Thank you all for your reviews. As for Kuldra choosing Lifaen to ride her into battle, it was necessary so she could be protected from Murtagh. And it is entirely the dragon's choice if someone other than their Rider rides them. Hopes that answers your question.

Enjoy!

She blocked the blade and attacked the man on her own. She knew that she really should be sparing with Murtagh, but he was gone on some mission for Galbatorix. And she refused to spar with the king. She didn't want to talk to him, let alone see him. His threat forced her to send away the closest creature to her and she wanted nothing to do with him. The man tried to trip her, knowing that he stood no chance against a Rider. She twisted away from his foot and rammed her elbow into his gut. He grunted and hunched over. She laid her blade on his neck. "Yield." He grumbled. She nodded and walked away. She hadn't even broken a sweat. The only ones who were a match for her were other Riders and the elves.

She sheathed Naegling and began the walk back to the castle. It had been a few weeks since Kuldra had left. Word had reached them that the Varden had taken Dras-Leona. Murtagh and Thorn had been punished for that since they had been sent to prevent that from happening. She turned her thoughts back to Kuldra. She had no idea where the gold dragon had gone and prayed that she was safe. She didn't know if she would be able to stand it if Kuldra had gotten killed or captured. If either Galbatorix or Murtagh found her, Florina doubted either of them would survive the torture Galbatorix would inflict upon her in his wrath.

She felt Murtagh and Thorn pass by overhead. She thought nothing of it until she felt a third mind with them. Her eyes narrowed in anger as she recognized the mind. "Nasuada! That bastard!" She stormed into the castle and to the dragon hold. "It's not enough that he has captured me, but now he has to bring Nasuada here as well!" She found Murtagh and Galbatorix in the dragon hold. Nasuada was nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" She demanded, fire in her voice and eyes. Galbatorix and Murtagh looked at her. She kept her hands from reaching for Naegling. If she drew the sword now, she would lose. Caleb and Brom had always taught her not to fight in anger. It was a sure way to lose and die.

"She is safe." Galbatorix answered, watching his daughter.

"Where is she?"

"Not where you will find her." He answered. He didn't want his daughter anywhere near the young Varden leader. If they got together, he knew that Florina would risk her own life to save the other woman. Without her dragon around, she was able to take more risks when it came to going against his orders. She glared at him and stormed out of the hold. The other two Riders watched her leave. Galbatorix turned back to Murtagh. It was hard to believe that the two of them were siblings. "Continue." He commanded and the young man obeyed.

"He is mistaken if he thinks that I am just going to sit back and let him torture her. I will find her and I will get her out of here. Her life is just as important. If I can't save her, then we are all doomed. I know she chose Eragon to lead the Varden should something happen to her. But what is he going to be able to do. He does not have the experience to lead them. But he can't let Orrin lead either. I don't trust that man. Elduna, can you sense her? Can you tell where she is?"

"It's difficult. She is unconscious, that is making it harder. But she is somewhere that magic cannot get through."

"That rules out the dungeons. But there is another room. He doesn't know that I know of it. The Hall of the Soothsayer. He will have put her down there. Make her feel comfortable." Florina sighed and sat on her bed. She knew where her friend was, but to go to her would bring certain death to the woman. But she knew that Galbatorix would take her down there to show her off. To say that he had two Riders and one was his daughter. He would try to plant doubt in Nasuada's mind. She needed to reach the other woman's mind before that happened. Florina unbuckled her sword and locked the door before laying on her bed. "I need to get into her mind. But doing so is going to require me to turn my attention from my surroundings. Elduna, please, guard me. Without Kuldra near, I fear for myself."

"I promise." With that, Florina stretched her consciousness farther than she had while in the castle. She made her way down to the room where she knew Nasuada was being held. She found her quickly and reached out for her friend. But the woman recoiled from the touch and blocked her mind. Florina understood her reaction. She would have done the same if their positions had been swapped.

"Child of Gokukara, why do you block out your sister-in-arms?" She whispered on the fringes of Nasuada's mind. It was a phrase they had come up with in their short time together and no one else knew of it except for Kuldra. Florina waited for the response from Nasuada. None was forthcoming and she drew back into her own mind.

She thought about the only think she would allow herself to think about. The voice was familiar. She knew it. And the phrase was one that she and Florina had thought up together to use when they were near each other but among enemies. Only she, Florina, and Kuldra knew of it and the exact wording. She knew that Florina would never tell something like that to Galbatorix. But still, she had blocked her out. She had no idea if Florina was in control of herself or if Galbatorix had finally managed to break her as he had Emily.

Footsteps were suddenly heard in the hall. One set was familiar. "Florina." The rest marched in rhythm. She heard the sound of hard-soled riding boots clacking on the floor as they stepped down the stairs. Florina's footsteps followed. A chair was placed at the edge of her vision and a man sat in it. He was broad-shouldered and a long black cape draped around him. A man dressed in a maroon jerkin and leggings trimmed with gold walked over to the brazier and stood with his back to her. Finally, she saw her. Florina was standing more in her vision wearing a gold colored jerkin and leggings which were trimmed in black. She had her hair tied back with a golden, white lined rose in her hair. She had said an elf had given it to her as she and her brother departed Ellesméra. She crossed her arms as the man tugged off his gloves.

"Welcome to Urû'bean, Nasuada, Daughter of Ajihad." He said. "Welcome to my home, 'neath these ancient rocks. Long has it been since a guest as distinguished as yourself has graced us with their presence. My energies have been occupied elsewhere, but I assure you, from now on, I shall not neglect my duties as host." Florina tried to block his words from her own ears as he continued to talk to Nasuada. The stubborn woman would still not allow her to talk to her. And she did not want to break into her mind. That would make her no better than the man who was forcing her to stand in the chamber. She listened to his offer. He had made her the same offer and more, but she had thrown it into his face. "Ever since the last of the Thirteen died, I have searched for those who were fit to take their place. Until recently, my efforts have been in vain. Of all the candidates I have examined, Murtagh was the first I considered eligible and the first to survive the tests I set before him. Florina is the second, though she has yet to accept it. You shall be the next, I am sure. And Eragon the fourth." Florina bit her lip to hold back the growl that was creeping up her throat. Murtagh shoved one of the iron rods into the coals and banged the tip against the copper bowl, startling Nasuada. "Should you live," Galbatorix continued, "you shall have a chance to accomplish more than you ever could with the Varden. Think of it! In my services, you could help bring peace to the whole of Alagaësia, and you would be my chief architect for accomplishing these charges."

"Did you offer these same honeyed words to Florina?" She spat. "I would rather let a thousand vipers bite me before I would agree to serve you." Florina smiled, glad to see that her friend still had fight in her. She stared at Galbatorix as he summoned Murtagh to him and made him engage in conversation. Then it was her turn.

"As to your question, I did not have to offer Florina these things. Come, Florina. You are being impolite as well. It does not do well for the future ruler of the Empire to be impolite." She scowled, but walked up to the slab where Galbatorix took one of her hands. "You see, she is my daughter. I never would have found her had her foster mother refused to talk to me like you are choosing to do. No, Florina did not need convincing. Everything I have is hers by right and she is happy as can be, isn't that right, Daughter?"

"Go to hell." Florina spat. She braced herself for the blow that was sure to come. It never did. But she kept herself ready.

"As you can see, she is having a hard time believing that she is my child and not that of a lowly blacksmith. But she will see soon enough. Perhaps she will even tell me where her dragon has gone. A Rider should never be without her dragon." Florina wrenched her hand out of his grip and stormed up the stairs and out the door.

"That was unwise."

"I have to talk to her without them around. And I refuse to stay for what comes next. He wants to parade me as his daughter in front of the person whom I trust the most after Kuldra. What good is that? She is already frightened enough. And to hear him announce that I shall be queen once he finally tires of ruling a resentful Empire? That's going to turn her against me. I need to talk to her alone."

It was hours after Galbatorix and Murtagh had left. Murtagh had returned, Florina had not come with him which only convinced her that her sister-in-arms had sided with their enemy. "I'll never be as brave as Florina, though." He finally said after saying how Galbatorix had found his true name. "I haven't said anything, but I know she sent Kuldra away. When I went to confront the elves at Gil'ead and fought the gold Rider there, Florina and Kuldra followed me and fought against me. Florina was beaten by her father for her troubles. Once she had been knocked to the ground, he pinned her with his foot and threatened to kill Kuldra should Florina ever disobey him again. That afternoon, Kuldra left to hunt and she never came back. What Florina did earlier, she is still rebelling against him. She does it to hide her own pain. The pain of losing her closest companion in the world. I don't know how she was able to do it. I think she dies inside every day when she reaches for Kuldra and she doesn't get an answer."

"Is she really his child?"

"I don't know. The only one who does is my, our, mother. But she is dead and if Florina's blacksmith did tell her the truth, she refuses to let Galbatorix know. He did say that she was his daughter in blood but not in spirit. I wonder if it would have been different if she had been raised here with me instead of in Kuasta." He eased her pain and then he was gone. Nasuada thought to herself about Florina's behavior. But she had seen his features and his eyes matched hers. She didn't know what to trust. She let herself fall into a fitful sleep.

Can't wait to read your thoughts. Thanks for reading