Rose's mind was spinning with the revelation before her. Eragon was back in Alagaësia despite the prophecy! But on a more practical note, what was he doing here? She would have to find out, and that meant a little spy work.

She abandoned the others and went to her rooms. Once there she began to search for where Eragon was using the minds of various insects about the castle. She found him and followed him all the way to King Orrin's study. She then watched a confrontation between the king of Surda and the most powerful man in Alagaësia.

King Orrin, who was in shock, let Eragon begin. "Stop your war or I will stop it for you, Orrin!"

After a moment to regain his composure, Orrin replied, "You give poor ultimatums, Eragon. How exactly will you end the war for me?"

Eragon sneered. "I have twenty Riders that are within a day's flight to Aberon. Twenty Riders with arms and training better than any man in your entire army—even you—and there are twenty Dragons with them. If you do not stand down, I will burn this castle to the ground!"

King Orrin shook his head. "I am surprised at you, Eragon. I did not think you were capable of becoming another Galbatorix."

"I am no Galbatorix," Eragon said. "I am just doing what must be done to ensure peace in Alagaësia. Now will you stand down or not?"

"I will not because I cannot," King Orrin said. "The Empire is the aggressor here. Nasuada chose to send her armies into Surda, and I chose to fight them. I sent Tharos, who happened to be in the area on maneuvers with the fleet, to prevent any Imperial fleet from attacking us. You must believe me when I say that I am only defending myself."

That made Eragon even angrier. "You chose to walk this path; you chose to secede from the Empire! Give up your rebellion or I will be forced to take action."

"No," Orrin said. "This war began long ago. It began ten years ago when Nasuada, Arya, Nar Garzhvog, Orik, and you made me join the Empire. It is your fault for this; for thinking that all humans belonged together, you wounded us. The only thing that could make this worse is if you continue to subjugate my people."

Eragon's anger cooled. "I didn't know your people took this so personally."

"I have been called a sellout, a traitor, and a cooperator. My people have been taken away to become slaves of the Empire; a slavery without end. I tried to save as many as I could, not only to use their talents in war, but also as a service to their families. This is for every family who has a son, a daughter, a father, a mother, a brother, or a sister taken from them for the simple crime of being born a magician." Orrin looked at Eragon, his performance—if it really was one—reaching its peak. "Don't you see? This is for people, rich and poor alike, to be free from the tyranny that Nasuada has inflicted on us. Don't you want that; for there to be freedom from tyranny?"

Eragon was silent for a while. He probably couldn't see what Rose saw; he couldn't see that Orrin was telling him what he wanted to hear. While it could have been truth, she had seen him work at this war, and it was as much for his own ambition as it was for any family with a magician for a son. While it was doubtful that Eragon had seen it now, she was sure that he would eventually realize it—even if it was a hundred years from now.

Finally, after several minutes, Eragon said, "Alright. I'll try to have Kaesdir convince Nasuada to give Surda independence—he has a silver tongue unmatched among the Riders, so it is better that he do it than I. For now though, do not attack. Do not seek out battles with the Empire. If one must be fought to protect a city or village, I will give you my blessing to defend it. But know this: if you go against what I have said, there will be no independence for Surda."

"It is a deal then," King Orrin said happily. "I will see you again when Surda is free."

"Possibly," Eragon replied.

As Eragon was about to leave, Orrin asked something that Rose thought was rather inappropriate. "Have you talked to Arya yet?"

Eragon stopped at the door and turned back with anger in his eyes. "I did not come here to socialize, Orrin; I came here to stabilize Alagaësia and nothing more."

Orrin nodded understandingly. "I know how difficult it is to remove yourself from your personal feelings because of your responsibilities."

"You have no idea," Eragon replied and left Orrin alone.

Eragon seemed very childish. She wondered if he was always like that or if it was a new development. She certainly hoped that he would put his feelings aside for now, as his responsibilities were more important than any hormones he could be feeling. She hoped that the Riders were in good hands or else they might have another Galbatorix on their hands.

She returned to her body and thought back to when she had encountered Eragon before, however briefly it had been. It was during the last Agaetí Blödhren, and Eragon did not seem at all competent to her—more amusing than anything else. Of course the festival had probably gotten to his head, as it had for many Elves including herself. She doubted that he would even remember her.

She then compared her memory of Eragon with a memory she thought of often. It was of a young Rider who was almost done with his training, excited to be one of the great and invincible heroes that the Riders were. She found his childishness amusing as well, and didn't think much of it. He was brash, vain, and more than a little arrogant; things she thought made him a great pair with his Dragon. In the years to come she would regret not slitting his throat where he stood and casting his head into the ocean, as he would become a monster with no rival; he would become Galbatorix. She hoped that it was not Eragon's fate to become like Galbatorix, as she didn't think any could stand in his way if he did.

There was a knock at the door that snapped Rose out of her thoughts. She assumed it was Lynde and went to the door. She then found that her assumption had been wrong as it was not Lynde but her father Herbst. She asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you about some things," he replied. She was surprised as she didn't think he would seek her out to talk with. "About the war."

"Wouldn't you want to speak with Lynde or Arlen?" she asked.

He shook his head. "They wouldn't understand; they don't know war like we do."

Rose invited him in and sat on opposite couches. "I should tell you that I didn't fight," she said.

"Neither did I," he replied. "But I saw a lot of good men go out and only a few come back. I think you know what I'm talking about."

Rose frowned, suspicious of him. If he didn't know about Tuami then he was being irritating without meaning to. "What's your point?" she asked.

"I don't know," Herbst said. "Eragon being here makes me think that maybe this war is coming to a close." He looked knowingly at her. "I don't suppose you feel the same way?"

"Maybe," she replied suspiciously.

"He's probably here to see King Orrin, or something like that," he said. "Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation." He looked at her slyly. "I wonder if you know the feeling."

Rose frowned. "So you know."

"Yes I do," he replied.

"I guess you're wondering how it went," she said.

"No." He tapped his temple. "I'm a mindbraker, you know, and I wanted to see that just as much as you did."

"Hmm. So why do you bring it up?"

"The war could be ending soon," he said. "Do we tell Lynde?"

"We might," Rose replied. "But I have heard of Nasuada's reputation, and I do not think she will back down soon if ever."

"Aye, we shouldn't get her hopes up," he said.

"Yes, but we can't do anything if King Orrin tells her."

He nodded saying, "I suppose. So what do we do?"

"Let it happen. It's better to have someone like Orrin let her down than us."

"Someone like Orrin? Do you mean a king?"

"No, just politicians in general."

Herbst chuckled. "I didn't know you had a sense of humor."

"One of my many secrets, I can assure you." She cracked a smile, her mood lighter than it had been for a while.

"Well, if they're all as good as that one then I'd like to know them."

Rose sighed. "Is that your idea of courting?"

"No," Herbst said, surprised.

"Good because I am over two hundred years too old for you." That brought a little laugh from Herbst, which she appreciated. "Thank you."

"No, thank you," he said.

"Why?"

"For training Lynde and keeping her safe," he said. "If I could repay you, I would."

"No," she said firmly. "I was doing it for my own selfish goals before. Now I'm doing it for a friend." He didn't ask who it was because he already knew—he married her after all. She didn't need to be repaid because all she was doing was repaying the sacrifice that Fayre made for her, and she would be repaying that for a long time—a very long time.