The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

It was a month later, in the deepest part of winter that an attempt was made on Nasuada's life, as Murtagh warned there might be. In all actuality, it was three attempts, but only one of them came close to succeeding. She was purveying the progress of the city's rebuilding, when a net full of stones suspended over the street was dropped on top of her. Elva was with her and warned her of the danger, and Eragon had placed protective wards around her. But she still broke a few bones in her arm. Jörmundur and her Nighthawks spent two weeks pursuing the culprits of the assassination attempt, and they were able to kill two of them immediately after the attack, but the rest escaped. It was disconcerting, to say the least. We had believed things were beginning to settle down finally, and now this. Nasuada, for her part, was not fazed. She remained as steadfast and resolute as ever.

As for Eragon, I could tell he was growing antsy, as was Saphira. There was still no word from the elves on their decision of a ruler. And, more than that, Arya had not responded to any of his letters. I felt sympathy for him, empathy even; but I knew when I would see Murtagh again, and Eragon had no idea how long it would be before he saw Arya. We were two peas in a pod, the pair of us.

It was not long after the final attempt on Nasuada's life that Katrina gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She was a large baby, with a shock of red hair atop her head, just like her mother. The child cried louder than any I'd ever heard, and she had a strong grip, like her father. They named her Ismira, after Katrina's mother. I promised to help Katrina if she ever needed anything, though I knew little about the care of babies. She thanked me all the same.

And the day after Ismira was born, Nasuada summoned Roran to the throne room. She had decided to bestow him an earldom, which granted him rule over Carvahall and all of Palancar Valley. I was overwhelmed with joy for the two of them, as I knew this meant his family would be provided for, long after they both were gone. It was the dawning of a new age for Carvahall, one of prosperity and wealth that they very much deserved.

Not a week after that, word reached us of two rebellions that had sprouted up in Gil'ead and Aroughs, seemingly overnight. Nasuada called upon Eragon and I to quell them and mete out her punishment. In the effort of expedience, it was decided that Eragon and Saphira would go to Aroughs, and Amera and I would handle Gil'ead.

Amera and I left the next day at dawn, after bidding farewell to my mother and uncle. It was not a long flight to Gil'ead, and we were there within the span of a few hours. Nasuada had sent several garrisons ahead of us, and the fighting had already ensued. We joined in the battle, Amera dousing them in violet flames, and I dispatching them with discs of energy. Within an hour, the rebels had surrendered, and I extracted oaths from their leader, a man by the name of Hamlin, that he would never again take up arms against the queen's men. He said them in the ancient language, and understood that if he broke this promise, it would be under pain of death. We departed soon after that, after healing several of the officers that were badly hurt.

That was not so difficult, Amera remarked casually, as though we were taking a brisk run and hadn't just defeated a rebellion.

I wonder how Eragon is faring, I said. As we returned to Ilirea, I enlisted the help of one of the sorcerers from Du Vrangr Gata. He contacted his affiliate that had gone with Eragon to Aroughs, and informed them that Amera and I would be joining them in two day's time. The other sorcerer ensured he would relay the message, and then we were off again. It seemed our work as dragon and Rider was never done.

***

Aroughs took much more time than Gil'ead had. After the third week of constant fighting, I was getting quite tired of it. I don't know how they did it, but no matter how many men we killed or injured of theirs, the rebels always seemed to have enough in reserve to replenish their forces. I knew Eragon and Saphira were growing aggravated as well. We'd thought to have been done with this debacle two weeks ago, yet here we were in a run down camp outside the city, battling against the man known as Tharos the Quick. And quick he was indeed.