Chapter 31: Prelude to… a Bath?

After Nasuada relayed her orders, or asked what her orders should be while also making some not so subtle suggestions as to what she thought he should do, she departed with Elva close behind. The young spared him a glance, a worried glance he noted, still concerned as to what he might do, an effect of his curse or maybe just of his personality, but left despite her concern. Orik had already departed to find the few dwarves who had accompanied the Varden, leaving just him and Arya… and Saphira, of course, sometimes he forget Saphira was also here as she always was.

In a single moment Arya too was gone, leaving him alone with his dragon.

Eragon shrugged as she left, not staring at her butt for once… too much armour in the way "Fine be that way" he said, huffing as he stood alone outside of Nasuada's pavilion.

'If you're quite done' Saphira said 'Can you get this bloody thing off me now?'

He sighed, pouting, but quickly divested her of the saddle and saddlebags. Eragon left his armour alone, still packed carefully and padded with clothing and other material, to prevent damage in transit, despite Nasuada's advice that he might need it at a moment's notice. He didn't feel like wandering around in heavy plate.

He left his belongings outside, ordering one of the guards stood outside the tent to keep an eye on them as he headed out.

They got maybe twelve steps before Eragon grinned brightly and headed purposefully towards towards a tent, located surprisingly close to Nasuada's abode. Located next to the tent was a black cauldron, and stood next to that was a women with curly hair, and a shaggy black cat sat at her feet. She was alerted to his approach by the cat meowing.

Angela practically glared at him, her teeth gritted, her face lit from beneath by a flickering green flame that made her look rather monstrous "So you've returned, eh?"

Eragon shot her a smirk.

"That it?" she asked, stopping in her task, and considering him darkly "Is that all you have to say for yourself? Have you seen Elva yet? Have you seen what you did to that girl? HAVE YOU?!" her voice raised sharply at the end when he still did not answer. She took a step towards him, but seemed to think better of approaching any closer.

"I've seen her" he said.

"That it?" she demanded again when he did not continue. Angela was about to begin on a very explicit journey of words, but he took a step forwards, and silenced her with a pat to the top of her head.

"I'll deal with it" he said to her, rubbing her locks roughly, grinning darkly "It was nice seeing you again Angela. Solembum" with that he took his leave. Saphira stayed a few moments longer, to placate the women, and hopefully avoid any attempted murder from the herbalist, while her Rider walked away to continue with his task. To locate the Du Vrangr Gata.

The elves would say their word placement was the wrong way, Vrangr should come after Gata, but who knew how the grey folk spoke it, so did it matter which way one word went compared to another? No, not really. Eragon didn't care to correct them, teach them the elves 'correct' word placement. Not only was it not his place, not only was he uncertain as to whether it mattered or not, he just didn't want the hassle.

Maybe he'd use it to tease them, but until then it was pretty worthless information.

When Saphira finally caught up he was on the trail, several mages had caught wind of his presence, his mind open wide and touching every single mind around him, giving him awareness of all, including those shielded from him, and now he was following their panicked movements as they head to, presumably their headquarters.

'Did her words bother you that much?' Saphira asked when she arrived at his side.

Eragon didn't respond.

'Fine, be that way' she snarked him with his own snark 'But don't think that you can avoid what you've done forever. And especially don't allow this to become a topic you instantly become meek and embarrassed over. If you are not prepared to have your mistakes paraded before you, then you should stop being who you are Eragon.'

He finally did acknowledge her words, and turned to consider her 'I can't exactly stop being me, Saphira.'

'Guess you've got to get used to it then.'

Eragon sighed, she was right. Elva was a… sensitive issue for him, he very much hated himself for what he had inflicted upon her. And yet it was a mistake that people would no doubt use against him, he needed to armour himself from such insults else risk losing his temper, and thus losing everything he, and Ajihad, and Brom, and many others had worked for.

He focused on the task at hand, he'd deal with the rest later, and quickly located the swiftly, and they thought stealthily moving mages. One of them had a fall, and their mental shields fells for a moment as pain hit the spellcaster, giving Eragon a glimpse inside. In there he saw their goal, and therefore his, Trianna, and Trianna's tent, the pseudo official headquarter of the Varden's mages.

As he got nearer Trianna strode out, arms bare to the elbow, ready to do battle with magic, with a group of determined, yet not wholly confident men and women, behind her all looking ready to fight, all were likely spellcasters, he could at least confirm they were mentally trained.

Eragon cocked an eyebrow at the force before him, it was far less intimidating than it should be, he should at least feel something at facing the, presumably, entirety of the Varden's spellcaster, but he didn't. He wasn't even excited about the idea of fighting them, in fact the prospect seemed rather boring "Quite a greeting" he said calmly, smirking "Do you greet everyone this way, Trianna?"

The dark haired woman looked shocked by his arrival "Shadeslayer… Saphira" she acknowledge the dragon after a moment, and the dragon's eyes noticeably narrowing "We were unaware of your presence. We were preparing to face a mighty foe" she relaxed and stood tall and calm "I see now it was you. It would seem your education has produced splendid results."

Eragon just grinned.

"To what do we owe this pleasure?" she queried, taking a step forwards, closing the distance between them to just three more steps "You have not visited us before, we who are more your brethren than any in the Varden" he found that laughable, and could not help but snort. Trianna scowled, as did several behind her.

"I wouldn't compare myself to you" he said, grinning callously at her and taking a step forwards of his own "No offense, but you're not on my level" the stiffness of the mages behind her was quite noticeable, though Trianna herself remained calm and her expression did not change.

"I see" though her face was neutral, her voice struggled to hide the offense she took. She forced a smile, flashing her brilliant white teeth "But you have yet to tell us what we can do for you, Shadeslayer. We are unfortunately busy with preparations for the battle ahead, so if your business is not pressing…"

"I'm taking control of Du Vrangr Gata" he said flatly, interrupting her attempt to dismiss him.

Now Trianna responded, her body tensing, her face contorting into a scowl for a minute before returning to a non-creased form "You…"

Eragon's own expression became a scowl, and he lashed out hard against the mages that dared to probe his mind in some attempt to find out his intentions. He wasn't subtle either, and two of them were sent to the ground, another couple gripping their heads in pain. Only one managed to pass it of as a mere spasm. The mages were all even more on guard now, and united most likely against him, not exactly ideal, he needed them cooperative.

"By whose order?" Trianna demanded.

"Nasuada's."

"Ah" the sorceress smiled triumphantly "and yet Lady Nasuada has no direct authority over us. We help the Varden of our own free will, we are not bound to them."

"Is that so?" he said slowly, taking into account just what that statement implied "Well I'm sure Nasuada would be surprised to hear that. It seems to imply that you no longer wish for the support or protection the Varden provides" he offered her a grin "A dangerous place to be, I must admit."

She seemed to realise just what she had implied "We did not…"

"More to the point, I am superior to each and every one of you" he strode past her and considered the mages before him "Perhaps even all of you combined. Do not assume this is arrogance of a young upstart, or some foolish pride birthed of being a Rider, this is fact" their united front wavered, as they glanced at one another, looking for wavering and wavering themselves as they did so "And the fact is you need me. My knowledge, my expertise, my power, you need it all. And I need you, your numbers, and your ability to mold magic. We need one another, but rest assured, I am the superior party here."

Trianna moved to stand between him and the mages "You truly believe that. We are not some hedge mages, Rider. We are the Du Vrangr Gata. All of the things we've done for this campaign, for the Varden, can you..."

"Like making lace?" she stopped, he grinned "Yes, quite the noble effort. Ingenious really, not your idea though, Nasuada's. And what else have you done? Your job? You've protected the Varden from magical threats, and have been strained to do that. You never struck back, not having the resources, or time. So, Trianna, I'd say you have done all you can for the Varden, and with my aid you can do more."

Her lip quivered and she glared at him with her blue eyes.

"What is your plan?" one of the spellcasters behind her asked, he quailed as she turned her glare on him, but didn't back down "Rider" he added respectfully at the end, specifically avoiding meeting Trianna's gaze.

"My plan is simple enough, though focused entirely on the battle ahead. You will join minds and search for enemy magicians amongst their forces. When you find one, I will join with you and we will crush them, and move on."

"And when you are not… aiding our efforts?" Trianna asked curtly, looking for some weakness in his suggestion.

"Killing" he said simply "I will stand on the front line, with my sword and my dragon, and kill anyone in my path. What will you be doing Trianna?" he asked, as if asking about her plans for the afternoon, rather than about her projected position in the battle ahead.

She looked away.

Eragon considered the mass before him, he had them. They recognised him as superior and thus would give before him, Trianna though, she recognised him as superior, hell she knew he was better than her, yet still resisted his attempts. It was brave, foolish, but brave, but the reasoning behind it was most important. Was it a desperate attempt to cling to power, or was it a genuine effort to ensure the continued prosperity and good fortune of the group she had been put in charge of.

Her reasons became clear as she stepped closer to him, that she might speak softly enough that he others need not hear, and said to him "Ever since the Twins died, I have led Du Vrangr Gata. It was under my guidance that we routed out the Black Hand, Galbatorix's spies intent on murdering our leader Nasuada. We performed other tasks, some mundane yet suited to us, other that only we could perform. And I am certain I can continue to produce such results… So why, Rider, does Nasuda want to depose me? Have I displeased her?" her face contorted into a frown of curiosity, and some strange variant of pride "Is she scared of me?" she finally turned her gaze to the ground, waiting for her answers, but not meeting his gaze.

He chuckled, and placed his forefinger under her chin lifting her head "Nasuada's wants none of these things. If possible, she would like to maintain the status quo, but the fact is you need me, and I need you" he raised his voice that the others might hear "Lady Nasuada is most grateful to you, for your efforts on her behalf, and she hopes that you will continue to support her, to trust her. But I need to be able to order you, whether you like it or not, agree or not, I need to know you'll do as I say, and not need to debate my commands" he lowered it again, that only she might hear "Of course, I could use the guidance of a more experienced leader, to do what I cannot, and lead when I cannot."

She spent several moments debating it, before finally nodding, not entirely happy, but knowing her position was not strong enough. The others respected him as Rider, she could not argue with the simple authority the name came with "Very well" she stepped back, his hand falling away "The Du Vrangr Gata places itself at your service Shadeslayer."

'Now the real fun' Eragon said, groaning in his own head, remaining calm and composed on the outside.

'Oh? I would think the amount of politicking needed to get here was the 'fun', is there more?'

'Yes there is my dear, now that we've gotten the idea of my rule accepted, we need to actually implement it. That means…' he left the answer to her.

'That means…' she pondered it a minute. What could taking control mean? He had just established dominance, so everyone beneath him could now decide their own place… only they couldn't, because he was at the top and so he determined their place 'That means more debating, more politicking, to get everyone to accept their place in your new regime' she sighed, what fun 'Why are we referring to this as if it were a country?'

'Because the same principles apply. Military units, countries, brothels, all have a chain of command, a top dog, a second to top dog, and a pecking order, and finally the bottom bitches.'

'Why are the bottom ones bitches, exactly? At least I hope you're not imply the bottom will be women, or female dogs, hope and assume that is to say.'

'Stop picking apart my sentences!'

Saphira raised a mental brow, and sneered 'No.'

Eragon grumbled internally 'Bitch.'

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A stone ran along the length of his hand and a half sword, sharpening the already razor sharp edge.

Eragon had arrived, he had seen him, and Saphira, swoop across the burning plains. He had ordered the men to launch no projectile, and the mages the same, knowing the devastation Eragon could wreak amongst them with guerrilla tactics, tactics that they could not respond to, though Murtagh could.

'Didn't you want to protect him?' he glanced at Thorn, hidden in the camp by magic and physical barriers, a large tent had been erected, big enough to contain a curled up dragon, and they were quite far back. No one in the army would notice, and Eragon shouldn't.

'That was not my intent, not in the slightest' he told his companion.

'Indeed' Thorn said, knowingly.

Murtagh shook his head. Thorn didn't understand, Eragon wouldn't be phased by some arrows, or by the magic that Galbatorix's spellcasters were capable of casting against him. He would simply respond with fire and death.

He stopped his sharpening and took a cloth and began polishing the blade with oil, to keep it from rusting.

Funnily enough he quite wished to see Eragon do battle again. He remembered quite clearly the last time Eragon had fought before him, he was a monster, a swirling steel monster of death, wreaking blood and death in all directions. He wondered if, against humans, Eragon would show more restraint… or less.

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She watched as he spoke to her men, her spellcasters, the people she had taught and molded and guided, getting the measure of their abilities, testing them, teaching them if he decided they were not of sufficient skill. Every one of the Du Vrangr Gata's healers has been spoken to, given new spells to learn, memorize, and master. Her battlemages weren't ignored either, though he was less inclined to give them words or spells, and more focused on how their efforts were spent.

He was not the boy she had met before, he was young, malleable, and far more dangerous and uncontrolled. Before her sat a man, confident and assured, still vicious but more controlled, if anything that was scarier. Before he had been like a storm, and now, while maintaining all the power of a storm, he had been condensed into a slender spear.

Trianna could not help but both be annoyed at the ease with which he taught them, his knowledge surpassing their own immensely, incomparably so. They were like babies, mewling in a language they had only the slightest understanding of, and he was an age old linguist.

In the months since she had taken charge she had encouraged greater cooperation, sharing of spells, rather than hide them away secreting knowledge from everyone else, and it had worked, but Eragon just blew all of that out of the water, in the last hour he had revealed more words to her than had been revealed that entire two months.

And yet she… she was captivated by him. Listening to him speak, watching him work, she hesitated to admit, but was forced to do so by honesty, that she enjoyed all of it immensely. Before she had sought to use him for her own ends, she would not deny she was in awe of his power and his mastery even back then, and found him attractive though somewhat plain.

Now though, while his appearance had not changed overmuch, the way he held himself compared, the way he acted, his present confidence compared to his prior cockiness, well Trianna knew which she preferred.

She had avoided his eyes last time after a mere glance, back then they were quite simply terrifying, filled with such vitriol and hate, though his expression had betrayed neither of those emotions, indeed she didn't think he had felt them, his eyes simply expressed them. Now, however, his eyes held more depth, they were still intimidating, she still struggled to maintain eye contact, especially if he was looking at her, but… there was something simply more to them, no longer the eyes of a mindless monster intent only on death and chaos.

.A runner came from from Nasuada, calling for him, quite insistent too, and Trianna found herself… saddened that he had to leave. He turned to her before leaving, and she felt herself shiver under his gaze "Trianna, you're my second in command, deal with this" his mind touched her, pushing past her defences, which she removed when she realised his intent not wanting to be sent to her knees like her men had been, and supplying her with information about his plans.

He left without a second glance, while still giving her the knowledge he wanted her to have.

She kept a tight grip on her thoughts till he was gone from her mind, and only then, only then, did she allow any embarrassment to filter through at the contact, closer than anything physical ever could be.

But more than that, his mind… it was immense, she had felt the minds of powerful wizards before, some held far more knowledge than her. She had also felt the minds of the elderly, those with much information stored away, and all of them paled in comparison. Eragon's mind was… incredible, like a crimson ocean compared to her a mere puddle.

It lured her, thoughts leered out at her, flickers of memories, of imaginings, of knowledge, all of it begging to be discovered, to be perused. Or perhaps that was simply her projecting her own desires onto what she saw, she doubted Eragon would be pleased if she explored his mind after all.

But there was something else too, something about his mind was… strange to her, It was an easy thing to pass over, very easy in fact, but…the feel of his mind… and those bright red eyes… and that image she had seen, of Eragon clad only in moonlight, his hair a deep bloody red, his eyes glistening with power and madness.

Trianna shivered.

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Swords were drawn when he entered, he didn't even spare them a glance, instead strolling past their formation, and towards Nasuada, calmly and purposefully "Sup?" he asked, stopping before her desk.

Her expression was… grave was perhaps too strong, serious, concerned as well "Our scouts reports that a company of some hundred Kull approach from the northeast."

He raised an eyebrow "Oh?" he hadn't expected to encounter Kull. Durza's control had been broken, and he was honestly surprised that a hundred had survived Farthen Dur, maybe that was all that remained? Was the Kull brand of Urgal about to die out this day? He pondered the consequences of the entirety of Kull being slaughtered for the Urgal society, in the long run they would survive, more Kull would be born, they were simply superior Urgals after all, taller, stronger, faster, flat out better, but born from normal Urgals.

Well technically Kull was more a title than a classification, or subspecies, or race, though no known Kull failed to meet the definition of height and strength. Perhaps in Urgal legend or indeed in practise not so tall but strong Urgals were also granted the title.

But this was hardly the time to consider it.

"So?" he asked blandly "You want me to kill em?"

She shook her head, watching him carefully "They're flying a white flag, and they wish to speak with me."

He nodded "And you intend to grant their audience?"

"I do."

Eragon nodded calmly.

After a moment passed and he sat nothing, Jormundur stepped forwards "Lady Nasuada, you must realise the foolishness of this. They could be assassins, spies, we should simply slaughter them and move on."

Nasuada took a calming breath, clearly they had been having this argument since long before Eragon had entered the tent "They are flying a white flag, would you like us to be known as dishonourable and slaughter them as they proceed forwards preaching peace?"

Jormundur just shook his head "They are beasts, monsters. You saw the atrocities they committed, in Farthen Dur and further afield, we cannot trust them."

"True" she agreed "Trust will have to be earned, and if broken we will deal with it as is appropriate. And you are right, I did witness atrocities committed in Farthen Dur, but do you forget the same atrocities committed by our own men? I saw Urgals surrender and were still cut down, I saw other struggling to defend their comrades, slaughtered before their wounded comrades were treated to the same fate. War makes monsters of us all. So, allow me to state that I will not simply forget what the Urgals have done to us, but nor will I ignore the acts we have performed, and I most certainly shall not ignored potential allies, especially when we are so outnumbered by the Empire."

Eragon shrugged, interjecting into the debate "Alright" he said "So they're coming here?"

Nasuada looked grateful as he interrupted the debate, one she had likely had at least four times before given how practised her speech was "Yes, they have agreed to send an unarmed envoy to us who will speak on behalf of the gathered Kull."

"My Lady" one of the gathered commands said "It is too dangerous to meet with a Kull, we should…"

Eragon took a full step to the man, who quickly shut up under his furious gaze "Do you seek to insult me? You think that, with me stood at her side, I will let the woman who possess my loyalty be harmed?" he took another step forwards "YOU DARE… imply that?"

The man took several steps back, spewing apologies along with phlegm. Eragon ignored him after that.

The commanders seemed to quell at Eragon's presence, and agreement, and thus argued very little further. They did assemble in a position that would provide them with easy access to any who wished to speak to Nasuada, easy sword access that is.

"If they try to kill him, stop them" Nasuada ordered quietly "Even if he tries to kill me, I want him alive."

Eragon nodded, leaning against the arm of the chair she sat on, vaguely watching the happenings. Elva stood partially behind the chair, Saphira was outside, curled up but paying close attention to all that occurred.

"Surely you cannot agree to this" Jormundur said to Eragon, fully aware that Nasuada was listening but speaking only to the Rider "They took Ajihad from us, and Murtagh from you. Eragon we should…"

"Jormundur" Eragon said firmly, patting the man on the shoulder "Shut up, or I'll kill you."

Everyone seemed rather shocked by Eragon's casual threat, but Eragon himself was unconcerned. The Urgals had been an enemy, but they were no longer, so his anger was no longer necessary. He still possessed it, true, he wanted revenge for Murtagh, and for Ajihad, the man who had bought Eragon's loyalty to Nasuada, with his life no less.

He didn't want to think about that now.

He had enough anger issues, without wanting to genocide a species… besides human, and elves… and dwarves now that he thought about it… ok, so maybe it wouldn't make the list much longer than it already was, but he still didn't want to add to it.

He could hear the sounds of the Urgals approach before he saw it, well the sounds of the Varden acknowledging the Urgals approach. Eragon considered it as it reached his sightline. Eight and half feet tall at least, thick features, spiralling horns. His teeth were bared but he showed no other sign of aggression against the abuse he was being targeted by.

No one had stepped out to confront him, just jeering and insults.

His mind was strongly shielded Eragon noted, he could break them, give him a bit of time and if he wanted more speed a knife which he could stab into the Urgal, then he'd get in super quick.

The Urgal stopped at the open pavilion, not stepping in, not stepping amongst the two lines of commanders

The jeering didn't stop, insults were still thrown, and after they didn't die down Nasuada had had enough "Get them to…"

"Shut up" Eragon said, in the ancient language to infuse his words with more power. He didn't use magic, but it worked. The silence was almost perfect, except for the wind and a stray cough. He didn't even have to raise his voice.

Nasuada looked shocked, but recovered quickly and nodded appreciatively.

The Urgal lifted huge thick arms towards the sky, inhaled deeply, then roared. Letting out a mighty battle cry at Nasuada. He didn't react as numerous swords, spears and arrows found themselves pointed towards him, continuing his scream till his lungs could maintain it no longer, and only then acknowledging the swords, which he did by looking at Nasuada and saying, in a thick, guttural accented voice "What treachery is this, Lady Nightstalker? I was promised safe passage. Do humans breaks their word so easily?"

One of her commanders leaned towards her, and said, not quiet enough that the Kull could not hear which Eragon suspected was quite purposeful "Let us punish him, my Lady, for his insolence. Once we have taught him the meaning of respect, then you can hear his message, whatever it may be."

Eragon stood, and strode past the man, drawing Nasuada's gaze. She thought to speak, he could tell, but held back and watched him. He strode through the men and past the drawn swords and came to stand in front of the Kull, looking up at the mighty creature stood before him.

He cleared his throat "Um… I shall feast upon your bone marrow…" he heard, but ignored, the breaking of whispering behind him as he spoke words in the Urgal tongue, evne the Kull blinked, shocked, at the language loosed from the Rider's lips, then scowled at his words " No wait, wrong line, um… you are welcome at this feast?" he shook his head "Look, I'm not great at this language, so forgive me if I accidently tell you your mother was a goat and your father some form of radish, kay?"

The Kull considered him a long minute, then raised his head, bearing his neck, a sign of submission Eragon knew "It is an honour" he muttered words Eragon didn't understand, a title he thought, though he could not be certain.

"What do you desire here, horned one… wait, that's not correct… um… maggot? No wait, kitten? Or was it blanket?" Eragon frowned, and scratched the back of his head "What do you desire here… envoy? There you go, envoy. Thank the gods."

The Kull nodded, understandingly "I desire peace, between my people and the Varden. I desire Galbatorix's blood. I desire a future for my race" he ended his statement, stood proudly before the Rider, a noble example of his race.

He considered that a moment, it made sense, before thinking about what he should say next, it wasn't his place to form the deal between their two races… or organisations rather, so he just gave some advice "When you wish to show subservience to Nasuada, might wanna bow."

"Bow?" Eragon realised his mistake quickly enough, bow also referred to the position one took when about to charge in Urgalian, though thankfully it did not also refer to the implement for firing sticks with sharpened/iron tips. That was an entirely different word. Urgalian was weird, though he supposed the human tongue was worse. There were three different kinds of of there, there, their and they're. Human language was dumb.

"I mean, lower your head" he worded that more specifically "it is how humans display subservience."

"I…"

Eragon sighed, clearly the Kull was worried about looking as if he were to charge her "Drop to your knees, then you can't charge, that good enough? It'll just ease some… err, let's call them tensions."

"Indeed" the Kull looked about, the tensions were still very clear "Thank you" that title again, that he didn't understand.

Eragon turned on his heel, and found himself face to face with several swords, still drawn and pointed at the Urgal envoy, all through his conversation they hadn't bothered to sheathe their blades"Put em away lads" he said, boredly "Or I'll have to take em off you. Don't want you kiddies hurting yourselves do we" though his tone was bored, it was jovial and not unkind, but they didn't look like they were about to, so Eragon scowled, and his tone became distinctly unkind "I said PUT YOUR WEAPONS AWAY!"

They did this, after a moment, fear holding them still for several seconds before they rushed to do as he asked. An angry Eragon was a dangerous Eragon, needless to say the men before him understood this, or at least got the general gist, or perhaps they just responded well to that kind of drill instructor-esque instruction. Who knew.

He went back to stand by his second favourite girl… no wait, he quite liked Rhunon too, third favourite then. What about Islanzadi though? Fourth, then… and there was Arya to consider, where did she scale on the chart, before Rhunon? After? And where did Islanzadi position then, was Arya before or after her.

So he decided, after a moment, that Nasuada was his maybe third favourite, as calling Islanzadi a girl felt a little weird, he didn't want to have fucked a girl, calling the elderly Rhunon a girl was fine though and she was his second fav. Saphira was obviously the first.

'Are you calling me a girl' she asked, somewhat offended.

He didn't bother responding.

The Urgal dropped to his knees, once Eragon had taken back his place, and lowered his head, before standing again after a moment "I am Nar Garzhvog of the Bolvek tride, I speak for my people" his Urgalian was fluid, elegant even, at least compared to Eragon's grumble, but Garzhvog's human was little… shit "Urgals are hated more than any other race. Elves, dwarves, humans, all hunt us, burn us, and drive us from our halls…"

"Not without good reason" Nasuada pointed out.

The Urgal nodded in acceptance of that statement "Not without reason. Our people love war" he confessed "Yet how often are we attacked just because you find us as ugly as we find you?" his statement held no water with any of the commanders, who just scoffed, but Nasuada looked thoughtful "We have thrived since the fall of the Riders" another race who actively worked against the Urgals, due at least in part to the Urgals negative relationship with the elves from whom the Riders were birthed. The Rider's did not exterminate the Urgals, or rather could not, but they culled the population as frequently as their leader deemed necessary "Our tribes are now so large, the lands we live in can no longer feed us."

"So you made a pact with Galbatorix" the olive skinned woman half stated, half queried.

"Yes, Lady Nightstalker. He promised us good land if we killed his enemies… But he tricked us. His flame haired shaman, Durza, bent the minds of our war chiefs and forced our tribes to work together, as is not our way. After the battle in the dwarves hollow mountain, our Herndall, the women who rule us, sent my brood mate to Galbatorix to ask why he used us so" Garzhvog growled "She did not return. Our finest died for Galbatorix, and then he cast us aside like a broken tool. He is drajl, and snake tongued, and a hornless traitor" he raised himself up, and thumped a fist to his chest "We are fewer now, Lady Nightstalker, but we will fight with you if you let us."

She took several moments to mull over the information that had been presented to her, two of her commanders tried to speak, but a look from their leader made them shut their mouths "What is the price?" Nasuada finally asked "I doubt your Herndall offer your services free of condition."

"We want blood" Garzhvog said "The Black King's blood. And, if his rule fails and he dies, your war succeeded, then we want land, for breeding and growing. Land enough to avoid future battles against your kind, and others."

It was easy to guess the Varden's leader's decision, a decision that was not agreed upon by certain men, such as Jormundur who leaned towards her and said in an undertone "Nasuada, you cannot do this. It is… it goes against nature."

"Nature won't help us defeat the Empire. We need allies."

Jormundur shook his head "The men will desert before they'll fight alongside Urgals."

"That can be dealt with" she tapped his back "Eragon, will they keep their word?"

He shrugged, what was he an Urgal expert "So long as they've spoken true, so long as we share a common foe, so long as we don't aggravate them… sure."

She nodded "Very well, Nar Garzhvog, you and your warriors may bivouac along the eastern flank of our army, away from the main body, and we shall discuss the terms of our pact."

He glanced at Eragon, who rolled his eyes and spat a world in Urgalian "Camp, you can camp."

Garzhvog nodded "Ahgrat ukmar" 'It is done', an interesting choice in words. Perhaps implying his own dissent with the Herndalls, or perhaps simply because it would lead to an unknown fate, the Urgals allying with anyone had not occurred in all of history, as far as Eragon was aware "You are a wise Herndall, Lady Nightstalker."

A frown creased Nasuada's dark face "Why do you call me that?"

"Herndall?"

She shook her head, that was easy enough to guess Eragon supposed. Given that he had explained it earlier "No, 'Nightstalker'."

Garzhvog laughed roughly "Nightstalker is the name we gave your sire, because of how he hunted us in dark tunnels under the dwarf mountains, and because of the colour of his hide. As his cub, you are worthy of the name" he proffered his neck, forgetting Eragon's words prior perhaps, and then stated "I will go and inform my brethren, with your…" he struggled to find the words.

"Of course, please take your leave" she told him. He strode away, before he was that far Nasuada stood and proclaimed to all gathered before her pavillion "Anyone who attacks the urgals shall be punished as if he attacked a fellow human. See that word of this is posted in every company, and stated by every commander to his men."

She had only just finished, and the men begun to disperse when Orrin approached quickly, almost running "Nasuada! Is it true you met with an Urgal? What is the meaning of this? Why was I not informed? I don't…"

He was interrupted by a running, emerging for the grey tent "Lady Nasuada, a horsemen approaches from the Empire!"

While a crowd, headed by Nasuada and Orik, ran towards the edge of the camp, Eragon walked with Saphira behind him. By the time he got there the conversation was already midway done.

"...fore us once we set forth to cleanse Alagaesia of every miscreant, trator and subversive. And though it pains our lord, for he knows that most of these acts are instigated by bitter rulers and misguided fools, we shall gently chastise the unlawful territory known as Surda and return it to the right and benevolent rule of King Galbatorix, he who sacrifices himself day and night for the good of his people. So flee, I say, or suffer the doom of your herald" with that the envoy untied a canvas sack and tossed loose a severed head from its depths, letting it fall to the ground.

He then turned his stallion and galloped back to the dark mass of Galbatorix's army.

"Leave him" Nasuada ordered when some men raised the idea of pursuing him or shooting him down with arrows "We will have our due soon enough, and I will not violate the sanctity of envoys, even if the Empire h…"

Before she could finish Saphira propped herself up on the ramparts, and let loose a mighty roar, stating the death that enemies would soon face, the wrath they had invoked, and enemy they faced.

The sound of her roar, and certainly not a subtle jab at its mind, frightened the stallion such that it jerked violently, rearing and sending its rider to the ground, where he landed and lay completely still. After a few minutes, the crows that hung above like a black cloud descended and began picking apart the first victim of the war, a simple accidental death.

Nasuada turned to her soldiers and began issuing orders, ordering a watch, ordering men to armour up and prepare for war, after a while she turned to Eragon "Gather the Du Vrangr Gata and prepare them, and yourself" she cast a displeased eye at his clothing, clothing not the armour she wished him clad in "I will have orders for you soon, within an hour. By the end of that hour you had best be prepared."

Following that she turned to Orrin, her tone becoming far more pleasant and subservient than the cool dominant woman who had given him his orders "Sire, there are decisions we must make. I have a certain plan, but it will require your expertise and of course the unique skills of Surda."

He found this woman far less attractive than the woman who ordered him, she was hot, the one who placated and spoke so formally and with such respect was… so boring.

He headed into the mass of tents that was the Varden, grabbing a man from the crowd, a captain if he wasn't mistaken. The man was initially unhappy, but upon realising just who he was talking too became instantly subservient.

"Find me a razor, a mirror or the closest you can find, and a tent, an unoccupied one… oh and a bath…" he tapped his foot "Well off with you."

"Um, at once sir!" the man saluted and quickly sped away to locate what Eragon, the Dragon Rider, had ordered him to locate.

'A bath my dear?' Saphira queried, stood behind her Rider and seeing only the back of his head.

'Yes, honeybun, a bath. I desire a bath.'


FUCK YOU!

...

Thanks.

Toodles.