold fingers at the nape of his neck. A chill ran down Eragon's spine. In that moment, he called for Saphira to help him hide some of his memories with Kiara. Since they were not going to probe her or his dragon, he was the only one who had to hide these intimate moments. He did not want the Varden to know how close he was to Kiara, or at least not right now. Later he will let Ajihad know if time permits.

Eragons head felt as if it were going to burst. The Twins' violent way of searching his head caused him to wince in pain. A minute passed. As soon as Eragon was beginning to loose the strength holding up the barrier that prevented them from viewing his memories of Kiara, he heard Ajihad yell, "That's enough!"

Quickly the Twins detached themselves from his mind. Shaking his head he looked at the leader as he said, "If he has shown any way to be an enemy speak now." Silence followed his words. "I take it that he is loyal to our cause."

"Aye!" said the Twins.

"Good. Now, is Murtagh going to be probed or not?" When he did not respond, Ajihad raised up his hand again for his arrest. Reluctantly he got dragged away. "I am sorry, Eragon, but he cannot be trusted."

"I understand." Was all he managed to say.