maddie

im glad ur feeling better. its kinda what i wanted but she still died.

wow arya's sister. i agree with teenlaunch, roran should meet eragon an

not recognize him. love the chappie. plz update soon.

Dragon Rider Morzan

Aww I can't believe Ajin's dead now. Great chapter. This story has a

lot of potential to become great!

Teenlaunch Oh, I despise cliffhangers! Anyway, that was a good thing to do. Now he

has the whole: "Eragon must pay!" thing going and that cold really

work, especially if you used my idea of him not recognizing him. Anyway, I

would appreciate you reading my stories. Until next time,

Teenlaunch

WolfSting Why did you kill her I'm so angry at you. Your mean! Bring her back I

don't know how just do it Please.

Yah! Thank you all so much! I really appreciate the reviews!

Maddie, Yah, I did kill her off, but I needed to get Roran mad about something so I figured that killing Ajin was the best way to do it. I'm very glad you liked the chapter! And we have probably all come to the agreement that Teenlaunch's idea with Roran and Eragon is the best. Although, I would have to go through the trouble of having Eragon go all the way to the elf's place. (Ick)

Dragon Rider Morzan, I know, Ajin is dead (sniff) she in a better place now. (Just kidding) Thanks so much I'm glad you think the story has potential!

Teenlaunch, I know, I hate cliffhangers to…that's why I write them, tee hee. Yah, the 'Eragon must pay' theme was the one I was going for. I was half way through 'A dragon's heart' and my grandparents came from Florida to visit so I'll have to finish that one.

WolfSting, Ah! Gomen Gomen! Thanks for your reviews, and I get that a lot. Ahh, but my dead stay dead…I think. I'm glad for your amount of clear enthusiasm toward her death, because that means I'm doing my job!

So, anyway sorry for such long A/Ns, but I've been- Kelsey- Ahem! Dreamer-We've been getting such nice reviews. Wait, your not writing this. Kelsey- But I give you confidence, and moral. Stupid… Dreamer- Eh…you do? Disclaimer- I do not own Eragon! (Or do I) no…I don't (are you sure) YES!

Two hours after Kiaku awoke, Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh and Kiaku were ready to leave.

"Do you want me to ride Saphira?" asked Eragon, as he and Murtagh walked out of the sandstone cave.

"I don't care. What ever is easer for you."

Ever since Kiaku had woken up, Murtagh had been in a considerably better mood.

"Kiaku," said Murtagh, turning to the small boy at his side, "Where did your horse go?"

Kiaku shook his head, his black hair swinging in front of his eyes. "I don't know. Saphira must have scared her away."

"Would you like to ride Snowfire?" offered Murtagh indicating the snow white horse.

Kiaku looked nervously up at her and shook his shaggy head.

"Can, I um…ride with…you? I've had enough bad experiences with horses." Said Kiaku nervously.

Murtagh nodded happily. He helped Kiaku up onto Tornac's saddle, and pulled himself on after him.

Eragon and Saphira were already in the air. They had pretty much appointed themselves navigators, leaving Murtagh to follow.

Murtagh tapped Tornac's sides, and rode after Eragon.

The two were silent for a moment.

Murtagh looked up at Saphira's wings. The translucent blue skin moved up and down in a rhythmic motion. When watching Eragon and Saphira fly, he sometimes felt the smallest ping of jealously. He longed to be in the sky. To have the wind whip through your hair, see the world beneath your feet, and most of all, to have someone to talk to, a constant shadow.

Murtagh's gaze soon turned to the small boy in front of him. He too was staring transfixed on the two lone figures in the sky.

"Kiaku?" asked Murtagh after a while.

"Hmm?" he answered without taking his eyes off of the dragon and rider.

"When we first rescued you from the slave traders, you said your parents were dead. I thought it might have been just your fever talking, but I wasn't sure."

Kiaku hesitated for a moment, "Yes, they are both dead."

Murtagh placed a comforting hand around the boy's waist.

"I'm sorry." He said softly, "I didn't think that they were really dead."

Kiaku shrugged slightly. "It's alright. But…can I ask you a question?"

"Of course!" replied Murtagh.

"Have you ever flown? With Saphira I mean."

Murtagh nodded, "Once."

"You have? I was expecting you to say no. When?"

Murtagh smiled at Kiaku's curiosity.

"A few months ago, Eragon was captured by Galbatorix."

Kiaku stiffened slightly at the king's name.

"Saphira and I broke in to get him. While we were escaping, she had to lift Eragon, an elf and me out of the ceiling."

Kiaku's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wow that's amazing! Why was there an elf with you? Was it real?"

Murtagh laughed. "Of course she was real. She might have been unconscious at the time, but she is very alive now. We brought her along, because she was captured by the king as well.

Kiaku smiled at him for a moment and then spoke again, "Can I ask you another question?"

"Sure."

"Have you ever been into Galbatorix's castle?

Murtagh nodded shortly. "Yes. I used to live there."

Kiaku tapped his nose with his finger.

"I knew it!" he said pointing at Roran's face, "There is a picture of you in the entrance hall, although you look a lot older."

Murtagh knew that portrait all to well. It had belonged to his father. He found it best not to mention to Kiaku that he was the only son of Morzan, the second member of the Forsworn. He doubted whether a seven-year-old boy had ever even heard of the Forsworn, but just in case, he kept his mouth shut.

"It's not my picture on the wall. I was never that important."

Kiaku looked up at him for a moment. Murtagh only pretended that he didn't notice. Finally, the boy spoke.

"My mother…she always said I had a funny kind of gift…I could always tell when people were sad, or happy, or," he paused for a moment, "or hiding something."

Murtagh looked at him, and then flicked his eyes back up to Eragon, to check their position. Kiaku was still waiting patently for an answer, but none came.

Kiaku tapped his lip for a moment, "Murtagh…" he said as though he had just heard the name, "Murtagh…I think I've heard that name before."

Murtagh's shoulders tensed slightly.

"Aha! I knew it!" yelled Kiaku indignantly.

"Knew what?" asked Murtagh, desperately trying to stay calm.

"When I said that, you got all tense and stuff." He said with a smug look on his face.

"I-" began Murtagh, but Kiaku soon cut him off.

"So what happened? Why are you afraid of me knowing your name? Lets see…are you…a rebel?"

"What? Kiaku, you're being ridiculous!"

"No? How about…a bandit? Or an outlaw? Oh! Even better! A murderer."

Murtagh shook his head. "Kiaku, I'm not any of those things."

Kiaku folded his little arm across his chest. "Ya know Murtagh. I don't care what you are. You saved me from the slave traders. You don't have to tell me…I'm just saying…"

Murtagh sighed. 'He says that now'

The slave trader's words slipped into his mind, 'I'll cut your tongue out for that comment!'

"Hmm. Kiaku, I'll make you a deal okay?"

Kiaku's dark eyes shown with anticipation.

"I will tell you my secret if you tell me what you said to the slave trader. Deal?"

Kiaku nodded eagerly. "I told him that I knew why he was a slave trader not a slave. I said it was because if he was captured, no one would take him for free, much less pay money for him."

Murtagh laughed.

"Now tell me yours!" said Kiaku.

Murtagh sighed. "Have you ever heard of a man named Morzan?"

Kiaku's back became ridged, and he quickly turned to place a small hand over his mouth.

"What's wrong?" asked Murtagh as the small boy removed his hand, his eyes darting franticly along the desert.

"He will hear you." Whispered Kiaku.

"What are you talking about?"

"They say," said Kiaku, "They say that if you say his name out loud, his son will find you and cut out your tongue."

Murtagh sighed. "That's not true." He said simply.

"It is!" insisted Kiaku.

"Its not. Because I knew him. I knew him quite well."

Kiaku gasped.

"And so do I." Said Eragon, landing before him.

Murtagh glared at him for a moment, as Eragon smiled happily.

"You knew him to?" asked Kiaku to the reader in front of him.

"Oh, better than you know believe me. In fact-"

Eragon saw Murtagh's eyes narrow dangerously, an obvious hint for Eragon to stop while he was ahead.

"I assume you have news?" asked Murtagh, a trace of anger still present in his voice.

Eragon nodded. "We will reach Dras Leona in three days time. We will have one day to gather supplies, and then we must split facts in fictions around this new egg story."

Murtagh nodded.

"What about me?" came a small voice from in front of him.

"You will leave of co-" Eragon was cut off as he watched his dragon bend her neck to nuzzle the smaller boy.

'You may stay with us.' She told him, ruffling his midnight black hair with her snout.

Kiaku clapped his hands together in delight. "Do you mean it?"

Yet Murtagh thought he heard a slight trace of sadness, maybe guilt in his voice.

'Of course.' Came Saphira's reply. 'After all, your more polite than this one.'

She jerked her head at Eragon who merely grunted angrily.

'You know I'm joking little one.' She said lifting him onto her back.

'You mustn't get so jealous.'

"I'm not jealous!"

Murtagh laughed, but he couldn't get over the sad look in the younger boys eyes.

'Maybe I'm just imagining it.' He thought. 'After all what could Kiaku be sad about?'

(Betrayal is such a funny thing)

---------

The odd group of four stopped at nightfall, and camped out under the open sky. They all

Looked at the long stretch of desert ahead of them, wondering if it would ever end.

"I'm never going to be able to look at sand again." Muttered Eragon, brushing the soft grains off of his shirt.

"Join the club." Came his harmonious reply.

"What is an egg?" asked Kiaku after a while, "Is it a codename for something?"

Eragon laughed slightly, and Murtagh turned to face the black haired child next to him.

"We are going to find a dragon egg. One that will hatch and turn into a big dragon like Saphira." Explained Murtagh.

"But," continued Eragon, "We must get there before Galbatorix's tropes begin to take over the city."

Kiaku looked at the two men wide-eyed. "A dragon egg!" he whispered, "wow! What are you going to do with one of those?"

'We are going to hatch it, and bring the rider to the good side.' Came Saphira's mental explanation.

Kiaku nodded in understanding. "Tell me, do you think it would be better to save someone you love, or some strangers?" asked Kiaku.

Eragon sighed. "You have no idea how many times I have asked myself that question, and how many times I found no answer."

"Why would you have to ask that question?" Asked Kiaku.

"Because my cousin Roran is the only living relative I have. I know that's its important for me to learn new skills as a rider to secure all of Algasia, but I wanted to see my home again, and my cousin. But I held my self back, I did what was best for the people. And I hope I don't grow to regret it." Said Eragon.

Saphira nudged Eragon softly,

'You wont.'

------------

Sorry for not updating for soooo long. Hoe long has it been?

Kelsey: Two weeks and about three days, maybe.

Dreamer: Nya! That's a long time! Sorry people!

I have been busy writing Prince of Tennis Fictions.

Kelsey: Ya, know you probably have A.D.D.

Dreamer: Most likely.

Thanks to Maddie, Teenlaunch, Dragon Rider Morzan, Wolfsting, and everyone else who was nice enough to review. I'll try to update faster!

Sianara!