Aliana had been taking care of Oromis for almost a week when ordered to accompany Galbatorix and Aerin to the Shade Lands, which were located all along the Spine unbeknownst to most in Alagaësia, though they still retained the memory of that mountain range being dangerous to set foot in. There weren't a lot of naturally born Shades due to the long reign of the dragon riders, making the few remaining easy for Galbatorix to ally himself with during his rise to power, especially when he promised them access to Sorcerers and hosts to the dark spirits necessary for more to exist.

While Aliana was by no means happy to take a few days off from treating a barely stabilized Oromis, she was curious to meet more of the reclusive Shades, having only met Durza once before his death at the hands of Eragon. It was a short journey from Uru'baen to Laehi' on Shruikan's massive back, the Shades' capitol city which was on the other side of the Spine, Kuasta and Belatona never suspecting that just beyond the mountains they didn't dare to enter was the very reason they feared to go in. The ride felt awkward to Aliana, who was seated in between two spines bareback behind Galbatorix who had Aerin on his lap and they were clearly flirting from their body posture and facial expressions. She'd seen them interact before, but never this close and it felt like she was intruding and spent the rest of the time looking out over the landscape.

Shruikan landed in front of a castle carved into the mountainside, making the ground shake. He growled as a Shade came out of the castle, his hair such a deep red it looked black in the sunlight. He stopped when Galbatorix dismounted after Aerin. Aliana noticed Aerin was unusually stiff as she slid down, watching Galbatorix talk to the Shade. From what she heard when she joined Aerin, he was agreeing to stay overnight to participate in the selection of a new representative in Galbatorix's court.

The Shade showed them inside to elaborate rooms, informing them dinner would be held in the evening and that someone would show them to the dinning hall, excusing himself with a deep bow.

Aliana looked around the room she'd been given, feeling out of place. She walked to the window carved into the wall, peering out at the woods on one side and gardens on the other. Far down beyond the gardens, she thought she could see the ocean glimmering invitingly. She stepped out of her room and almost ran into Aerin, who looked like she was heading the same direction. "Sorry my lady, I was so focused on seeing if the ocean was nearby I didn't notice you at first."

"It's quite alright, Aliana. If you come with me, you will find out." Aerin smiled a little.

"Okay." Aliana walked with her out of the castle. "You seem like you know your way around this place, my lady."

Aerin's lips twitched. She was easily one of the most attractive women in Uru'baen with her long auburn hair and green eyes with brown flecks in them. "It helps when I came here with Galbatorix shortly after joining his court."

"Even that doesn't quite explain how you knew this side path would take us out of the gardens." Aliana glanced back at the strange plants, then back to Aerin. "Unless of course you did a lot of wandering around."

"I certainly did a great deal of that and no one stopped me." Aerin looked far away as she spoke. "Did you know I grew up in Belatona?"

Aliana shook her head as they walked down the gradual descent towards the now visible ocean below. "No, I didn't. I always wondered how you'd ended up in Uru'baen, though."

Aerin sighed just audibly. "I was the daughter of the town leader before Galbatorix took over Alagaësia. I was one of the few that knew there were Shade here because one day when I was little, I'd ran away from home up into the mountains and had gotten hopelessly lost. A Shade named K'aeligh found me, but instead of taking me away to be a host he brought me back out to where I could find my way home. I couldn't find him for a while, but when I did I thanked him and asked why he wasn't going to have me turned into a Shade like him. He said he had gotten control of his demons, so unlike most of his kind he didn't want to and we became friends. I started to mature and fell in love him, but I never got a chance to tell him about it. Galbatorix landed at the edge of our city, kinged and demanding tribute. He got our finest crafts and it wasn't enough. My father offered me, his only child who was barely a woman and Galbatorix was finally satisfied."

"Did you ever see K'aeligh again?" Aliana managed to ask after a long silence, realizing Aerin must think highly of her to share something so personal and painful.

"Not until today. He was the one that came out to greet Galbatorix." Aerin said, stopping at the edge of the crashing waves. "It was easy to tell myself what I had felt was nothing but childhood fancy, my heart today however has disagreed strongly."

Aliana didn't know what to say for a long time, the beauty of the beach now seeming sad after what she had heard. "My father used to say that your heart is smarter than your head because it cannot be deceived."

Aerin smiled faintly. "Your father was a very wise man, Aliana. I didn't know him as long as I have known you, but it is not hard to see where you get your intelligence."

"There are times I question my intelligence." Aliana admitted, thinking of her interest in Oromis, which she was certain he would never reciprocate.

"I think all women do, but that doesn't change what is in your heart. You can follow yours, but I cannot. Belatona is safe from dragon fire as long as I honor my father's promise."

Aliana looked at Aerin, respecting her even more for her resolve to protect people who probably had forgotten all about her. "I may be free to follow my heart as you say, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be taking a great risk to do so."

Aerin studied her with such an intense gaze it almost felt like she was reading her mind. "You are a fifth generation Swordmaster, taking chances is in your blood. You may find that you do not care what the risk is, wanting to know what the result will be."

"I have done that in the past." Aliana sighed.

They stood in silence for a short time, both lost in their own thoughts before agreeing it was time to return to the castle. Upon arrival, they were found by K'aeligh, who led them into the dinning room before vanishing into the shadows. Aerin sat by Galbatorix and Aliana sat next to her, looking down the long table where Shades sat, all with blood red hair and eyes. Some were human, others were Dwarves or Urgals and there were even animals also with the tell-tale red eyes of their kind. Dinner consisted of undercooked meats Aliana only took a little of not to be rude, preferring her food to be well done. Fortunately there were also strange plants that she was able to try, some of them very similar to the ones she was used to seeing grown in Uru'baen for the king's table.

She went back to her room when the evening was over, sleeping fitfully. She readied herself as the sun rose and went to the dinning hall. K'aeligh was the only one there and it was easy to see why Aerin would have been attracted to him. "Morning."

"Morning." He stood up. "You are the companion for the Lady Aerin, correct?"

"Yes." She said, wondering if he knew Aerin had told her about him.

He handed her a sealed envelope. "Would you give her this? Tell her she may open it when she is ready."

Aliana took it slowly. "I think she'd rather hear that from you."

"I would give it to her, if that didn't put her in a much more dangerous position than she already is." His eyes flashed darkly. "It is bad enough I was here in the first place, but I had to be part of the discussion the older Shades had before Galbatorix arrived, deciding the best options to present to His Highness for his next Shade toy. Tell Aerin that I understand why she has to do what she does. I've been been doing similar political games ever since I conquered the spirits inside me."

When she blinked, he was gone. Hiding the envelope, she sat down and ate. She greeted Galbatorix and Aerin when they joined her, watching the Shade come in. One of them spoke, introducing those thought to be most worthy to be in the king's court. Galbatorix chose the most violent looking one of course and then they journeyed back to Uru'baen.