Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Fifty-One: Brilliant

"You'll have to wait for the rest of our council to find out," I said. "But I am glad to see you again."

"You to your highness, now where is the wee dragon?" I laughed at Orik's nickname for Alethea as she glided from my shoulder to Orik's. Since Orik first met Alethea, he had taken quite a liking to her small form.

"There she is, safe and sound," I said as Roran arrived on foot looking grim and dusty.

"Can you stop them from hearing us?" He motioned with his chin toward Orik and the elves. Eragon quickly cast the spell.

"Done." Roran nodded and looked off over the fields.

"I had some words with King Orrin while you two were gone."

"Words? Orrin didn't do anything rash did he?" I asked frowning.

"He was being a fool, and I told him so," Roran responded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I take it he didn't react very kindly," Eragon commented, crossing his arms.

"You could say that. He tried to stab me."

"He what?!" Eragon and I both yelled.

"I managed to knock his sword out of his hand before he could land a blow, but if he had had his way, he would have killed me."

"Orrin?" I shook my head, a king should know better. "Did you hurt him badly?"

For the first time, Roran smiled: a brief expression that quickly vanished under his beard.

"I scared him, which might be worse."

"Who else knows of this?" Eragon said, glancing around.

"Jörmundur—he was there—and whomever Orrin has told." Frowning, Eragon began to pace back and forth.

"Eragon, pacing isn't going to help." I murmured, he just gave me a look before turning back to Roran.

"The timing of this couldn't be worse."

"I know. I wouldn't have been so blunt with Orrin, but he was about to send 'royal greetings' to Galbatorix and other such nonsense. He would have put us all in danger. I couldn't allow that to happen. You would have done the same."

"Maybe so, but this just makes things all the more difficult. I'm the leader of the Varden now, and Mal's the ruling Queen of Alageasia. An attack on you or any of the other warriors under our command is the same as an attack on us. Orrin knows that, and he knows we're of the same blood. He might as well have thrown a gauntlet in my face."

"He was drunk," Roran said. "I'm not sure he was thinking of that when he drew his sword. I'm worried about Katrina. If Orrin is angry enough, he might send his men after her or me. Either way, she could get hurt. Jörmundur already posted a guard at our tent, but that's not enough protection."

"Orrin wouldn't dare hurt her," Eragon said, shaking his head.

"We don't know that Eragon," I added.

"No? He can't harm you or Mal, and he doesn't have the stomach to confront me directly, so what does that leave? An ambush. Knives in the dark. Killing Katrina would be an easy way for Orrin to have his revenge."

"I doubt that Orrin would resort to knives in the dark—or harming Katrina."

"You can't say for sure, though."