Lynde had been called to Orrin's study. It wasn't long after Artsanna told her that Saphira had left that she got the summons. Lynde wasn't sure why she was summoned, though she hoped it didn't have anything to do with Eragon—she was afraid that he had been here because of her and that she would be forced somehow to join the Riders. As she entered the study Orrin was stood next to his desk, and when he saw her he went to her.

He seemed excited somehow, like he knew that he'd see an old friend soon but not yet. "Lynde, I want you to come with me to the war meeting today," he said with barely contained enthusiasm. "I have something that you should be party to."

"Alright," Lynde said.

"Good. Let's go."

She followed him down many hallways to an area of the castle she hadn't been in before. They arrived in an unfamiliar room where many men and a couple of women were stood or sat around a stone table with several maps on it. The people there looked familiar, though she couldn't remember from where—except Trianna, who was the only one there she knew. "Welcome to the War Council," Orrin said.

A man and a woman came up to them. The man looked grizzled and tough, despite the nobleman's clothes he wore. The woman was pretty and looked around the same age as Orrin, give or take a few years. The man spoke first and in a domineering way. "I am Lord Flaithrí, general of King Orrin's armies, and chief advisor to him in the matters of war."

The woman spoke with a clear and careful voice. "And I am Lady Alarice."

"I am Lynde of Cathalorn," Lynde said, feeling a little pressured to say her name.

"Yeah, I guessed as much," Lord Flaithrí said.

Ignoring Lord Flaithrí, Lady Alarice curtsied and said, "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lynde."

"The three of us, along with a few others I trust, make up the War Council," Orrin said. "We command the entire Surdan war effort, and decided how we must fight the Empire. Everyone in this room is a trusted and important part of our war effort, and today I welcome you into it."

Lynde felt like a great honor had been bestowed upon her. She had been chosen to help with the war. After so long she was finally going to make an impact on the outcome of the war. She was happy, but took it very solemnly. She was unsure what to say, but Artsanna gave a good suggestion. "I can only hope that I prove your trust is well founded."

Orrin smiled. "I believe you will."

Lynde smiled back. Thanks, Artsanna, she said through the bond between Rider and Dragon.

I am happy to be of help, Artsanna replied.

As Lynde was shown to a seat, Orrin stood next to his seat. She wondered why. "Friends, we are at the edge of independence. Earlier today, Eragon came here with the intention to put us in our place. I returned the favor. He is now on his way to Ilirea to convince Queen Nasuada to give us our independence!"

There was a cheer from almost everyone at the table, including Lynde. She was overjoyed with the news, and she hoped with all her heart that it was true. But across the table someone was less than happy. "If Eragon is so weak willed to be swayed by you, what hope does he have of convincing Queen Nasuada?" Lady Alarice asked.

"He will probably not go himself," Orrin replied. "Most likely he'll send Kaesdir or Alaric. The best leaders delegate tasks to those more qualified, and Eragon may not be the best negotiator.

"In any case, this doesn't mean the war is over yet." Orrin looked at a map on the stone table and said, "For much time we have wondered where Jörmundur was during all this. As we all know he was Nasuada's military commander during the war." He glanced at Lynde, seemingly knowing she needed that explanation. "It seemed strange to me that he was absent from every siege along the northern border until scouts patrolling the eastern border discovered something. Jörmundur is coming to Petrøvya, my friends, and he is coming with ten thousand men."

Lord Flaithrí was the first to sit up in shock. "Ten thousand! That is ridiculous! How could he move that many men across the desert?"

"Presumably he clung to Tüdosten Lake and managed to slip by unnoticed," Orrin suggested. "I am sending reinforcements to Petrøvya, but it may not be enough."

"I will go," Lord Flaithrí said. "I am more than willing to make the journey, and I would not hold back against Jörmundur, no matter my respect for him."

"While I have no doubt you would keep your word, they already have a suitably skilled strategist—Lord Cathair—and you would be too exhausted from your trip to plan a battle." Orrin shook his head. "No, they will have enough men, but only if Jörmundur attacks directly after coming there. He will lay siege to the city, and that is why we must strengthen the defenders' resolve for an open battle. We must send a symbol to rally the troops and give them courage. We must send Lynde."

Lynde was surprised to hear her name. She wondered if she had fallen asleep and this was just some dream, but when she tried waking up she couldn't. She had a hard time believing what was going on.

Orrin looked at her. "Will you, Lynde of Cathalorn, lead our forces to victory?"

She was put on the spot and had little time to think. She was surprised by her answer. "Yes."

When the meeting was over, Lynde was escorted back to her room. She then decided to meet with Arlen, her father, and Rose to see what they thought. They were all in her room when she announced both that peace was coming and that she had agreed to go to Petrøvya. Her father reacted poorly to her second news. "You aren't going to fight in a battle, Lynde," he said. "I won't let you."

"You can't stop me," she said defiantly. "Besides, I gave my word. You wouldn't want to make a liar out of me, would you?"

"Better than dead."

Arlen spoke up. "I'll go with her and see that she is well protected. She won't be harmed if I have anything to say about it."

Her father didn't calm down. "Would you give your life for hers? Would you come between her and an arrow knowing that you would die?" Arlen shook his head shamefully, but Lynde understood. She wasn't family or a great friend, so it didn't really surprise her that he was hesitant to sacrifice his life for her. It didn't help the situation with her father though. "That's what I thought."

Suddenly Artsanna's voice came into the conversation. I will of course be going with her, and she will be safe with me. I will carry her there so that she will not need to take a single step along the way, and once she is there it will be a Dragon's scales that will stop arrows, not Human flesh.

"But you can't go with her inside buildings," her father said.

"Dad, stop worrying," Lynde said. "I'll have Arlen, Artsanna, and Rose with me. I'll be fine."

"Actually," Rose said, "I won't be going with you." Lynde looked at her in surprise. "There is something that I need to take care of here, and no I won't tell you. After it is done I will join you in Petrøvya, though it could take time that you don't have."

"You should wait for Rose," her father said.

"I can't," Lynde said. "I have to leave tomorrow morning."

"Well…" He sighed heavily. "If you're going to go, then go. I can't stop you even if I wanted to. I just don't want to lose you again."

Lynde took his hands. She looked him in the eye, trying to put on her bravest face even though she was afraid of the trip and the destination. "I'll be fine," she said as she tried to comfort him. "I wasn't asked to fight, so I won't if I can help it. There'll be an army between me and the Empire's soldiers. They wouldn't want to kill me anyway, since that would bring the wrath of the Riders on them."

Her father chuckled. "I wish I could go with you, but as we've seen I don't take kindly to long rides on Artsanna's back."

It was disgusting, Artsanna said. I had to wash my scales off in a river. Lynde laughed, though Artsanna was still sore about it.

So her father approved of the trip but she was still nervous. She was going across land she didn't know to a strange city that would be under siege. There was nothing that wasn't going to be dangerous, but as long as she had her sword, Arlen, and Artsanna with her then she would be safe—hopefully.