The Return

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or Eldest, just Arianna and Nolan

Chapter 3: The Strength Needed

Angela came into Nasauda's office with urgency carrying a bowl of water. Arianna had contacted her, scrying her saying that she needed to speak to Nasauda and it was urgent. The dark skinned woman looked up then at the bowl. She noticed that Arianna looked exhausted and defeated, Codas's shadow in the background. He growled a little.

"I'm sorry, he's just as tired as I am." Arianna said. "Anyway, this isn't going like we planned."

"How?" She asked the girl simply.

"We, uh, ran into a woman who worked for Galbitorix. One of us is critically injured." Arianna said. "But he will pull through."

"Who was it?" She asked. "How severe were the wounds?"

"It was Nolan, and it was bad enough where I had to use magic. I nearly passed out. But we were all injured to an extent." Arianna replied, exhaustion in her voice. "I wanted to ask if we can have an army of men, if there's no shortage."

"I will send you your fleet then. They will be there when you get to Uru'baen if all goes well." She said, "In the meantime, keep Murtagh out of harm."

"I can try but the king knows we're coming. Something tells me there will be more of them." Arianna replied. "I will contact you again when we get to the next town. Which I'm guessing will be at the end of the week."

She nodded and the water went back to normal and Arianna got up. She knew what she had to do and she didn't like it more than the rest of the group but she had to know who was after them. She went to Thorn, who growled at her and she reassured him no harm would come to him or Murtagh. I'm fraternizing with the enemy, she thought to herself, I'm breaking the rules of war.

"Who attacked us?" Arianna asked, firmly.

"I don't know but it had to be one of Galbitorix's healers." Murtagh replied. "She's the only one I know that can use magic."

"That doesn't make sense but she's gone." Arianna said. "There's no need to hurry right now."

"I thought you said everything isn't going to plan." Murtagh replied.

"No, it isn't but things are changing." Arianna said walking away. "We have to keep you out of trouble. We should go by foot from here."

Codas looked up at her only for a moment before laying his head back down in the sand, they hadn't had encountered another attack or sand storm yet. The sun was setting quickly and the the wind started to gust again. She sighed as Codas put his wings over her and her brother, who had already started coming to. His wounds would take some time to heal and it leave him out of action.

"It's okay." She said. "You haven't been out that long. But your wounds are severe, so you'll be out of the battle."

He nodded and looked around, seeing the dark surround them.

"So where are we going from here?" He asked.

"To the next town. We'll be there by the end of the week." Arianna said.

"And you're going by foot? We'll be more suspicious." He replied.

"The town we're going to is always crowded." Arianna said, reassuring him.

"It's a town that thrives in the marketplace, right?" He asked, peaking curiousity.

"Yeah, and it's supposed to be the best place to get more supplies." Arianna replied.

"So, by the end of the week?" He said.

"By the end of the week." Arianna replied.

Galbitorix couldn't help but feel anger towards the healer, she hadn't slayed the riders and gotten his right hand man back. She looked at him almost innocently, hoping to avoid his punishment.

"I guess I can forgive you." He said. "But next time, I don't want failure."

"I understand." She replied. "What can I do about the girl?"

"Find something that can kill her." He said.

"That scar on her back?" She asked, diabolically.

"Good but be careful. She's strong." He said.