The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Crossing of Bridges

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"Lady Nasuada and King Orrin have designated these tents for all members of the Varden that are of higher value." Something in the way he said this last phrase made me think he hated me very much. Not that I blamed him. I didn't feel like I was worth anything more than some of these men, and I hated being singled out. I thanked him as genuinely as I could and then ducked through the flap of the tent, pulling Praetorian behind me.

Inside the tent, it was huge. There was a comfortable-looking cot covered in linens and a lantern hanging from the center pole that held up the top of the tent. There was also a writing desk and chair on the other side, and a huge trunk for storing my clothes and weapons. On top of all that, there were still ample amounts of open space. Perfect for sparring by myself if I wished to. Praetorian nickered softly and I rubbed his snout, dropping my things near the cot and then leading him back outside. There was a water trough and food bucket at the sides of all the tents, and he lapped up the water greedily. I took his tack off and laid it by the water trough, and then picketed him near the tent. This end of the camp was not nearly as smog ridden as the rest of it, so I didn't feel hesitant to leave him outside.

When I returned to the tent, I took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. And as I unpacked my things I felt the nervousness building in my stomach. All of this suddenly seemed so real, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.

Eragon's POV

Saphira landed with a thump on the hard ground, jarring my bones and teeth. Orik fumbled with the straps about his legs and then fell to the ground with a groan.

"I'll die happy if I never have to take another fall like that," he complained, straightening out his jerkin. We'd narrowly avoided the arrows that had been shot at us in fear, and now that we were safely on the ground I felt a sense of overwhelming relief. We'd made it. But there was only one thing I was dreading... Tabby.

It had been so long, and our last meeting had not ended the way I wanted it to. I was nervous to see her again, but I knew it needed to be done sooner rather than later. 'I'm going to look around for a while,' I said to Saphira, rubbing her nose affectionately.

'Of course, little one,' she replied, shaking like a wet dog. 'She'll be glad to see you, I'm sure of it.'

'That isn't what I was thinking!' I argued uselessly. She could read my thoughts after all.

'Of course, little one,' she repeated. She made a deep rumbling sound in her chest that I knew was her way of laughing. I just rolled my eyes at her, rubbed her head one last time, and then headed into the camp. As always, men flocked to Saphira and made a circle around her, gawking and gaping at her. I just pushed through them and began my search.

My mind spread out over the camp, trying to sift through all of the thoughts and feelings that were flooding my head. It was simple enough to focus on the feelings instead of the words, and that made it easier to look. There were mostly men, and just a few women. But none of those women that I came across were Tabby. They had told me in Aberon that she had joined the Varden on their trek, but where could she possibly be? It didn't take long for me to lose my hope, as my search seemed to go on forever. It came to the point that I almost gave up and asked a passing soldier if he knew where she was, but then I felt an unexpected block. Whoever's mind this was, they had been well-trained to guard their thoughts.

I ran down a row of cream-colored tents, past Nasuada's red pavilion, and then to the very end of the row. This mind that was so well-defended was in the last tent on the right, and I felt an incurable curiosity as to who this warrior was. It was rude, I knew, to just barge into a tent unannounced, but my curiosity won out in the end. I pushed aside the flap of the tent to peer inside, and almost fell over in shock. For a moment, I just stood there unable to speak. But I finally found my voice.