Great news, everyone! I'm baaaack! If you're still here, thank you so much! I know it's been so long since I've updated this story. So much has happened lately, but the most important thing for you guys is that I now have a good computer and internet at my apartment! That means that new chapters should be coming up much more reliably than before. This chapter is shorter than my usual Nari chapters, but I wanted to get something out for you guys ASAP after the long wait. Thanks for sticking with me!
Nari woke to find herself warm and dry, hands unbound. Her head was fuzzy, and it was several minutes before she was able to push herself up into a sitting position. She was in a small room, with only a narrow cot for furniture. There was a single, barred window, and an iron-bound door with a small window in its top half, which was also barred. When she tried to stand, her side screamed in protest, and she fell back onto the bed with gasping breaths. Carefully, feeling her ribs, one broken, she found that her hands were covered in dried blood.
Not mine, she remembered fuzzily.
She tried to think of words in the Ancient Language to heal her rib, but found she could not remember a single one. Not even the word for fire, she thought frantically, which she'd used even before she'd known it was magic. She could not think of any of the words she'd used to heal Brom or…
Brom. Was he safe? Had Saphira gotten them both away? What of Murtagh? She couldn't remember!
Calm down, she told herself, trying to steady her breathing. She fell back on the cot, turning to bury her face in the wall. Calm down. You won't be able to help them this way. They must have drugged me. Urgals were as intelligent as people, but she thought she would recognize the gravelly sounds of their voices. So not Urgals then. Had someone found her outside Gil'ead and brought her into the city? If so, why had the Urgals left her there injured but alive?
And she was in a cell. Unbound, not considered a threat. Not that she blamed them. With a broken rib, and drugged as she was, she could barely move, let alone attempt to hurt anyone.
The rattle of the lock disturbed her strained thoughts, and she tilted her head towards the door. A man entered the room and set a tray of food and a pitcher of water on the cot next to her.
"...Wait," she whispered hoarsely as he turned to leave. The man didn't even hesitate, not looking back and he left and relocked the cell door.
Peering into the bowl on the tray, Nari grimaced at the thin, cabbage soup and bread. She took a couple of bites of it, and grimaced at the taste. Pressing it away, she pushed her eyes into the palms of her hands.
She needed to eat, she knew it. She needed her strength for whatever would come next. The Urgals had left her there, and she'd been found by humans, but that didn't mean she was safe. Did it? No, not safe with the Ra'zac on their heels. The Ra'zac had been in their camp and hurt Brom. Was Brom still tied to Saphira? Had Saphira made it away safely? Her head was so fuzzy, she couldn't concentrate properly.
Drugged, she reminded herself. I just have to wait until it wears off. Shouldn't it have worn off already? It was dawn when the Urgals had attacked, the sun slipping over the horizon. Hadn't she been planning to meet someone at dawn?
He'll have run, she concluded. Who's he? She couldn't remember, but she knew he would have run, fearing a trap like the one she'd been caught by. Caught? Knocked out by. Why had the Urgals left her there? Had they been driven off by men? Soldiers? Had the men seen Saphira flying away? Had they caught Murtagh?
The rattling of the lock signaled the guard's return. He brought more food and water, scowling at the half-full bowl from before. Would they stop giving her food and water if she didn't eat? She forced herself to try to eat and drink as the guard left, slopping most of the liquid over her clothes as she struggled not to aggravate her ribs. It tasted foul, like someone had dumped spices in it. She felt lethargy seep over her. She was so tired. How long had she been awake? How long since dawn?
Ignoring the mess she'd made of her clothes, Nari let her eyes drift shut. Sleep began to rise up to meet her, but just as the darkness felt almost complete, a loud clang caused her to jolt sharply. The din of steel-shod boots marching on a stone floor filled the air and Nari twisted in her bed. The noise grew louder and louder, and Nari cringed back from it as it sent blaring pain through her head. She tried to pull herself upright, wanting to see what was making the noise, but the pain in her ribs sharpened and she fell, hitting the floor hard on her shoulder. The pain in her ribs flared brighter, and everything went black.
As soon as Nari opened her eyes, she could tell something was different. Her mind was clearer, and she could think.
"Verda ramr," she murmured, pressing her hand to her ribs. To her dismay, though she could remember the words, the magic within her felt sluggish and weak. It tried to obey, but it couldn't. "Alright then," she breathed out. Carefully, trying not to injure herself further, she hoisted herself up off the floor, stumbling back to land on the cot. Reaching out, she tried to reach Saphira. The only thing that stopped her from panicking when she could not reach her was the feeling of their bond. Though she could not hear her, their bond was still the raging river it had grown back into; it just felt far away, as though she was standing on a mountaintop looking down at the river from above. "The drugs are still in me," she murmured quietly to herself. "Wearing off, but slowly."
Taking care with her ribs, Nari slowly began to stretch out her muscles. Through the window, dim light filtered in. It must be dawn again. Had she been here one day, or two? She reached for the water pitcher, and again the foul odor assaulted her. What had they done to the water that made it smell so…. Or what had they put in it? Moving gingerly, Nari carried the water to the window and carefully tilted it out. The sloshing of water made her wince, hoping no one was around.
The portly jailer entered the cell an hour later with a tray of food. Staring at it, Nari knew that it was likely they'd put drugs in the food as well. With a small wince at the thought of going without, Nari waited until the jailer had gone before tipping the food and fresh water out the window again.
Breathing hard from the ache in her ribs, Nari collapsed back against the bed. Closing her eyes, she slept again.
She woke up to voices in the hall.
"You can't go in there! The orders were clear: no one is to see her!"
"Really? Will you be the one to die stopping me, Captain?" cut in a smooth voice.
There was a subdued, "No . . . but the king—"
"I will handle the king," interrupted the second person. "Now, unlock the door."
After a pause, keys jangled outside her cell, and Nari pushed herself up slowly. The door opened. A tall, proud man with a sable cape entered the room. His face was deathly white, and his hair was as red as blood. His eyes were a bold maroon.
A Shade! What is a Shade doing here? The men should have killed him on sight! Why hadn't they?
The creature's upper lip rose into a twisted grin, exposing his pointed teeth. Nari's breath caught in her lungs, and she shrank back against the wall.
"Greetings," said the Shade with that cold smile. "I've waited a long time to meet you."
"To meet me?" Nari forced herself to ask. "But I'm no one." The Shade stared at her for a long moment.
"No one? To the contrary, I believe you are someone very interesting, my dear Rider." Nari shrank back further, fear flaring in her. He knew, which meant the soldiers outside knew. She was caught. Had they found Saphira? Did they have Murtagh and Brom too? She felt tears prick at her eyes.
"I- I don't-"
"Let us be frank with each other, dear. What is your name?" Nari frowned, confused.
"My name?" She asked. Was Roran safe then? If the Ra'zac hadn't told them her name?
"Your name, girl! Don't you have a secret name, one that you use only rarely?"
She stared at him, realization dawning. My True Name, she realized. The one Brom said could control you if other magic users knew of it. He wants to control me. She felt sick at the thought. They wouldn't need her to cooperate with them if they had her Name. They could order her to do as they bid, and she would be forced to listen by her own magic.
The Shade saw the realization in her eyes and grew urgent. "Yes! Yes, that one! Tell me your name." She knew that he would not believe a denial. She would have to give him something, if only to stall until the first time he tried to use it. It would have to be something that would withstand his scrutiny, but also seem to suit. She quickly stumbled through the ancient language available to her, and opened her mouth.
"Yes, yes, I- Brom told it to me once." She sent a quick mental apology to Brom for revealing his name, but hoped it wouldn't matter, since the Ra'zac knew it anyway. "He said it was Thrífask domia abr hûgin un yawë."
The Shade sat motionless for a long moment, examining her. His earlier urgency was completely gone now, and Nari wondered worriedly if she'd messed up somehow. Finally, the Shade moved to stand. Nari blinked at him, surprised.
"Who are you?" She asked, when it seemed as though he would leave without a word. The Shade stared at her for a moment more.
"No one of consequence. My name wouldn't mean a thing to you anyway. Instead, perhaps you should ponder who you would rather serve: a Rider who betrayed your own order or a fellow man like me, though one skilled in arcane arts. When the time comes to choose, there will be no middle ground." Nari stared at him, shock coursing through her. He turned away, but glanced at her water pitcher as he went. He stopped abruptly at the sight of it, his face granite hard. "Captain!" he snapped.
A broad-shouldered man rushed into the cell, sword in hand. "What is it, my lord?" he asked, alarmed.
"Put that toy away," instructed the Shade. He turned to Nari, eyes narrowed. "The girl hasn't been drinking. Why is that, exactly?"
"No, my lord. I talked with the jailer earlier. Every bowl and plate was scraped clean."
"Very well," said the Shade, mollified. "But make sure that she starts drinking again." He leaned toward the captain and murmured into his ear. Nari caught the last few words, ". . . add an extra dose, just in case." The captain nodded. The Shade returned his attention to Nari. "We will talk again tomorrow when I am not so pressed for time. You should know, I have an endless fascination for names. I will greatly enjoy discussing yours in much greater detail." Nari shrunk back at the tone in his voice, but the Shade and captain both left without another word.
With a wince, Nari lay back on her bed again, ribs protesting the move. She waited several minutes to ensure no one came back, and then pressed a hand to her ribs. "Verda ramr," she commanded. Her magic leapt to obey, and she felt the tightness in her chest ease immediately.
Relief filled her, and she rose to her feet, stretching her body fully. Her body felt tight, but she was grateful to be able to stand without pain.
Sitting again, Nari pondered. The Shade has spoken of choosing a side, but she still felt the fading shock that he seemed to have been asking her to choose between him and the King. Surely, the Varden would not side with a Shade? Surely he had to be in the king's employ, if he was surrounded by the king's soldiers. Hadn't one of the soldiers mentioned the king earlier?
'I will handle the king,' he had said. Was Galbatorix under the Shade's control? Hadn't Brom said the king had learned dark magic from a Shade? Could this be that Shade?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching soldiers, and she crept to the door and peeked out, worried. Outside, she saw two soldiers dragging an unconscious woman between them. Her long black hair obscured her face, despite a leather strip bound around her head to hold the tresses back. She was dressed in pants and a shirt made of dark leather. Wrapped around her waist was a shiny belt, an empty sheath dangling from her right hip. Knee-high boots covered her calves and feet. Her head lolled to the side, and Nari gasped quietly at the sight of her face.
It was the woman she'd dreamed of; the one she and Saphira had speculated might be a trap for her. Nari had joked to Saphira that she might be an elf, but a shift of her hair revealed that her joke had been more accurate than either of them had thought. An elf, Nari thought with a nauseous feeling in her stomach. The king and the Shade had caught an elf. The soldiers moved on out of sight, and Nari crept back to her bed and crumpled down onto it.
A Shade, and an elf woman. Her escape had just gotten so much more complicated.