Well, as you can now see, I have not fallen off the face of this lovely planet. I really have no excuses other than a complete lack of time. I tried some more Murtagh and Emma interaction so let me know what you all think and without further adieu,

Chapter 6

"Hello, my riders." The dark robed King crooned with a mocking stare, directed at Emma. "You'll be happy to know that the egg has hatched. Your dragon is a boy, congratulations."

Emma returned the stare, but felt more despair than she had before. Now she had something to lose.

Galbatorix sighed. "I don't suppose this will make you change your mind?" Emma said nothing. "No? Well, then, I'm afraid to say, I can't be held responsible for what happens next."

He took a step closer and Emma tried her best not to draw back against the wall. "Your, examination, will begin tomorrow. I am most eager to discover what your true name turns out to be."

The door slammed closed behind the King and his accompaniment, but their departure left Emma even more scared than she had been before.

"Have you ever had your mind searched by him before?" Emma lifted her head to glare at the man across from her.

"No, I suppose you haven't. It's a most unpleasant experience, I assure you. You're lucky your dragon's too young to communicate mentally yet." Emma still refused to speak, but Murtagh continued in way of explanation anyway. "Their screams are the worst."

"What did I do to deserve getting stuck in a cell with you." Emma finally muttered. Murtagh stared at her for a moment before nodding, seemingly to himself.

"Who did I kill." His statement was so lacking emotion that Emma though she had misheard.

"It must have been someone you know, for you to be quite this cold towards a fellow prisoner."

She couldn't decide if his disregard for human life was actual, or just a mask he wore to maintain some semblance of sanity. Either way, between that and this second comparison between himself and her, she was angry. Angry enough to tell him.

"Everybody." Emma took grim satisfaction at Murtagh's slightly confused expression. "You killed them all. The whole town, gone in minutes." He said nothing, only stared, and this made her anger grow.

"You and your overgrown lizard burnt it all to the ground and they all died. Everyone. Mum, and Da, and my brother, and, you killed them. You killed them all!" Emma knew she was shouting now, but she didn't care.

"You killed them all, but you didn't kill me." She let out a shaky breath and carried on in a voice barely above a whisper. "I was picking berries in the forest. I heard the screams and I came running. Too late. I was too late. And then the soldiers came and they took me."

Emma looked the young man in the eye. "Why couldn't I have died too?" He didn't answer, just closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. "But you just don't care, do you!" Emma cringed as her voiced echoed in the confined space and Murtagh's hushed voice was almost lost.

"How many?"

"What?" Emma asked confused.

"How many were there?"

How many people, he meant. How many people had he thoughtlessly slaughtered. How many people had been in that town that had burnt to nothing more than ash. And the worst part was, Emma wasn't sure she remembered.

"How many?" He repeated, more forcefully this time.

"I don't know. I don't know, a whole village, my whole village, all of them. I don't know, I can't remember, I" She knew she was border lining hysterical, but she didn't care. Murtagh lifted his head and looked her directly in the eye.

"How. Many."

Emma drew a shuddering breath and regained some control. "Hundreds" She spat. "Four hundred, five hundred. You killed them all. Does it matter?"

Silence filled the room for a long moment before Murtagh closed his eyes again. "Yes," He said softly, "It does."

Murtagh sat in silence after that, watching the young girl drift into a fitful sleep in the dimly lit cell.

'Murtagh.'

Thorn's voice. 'I'm still in one piece, don't worry.'

The dragon chuffed. 'I know what you're thinking.'

'Of course you do.'

Thorn sighed. 'Don't do anything rash.'

'With Galbatorix's new oaths, I can't do much of anything. Rash or otherwise.'

'You know what I mean, young one. I want to help them too, but we can't even help ourselves.'

'I know.' Murtagh ran a hand through his hair. 'Believe me, I know.'

"Lady Nasuada." Eragon bowed.

"Your cousin still wants to travel to Helgrind, to rescue his betrothed, doesn't he." Nasuada turned to face her rider. "You know how implausible that is, do you not?"

Eragon nodded. "Yes, my lady, which is why I have decided that Saphira and I must go with him." He held up a hand, stalling her words. "We are not needed at the moment. You and King Orrin can still continue to plan the attack on Belatona, you don't need us for that, and we will be back in time to meet at the city. We will be there to aid in the battle."

Nasuada sighed. "And I suppose there's no dissuading you?" Eragon shook his head. "Then I can only urge you to proceed with the utmost caution. I do not need to impress upon you how much the Varden are relying on your support." Again he shook his head.

"No, my lady."

"Then leave tonight. We will need your assistance again as soon as possible."

Eragon bowed, before exiting the Varden leader's tent to search of Roran.

Sorry for this being so short, but I should have another chapter posted sometime this week, and I've made a few minor edits to previous chapters as well.