Disclaimer: Don't own Eragon.

Sorry for making her delirious for two chapters, but it's over now.

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As they rode, they talked very little. The land became rocky and uneven as they continued to skirt the road by a few leagues. Alycie rode silently. She could not remember how she had come to be with these two unfamiliar men. The last few days were a blur when she tried to recall them, and the last thing she could remember was walking through the plains after escaping Dras-Leona.

The fair-haired traveler with whom she was now companions was, as she had come to understand, named Eragon, and he was fleeing the Empire along with his large, blue dragon, Saphira. She had always believed that the dragons had been wiped out, but clearly she was behind the times. It was never required of a slave to know of current events in Alagaësia. The dark-haired companion astride the gray horse was called Murtagh, and he was fleeing the Empire as well. Neither of the two talked of their pasts, much to Alycie's discomfort, so she kept her own to herself.

The thing she found most unsettling, however, was that the two acted as if she were merely just another companion with whom they didn't speak. They gave her a share of the food they hunted and notified her when they were going to stop, but aside from that they rode in silence. Occasionally they would discuss the Empire's plans or something like archery, but Alycie ignored those talks, feeling too ignorant to interject.

They entered a town after a few days, and Alycie noted how the two pulled their hoods up over their faces. When the three booked a room at an inn and were settling in, Murtagh turned to her, feeling her forehead.

"Fever's gone," he noted, his eyes connecting with hers. "You're not delirious anymore then?"

"Was I ever?" asked Alycie, puzzled. Murtagh nodded, a faint smile playing around his mouth. Small, cold dreads trickled through the back of Alycie's mind, but she ignored them.

"Do you remember your name now?" asked Murtagh.

"What? Yes...did I not?" asked Alycie.

"No, you didn't."

"Oh...sorry...my name is Alycie," she said, holding out a hand.

"Murtagh," said Murtagh, shaking it. "And that is Eragon."

"I gathered that," said Alycie. She brushed a tangled lock of hair out of her eyes. "How long have I been traveling with you two?"

"Less than a week," said Eragon, looking over. "So...you'll be staying here, then?"

"What?" asked Alycie.

"Well, now that you're recovered, you wouldn't want to continue traveling with us," said Eragon. "So...we could leave you the gold you needed and continue on our way."

"Well...where are you going?" asked Alycie.

"Gil'ead," said Murtagh.

"Could I accompany you there?"

"Can't see why you would," said Murtagh. "The Empire is after us both. We didn't want to drag you into this at all, but there was no other choice when you were sick. It's not a good idea to stay with us any more than you must."

"Don't leave me here, please, I wish to continue with you to Gil'ead," pleaded Alycie. Both males stared at her.

"Why?" asked Eragon.

You keep your secrets, and I'll keep mine," said the girl, crossing her arms. Eragon sighed, nodding. Murtagh considered her levelly.

"Fair enough," he said.

"Now, did I hear right? You have gold?" asked Alycie.

"Yes. Why?" asked Eragon. Alycie pulled out the small silver dagger, waving it around pointedly.

"You two walk around with those gigantic broadswords and you expect me to fight with this thing?" she asked. Murtagh took the dagger, flipping it experimentally. His arm shot out like a snake and the dagger imbedded itself in the far wall, two inches from Eragon's head. Eragon pulled it out, staring at Murtagh in shock.

"Why did you do that!?" he demanded. Murtagh took the knife from him and handed it back to Alycie.

"We don't need another sword," he said to both of them. Alycie took the weapon, frowning at it.

"I am to travel with you then...positively?" she asked. Murtagh looked at Eragon, who shrugged.

"Yes."

"Then I'm not traveling in a dress," said Alycie, standing and walking to the door.

"You can't travel without shoes either," called Murtagh. He tossed her a small pouch of crowns and she closed the door.

The small bag of money felt oddly heavy in her hands. She opened it and counted the coins, her eyes widening at the amount. She had dealt with money before. Who hadn't? It just hadn't been hers to spend then. A new unfamiliar sense of self-responsibility had set in, and the thought of her freedom blazed in her mind brighter than ever.

In a tailor's around the corner, she managed to get a leather tunic and a pair of pants sewn from a sturdy fabric, buying thick shoes as well. As she was returning to the inn, however, she caught sight of herself in a puddle on the road. Her long, light-brown locks were trailing well below her shoulders, ending in knots around her waist. It would definitely get in the way.

Slowly, she drew the small dagger, her eyes still transfixed on her appearance, and she held her hair steady, holding the knife to the strands. She sighed, tugging it through. A clump of hair fell to the dirty ground. She held the strands steady, slicing through again. She cut a few more times, trying in vain to make the ends even, then brushed the extra cutoffs away, leaving choppy ends hanging about her shoulders. Satisfied, she sheathed the dagger by shoving it down her shoe, walking back into the inn.

She found Murtagh and Eragon sitting in the pub, both drinking rather large beers. Alycie joined them, handing the remaining coins over to Murtagh. In the center of the table lay a map. Of what, Alycie couldn't tell. She could make out mountains and rivers, but she couldn't read the runes written by the small dots.

"What's this?" she asked. Eragon glanced up briefly.

"A map," he said.

"I know it's a map," said Alycie. "But what is it a map of?"

"Alagaësia," said Eragon. Alycie blushed.

"Oh, I see..." she mumbled.

"The Ramr River starts a few miles ahead," said Murtagh, pointing at a line on the map. "We'll stick to that up to Gil'ead. We'll have to skirt Urû'baen here. There's security miles around there."

"...What's that right there?" asked Alycie, pointing at three small zigzags on the map.

"Helgrind," said Eragon. Alycie looked at the small dot above it.

"So that's Dras-Leona..."

"Yes," said Eragon. Alycie's mouth opened as she looked at the rest of the map. She'd never realized how big Alagaësia was. If Dras-Leona was a dot...it was too much to comprehend.

"Where are we now?"

"There." He pointed at the small space between the end of the Ramr River and Helgrind. Murtagh rolled up the map, handing it to Eragon.

"We leave at dawn," he said, standing and walking up to their room. Alycie and Eragon followed.

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