This is dedicated to all my wonderful reviewers as an apology for being so late :)

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4/1/101

Murtagh held his breath and slipped noiselessly out the stable. What could this possibly imply?

Thorn! he called, quickening his pace as he silently stalked the girl named Blackfire. Thorn, where are you?

Yes? His dragon's voice sounded groggy, half-asleep. Murtagh? It's late, past your bedtime…what're you doing waking me up?

Murtagh grimaced. Well, I am sorry to disturb you in that case. I just thought ever so vaguely you might be interested in knowing there's a REBELLION underfoot!

Heh! Say more, Thorn said, sound much more awake. I'm listening.

Murtagh rapidly filled his dragon in on the conversation in the barn. Thorn listened, quietly thoughtful. The voices? Your memory's very bad at remembering them…oh yes. I know. That time you got your leg chopped open by Galbatorix—Blackfire and two others helped. Talinia…I'm not sure.

Well, I'm following Blackfire now, Murtagh said tersely. What should I do?

Confront her and scare the pee out of her, Thorn said dryly. Or, you could go back to your room and go to sleep like you're supposed to at TWO in the morning!

I like the pee part better, Murtagh retorted. But that's not the point, Thorn. There's this whole conspiracy…do you know anything about something called Peregrine? That came up a lot in the conversation.

Thorn hesitated. No, he said finally. Peregrine's a bird, I think…

Well, obviously not how they used it in their conversation. They talked a lot about participating in Peregrine. But Thorn, think about it! How could we help?

By not doing anything, the red dragon said, his voice very sharp. If you start sneaking off to join some rebellion, Galbatorix will notice and rip the information out of you. Stay out of it!

What—

Caught up in the conversation, Murtagh had failed to stick the most basic rule of stalking—don't let yourself be seen. A hard mudball/rock hit him squarely in the head. With a yelp, Murtagh dropped to the ground, hand around his eye. He hadn't seen that coming.

I'm coming! Thorn cried, feeling his distress.

No! Don't! Murtagh barked sharply. Severing contact, he shifted and rolled as a blur shot past him, then somebody bulled into him. Murtagh's fingers closed around a wrist, and he crushed it with an iron grip. His attacker stiffened, gasping slightly.

"Don't move," he snapped.

The light shifted, revealing a young girl's face. After a pause, he connected it tentatively to the second voice in the stable. "I won't betray you," he said in a softer voice. "I promise."

Her face twisted into a strange expression, hatred mixed with animal panic. "And I'm sure there's great reason for me to trust you," she snapped angrily. "Let me go!"

Murtagh sat up slowly, her fingers still trapped in his. "Blackfire, isn't it?"

"You were in the barn," she panted, eyes flicking from side to side, the look of a cornered animal.

"Stables," Murtagh corrected.

"Whatever!" she snarled. "Like Talinia said, I've got mind defenses worth nothing. So rip through! Take whatever you want, find the disgusting, sordid details of my life. Find Peregrine." Her eyes bored into his. "It's not like I can stop you."

Murtagh hesitated, then released her wrist with a little sigh. "Go, girl," he said gruffly. "I won't."

She backed away, wincing as she touched her wrist. "I—" she began hesitantly. Abruptly stopping, she seemed to consider her words. "No," she said flatly. "I—"

Her eyes darted up, over his head, focusing on someone behind him. Murtagh hissed, spinning around, slamming into a second attacker. Mental fingers dug into the defenses in his mind, seeking to find any crack. Not quite Galbatorix-quality, Murtagh thought grimly as he threw his assailant off both mentally and physically.

A blade appeared as if by magic in his attacker's hand. Coming into the light, the woman threw herself at him, shouting words that he did not recognize. Murtagh grimaced, shouting, "Geuloth du knífr!" The blade thudded harmlessly against his cheekbone, bouncing off. The woman hurled herself right past him, shouting at Blackfire, "Run!"

Oh, no you don't!

Murtagh cursed as Thorn landed in front of them, red eyes glaring fiercely at the two females—Blackfire, and what had to be Talinia. Murtagh! Are you okay?

I was handling it, Murtagh said angrily. You didn't have to come.

I know you were. Are these the two lovely ladies you heard in the barn?

Stables, Murtagh corrected for the second time that night. And yes, I believe they are.

Huh! Thorn said, sounding interested. Well, tell them I'm very pleased to meet them.

The two women couldn't hear Thorn, and if they had, they would not have been very reassured. The taller of the two—Talinia—tightened her grip on the blade. "So, Red Rider," she said coldly. "Will you destroy us now? Take us as your triumphant prisoners?"

Murtagh's face was emotionless. True. All he had to do was to ask Thorn to let out a roar, and the secondary Gate Guard—forty yards away—would arrive in a few minutes. But that's not what we want, Thorn said amiably, reading his thoughts. They're our friends. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Cute cliché, Murtagh sighed. They aren't always true, as it turns out.

Ah, it's a bad beginning. No problems. Pick it up, start over with a, "Hello, I'm Murtagh! Nice to meet you!" and all will be just dandy.

Stop acting so happy.

Thorn shrugged, scales rippling on his broad shoulders. It's a gift, he said flippantly. He peered at the two women. They don't appear to be frightened, by the way.

It was partially true. Both were glaring at Murtagh with a combination of fear, hatred, and on Blackfire's, curiosity. Murtagh glared back, feeling incredibly stupid. He had them cornered. Now what? He didn't want to kill them, or betray them…

We could ask, Thorn said.

Ask what?

Peregrine! the red dragon said excitedly. You said they said that it had something to with dragons, didn't you? Ask them!

Murtagh frowned. They're not just going to give it up.

Yeah, you have a point, Thorn sighed. What a pity. Well, I suppose that's that.

We let them go? Just like that? Murtagh asked skeptically.

Unless you have a better idea, yes. It's not like we can join a rebellion under Galbatorix's nose.

Murtagh nodded slowly. I suppose you're right. Taking his mind from the connection, he said to them, "You can go."

There was a stunned pause, then Talinia said harshly, "That's all, Red Rider?"

"Yes," Murtagh said, hearing weary resignation in his voice. "I suggest you quit your posts here. Don't want to take a risk." His eyes trailed onto Talinia, and suddenly he realized who she was—the head chambermaid in the left wing of the palace. He had seen her once or twice, dishing out orders left and right to a flock of anxious maids. "Best to hide. I won't give you away—at least, not intentionally."

Blackfire nodded and made as to leave. Talinia stopped her with a flick of her hand. Her eyes riveted firmly onto Murtagh's, she said softly, "Swear it, Red Rider."

"In the ancient tongue?" Murtagh asked, his palms sweating slightly. If he swore this in the ancient language, could Galbatorix's use of his true name overcome it? What price would he have to pay? Thorn? he asked, reaching out towards the dragon for advice.

I don't know, the dragon answered somberly. It's a complicated thing. I think you should put some loophole so that I would be able to tell Galbatorix, if need be. There was a dull silence, then Thorn added softly, I don't like betraying them either, but sometimes our hand is forced. You can't let it possess you, Murtagh.

Hearing his own words parroted back to him made Murtagh smile, a grim, dark smile. You're right, he said softly. You're growing up, Thorn.

I try. Now, how will you phrase it?

Murtagh considered it for a while, acutely aware of Talinia's hostile, disbelieving stare. "Sé eka il blothr nekl meyalí ne henóe." May I be stopped from speaking of the events of this night.

Talinia listened dispassionately to the words. "Awkward wording," she said finally. "Interesting. I should think a better word would be kajila, communicating. Better phrasing would be hólir nefiya, or informing others. It's just a precaution, you see. Nekl, speaking, is just so…precise."

I think she's onto us, Thorn remarked darkly.

Murtagh gritted his teeth. "I could turn you in right now," he barked. "You should be glad I've sworn that much already."

Talinia merely smiled, an icy half-smile that spoke volumes. With a frustrated hiss, Murtagh repeated the sentence, exchanging nekl for kajila. Talinia nodded slowly, then said, "The dragon, if you please. I know he's sentient."

Murtagh should his head emphatically. "Of course not! He's not sentient—"

"Right," she drawled. "Repeat that in the ancient tongue." There was an uncomfortable pause, then she said, "I didn't think so. Well?"

I think I have to, Thorn said slowly.

Our true names…Thorn…

I know. But it's either that or show to them that we will betray them—

But we will! Murtagh shouted. If forced, if we are put into Galbatorix's vise, we will. We must.

Thorn was silent for a long time. All right, we'll do it this way. I'll say it, and you can say I said it, and that'll be true. Except I won't have said it in the ancient tongue. How's that?

Murtagh mentally nodded, careful to keep still. Thorn blinked in affirmation and said, May I not communicate anyone about the events of this night either. There. It's said.

"All right," Murtagh said aloud. "Thorn til ele fayá." Thorn has also sworn.

"Good enough," Talinia said finally, after a heartwrenching pause. "I accept."

She and Blackfire both stood. "I will see you around, my lord," she said, voice laden with cold contempt. "May you keep to your oaths, and may you die screaming if you break them." Her eyes fell on Blackfire. "You and I are not finished."

She whirled on her heel and stalked away. Blackfire sighed slowly, then looked at them, her gaze going slowly from one to another. "You should go," Murtagh said shortly. "They'll be suspicious."

"Thank you," she said uncertainly. "You don't seem to particularly like Galbatorix either, and thank you for letting us go."

Murtagh stared at her, then nodded. "Go, Blackfire," he repeated into a softer voice.

She made as to leave, then paused. "Salem," she said hurriedly. "Call me Salem."

And she disappeared into the darkness.

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End of Chapter Ten

This story is getting nicely back on track. I am happy! Yay!

I read a bit of Eragon yesterday, looking for Murtagh's character, and he really is kind of human. He's a bit sarcastic, understanding, passionate, disgruntled, and even kind. So I'm trying to inject a bit of that into his character.

Keep on reviewing!