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She watched the men as they fought and shook her head. She knew that they would last against a soldier, but what about an elf or an Urgal or a Rider. "But then, that is what I am here for. Should Eragon turn, I am the only one who can fight him and not be killed on the spot."

"Stop fretting. Eragon will not turn on you. Brom will not let him. And neither will your mother. I have met her and know that she is strong, as she raised you to be." The gold dragon adjusted, scratching Florina's back in the process. She thought about the blessing she had given yesterday. Two young people wanted to be married and they had asked her to do it for them. She was surprised that they had come to ask her. The people here didn't see her as a freak like the people in Kuasta had. Her eyes didn't scare them. She had said words over them in the ancient language, making the union truly blessed. Kuldra had even breathed on them and they were now housed in the best rooms available. Florina could hardly believe that she had been among the Varden for over a month and couldn't help but wonder how Eragon would fair under the pressure. Even though she was a Rider and was offered some respect because of it, she would receive less than Eragon because she was a woman. People would be trying to influence him more than her, except for the elves. Among them, she and Eragon would have the same status. She sighed and smiled when she saw Fredric walking towards her.

"Thought I might find you here when I saw her."

"We are rarely apart. You know that."

"You look restless."

"I am." He offered his hand and she took it. Frederic had been the one to test her after she had met with King Hrothgar the week she had arrived. She had beaten him several times before he was satisfied. He led her to a clear area and drew his sword. She drew hers. It was thinner than his, but no less strong. Kuldra watched them as Fredric attacked first, as he always did. She blocked him and went for his legs. He barely blocked in time. Kuldra's head flicked toward the city. Florina stopped Frederic and looked. There was a line of people along the path to one of the gates. She sheathed her sword and climbed onto Kuldra. Kuldra pulled her into her mind and focused. Their joy mixed. "They've made it!"

"Florina, that is Eragon. But the man with him is not the Old One. It is another young man, about a year older than you." Florina looked at them and looked for Brom. Her heart fell as she returned to her own mind.

"Ajihad will have them in there for hours. You go to the dragon hold and wait for me to call you. I will need to talk to Ajihad after he is done with Eragon. He is going to want to have Eragon tested. I need to vouch for him."

"Be careful. Those Twins will want revenge for what you did to them."

"They wouldn't dare."

He silently handed his weapons to the guards. He couldn't believe that he was to be a prisoner. But then again, he didn't necessarily expect to be welcomed with open arms. He was the son of Morzan after all. He waited while the guards opened the door to his room.

"What is going on here?" A woman suddenly demanded.

"Ajihad's orders." The leader spoke. "No one is allowed to see this man until Ajihad has spoken with him."

"I have not seen him here before."

"He arrived with the new Rider." Murtagh looked at the woman. He tried to keep the surprise from his face. Before him stood his mother in everything except for her eyes. The woman's eyes were dark, like the king's. Other than that, she looked just like his mother, Selena.

"Mother never told me about a daughter. She looks older than Eragon, but younger than me by about a year. If she is my sister, where has she been these eighteen and half years? Where did Mother hide her and why didn't she hide me there as well. Did Father know of her?"

"Very well. Where is the new Rider now?"

"With Ajihad. But Orik is in for it." Murtagh was shoved into the room and the door closed behind him. He pressed his ear to the door.

"Why, what happened?"

"He interfered with the Twins. Opened the doors against their orders and then stopped them from getting into this man's mind."

"I see. Thank you, Soldier."

"You're welcome, Argetlam."

"There's another Rider?" He moved away from the door. "There's another Rider and she is his daughter."

She waited in the shadows as Orik and Eragon and Saphira walked past her. Saphira looked in her direction but said nothing to Eragon. Once they were out of hearing range, Florina approached the doors to Ajihad's study and waited. She looked up about half an hour later when the Twins emerged. Their faces paled at the sight of her. She didn't spare them a glance and swept past them into the study before she could be announced.

"I told you two, I have nothing more to say to you."

"I am alone. Kuldra is not with me." Ajihad turned sharply and smiled.

"Florina, I was just about to send for you."

"I figured as much."

"I assume you passed Eragon on your way."

"No. He has not seen me yet. I'll see him when I have time. I heard about what happened. Who is the man you have prisoner?"

"His name is Murtagh. He refuses to be examined by the Twins."

"The Twins are cruel in their methods."

"Nonetheless, even if it wasn't one of them, he still refuses."

"Whose son is he?"

"Morzan's." Florina said nothing. She had heard of him. He was the first and last of the bloody Foresworn that once served Galbatorix. "Did he see you?"

"He may have. But I don't I resemble anyone he knows. And he did not hear my name. The guards called me Argetlam when I left. All he knows is that I am another Rider. But he is not the reason I am here. Do you plan to have Eragon tested?"

"Yes, once he's recovered. He covered over a hundred leagues in eight days with an injured elf."

"This elf doesn't happen to have black hair and be female,"

"Why yes, she does. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing. Forget I said anything. Eragon does not need to be tested. Brom taught us both. You've seen my,"

"Yes, I know of your skill with the sword and proficiency in magic. But I have not seen his. You cannot honestly vouch for him."

"Then let me be the one to test him."

"That, I will allow. On one condition. You give him no guidance as to what you want him to do."

"It will be an honest test."

"Then you may go and plan your test. And I am sure that you would like to speak with the young Rider. It's been over a month since you parted."

"That reminds me. Where is Brom? What happened to him?"

"He is dead. He and Eragon were captured by the Ra'zac after the escape from Dras-Leona. They were going to be taken to Galbatorix. Brom was to be killed when Murtagh showed up and drove the demons away. But before they left, a Ra'zac threw a dagger at Eragon. Brom took it instead and then died the next day." Florina didn't say anything, just nodded and walked out of the room. She needed to see Eragon. She needed to know how they were found and she wasn't. The Ra'zac knew of her. They had wanted to interrogate her. She felt the tears falling and hurried on. She would look for Eragon in the dragon hold and talk to him there where they were both safe.

"Bless her, Argetlam, bless her." Florina stopped and looked out. Eragon was atop Saphira and an old woman with a bundle was holding his leg. She could see that he was hesitating. "Bless her, Argetlam." The woman pleaded. Florina recognized the woman. She had often seen her watching her, probably wondering if she dare ask the dark eyed woman to bless the child. Florina watched as Eragon tugged off his glove and placed his right hand on the babe's brow.

"Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono weíse skölir frá rauthr." He intoned and then pulled back. "That is all I can do for her. If any words have the power ro forestall tragedy, it will be those."

"Thank you, Argetlam." The woman bowed and started to cover the baby again when Saphira snorted and moved her head to over the baby. Florina watched in amazement as Saphira touched the babe on the brow and left and star shaped mark like the gedwëy ignasia. Saphira immediately took flight and went into the dragon hold above.

"Do you wish for me to come to you?" Kuldra asked.

"No, I think I'll go to the library for now. Eragon and Saphira need rest. I will talk to them tomorrow."

"Very well. I will see you in the morning."

He lay on his bed and looked at the ceiling. Just hours ago, he had visited with the daughter of the leader of the Varden, Nasuada. She was the second woman he couldn't get out of his head. He still wondered who that other woman was. She resembled his mother so much that he was sure that she was at least his half sister. But when he asked Ajihad about her, he refused to explain. Even Nasuada refused to speak about her. "Is she the one the old man was telling Eragon to find? He did keep mentioning her without giving a name. But Eragon never mentioned her. Maybe he doesn't know who Brom meant." This answer didn't sit right with him. Eragon had nodded at the command. Eragon knew who the woman was and that she was a Rider. He would have to ask him for the information. He knew he could probably coerce it out of the young man with the right nudge.

He sat up as the door opened and more food was brought in. He thanked the guard and carried the plate to his bed. "At least they aren't treating me like a prisoner. Why can't they just let me go?" But he knew the answer. They couldn't risk him going back to the king and giving them away, even by accident. Especially since he knew that there as a second Rider loose in the land. "I want to know who she is. I wonder if I could get her to come and see me. I want to know who her mother is." He shrugged and dug in, contemplating what he would read next.

Murtagh knows. What will happen now? read and find out. Thanks all fro reading and please, please, please review.