When Destiny Burns, Ep. 1: A Halo and Inheritance Cycle Crossover

Chapter 10. 3 Fickle loyalty

"What?" Maine barked at her.

"I-is this a bad time?" the girl asked as she watched the fight between the former spirits-possessed woman, the angry dragoness and the cranky super-soldier. Her eyes widened in fear when she decided that the Shade was the most prominent one in that trio. "Spartan! A Shade!"

"I know," he said with annoyance, "she and Aeraleth are a pain in the ass."

Ouch. That hurt.

When the soldier made no attempt to murder the Shade, Nasuada crossed her arms and threw a stern look at him. Sort of like a mother scolding a child. Aeraleth had only met her once before, but she already liked the girl. Fully grown men and urgals alike would run in terror of her beloved rider, but Nasuada had the courage to stand there and scold him.

Yes, she actually scolded him. "I had heard this from Orik, but never would I think it true. You made a deal with a Shade? Do you seek to hurt the Varden through your actions, rider?"

Aeraleth agreed with her.

Maine stepped closer to the dark girl and looked down at her; he was so much taller than she was. "The Varden nearly fell apart because of a lack of Intel. She can give me that Intel."

Aeraleth agreed with him too.

"She? A Shade is a mindless monster, rider! 'She' will only try to destroy you because you caught her!"

"'She' has a name," the Shade dryly remarked, "and would prefer to be called by that: Raia. I surrendered to the rider and have done nothing to harm him since."

She was sure that the Shade was merely sounding so civilized to fool Nasuada.

The dark-skinned girl seemed to be interested by the Shade's comment though, as she eyed the woman with a gaze that held interest and confusion. "Do you serve the king?"

"I only serve my own mistress. She does not serve the king...but neither does she oppose him."

"What makes you trust her?" Nasuada then angrily hissed at Maine, her emotions showing through her otherwise calm demeanor. "A Shade has crippled Eragon and a Shade has tortured Arya! You cannot trust one."

"Galbatorix is a human," the Spartan reminded the also human. "And Raia has shown me how to heal Aeraleth...which saved her life," he then added.

And that stung too. Now Nasuada knew that too.

"She did?" the girl replied with confusion. "No Shade would ever do that...why did you?"

Raia scowled slightly and crossed her arms. Her air had a hint of superiority to it as she arrogantly eyed Nasuada. "Because the world as you know it is narrow and simple? Perhaps because not every Shade is the same? Or perhaps because I am not a mindless monster. I am different."

Nasuada smiled, but Aeraleth knew that the smile was not genuine. It was a mean smile that oozed manipulation. The girl was clever and careful. "Then I am sure that you will watch over the rider as he heads out to meet the council, because right now he is needed."

"I will watch over him, as no 'one else has made an attempt to do so." The Shade replied with an equally fake smile.

Aeraleth snickered when she understood what was going on. Basically, Maine had a Shade and a human fighting over his well-being.

His well-being...wait...Raia cared for his well-being? Or had she just said that to trick Nasuada?

"What council?" Maine raised another well-pointed question. "Why are you here?"