Dagny: An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction.

19. A New Mission

Ala lashed out, her blade striking the practice dummy across the centre of its wooden chest, leaving a deep score in the painted oak.

"Point," she said aloud, her voice ringing through the empty training hall.

Congratulations, Imi sniped at her.

Shut up, she grumbled. Her dragon was just as bad-tempered as she was after being cooped up in the palace, but that didn't mean they should descend to bickering with each other.

No, we should wait at least a day before we do that.

Ala took her sword in a two-handed grip and sliced viciously at the dummy, severing one of its floppy sackcloth arms.

What do you want me to do? She asked Imi silently. It's not my fault we're stuck here!

It's not my fault, Imi said, a dangerous note creeping into her voice.

I didn't say it was. She moved through a complicated sidestep, avoiding an imagined attack, then slashed at the dummy again. It's her fault. It's that puffed-up, red-headed, simpering, self-important madam!

Ala hissed through her teeth in temper and stabbed the dummy clean through the heart.

Sweeping around in her velvet skirts with a herd of fawning courtiers dogging at her heels - "Thinks she's the bloody queen already!" - never mind that Queen Nasuada is still alive, never mind that her son is the heir - "Just because her father was someone important!" - she thinks she can give orders to everyone - "Prancing little slattern!"

She wheeled around, spinning the sword casually in her hand, then darted forward like a snake and took the dummy's head in one stroke.

"And I win," she finished, kicking the faceless head moodily. She weighted her sword in her hand, wondering if she would bother getting another. Curse it. What was the point?

She kicked the thing again and it spun across the stone floor, coming to a sharp halt at Maorik's feet. The dwarf picked it up thoughtfully, bouncing it in his hands.

"I didn't hear you come in," Ala said, cheeks heating. Shag it. Did he have to show up when she was savagely hacking at an inanimate lump of wood?

Don't forget muttering to yourself furiously, Imi put in. That always convinces your superiors that you're trustworthy and mentally balanced.

He gave her a brief smile, then nodded at the head he was holding. "What did he ever do to you?"

Ala shrugged, sheathing her sword. "I don't know. Maybe he put me under house arrest, right when Riders were most needed to defend the city, just because some flea-bitten mizen of a noblewoman got snippy with me."

Imi snorted. Subtlety really is too much to ask of you.

Yup.

Maorik's smile faded. "I didn't have a choice. She's Eragon's niece, and you attacked her men."

"They attacked us first!"

And none of them were seriously harmed!
Imi threw in.

"And none of them were seriously harmed!"

"One of them lost an arm," Maorik returned smoothly.

"His left one!"

And that was his own fault! He tripped and shot himself with his own crossbow!

"And that was his own fault!" Ala repeated. "He tripped and shot himself with his own crossbow!"

Maorik merely raised an eyebrow. Ala scowled back at him. "Was there something you wanted, Maorik-elda?"