Disclaimer: I don't own the Inheritance Trilogy, oh wait, it's the Inheritance CYCLE now! Yay!

A/N: Thankies to my reviewers, I love you, moonrabbit04, EragonPeep, Single-Black Rose, Sarimia, Dragon of Twilight, First Gurl Rider(thanks for both reviews), and The-One-Called-Dementra. I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I finally did(aren't you proud of me?)!

Chapter Three: This is so Worse Than Detention

"Let me out, damn it!" How dare they lock me up! I did nothing wrong! Well, maybe I did let my temper get the better of me, but that was no reason for this. And what was with that potion, anyway? Before locking me in this wretched dungeon, the guards had forced some vile green liquid with the viscosity of honey down my throat. They hadn't even given me water to wash it down with. Cough syrup tasted like chocolate milk compared to that potion. The stuff didn't even seem to be doing anything. Granted I couldn't speak to Taros easily, but that didn't stop me from speaking to him, I just had to shout a bit. I definitely didn't stop him from speaking to me. Other than that, my mind was slightly fuzzy, but not near as bad as taking Benadryl or a sleeping pill. Nothing a bit of caffeine wouldn't fix, if I could get any in this damned place. If I ever had magic, I couldn't use it before; a potion didn't change that Anyway, the only way I would have magic would be if I were a Rider; which, technically, I wasn't. The only major change the potion wrought was to put me in a foul, even a it reckless, mood.

"Oh, come on!" I complained loudly, banging ineffectively on the barred door. "I have to go to the bathroom!" I yelled. Maybe that would get their attention. I didn't see a toilet in here. They had to let me out. After a few more minutes of screaming my gaze turned suspiciously on the bucket. They didn't expect me to use that. Did they?

Oh, well. I could wait a bit longer, maybe a few days.

Someone is coming. Taros warned me and I jumped hastily up from where I had, out of annoyance and laziness, sat on the floor.

I frowned when I saw who my visitor was. It was, drum roll please, the very same guard/escort who had first taken me to see Galbatorix. Three guesses why he was there.

"The King will see you now." the man said, emotionless.

If that's what you guessed, you win...I'm not sure what, but I'll think of something... eventually.

"Now, how does that not surprise me?" I retorted dryly, remaining as still as possible so that my guard/escort wouldn't get any ideas on what he could do with his short sword. Come to think of it, I very much wanted to tell him what he could do with it.

The mechanism in the door lock clicked loudly as he turned the key, only one of many identical ones hanging from a ring at his belt. The door creaked open and before I could think of running, my guard/escort grabbed my arm in a bone-crushing grip.

Thanks, I needed another bruise, I thought at him wryly. Pity, he didn't hear.

My bare feet padded lightly on the cold stone floor of the corridor and my guard/escort pulled me along behind him. Even after the third or so trip, I was lost in those halls by the time we reached the great double doors that were the enterance to the King's throne room. Sure didn't get out much if he head been there this entire time.

The doors opened slightly and the guard/escort person pulled me inside. After bowing, he left hastily, leaving me to face the King and his dragon alone.

Not alone, never alone. Taros assured me as he settled himself into a protective crouch slightly behind me. I laid a hand lightly on his warm scales, grateful for his support.

"You rang?" I asked, giving him a long, drawn out, elaborate bow/curtsy thing that was dripping with sarcasm.

The King merely frowned and beckoned me forward. At first, I refused. Just because he was a King didn't mean he had the right to order me about. He wasn't my King!

"Selvyne," The King hissed coldly. He raised his hand and a dark glow emanated from a silvery scar on his palm. He muttered a word and I jumped as a giant invisible hand propelled me forward a few steps. Digging in my heels did no good. Did he just us magic on me? Please say he didn't.

He did, Taros remarked in my head.

Wasn't asking you, I sent back, but because of the potion those guards had forced into me I wasn't sure he heard.

"My name is Shana." I growled.

The King did not acknowledge that I said anything, but his face became a mask of stone and with two hands he grabbed my head.

"Hey-" I started, but was struck dumb with pain.

God, it hurt. Lightning bolts lanced through my head, turning my brain to ashes. Pressure built in my head as if Galbatorix was trying to squeeze whatever was left in my brain out my ears. I fell to my knees, gasping for air, unable to breathe for the pain. Distantly, I heard Taros trumpeting his distress, but it was a faint thing compared to the pain. The lightning bolts ignited forest fires and I tried my hardest not to scream aloud. When would it end?

I was drowning in fire, unable to think, unable to breathe. All there was, was pain. Maybe I would lose consciousness soon. That would be nice. Just as I thought I was slipping away, Galbatorix released my head. No longer supported by his hands, I tumbled face first onto the runner at the King's feet, gasping for air like a fish out of water. The pain was gone, but the memory was still there, leaving my entire body sore and groggy. Despite myself, I wished desperately that he had found everything he wanted so I didn't have to go through that again.

Are you alright? Taros asked into my mind almost frantically.

Ah, his voice hurt. I whimpered aloud at the pain his words caused.

Sorry, Taros' worried mind voice rang through my sore head, causing me to wince.

"Have you decided to cooperate yet, Selvyne?" Galbatorix asked with maddening calm.

"Fuck off." I muttered.

"What was that?" The King's voice was dangerously soft, but I was to far gone in pain and anger to care.

"I said," I growled. "Fuck-off!"

There was a split second where the King considered the meaning of my words before his boot connected with my jaw, flipping me backwards where I lay sprawling, semi-conscious through a haze of pain.

Taros roared, but was kept from flying at the King by Shruikan.

Groaning, I forced myself to sit up. Blood dripped from my split lip and I could already feel my face swelling, but as far as I could tell, my jaw wasn't broken.

"What was that for? Haven't you tortured me enough?" I demanded.

"Never speak to me so again. Do you understand me?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Do you understand me?" The King's palm glowed ominously.

"Yes, sir." I grumbled. Just because I understood didn't mean I had to obey. Galbatorix nodded and the glow of magic in his palm faded to a silvery scar.

"Are you ready to cooperate now?"

"Do my best, but I still don't know what you want." I answered as lightly as I could.

"Tell me everything you know of the Varden."

"Not much, and you probably already know all of it. Pretty much all of it is common knowledge. Sorry." I shrugged as if this was of no importance. "Can I go now?" I added hopefully.

Galbatorix frowned and reached for my head again. This time I was prepared for the pain, okay, maybe not prepared, but more prepared than I was, sort of. It still hurt like hell, though, and when he was done I lay once again face down at his feet.

"God, this is getting annoying," I gripped, struggling to raise myself from the floor.
"You will tell me what I want to know. If not willingly, then I will force it out of you." The King rubbed his scar absentmindedly as he said this and I was consciously aware of my own unmarked palm. I tried to surreptitiously conceal my hand. If he saw that I didn't bear the gedaway insignia, then my life might as well be over now.

"I would think it would me kinda hard considering I don't know anything, but I'll do my best." I smiled, trying to sound congenial. Maybe he would let me go and then Taros and I could go look for the Varden ourselves and try to help them. We would be free once we were out of Galbatorix's reach.

To my surprise, and slight regret, the King did not answer verbally, but instead seized my head between his hands for a third time. This time I was completely unprepared and the pain was tenfold of what I felt before, like someone had added knives to the lightning. I was only partially aware of some horrible sound as I was tossed back and forth on tumult waves of pain. It took me a second, but I realized the strangled bestial sound was coming from my own throat. Taros roared somewhere beyond the electrified sea of pain, but another wave assaulted me and my head went under. I was drowning, and for real this time, blackness encroaching steadily on my vision.

Suddenly Taros was there, buoying me up. It wasn't enough. The pain lessened but was not attacking my dragon as well. Slowly, we both began to sink.

Something came in contact with my face, something hard, wrenching me out of the pain. I gasped, realizing Galbatorix had released me. All that remained was an echo of the pain, but that echo was enough. I struggled to a kneeling position from where I lay, face pressed to the floor, and it took all of my strength as well as some borrowed from Taros to make it even that far.

I looked up to meet Murtgah's startled eyes.

"What is it, Murtgah?"King Galbatorix demanded, his voice rough with impatience.

Murtgah pulled his gaze away from mine, but not before I caught a flash of concern and... pity? I felt my face harden into a frown. I didn't need anyone's pity, his least of all. If anything, he needed mine. At least I could fight back.

The two men conversed briefly and the King nodded to something Murtgah asked. At some silent signal the red dragon, Torn, made his way over to them from where he had been waiting across the hall. Murtgah bowed deeply before making his way out of the throne room, dragon at his side. As he turned, our eyes met and his held something close to an apology. It was little better than pity, but it would have to do. I was very careful to keep my face emotionless.

Murtgah broke eye contact first and strode confidently out if the hall, not glancing back. Apparently he had broken the King's concentration, for Galbatorix motioned for guards and I was dragged unceremoniously back to that damn cell that was becoming far too familiar.

"I don't give a damn if this is another world, or if he's a King," I growled a few hours later as I watched a beam of light inch across the floor of my cell. "As soon as I find a phone I'll call 911 and get the police to haul his sorry ass off the jail."

I nodded sharply, trying to thoroughly convince myself it would be that easy. It wasn't as if I could just say, "Oh yeah, this guy kidnapped me and is holding me in a city called Uru'baen in a world called Alagaesia, just take a right at Saturn and a left at Pluto, you can't miss it. Oh, and he's an insane power-hungry King with almost limitless magic and a huge dragon." Might as well find myself a nice padded white room somewhere.

What purpose would that serve? Taros asked.

So, part of the having a dragon thing is that you are going to eavesdrop on all of my thoughts?

Sorry.

It's okay. The point is that if I did find a phone and managed to call the police they would think I was playing some kind of sick prank or was well and truly crazy.

I see. This padded room is where they take insane people.

Yes.

Ah.

Is there any chance I could get any coffee?

Coffee? What is that?

I'll take that as a no then.

Taros subsided into silence, but I could still tell he was there. I smiled slightly. It was good to know I wasn't alone.

You know, this reminds me of a song.

A song? Was Taros' reply.

Yup. "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects.

How does this song go?

I started singing both aloud and to Taros in my head.

"All you gotta keep it strong,

Move along, move along, like I know ya to,

Even when your hope is gone,

Move along, move along, just to make it through."

Taros was silent for a few moments. Yes, a very fitting song, he finally concluded, yet the language is strange.

What, English? Where I come from everyone speaks it, but I guess you could say the same about your language.

Perhaps.

I wonder where Murtgah went.

I do not know.

I considered the situation for a few minutes, but my brain refused to, or couldn't, come up with an answer. Ah well, I had always thought thinking a bit overrated.

With lack of anything better to do, I returned my attention to the beam of light shifting across the floor.

A/N: That was it, it's probably going to be a while till the next update because that is all of the story I have written down right now. Normally I try and stay a chapter or two ahead with the fics I write and then type up later like this one, but that didn't really work with this one. Any ideas would be welcome, though I don't promise I'll use them. REVIEW!!!!