The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Reconnaissance

And then he'd explained what had happened at Helgrind, the spire tower that was the Ra'zac's lair. I remembered when I first set eyes on it, just outside of Dras-Leona, how I had felt the evil reeking off of it even then. He had gone there, and killed the Ra'zac after they'd kidnapped Roran and Katrina. Sloan was there too, and Eragon had let him go.

"I'm surprised at you, Eragon," I said. "After all that he's done, after everything he's put you and your family through, you let him go?"

"Some fates are worse than death. His eyes had been pecked out, and I sent him to live in Du Weldenvarden with the elves. Katrina and Roran don't know he's still alive, and I intend to keep it that way," he replied firmly. I merely nodded and looked down at the dirt floor of my tent. He then continued to tell me about Roran and Katrina's wedding, and I was sad that I had missed that. Apparently, he was doing fairly well as a soldier. Then Eragon told me about the Rider he'd trained under in Ellesm éra, and how Murtagh had killed him and Thorn had killed his golden dragon, though their minds still lived through something called an Eldunarí . I'd never heard of them before, but Eragon explained that it was the name for a dragon's heart-of-hearts, and that they held incredible power.

"I am sorry for their loss, Eragon, truly I am. Although I never got the chance to meet them, they sound like a fine Rider and dragon," I said sadly.

"They were, Tabby. Glaedr had lost a leg some time ago, and Oromis was weak as well, so they couldn't fight alongside us in the war. He had taught Brom and Morzan as young men, and countless Riders before them. It was a tragedy..."

"Murtagh didn't tell me about that either," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

"Galbatorix took control of his mind and his body to do it. He didn't have any choice," Eragon explained. It still hurt that he hadn't told me any of that. He then showed me his Riders' sword that he'd helped make in Ellesm éra, and that he'd named Brisingr. The sword burst into blue flames and sparkled brilliantly against the light.

"It's beautiful, Eragon," I breathed, marveling at the workmanship.

"Well, I had help..." he said sheepishly.

"Was there anything else you haven't told me?" I laughed, amazed at everything he'd been through, although I'm sure he had left a few minor things out.

"No, not really. It's amazing to me as well, when I think on how much has changed since we left our homes," he said, smiling sadly. "It's only been two years. Can you believe it?"

"What?" I exclaimed, looking over at him incredulously. "That can't be! So much has happened; I can't believe it's only been two years. I feel incredibly old already. "

"I've been keeping track," he said, laughing slightly. "Our seventeenth birthdays passed while you were in captivity, and in about six months, we'll be eighteen. We should do something to celebrate."

"Ha! Why don't we kill the king? That will be celebration enough for me," I said bitterly. "After what he did to my mother, it's less than he deserves." He fell silent at that, staring awkwardly at anything but me. "Nevermind, Let's not talk about that," I continued dismissively. "We've got a city to sneak into and sack. I need to prepare."

"Of course," he said, smiling and standing to go. When he was at the opening of the tent, he stopped and turned back to me. "It's good to have you back with us, Tabby. Really, it is." I returned his smile and then he slipped out of my tent. When he'd gone, I reached out for Amera's mind. She was conversing with Saphira but pulled away when I called out to her.

Is it time? she asked, apprehension in her voice.

Yes, I replied. Let's do this.