The shadows retreated and I stepped away from Septimus. We were on a hill. Septimus then nodded to Eragon and walked inside the most beautiful villa I had ever seen. It was made of dark stone and, in the middle, it had a pair of dark wooded doors with silver stars drawn on them. I stood there just taking in its sheer impressiveness.

“Gorgeous isn’t it” Eragon said pulling me back to the present.

“Yes, it’s wonderful” I said with awe.

Sliding his hand in mine he lead me inside. If I thought the outside was impressive it was nothing to the grandness of the hall. The high ceiling had gold and ivory swirls all over it, the gold walls had paintings and lights shone, reflecting off them casting a warm shade throughout the room. The elegant stair cases had red carpet on them. The floor was a beautiful wood that fitted perfectly with the gold attire.

He took me upstairs and showed me my room. I had never seen a bedroom so big. Its high bed and large dressing table took up most of the space. Looking to my left, I saw through some glass doors, a huge balcony with some lounging chairs on it.

“Would you like lunch in here or with me or with me and the others?” Eragon asked politely.

After a moment of consideration, I said, “I’ll have it in here please.” I was too frightened to meet his inner circle and I hadn’t been alone with him in months.

A few minuets later he brought me a plate of steaming food, I thanked him, and he told me to enjoy, then he left me. The food was delicious.

Once I was done, I flopped down on my bed wishing I had a book with me to read. I got up and threw open the doors leading to the balcony. I walked out and leaning on the stone railing, I looked out onto the city. It was so full of life and colour. The sunlight reflected off all the stalls in the market area. I could here lively music being played. It was the type of music that my old friend Alex would call medieval music. It was way better than any music I had listened to in ‘the mortal realm’. There was so many people wearing lodes of bright colours.

There was a gentle knock on my bedroom door, I turned and went to answer it. Standing in the threshold was Eragon holding a long dark green dress. I smiled when I saw him.

“I thought you might want to wear something less…….”

“Hideous?” I offered.

“Your words not mine, but yes hideous.” He handed me the dress.

“I’ll wait outside” he said and closed the door so I could get changed.

The dress was perfect. It hugged me in a comfortable way and its long slim sleeves kept me warm, its velvety texture on the outside and silk texture on the inside felt wonderful on my skin. Pulling out all the flowers and brushing my tangled hair, so it didn’t look like a mess, I opened the door. He smiled when he saw me and said, “You look lovely.”

I followed him down the stairs, he held his arm out to me and said with a smirk, “I’m taking you down into the city and wouldn’t want you to get lost.” I rolled my eyes but took his arm anyway.

The city was more vibrant when you were among it. Weaving through the stalls and people, we would walk and then stop at a stall and Eragon would greet them like they were best friends then he would make a purchase and ask them to send it up to the villa, then we would move on.

After a few hours of shopping we found a quiet place to have a few drinks.

“So, what’s the city called?” I asked.

“It’s called the city of stars, it’s my favourite of all the towns and cities in the night court.”

We were silent for a minute, then Eragon said, “I said I would teach you to shield. When we get back to the villa, I’ll start your training then.”

“Can you also teach me how to use my powers?”

“I don’t know but I’ll try.”

Being with Eragon in his territory, He looked so much more relaxed and so very happy. For the first time upon arriving in Pyrinthia, I felt truly content, never wanting the moment to end, but unfortunately like all good things it did.

When the frightened looking man came running up to us, the mad had wild looking eyes and his hair stood up on end, like he had been electric shocked. Panting he said, “My lord, Caspian just got back and lets just say the Carratin warrior counsel didn’t like his idea.”

Standing, Eragon took my hand and we rushed back to the villa.

Entering the villa, I saw the elf I knew as Caspian, when Eragon told me who his inner circle was at The Fire Festival, he was slumped against the wall. A big black leather looking blanket was over his shoulders in a crooked way. Then the blanket moved, and I realised it was not a blanket, but a pair of wings.

His wings had streaks of blood dripping down them. His face was ashen, and he looked like he was about to be sick or pass out or both. He was slightly shaking but I knew it was not from the cold.

Eragon knelt by him and muttered a few things to Caspian, who got up and with help from Eragon they went to leave but before they did Eragon looked at me, “The library is through that door” he gestured to it then continued, “I’m sorry, you must feel like I am abandoning you.”

I shook my head, “Your not, you have bigger things to think and worry about than me right now, I understand.” I turned and went into the library, just as Eragon went to go.

Scanning the shelves, I saw lots of books I had planned to read but never got round to and other books that seamed really interesting and fun. Sliding one out, I found a comfortable sofa and opened the book. A little bit later I was interrupted by a soft knock at the door, looking up I saw it was Eragon’s sister, Morena, poking her head around the door. Opening the door a little wider she walked in.

“Eragon said you would be in here and I thought to take the chance to meet you.” She hesitated then asked sheepishly, “May I join you?”

Smiling I said, “Oh, of course”

She sat in a chair that was adjacent to mine. We smiled awkwardly at each other for a second and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I said, “Why is getting to know someone so awkward?”

“I know, You can literally feel the awkwardness around you. I wasn’t going to say anything about it, but it was driving me nuts.”

“I know, like what are you even supposed to talk about?”

“I don’t know…Books?”

“I love them.”

“Same!”

“People never appreciate the finer things in life." She joked.

“I totally agree”

“Take for instance this book” I lifted it from my lap to show her, “it’s cover is seriously stunning, and I heard the story is beautiful”

“Oh, I love that book.” She stood and picked out a dark green covered book “Have you read this before?”

“No, but I have been planning to for a long time.”

“Well, once you have, I would also recommend this book.” She pulled out a red book with gold edges.

“I have read that one, the main character is so adventuress and brave.”

“I know, Kayleigh is so loyal and even when her friend betrays her trust, she forgives her, knowing that Lilly would never betray her again, just because Lilly feels so guilty.”

“What are some other books you like?” I asked.

“I love The Young Elites series, Poison Study series and Iron king series.”

“There my favourite of all time.”

We both laughed, we talked and talked about books, the city and our lives when we were much younger. I really liked Morena. She was so carefree and funny.

An hour or so after Morena had first come in, Eragon appeared. Smiling he said, “Luna this is my sister Morena. Morena this is Luna.”

“We know!” We both said which sent us into fits of giggles. Rolling his eyes he sat next to me. With a flick of Eragon’s wrist, the fire burst to life.

“Show off” Morena said in a tone which sent us into fits of giggles again.

Eragon shrugged. Tuning to me he said, “Now I’m back I am going to teach you to shield.”

“Alright.”

“We can do it right here, close your eyes” I did as I was told.

“Now I want you to feel the power around you. It usually feels like the feeling you get the split second before you use your magic.” Sure enough I felt the tingling feeling all around me.

Reaching farther away from myself I could feel in two places in the room it was more concentrated. One right next to me and the other a short distance away from me. I guessed that it was Eragon and Morena.

In my head I suddenly heard Eragon’s voice, “Thats good. Now picture a wall just around you. It can be made of any marital you want.”

I went for a metal cage, but it had no holes.

“Now make it clear.”

“What!? You know how ridiculous that sounds.” I complained.

“Just try, please.”

I tried to picture my metal wall as a clear wall, but it had the same strength. It took a couple of tries to get the whole thing clear and strong.

“Ok now drop the shield, let it disappear.”

I did, it faded away and I had a slight dizziness.

“Bring the shield back, but this time quicker.”

Dizziness disappeared as soon as I got the shield back.

“Very good. Let it drop and bring it back twenty times then we’ll be done for today.”

After twenty times of dropping my shield and pulling it back, my head was killing me. It felt as if someone was hitting it with a sledge hammer. I opened my eyes and instantly regretted it. The world was swimming in two different directions.

“Is it normal to have the world spinning after you drop and bring back your shield twenty times?” I asked.

“Perfectly normal.” Eragon said cheerfully.

“Maybe twenty was over doing it a bit Eragon” said Morena.

“How did you know I made her do it twenty times?” Eragon asked.

“I felt her drop it and pull it back, you idiot”

They then did some senseless sibling bickering until I had had enough and said with a hint of annoyance, “Stop it, both of you. I’m trying not to be sick and you two are having a go at each other, Which is really not helpful.”

“Sorry Luna, Would you like some tea?” Morena said quietly.

“Yes please. That would be very nice.” I said.

She quickly got up and left to make the tea.

Once she was gone, Eragon said, “Is it better for me to talk like this” his words blending together in my mind making me feel even more sick.

“Or like this.” When he spoke in my mind the world suddenly stopped spinning.

Only then did I realise that I was laying down on his lap and he was gently stroking my hair.

“This is much better” I replied.

“Good, I wanted to ask would you like to meet the others in a bit, after your tea?”

“You know what. Yes, yes I do”

“Excellent… I saw you and Morena talking. It seems like you two are getting along well”

“Yeah, she’s the best” I felt a ripple of joy go through my body. “Irrelevant question, How come you can talk in my mind?”

A panicked look entered Eragon’s wonderful eyes and the feeling of joy turned to fear.

“The bargain.” He said after hesitating for a second “I can talk to you through that bond.” A complete lie but I knew that’s all the answer I was going to get.

Just then Morena walked in holding a tray with three cups of steaming tea on it. I sat up and took a cup when she offered it to me. The tea was delicious. It’s sweet taste and creamy texture warmed my core. It smelled of vanilla and chocolate.

“After the tea are you going to meet the others?” asked Morena.

“Yes” I replied.

“Caspian, I imagine is still unconscious and healing. So you might not get to meet him this week.” Said Eragon.

“That’s fine.”