The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The sound of stone crashing together woke me in the morning. Damn you people! Can't a girl get some sleep around here! But I suddenly remembered where I was, and a feeling of dread filled my heart. I raised my head and saw the ugly bald man walking towards us across the chamber. I'd fallen asleep with my head on Murtagh's shoulder, and I looked over to see that he was already awake, staring at the bald man with a look of hatred. Eragon stood up on my left.

"You have been summoned by Ajihad," the bald man said, "leader of the Varden. If you must eat, do so while we march." I couldn't refrain the scoff that escaped my lips. It should have been common knowledge that we would need to eat. He shot me a withering glance but said nothing more.

"Where are our horses?" Eragon inquired, always the obnoxious one. "And can I have my sword and bow back?" The bald man sneered at him.

"Your weapons will be returned to you when Ajihad sees fit, not before. As for your horses, they await you in the tunnel. Now come!" he snapped, turning quickly on his heels. Murtagh stood and then reached down a hand, helping me to my feet. We walked slowly out of the chamber into the corridor we'd come from before.

"How is Arya?" Eragon asked. I wanted to slap him right then and there, but I held back.

"I do not know," the bald man said hesitantly. "The healers are still with her." As we continued to walk, I noticed statues of strange animals set into alcoves all along the wall. There was a statue of one creature that looked like a wolf, but it was huge and feral-looking. What strange place is this? Finally, we came to the huge tunnel where we'd come into the mountain. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the bald man with the horses. Where is Cadoc?

"Eragon?" I whispered quietly, looking over at him. He made to speak, but then stopped. "Eragon, where is Cadoc?"

"Tabby... I meant to tell you last night, but he didn't make it. An arrow caught him in the side..." I turned my face away as I felt the tears coming to my eyes. After going through so much along this journey with the faithful horse by my side, it had ripped a hole in my heart to hear that he had been slain. But before I could grieve, the bald man spoke again.

"You will ride single file down the center of the tunnel," he instructed. "If you attempt to go anywhere else, you will be stopped." Eragon made to crawl into Saphira's saddle, but the bald man stopped him. "No!" he screeched. "You will ride your horse until I tell you otherwise."

"There aren't enough," Eragon retorted.

"I am aware, boy. We found the body of the other horse on the lake shore. You, girl," he snapped at me tersely, "come here. You will ride with this one." He narrowed his eyes in Murtagh's direction.

"I have a name, you know," I spat venomously as I climbed into Tornac's saddle. "And so does he."

"Oh yes, I know," he seethed, a sickening grin splitting his face, "I just don't care." I wanted to rip his throat out, but one glance from Murtagh silenced my rage. Murtagh climbed up into the saddle behind me, reaching around to take the reins from my hands. His body pressed against mine as he reached forward, and I felt myself shudder slightly.

'Your life is on the line and you're really thinking about that?' I thought to myself. Saphira rumbled behind me, and I could only assume she was laughing because she heard what I said. I'd have to be more careful with my thoughts around her. Eragon pulled himself into Snowfire's saddle in front of us and the dwarf and the bald man led our procession. Murtagh gave me a comforting squeeze around the waist.

As we rode, I couldn't help but marvel at the skill with which this tunnel had been mined. The dwarves truly were as gifted as the stories say. We continued through this gigantic tunnel for nearly an hour. And after riding for so long, I was becoming tired. My anxiety was rising out of fear that Ajihad, the leader of the Varden, would recognize who I was, which only served to sap my strength even more. Murtagh must have sensed my apprehension.