Read Online Heritage [4] Inheritance by Christopher Paolini - Free Book Online Page B

before.”
    He drained the mug of ale, seeking to delay the inevitable. He had hoped to spare her the details of his misadventure in the castle, but it was plain that she would not rest until she knew the truth. Attempting to convince her otherwise would only lead her to imagine calamities far worse than what had actually occurred. Besides, it would be pointless for him to hold back when news of the event would soon be common throughout the Varden.
    So he told her. He gave her a brief account and tried to make the collapse of the wall seem more like a minor inconvenience rather than something that had almost killed him. Still, he found it difficult to describe the experience, and he spoke haltingly, searching for the right words. When he finished, he fell silent, troubled by the remembrance.
    “At least you weren’t hurt,” said Katrina.
    He picked at a crack in the lip of the mug. “No.”
    The sound of sloshing water ceased, and he could feel her eyes heavy upon him.
    “You’ve faced far greater danger before.”
    “Yes … I suppose.”
    Her voice softened. “What’s wrong, then?” When he did notanswer, she said, “There’s nothing so terrible you can’t tell me, Roran. You know that.”
    The edge of his right thumbnail tore as he picked at the mug again. He rubbed the sharp flap against his forefinger several times. “I thought I was going to die when the wall fell.”
    “Anyone might have.”
    “Yes, but the thing is, I didn’t
mind
.” Anguished, he looked at her. “Don’t you understand?
I gave up
. When I realized I couldn’t escape, I accepted it as meekly as a lamb led to slaughter, and I—” Unable to continue, he dropped the mug and hid his face in his hands. The swelling in his throat made it hard to breathe. Then he felt Katrina’s fingers light upon his shoulders. “I gave up,” he growled, furious and disgusted with himself. “I just stopped fighting.… For you … For our child.” He choked on the words.
    “Shh, shh,” she murmured.
    “I’ve never given up before. Not once.… Not even when the Ra’zac took you.”
    “I know you haven’t.”
    “This fighting has to end. It can’t go on like this.… I can’t … I—” He raised his head and was horrified to see that she too was on the verge of tears. Standing, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.… It won’t happen again. Never again. I promise.”
    “I don’t care about
that
,” she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
    Her reply stung him. “I know I was weak, but my word still ought to be worth something to you.”
    “That’s not what I meant!” she exclaimed, and drew back to look at him accusingly. “You’re a fool sometimes, Roran.”
    He smiled slightly. “I know.”
    She clasped her hands behind his neck. “I wouldn’t think any less of you, regardless of what you felt when the wall came down. All that matters is that you’re still alive.… There wasn’t anything you could do when the wall fell, was there?”
    He shook his head.
    “Then you have nothing to be ashamed of. If you could have stopped it, or if you could have escaped but you didn’t, then you would have lost my respect. But you did everything you could, and when you could do no more, you made peace with your fate, and you didn’t rail needlessly against it. That is wisdom, not weakness.”
    He bowed and kissed her on the brow. “Thank you.”
    “And as far as I am concerned, you are the bravest, strongest, kindest man in all of Alagaësia.”
    This time he kissed her on the mouth. Afterward, she laughed, a short, quick release of pent-up tension, and they stood swaying together, as if dancing to a melody only they could hear.
    Then Katrina gave him a playful push and went to finish the washing, and he settled back on the stump, content for the first time since the battle, despite his numerous aches and pains.
    Roran watched