Ragin sat on his bed, his back against the rocky wall of his room and an emotionless mask on his face as he studied the three riders in front of him. Eragon was pacing back and forth, his own mask hiding the raging emotions Ragin knew the elder rider was feeling. Logan was studying his protegee as intensely as Ragin was studying them, and Theaden was leaning against the wall, a small smirk on his face as he absentmindedly twiddled a dagger in his hand.

"Surely this is proof enough," the elf said eventually as the silence grew longer, "He doesn't deserve the mantle of rider. We should break their bond right now and ship the thief's body back to Alageasia."

His words stirred a deep fear within the young rider. One that scared him far more than he thought it would. Of course, he was aware that there was a spell that made it possible to break the bond between a rider and dragon, even if he had no idea what it was. It surprised him to realise that it was more the threat of breaking up with his dragon rather than death that frightened him the most. Part of him was a little proud of the fact, though that pride would not help him here.

"That is a punishment reserved for both dragon and rider," Eragon turned his gaze on Theaden, "And as far as we know, Akaysha had nothing to do with this."

The black elf gritted his teeth, "Well we can't just leave him unpunished. Again!"

The elder rider turned his gaze upon Ragin, causing the thief to inwardly squirm under his intense gaze. He twisted the ring still on his finger absentmindedly. They still hadn't caught onto the fact that the ring made his mind impossible to detect. If they had, he had no doubt his mind would have been shattered many times by now. While he was confident in his ability to hold off one, or maybe even two riders mentally. Against the entire mountain, or even just Eragon himself, he doubted he had any chance.

"Why did you steal the egg Ragin?" the leader of the dragon riders asked icily, "Was it Tharin's doing?"

"Tharin had nothing to do with this," they were speaking the common tongue, so the lie slipped easily through Ragin's mouth. He couldn't let them find out who was truly behind this attempt, lest Akaysha be in danger.

"You will speak in the ancient language," Eragon commanded fiercely, "Your oath would have prevented you from leaving, meaning you couldn't have left with the egg. We know you were attacked last night, so did the infiltrator say something to you? Did you think by stealing the egg that you would bribe Tharin to stop coming for you?"

Ragin's mind was going into overdrive, trying to think of the best way to speak the truth without revealing the truth, "Tharin had nothing to do with me stealing the egg."

The sentence itself was true, at least that was what Ragin believed. Yes, Tharin had been the one to make him swear the oath in order to steal the egg, but the man had not participated in the actual robbery, nor had he offered any assistance. So, as long as he had nothing to do with the actual act, it made what he had said true.

"Dammit Ragin," it was Logan who spoke this time, "I don't believe you did this for no reason. We want to help you, can't you see that! We are not your enemy here!"

Ragin glanced at his master without a hint of emotion, before turning back to Eragon's enraged face.

"Forget it Logan," Theaden said, pushing himself from the wall, "The demon's spawn is too well trained to give up information, even if interrogated in the ancient language."

Eragon let out a violent curse before reach out and placing his hand against Ragin's forehead. The thief tensed, before relaxing as he watched the older rider's forehead crease into an ever lengthening frown. The ring on his hand grew heavy as Eragon searched for his mind, but was unsuccessful in finding it.

"You are like the Ra'zac," growled the rider, "Your mind seems non-existent. How are you able to do this?"

Ragin's mouth twisted into a small smirk, "I wouldn't tell you even if this were a normal situation."

He was a little surprised that Theaden didn't have knowledge about the enchanted rings, he had ripped a lot of information from Vanir's mind. In the end Ragin guessed that he had either forgotten, or had only gotten small bits of information from his previous master. The rings were pretty specific information and he doubted the elf had been looking for them.

"Well, there are always other ways we can gather information," Theaden said, catching the dagger at the hilt and pointing it at Ragin.

"Akaysha would tare us all apart if we hurt her rider, oath or not," Logan stated.

"You could stop her I reckon. You are the most powerful spellcaster alive," the elf responded with a slight smirk.

The golden rider raised his eyebrow, "Akaysha's access to wild magic is much greater than mine. She is a dragon after all."

Ragin watched the exchange silently, his mind running through the many possibilities of what he could do to escape this situation. There didn't seem like many, not without having Akaysha in risk of being hurt. They definitely would not allow him the chance to steal another dragon egg. It seemed they were against breaking his dragon and him up, but that was uncertain at best. If they did break into his mind and find the information about Tharin then he had no doubt his enemy would stop at nothing to kill Akaysha. He didn't think the riders would be able to stop such a man either.

There was of course, one other way. He didn't like it, as if he accomplished his goal this way than the riders would never accept him back. At best he would loose a close friend, at worst his dragon would be taken away from him and he would be killed. If it was to save her life though, then he really had no other option. He hardened his heart and took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, before opening them to look at the three people in front of him.

"Torture me all you like Theaden," he said softly, and dangerously, "I will not talk."

The elf turned his gaze upon the young rider, "Oh, I know. But it would fun."

"Theaden, don't make me send you away again," Eragon growled, before he looked down upon Ragin, "There must be something Ragin. I do not believe you did this out of selfishness."

"You believe what you believe. I had my reasons for taking the egg. But you don't need to know them," the rider said, finding himself smirking slightly, "Of course, if you give me one, then I'll do with it what I need to and I'll be back."

"Insolence," growled the elf, "You really are a piece of work."

"Ragin, please, give us the truth. We are trying to help you," said Logan.

"The truth? I need a dragon egg. That is all," the thief replied evenly, looking at his mentor. He spoke in the ancient language, so they knew he was telling the truth.

Eragon sighed, "We can't just give you a dragon egg."

"I know," Ragin replied, leaning back against the concrete wall.

They watched each other for a long moment, before Eragon sighed softly as he turned away, seeming to be lost in thought for a moment, likely talking to his own dragon. Theaden looked agitated that things weren't going his way, while Logan paced, as if trying to run through the events that had happened that day.

"We'll figure this out later," the leader of the riders finally said, "Logan, Theaden, come with me, we have other matters to discuss."

With that they left the room, sliding the door locked afterwards, leaving the young rider alone. He suspected they had the place guarded, both front and back, and while he could probably escape if he chose to, he knew it wouldn't make any difference. His oath to Eragon prevented him from doing a number of the things he would have usually had to have done.

So instead he lay back against his bed, and closed his eyes, not falling asleep but allowing himself to drift, thinking up new ideas to get himself out of this situation.

* * *

"Let me in. I want to see him," the familiar female voice caused Ragin to open his eyes and look at the door. He sat up slowly with a grunt and stretched, a flutter of unease running through him. She had decided to come after all.

"I'm sorry Freya, I'm under orders from Eragon. I can't just let you in," came the response.

"Dray, please, I need to speak with him. It's not like he will harm me," Freya responded.

"No, I can't. They will kill me if they find out."

"That's overstating it a little. Come on! I'm begging here."

"Why do you want to see him anyway?"

There was silence for a couple of moments before Freya's soft response came, "Because... I need to."

There was a sigh, "Aargh, fine, but if Eragon finds out you take the blame."

The door slid open and the read headed girl walked in. She instantly spotted Ragin as he sat up, leaning his back against the wall watching her with an expressionless mask. Inside he felt the guilt for what he had done, and what he was going to do, well up. He didn't let her see that however. She hesitated when she saw him, a mix of emotions going through her face, before setting on anger.

"Freya," the thief said simply, dipping his head in acknowledgement, "I'm surprised you came."

"I had to," she responded trying to keep the thinly veiled anger and worry out of her tone, "I had to know. Did you really steal a dragon egg? Again?"

"I did," he didn't bother hiding it, everyone would know eventually.

His indifference at the statement caused her to grit her teeth in anger, "Why?"

He looked away from her, gazing out of the still open entrance to his room. It had begun raining outside, though the wind was scarce so it wasn't cold. It was approaching winter, so the rain would eventually turn to snow, or so he guessed anyway. Part of him wondered if he would be there to see it.

"Ragin," growled Freya, "Why did you do it?"

"I needed one," his response was short, much like what he had given the other riders.

"Why!?"

"I didn't tell the others, why do you think I would tell you?" he turned to look at her, keeping that expressionless mask.

"Because I thought... I thought we..." she stammered, not able to finish the sentence.

He sighed softly, leaning back against the stone wall and closing his eyes. He explored his feelings for Freya. Sure, he liked the girl. She was rather tenacious, even if she had a bit of a temper and a habit of not letting things go. But no matter what he felt about her, or she him, they would never work. In the end it would just get too complicated, though he knew he was about to ruin any chance they had to be together.

"You thought there was something between us? I was drunk Freya. So were you," he said, without opening his eyes.

"We weren't that drunk," she growled, "I know you felt the same thing I did."

"You know?"

"Yes! And you can't deny it!"

He sighed softly, "Even if there was, that doesn't change anything within that happened within the last twenty four hours."

"I know, but it confuses me. I know you Ragin... I know you. You wouldn't do this without a reason! You've changed since... since back then," she said, almost begging him to give her an answer.

"What makes you so sure?" he looked at her again.

"Because... because..." her hands fell at her side, "Please... Ragin... you need to give me something, anything. You can't have gone back to who you once were."

"I never left my old self behind," he responded, turning to gaze out the balcony once again.

She was silent at his response. There was a tear in her eye as she looked at him, not wanting to believe that his actions had been that of a hired thief. It was hard though, when he seemed so emotionless about it all. It was like he didn't even care that he got caught.

"What do you think Akaysha will say? When she hears of this?" Freya gritted her teeth.

Ragin went still for a moment, carefully concealing any emotion behind his response, "I imagine she'll be pretty pissed."

"And you're okay with that? Ragin, she's your dragon, and you betrayed her."

For the first time during their conversation Ragin felt a spark of anger. He quickly pushed it away before it came out as words, though he did narrow his eyes at her at the remark. He was doing all this to save Akaysha. If that meant betraying her... then so be it. Better that she be angry with him than be dead.

"I had my reasons for doing this. If Akaysha feels betrayed by it, then so be it."

"If that's truly how you feel then you don't deserve to be a rider!" Freya suddenly yelled at him, her hands clenched into fists.

He watched her for a moment, a little startled at her outburst, "I agree. I never wanted to be a rider. I'm surprised they haven't taken my sword and severed my bond with Akaysha by now."

She was surprised at his confession and hesitated a moment, "Is that why you stole the egg? So they would severe your bond and you wouldn't be a rider anymore?"

He frowned, "What? No. I would rather die than be separated from Akaysha."

"Then why?" she said, "Why would you jeopardise your bond with her?"

He looked away, and this time didn't answer her question. She sighed softly, finally giving up on her pointless questioning and beginning her slow walk toward the door. Ragin felt his chest seize up. Everything she was saying was right, and she was so close to figuring out why he did what he did, but he couldn't let her. There was one other thing he needed her for, and if he didn't tell her now, he doubted he would have another chance.

"Freya wait," he said softly, managing to keep his inward shudder out of his voice, "There is one thing I do need to tell you."

She hesitated at the door, looking at him, and saying rather harshly, "What?"

"Before, when you asked me if I knew who killed your parents, I told you I didn't know," he began, his words quiet, "I was lying. I do know who killed them."

She froze, "Why... why are you telling me this?"

He made eye contact with her, seeing her rather teary and glossy eyes. They were about to get worse, "Because you need to know."

She blinked in surprise, "If... if you think this will make me forgive you for stealing the egg... your wrong."

"Oh, I know," he said, letting a rather grim smile cross his mouth.

"Then... then who?"

The thief sighed leaning back and preparing himself for what was about to come next, "You're looking at him."

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Hey guys! New chapter! This one was an intense one to write, and the next one is going to be as well. So vote if you enjoyed and comment what you thought. I'll get the next out as soon as I am able. See Ya!

Pennator^^