Súndavar knew something was wrong the instant he awoke, feeling the absence of Rune's soft warmth, her silk legs. His heart beat faster. Getting out of bed, he strode down the hall quickly.

Pounding on the door to Eragon's chambers, he entered without permission. "Where is she?" asked the Shade's son, staring at Eragon hatefully.

Eragon squinted at him, still in bed. His hair was tousled. "Who?" he asked groggily.

"Rune. She's gone. Where is she?"

Eragon's eyes widened. "She's gone?"

Súndavar nodded.

Eragon got out of bed quickly. "Check with Angela. I'll look in the kitchens."

Súndavar nodded. He dashed off towards the healer's chambers.

Knocking urgently on the door, Súndavar felt his heart sinking. "Angela!"

He kept knocking. The door opened. Instead of finding the herbalist, he came face to face—or father, face to knee—with Solembum.

Brushing past the cat, Súndavar rushed into the room. He glanced around wildly for Angela. "Angela? Are you here?"

She is not.

"Who said that?" Súndavar asked, looking around.

I did.

"Who's there? Show yourself."

I am.

Súndavar frowned. He looked at the cat, then shook his head. "Now I'm going crazy!" he cried, slapping himself in the forehead. "Where is that woman?"

Angela went to find Rune late last night. She hasn't returned. As for your insanity, I do not believe you are as unstable as you think. I'm Solembum.

Súndavar sat down abruptly. "You…talk."

I do. As do you, if I'm not very much mistaken.

Blinking stupidly, Súndavar said nothing.

If you are looking for Angela, you won't find her here.

Súndavar nodded blankly. "Okay." He stood up and left.

Walking towards the kitchens to find Eragon, Súndavar reflected on what he had just seen. A talking cat?

He reached the kitchens. There was a large group huddled around something. He pushed through it, reaching Eragon at it's center.

"The witch has a talking cat," he said stupidly, still dumbstruck.

"Yes," Eragon said impatiently. "That's Solembum. He's a werecat. Look at this."

Súndavar didn't look at the piece of paper held out to him. "It TALKS!"

"Yes!" Eragon snapped. "It talks. Just look at this, will you?"

Súndavar took the parchment. He read it silently. "There is to be a—"

ooooooooooooooooooooo

"Tournament?" Rune asked, staring incredulously at her father. "And I'm to marry the winner?"

"Which will be King Orrin."

Rune shook her head. "All that for Eragon? And Surda's lands?"

"Yes, daughter," Galbatorix said, picking some lint off his extravagant tunic, proving how little he cared about his daughter.

"Don't call me that," Rune snapped. "You are not my father."

"Perhaps not. But I am your sire, and therefore you must submit to my will."

Rune stared at him with hatred. "So you suspect Eragon to just come? You remember, he doesn't know who I am."

"The Rider will come."

Rune looked at the paper Galbatorix had given to her. "And my dowry? It is to be—"

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"The lands from Aroughs to Teirm?" Nasuada asked. "Isn't that rather conveniently located?"

Eragon nodded. "I think it may be a trap, set either to bind Surda to Galbatorix or to capture Saphira and I. Which, I don't know."

King Orrin shook his head. "If Galbatorix wanted my lands, why doesn't he just take them? He's got more than enough force, and both sides know it."

"Even the most violent man tires of war," Eragon said. "He has proved his worth in battle. Perhaps he is trying to prove he is capable of tricking Surda out of it's lands. There is no glory in a one sided battle. Besides, let's say King Orrin won. Who's to say this 'daughter' isn't loyal to her father? Perhaps she would be used as a spy. An assassin even."

Nasuada nodded. "I agree with Eragon. This is far to dangerous to allow ourselves to be caught up in."

King Orrin scowled. "Having those lands would double—triple the size of my kingdom. Besides, I have no queen, and the people want one."

Súndavar spoke for the first time. "I don't know how you can even think of going, with Rune missing."

Captain Shay placed her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Not only Rune, either. Angela and Arya have gone missing as well."

Eragon sighed. "They are all probably with Galbatorix. Why he wants them, I don't know. Perhaps Rune knows something from her days as his prisoner."

"We have two options here," Nasuada said. "We either go, or we don't."

King Orrin nodded. "I wish to go."

"It doesn't matter what we wish," said Eragon. "What matters is what is right. If we go, we run the risk of being ensnared in whatever Galbatorix has planned. If we don't, Rune, Angela, and Arya may be lost to us forever."

Captain Shay began to pace. "Here's how I see it," she murmured. "From a tactical side, this is a disaster. We're walking into enemy territory, trying to spring a trap, the reason for which is unclear. However, it may just work out. Say we sent a strike team—a small group of people, perhaps five or six—into Galbatorix's castle to find Rune and the others, since Galbatorix will be busy with his tournament."

She paused, chewing on a nail thoughtfully. "If King Orrin wins, we can turn Galbatorix's own plan against him, using the girl as a hostage if necessary. Orrin will get his lands, we'll get Angela, Arya, and Rune back, and perhaps, if we're lucky, we might even be able to retrieve the egg."

Shay had just voiced what Eragon was thinking about. Using the tournament as cover, they could journey to Uru'baen—and capture the remaining dragon egg.

"This sounds…suitable," Eragon said, nodding. "All that remains is deciding who will go."

"Well, I must be present," King Orrin said.

"I'm going as well," stated Nasuada. "We can't very well leave you behind either, Eragon. But Saphira will have to remain here. We can't risk Galbatorix realizing who you are."

"Should I ready a squad?" Shay asked.

"No, Argetlam will hand pick the people going," King Orrin answered. "If it's not too much trouble?"

"None at all."

"I'm going," Súndavar said, his voice final. "Don't even try to stop me, Eragon."

Eragon watched the boy carefully. "No. I won't stop you."

Súndavar smiled triumphantly. He left the room.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

"Escort the princess to her room, Murtagh," Galbatorix said, smiling cruelly.

Murtagh glanced at Rune. Her face was impassive. She stood up, chin set defiantly.

"Come, Rune."

"Such familiarity will not be tolerated," Rune said stiffly. "You will address me by my rank, Rider."

"Yes, your highness. Come this way," Murtagh said. His voice was sad.

Rune took a deep breath, following him out of the room. Murtagh closed the door behind her.

They walked in silence. Rune still wore Súndavar's tunic.

"Rune, can't we talk about this?"

"You have doomed me, Rider. There is nothing to talk about, nothing to discuss. You sealed my fate the moment you touched Thorn's egg."

Murtagh looked at his shoes. "You know I would never do anything to harm you on purpose. I love you."

A flash of—surprise?—glinted in Rune's eyes. "I felt the same way about you, once upon a time. I was a girl then. I didn't understand. I harbor no such feelings now."

"Quit it with the royal tone and formal speech, Rune," Murtagh snapped. "Tell me how you feel."

"I am to be wed to King Orrin," Rune said. "It doesn't matter how I feel."

Murtagh opened the door to her new chambers. "You're to stay here." He shut the door behind her.

Sinking to the floor, Murtagh put his head in his hands. What was the point of living anymore? Everything he had loved was gone.