Chapter 4 The Task

Murtagh reached Nasuada's tent and lifted the flap to enter. Her tent was of course extremely elaborate. Murtagh looked around before bowing to Nasuada. Nasuada nodded and motioned for him to sit.

"Murtagh, I have a problem that I need Eragon and yourself to help me with. You see I know that the both of you aren't on the best of terms right now, but I have a task I need you to complete. And the both of you need to work together. Our spies have discovered a shipment of supplies to the nearest fortress. It's being sent as we speak. When it passes us we need you to attack it and then impersonate the merchants. Then you can gain access to the fortress and search it to see if information can be gained. Can you do this?" she asked with a worried expression.

"I do believe Eragon and I can come to terms for this important mission. I'll speak to him about it," Murtagh assured her. Nasuada sighed in relief.

"Arya will be accompanying you as well," she informed him. Murtagh nodded and bowed again. Seeing he was no longer needed here he left to go find his brother.

It's hard to keep your feelings to yourself when there is a dragon nearby who can read your mind. In fact it was nearly impossible. But Eragon knew he had to convince Saphira that he really did believe her. As long as he was able to control short bursts of anger around Murtagh, Saphira didn't observe much change. For now however. Thorn had made quite an impression on her and she seemed generally happy. And stupid in Eragon's opinion.

Eragon sat down in the grass with his sword and polishing rag in hand. He ran the soft cloth up and down the sharp blade. Everything seemed fine, until an unwanted guest appeared.

"I have news of something Nasuada wants us to complete," Murtagh explained. Eragon glared somewhat, but Murtagh simply shrugged. "She needs us to work together so if you care about the Varden then you'll just have to deal with me." He smiled a cocky and annoying smile. Eragon bit back a retort that would mainly have consisted of him saying, "Fine!" in a whiny voice and, in as controlled a voice as he could manage, asked what the mission was about. Murtagh smirked again and replied, "We have to sabotage a supply shipment in order to spy on the fortress," Eragon nodded in response to a fairly simple mission, but stopped after Murtagh finished his explanation, "Oh, right, and Arya's coming too."

Some things weren't things to be fought or challenged for. Some were out of reach in the long run anyway. However, Arya, the elf princess, was not viewed in this manner. Eragon couldn't help his infatuation with her. It was like second nature for him. And now with Murtagh around, suddenly he felt defensive, and challenged. This trip was going to be interesting.

Murtagh smiled an evil smile before returning to his tent.

Since this mission seems so important to the Varden, I suppose it will fall to me to make sure we fail. Even Eragon's idiot dragon doesn't suspect a thing, he laughed. One the Varden is weak enough; the next war will be a fatal one.

That night Eragon began his preparation to go to sleep in a similar fashion. He unrolled his bedroll and smoothed out the blankets. Then he unbelted his sword from his waist and set it safely in a corner near his packs. Saphira had just left to go flying with Thorn. Yawning, he stretched out and turned on his side. The emotions from the day were still bottled up inside of him.

Murtagh will most likely try to hurt this mission. If I can catch him in the act and get proof that he's betraying people than I don't have to worry. For know I have to watch him around people. It might be easier is Saphira wasn't in a state of memory loss. At least she'll thank me when I prove his guiltiness.

Eragon's thoughts swirled around him, making him less inclined to sleep. His head hit the pillow and he shut his eyes.

As he tried to fall asleep, his mind roamed until suddenly it hit something unexpected. Eragon's eyes shot open and he bolted upright. For a split second he could feel someone nearby working magic. And his instincts told him, it wasn't good. Grabbing his sword and cloak he quickly stood up and exited the tent. Once he was outside in the night air, he tried to calm his mind again and sense the magic. It was harder and he had to concentrate extremely hard. Finally he felt the slightest sliver of it near the forest. It got stronger and stronger as he approached. Finally he reached the edge and after only looking back once, bounded in.

Murtagh stood deep in the forest ready to perform the incantations that would link him to Galbatorix. After muttering the words of the ancient language a small bluish light appeared. It took all of his strength to keep the link steady. The light grew slowly and finally he had enough of a connection to speak to Galbatorix.

The magic kept Eragon on the trail towards whoever the caster was. He could tell as he got closer that whatever it was, it was very ominous. Setting his palm on the hilt of his sword he readied himself.

Finally in a small clearing did he see the caster. His back was turned towards him so he didn't catch a glimpse of a face but he had a good idea who it was.

The caster seemed to be talking to a large blue sphere of light in front of him. It was like no other magic Eragon had witnessed. And someone seemed to be responding. They were talking quietly so he could not catch the conversation however he could tell it was something of a dangerous sort. Eragon saw a small pack sitting off to the side, obviously discarded by the caster. As he squinted his eyes he could just see the object. And on top of the pack sat a sword with a red glint.

Eragon sucked in his breath quickly and began to pull his sword from his sheath. However, luck was not on his side. He swore under his breath when the attacker obviously heard his sword. Eragon readied himself for a fight but before he could so much as speak, the cloaked man threw a spell at him and he was forced to dive aside to escape it. Once he was back on his feet, the pack, along with the stranger had disappeared into the night.

Eragon swore and cursed multiple times on his way back. He knew he couldn't tell anyone of this. They would simply think him delusional or that he was lying. Yet at the same time he couldn't just keep this to himself.

Murtagh sat down in his tent and sighed. Another traitorous day was complete. And tomorrow he would begin a task that was going to be far more enjoyable than simply following Eragon around. His new task would be just delightful in his point of view. And of course extremely disheartened in his brother's. Because tomorrow, he would be to win over Arya. And he planned on being very successful.