-13.

Kara wandered, seemingly aimlessly, through the city. At least she hoped it seemed to be aimless to the five guards following her. She might be friends with Nasuada and the Varden, but that didn't mean she had to be nice to Orin's guards. She quickly slipped into an alley and climbed up the wall of one of the buildings with the aide of minuscule hand-holds. By the time the guards had found their way into the alley, Kara had climbed the wall. She gave herself a few minutes to laugh at their confusion, then she moved on. Nasuada would want her.

Kara walked straight into the hall.

"Wait, you can't go in there!" Kara looked at the guard who had spoken. She was used to guards knowing who she was, whether it was Galbatorix's daughter or killer spy for the Varden. Kara moved right into his face.

"Don't try to stop me." He looked a little startled at a girl staring him down. Kara took full advantage of it, kicking him in the balls and then rolling his doubled up form over her thigh.

"Any other takers?" All the other guards tried to rush her, and Kara quickly dispatched them. She stepped over their groaning bodies, knowing that there was no permanent damage. Nasuada would get mad if she killed her helpers.

"Kara?" called a voice.

"Who else?" said Kara, leaning into the doorway, "I have a surprise for you!"

"And?" said Nasuada. Kara simply showed Nasuada her hand. Her dragon, who they had decided to name Freddy peeped out from behind her back. Nasuada screeched.

4

Kara stared at Nasuada. She could not believe it. Nasuada, one of the few people she could claim as a friend, was sending her away. To the elves of all people. Kara knew that Eragon had gone to them for training, but that was different. Eragon had needed training. Kara did not.

"Why?" she asked.

"You need to be trained," Nasuada responded.

"No I don't"

"Kara, don't be difficult," Nasuada sighed. It had been a long day.

"I'm not being difficult. Can't you just trust me; I DON'T need to be trained."

"So you can already do the magic required to be a rider."

"Yes," responded Kara softly, not at all as triumphantly as Nasuada expected.

"And I know you can hold your own in battle."

"Yes."

"The only question is if you learned both skills from the same person," whispered Nasuada, almost to herself. Kara still picked up on it. It made her flinch.

"Yes, I learned everything from my father. Even if I was not to be a rider, he still wanted his heir to be a fully trained and protected Witch. Just, don't make me go," Kara's tone scared Nasuada. There was not much in life that Kara was afraid of. Nasuada knew that whatever she was running from had to be bad. Horribly bad.

5.

Nasuada had dragged Kara to a PRIVATE session of the council. Kara had been surprised that they knew of the new rider, and even more surprised that they knew his identity. They had argued for hours over what little news Kara had brought, and were now arguing over her fate. As a spy she was invaluable, but as a rider even more so. Finally, Kara proposed her plan.

"What if I got into the city. I'll pretend to serve my father, but in reality I will persuade Murtagh to join us."

"What about the oath?" asked the other rider, Eragon. His elfin features disturbed Kara, she had always found elves just a little bit creepy, but she still answered the question.

"I am of his blood, he cannot bind me to himself with an oath."

"And what if he cannot be persuaded to join us?" Eragon did not have to say who the he was. Murtagh was on everyone's minds at the present.

"I will be forced to eliminate him." Nods were given all around. The council approved of her plan; they would be able to hit to birds with one stone. Both her skills as a rider and a spy would be in demand during this mission.