Chapter Nine:

Galbatorix had given the boy a week before he exacted his anger on him. Though he had extracted the oath to fight once more from Murtagh, in that week his fury grew more and more. Murtagh's new friend and he were hardly seen without the other. Adron came each day to help the boy with his swordsmanship and they sparred regularly. In turn, Morzan's brooding, angst filled, nonchalant son sat on Thorn performing tricks and dives for his friend's growing pleasure. Occasionally Adron was permitted to ride with Murtagh, and that alone had annoyed Galbatorix to no end.

On the one hand, he was happy that the boy was finally relaxing some in the citadel. However on the other hand, the two continually put things off and rarely did what they were asked to do. A form of negligence that the king had never seen with the boy.

So when he called for both the young men to attend him one evening, he was quite prepared to thrash the younger quite thoroughly. It would be punishment enough for Adron to have to know that he caused the man-child's pain.

They arrived just on time, as they never kept the King waiting when requested. They bowed in tandem, and fell into the military standard "at ease" position. Hands overlapping each other in the back, legs shoulder distance apart, eyes straight. Galbatorix looked at them sternly.

"I have two things in wish I want to…discuss with you both." He started as he searched for their reactions. "Specifically you Murtagh." He looked into the young man's (for that was quickly what eh was becoming) eyes and noticed a brief flicker in those orbs. "You are aware you come from…royal…descent." He waited for the boy to respond.

"Yes sir…" He said slowly, wondering where this was going. He had been told early in his life that he was of a royal line of the Brodding Kingdom.

"As you both know…I am without woman or child." They tactfully remained silent. The King had many bastards running around, but none were 'pure' enough to be his son legitimized (which simply meant that none were able to make the eggs hatch.) "In this upcoming war, I've decided that should I die I need an heir…and because I have no need for a bloodline I have chosen one. Murtagh, from this day forth you will be Prince of this nation." The younger of the two before him blanched. His mouth fell open and he could hear Thorn asking him if the King was irate or simply mad.

Galbatorix knew that Murtagh hated him, hated this empire, hated everything about the ruling he had forth. The more he thought about it, the more he didn't understand. He hated the empire yes, but he believed in the government. If he was the king then everything would be changed. So why the devil was he named heir? Why not one of the little bastards down in the city? Then it hit him.

Because he was a Rider. That's why. Galbatorix wanted him to be his heir, because the world would listen to a Rider. He was expected to rule with fear…because if none listened, there would be hell to pay.

"On to the second bit of business then." The king had continued talking even while he stood there awestruck. "Adron…if you would…" Galbatorix snapped his eyes on the 21 year old, and the young man flew across the room – back smashing against the wall with a yelp. Murtagh whirled around, face pale and looking stunned.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled moving to help his friend who was stuck on the wall despite his protesting. Galbatorix said nothing. As the Prince's back turned to him he removed his hand from his cloak, revealing the long whip that the teen was well acquainted with. He raised it and snapped it just as Adron's eyes saw it. Murtagh yelped and collapsed under the blow. He hadn't expected the strike, and the force was more then he had bargained for.

Adron's eyes were wide with fear, and he strained against invisible binds to help his younger companion. Murtagh's tunic had ripped under the strike, and though it had protected him somewhat from the blow, his back had started to bleed afresh. He struggled to his feet and then turned to face the King.

"I'm going to strike your friend there." The sovereign said with such ease that Adron shivered in his frozen state. "I'm going to administer twenty lashes for not only your disappearance, but for the fact that you've been sorely lacking in your duties. I'm going to whip him because he's keeping you from your duties. And if you're going to keep your friend from getting hurt then I suggest you stop giving me that look and start protecting him." He raised the whip without another word, and angled it down to strike Adron across the chest. It never hit the young man.

Murtagh and selflessly dived in between the King and the guard's son. His hands slapped the wall on either side of the other's head, and he hissed as the whip sliced into his back. He was no stranger to this pain. He knew this pain well. However never had he voluntarily accepted it, never had he let it occur willingly.

Adron watched in horror as strike after strike the whip fell. His friend refused to meet his eyes, they were clenched tight and he merely gasped in pain. Blood was falling to the floor, and Adron couldn't help but feel responsible. Murtagh was doing this to keep him from pain. He knew why the King was doing this. He knew that Galbatorix wanted to hurt both of them for what had been occurring these past few weeks…he knew that…and it did hurt. It hurt like hell.

The last strike fell and the teen collapsed into him, gasping in pain. Adron felt his body be released, and he instantly caught the boy as he started to fall. Murtagh's hands clutched his tunic to hold himself up; as his legs were unsteady. Adron looked up from the boy's bloody and mutilated back to the King who met his eyes.

"Have a good evening Prince…and you as well Adron." Seething with rage the young man actually growled as he held the teen in his arms. He sank to his knees slowly, allowing the teen to be able to lie down for a time.

"You didn't have to do that my Lord." Murtagh breathed in sharply as Adron spoke. He was forcing back tears though the pain was insurmountable. He felt his vision fading, his headache growing. He whispered something as he felt the tips of his fingers start to shake. "What was that?"

"Thorn." The croaking voice replied, straining over the bouts of dizziness that he was attacked with. "Please…need…Thorn." Adron didn't reply, he simply got a stronger hold on the boy in his arms and slowly started to stand.

Thorn…help… Murtagh thought, as his hands shook painfully.

Murtagh! Murtagh! Are you alright! The panicked voice replied. The Dragon had been shut off for a time, unable to feel his Rider. Then all at once the teen was there, and all his pain with it.

Sick…sick…help… The dragon slashed out with his tail, striking the door to the Throne Room open. Adron has already made it half way there by the time the red dragon had forced his way into the room. The dragon sent Adron a message to place the boy on his wing on his side, and as it was set down, Adron did so.

The guard's son stepped back in fright as the teen's body broke into uncontrollable shaking. Never in his life had he seen this happen, and he paled considerably. Thorn nuzzled his nose close to the dreadfully sick teen, and breathed softly to calm the boy down the best he could. The episode lasted only three minutes but in teen stayed still, eyes unfocused for some time afterwards.

"Murtagh?" Adron asked, sinking to his knees and reaching out to touch the teen's face. Thorn growled, and Adron looked up at him. "What's wrong with him?"

Nothing. The dragon snapped angrily. He's fine!

"That is not fine!" The young man shouted. "There has to be something to stop that from happening again!"

"There isn't." the Prince whispered softly. He hadn't tried moving, that would take some time, but he closed his eyes and was breathing deeply.

"How do you know?!" Adron shouted. "Someone, somewhere, somehow knows what this is! They could give you something, an herb maybe? To ease the…whatever it is that happens!"

"It's a fit." Murtagh whispered. "It has something to do with my head…" He nuzzled his head against the soft webbing of his dragon's wing. "I've had them since I was a kid…they're just more frequent now."

"What are you talking about?" He asked as he knelt beside his broken friend.

"When I was very young I had them a lot." Murtagh sighed and attempted to sit up, Thorn Growled when he saw the extent of the boy's intense wounds. "My Dad used to hold me pat my hair, stuff like that while it happened. They god less and less frequent as I got older, by the time I started living here they happened maybe every six months or so…I looked into what people know about it." Adron placed his hands on the boy's shoulders to help steady him. "It's not very common. There's really no cure. I'm told to roll on my side in case I throw up or something…"

"This isn't right…he shouldn't hit you if you react like this…" Adron said still in shock.

"Adron. I didn't have a fit because I was beaten." The teen snapped back, trying to focus his eyes. "They happen that's all…" he didn't add that they've been happening more and more and that he was prone to blacking out soon there afterwards. He didn't add that it was a miracle that he was even alive at this point. He didn't add that these 'fits' were the least of his troubles. He didn't add that he had only few months, maybe if he was lucky, years to live. He didn't add all of that, because he knew that this man would go to the ends of the globe to find some way of saving him, only to be sorely disappointed in the end. "There's nothing you can do about it, so just calm down okay?" He asked giving his friend a hopeful look. Adron sighed deeply.

"Fine. Now can you do that thing you do with your back?" Murtagh looked at him quizzically.

"Thing I do with my back?"

"Can you heal your wounds?"

"Oh…yes…"

And so time went. Never again did Adron allow Murtagh to be late to his duties, Galbatorix had engrained that into the guard's head. After that day the older man looked after Murtagh with a very watchful eye. Any sign of a headache or something to that effect had the 21 year old asking him to take a break. or to sit down for a time, or to drink something. In all honesty the teen appreciated the gesture, but sometimes the actions caused him to snap at his friend.

The two soon became a well oiled team. Galbatorix placed Murtagh in his army and Adron as Murtagh's second. The two led kindly, and established a firm order of things. They were always seen together, and took very good care of their troops.

It was on the eve of Murtagh's 20th birthday when Galbatorix once more called the two to the Throne room. He studied both soldiers carefully, and nodded to them to fall into the "at ease" position.

"Your brother has returned from hiding it seems Murtagh." Adron glanced at Murtagh in surprise. He hadn't known that the boy had a brother. Deep down it felt like a stab of betrayal. Murtagh looked annoyed though, and the Adjutant tactfully stayed silent – for now.

"My brother…sir?" The young man asked politely, a ghost of a smile played on Galbatorix' lips.

"Eragon."

"Ah, that brother you mean." Murtagh replied. The King's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, that brother." He snapped back angrily. "He is en route to the West of the Jiet River, or…the Burning Plains." He stated.

"And what would you like me to do about that…sir?" The prince asked sincerely.

"I want you to bring him to me." There was a flicker of something in the boy's eyes, but he did well to conceal it.

"You want me to bring…Eragon…to you, sir?" He asked silently.

"Adron, leave us for a moment." Galbatorix hissed, and the Adjutant bowed and left. As the door closed the King bore into those brown orbs with all the intensity he could muster. "Mith hwesta o nar, you will do as I say. You will try to bring this boy in do you understand me?!" Murtagh nodded and shot out a 'yes sir.' "Go. You leave in the morning."

The teen bowed and left, stepping out of the room. Adron was waiting for him as he appeared in the hallway. His eyes were full of hurt and pain. Murtagh sighed and reached back to tie his bangs from his face. He began walking down the hallway and Adron followed him.

"Eragon's three years younger then me. He was born just after my father died. My mother left before that and didn't come back about a month after that. She died in the first week she was home. I didn't meet Eragon until last year. I found out we were brothers on the first day I was brought back."

"You have one confusing family my Lord." Adron said shaking his head. "What is this brother of yours like? Dark and brooding like you I presume?" Murtagh made a face.

"Dark and brooding? Unfortunately no." He took a deep breath. "That would make him almost tolerable from time to time. However he has this insane notion that he's a hero and goes off on random voyages to 'save the world.' And then when his ingenious plans fail, he expects me to save him! He's whiny and bratty, and I cant imagine why Saphira wanted him as her Rider. I suppose he's decent with a blade, but if he was truly incredible he wouldn't get into half as many troubles as he has now! Not only that but he's far too quick to judge people and advised a lady friend that I had that -" Murtagh stopped short. He had purposely tried to ignore Nasuada during his captivity. He could almost see her now that he thought of her. Her hair, her eyes, her skin…he closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them, she was gone. "He's a fool." He whispered, thoughts straying to the woman whom he much admired.

"So…" Adron said as the other finished. "I take it you two got along just fine?" Murtagh looked up and smiled.

"Of course we did. We were friends after all, that is until I was captured." Murtagh said with a ghost of a smile.

Windstar: I had put together a rather informative author's note to end this chapter. However When I transferred this to the "Complete Inheritance Project" file I'd created – I neglected to transfer the note as well. This isn't exactly what I had put down before, but it's pretty close. I hope you find it useful.

Generalized Tonic Clonic: AKA: Grand Mal:

What it looks like. Sudden cry, fall, rigidity, followed by muscle jerks, shallow breathing or temporarily suspended breathing, bluish skin, possible loss of bladder or bowel control, usually last a couple of minutes. Normal breathing then starts again. There may be some confusion and/or fatigue, followed by return to full consciousness.

What to do.

Look for medical identification.
Protect from nearby hazards.
Loosen ties or shirt collars.
Turn on side to keep airway clear unless injury exists. Reassure as consciousness returns.
If single seizure lasted less than 5 minutes, ask if hospital evaluation wanted.
If multiple seizures, or if one seizure last longer than 5 minutes, call an ambulance.
If person is pregnant, injured, or diabetic, call for aid at once.
DO NOT put any hard implement in the mouth, don't try to hold tongue, don't give liquids during or after seizure, and don't restrain.

Absence: AKA: Petit Mal:

What it looks like.

A blank stare, beginning and ending abruptly, lasting only a few seconds, most common in children. May be accompanied by rapid blinking, some chewing movements of the mouth. Child or adult is unaware of what's going on during the seizure, but quickly returns to full awareness once it has stopped. May result in learning difficulties if not recognized and treated.

What to do.

No first aid necessary, but if this is the first observation of the seizure(s), medical evaluation should be recommended.

Simple Partial: Sometime's called Jacksonian Seizures:

What it looks like.

Jerking may being in one area of the body, arm, leg or face. Can't be stopped, but patient stays awake and aware. Jerking may proceed from one area of the body to another, and sometimes spreads to become a convulsive seizure.
Partial sensory seizures may not be obvious to an onlooker. Patient experiences a distorted environment. May see or hear things that aren't there, may feel unexplained fear, sadness, anger, or joy. May have nausea, experience odd smells, and have a generally "funny" feeling in the stomach.

What to do.

No first aid is necessary unless the seizure becomes convulsive, then first aid as indicated.
No immediate action needed other than reassurance and emotional support if the patient starts to express fear, sadness, anger or joy.
If the patient experiences odd smells and has a generally "funny" feeling in their stomach, medical evaluation should be recommended.

If someone you know suddenly has a first time seizure before you, and you are unaware as to what to do – call a doctor immediately.

Should he or she loose consciousness, stop breathing, and or's heart stops beating – locate the nearest trained person whom can resuscitate them.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.