The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Crossing of Bridges

"It is good to see you again, my lady," I said quietly. She glanced over at me with a smile.

"How was your training? I hope you were able to learn some valuable skills," she replied. Orrin leaned further forward in his chair and inspected my face. I don't know why I hesitated, but part of me wanted to keep my powers concealed for now, until the battle began.

"Yes, my lady, I did."

"I myself am anxious to see what you can do," Orrin cut in. "Nasuada has told me of an... episode that you suffered while still in Farthen Dur. It sounds most intriguing." I tried to contain my anger at his indifference. He had no idea what had happened to cause my breakdown. I almost thought he was looking at me more of a novelty; an enigma; a scientific equation that needed to be solved.

"I had just lost someone very dear to me," I said quietly, fighting against the tightness in my chest that made it difficult to breathe. "My emotions got the better of me; that is the only way I can account for what happened. If your intentions are for me to repeat the same display of power, I am sorry, but you will be sorely disappointed. I cannot replicate it."

"Hmm," he mused quietly. "Most intriguing indeed..." It was as though he hadn't heard a single thing I'd said. Nasuada sighed quietly at my side and then placed a hand upon my shoulder. I turned to her and saw her dark eyes full of sympathy, which irked me slightly.

"We are not expecting you to repeat that incident," she explained. "But I would like to see a bit of what you can do. We are still debating on whether to allow you onto the battlefield, but if your powers prove necessary to our success, we may be more inclined to let you fight." I knew she wasn't the one that thought it might be too dangerous, but I would prove to them that I needed to fight.

"Very well," I replied quietly. Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I reached into the back of my mind to where my power was stored. My whole body began to buzz with energy and excitement. I could feel the power materializing in my palm, and then I heard a gasp from King Orrin. When I opened my eyes, I saw the disc of white and purple light hovering just barely above my skin. As I moved my hand, the disc made a whooshing sound when it sliced through the air. Nasuada stared at it transfixed.

I propelled the disc away from my hand, using my mind to guide it and tell the formation of energy what to do. Nasuada and Orrin stared as it floated across the desk. I noticed a small vase at the corner of Orrin's desk and directed the disc towards it. Telling it what to do, the disc rippled and reformed into a smaller ball, about the size of a child's marble. The ball sank slowly into the vase and then began to glow brighter. The ceramic pottery shuddered from the energy and then suddenly burst apart as I opened my hand and spread my fingers. Little pieces of the vase scattered over the desk, skidding to a halt just before falling off the edge.

"That was incredible, Tabatha," Nasuada breathed. "I've never seen anything quite like it."

"I am not like just anyone. Does that give you proof enough that I will be necessary in this fight?"

"Indeed, that much is evident," Orrin announced, standing from his chair. "You have quite proved me wrong, Lady Tabatha. I was of the camp that it was an absurd idea to send you into this battle. We'd be inviting Galbatorix to take you back to Uru'baen on a silver platter. But now I see that your abilities will be indispensable to us. You may just turn the tide of this battle."

"I don't know about that. But I'll certainly do what I can," I replied. Orrin was staring at me in a strange way, and I found it to be very uncomfortable. Nasuada smiled at me gratefully.

"Thank you, Tabatha. You're free to go. We leave first thing in the morning," she said, confirming what Gregorio had told me. I nodded firmly and then turned to go out the door I'd entered through.