Disclaimer: again i dont own Eragon. I didnt say this in the last chapter and im too lazy to edit it ^.^
Kaida looked around the room, and her eyes settled on the various people who gathered around the table. Her father, as usual was sitting by the head of the table, disdain in his eyes as she entered, he frowned.
To his left sat a tall black haired man with broad shoulders. He had eerily piercing eyes, one was so brown it was almost black, and the other was an eerie and icy blue. He sat tall, his handsome face chiseled perfectly, wearing what looked like very expensive and shiny armor. On a second glance, Celestria noticed the tip of his left index finger was missing, and he had a blood red sword sitting in his lap, the glyph on it shimmered and Kaida could just barely make out what it said. Zar'roc.
Standing beside him was a beautiful woman with a solemn look on her face. She had light brown hair which cascaded down her back freely, and she wore a sort of black outfit, armour protecting her whole body with its faint sheen. Her eyes were a bright and loving grey, completely different from the cold eyes which surrounded the table.
Beside her, a young boy, roughly a year or so older than Kaida stood, staring at her with an awed expression. He had the same grey eyes as the woman beside him, and he had short dark brown hair.
Beside him was a rather disgruntled looking castle maid, she held the boy close to her, with a characteristic frown.
On the right side of Galbatorix, a woman sat with a haughty scowl on her face. She had a relatively lengthy body, and her hair was a deep black with a white streak down the side. She had cold amber eyes which seemed to burn through everything. She had her arms folded across her chest, and two bright yellow daggers with yellow stones in the pommels settled at either of her hips, each was marked with a small glyph. One read Hvitr, and the other read Adurna. White and Water. She wore a sort of easy to move in armor which nearly hid all of her feminity.
A rather squeamish looking man sat beside the haughty one, he had short cropped, mousy brown hair and beady silver eyes. He rung his hands together awkwardly, looking very nervous and unhappy. He sat with a little of a hunch. The man stared down at the table, trembling, a small jade colored battle axe hung at his side, a bright emerald set in the broad side of the axe. He nibbled his fingernails, glancing around with paranoia in his eyes.
Another woman sat next to this man, her hands folded in front of her lips, her eyes were an angry sort of green, and she had lengthy orangish-red hair. She seemed to be deep in thought, an odd light opaque crystalline-colored, and metal bow was on the table in front of her. It had a soft gem set in it as well, on her back was a quiver full of various types of arrows. She had the least armor on out of all of the people in the room, and seemed to be built a little more for stealth and speed.
Kaida looked again and saw various shades hanging around the table, their bloody crimson hair as un-natural as their own presence. One in particular sat, Durza, the Shade. He glared at Kaida as he sat with pure hatred and disdain, not even making an effort to curb his dislike.
And the last person at the table was another man, this one was staring blankly at Kaida, his eyes were so blue they were almost white, his hair was grey. He had a white robe covering her body, and a long and thick brown sword at his back, set in the sword was a brown gem. He seemed to be calculating her every move.
It was awkwardly silent for a long time, and finally Galbatorix spoke.
"These are some of the Forsworn, Kaida. Unfortunately not all of them could make it to this meeting." He scowled, "I said this meeting was of top priority, and they simply sit around and do nothing. He grew silent again, his eyes burning with anger. But then, he regained control of himself and spoke. "Now, I brought my daughter before us to show you all her skills, as she will be joining our ranks soon enough."
"Are you mad, Galbatorix?" The woman with a haughty scowl and deep black hair spoke, her yellow daggers glinted with a dazzling light. "A little girl like that could never be strong enough to join the ranks of the forsworn."
Galbatorix glared at her, and she instantly shrunk down, mumbling something with her eyes downcast. "If you speak out one more time, Kialandi, I swear I will end you where you stand." Galbatorix turned his glare to Kaida, and pointed. "Take a second look my warriors. What do you see?"
Kaida winced as she felt their eyes boring into her. Starting from her blonde hair, down to her rather graceful body, stopping at her feet. "She has pointed ears." The man with grey hair and whitish blue eyes stated, his voice just as cold as his eyes.
Now everyone's eyes were on Kaida's finely tapered ears, burning with questioning looks, they turned to Galbatorix.
Galbatorix had an evil-looking smirk on his handsome face. "Well done, Siyamak. You still have the best eyes of us all." Then he shook his head. "She is the daughter of myself, you didn't think I would allow a simple human to have something so vital to my plans?" he laughed, his laugh was deep, and creepy. It sent chills of fear and shock down the spines of all in the room. "Durza, I want you to retrieve Sirrush."
Durza stood, and nodded. "Certainly my king." He hurried out of the room, his blood-colored hair fell behind him as he stalked away.
Kaida suddenly felt an odd prescence in her mind, it wasn't hers, but it wasn't painful. It was a lot like a curious puppy, she allowed it into her mind, and she allowed it to sniff around where it pleased, only deflecting it slightly, and almost un-noticably as it came close to her memories.
"You've got to be kidding me." Kialandi muttered. "Galbatorix she-"
"That's KING Galbatorix to you." Galbatorix interrupted
"Certainly my lord." Kialandi bowed. "King Galbatorix, I don't see how such a small girl could be of any use to us. From what my scan of her tells me, she can't protect her mind from the most simple of attacks. She can't even use magic! How do you expect me to have faith in such a girl, who can't do anything?"
Galbatorix's eyes grew cold and dark, and as Durza returned with Sirrush, his glare burned into Kaida's soul, and she felt herself shrink back slightly.
"Durza." He said with an eerie calmness which made everyone wince. Galbatorix was furious. "Why did you not inform me that Kaida could not use magic?"
Durza's eyes narrowed as he tossed the blade to Kaida. "I had only just started teaching her to speak the ancient language. I am not a miracle worker you know." He snarled back with a very ferocious looking glare. "I assumed she could use magic, considering her mother was an elf."
The beautiful woman dressed in all black who had light brown hair spoke. "Durza, you should never assume anything." She said, her voice was soft and kind, reflecting her grey eyes.
"Quiet Selena." The man in shiny armor snarled.
"But Morzan…" Selena continued.
"QUIET." Morzan snarled, looming over her like a dangerous monster.
Selena shrank back, her eyes downcast.
The young boy at Selena's side shrank back as well, hugging his mother's leg with fear dancing in his young grey eyes.
The man who had mousy colored hair and beady silver eyes spoke next. "A..as m..much as…. As much as i… h…hate to admit it M..M..M..Morzan… S…S…Selena is.. uh… right." He squeaked, looking terrified as he did so, as if Morzan's wraith would rain down on him at any moment.
"I have to agree with Selena and Balor." Galbatorix stood, and Morzan quickly shut his mouth, glaring daggers at Balor and Selena. "Now, Kaida." He turned to her. "Let's see what Durza has taught you." He rang a small bell by the side of his desk, it rang out loudly, and soon a young Urgal stared her in the face. "I want you to attack her with all of your might, grunt." Galbatorix ordered.
Kaida lifted the heavy sword, her stomach churned as she thought of the last time she had seen the black demon. It had killed Melrae and Celestria. She swallowed her nausea and watched the Urgal, horror in her eyes. She would have to kill an Urgal. The same species of creature who had raised her, and told her of her half-blooded heritage. She reluctantly slid into her stance.
As a fighter, Kaida was both strong and quick. For her age, it was remarkable. She could fight on equal terms with the weakest swordsman in Galbatorix's army. It wasn't much, but considering all of the men in Galbatorix's army had been trained in swordsmanship from their birth, it was a large achievement. She parried a charge from the Urgal, her sword met his, and they clashed, steel against his wood and metal ice pick like weapon. They clashed with eachother, the much shorter and smaller Kaida doing her best to try and upset him. The Urgal managed to land a well-placed slash at her leg. Kaida cried out in pain, and slashed her blade against his stomach, seeing red. The Urgal fell over, wounded but not dead, it tried to get up, but ended up collapsing on the ground, unconscious.
"Kill him." Her father said with a snarl.
Kaida shook her head in refusal.
Galbatorix stood. "I said kill him. NOW." He ordered, his eyes burning with anger.
Kaida shook her head again.
The woman with lengthy orangish-red hair stood, her angry green eyes glinted as in a flash, her crystalline bow was drawn and she fired one arrow, perfectly crafted with a spiral-like tip, it would tear painfully through its subject. The arrow hit its target and the Urgal stiffened and lay still, blood flowing from the wound in his head and the wound on his chest. The woman shook her head in disappointment. "Weakling." She stated in a voice so powerful it shook the room.
Galbatorix glared at his daughter, anger heating his face. "You'll pay for your insolence later, Kaida." Then he turned to the woman with orangish-red hair. "You shouldn't have interfered, Formora."
Formora shrugged and sat down, her bow returned to her lap. "And she shouldn't have disobeyed your orders my lord."
Kaida stared at the once living corpse of the Urgal and swallowed her nausea. So much death… but she couldn't show weakness. She would pay dearly for refusing to kill the Urgal. Next time she would have to kill. Because maybe if she started doing what her father said, he would love her. Maybe the hitting would stop.
She picked up Sirrush, holding the offending sword at her side, she waited for someone to speak or something to happen.
Her father was the first to speak, recovering from his anger. "I have not yet discovered her true name." He admitted. "She will be taught as soon as possible to protect her mind, I cannot have her being controlled by those Varden skum." He stood up. "I have a proposition for you all. As you know, we have been receiving comments about my lack of an heir to the throne. Although this is ridiculous, I have decided to make the people of the Empire feel more secure. Kaida will be that security. Hear me though, I will never die, so she will never be queen of these lands. She is simply a tool, to be shown off to the masses. Nothing more. So she can be not just a useless lump, my daughter will be trained to the limits so she can fight." He snarled at her. "There is nothing I hate more than a weakling." He turned to the foresworn each in turn. "Each of you will take a turn teaching her something. I don't care what, but I want her to be able to put up a convincing fight." His eyes flashed as if his words contained hidden meaning, and the group of individuals around the table took glances to each other.
Kaida stood awkwardly as all of their eyes settled on her once again. She could feel them judging her. She trembled, Sirrush hanging useless at her side.
"Now, I'm done with you." Galbatorix waved his hand, he pointed to the disgruntled maid who had pulled the young boy away from Selena. "You there, maid! Take those two children and get the hell out. Take Kaida back to her chambers, I'll deal with her later."
Kaida gulped at the sinister look in his eyes. He was coming up later to hurt her. She knew it… and she didn't like it at all. She followed the maid and little boy from the large audience chamber, hearing them talking about exploring the Haradac to get it under the Empire's control. The words were cut off as the door slammed shut behind them.
It was silent between the three, the little boy looked over to Kaida, and was first to break the long silence. "Hi." He managed. "I'm Murtagh." He looked shyly down at his feet as he walked.
"Kaida." Kaida replied, still trembling, she realized she was holding Sirrush still and carried the black sword in two hands now.
Another awkward silence stretched between them. "Is King Galbatorix really-"
"Yeah." Kaida said. "He's my dad."
Murtagh gave a little bow. "That makes you a princess then. Princess Kaida." He said with a small smile.
Kaida did not respond, only looking over at him with a sort of blank expression. She wasn't in the mood to be joking and fooling around with a random kid she had just met. Besides, she didn't trust this kid farther than she could throw him. Last time she had trusted…. She shut her memories away, not wanting to relive the carnage. They had betrayed her, and this boy was just looking to betray her too.
They continued onwards in silence again, the maid stopped at the foot of the steps leading up to Kaida's tower. Kaida stared down at Sirrush, which sat in her hands, and started up the stairs.
"Let fire burn and passion rise….. as we fly through darkened skies…We are warriors of forever." Kaida whispered melodically as she climbed the steps to the inevitable beating that awaited her. "Flash of fangs and unfurled wings. Fighting for the most important things… Every day is a curse for a dragon." She felt oddly connected to the song, and paused at the door, looking up and out the window at the setting sun, which gleamed a golden red, she finished. " Flame of power flame of might. Help me to escape at night. Hiding forever in the land of Dragons." She opened the door to her room, only to see her room empty. She heaved a sigh of relief, and sat down on her bed, preparing herself for the beating she knew would come. She set Sirrush down on her dresser with a cold glance outside again, her heart yearning for something.
A few hours later, Galbatorix entered her room, a glare on his face. He threw her with magic so she hit the wall across the room, and Kaida's back spasmed, she felt the scar on her shoulder in the shape of the Ra'zac's mark burning with rememberance, as if it knew it was him who had caused it to form. "This is for disrespecting me in front of the Foresworn, Kaida. It could have all been avoided if you had just killed that stupid Urgal like I told you to." His fists rained down upon her and she could do nothing but attempt to protect herself as he beat her. Soon he returned with a whip, and whipped her until she was just moments from blacking out. Shock filled Kaida's mind as he stepped back, his punishments usually lasted longer and she usually ended up passing out three or four times. She struggled to get to her feet, tasting blood, she could barely stand. But she was still standing, a fact she was very happy about.
"I went easy on you Kaida, I need you in top shape tomorrow." He snarled. "I will take you out, the Empire will see you. You will act like a princess, and look like a princess. That is the only reason I have not given you a harsher punishment. Perform well and you will be praised. Perform poorly and your punishment will be carried out by Durza.
While her father's beatings usually consisted of her not being able to move, Durza's were twice as sinister. He would torture her in the most painful way possible, tying her up and digging through her mind, he would make her re-live the most painful moments of her life until she was no longer bothered by the sights. Durza's punishments were usually more mentally taxing than physical. He had left her tied up underneath a faucet where dripping water constantly landed on her forehead. She had been left alone for hours, and the dripping water had nearly driven her insane. To her, her mind was the most important part of her body. Her mind was her sanctuary. She didn't want to lose it in a torture session with Durza. She bowed to her father. "I am sorry my father. I will never disobey an order again. I will make you proud."
Galbatorix looked down at her and nodded. "I will hold you to your word. Durza will be here soon to teach you to protect your mind. We cannot have you being controlled by the Varden." He looked to her desk, only to see the black sword, Sirrush. "From now on, Sirrush is your blade, Kaida." He stated, picking the blade up and handing it to her. "You will learn to fight with it."
Kaida stared at the blade in her arms, and sat down on her bed, Galbatorix left the room without a single backwards glance. Kaida placed the sword gently on her bed, staring at it intensely.
Durza entered the room not long after Galbatorix, and instantly Kaida felt a stabbing sensation in her mind, her eyes rolled up to the top of her head and she cried out in pain, falling from the bed and to the floor, convulsing.
"Get up." Durza snarled, jerking her roughly to her feet. "Now, you need to fortify your mind, I want you to focus your thoughts on that wall over there, think about it as hard as you can."
Kaida focused on the wall, and pictured it in her mind, she waited, and soon enough, she felt the jabbing sensation of Durza's mind entering hers. Again she fell to the floor, the wall vanished from her mind and she cried out in agony. She felt an odd buzzing in her mind, and she felt a strange power gathering within her. Unlike anything she had ever felt in her life, the power wished, willed its self to be free. She tried to hold it back for a moment, but the pure wild nature of the power coursed through her body, and she felt her mind slip from her body. She looked down at her own body, which was still screaming in pain. Odd, because she felt nothing in this state. She reached herself out to Durza's mind to try and end the suffering of her body, and to her surprise, she slid right into his mind. Her mind sent in a snaking, long connector, it jabbed into Durza's mind and took a hold of a memory, slashing through it like a wild animal. With a jolt she returned to her body, only to discover her mind was unoccupied. She could feel things around her, the dark and sinister Durza, even though his mind was now shielded from her, she could feel his presence. This odd feeling of life filled Kaida with shock. Her mind could feel mice behind the wall, ants crawling up the side of the castle, servants below them, horses in the stables. She could feel exactly where they were. It didn't make any sense to her.
"What did you do?" Durza asked, his eyes narrowed.
"I.. I don't know." Kaida replied with confusion in her gaze. "I can feel you."
"You what?"
"I can feel you here.. with my mind.. like if I closed my eyes, I'd still know where you were." Kiada repeated.
Durza stared at Kaida. This was something strange, the young girl who was standing before him had broken through his defenses and pierced a memory. It was one of him before he had become a shade. "Your father will learn of this. Maybe… just maybe your strange power can be of use." He stalked away, Kaida stared as she could feel him storming down the stairs, until he left the range of her new radar.
Please please please review. Its kind of lonely not knowing if anyone is reading this.
