The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Ulterior Motives

"I surely hope so," I whispered morosely. It irked me that I had to rely on someone else to help me out of here, but I really had no choice. With the king's watchdogs always on the lookout, I never truly was alone here. Soon after that, we left the library and Evander was escorting me back to my room to prepare for dinner. When we rounded the corner, I saw the two guards standing there straight-backed, as usual. But there was also the telltale sign that my father wanted to speak to me: Murtagh.

"The king would like to see you, Your Highness," he said stoically, inclining his head in my direction and shooting an icy glare at Evander. The two men stared at each other silently for a moment before I stepped between them.

"Very well," I said. Evander relaxed a bit but Murtagh stepped briskly past me, still shooting daggers with his eyes as he led me to the place I affectionately called Hell.

~*~

Galbatorix's POV

"I believe they are falling into our trap perfectly," Léod said, lounging in one of the chairs of my study with his legs dangling over one of the arms. The boy was impetuous, but that didn't bother me. As long as he still believed he would take the throne one day, I could keep him under my control. What a pity he had no idea the numerous Eldunari I had under my iron grip would allow me to live for centuries more. The boy would be dead and gone for hundreds of years by the time I finally died, if I even would. Rumor has it that if one finds the Name, they can live forever. And I'm getting closer every day...

"Yes, it would seem so, wouldn't it?" I replied, shuffling a few papers around on my desk. "I must say, your idea to thrust the young Count upon your sister was quite ingenious. If Murtagh hated her before when he believed she was involved with the other Rider, he'll hate her even more so when he sees her with the Count." Léod grunted in response, but said nothing more. All the better in my opinion. His useless prattling grew tiresome very quickly.

The door opened quickly and she strolled into the chamber, looking every bit as lovely as her mother once did. "What is it you want this time?" she snapped. She certainly was a bold little thing to act so defiantly towards me, but I knew her time would come. "Not another ball, I hope?"

"No need to worry your pretty head about that," Léod barked.

"No one asked you."

"Don't fight, children. Please." Tabatha shifted her unsettling, violet eyes to gaze down at me hatefully.

"Please try not to pretend like you actually view us as your children, and not just some pawns for you to use in your twisted game!" she yelled. No matter, I had faced far worse than her ire in my long lifetime.

"Please sit down, Tabatha." I gestured to the chair opposite my desk, and she begrudgingly took a seat. Léod was still scanning the pages of his book halfheartedly. "I only wish to discuss your future here," I continued.

She scoffed sharply. "I have no intention of staying here that long." I couldn't help but smirk at her fiery spirit. It's the same spirit that initially drew me to her mother...

"I'm sure," I replied condescendingly. "Nonetheless, you could have a future here if you wished it."

"What do you mean?" She eyed me cautiously for a moment.

"There was a young man at the ball; a Count Evander I believe? You seemed quite taken with each other." My delight welled up inside me as I saw her stiffen and go wide-eyed at the mention of the boy.

"What of him?" she asked, trying to mask her concern under a facade of indifference.

"I merely observed that you seemed enamored with him." It took everything within me not to laugh at the absurdity of it. "If you wanted, I could broker a marriage for you two." She shook her head slightly, most likely hoping that I wouldn't notice. But I did.