Chapter 6

Hours later, Nasuada found her sister in her room, lying motionless on her bed. For a second, Nasuada thought Amirah was dead. As she began to panic, Amirah sighed and sat up. "What is it, sister?" she asked. Nasuada drew in a deep breath of relief. "Gods, Amirah! For a minute . . ." Amirah's eyebrow rose sharply. "For a minute, what?" she asked. "Nothing, it was just my imagination," Nasuada said quickly, remembering the reason she had come. "There has been a sighting of Urgals, a war camp, just east of the waterfall," Nasuada said grimly. Amirah pulled herself out of the bed and stood up. "Then it has begun." Nasuada nodded. "We are to see Father before we are supposed to leave," she said. "And we are to take messages to Arya and Eragon."

The two girls walked out into the corridor, Amirah's brow furrowed in thought. "We must hurry to see Father," Nasuada said under her breath as one of the Varden guards passed them. "Afterward, we must be seen to leave. I have arranged for our handmaids to dress as us, heavily veiled. That way, word will spread around the Varden that we left." Amirah nodded. "Yes. But how will we get to the armor in your room?" Nasuada smiled. "We will dress as our servants, take the armor to another room, and dress there. Then we will keep our helmets on. No one will recognize us with that on, if we're careful." Amirah nodded in agreement. The Varden's helmets were gold, with blue veils that showed nothing but the eyes. No one would recognize the sisters if they were careful not to draw attention to themselves.

"Will we see Father before Arya and Eragon?" Amirah asked. "No, he asked to see us afterwards," Nasuada said. "We will be quicker if we split up," Amirah told her sister. "You're right," Nasuada answered. "I'll go to Eragon, and you can see Arya." Amirah began to nod, but on second thought shook her head. "No, if you don't mind, I'll go to Eragon," she said quickly. Nasuada looked surprised and then shrugged. "Tell him that Father wants to see him and Saphira as soon as they have been fitted for their armor." Amirah nodded once and turned away abruptly. "Meet me back in our quarters in an hour," Nasuada called after her.

Amirah hurried away, trying to figure out the best way to find out what Eragon thought about what he had seen. With this in mind, it wasn't long before she stood at the entrance to Eragon's quarters. She glanced inside and saw Eragon next to Saphira, stroking the dragon's head. "Eragon?" Amirah asked quietly. He jumped and turned around quickly. Amirah dropped into a curtsy. "I have a message from my father," she told him. "He wants you and Saphira to be fitted for your armor, and afterwards, meet him in his study." Eragon nodded. "Thank you. We will do that." Amirah stood watching him, nervously twisting a handful of her gown in her fingers. "Murtagh and I had a long talk after you left," Eragon commented. "Oh?" Amirah asked, glancing at the floor. Eragon came closer. "Is it true?" he asked. Amirah looked up.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "I mean, do you really love him?" Eragon asked incredulously. "Murtagh told me everything." The way he spoke irritated Amirah. "What is it any of your business if I do or not?" she snapped. From her spot in the corner, Saphira snorted. Amirah glared at her. "Murtagh is my friend," Eragon said quietly. "I want to understand what happened between the two of you. How can you love each other when you don't know each other?" Amirah slumped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. "I don't know," she said, her voice muffled. "I don't know how." "Murtagh seems to believe in some kind of true love thing," Eragon continued. "His exact words were, 'I love her as Raoulf loved Taenel, the moment I saw her, I knew there would be no one else'."

"Like Raoulf loved Taenel, from The Song of Altheria?" Amirah whispered. Saphira snorted again. Amirah glanced up in shock as the dragon addressed her directly. It is ridiculous nonsense, that's what it is, Saphira said. No one can fall in love from the moment one meets somebody. Saphira glanced at Eragon before snorting a third time. Eragon blushed slightly before focusing his attention back on Amirah. "The Song of Altheria is nothing but a story," he told her sternly. Amirah grew angry again. "So?" she asked. "What right do you have to talk to me about this? You aren't my brother. You aren't even a friend! I just met you!" "Exactly," Eragon said. "You just met me, as you just met Murtagh."

Amirah stared at him for a moment. "You're right," she said finally. "But I know what I feel, Eragon. And I love Murtagh. That's all there is to it." Eragon opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind at the last moment. The way Saphira looked at him made Amirah realize the dragon had stopped him from speaking. When Eragon said nothing more, Amirah remembered the reason for her errand. She dropped into a curtsy. "I will see you later, Rider," she said formally. "Nasuada and I are going to Surda with the other women." "You are not," Eragon said. "You and Nasuada are staying here. Murtagh told me what you're planning." Amirah stared at him with narrowed eyes. "So? Are you going to tell my father?"

Eragon sighed. "No. Murtagh and I both think you should leave but . . ." I don't think you should leave if you wish to fight, Saphira said. I have seen Arya, and she told me many things about you and Nasuada. Both of you have skills that will be needed in this battle. Amirah smiled triumphantly at Eragon. "Saphira told you not to tell my father, didn't she?" Eragon sighed and nodded. "You have to promise me you will stay out of harm, and if the battle looks lost, you and Nasuada will flee." Amirah nodded. "Yes. I promise." Eragon looked relieved. "Good. Then that's settled," he said awkwardly. "You know, Eragon," Amirah said slyly, "Nasuada and I need a place to hide until the battle."

"Oh no," Eragon cried, shaking his head and crossing his arms. "You've already got me into this much deeper than I want to be." Amirah pouted. "You're already involved, Eragon," she said with a smirk. "Why not let us stay here in the stronghold?" From her corner, Saphira made strange noises that sounded oddly like laughter. Amirah smiled as Eragon scowled at the dragon. "Please, Eragon?" she asked. Eragon sighed. "If your father finds out . . ." "I can always say I forced you to," Amirah told him, walking over to give him a hug. Eragon looked surprised, but pleased. "Coerced is more like it," he said wearily. "If all women are like you, Amirah, then maybe I should stay away from them."

So long as you stay away from the wrong ones, like Trianna, then you will do just fine, Saphira said, projecting her thoughts so both Eragon and Amirah could hear. Amirah snorted with mirth. "So Trianna's already been here, has she?" she asked. Eragon looked confused. "What do you mean?" "Eragon, that woman tries to seduce every unmarried man over fourteen and younger than fifty that comes into Farthen Dur," Amirah laughed. "She even tried for Father once. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen!" Saphira snorted and laughed in her dragonlike way. Eragon's expression went from incredulous to angry to embarrassed in quick succession. I told you so, Saphira told Eragon smugly as she began to clean a talon.