The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Amera

'Tabatha!' Amera yelled with wild glee. 'Let's go higher!'

'Amera, I'm already nearly freezing to death,' I complained, leaning further over her neck. 'Besides, Asron will be wanting us back before nightfall.'

'Fine,' she grumbled, angling her wings to turn back around. I admired Amera's spirit, but sometimes she wanted to push the limits too far and I had to hold her back, for her own protection. I wondered if it had been this hard for Eragon and Saphira—or even Murtagh and Thorn—when they were first starting out. I'd never thought to ask them. Of course, I never thought I'd be in this position either...

Amera landed in front of Asron's hut with a massive thud, shaking the ground. It had only been three months since she'd hatched for me, but already she'd grown to a colossal size. She wasn't as big as Saphira or Thorn yet, but she was well on her way. She really was unlike any other dragon I'd seen or heard of before. And Asron had been kind enough to make a saddle for her, though she'd already gone through two because she wouldn't stop growing at an alarming rate. I'd have to have him teach me to make a saddle so I could help him the next time she outgrew this one.

"There you are!" Asron exclaimed, coming out of his hut in a wild frenzy, startling Praetorian where he was grazing peacefully nearby. "Quickly! Get inside! Both of you!"

'What was that all about?' Amera asked in confusion.

I looked over at her as I jumped off her back, shrugging my shoulders dramatically. 'I'm not sure. Let's go find out.' We made our way towards the hut as Asron disappeared behind the curtain that served as his front door. I pushed the curtain aside and allowed Amera to poke her head into the hut; that's all that could fit anymore. Asron came bursting out of his room, holding a hand mirror and hurrying over to me.

"What is it, Asron?" I asked in confusion. "What's happened?"

"Come," he beckoned, "there is someone who would like to speak with you."

More confused than ever, I craned my neck to look at the surface of the mirror. He handed it over to me and I stared down at the smooth surface inside the gilt frame. But it was not my own face that looked back at me; it was one that I recognized immediately. "Angela!" I exclaimed when I saw her crooked smile, wild brown curls, and kind blue eyes.

"Hello, Tabatha," she replied, as though we'd just seen each other yesterday. "How have you been? Betraying kings, breaking the hearts of high lords, and wrangling dragons, I hear?"

"Uh..." I stammered, forgetting her straightforward nature after so long away. "Much has changed," I finally spat out.

"So I have heard from Asron," she smirked knowingly. "I thought you might like to know that the Varden are on the move to Dras-Leona. They've been capturing cities up the coast." She paused, undoubtedly waiting for a response I was unprepared to give. "Perhaps," she continued slowly, "you should consider joining them."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "Oh, Angela...I'm not sure if that's such a good idea," I said hesitantly.

"Tabatha, they are sorely in need of your help. We all have to work together if we hope to defeat the king. You cannot do it alone. May I ask, what exactly was your plan?"

I sighed heavily. 'She is right, Tabatha,' Amera interjected. 'We need to let them know we're on their side.'

'I know... you're right.' Setting my face into grim determination, I told Angela, "All right, we'll make our way there as soon as possible."

"Very well, I'll let them know that they should expect visitors," she replied, looking over at something—or someone—I couldn't see.

"No!" I exclaimed, and Amera let out a bellow of surprise. "Don't tell them we're coming. I'll tell them in my own way when we get there."