"Yo."

Eragon spun, nearly taking Percy's head had he not ducked. "Stop doing that."

Percy only laughed and handed the Rider another letter. "But it's funny."

Eragon scowled and reached out with his mind to Saphira, who would let Oromis know their visitor had returned.

"Thank you," Eragon said, sliding the letter into his bag.

"No problem. I don't know what you said to him but Roran had Gertrude read your letter to him a few times and then pestered some of my crew with questions."

"My apologies for my cousin's behavior."

"It's fine. Jackie had fun finding answers." Percy grinned. "I'll be back later for your reply."

He turned to leave but Eragon stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Actually, there are some people who want to meet you."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "And if I don't want to stay forever?"

"Ég sver að þú munt geta farið hvenær sem er af eigin vilja."

Percy's eyes widened. "I was not expecting that. I'm not the best at old Norse but I recognize an oath when I hear one. Very well, Eragon, son of none, I will stay for a while. Lead the way."

Eragon smiled and they shook hands before leading the messenger towards the palace.

"So, who wants to meet me?" Percy asked, his eyes raking the forest on either side of the path the same way Murtagh's did when they were traveling together.

"The queen of the Elves Islanzadí Dröttning."

Percy stared, silently wondering how the author got those accents on with their crappy keyboard. "Royalty, huh. Better dress my best then."

His shirt changed from a dark tunic to a pale blue with the human runes on it read "Camp Half-Blue."

"Much better."

Eragon had many, many questions.

-----------------
"Annabeth! Annabeth!"

Annabeth turned from where she was gazing northwards and looked at the 13-year-old guardian. "Hi, Alisha. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Look!" Annabeth's younger half-sister presented a sword that glowed slightly with an enchantment, etched runes running up and down the blade. "Carson, Elaine and I made it! If you get hit, it will paralyze you for three seconds."

Annabeth's eyebrow raised. "That's impressive. Have you named it yet?"

"Yeah. It's called 'Oh, look, the floor!'"

"... Have you been hanging out with Jazz?"

Alisha cackled in a way that confirmed that yes, the insane daughter of Hecate had corrupted Annabeth's impressionable younger sister.

She signed heavily. "This is gonna be a long day."
---------

"Good morning, dragon boy." The insufferable child that was determined to get Murtagh Morzanson to smile said. "How's your sleep?"

Murtagh glared.

"Don't be like that. Would you really rather be out pillaging innocent villages?"

She had a point but Murtagh was stubborn enough to give the Mind Breaker King a run for his crowns and refused to acknowledge it.

The girl introduced herself again, Josie, daughter of Ares.

Zach, son of Kratos, still stood at the door, watching Murtagh with a stern eye.

Not that he would have time to intervene if Murtagh tried something. Josie, as she had proven twice now, was capable of subduing him completely on her own with vicious strikes to viral areas and a few strikes to places that made other places Murtagh could have sworn were unrelated hurt or the entire area go numb.

"How's your back?" Josie asked, lifting Murtagh's shirt so she could check on the wound the blonde woman had dealt him.

"Better." Murtagh said, not resisting. If he did, she would strike his neck and he would be paralyzed for an hour.

"That's good. And since you'e been a polite guest lately, my boss asked us to give this to you."

Zach called out in that strange language of theirs and Murtagh heard a strange rumbling as a miniature cart was wheeled in.

On top was a long glass box with sand and a large rock surrounded by sparse desert vegitation, a hollowed out stone with water nearby.

Basking on the rock was a small red reptile that took Murtagh far too long to recognize.

Thorn?

When he heard his dragon respond he nearly weapt with joy.

"Percy shrank him down so he would be less of a threat and you know, not break our ship, but we're not trying to hurt you. We're just trying to keep the people we promised to help safe. Once we fulfilled that promise, Percy will restore Thorn to his true size and you can be on your way."

Zach came in and helped the redhead who brought Thorn in, lift the glass box and set it down on the floor.

"We'll get you a table later. We asked Buford but he heard 500-pound terrarium and hid under the generators. We have yet to coax him out." The redhead, Jazz, daughter of Hecate, said.

Murtagh went to the tank and gently picked up Thorn.

He looked exactly the same, only now he was only about a foot long. He was even smaller then he had been as a hatchling, only more evenly proportioned.

"Will we really be able to leave this place?" Murtagh asked, holding Thorn close.

"As soon as you're not a threat." Jazz said, grinning wildly. "Promise."

They turned to leave, dragging the cart out behind them.

"Wait!"

Jazz and Josie turned, exchanging a glance with Zach. "Yes?"

"You know strange magics, magics that can affect dragons and break wards with ease. You're minds are protected in a way that makes it seem like you are not even there. Tell me, is there a way to break an oath in the ancient language?"

Both looked at the child who looked deep in thought. "Why do you want to break an oath?"

"Because I swore it against my will. Galbatorix knows my true name and used it to bend me to his will."

"Oh, that's easy. Change your name." Jazz said. "Oaths are bound to your name but if you change your name, it's kind of like a country with an alliance being overthrown and the new government has to make new treaties."

"Change my name?"

"You're true name is a culmination of your personality, morals and experiences. It's tricky, but not impossible. I'll have to ask Jackie and maybe my mother for more info. Think Percy will let us send a letter to this Eragon kid?"

"Hades if I know." Josie said. "He's still not back, and Annabeth is getting worried. "

"You're in contact with the elves, with Eragon?"

"One of the people under our care is." Jazz said. "Would you like to send a message?"

---------------
So I upgraded my sledgehammer for a wreaking ball. Poor, poor, fourthwall. Better get some more sealant, cause you're gonna need it.
Mwahahahahahahaha

Also, you'll need this. It's a secret tool we can use later. 😂