Eragon and Saphira woke to the sound of drums in the distance. Recognizing them as wing beats they quickly donned their armor and met with the elves.
"Murtagh approaches on Thorn." Eragon told Blödhgarm, the lead of the elves sent to protect him. "Will you and the others be helping me again?" he asked.
"Of course, Eragon Finiarel, we will help you and Saphira if need be." He replied.
Eragon nodded as he climbed into his saddle on Saphiras' shoulders. Watching the sky for Murtagh and Thorn as they walked quickly to a clearing, Eragon asked Saphira, "Are you ready to fight?"
Saphira turned her head around to face him momentarily before taking off into the air. 'I'm ready to train if that's what you mean!' she said, joking at Ayianas' suggestion to train regularly in case they must battle Galbatorix. Baring her teeth in a deep snarl she flew head on towards Murtagh and Thorn. When they were close enough for Saphira to attack Thorn he just continued to dodge, not even bothering to attack Saphira at all.
"Wait," Murtagh said. "we are not here to fight. We came without telling the King, to warn you of Ayiana and Kveykva. May we land on the plateau and talk in secret?"
'Let's, I am curious of what he knows, but make sure he won't turn on us first.' Saphira warned.
"How do we know that we can trust you?" Eragon asked.
"Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal." Was Murtaghs reply.
Staisfied, Saphira angled towards the outcrop where Eragon and Murtagh had fought on in the Battle of the Burning Plains not long ago. Thorn following her, she reared up and landed gently on the ground. Eragon and Murtagh slid off their dragons and met in the center of the barren mountain.
"Please tell me you do not trust Ayiana and Kveykva." Murtagh said.
"I do, they are wise and are on our side, how could I not trust them?"Eragon replied.
"Did they not tell you anything about their past that you trust them so?"
Eragon shook his head in confusion of what Murtagh was trying to get at. "Murtagh, why are you acting like this? They probaly know of a way or two of how to free you from Galbatorix!"
"Eragon, they betrayed the riders as well as Galbatorix!" Murtagh said.
"I can't believe it, impossible!" Eragon replied.
"Believe it, Eragon. Ayiana Riderslayer has slain at least 15 riders! Eragon, those riders were not the Forsworn, she betrayed the riders more than the King has! Please, do not trust her, wiol pömnuria ilian."
Eragon took a step back from Murtagh.
'Have you proof of what you say?' Saphira asked him.
"Why would any rider join Galbatorix unless forced to?" Murtagh asked.
"Because they didn't want Galbatorix to kill them." Came Eragons reply.
"Either that or they wanted to help him destroy Ayiana and Kveykva before the two killed them. Eragon, those who stood with them, they believed a lie, those who fought with Galbatorix; they knew the truth and fought to keep the peace. Eragon please, see truth, you are placing your trust, your life, in the hands of a traitor! She'll kill you just as she did those 15!"
"I still find it hard to believe you, Murtagh." Eragon said.
Murtagh then stepped back. "Then ask her about her past when she returns from where-ever she is, if you live long enough to do so." With that Murtagh turned and went back to Thorn. Within a few moments Eragon and Saphira stood alone.
"Do you trust his words?" Eragon asked Saphira.
'I cannot tell you to trust him or not. As for me, I would first try to find this story from other view-points, before I make any true conclusions.' Saphira replied.
"A good idea, but Saphira, this is one tale that I'm confused on. From what Murtagh said it seems too unreal. How would anyone be able to kill 15 dragon riders by themselves?"
'A good point, Galbatorix had the thirteen wyrdfel when he took on the riders, but remember, Ayiana and Kveykva are over 1,000 years old.'
"And from all those years they might have gained enough power in order to take on that many riders. But if she is so strong, how did she manage to remain asleep for a hundred years?"
'She claimed the wyrdfel placed them into an enchanted slumber, but they have been dead for how long.'
"Saphira, she never said that in the ancient language." Eragon realized.
Saphira stared down at Eragon has she remembered when Ayiana described where she had been the past hundred years. 'She could have lied to us.' She exclaimed.
"We need to figure out what parts of this story are fact, and which are not."
'Well, we both know who to turn to for this, if he's ready to speak.' Saphira said, laying down so Eragon could get into the saddle.
"Yea, let's head back and see if Gleadr can spread and light onto this confusion." Suggested Eragon as he climbed into the saddle. "Personally I don't trust him, Galbatorix could have forced him to do this."
'Eragon, what does your heart tell you? He gave us his word in the ancient language that he would not lie to us, so that means that what he said he at least believes it true.' Saphira said as she stood up.
"Let us not tell anyone else about it until we consult with Gleadr over the subject."
'Of course, an enemy may be hiding in our mists but still, I agree, this is all to confusing to spread around, in case what they told us is truly false then it will only cause more trouble for everyone involved.' Saphira said as she walked to the edge of the plateau. 'Tell the elves I will not let them bother us as we ponder over what we just learned.' She added as she tossed up her wings and took to the skies.