"Thank you," said Nasuada minuets later her guards went to find the assassin. "You saved my life."
"It was nothing- Anyone would have done it," Rachel replied slightly awkwardly with all the attention.
Nasuada examined her quizzically for a few moments. "We could use skills like yours."
Rachel thought about it. "I would have to know," she said after a while, "what it would be used for and why to make a decision of helping you."
Nasuada lifted her head. "Eragon can we trust her?" she asked in a clear voice.
Eragon looked at the young girl: She was short, about Angela's height; Dark brown wavy hair with bright clear blue eyes; and was, even though attired quiet differently from any woman he had met –including Arya, quiet pretty in a unique way. All of this was matched her thought in what he'd seen of her in her mind: thoughtful; kind; considerate; clever; philosophical at times; witty; and she knew it, although she hid it to surprise others which gave her an advantage on occasion. Above all though she seemed to believe in right and wrong and he believed that she'd understand their plight.
"Yes my Lady. I believe she is," he said with full conviction. Rachel looked over to him and she smiled slightly even though she was uncomfortable. He smiled back at her with ease for her smile seemed infectious in the sweetest of ways.
"Well," said Nasuada sitting down in a chair at the table. "We have a lot to tell you."
Eragon sat with her and Rachel took a chair facing them.
"There's a man named Galbatorix," started Eragon in a grave voice and through the next half hour he told her a story of the fall of the dragon riders and how he had gotten wrapped up in the legend by finding a dragon egg in the forest of his home and then was whisked away on an adventure that endangered his life and his dragon Saphira, at which point Rachel heard a grumbling at the opening of the tent and saw Saphira's large, beautiful blue eye peering through the tent and looked at her. Eragon continued about the fights with the war they were having with the empire. At parts of the story he seemed to edit out bits that Rachel felt must be important but felt it was unreasonable to pry into the inner workings of his mind. He deserved privacy at least from others apart from Saphira who heard his thoughts.
"Now," he said. "We need to get the last dragon egg but it's under guard and we can't let the empire know we're in their territory."
"We wondered if we could use your help?" asked Nasuada.
Rachel thought for a moment and then rose from her chair. "Your plight seems righteous and you need help. I think I can do it. Will you let me explain my plan?"
The two of them nodded. Rachel opened the map on the table, left there, by hand, so as not to frighten them with her magic.
She pointed at Gil'ead. "I will start there and if I do not find it there I shall go to Urû'baen and find it there. With another to help with protection and a cover story: As I'm not gifted with a sword and because a woman alone would draw attention." They agreed to the idea and kept on listening. "Then with the help of magic I can summon the egg: Hopefully, I can also use the magic to break through the enchantments."
"Then we can return the eggs- I was thinking that maybe you could send the other person round through the small towns to divert attention because they'd expect the thief to go through the quickest possible way out."
Eragon stood up and looked at her. "I think that's a good plan, but I was wondering, Lady Nasuada, if they could also retrieve Naegling- If we're going to have a new rider they should have a rider's sword."
Nasuada looked at Eragon for a minuet then nodded. "Yes you're right Eragon. Rachel," she said looking at the girl before her.
"Yes my Lady," she replied showing the upmost respect to the woman.
"To serve me you must swear allegiance to me. Are you willing to do that?" she asked.
"Yes my Lady," she said humbly.
"Then repeat after me: I, Rachel, swear myself to Nasuada, daughter of Ajihad, leader of the Varden."
"I, Rachel, swear myself to Nasuada, daughter of Ajihad, leader of the Varden."
Nasuada smiled. "Now we must get a companion to accompany you."
"My Lady," said a man who walked in to the tent. "Forgive me but I heard you conversation. I would be willing to accompany the young girl."
She studied him for a while. "Why thank you Jömundur. I was just about to ask of you knew of anyone- You are the most trustworthy of, almost, all my men… Yes you can accompany Rachel."