Author's Note: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Mistress-of-Misery, for pointing out that white is, in fact, not colorless, and for foreseeing that Eragon leaving with Súndavar to Ellesméra would make the Varden (and Aberon with them) quite vulnerable indeed. Hearts to you, Kittie

Lily crept into the barn, silent as a cat. A horse nickered at her, stomping its foot and snorting. She reached out to it with her mind. Shhhh…

Reaching out to stroke its nose, she examined the horse quietly. Yes, he would do fine. He had good, sturdy legs, and was tall enough.

"What are you doing in here?"

Lily whirled, her heart beating faster. A young stable hand – probably only a year or two older than she – stood in the doorway.

"You shouldn't be here," he said sternly. "These horses are property of the Varden."

Lily bit her lip. He took a step towards her. "Come on, miss."

She stepped backwards. "Don't come any closer," she whispered. Or I'll have to consider you a 'hindrance', she added silently. Galbatorix had ordered her to destroy all 'hindrances'. And she really didn't want to do that.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said, grabbing her wrist. Lily saw only one way to get out of this. She screamed.

She screamed and screamed until her voice was hoarse. It didn't take long for people to respond.

A small crowd of about five men and a round, curly haired woman rushed into the barn. They took one look at the sight in front of them – a young woman trying to get away from a man, who held her wrist – and jumped to hasty conclusions. Just as Lily knew they would.

"Adair!" the woman cried. She looked enraged. She batted his hand away from Lily's wrist, then wrapped a shawl around the girl's shoulders. "Come dear. Far? Deal with your son."

"He's your son too, woman," grumbled Far, a grizzled man. "But very well."

"Are you hurt?" the woman asked.

Lily shook her head, making her lip quiver just a little. "No, ma'am." She glanced over her shoulder at Adair, who was making protests of 'but I didn't!' and 'I wasn't going to!'. I'm sorry for getting you in trouble, she thought. But it's better than having to kill you. But from the look on Far's face, Lily wasn't sure it was.

"Come," the woman said, putting an arm around her shoulder.

Lily burst into dramatic tears, covering her face with her hand to hide her smile. It was just too easy.

"I'm so sorry, darling," said the woman, leading her away. "Adair really is a good boy…I don't know why he…"

Lily bit her lip, feeling a little guilty. No, she assured herself. You did the right thing. After all, otherwise he would be dead.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" the woman asked.

"I…I need a horse. I have to leave," Lily said, sniffing and wiping tears away from her face.

"You don't need to go so far, dear," assured the woman, "I'm sure it won't happen again."

"I have to go, all the same," Lily said with another sniff. "I…I just have to."

The woman searched her face. "Very well. Come, you can pick a horse from our stables."

An hour later, Lily was riding away from Aberon, riding a sturdy yearling. She knew that once she reached Ellesméra, the momentary joy she felt now would vanish, as she was forced to commit acts she didn't want to be guilty of. But for now she had the wind in her hair, and the moon shone down on her. The only thing that would make it better is if Shay were here. Or Murtagh…but Lily didn't like thinking about him. It made her heart do a funny flip-flop in her chest, and she didn't like it.

She had rode for about three hours when the mirror in her pack vibrated. Lily's heart began to beat faster. No! She didn't want to touch it, didn't want to go near it. Her hand went to take it out. She tried to stop, but couldn't. Why do I even bother any more? she asked herself, it's not as if I'm going to be able to stop myself.

But she knew the answer. Even if she knew that it would do no good, she had to try. For Shay.

She looked into the mirror, immediately entranced by its shiny surface. Galbatorix's face appeared; his familiar red hair, hard eyes, and merciless face.

"I've been watching you," he said, without greeting her. "You are moving fast."

"I got a horse in Surda," Lily intoned. Something about Galbatorix's gaze made her tell everything, no matter what she wanted to hide.

"Good. You'll head for Ellesméra."

"Yes."

A cruel smile curved around his lips. "Very good, Lily."

Lily didn't respond. She may have had to answer all his questions and such, but she didn't have to thank him.

"This quite makes up for your incompetence with the arrows," he told her. "I am impressed."

Again, Lily was silent.

"Are you not going to thank me for my commendation?" he asked, enjoying her helplessness against him.

Lily tried to bite back the words. "Th…than…thank…you…mi…milord," she said tightly. She bit her tongue until she tasted blood.

"You really should stop trying to resist," Galbatorix admonished. "My power is greater than yours, and your efforts bore me."

Lily frowned, but said nothing.

"Do as you wish, of course," said the king with a sly grin. "But you're only tiring yourself in your resistance."

Lily tried to break away from his gaze, but couldn't put the mirror down. She tried to close her eyes, but they wouldn't stay shut.

That thin, snakelike smile curled over Galbatorix's hard mouth yet again. "But all this small talk tires me," he said, "The reason of my contacting you tonight is to offer congratulations."

"For what?" Lily asked of her own will, before she could stop herself.

"For getting out of Surda, of course," Galbatorix replied. The look on his face made Lily's heart sink. He was up to something. "You see," he continued, "It would be quite the shame if you perished in the attack. After all," he said with a grin, "my armies wait for no one."

The magical image on the mirror faded, leaving Lily alone, a sinking, terrible horror in her heart.

No, she cried within herself. No!

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Lexia sat up in bed. Although the darkness that surrounded her was no different than usual, it was still night. She could tell from the stillness in the air. Unbidden by her, her heart started to beat faster. Something was wrong.

Something had awoken her.

Lexia slipped out of bed. She didn't stumble about, like most did in the dark. She knew this room, knew the little knot in the wood floor that always tripped Jo, knew the positions of the sparse furniture.

She slipped into her supple riding pants, which hung over the chair, as always. She slept in her tunic. She fastened her belt around her waist. On an instinct, she treaded her sword onto the belt. The blind girl moved to where she knew Jo's bed would be.

She groped for Jo, then found her shoulder. She shook it.

"Jo!" she hissed. "Get up!"

The other girl rolled over, pulling her pillow over her head. "Go to sleep," she mumbled, not entirely awake herself.

Lexia felt her heart continue to beat faster. "Jo!"

The other girl sat up. Lexi could feel the rush of air as she sung her feet out of bed. "Lexi, what is it?" she asked tiredly.

Lexia was already heading out the door. The castle corridors were dark, but she knew them too well to stumble. It was Jo who was blind here, not her.

She lead Jo through the twists and turns, guided by instinct. There was a hush to the air, as if the world held its breath. The absence of sound or movement disturbed Lexi. She could sense movement, sound. Without them she was lost.

They continued to run, neither knowing exactly where they would end up or even why they were running so.

"Lexi," Jo asked softly. "Lexi, what are you doing? Where are you taking us?"

Lexia didn't respond, but quickened her pace. They soared up a flight of spiral stairs, and Lexi realized where she had led them. This way was one of the only ones onto the top of the castle wall. This suited her purposes completely. Perhaps she had been heading there all along. She didn't know, and she wasn't about to stop to think about it.

The guard in the watchtower was asleep. Lexi heard his snoring, sensed his slumber. She didn't stop to wake him up, but continued, dashing out onto the wall, where archers would have been had there been a war.

The wind started up, pulling at her hair. She stopped, turning to face the plains beyond the city wall.

Although she could see nothing, Lexi knew. She felt the hatred, and the certainty. She heard Jo gasp behind her, but it meant nothing.

She could feel them. There were thousands, tens of thousands. Their emotions, feelings, their life swirled around her. She stared out with sightless eyes, knowing beyond a doubt what was out there.

Thunder boomed in the sky, the first few drops of rain spattering her face. Lexi ignored them. Her heart was pounding now, racing like it would burst. Jo made the sign against evil, but Lexia ignored that too.

A dreadful sense of knowing enveloped her.

In that moment, Lexi saw.

She couldn't explain how or why, but she hated herself for it.

My first sight, she thought bitterly. And all I see is death.

Author's Note: I know you all are going to absolutely hate me for this (cliffie and all), but I'm going on (dramatic pause) vacation (DUN DUN DUN DUUUUUN). No updates at least until Monday night, probably Tuesday. (sniff) I'll be working on it though. I haven't abandoned you. Hearts, Kittie