Having asked Jörmundur to send for me if there were any problems with Nasuada, Briam and I went back to my tent. I hated the tribes and their stupid customs. Slashing yourselves with knives to see who could withstand the most pain was stupid. I especially hated Fadawar for making Nasuada participate in it. I'd had my suspicions, which Nasuada briefly confirmed, that he'd forced her hand one way or the other. Stupid power hungry son of a-

Do you mind? Briam's sudden intrusion on my thoughts caused me to roll my eyes.

No, but evidently you do.

He rested his head on his front legs and stared at me with one emerald eye. I didn't need to hear his thoughts to know just what he thought about that.

Suddenly feeling restless, I stood and moved past him in the doorway of the tent. Sighing, he heaved himself up and accompanied me. Since childhood, walks had been one of the few things that put my mind at ease. Brom had been the most effective for obvious reasons.

Thinking of Brom brought up endless memories and questions, and brought my thoughts around to Eragon and Murtagh. It was for the best that Galbatorix and Murtagh believed us to be the children of Morzan. They'd look for similarities in us that weren't there – look for a link between his true name and ours. Brom would be too easy. I doubted very much that Brom's true name had ever been known to anyone except an elf, but even knowing the relation would cause them to have an advantage.

I wondered briefly if the king had been looking for similarities between Selena and I during the time I'd spent in Urû'baen. The only thing I believed I had in common with my mother was my appearance. My personality was definitely courtesy of Brom.

I was suddenly pulled from my thoughts by the sudden commotion that was going on around me, and Briam nudged my arm.

Look, he said. I followed his gaze and upon seeing a glittery cloud of blue, I let out a whoop and hurried as fast as I could to get to the large clearing where Saphira took off and landed in. As I arrived at the clearing, I saw that Nasuada was already there, and many others of importance were heading our way as well. I went to stand by my friend, and sent my conscience out towards Eragon. I felt Saphira, Roran, and Katrina, but Eragon was nowhere to be found.

If Saphira hadn't been circling to land, I'd have made Briam fly me up there to check, and then bombard them all with questions as to why my idiot brother wasn't there. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the child Elva speaking to Nasuada, and the look of alarm that spread across her face as the words registered. So it wasn't just me that couldn't sense him.

A pang in my chest caused Briam to settle beside me and place his snout on my shoulder. I paid little attention to what was going on around me, but at Arya's words of, "Saphira would not be so calm if Eragon was hurt or dead," my temper exploded.

"If Eragon was hurt, Saphira wouldn't have come back, and if Eragon was dead, I would know."

My outburst was ignored – if you didn't count all the sympathetic glances that were thrown at me by the three women – and Nasuada retorted with, "Where is he then? What trouble has he gotten himself into now?"

Jörmundur and his captains got everyone who wasn't allowed to be here to witness the Riderless dragon's return out of the clearing, and Garzhvog, King Orrin, and Narheim (the dwarf who had taken Orik's place) approached.

"What means this, Lady Nightstalker?" followed by, "Yes, I'd bloody well like an explanation myself," were the greetings Nasuada received from the Urgal and the King.

"And I," she threw in. After all, she didn't know much more than they did. Other than the fact that Eragon wasn't there.

"She shall provide the answers you desire," Nasuada told them, pointing at Saphira.

My first instinct was to rush at Saphira as she landed, but that would be a mistake. I'd likely get crushed or cause Saphira to hurt herself and her passengers trying to avoid me.

She landed without incident, and Roran and Katrina quickly unbuckled themselves from the saddle and jumped down.

Taking in Katrina's appearance, I flinched. She was too pale, and her dress was torn and filthy. Ignoring all forms of formality, I cried out, rushed towards them and embraced them. I let Roran go quickly enough, but kept Katrina's hands and looked her over from a closer distance. No wounds to speak of, just lots of grime.

"Arianna?" she questioned.

I'd forgotten all about my changed appearance, and it caused me to laugh outright.

"Of course it's me. I've changed a bit, but I swear to you on the inside it's still me."

As I spoke of what was inside me, I noticed her gaze was on my stomach. She met my eyes, and I shrugged, whispering, "I'll tell you later," while moving out of the way. The others were converged around us and curious, and I did not want to get in their way.

Roran bowed to Nasuada and then King Orrin. "My Lady, Your Majesty. If I may, this is my betrothed, Katrina." His face was grave, voice firm. Katrina curtsied to them both.

"Welcome to the Varden, Katrina. We have all heard your name here, on account of Roran's uncommon devotion. Songs of his love for you have already spread across the land."

I thought I detected a little jealously emitting from Nasuada as she spoke, but I may have been imagining things.

"You are most welcome," Orrin added. "Most welcome indeed."

Katrina blushed and smiled. "Thank you," she said.

I had my cousin back, and my best friend. Now I just needed my brother.

"Where is he?" Nasuada demanded of Saphira.

Saphira crept forward and lowered her head so it was level with Nasuada, Arya, and Angela.

With my mind open to Saphira, I heard her ask Nasuada who had hurt her, and to name them so she could go destroy them.

"There's no need to tear anyone apart. Not yet, at least. I wielded the knife myself. However, this is the wrong time to delve into the matter. Right now, all I care about is Eragon's whereabouts."

Eragon has decided to remain in the Empire.

Any happiness that had been on my face at seeing Roran and Katrina return dissipated quickly, only to be replaced with incredulity and fear. I shot a glance at Roran, who stared straight ahead and pretended not to notice.

"How...how could you allow him to stay?" Nasuada asked.

Saphira snorted, and small tongues of fire could be seen as she did so.

Eragon has made his own choice. I could not stop him. He insists upon doing what he thinks is right, no matter the consequences for him or the rest of Alagaësia...I could shake him like a hatchling, but I'm proud of him. Fear not; he can take care of himself. So far, no misfortune has befallen him. I would know if he was hurt.

I didn't believe for a second that Saphira actually thought my brother could take care of himself. He spent all his time getting into trouble for that.

"And why did he make this choice, Saphira?" This from Arya, who, for someone who claimed not to care about my brother spent way too much of her time inquiring about his welfare and why he did things and pissing me off in the process.

It would be faster for me to show you rather than explain with words. May I?

Of course everyone agreed. Saphira's memories swarmed into my mind, and I saw everything they'd done. And after everything had gone right, exactly the way they'd wanted with the exception of one Ra'zac, Eragon forced Saphira to leave. I noticed Nasuada drying her eyes on her bandages, and couldn't keep a tear from detaching itself and rolling down my cheek. You couldn't say Saphira didn't try to stop him. But I knew that Saphira knew the real reason he had for staying, and I was going to make her tell me later on. My brother was an idiot, but even he wouldn't risk everything for a single Ra'zac and exploring.

"Blast it!" King Orrin exclaimed. "Eragon could not have picked a worse time to set off on his own. What matters a single Ra'zac when Galbatorix's entire army resides but a few miles from us? ...We have to get him back."

Angela laughed. "How? He'll be travelling during the day, and Saphira daren't fly around searching for him when the sun's up and anyone might spot her and alert Galbatorix."

"Yes, but he's our Rider. We cannot sit by idly while he remains in the midst of our enemies."

He's our Rider. The words echoed in my head dumbly for a minute while I stewed over them. I was a Rider, but I was useless to them. And also a danger to them. If Galbatorix got his hands on me, they'd be doomed at multiple angles. Eragon would be all distraught, and Galbatorix would get control of his unborn heirs. And another Rider to boot.

Briam nudged me, and I tried to focus on what was going on around me.

"I agree," Narheim was saying. "However it is done, we must ensure his safe return. Grimsnzborith Hrothgar adopted Eragon into his family and clan – that is mine own clan, as you know – and we owe him the loyalty of our law and our blood."

As I watched Arya kneel to fiddle with her laces, I grew more irritated with her. She always had to meddle!

"Saphira, where exactly was Eragon when you last touched his mind?"

In the entrance to Helgrind.

"And have you any idea what path he intended to follow?"

He did not yet know himself.

"Then I shall have to look everywhere I can." She said as she sprang to her feet, and then promptly bounded forward across the clearing and into the tents in a northward direction.

"Arya, no!" Nasuada shouted, but it was useless. Arya was already gone. My irritation was still present though.

Then Garzhvog was gasping at his armor and speaking. "Do you want me to follow, Lady Nightstalker? I cannot run as fast as little elves, but I can run as long."

"No...no stay. Arya can pass for human at a distance, but soldiers would hunt you down the moment some farmer caught sight of you."

"I am used to being hunted."

"But not in the middle of the Empire, with hundreds of Galbatorix's men wandering the countryside. No, Arya will have to fend for herself. I pray that she can find Eragon and keep him safe, for without him, we are doomed."

Nasuada approached me, and my shoulders slumped.

"I hate her," I muttered angrily.

"Only because you can't go get him yourself," she said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I resisted the urge to shrug it off.

I looked at Saphira, and wordlessly we shared in the sorrow of Eragon's absence. My brother was reckless, thick-headed, and often times plain stupid, but my life wouldn't exist without him.