The wind whipped at my face, rain and hail pelted my body, branches tore at my skin. I have to find shelter…I will die if I don't. I stumbled along blindly, struggling to find some sort of shelter from the fierce storm. I squinted my eyes; I could see a light somewhere in the distance. Slowly I made my way towards the light, as I got closer I could make out the shape of a large fortress. Relief flooded me; though I had no idea where I was I was sure whoever stayed there would let me stay for the night. "Hey! Who goes there? I spun around, my wet hair whipping across my face. "I-I'm just a traveler, please take me in" I shouted weakly. Two men approached me from behind and grabbed my arms, twisting them behind my back. "Whatever you little wench; most likely you work for the Varden" One of the men growled. "We're taking you to Durza". Suddenly I knew where I was. Gilead, Durza the shade's fortress. Damn. I was dragged inside the fortress. I looked around, never had I been in such an unpleasant place. The guards stopped in front if a large desk; all I could see of the person sitting at sitting at the desk was a mass of bright red hair before I was forced on to my knees. "Sir, we found a girl sneaking around outside" The guard holding me said loudly.
Durza- for the figure at the desk could be non-other than the Shade did not even lift his head. "Take her to a cell; I'll see to her later" Durza said in bored, nonchalant voice. "Yes sir" The guards began dragging me out of the room and down a long flight of stairs. I screamed and struggled to get away from the guards. Normally I could have easily escaped but I was weak from days of running almost nonstop. The guards threw me in a small dingy cell and locked the door. I crawled over to a corner and sat down. I'm going to die here I thought, tears running down my face. When Durza came to "see to me" I would die. I would die in this miserable dingy cell without ever finding my brothers…without ever seeing their sweet faces again. I sobbed quietly into my arms. I raised my head; someone was opening the cell door. My killer, no doubt. Silently I prayed for my brothers. I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my face. I would face my death bravely. The door swung open and Durza the Shade stepped in. I scrambled to my feet. Durza turned and locked the door then leaned against it. The light was dim in the cell so I could not see him well. "Alright, who are you, why are you here and who do you work for?" Durza said almost mechanically. I blinked. "I-I don't work for anyone. I said quietly. "Hmm, are you loyal to the Empire or the Varden? He asked. "Neither" I replied nervously. Durza laughed. "Oh come on, you can't expect me to believe that. You must be loyal to either the Empire or the Varden" I lifted my chin. "No, I'm neutral, indifferent. Durza snorted softly. "Who are you, then?" I felt a slight pressure on my mind. He is trying to get into my mind! I realized. I'm not going to let him in. I slammed walls around my conciseness. I had practiced this skill extensively and I was very good at it, good enough to hold back a Shade. Durza shrugged and the pressure on my mind lifted. "Can you answer my question now, who are you?'
I thought for a moment. "Just a girl" I said. "Just a girl" Durza repeated slowly. He shook his head and pushed himself off the door "Alright then" He drew his sword and stepped forward. "On your knees" Durza tapped the floor with his sword. Oh my god, this is it, I'm going to die. All courage to face death bravely failed me. I mustered every ounce of energy I had left and shouted: "Jerida!" Durza gasped as the bones in his wrist broke. I lunged for his fallen sword, but Durza was quicker. He snatched the sword with his left hand and sheathed it. "You know Magic!" He said as he healed himself. "The average girl doesn't know magic" Durza finished healing himself then he walked towards me. I pressed myself against the wall in terror.
"I'll make you a deal" He says suddenly. "You let me into your mind and I will let you live" I thought about this. I wanted to live of course, but the thought of someone tearing through my mind was awful but I had nothing to hide. "I'll do it" I say quietly. "Good, I hoped you would say that." "I've never had my mind read before" I said out loud. Durza smirked. "I'll be gentle with you then" The pressure on my mind returns. I sigh and let the walls down. Durza tore through my mind, examining every memory , finding out every single thing about my life, how my parents died when I was eight years old and my brothers, Einon and Borna were only babes. How I raised them myself and made a new home for us. Then how Urgals came to Yazac and killed everyone I knew and in chaos I lost the boys. How I had searched and searched for them but I could not find them or even their remains if they had died, I could not find anything. Durza withdrew from my mind. I gasped in pain, the whole process had hurt. If Durza was being gentle I could not imagine what rough was like. "Well well you are not the average girl." Durza examined looking back at me. "C-can I go now?" I whispered. Durza makes an odd tsking sound "I'll make you another deal…Myria" He says walking around. Of course, he knows my name now. "I am I need of a partner or apprentice" If you'll be my apprentice ill help you find your brothers." Why would he ask me to his apprentice? It doesn't matter, if I can get more help in finding my brothers, I'll have to take it. "I'm all for it" I reply taking a deep breath. "Perfect!" Durza says. He turns to open the door and hold open it for me. "I will know if you double-cross me" He whispers as I walk past him. I shudder. What a creep. In the bright light I can see Durza clearly.
He's tall, at least foot taller than me, he is extremely pale with bright red hair that hang just past his shoulders. Oddly enough he doesn't look older than 25. Durza maroon eyes rove up and down my body, finally his eyes rest on my face. "Are you ready to finally take a side in this little war, Myria?"