The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

One Last Time

Eragon came to me not long after that, stumbling into my tent and nearly falling on top of me where I lay on my cot. "Woah! Watch it," I protested, pushing him off me where he had landed precariously close to rather... sensitive areas.

"Sorry," he muttered, trying to regain his balance. He ended up settling on the edge of the cot and swung his head around to look at me. "You said you wanted to talk?"

"How much did you have to drink?" I asked, eyeing him carefully. I sat up and leaned closer to him, inspecting his dilated eyes. "I don't think now's a good time."

"No, I'm fine, really," he replied, his speech slightly slurred. I had to stifle a laugh as he swayed back and forth, blinking slowly and heavily.

"Rest, Eragon. We can talk in the morning," I chuckled, patting him lovingly on the shoulder. He groaned slightly and nodded his head, until he suddenly fell over on his side, his face buried in the roughspun blanket that covered my cot. I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly at my friend. "Come on, you." With great effort, I lifted him into the cot and pulled the blanket up over his shoulders. He wouldn't be going anywhere tonight. There was much I wanted to discuss with him, but it could wait until morning.

Is everything alright, Tabatha? Amera's thoughts cut through my mind. She and Saphira were close, I could feel it; possibly circling right overhead.

Yes, everything is fine. I think Eragon may have had too much to drink. He's passed out in my tent, I replied amusedly.

He must have had much too much to drink, Saphira chimed in. When the elves changed him, his strength and stamina were increased. It would take an incredible amount of ale to get him drunk.

Maybe he just doesn't know his limits. That or he was divulging in faelnirv as well, I said, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Are you two coming back soon?

We're circling the city, Amera said, trying to get a better understanding of the layout. Don't worry, the Red One has not seen us yet.

But he will soon, I said worriedly. Please hurry back. It makes me nervous.

Don't worry, we're being careful, Saphira said. With that, I felt their consciousness' withdraw from my mind. I was worried that they would be seen by Murtagh and Thorn, but there was nothing I could really do to get them back here. I leaned my head back against the cot and inhaled deeply, closing my eyes. I could feel the tension in my muscles building, and I suddenly felt the need to get away, even if just for a little bit. Reaching under my bed, I pulled out the bundle hidden underneath that contained my Rider's sword, Manin, and the enchanted cloak Asron had given me. These would come in handy when Amera and I snuck into Dras-Leona, but for now, I didn't want to take the chance of losing them or having them be stolen.

I stood up and looped the sword and scabbard through my leather belt and clasped the cloak around my shoulders. The midnight blue and black fabric swished softly across the ground as I walked through the camp, leaving Eragon sleeping soundly in my tent. The night air had a cool briskness to it, and I pulled the hood of the cloak over my head, simultaneously protecting it from the chill and activating the cloak's magic. I felt the enchantment washing over me and knew that I'd become invisible. The power that resided within me was stirring, and I felt a slight pressure at the back of my head. The air around me began to shimmer and I was seeing things as I had only a few times before. The ground and plants, and even the few people I could see, began to glow from within, as though I was seeing their very life force. The sight was beautiful, but there was also something very scary about this power of mine. I knew I was different, but sometimes I didn't even know myself what I was capable of.