Chapter 2

Eragon, calm down, said Saphira, very calmly, although her patience was running thin.

NO! I will not accept it! There is no way that I can share blood with those two traitors. TRAITORS! Screamed Eragon. The last word accidentally escaped his mouth. Not that there was anyone around to hear it. I can't believe it. Even though Murtagh was Morzon's son, I was willing to believe that he was good. But he became just like his father. He is EVIL! If I were in his place, I would never turn against the Varden.

Eragon! You can't say that unless you have actually experienced it! We still don't know the entire story. And Murtagh said himself that he didn't want to join, said Saphira.

So I should be sympathetic towards him? He's my friend Saphira. Or he was. But I can't let that get between the war. If he is in the opposite side, I must eliminate him. That is what war is, said Eragon, sadly.

So you admit you don't hate him?

Saphira, I don't want to hate him, but I do. He tried to capture us!

But he didn't.

But he will, next time he gets a chance. We have no choice but to kill them. He even killed Hrothgar! He is not welcome in the Varden anymore.

Well, you are right. There is nothing you can do Eragon. There is no reason for you to worry. If anything, he and his red worm should be shaking in fear for facing the strongest Dragon Rider ever!

Eragon smiled sadly. If you say so. It's impossible to stay sad around you. But Hrothgar… There will be trouble if they found out who my father and brother were. We must keep it a secret.

Saphira blinked in agreement. They carried on what they were doing: cleaning a battlefield.

~*~

Murtagh woke with a small pain in the side of his neck. He got up slowly, looking for the cause. He had been sleeping on Thorn's hind leg and had slipped off, his head still leaning against it while his neck had fought to become perpendicular with the floor.

"Thorn…" he said out loud, while yawning. He smiled. It's been two days since he swore the oath and he hadn't been hurt too badly since. A few slaps here and a few "mind crushes" there. He got up and looked at what Thorn was doing. Eating… obviously.

It's a shame that you humans can't enjoy the savory flavor of fresh, raw meat, said Thorn.

I'm a little too civilized for that, replied Murtagh, calmly. Thorn growled a little and nipped at Murtagh with blood-covered fangs. Nearly being decapitated Murtagh jumped back about 10 feet.

You're more like a frightened cat that can barely hunt.

What? I don't see the resemblance.

Then go wash your face and wake up fully. You're obviously half-asleep.

Of course, of course.

As he headed out of his straw-bedded room, he nearly slammed into the nervous wreck of a servant who was carrying his breakfast. The servant let out a surprised cry when he saw Murtagh. He tried to kneel to him while balancing the tray but failed miserably.

"Give me that!" said Murtagh, snatching his breakfast before the servant dropped it. The servant kneeled successfully while Murtagh started eating with his unwashed mouth.

"K-king Galbatorix would like to meet with you when you have finished your meal, Lord Murtagh," he stammered.

"That's great," said Murtagh as he turned on his heel and went back to his and Thorn's room.

"He said to come with Zar'roc!" called the servant after Murtagh nearly closed the door on him. Murtagh simply nodded while stuffing his face with bread and closed the door.

I change my mind, you're more like a pig, said Thorn; he just couldn't resist.

Murtagh shot him a mild glare. He could never be angry with his only ally. At least I don't smell like one. What he meant was that he, himself, did not smell like a pig, not that Thorn had smelled like one. But Thorn had "misinterpreted" it, even though he had full access to Murtagh's thoughts, and he ate the rest of Murtagh's breakfast, including the cheap wooden plate, in one gulp.

"Hey! I was going to eat that!" he complained.

Then be careful about what you say to a dragon next time.

Murtagh growled at Thorn, along with his stomach. Thorn let out a deep-throated hearty laugh at this.

"Hmph. See if I share any of my food with you again," he said, indignantly.

An evil glint appeared in Thorn's eye, Oh, but you will.

The contagiousness of Thorn's mood melted the scowl right off Murtagh's face and he went up and leaned against Thorn's leg. He sat there for about five minutes before saying, "I love you, Thorn."

I love you too, my fallen knight, replied Thorn

Murtagh smiled and stroked Thorn's front leg before walking to his small trunk. He opened it with a spell and got out Zar'roc and a brown cloak. He was still fastening it on before he walked out the door, only turning for a second to get a last glance at Thorn. With a sad look on his face, he walked towards Galbatorix's Throne room, looking at the floor the entire time.

~*~

Murtagh had strapped Zar'roc to his waist and his hooded cloak was fully covering him. He knocked on the oversized throne room doors. He shivered. Most of his misery had taken place in this room. He walked in as the doors opened.

"Murtagh. Glad you could make it less than 5 minutes late," said Galbatorix. He wasn't particularly angry but it obviously soured his mood.

"My apologies, Lord Galbatorix," he said, as he kneeled by the jeweled stairs. He had to try hard not to spit the name out in disgust. He hadn't been given any impossible tasks for two days now and he didn't want to ruin it.

"I have a mission for you, young dragon rider. It's a rather easy one so there is no reason for you to fail. Understood?"

Murtagh nodded. Whenever he says it's easy, it turns out even harder than I could have thought possible. It's a wonder that I completed any of them, thought Murtagh.

"You will not be bringing Thorn with you. So prepare yourself because you may be gone for more than a week," he said, in his scary monotone that he used sometimes.

Murtagh looked up. "Without Thorn… for a week? What am I going to be doing?" he asked, slightly angry and already feeling the depression weigh down on his head.

"Fear not, slave, I will lend you his Eldunari. Thorn's wisdom should keep you from making stupid decisions." Hearing this, Murtagh clenched his fists. He would have shot back a comment of his own, but thought against it for fear of losing the chance to be with Thorn's tiny Eldunari.

"But before I give you that, I must help you prepare to look the part."

"Huh?" was all Murtagh got to say before Galbatorix's fist slammed into his face.

"Gah!" he spit, as he slid to a stop. "What the hell was that for?!"

"You'll see."

Murtagh was still spitting out some blood from the inside of his cheek when he was suddenly covered in ash. "Mmph!" he tried to breathe. He spit that out from his mouth too and tried to get up so he could dust it off his head when he was slapped on the other cheek. Hard.

"This is actually quite fun. I should do this often. You should hope that I don't get carried away," said Galbatorix. He grabbed Murtagh's neck and set his feet on the ground so that Murtagh could stand. He let go and walked towards the door behind his throne. When he got back from what he was doing, Murtagh had almost brushed off all the excess ash.

"What the hell are you doing? If this is your sick idea of a joke, I—" He suddenly cut himself off when Galbatorix dangled a golden necklace in front of him. The pendent had a marble-sized ruby that was Thorn's Eldunari. Murtagh greedily snatched at it only to have Galbatorix take it back.

"You don't actually think that I'm just going to give this to you, do you? Obviously not. The consequences would be significant. Swear to me, boy, that you will not take this off until I tell you, and you will only use it to speak with Thorn and listen to his ideas. You will also not allow anyone to touch it. Then I will entrust it to you."

Murtagh's heart sank a little. He wasn't actually hoping that he wouldn't have to swear an oath, but he didn't want to either. "I swear I will only use it to speak with Thorn and I will not take it off unless you tell me to. And I will not let anyone touch it," he replied. He was so eager to receive the gorgeous Eldunari that his fingers were twitching.

"That's a good slave," said Galbatorix, putting the Eldunari around Murtagh's neck. Although he was preoccupied with the new trinket, being called a slave again stuck in his mind and would reappear later, he was sure.

"Now here's your mission. A soldier came with a very, very interesting report of a vicious housekeeper with the reflexes equal to yours. Your job is to beg for a place to stay and a job so you can keep an eye on her. I will communicate with you through Thorn. I will decide if her skills can be useful to our cause and you will capture her. Do NOT, under any circumstances, underestimate her. Even when no one is around, do not do anything to betray your identity. Understood?" Murtagh nodded. "If possible, try to befriend her and gain her trust. It will make things easier for you. Also, don't take a shower until you get there. You will travel on horseback most of the way, then walk the last bit to reduce suspicion."

"And if I fail, by any chance?" asked Murtagh.

"You better not. You don't want to know what would happen." With that Galbatorix left. But not without concluding his speech. Even though he was out of sight, his words echoed through the hall: "Go to the east stable, there is a stall boy who will direct you to where to go and will give you your horse."

Murtagh fingered his new necklace. Yes, Murtagh? Murtagh jumped back a little at the sound of Thorn's voice.

Whoa, it works! he said.

Of course it works, you ditz! Murtagh smiled like a who child just got candy, and walked out the throne room, heading for the east wing.

A/N: As you can probably see, I'm going to try to drag an OC into this. Any suggestions on what she should be like? I was originally considering a guy OC, but it might cause some controversy and I don't want that on my head. Please review if you've read. Questions, comments, anything.