The Light at the End of the Tunnel (Quetzal)

[David Lightningsword]

(Its cool Quetzal!)

Heralda listened in silence as the Rider and his dragon discussed Clarissa and Vervada's fate. She kept her thoughts on the whole thing to herself. She had her own opnions on the whole thing regarding what to do with the Empire members. She also had her own theory regarding why the dragons hatched for them. Once they were done discussing it, she finally spoke up.

"It is well known Galbatorix had the ability to brainwash people, without breaking their minds or swearing fealty to him in the ancient language. While I have no love for these people, I say imprisonment is the best option, if some truly regret their ways after a while then, then you will know they were brainwashed, if they do not, you know them to be truely mad."

She next addressed the Dragon hatching theory "Dragons do not choose a Rider because of who their parents were. Look at your Half Brother Murtagh and his Dragon, Thorn. You once fought along side Murtagh, called him a friend. He was a good person, yet his father was Morzan. Thorn still hatched for him. Vervada probably sensed good in Clarissa" With that she rested her case.

[Quetzal]

Eragon thought through Heralda's suggestion. Imprisonment in as little comfort as possible would give them plenty of time to think about what they had done. He did not want to punish innocent people by accident, but at least if they weren't killed when innocence could be proven they were not beyond the reach of a full pardon. The majority of those who had claimed to have been forced but had been proven guilty had forced themselves to feel regret. Forcing an emotion was a tricky thing, but these people had built a life on tricks. Their mind-readers were good enough to pick out most of these; there was always some give away in their thoughts. On some level they were thinking about deliberately feeling guilt. In prison, with only their memories for company, it would soon come to light how they truly felt replaying their actions again and again.

"That's a good idea. We can release those we can confirm were forced into committing their crimes against their will. The rest will have nothing to do but relive those moments until perhaps they realise how wrong they were - and by then it'd be far too late for regret. Their regret will be selfish, upset their actions led them into a cold cell, while those who truly did not want to swear fealty would feel regret for the people who's lives were damaged as well." The types of regret were distinct.

He was not sure what to make of her theory on the hatching eggs. Murtagh did have good in him. He knew it. He had helped, in the end, when it was most needed during the battle, and before being made a prisoner of the Empire, forced into being dubbed its Champion, he had clearly had no intention of doing so. Why else would he have brought the first Rider to emerge into the public eye since the Fall straight to the Varden? Reru and Clarissa, however, he saw not an ounce of goodness in.

"Murtagh is a good person, whatever the Empire may have forced him to do. For Vervada to sense good in Clarissa, there has to be some good in her. I can't see how," he didn't know her in truth, but surely she wouldn't be so cruel otherwise. It was rumoured she was still in hiding planning something. "Perhaps she forced Vervada to hatch, like Reru did the second dragon." He knew the horrible tale of how the mad king's mad son had brought his dead dragon back to life at the expensive of two other dragons.

"Dragons sense potential. People don't always reach their potential. We have good senses for our perfect Riders in the egg, it's why we wait centuries if need be, but we cannot read the future. Clarissa must have been on the path to protecting others and being a good person when Vervada hatched, then stayed off later on." Saphira added her thoughts to the mix.