The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Battle of the Burning Plains

Tabatha's POV

The next morning, we awoke to a changed world. Across the sulfuric fields was an army stretching three miles across. They formed a daunting black wall, and I could feel the pit of my stomach tightening. This is it; today is the day that I get to show my father just what I'm made of. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply as we stood in the ranks, tightening my grip on the hilt of my sword. Here today, I was going to meet my destiny.

It was still early morning; the cloud of smoke hung low, and the sun had not yet risen to break through its shadow. I stared across the darkened field, my face set in grim determination.

"You alright?" a voice asked me at my side. Blinking rapidly to come back to reality, I saw Gregorio sitting atop a chestnut stallion. Praetorian shifted his weight uncomfortably at the new company.

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied unsteadily, my voice wavering slightly. "Just nervous and excited, that's all." He just nodded and turned his attention back to the vast open space before us. I didn't mind though; I actually preferred the silence. It was the calm before the storm.

I shifted my gaze to the left to see Eragon mounted on Saphira. Her brilliant blue scales were covered with heavy plate armor, just as Eragon was. Next to them was Arya, looking quite superior in her own armor atop a white mare. It amazed me that I still felt as much disdain for her as the day I'd first laid eyes on her. Nasuada was beside them on a roan charger, bedecked in men's armor as well. I'd been given a heavy leather jerkin that laced down the sides and a metal pauldron to protect my neck and shoulders, as well as greaves and vambraces. I'd declined the gauntlets though, as they restricted my hand movement too much. I would need to be able to maneuver my sword easily if I was to survive this encounter.

We began padding slowly across the no-man's-land. With any luck, the Empire hadn't seen us. The seconds crept by like hours, and every breath seemed more precious than the last. When we had crossed almost three-quarters of the open space, Galbatorix's men finally saw us. I heard Nasuada shout something to Eragon, but they were too far for me to hear. And then everything seemed to happen all at once.

Bodies surged forward in a wave of clanging armor and pounding hooves. The men around me—Gregorio included—were shouting like Wildmen with their swords raised high above their heads. I unsheathed my sword as well and held it at the ready for any foes I might encounter. Suddenly, I sensed a presence across the field with massive stores of energy and magic. I could only assume that this was my father, and dread filled my heart. If he was here, then we were done for.

But it was too late now. We had to try; we would die either way if we chose to fight or run. Praetorian sped into a gallop to match the pace of the men around us. I glanced up into the sky and saw Eragon and Saphira speeding overhead. She was truly a beautiful sight to behold, with her sapphire scales glittering in the orange light of dawn.

'Be careful, Tabby,' Eragon said within my mind.

'Same for you,' I replied. Saphira let out a mighty roar and spat a jet of blue flame at the opposing army. It took only another moment for our two forces to collide in a clangor of metal upon metal. Not long after that, the screams of the dying filled the air.

Fighting against men was vastly different from fighting Urgals. The Urgals had just been bloodthirsty monsters, with no real training, and that attacked in random, frenzied movements. But men in armies were trained to kill with precision and speed, while expending as little energy as possible. Their movements all had purpose, and I was beginning to think this may have been harder than I previously thought.

I soon found that battling from horseback—especially a horse as powerful as Praetorian—gave me an advantage over the men on the ground. And I was especially grateful for all of Braeden's teaching. I cut down man after man that came across my path. And by keeping my grip on the saddle with my legs—a skill I had finally perfected—I was able to wield my sword with my right hand and propel discs of pure energy at the enemy with the other. Although Braeden and I had worked on my stamina, I soon found I needed to take a rest from the magic.