The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Destiny's Doorstep

Stay calm, Eragon, I said as soothingly as possible. We've not been spotted by them yet. He sent me a quick feeling of thanks but Saphira continued to speed forward. I looked around her large body to see the citadel looming before us, its tall black towers reaching up to the dark overhang. Saphira began to angle downward and we quickly followed suit. She alighted in the courtyard before the massive main gates with a soft thud, Amera landing a little behind her. I threw the hood of my cloak off my head and we were exposed once again.

The roars of dragons could be heard resounding throughout the entire city. I couldn't imagine how angry Murtagh would be when he realized the deception, but I knew it would not be long now. The elves untied themselves from the log quickly and everyone began filing toward the gate. Arya held the Dauthdaert out in front of her, pointing its barbed head at the gate. She hurried toward the sally port of the main gate while the rest of us hung back. The magic of the dragonlance would protect her from whatever defenses had been placed on the gate.

A rectangular peephole opened to expose a pair of blue eyes. "Who are you? State your business!" He never got the chance to say anything else. Arya shoved the lance through the opening and drew back hunks of flesh. Once that deed was done, the rest of us hurried up behind her. She placed the nose of the lance against the metal seam of the sally port and began to draw it along the line. As she worked on taking down the door, I kept looking over my shoulder at the courtyard around us.

Suddenly, a deafening roar split the air and the spellcasters shuddered slightly. It seemed our deception had been discovered.

"He'll be heading this way," Eragon said. "We must hurry." Arya worked as quickly as she could, until the sally port fell to the ground with a metallic clang, squishing the body of the man beneath it. She walked through with the lance, shielding her from the wards. When she went through to the inner courtyard, a group of about fifteen soldiers emerged. She quickly dispatched of them with the Dauthdaert and hurried back to us.

I heard the rumble of a dragon's footsteps shaking the ground, and knew that Murtagh was almost upon us. Arya slid the lance through the opening, and Blödhgarm picked it up, trotting through the gate. He slid it back and Elva was the next to go through. While she went through the gate, the two elves went to the gatehouse and began to crank it open enough for the two dragons to fit through, a feat which would have been impossible for the same number of humans. Eragon and I were the last two humans to go through, and then Saphira picked the lance up with her teeth. She made it through without incident, as did Amera.

As the tip of Amera's tail crossed the threshold, I looked into the courtyard and saw a flash of red scales coming around the corner of a building.

"Quick!" I yelled to Arya and Blödhgarm. They hurried back to the gatehouse and worked on getting the gate closed. It inched slowly shut as Murtagh and Thorn came ever closer. My heart was pounding as I watched them, and I saw there was a look of burning anger upon Murtagh's face. We made eye contact a split second before the gate slammed shut and the locks slid into place. The look in his eyes... it was... I can't think about that now!

Tabatha, come quickly, Amera urged. I turned away from the gate and followed our group toward the tunnel openings. I'd be leading us from here, along with Elva.

I knew my father would be waiting for us in his gigantic receiving chamber, where I'd first met him the last time I was in this gods-forsaken city. We trotted down one of the less-assuming tunnels that was lined with sconces. As we passed the stone walls, I was struck with déjà vu and I wondered if Galion was hiding anywhere nearby. Or even Master Tobias. I hoped he'd been able to make it out.

When I'd come this way before, all of the traps had been disabled, but I knew that would not be the case this time. My father was nothing if not thorough. That was why we needed Elva.