I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle!

Thoughts over bond

•Ian=Murtagh

•Neil=David

The next morning David was rudely woken by a slap on the face.

"Ah!" David sat up quickly, his hand pressed against his stinging cheek. "Ian! What was that for?!"

"Aquila told me what happened while you were with the King."

David raised his eyebrows, "She talked to you?"

"Well you didn't tell me what happened! So she decided to tell me." Murtagh sat on the bed next to David. "Are you out of your mind!? You allowed the King into your mind just so he could 'teach you'?!"

"It's not like I could've refused!"

"Of course you could have!"

"There are two reasons for why I couldn't say no. The first was because he is the King and he wouldn't have taken no very well. The second was because then I might gain his trust and actually learn something about the eggs. Not to mention the things he will teach me could be helpful for the future."

"Anything he teaches you will be foul and dark. If anybody finds out you learned from Galbatorix they will lose their respect for you."

"Ian that isn't necessarily true."

"Maybe not but they won't trust you."

"Maybe they won't trust me and maybe they will, but there is nothing I can do about it now." And with that David stood from the bed and left the room.

The day went by to fast for David. His list of tasks to do through the castle disappeared in what seemed to be minutes, but in reality they lasted until morning to early evening.

When he finished his last task he began his slow trek towards the a throne room where Glbatorix would be waiting for him. Aquila I need you to take my memories again.

What do you mean? There is no reason for me to take your memories again.

I think it would be wise if the only person in Galbatorix's presence is Neil.

He felt Aquila's exasperation Why would you ever think that? Neil is defenseless against anything Galbatorix would do to him.

I want to do this because I'm worried that if Galbatorix uses Neil's true name then I wouldn't act like the way someone is supposed to when their true names are used against them. Galbatorix would see that.

All you need to do is force yourself to do as he says if he says Neil's true name.

You know what it's like when someone says your true name. We found ours years ago. You can't replicate that full body shudder. And on top of that I would have to look out for the word Voromer throughout our whole conversations. I could end up missing it and give no reaction. That would make anyone suspicious. David made it to the throne room doors and knocked.

Please Aquila. For me.

He received no response but when he entered the throne room David Philips was no more. Replaced by Neil Eronsson.

Up in the study Neil was sitting in the same chair as the day before while Galbatorix paced behind his desk. Neil followed his pacing with his mind.

Galbatorix then abruptly turned to his bookcase and pulled down a thick tome. He carried it to the desk and dropped it in front of Neil. The resounding bang made Neil jump in his seat.

The King pointed to the book, "Tell me what this says."

Neil looked at the book but saw no words. "There is nothing written on the book Master."

"No?" Galbatorix's voice was challenging.

"None that I can see Master." An agonizing spike of pain drove through Neil's head before abruptly disappearing.

"Then look harder." The Kings voice was like stone.

Neil focused on the book again but still could not see anything. He focused a little harder but still couldn't see any words. With a frustrated huff he focused his mind solely on the book. The only thing he could see in his mind was the book. A blank book.

He would have given up before he began to see blurry outlines of words. He gave a triumphant smile but lost focus and could no longer see any words. He gave a long breath and refocused on the whole room around him. Galbatorix was seated in the chair across the desk and was staring intently at him.

"Well? What did it say?"

"I was only able to see blurred letters master. Unfortunately even if I had seen the words I wouldn't have been able to read them." He waited for the spike of pain for failing his task but was pleasantly surprised when he felt nothing.

"And why would you not be able to read it?"

Neil awkwardly cleared his throat, "Well, because I am blind nobody really taught me how to read. There was no point to teach me if I couldn't see the words being taught to me."

"I see." The King paused, "Then perhaps that is where I shall begin teaching you." The King opened a drawer from his desk and pulled out some parchment, some ink, and a quill. He laid the parchment out in front of him and started writing something on it.

When he was done he pushed the parchment towards Neil, "Can you see anything on this parchment?"

Neil looked at the parchment and saw nothing. He narrowed his mind onto the parchment and watched as different letters came into his minds eye. "I can. But only if I focus with all of my minds strength. Otherwise they are all blurry."

The King hummed, "Then we shall have to start smaller." Galbatorix pulled another sheet of parchment in front of him. He wrote something on the parchment once again before giving it to Neil. "Can you see that?"

Neil focused as hard as he could until he found a clear image. "Yes, yes I can see that. What is it Master?"

"That is an A." And so started the long process of teaching Neil every letter of the alphabet. He was taught from A-Z. Learning every sound that they made depending on the word they were used in. The King was a rather impatient teacher, but by the end of their lesson he seemed fairly pleased by what Neil had accomplished.

He no longer had to focus so hard on the words in front of him. After looking at so many letters so many different times he was now able to see any words that were written on the books lining Galbatorix's wall. He did not understand what the words were just yet, but he would soon enough.

He bid his Master farewell and left the study so he could return to his quarters. He felt happy with what he was able to accomplish the tasks the King had given him. It made him proud knowing that it had also pleased his Master as well.

And with that feeling of pride also came the feeling of an intense headache. Memories once again infiltrating his mind before stopping and merging with his memories. Replacing Neil Eronsson with David Philips.

He stumbled the rest of the way towards the sleeping quarters before collapsing into his bed and sorting through the thoughts of both David and Neil. Focusing to see what was real and what was fake.

David prevailed and allowed himself to search through what Neil had learned. Committing everything to his own memory. This can't be healthy.

No it probably isn't.

I'm gonna end up with two different identities by the time we get out of this place.

And when you do I will say I told you so.

What did you tell me?

That I didn't want you to go to Urû'baen in the first place. And if you didn't then this wouldn't be happening.

Not much I can do about it now.

You could stop going to Galbatorix.

That's not an option Aquila. I've already begun learning and Galbatorix wouldn't let me stop that easily. And as much as it hurts me to say it anything he teaches me will be useful.

You want to learn from him?

If you know anyone else who could teach me this then I will happily go to them.

Oromis could teach you.

Yes he could. But there are things Galbatorix knows that Oromis may not.

David listen to yourself! You are sitting there and telling me that you wish for Galbatorix to teach you everything he knows! That vile, wretched mad man who killed all of the dragons and their riders because he believed them to be flawed!

Aquila you need to try and understand I don't have much of a choice! Had Galbatorix asked to teach anyone else loyal to the empire they would have jumped on the chance. I don't know what would have happened if I had said no and I do not wish to. I am doing this because if Galbatorix teaches me what he knows–and maybe not all of what he knows–then I will have some sort of idea about what other powers lie within Galbatorix's grasp.

Aquila growled I hate hearing you calling the man Master while he is teaching you.

You will have to bring that up with Neil because there's not much I can do about it. David smiled a little.

I'll be sure to mention it. Aquila couldn't quite contain all of her amusement.

David sighed I miss you.

And I you little duck.

David heard the rooms door open and Murtagh walked in. He stopped when he saw David on his bed before continuing to his bed and laying down, facing away from David.

"Ian we should talk." No response.

"Ian." Murtagh continued to ignore him.

"Ian!" Still nothing until he suddenly shot up with a shout and a hand pressed to his temple.

"What do you want?!" David raised his eyebrows.

"I think a better question would be why you just shouted."

"Your stupid dragon broke my shields and yelled in my head!"

"Shhhhhut up!" Murtagh nodded his apology.

"What did you want?" Murtagh's voice was harsh.

"We should talk about this morning."

"Why? There's nothing to talk about."

"I think there's a lot to talk about. Like why you were so distressed over Galbatorix teaching me."

Murtagh didn't speak at first, and David thought he wasn't going to answer until, "I was worried. Still am."

David raised a brow, "Why?"

"I remember what Galbatorix's teachings did to Morzan and I don't want the same to happen to you."

David smiled at Murtagh's worry, "I will be fine Ian you have nothing to worry about. And if I end up becoming cruel and dark the you can give me a good slap to the face to snap me out of it."

Murtagh smiled then, "I'll be sure to remember that."

David returned the smile before going to bed and wondering what Galbatorix would be teaching Neil the next day.