To Kuthian
Discalimer:Eragon belongs to christopher Paolini
Eragon stared forward. Unable to get close to Galbatorix he simply threw the sword through his back.He looked in disbelief as Galbatorix fell to the ground. Karris calmly walked to him. He prodded Galbatorix with his foot. "Well done!" said Karris, looking truly happy. "Pity about your brother though..." he said pointing at the ash that used to be Murtagh. Eragon jumped. "Karris his armor was completely fireproof and can't be effected by Galbatorix's magic." Karris looked up smiling. "Sorry, but I removed those fetures of his armor. He's dead. And the Varden will be too unless we go do something."
Karris and Eragon raced through the streets towards the battlegrounds. "Was it truly neccesery for Murtagh to die?" Eragon asked. Karris jumped over a few confused soldiers. "Maybe not but I wasn't taking chances." Eragons eyes widened. "You knew he betrayed us!" "It was the shade thing that told me that. He had far more power than five shades." Eragon looked up at him and asked "Why didn't he realise his armor wouldn't protect him anymore?" Karris smiled. "I just lowered the amount of protection, I didn't remove the spells completely." "So if he realised and repowered the spells he might still be alive?" Karris was about to answer when he and Eragon arrived at the walls. The Varden were holding the line but only just.
The human part of Galbatorix's army had long since fled. The reason was simple, the shades were acting under there own free will. Galbatorix used the shdes true names to controll them. After his death their bonds were broken. The shades could do what they wanted. And what they wanted to do was crush everything that wasn't a shade.
They might have succeded if it it wasn't for Karris and Eragon's timely arrival. Whilst only one other rider had succeded in killing a shade without dying, they were far stronger that any other riders. The fell upon their ranks quickly and swiftly. Karris impaled two shades through the heart at once. Eragon stabbed one and begun a swift sword fight with another one. So far only the elves could really hold their own. "Magic through the hart kills them too!" Karris held and threw a sword through a shades chest. Eragon shot a streak of flames though the one shades hart. Saphira had arrived and was squising and burning large groups of shades. At the moment getting rid of shades was more important than killing them. The battle was even untill Eridor came. He fell upon the shades with the kind of rage only a dragon can have. His claws crushed five or six shades at once. After a while most shades were gone but not dead. The Varden had won.
That night there was great celebration. Nearly everyone in the empire was in Uru'baen and everyone cheered Galbatorix's downfall.The soldiers who had been coscripted had thrown down their weapons and joined the celebrations immiedtly. There was a graet parade in the streets of Uru'baen with Nasuada and Eragon at it's head. Karris wasn't present. Thankfully he had agreed not to take part of the parade. The elves and many of the humans thought him a ruthless killer and it wouldn't do for the Varden to be assosiated with that kind of person.
Nasuada had made a grand speech about how the "rightfull goverment" would be raised and how everyone would be free of conscription and confiscation. The people cheered and Eragon thought it best not to mention that Karris intended to make himself king of the empire.
Eragon and Nasuada aprroached Karris's room slowly. Eragon had told her about Karris being the heir to the throne , but Nasuada wanted to convince him otherwise. They entered the room and found Karris reading a thin scroll. "Galbatorix's notes on magic" he explained wearily. "Very interesting but it takes a while to understand what he means. He seems to keep arguing with himself. Shouldn't have absorbed so many souls." Nasuada stepped forward. "That sounds interesting but thats not why we're here. We're here to discuss your claim to the throne." Karris looked up. "I'm the son of our king. It's my inheritince." "Yes but your noble line was disbanded three thousand years ago" Karris looked at her and sighed. "It was disbanded by those damn elves. Besides I made sure none from the other line survived , so really I'm your only option." Nasuada straightened. "The Varden have decided that an election is to be held to chose our next king." Karris looked upand his eyes turned bright yellow. He drew out elvesbane. Eragon didn't move but told him calmly "Karris you won't be happy as a King. You'll be driven insane by boredom. You need excitement and wars. As a king you wouldn't be able to do those things." Karris looked thoughtfull for a moment. "Then I'll join the election. There is no chance that I will win but I still want to try. Who are the other people who can be chosen?" Nasuada blushed slightly. "Myself, Orrin and Arya." Eragon's eyes widened in shock whilst Karris looked more yellow than ever. "Why is there an elf?" demanded Karris. "Why Arya?" asked Eragon. "She doesn't want to be a queen." Nasuada straightened. "It was part of the elves contract with the Varden. There must be a chance for an elf to become the ruler of the empire." "At least they stopped short of demanding the throne for themselves." Muttered Karris. Nasuada then swiftly left the room.
Karris and Eragon were sparring when they were interrupted by and messengar boy. "The Vardens council have requested and audience with the rider Palancar II." Karris shrugged and he and Eragon followed him to the battered remains of the throne room. Karris walked in calmly and Eragon followed. They stared across the room. The council of elders as well as Orrins nobles were there. The thirteen dwarven clan leaders sat there as well with several elves. Eragon only reconised Vanir and Arya.
"Yes?" asked Karris politely. Nasuada stood. "Karris your request to be part of the election cannot be ignored due to your claim to the throne." Eragon broke into Karris's mind and told him ""They mean due to your power" Karris smiled and asked "When is the election?" "In two weeks time" said Orrin. Eragon now noted that most of the people here were pale with fear. To invite a person who betrayed you and can kill you easily is not very smart. But it would be much less smart not to invite him. Karris smiled. I'll return in one week" He Glanced at Eragon. "Will you be joining me?" Karris asked Eragon. "Were are you going?" Karris smiled brightly. "You are aware that we are going to have bring the dragons back into this land?" Ignoring the gasps from the elves Eragon asked "So your going to Kuthian?" Karris nodded. "To Kuthain."