The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Ulterior Motives

"Why would you do that?" Her voice was no more than a whisper.

"I hope you will come to find that I do wish for your happiness, Tabatha." The lies rolled easily off my tongue, as they always had. "Although I wish you to serve me, I would rather you come to me willingly. I wish to show you that I only want peace for Alagaesia, and all of its people. Those rebels of the Varden are the ones stirring up trouble, not me. That is why I wish to reestablish the Riders; so we can live together in peace under the rule of law."

"You killed the Riders," she breathed.

"A corrupt order. The old fools who lead them wished to oppress the people and keep all the power to themselves," I explained. "I saved the people of Alagaesia, Tabatha. If I hadn't, we would all be held under their thumbs still. Is that what you want?"

"No," she replied warily.

"Then don't you see? It was the only way. Sometimes blood must be spilt for the peace of the realm. Killing the old order was a means to an end; a better end, for all of us." She seemed to be pondering my words, but I couldn't be sure. Without getting inside her head, I couldn't gauge her thoughts. And if I wanted a willing servant besides that useless son of mine, I couldn't delve inside her mind. When she hesitated, I continued, "Just promise me you'll think about what I have said? I hope you will come to see that I only did what I had to for the good of the people."

She stared at me intently for a moment. "And what of the green egg?"

"Nothing, as of yet. But these things can take time," I explained. "My spell casters are keeping a close eye on it, but I would like you to spend some time in its presence. If the dragon hatchling inside gets to know your mind better, perhaps it will prompt him to hatch."

"It's a male, then?"

"Yes," I said, false sadness in my voice. "It would seem your friend's dragon, Saphira, is the last female dragon in existence. Another reason why it is so important for you to see I mean no harm. You must help me to win Eragon over. In all this time, it has never been my intention to kill them, but to bring them here to safety. Without Saphira, we have no hope of reestablishing the Riders."

Her mouth twisted in thought for a moment. "I..." she hesitated. "I will think on what you have said."

"Good!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands together. "Then you are free to go." She stood slowly and then exited the room. I could feel Murtagh's thoughts as she walked away, and they disgusted me. Just one more reason to let her be with that Count; I wouldn't have to know his every thought and desire anymore if Murtagh hated her.

~*~

Tabatha's POV

When Murtagh escorted me back to my room, I thanked him icily before he bowed and walked away. The door shut with a click of the latch, and then I felt the silence weighing down on me. What just happened? I'd thought my father's voice was unsettling before, but when he'd spoken to me in his study... I could actually feel his words convincing me. Was that a spell? Or was I actually coming to see just what he was talking about? As I sat on the edge of my bed, I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts. I needed to keep my wits about me while I was here, or else Galbatorix would ensnare me in whatever trap he was laying. But if there was one good thing to come out of this, Evander and I could be affectionate in public without having to worry about my father. It seemed we hadn't been as careful as I'd thought.

The sun was just dipping below the horizon, setting the sky aflame with bright oranges and dusky pinks, when I heard a strange scraping on my wall. Getting up to investigate, I peered out the large window to the sprawling city below. I didn't notice anything out of the normal, so I just plopped myself down in my comfy chair and opened to the earmarked page of the book I'd been reading the night before. A few moments later, a sharp tapping came from the window. I looked up only to be startled out of my chair by the sight of Evander's face behind the pane of glass.

I scrambled to open the window as he ducked down to avoid being hit, and then exclaimed, "What are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed!"

"I had to see you," he said, hoisting himself up into the window sill and over to safety. He stood for a moment catching his breath from his harrowing experience. "But I didn't want Galbatorix's spies to see me." He looked around the room then, taking in everything. "Well, this is nice. A little outdated, but nice nonetheless." I slapped him playfully and then we both took a seat on the chaise that stood at the foot of my bed.

"I'm glad you're here," I said. "I have to tell you something."

"What is it?"

I hesitated for a split second. "I spoke to my father..."

"I know," he said softly, leaning close to me and planting gentle kisses up the side of my neck. The gesture sent shivers up my spine. "What did he want?" I put a hand on his cheek and angled his head, forcing him to look at me.

"It seems he knows about you and me."

"How?"

"I don't know," I continued. "I thought we had been so careful, but apparently his spies are very talented. It's no matter though; he's given us his blessing, more or less. He even offered to broker our marriage." Evander's eyes went wide at that.

"Really?"

"Yes, but I don't think it's a good idea." He clamped his mouth shut tightly, and I could tell he was hurt. "Not for that reason. I like you very much, Evander. But my ultimate goal is to escape this place. If we were married, it would be nearly impossible."

"Not necessarily," Evander argued. "We could take holidays at my father's estate in Belatona. It would not be difficult to claim that we needed a break from the city. And if there were children..."

"Slow down a bit, Evander," I said. "My aim is to kill my father, for all of the wrongs he has done to me and Alagaesia, not just escape his notice. I must be free of him, and I can't be if I'm married to a noble in his court." Evander's face fell slightly, but I could tell he had heard the truth in my words.

"Very well," he conceded quietly. "Whatever his ulterior motives are, we must beat him at his own game. We will court for the time being, all the while searching for a way for you to escape when he thinks we're together. It's the only way."

"Agreed," I said firmly.

"But if we are going to pretend to court, with the aim of marriage, it must be convincing." He smiled wolfishly and then put a hand behind my neck, pulling my lips to his own. And when I kissed him, I had not a single thought of Murtagh.