The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Kidnappings and Conclaves

"Don't try to fight," a cold voice whispered, pressing down the blade a little further into my skin. I felt a warm wetness sliding down my throat and snaking its way across my collarbone. Then the sharp, metallic smell of blood reached my nostrils. "I've been instructed not to harm you. But if you fight, I'll have no choice." A cold pit formed in my stomach as I recognized the voice without a shadow of a doubt. "And don't even think of calling your dragon," he continued. "Thorn is closeby; he'll stop her."

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, the blade digging a little further into my skin.

"I don't have a choice," he snapped, grabbing me by the wrist. The blade was quickly pulled away from my throat, but he was dragging me out of the bed and had my arm pinned behind me within an instant. He was far stronger than I was. "Hurry up. It's a long flight back to Urû'baen." As Murtagh shoved me roughly out of the tent, I desperately wished I had kept my dagger under the pillow, like I usually did, but it was still shoved all the way down in my boot. I hadn't bothered to undress when I'd gone to bed, and now I wished I had.

"Stop this, Murtagh," I pleaded, wincing at the pain in my arm. "You can still fight him. Don't do this!"

"It's far too late for that, Tabatha," he snarled cruelly. "After I helped you escape, he made me swear more oaths in the ancient language. I'm completely powerless against him now." His grip tightened on my arm as he steered me out of the camp. In what seemed like an instant, the sounds of joy and celebration were replaced by shouts and screams of terror. I turned my head as far as I could to look back at the camp, and saw Imperial soldiers running through the tents, setting them ablaze with torches. Saphira was there, roaring fiercely as she crunched down on a steel-clad soldier. And then I saw Amera, bursting through the flaming tents in our direction.

Amera! I screamed. Stay away! It's not safe! She let out a deafening roar and continued to plow through the ranks of Imperial soldiers. A loud buffeting shook the air, and I looked up to see Thorn's body blocking out the stars. The fires glinted off his red underbelly, and he suddenly swooped down towards Amera.

Everything seemed to slow as Thorn reached his taloned paws out to her, aiming to scoop her up. I twisted away from Murtagh, trying to break free of his grip. He yelled something incoherent and pulled me back towards him. With a speed I didn't even know I possessed, I whirled around to face him, twisting my arm underneath me and successfully breaking his grip. The palm of my hand slammed up into his chin, knocking him backwards. I could feel his wards shattering as I focused all my energy and magic on attacking him. How is this possible? I swept out a leg and kicked him as hard as I could in the knee, making it buckle beneath him. He looked up at me in surprise, but I struck him in the face with an elbow before he could say anything. And then I ran, faster than I ever have before. I could feel him following close behind me, but my legs continued to carry me forward at a blistering speed.

Spreading out my consciousness, I located Eragon near Nasuada's pavilion. If we could take him together, we might stand a fighting chance against Murtagh. Amera was screaming as she fought furiously against Thorn, and Saphira was by her side. They slashed against him with their sharp claws, and bit at his legs with their gleaming fangs. Saphira had her jaws locked about his neck, blood dripping from her teeth. But Amera was trapped beneath his heavy paw, struggling in vain against his strength as he snapped at her. There was a tent ablaze next to them, and I focused my energy on harnessing the flames. I knew that their wards would protect them from harm, but perhaps the heat would be enough to distract him so Amera could get free.

My power burst from me like a waterfall rushing over the cliff; my body seemed to be humming with the energy coursing through it. I watched as the flames bent to my will, rushing towards the three dragons as though they were coming from another dragon themselves. Thorn reared up in alarm at the sudden heat, giving Amera the chance to to scramble away.