For Alagaesia: 35. A welcome party

It seemed anxiety was the only emotion Eragon possessed. He did his best to bring a calm look about his face but traces of his emotional self persisted, showing itself whenever some friend of his came to him to start a conversation. The party was arranged for him and so he was the centre of attraction of everybody. Even though Eragon was quite used to being the focal point of such gatherings, he felt it too much today to cope.

Whenever somebody came to speak to him, he eyed them with caution, a behaviour which Saphira noticed as 'over-cautious' and 'cold'.

'You are treating them coldly Eragon. They have come here for you. Be friendly', she said.

'As if I am not trying', Eragon replied. 'Oh, poor little thing.', Saphira said and covered her wings around him protectively. Eragon admired Saphira. Since she had promised that she wouldn't bring up the matter of his days in prison, she had not even mentioned about it once. Instead she had tried to bring peace to him by being close to him and advising him to behave as he would have before his capture.

For Alagaesia: 34. The wolves inside

He didn't remember sleeping on something as soft as what he was sleeping on now. As far as his memory permitted, Eragon remembered going to the balcony where Saphira lay curled and speaking to her about his encounter with Arya. He had suddenly felt so tired and had fallen into his waking dreams leaning against Saphira's body. But now he saw that he was covered in warm bed-sheets. Confused, he raised his head and tugged lightly at Saphira's wings. Saphira lifted her wings letting the bright morning sunshine hit his body. She stretched like a cat pushing away all sleepiness and said, 'Good morning, little one', brightly.

'Good morning, Saphira.', Eragon said getting on his feet scratching the scales on Saphira's legs affectionately.

'How, may I ask, I came to be covered in blankets?', he asked her wanting to clear his doubts.

'Arya came to visit me and seeing your pitiful state, had them brought here.', Saphira said nonchalantly. 'Oh..', Eragon said disgruntled by Arya's actions, given that she had strangely been silent all the while they walked back to the city, the last evening.

For Alagaesia: 33. Rotating wheels of life

Ten people stood around the dragon egg, each thinking hard about the kind of spell that would be laid on the egg. Eragon was among them and so was Arya. Murtagh's words rang clearly in Eragon's ears: "Don't touch the egg. You will die."

Eragon's mind raced through all the possible kinds of spells that someone as cruel and sadistic as Galbatorix would cast upon their most precious possession. Knowing Galbatorix, Eragon could guess that he will not only kill the person touching the egg without his permission, but also move the egg back to his treasury with energy from the person touching the egg. 'It would make the person weak and powerless. But it won't kill the person. So what trick would the usurper employ?', Eragon thought. He looked around him and saw that none in the group was anywhere near trying anything. Eragon sighed and thought more about Galbatorix. 'He likes to gloat about his achievements. He would like to do that to the thief too.', Eragon thought.