Dear Readers,

The beginning of this story is under reconstruction. When you read a chapter that has nothing at all to do with what you have just read, please keep in mind that is the previous version of the story and I am redoing it as quickly as I can. I apologize for the inconveniance. I am not trying to confuse you! Later on, after chapter 28, things mostly fit together with the revised chapters of the story.

This is Chapter 15, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

Eragon was sitting on his bed, his eyes closed, and his mind open, thinking.

They would be leaving soon, and his self-assigned mission was far from completed, as mystery still completely shadowed Tanyel Cavrona. There was so much he had learned in the past week, but he knew he had but scratched the surface of her character.

Yet he could not, and would not, delay their departure. The Varden needed them back, and he needed Saphira. Especially since the day someone had tried to scry him, and he was positive it had been Murtagh. But he needed Saphira's reassuring presence more than anything, her wise, calming words… especially when it came to Tanyel. There was only one thing now that he could do when it came to Tanyel. One more, very important thing before they returned home.

He was beginning only now to understand her strength, but he had seen some of her weaknesses too, and because of that he could sort of see a little of the woman beneath the surface.

Arya agreed with him, as did Roran. All he could do was ask her, and the answer he received would tell him the most important thing about Tanyel Cavrona;

Whose side was she on?

It was evening before Eragon collected himself and went looking for Tanyel. His search did not last long, as he found her sitting downstairs at a table with Sasha and Raya. She had a needle and thread in her hands, and she was stitching up a tear in a shirt.

"I never thought of you as a seamstress." Eragon commented lightly as he walked up to them. Tanyel looked quickly up from her work and flashed a brilliant smile. Eragon was suddenly uneasy, as he finally recognized the feeling that had been keeping him from talking to her all day. He was afraid of her answer. He had come to like this mysterious woman and her sister and cousin, and he was afraid she would be on the wrong side.

"Nor I, but when we were back in Uru'baen I kept tearing my clothes on the sparring field, so a very good friend of mine decided it was in everyone's best interest to teach me how to sow. Now, all I can really do is stitch up tears, and I have even stitched up wounds before, but when it comes to making something, I am not the one for the job. How are you today, Eric? We haven't seen you all day. I know you said you wouldn't be able to spar. How is your business coming along?"

"I am doing well, and it seems you are as well. I have just been thinking and yes, doing business." He hesitated, and at her curious glance, he asked softly,

"Tanyel, may I speak with you alone for a moment?"

All three of them looked at one another in surprise, and Tanyel slowly put down her project and stood.

"You may, Eric. What is it?"

He turned and led the way back into the kitchen, and surprisingly no one was there. When he turned back to Tanyel, he noticed that she was a little tense, and he tried to force himself to relax.

Tanyel searched his eyes with her own, as if she was trying to read his thoughts. "What is it, Eric? I can tell that whatever it is, it is important."

He tried to find the words to say, but his mind had gone blank. Her expression clouded over, and she prodded him with words.

"I do not like it when you act mysterious, Eric. I know enough about you, I think, to know that whenever you cannot say what you want to, something is wrong… or at least something is seriously troubling you. Please, tell me."

Eragon steeled himself for whatever might come, and managed,

"Aryana and Randen are picking up supplies from the city. Tanyel, we are leaving in the morning. Our business concluded yesterday, and we are all very eager to return home. Our people need us, and I hope that we have not been gone too long already."

Tanyel did not move. She only stared at him in surprise, and he realized how abrupt their departure must seem to her. He was thankful he added that last part in there, not just as the beginning of a clue.

"I know it has only been a week, and I am surprised our business took so little time. I have enjoyed helping you teach Raya and Sasha to spar, and you are all wonderful people." As soon as he said it, he kicked himself for not coming up with better words, but he kept on going… adrenaline would do that to you.

"Tanyel, there is something I need to ask you, something that is incredibly important. Please, hear me out? I consider you a very good friend, even though we met as strangers and we've only known each other for a week."

Tanyel eyed him, but he could not read her expression. If she thought he was crazy, or if she thought he was going to profess something, he could not tell, but she was wary. But she was not unwilling to hear him out.

"Whatever it is you need to ask me, ask it Eric. I will answer as best I can."

"Where do your loyalties lay, Tanyel Cavrona? What do you think, what are your views on this war that rages across Alagaesia? We have never discussed this while we have been here, but I need to know. Tanyel, we do not come from Gil'ead. We come from Surda. We are Varden."

Tanyel took a step back, and he knew that he had astonished her, and he didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. As she could make no immediate answer, Eragon continued, but only this time he made his request.

"Tanyel, would you come with us to Surda and join the Varden? You have great talent, you all do! We need people like you, your sister and your cousin. I know this is all a huge shock, but I want you to come with us." He lowered his voice, hoping he wasn't pushing it too far. "Galbatorix cannot win. Almost all of Alagaesia is against him, and the Varden is growing stronger every day. Please, Tanyel. I trust you."

Eragon froze. Where had those last words come from? He had never even thought about saying them, but he knew they were true. Here was a woman who was strong, but human. She was talented, and she was kind. He had never seen her angry, and she had only ever treated him and his companions with the utmost grace and civility. He did trust her. He didn't know why, except for those reasons.

Eragon looked into her emerald green eyes, and hope flared inside him. He thought he could hear her saying yes…

And then that hope was snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

"We barely even know each other, and yet you are asking me to go with you and to join a certain side of a war? There are some things that should not be spoken of to those who are strictly acquaintances. I guessed sometime this past week that you were Varden, because you are not the types to be a part of the Empire. But you never told me who you really were and I honored that, doing the same thing. And now I feel no obligation to tell you whose side I am on or what my views are, and I am afraid I must decline your offer. We are by no means ready to travel, Eric, and we would keep you here longer and most likely slow you down. I appreciate the offer." Her defensive yet composed tone matched her steely expression, and she stood completely ridged before him, her head held high.

Eragon was speechless, surprised he had been turned down, and aghast at the truth she seemed to allude to. How…? Who…? Why?

As he looked at her, he recognized her expression, and his blood went cold. He was reminded of a close friend, who he had thought to be dead, but who had actually betrayed him. As Eragon looked at Tanyel Cavrona, he saw the shadow of his half-brother, Murtagh Morzansson, and he saw death and hatred there as well.

How could he have been so blind? How could he have been stupid enough to tell this woman, who he hardly knew, that he and his companions were from the Varden, to ask her to go with them, and tell her that he trusted her? At that, what was trust? Who could he trust?

Betrayal was brutal, and it left an invisible mark on you. Eragon knew that mark could be wiped away, but that was the most difficult thing because wiping away the feeling of betrayal was learning to trust again, or trusting again period. Who was this woman who seemed to be able to play with his emotions? It was better that she had refused, especially now… now that he understood.

"I see." Eragon stepped back, all friendliness gone from his expression. "Well, I am very sorry I took up your time, Miss Cavrona. As I said earlier, we leave in the morning, so I doubt we will see each other again. This is goodbye."

Tanyel's steely expression suddenly faltered, pain flashing across her eyes, but he was too angry to notice. He bowed his head and then brushed past her, out of the kitchen and back upstairs. He was mentally kicking himself the whole way, and he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he did not directly feel the darkness around the Inn dissipate for the smallest second and an inquiring thought prod his own. When he did notice something strange, it was only the after-feeling, and he attributed that to his own jumbled mind.

Eragon sat down on his bed and glared at the wall. He had his answer, and he had once again made himself a fool.

Downstairs, Taya was leaning against the counter, staring at the door through which Eric had exited, her own mind a jumble of confusion and regret. But what frightened her most was the vision of the man who had really walked out that door. She had seen him many times before, had spent hours in his company, had been there when he needed a friend…

But Murtagh was not here. Eric was not Murtagh… they were not even related!

Taya shook her head, trying to get his voice out of her mind. Why had she suddenly become so defensive? Why had she responded to Eric the way she had? Did she not consider him a friend? It certainly didn't seem like it, the way she had replied.

Taya hung her head, closing her eyes and one hand covered her face. How could she have done that to him, especially since he had been finally willing to confide in her that they were from the Varden? Why…

Taya's breath caught suddenly as she remembered something from the past, and her hand dropped to her side, her eyes opened and she looked back at the door.

There is no justice. Only death.

"Your father is worried that you are changing your mind about the empire. He has noticed that you are resisting his attempts to involve you in different meetings and things like today. He needs you to help keep the empire intact, Taya. Soon Thorn and I will be ready to fight and when we do I will not always be here to stand by his side and enforce what he says. He's worried that you might try to disobey him and… side with his enemies. I told him that was preposterous, but he has this idea that because you are resisting him you are starting to think against him. Unless you do what he wants, Taya, he will consider you as a traitor and send you to the dungeons as a threat. I don't want to see you hurt, so I told him I would come talk to you about it."

"Oh my…" Taya's hand went to her neck, where her emerald necklace was clasped. "Murtagh… you wanted me to stay with you, to give in to Galbatorix… you trusted me. What have you done to me, Firestone? I am seeing you, hearing you wherever I go. Will I ever have peace?"

In every way Eric had reminded her of Murtagh when he had come to try to convince her that Galbatorix was right, that she should serve him as he, Murtagh, did. Even his expression and his tone of voice had seemed the same…

Magic…

Look beyond what you see on the outside, and you will see what is beneath. Sometimes it is rather shocking. Her mother's words from when she was 11-years-old flitted back to her and Taya gasped.

She knew where she had seen Eric before. No, she'd never seen him before, but she had seen and knew his half-brother better than anyone would ever know.

Eragon Shadeslayer…

"I'm sorry, Shadeslayer, but now is not the time for you to know who I am. Safe travels to you and your companions, and fair winds to Saphira Brightscales. I know we will meet again. One day, we will fly together." Taya whispered to the empty room, and then she shivered.

Kabarak, what am I to do?

Go back to Raya and Sasha, Taya. And do not worry. Let him think whatever he likes, for he already had you wrong before he went looking for you. You are right; now is not the time for him to know who you are… who we are.

Thank you, Kabarak. We are both right.

Who would have thought that he was Eragon Shadeslayer? I'm even more curious to know what their business was here, for the Varden's only Rider to be sneaking around in one of Galbatorix's main cities.

Whatever it was, Kabarak, we already know it was important, and unfortunately we may never know what it was.

Don't be so negative. He will forgive you once you tell him what you just remembered.

Kabarak!

What? I want to see his expression when he finds out that you recognized who he was because he reminded you of Murtagh. Besides, that was a pretty good reason to unconsciously be defensive. Granted, Eragon straight out asked you to go with them and Murtagh implied certain death and torture if you did not, but it was rather the same proposal.

That certainly is an interesting way of looking at it all, Kabarak. Remember that argument when we have the chance to talk to Eragon about this evening.

I will. Like I said, I want to see his expression.

Taya couldn't help but laugh, and then she quietly left the kitchen and went back to Raya and Sasha, who looked exceptionally relieved and worried. Taya sat down and picked up her sowing project, and the other two wisely waited for her to begin explaining.

"Our friend asked if we would want to join them on their way back home." She said simply, and Sasha raised an eyebrow,

"Gil'ead is almost the other direction!"

"They do not come from Gil'ead, Sasha my dear. The strange, amiable, kind man we know here as Eric is actually one of the most important people in all of Alagaesia, and his home is in Surda at the moment. I know his half-brother very well."

Sasha and Raya's eyes widened to the size of saucer's. "You mean…" Sasha whispered, unable to finish. Taya nodded, keeping her expression unreadable.

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean. I declined, because we are not ready to go and now is not the right time to tell him. Eric and his companions will leave in the morning, and I doubt they will want to see us before they go. I am afraid Eric may think I am on the wrong side of the fire. But, we should not worry, and we will not. Our journey is of a different kind, and we would only slow each other down."

Sometimes, being cryptic was fun. Especially when someone understood what you were saying, and both Raya and Sasha did.

"He must really have trusted you, to tell you that and to ask you that." Sasha mused.

"He did trust me, very much. Now he does not, or at least he thinks he doesn't. I wish I had never responded the way that I had! It makes me feel so naïve…"

"You're still a teenager, Tanyel. No one is perfect." Sasha picked up her own project and then stood.

"Come on, let's go get something for our little friend and go upstairs. We can finish this conversation up there, with a little more privacy."

"Right." Taya and Raya followed suit, and from Kabarak's end in Taya's mind she could feel that he was very happy she was returning.

You know, I bet you're about to grown again, Kabarak. You've been eating like a horse! It's a good thing we are leaving soon, otherwise we would really have to come up with an ingenious way of smuggling you out of here and through the first stage of our journey! You have my permission to grow as fast as you can once we are out of here.

I'll do my best to oblige you, Taya.

"You didn't happen to figure out what Eric and his friends were doing here, did you?" Sasha asked as they entered the kitchen.

Taya looked at where Eragon had been standing, seeing his shocked expression when she had shot back defensively. "No, I never did. Maybe someday."

"Yeah, maybe." Sasha snatched a full medium sized bag and handed it to Taya.

"I'll at least be glad when they are gone so we don't have to worry about leaving the city for a picnic. I'm afraid my parents will start to wonder about the scraps and everything else that has magically disappeared!"

Taya chuckled. "It'll be fine. I think we will go out tomorrow afternoon anyways, to get out and stretch. Come on."

They were just about to walk up the stairs when Raya asked quietly,

"Do you think we'll see Colt and Dierik before we go?"

Taya looked back at Sasha, and Sasha stared back.

"I don't know, Raya. I hope we do."

Quit stalling and get up here! Kabarak insisted to all three of them. Every time I think you three are almost here you stop!

Coming, Kabarak. Taya shook her head, and they made it to her room without any more pauses.

Thank you. Kabarak emphasized as Taya opened the bag and put it down for him. I was worried for a few minutes there.

Oh hush.

"Well," Raya said lightly as she sat down on the floor against Taya's bed, "at least some of the mystery around Eric is gone. We know who he is now."

"And I wouldn't doubt that Aryana is an elf, actually." Taya replied just as lightly, and grinned at their surprised exclamations. "Yes, I do think that. It makes sense, once you think about it. And the energy coming from her is far different than from Randen or even Eric."

"That sure puts things into a different perspective. No wonder she never sparred with us. It could have given her away."

"Exactly. And now Eric makes more sense because when Murtagh last mentioned him, he said he looked like a half-elf. That would explain the extra cat-like grace to his movements that kept bothering me. It makes me feel better, for sure. I can hold my own a little against a half-elf, so I must be a pretty darn good swordswoman for a human."

"She's not humble at all." Raya muttered, but she was grinning.

"Anyways, now that we know who they are, I don't feel quite so conflicted or skeptical about them. I can't say the same for them about me, but as I said, we won't worry about that. We have our own adventure to think about."

Sasha did her last stich on her project, and set it aside. "What more do you think we have to do before we leave?" She asked seriously.

"Spar more, spend more time with your parents, condition the horses and have Kabarak fly more… I'm sure he won't mind that. We'll gather the supplies from the list we put together a day or two before we go."

Taya fell silent, working over her shirt while thinking about Eragon, Murtagh, and the Varden. All three were not very happy things to think about, since Eragon must feel like she betrayed him, Murtagh being Murtagh, and the Varden's reaction when they found out who she really was.

She smiled suddenly.

If only life was easy. She thought, and then dismissed her gloomy thoughts. They weren't worth her time; not now.

"So, what did Murtagh say?" Larel Katzia asked from his perch on the table in the middle of Melcar Di'Acor's room.

All of the Hljodhr Evarinya were assembled in Melcar's room, all of course except Zen Drayson. Melcar himself was leaning up against the fireplace, his arms crossed and his head bowed. He was apparently thinking hard, and Larel was the first to speak since Melcar had taken his position.

Everyone looked expectantly at Melcar, but his position did not change. Ayda Sen'Dala exchanged a worried glance with Weston Kliviyan, but neither moved.

They were beginning to think that their captain had dozed off when he finally answered Larel's spoken question.

"Our moving out date has been set back. Murtagh has a new, more important mission, and he gave me no details except that when he returned was when we would leave. He did not have to say that he was unhappy with this decision, it was obvious. I doubt that I have ever seen our esteemed rider so agitated, except maybe two times. In the meantime we will keep our eyes open, and be prepared for anything… and I want all eyes on Zen. He will not move without someone knowing, understood?" Melcar lifted his head and looked at each of them in turn, and they all nodded. Since they had found out what Zen had been doing night after night, he had become their charge in Taya's place. They watched him like hawks, and he knew it, and he hated it.

Melcar looked between the two oldest Hljodhr Evarinya, Kell Arder and Sade Feist.

"How are your families faring? I am sure the idea of moving was not heartily embraced."

Sade grimaced, but Kell shrugged.

"Well," Kell said with a sigh, looking sympathetically at his friend. "Myra didn't even seem fazed and began putting a list of everything they would need together, but Shiana is not happy. She was born here, and this has always been her home, so it is understandable that she would be loath to leave it. But she does understand the necessity, and the danger of remaining here. Surda is their only option. The Varden are their only option."

Sade agreed. "Shiana knows the risk we are taking, and she knows the consequences of our… mission. She understands it is best. I only wish they could have even better protection."

Kell and Sade's families would be leaving Uru'baen at the end of the week, heading directly to Aberon and the Varden, where they would be safe and behind the right line of the war. Kell's oldest sons, Lewin and Tyrell, and Sade's second oldest Honor would be the men of the families, including a good friend of Kell's, whose name was Caspa Torin. Along with them would be going the youngest Hljodhr Evarinya, Izaak Veread. The 15 year old was smart and well trained, having been brought up by the Hljodhr's for the last 3 years. No one wanted him to travel with the army, to have him put in so much danger. He wasn't even officially a Hljodhr Evarinya, but as he was a part of their family, he was a Hljodhr Evarinya nonetheless..

At first he had not been very happy about going with the Feist's and Arder's, but after he was told that what he was doing was very important and they needed him to do it, he agreed. He also didn't have a choice and he knew it. At times he could act very grown up. At times.

"I know what you mean, Sade. But I know they will be fine. Izaak and Caspa will do a good job teaching the boys and keeping each other safe and out of trouble. " Kell rested a hand on his friends shoulder, and then he grinned. "I never thought I'd ever say 'stay out of trouble' and 'Izaak' in the same sentence." Everyone laughed heartily, and then Kell turned back to Melcar. "I'm not usually one to ask for anything that involves magic, but I want to ask if you would be willing to place a few wards around our families? I know the risks of asking this of you, but it would be comforting to know they had a little more protection than most."

Melcar nodded. "I know the risks as well, Kell, and I will certainly do that. I want them to be safely in Aberon as soon as possible as well. They are Hljodhr Evarinya too. I will place the wards just before they leave."

"Thank you, Melcar." Sade looked slightly relieved, and everyone understood. The whole idea of moving was difficult… but then, the Hljodhr Evarinya had their own 'move' to worry about, and no one was very happy about that.

"Now we have to wait." Raneck Katifa grumbled from his position by the balcony doors. "Wait to march… never mind, there's no point in saying it."

But they all knew what he meant. Now they had to wait longer to march to their certain deaths. Melcar looked at each of them again and even though he did not want to die, or to see any of them die, he would never have chosen anyone else to go out fighting beside. These people were his family, and his responsibility… and his friends.

A small smile brightened his expression. For some reason at that moment he felt as if they would survive this plan of Galbatorix's. He just hoped that feeling would be the outcome of their mission.