~ Chapter Three ~

Saphira scuttled nervously over Eragon's shoulders. She could tell he was nervous and desperately wanted to offer him any aid she could manage regardless of her size. It was a pity then that nothing she or anyone could say would calm his nerves. He was about to meet the one person everyone seemed to fear and no one came away with anything good to say.

The only respect anyone held for their King was out of fear. Whenever travellers came through they brought stories of the nasty King Galbatorix and the horror he had brought down upon the region. There weren't many who praised the King for his efforts to rule their land.

These stories were often told to inspire fear in children so they didn't seek to cross their King. Of course it didn't help what with the soldiers that seemed to be stationed everywhere keeping an ear out for those that despised the King. They were raised to fear, obey, and never to cross his path. Eragon hadn't been too good with any of them.

Eragon had never really feared Galbatorix until now. Growing up on a farm leagues away from the castle. He'd never truly given thought to the King and what he could do. He had been content with living on the farm and staying with his family. Then of course he'd found Saphira and he'd disobeyed when he'd brought her home and watched as she hatched. All of this led to the final few days and his meeting with the King. His nerves weren't likely to disappear because of these reasons.

Durza didn't help. The Shade had hovered close by whenever he stepped out of the cage Durza called a carriage. He refused to allow Eragon any privacy not that it mattered. Eragon didn't know his way around the world. He'd spent all of his years wandering as far as the Spine but no further. This was an entirely different world than to what he had grown accustomed.

The Shade guided him into a large room with high ceilings. Eragon couldn't think what had caused the King to create such a room. It seemed worrisome to create a room without any sturdy beams holding up the roof. He didn't have a problem with heights but how would one be expected to clean the room with such an impractical ceiling?

Saphira continued to shift along his shoulders making it difficult to balance and walk. Eragon blushed. He probably looked exceedingly foolish trying to balance with a tiny blue dragon clawing at his shoulders. This wasn't the picture he had expected to present to the King when he had first arrived. He felt uncertain and it didn't sit well with him that he had no clue what he was doing. At least back at the farm he knew what was expected. He knew what his Uncle would have him do. This was just terrifying.

The King sat regally on his throne. Draped in black, he stared down at Eragon. There was nothing but a blank dullness to the stare which lasted far longer than Eragon would have liked. Nothing in those eyes spoke of a fair and decent ruler. Saphira hissed at the stare recognizing the unnecessary action yet the man never moved his eyes from Eragon. Eventually, King Galbatorix turned to Durza.

"You may leave, Durza. You have done a wonderful job. Go back to Gil'ead and play with the elf. If we can obtain more information from her I would have it."

Durza smiled with sharp teeth, bowing his head in respect. He had no problem with returning to Gil'ead but first he couldn't help but act as he had desired to the entire journey. As he walked past Eragon on his way out, Durza grabbed onto his arm and pulled him close offering a kiss to his forehead.

Eragon hadn't been paying attention. Saphira fell down his opposite arm as Durza dragged him closer. He jerked back as Durza's lips pressed against his forehead before following the line of his brow towards his ear.

"You will have such a pleasant time here, little one." Durza whispered.

With a breath against Eragon's skin the Shade had disappeared leaving Eragon tense and feeling slightly ill at the interaction. If he saw Durza it would be too soon.

Galbatorix watched the interaction without a care. He knew the Shade would not tamper with anything that belonged to the King. If Durza became a problem with Eragon around he would step in but until then he would allow the Shade to irritate the Rider.

Never had he imagined another Rider would appear in his kingdom. He had taken numerous measures to ensure the last three remaining eggs in his possession would remain so. Kept safe, he had always assumed the eggs would simply call out to their chosen when the time came. The new Riders would appear and he would be able to deal with them as he desired. This had been unexpected.

The pesky elf had been smart, he had to admit. She had managed to steal the egg from Uru'baen while he was present. The elf hadn't made it far but it was enough to send the egg away. Not that it mattered; she was being punished for her discretion. With her numerous possibilities opened for a second attempt at subduing the elves and the dwarves.

With more thoughts turning away from the prize before him, Galbatorix turned his thoughts towards the new Rider.

"So you are the new Rider."

Galbatorix's words echoed around the cavern of a room. The curtain rustled but otherwise there was no movement in the room.

Eragon didn't know what to say to this. He didn't know anything about being a Rider. Saphira had been a surprise and a shock but he was content for the time being to allow her the chance to grow. Watching her grow up healthy and strong was all he wanted.

"Do you know how to speak?"

Anger flared in Eragon.

"Of course, I can speak. My Uncle made sure I could read and write as well though I don't know a lot."

"He has spirit as well." Galbatorix commented with a twitch of the lips.

It seemed to be his way of smiling. It didn't measure to the bright laughter of Roran or the hitched laughter of his Uncle as his breath seemed to catch in his throat.

"Tell me," Galbatorix continued, "What is your name?"

Eragon watched in his mind as several horrible images flashed before his eyes. He turned towards Saphira with a frown understanding the warning. In her panic she seemed to have forgotten to speak even singular words and had returned to spamming his vision with images. Yet in this situation there was little he could do.

"Eragon, my name is Eragon."

Galbatorix had watched the communication between Rider and Dragon. The Dragon was young yet but she would grow stronger. Having a female dragon opened many possibilities for the future. They would need to be kept safe.

"What of your Dragon? What is her name?"

"She is Saphira."

Eragon felt as if he were being watched. Galbatorix's eyes hadn't left him but there was something else pressing against him and it felt decidedly different.

'Curtain.' Sapphira warned.

The curtain offered a rustle but otherwise didn't move or part. Eragon had a feeling that whatever was behind it was much larger than he wanted to meet on this occasion.

"Do you know why you are here, Eragon and Saphira?"

Eragon didn't say anything. It was fairly obvious why he was present.

"The egg you found originally belonged to me. Someone stole it from me and was rather intent on keeping it from me. Durza managed to catch the thief and follow a number of leads to retrieve it for me. I had hoped to have the egg returned to me as it was when it left my care. However as Saphira stands before me on your shoulders that is an impossibility."

Terror ran through Eragon. He didn't want anyone to take Saphira away from him. Being parted from her just didn't seem natural. Saphira ducked behind Eragon at the terror racing through their bond.

Galbatorix gave a tsk. "You needn't worry I do not plan to part either of you."

Eragon's eyes shot up at the King.

"What do you plan on doing with us then?"

A smile broke across the King's face sending shivers racing down Eragon's spine. That was not the look he wanted to be greeted with upon asking that question. The answer didn't bode well for them.

"You will take an oath to join me."

Eragon laughed. After all of the stories he'd head it seemed like an impossible thing to do.

"Why would I do such a thing?" he questioned.

The smile remained as Galbatorix spoke. "You have family do you not? Wouldn't you do anything to protect them?"

Thoughts turned back to the last time Eragon had seen his family, his uncle and cousin lying prone on the floor of their house. He'd just left them where they were on the ground. All he had to go on was Durza's word that they would be alright. He hadn't bothered to check. He hadn't thought beyond the fear of facing the Shade. Yet Eragon couldn't deny he would do anything to keep them safe.

"How do I know they aren't already dead?"

He needed to make sure he wouldn't be giving up his life if they were already dead. No information had been given to him about this oath or what it entailed but he would do it if he could protect them and the home he had in Carvahall.

"The dead offer no service to me, young rider." Galbatorix offered.

It wasn't a lot to go on but it seemed like an open threat. If Eragon didn't do as the King desired he had two people Eragon cared about to torture until Eragon did as the King pleased. There was no way Eragon would win in this situation but at least his Uncle and Roran wouldn't be dragged down with him.

"What does the oath entail?" he questioned.

"The oath will be in another language so you will need to study the wording and wait until Saphira is capable of speaking it entirely before you speak your oath to me."

Eragon sighed. That gave them time at least to see where this would lead them. He couldn't run, not with his family in danger, but he would be able to learn information in his current location which would help later when he needed it. This time would also grant him an opportunity to learn more about Dragons. The more he learnt from Galbatorix would only aid them in the long run.

"Your dragon, what is his name?" He figured he would at least test a few boundaries while he was before the King.

Galbatorix angled his head towards the curtain behind him but otherwise didn't speak a word. Eragon was about to speak again which a voice rumbled through his mind.

'My name is Shruikan.'

A shaky exhale from Eragon only confirmed what he had feared. Behind the massive curtain which hung from the ceiling of the room was the King's Dragon. The four words continued to bounce around his head. To have such a presence only caused Eragon to dwell about the Dragon's size. The room after all was massive and yet he still didn't see any part of Shruikan's form behind the curtain. Uru'baen was an enormous structure yet it seemed to be much bigger on the inside than people originally believed.

Galbatorix smirked at Eragon's discomfort. "You will become accustomed to Shruikan's presence soon enough."

Eragon doubted whether anyone could become accustomed to such a magnificent creature. Even looking at Saphira, he held his doubts about whether he was truly the one meant to become her Rider.

"I believe however that the past few days have been rather tiring on you both. Go and rest; a servant will show you to your room." Galbatorix instructed. "We will have much to discuss later."

x-x-x-x-x

The room he was offered was nothing like what he expected. Eragon's room within Uru'baen had to be at least three times larger than the entirety of his house back in Carvahall. There was so much empty space and Eragon hadn't a clue what to do with it.

All necessities had been placed for a guest; bed, dresser, bathroom, even a rug had all been placed within the space to make it appeal to the person gifted with its use. The colours all matched and reminded Eragon of the clouds high in the sky with their white peaks and the blue sky hiding behind. Yet there was nothing which gave the room character.

Eragon was used to worn walls and hay drifting inside carried by their clothes. Furniture had always been something which had seen better days especially the dining chairs as they had been passed through the family. They hadn't had a lot to their name but everything they owned had been used to its fullest. This room certainly held none of the feel of home.

Saphira had already begun to wander away from Eragon, sniffing at the area now that the door was closed and no one was around to disturb them. The windows appeared to be her favourite. Tall, glass panes had been opened to allow the room to breathe before accepting its new host, opening onto a balcony which hung high above the city.

Eragon wandered out. Wind buffeted him from the right and yet he didn't fear falling or what that the wind would carry him away. He'd always enjoyed being above people or animals. When hunting, it was easier to steer clear of the animal's path and much easier to spot a potential meal when above the prey. The people below looked like ants. They were tiny in Eragon's vision.

Saphira flapped her wings before Eragon caught her.

'I don't think this is the best location to try your flying skills. Why don't you try around the room first?'

Disheartened at the idea of the smaller space, Saphira allowed Eragon to carry her inside. Logically, he knew Saphira would do well flying however he didn't think it would be smart to try and test her first experience high above the city with no one around to aid her should she stumble.

Eragon chose the edge of the bed where Saphira immediately set off trying to figure out how her wings worked. Watching her, Eragon was only reminded of the day before Durza had arrived in Carvahall. She had been attempting the same thing except instead of the bed; she had been leaping from the rafters of his bedroom only accomplishing in tumbling onto his bed. She had been only allowed to practice as Roran had gone to speak with Katrina and his Uncle had been feeding the animals.

Eragon sighed. By now news would have spread in their small village about what had happened. People would be speculating and wondering exactly what it was which had drawn the King's attention to a young farmers boy who had never before stepped outside of their village. The entire village would be heckling his family for information but they wouldn't be able to provide anything. Saphira had been a secret and for once he was glad he had done so. No one could accuse his family of willingly harbouring a Dragon Rider.

The same servant who had showed Eragon to his room entered after offering a brief knock.

"The King requests you dine with him tonight as it is your first night after such a tiring journey."

The words sounded rehearsed but Eragon didn't say so. He looked towards the window and discovered some time had passed since he'd left Saphira to wander about. She had long ago tired herself out and had curled up beside his pillow. His thoughts had at least offered a distraction and had allowed him to relax somewhat.

Nodding, he followed the servant after picking up the sleeping Dragon. Eragon was not going to tempt fate by allowing Saphira the knowledge of a missed dinner. She would be unbearable without her food.

As they entered, Galbatorix eyed Eragon's clothes with mild distaste.

"I don't really have a variety of clothes to choose from." Eragon offered.

All of the furniture while useful had been empty. He'd just been thankful that the bed had been made.

"We shall have that remedied by the end of the week."

Placing Saphira on the table beside him was the second mistake he made. The King found it once again displeasing to be sharing the table with the Dragon probably because Shruikan was so large he couldn't possible sit at the table to eat even if he tried. Yet he calmed after watching Saphira attack the food she had been given. There was nothing tame about a Dragon especially not their eating habits.

The tiny Dragon ate much more than she was used to. Eragon had tried to provide for her but he couldn't possibly continue to sneak away bits of food and as she grew it would have only become worse. Yet even as Saphira ate as much as she could, Eragon ate more.

"It would seem I have much to teach you about ways other than that of being a Dragon Rider."

The comment caused Eragon to stop. He knew that his table manners weren't the best. Uncle Garrow had tried to teach them but he didn't reinforce the lessons and they didn't have the proper cutlery to bother. Eragon slowly continued eating, staring at his plate to hide his shame.

"Your father should have taught you these lessons but it would seem he is busy with other things."

Eragon stopped again.

"My father is dead, so is my mother. This is why I live with my Uncle."

Galbatorix had long ago stopped eating in favour of watching the boy.

"Your mother is dead, of this I do not disagree. However your father was living in the same village as you for a very long time."

Saphira looked over her Rider as she felt him shudder with a range of emotion. Some went by too quick to catch but she could feel the shock in large doses. This was a conversation her Rider didn't want to hear and yet at the same time felt curiosity over.

Eragon placed a hand on Saphira as he felt concern radiate from her. This conversation was a lot to handle but he was determined to at least hear what King Galbatorix had to say. His Uncle rarely spoke of his parents. His mother he could understand but his father had been another story. Uncle Garrow had always become rather tight-lipped when his father was mentioned. If Galbatorix had answers, then he wanted to know.

"I believe you know of Brom the Storyteller. Of course when I knew him he was a young rider much like your step-father."

The world screeched to a halt before Eragon's eyes. Brom the Storyteller kept repeating in his head much like a lapping of ocean waves. He'd been told his Uncle's version of his mother's trip to Carvahall where Eragon was delivered as a newborn and his mother had pleaded for her brother to care for the baby. His Uncle had never mentioned his father but everyone simply assumed she hadn't cared much about him to name him. Garrow had never explained otherwise.

"Brom is my father? Why didn't he say anything? I had so many questions that he could have answered."

Questions were quick to rise. Many questions swirled around his mind begging for Eragon to speak them so Galbatorix could answer them. Why hadn't he stepped forward? Why hadn't he offered any aid to the struggling family? Stories were one thing but an extra set of hands around the farm would have offered quite a relief from their worried minds. He could have helped them. He could have been family.

Galbatorix answer left much for Eragon to ponder. "I can't answer this question for you. I don't know in what way Brom suffered from losing his Dragon. Perhaps family was not a thing he desired. Only Brom will have your answers."

Eragon frowned but silently nodded his acceptance. Galbatorix might still have his Dragon and the wonder that came with being a Rider but he wasn't omniscient. Brom was his only lead into his past and when he and Saphira were strong they would pursue this lead.

The more he thought about it, the more he was certain Brom had known he was Eragon's father. Eyes had always watched him when he went into town. Though the town had been small he'd never managed to spot who was watching him as he gathered items his Uncle had sent for. Brom had known and he'd never made any attempt to approach him. He wanted answers but getting them from a Storyteller would be difficult.

Shaking himself, Eragon decided to latch onto a different piece of information offered by Galbatorix.

"I have a step-father?" he questioned.

Galbatorix straightened, hand setting a glass of wine against the table.

"You had a step-father." He corrected. "Morzan was a marvellous Rider. He helped me in gaining my throne. There had been thirteen Riders at the time but some of them didn't quite agree with my thoughts. Morzan stepped forward and took control of the situation. His last battle was with Brom. Morzan had killed Brom's Dragon but Brom had killed Morzan which in turn killed another Dragon."

"Does a Dragon always die when their Rider dies?" Eragon asked, eager to learn more about Dragons.

Galbatorix nodded. "A Rider can survive without their Dragon. They spent years in this world without them before so it wouldn't be any different after they had gone. For a Dragon though, their Rider is their life. Their Rider is the reason they are born into this world and without them they have nothing."

Saphira shuddered at the thought of losing Eragon either way. They were meant to be and being torn apart wasn't something she ever wanted to consider. She could feel Eragon felt the same and snuggled closer to her Rider.

The King seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and turned the focus back to what little information he could offer about Morzan and Eragon's mother.

"Your mother, I assume, had an affair with Brom at one point. I admit I don't know when they could have met as Morzan and Brom had become adversaries long before you were conceived. She birthed you while Morzan was away and immediately made haste towards Carvahall where she left you before returning to Morzan. Perhaps she feared Morzan would mistreat you if he discovered your true parentage. I believe however that Morzan would have cared for you as he cared for his son."

Eragon leaned closer. "Does this mean I have a brother?"

"Your older brother's name is Murtagh and he was also in my care for a time. Murtagh however felt the need to explore the world so he is not here currently. It is a pity he couldn't be here to meet you. Perhaps it would have comforted you to speak to someone your age."

Having a brother would have been a new experaince. Roran had tried to treat him like a brother but it wasn't quite the same. There had been moments when Roran and his Uncle had been arguing and his attempts to resolve the situation were met with, "This doesn't concern you." They would both apologize after they had cooled down but the words always made Eragon feel alone.

Even if Murtagh was only his half-brother, they could still create a relationship much closer than he had been with Roran. He could have a family that accepted him every single day and accepted that occasionally he would make mistakes. They wouldn't shout at him for being incorrect. They could be together and no one would break their bond.

"Do you know where my brother is?" Eragon asked, hopeful to hear good news.

Galbatorix didn't offer any.

"I'm afraid that currently I don't know the location of Murtagh. I do however have someone attempting to find him and bring him home so he can meet you."

Eragon smiled glad that there was at least a small possibility of him meeting his brother in the future.

"Until then," Galbatorix continued, "You and Saphira need to learn how to be a Dragon and her Rider."

"When do we start?"

There was so much knowledge just within his grasp and very few reasons why he should ignore the gesture. Eragon was going to learn to be a Rider and then he would reach out and find the answers about his past the King couldn't answer. Once free from this burden, Eragon would protect the people even if it was from the rebels.