The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Reconnaissance

"Indeed," he mused quietly, staring down at the ground in thought for a moment. "I'm just glad that Murtagh was able to help you escape."

"As am I."

"Was there anyone else you met in the capital?" I balked at that and hesitated to answer. He sensed my hesitation though and prompted me further. "Who is he?"

"He...well, it's sort of complicated. His father is a count, and he was set to inherit everything—"

"Was?"

"Yes, well...he gave it all up. He's actually...here. I saw him last night, but I told him that there was nothing left for us. I'm not sure where he went, or if he's even still here, but..."

"Why did you refuse him?" Eragon seemed shocked, and I wondered what he thought of me.

"I...Eragon, I... I'm still in love with Murtagh," I whispered. He stared at me for a long moment, unsure of how to respond to that. "But I can't afford to think about that right now. I have to focus on winning this war, just like you do. If there's any chance for us... Well, we can figure that out after this is all over and dependent upon the outcome—"

"It's alright, Tabby, you don't have to talk about it anymore. But you should know something."

"What is it?" I asked. He chewed on his lip, and I could tell that he was choosing his words carefully. I held my breath in anticipation before he looked at me again, his eyes full of hurt and sadness.

"Murtagh, he was our friend, and to you...well, to you he was always more. Well, maybe not always," he said, laughing a bit as I'm sure he was remembering the way we used to fight. "But I found out that he and I are connected in a different way. I know you want to save him, more than anything, but I want to save him too, not only because he was my friend but because...he's my brother."

"Galbatorix told me when I was in Urû'baen. I'm sorry you had to find out that way, Eragon, that your father was Morzan."

"Well, you see, I thought the same for a very long time," he said. "But he's only my half-brother. Our mother, Selena, was Morzan's Black Hand. I hardly believed it myself for a time, until I discovered who my real father was through Saphira's memories." He fell silent and realization suddenly dawned on me.

"Brom," I breathed quietly.

"Yes," he nodded, smiling sadly. "He was my father, and he kept it from me the entire time he was alive." He twisted a ring around his finger, the blue stone flashing brilliantly when it caught the sun.

"That was his?" I pointed at it and he suddenly realized he'd been toying with it. He nodded slightly. I stayed silent for a moment, taking in all of this new information.

"I asked Murtagh not to say anything," Eragon continued. "When he told me we were brothers, that day on the Burning Plains, he also told me Morzan was my father, and I believed him. What cause did I have not to? I asked him not to tell you because I didn't want you to think less of me. It seems he kept his word."

"How could I think less of you, Eragon? You are like my brother. Nothing you say or do could change that," I assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm just glad that part turned out not to be true. But I'm going to help you save him, Tabby. Whatever it takes. I care about both of you greatly."

"I know," I said, cutting him off. He didn't need to say more. "What else has happened?"

He then told me of the many strange things that had occurred in my absence. He explained Elva to me, how she'd been the babe that he'd blessed our first day in Farthen Dûr, but his blessing had turned out to be a curse. She was strapped with the ability to feel others' pain, and was compelled to help them outside of her own will. Elva grew at an alarming rate, and was more like a fully grown adult in a child's body. But, just a short time ago, he was able to alter the curse. He couldn't remove it completely, but she now had the power to choose whether to help those in need or not.