Disclaimer: sorry to dissapoint you...but I don't own Eragon.
A/N: Thank you moonrabbit04, Single-Black-Rose, and Teros for reviewing. I luv you all! My kitty Jelly Bean who is sitting right next to me at the moment thanks you too.
Chapter Two: So... Where am I?
I was hidden in the far corner of the hall wedged in a dark shadow against Taros' side. The dragon had sheltered me under a black velvety wing. With scales as black as night he melded seamlessly into the darker shadows.
"So... you're my dragon?" I asked in a whisper.
Yes, and you are my Rider, a masculine voice rang through my head, making my ears ring.
"Can you not do that?" I complained.
This is the only way we will not be overheard. Speak with your mind as well and neither Galbatorix or Shruikan will understand what it is we speak of.
God, having someone else's voice in my mind was weird. Was this how a schizophrenic person felt?
Is this right? I framed the words in my mind, hoping Taros would hear.
Yes.
OK, um, where is this place.
This is King Galbatorix's castle in the city of Uru'baen. The land in which the Empire rests is called Alagaesia. To the south of the Empire is Surda and to the east the Hadrac desert marks the boundary of King Galbatorix's rule. Though if you were truly Selvyne you would know this.
I'm SHANA!
I know. Taros' remark took me completely by surprise.
You do? How?
It took a few moments for the black dragon to answer. He tucked his great scaled head under the wing that covered me and angled his head so I was looking directly into his great golden eye that seemed to glow in the darkness with a warm light. When he finally spoke into my mind I could feel the raw pain and grief that was still a fresh wound. The sensation made my breath catch painfully.
My true, first Rider, the one I hatched for, Selvyne... she... she is dead.
Stunned into silence, I could think of no way to answer. Then one small detail caught my interest.
If Selvyne was your Rider, how come you said I am your Rider, whatever that means?
You are my Rider out of need. Galbatorix has mistaken you to be Selvyne because you are like enough in appearance that you could be her double. If the king suspected Selvyne was dead...
Taros trailed off ominously an I knew what he implied was bad. Worse than a months worth of detention without Justin bad.
And you could tell the difference between us?
Your minds are different. Hers was orderly and logical, almost to a fault. Yours...
Mine? I prompted him.
Yours is unruly and chaotic. Your memories, ideas, and thoughts are completely alien to me.
Oh, why couldn't King Whats-his-name not tell the difference?
Even before he answered I could sense his confusion.
Your mind was shielded from him. Strange, no one is able to keep him out of their mind without conscious effort, or at least knowledge of what they are doing. I experienced no such barrier when I first entered your mind.
There's always a first time.
Apparently so.
I'm still confused with all this Dragon Rider stuff.
I sat back and listened as Taros told me of Alagaesia's history. As Taros spoke I tried hard to keep track and memorize every word. If I wanted to get by in this strange land I had to know the important things. When Taros reached current events I was mildly surprised. It sounded like a summary my friend, Kate, gave me of a book she had read. At the time I hadn't really been interested and didn't really listen. Perhaps I should have. I didn't really think I could remember so much that she said, but now the two stories seemed remarkably similar. Weird.
Why did Selvyne help this evil guy anyway? I asked when Taros finished.
Galbatorix discovered her true name. Since she was my Rider I could not oppose him. Neither could she.
I'm sorry, I told him, angrier than ever at King Galbatorix. Then an idea came to me. Well, he doesn't know my true name, or yours. He can't control us.
Yes, Taros' voice hissed with pleasure through my mind, but we shouldn't reveal that to him until we can easily escape.
I nodded in agreement, smiling at the thought of betraying the king when he though he had complete control.
"Selvyne!" A commanding voice rang through the hall.
"Speak of the devil...Oh shit, that's me!" I muttered as I pushed away a heavy black wing and walked towards the throne and the one who sat in it, carefully avoiding Shruikan's massive black tail.
Before the throne on the red runner knelt a man. Behind him was a dragon only slightly bigger than Taros covered with red scales. God, from what Taros said, dragons were supposed to be extremely rare. The man rose and I immediately forgot about the dragon. Screw Justin, this guy was hot! It was really hard not to stare as I walked up.
"What?" I asked the king rudely. Unfortunately the king gave no indication he noticed. The man however, looked at me in surprise that I would speak to Galbatorix so. I flashed him a smug smile, aware that he would not, or could not, speak to the king with such disrespect.
The king continued as if he had not noticed my approach.
"You did not bring me either Eragon or Saphira."
That's the dragon and Rider that the Varden has! Wow, these dragons really get around despite being close to extinction.
The King said a word I didn't recognize and could barely hear. I could have been a name for the next thing the man did was rise and walked forward, stiff as a zombie or puppet. I was glad he didn't have that power over me. Galbatorix lay his hand on the man's forehead and, as one, both man and dragon stiffened with pain, staring intently at Galbatorix with blind eyes. After several long moments Galbatorix lowered his hand.
"Murtgah." He said in a king quiet voice, and I got the feeling that voice was far more dangerous than the King shouting. Murtgah seemed to agree for his face visibly paled. "I am very disappointed in you. I gave you a simple task and you failed even at that."
Galbatorix gave Murtgah a sad stare causing a shiver to go down my spine. I was glad not to be on the receiving end of that look. Maybe I spoke to soon. Galbatorix turned to me, his face suddenly becoming stern.
"Selvyne, show Murtgah to his rooms and then return here." He commanded. With that dismissal it seemed we were cleared from his mind as well for he turned to look at his mountainous black dragon and seemed to be silently conversing with it. My protests died on my tongue.
Do not fret, I will guide you. Taros said into my mind and I silently thanked him.
You are my Rider.
True.
I walked from the hall with a confidence I did not feel and followed where Taros said. Murtgah followed close behind and it seemed Thorn, his dragon, would stay in the great hall. After about the third turn of hearing noting but Murtgah's boot heels clicking on the floor, the silence grew uncomfortable. Luckily, it was Murtgah who spoke first.
"What are the symbols on your tunic?"
My what? Oh, he meant my shirt.
"It's in a language called English. It says 'I bite'." I explained.
"Strange to have words on your tunic," he continued, apparently the joke was lost on him, "Still, the tailor did a poor job. Neither the tunic nor your breeches fit well at all."
"They're supposed to be baggy, they're pj's." Wow, this guy was just a bit slow.
"Pj's?"
"Pj's, Pajamas, what I wear to bed."
Murtgah blushed suddenly and looked away. I stared after him in confusion. Then it dawned on me. Oh, I thought and had to blush as well.
"Not like that," I managed to stammer, "This is what I sleep in so I don't get cold. God, I'm not that easy."
That seemed to reassure hum and he asked how one got the word on without embroidering. That started me n my spiel about the Art Of Screen Printing. Most of my friends would have yelled at me to shut up or at least put them out of their misery, but Murtgah seemed to be honestly interested. I had to restrain a squeal of delight. A hot guy was actually interested in what I had to say!
We reached his door and I needed to say goodbye. I was reluctant to leave, but Murtgah pointed out that I was expected in the great hall and I had to go. I dragged my feet as I walked, but inside I had to keep myself from dancing. Still, I couldn't keep a smile off my face as I strode into the great hall.
When I saw the king, my joy crumbled. Oh I was in trou-ble.
"Come," he beckoned me forward with an impervious hand. Unable to do otherwise without getting into more trouble, I did.
"Do not shield your mind." He ordered as he placed a hand on my forehead.
Frantically, I tried to pull down any unconscious barriers that I might have and prayed, which is not something I often do, that it would work. Pressure began to build in my head. I gasped in pain. My head was going to burst from the pressure. I was going to explode, simple as that, I was sure of it. And, if the pressure wasn't enough, pain like lightning lanced through my skull from Galbatorix's fingertips. Involuntarily, I let out a whimper an the king pulled his hand away, face carved out of marble. Next thing I knew I had landed hard on my butt, a hand to my stinging cheek. For a moment I sat there stunned. He hit me? He hit me!
"Well you can add battery to the charges kidnapping and assault." I muttered as I got angrily to my feet.
"Do not shield your mind."
"I'm not! It's not my fault you can't read my mind. I'm not even trying to stop you, OK!" The words flew from my mouth before I could think. The logical and responsible part of my mind, which was nearly nonexistent, shouted at me to stop, but like always, I had to go and dig my hole deeper than it already was. "I don't even get what you want from me, Gal- hard-name-to-pronounce. If you want me to tell you something, ask it flat out. Don't go digging around in my head!" I added a few choice curses for added effect. By the time I finished speaking Galbatorix's face was livid, but when he spoke his voice was eerily calm.
"Guards!" He raised his hand and before I could move, two red-clad guards had sprung from the shadows and pinned my arms to my side. I kicked out at them, but my bare feet had little impact.
"Take Selvyne to a cell and be sure to dose her with the potion so that she cannot use magic." Galbatorix instructed the guards as if I were not there.
"For the last time, my name is Shana!" I shouted before being gagged and hauled down the runner and out of the great hall.
As the doors slammed closed I heard the mournful bellow of a dragon.
A/N: Aaaaand that was chapter two of Imposter. thanks for reading now REVIEW!