Vulpix4Life, I don't know how they make them swear, so yeah. That part was the one I hated most, out of everything. Sorry! I'm glad you like it though. :cheers: BTW, I'm reading Marie's Dragon 1 & 2. It's really good.

Khori, I plan on making Eragon swear, but if I reveal any more, why should I write the story? And hey, what's a story without a good food fight?

Sylvia Snickers, thank you. :smile: Exactly, I update every day…

Chapter 15 – Difference of Souls

"You must stay in the castle. You can do whatever you want, simply stay in the castle. Do not harm any person or creature." The King had ordered, before sending them off.

"Eragon?" Kiatra asked quietly, after they were taken into the chambers they were to stay in for the night.

He simply looked at her, his cinnamon eyes dull. "There's no hope anymore, Kiatra. Can't you feel it? We're doomed to kill our friends… we can not break this."

"Don't give up, Eragon. There is always hope."

Kiatra, you are right. We must be strong, for the sake of all of Alagaesia. Aseil was curled in the large bowl set into the ground. Saphira crouched next to him, her head on the floor as she watched Eragon with her sapphire eyes.

Eragon toyed with the tassels on the edge of the blanket. "I used to believe that, but now… I'm not so sure…" Kiatra put her hand on his shoulder for encouragement.

"Don't be so negative."

"NEGATIVE? Kiatra, don't you understand! We will kill people, innocent people, and we won't be able to stop ourselves!" Eragon shouted, scarlet in the face. Kiatra waited quietly, staring him in the eyes, willing him to calm down.

"Eragon, yes, the situation is bad. But it could be worse. Aseil & Saphira could be dead. The Varden could have been destroyed. But that is a 'could', Eragon. We have a chance to defeat this. But now, let's go to sleep. It's late."

Eragon snorted at her answer but obeyed, turning into the adjoining room, his own room, before slamming the door behind him. Saphira rose and followed, tapping the door with one of her claws, by way of asking for entrance. The door opened and she squeezed inside.

What do you think, Aseil? Kiatra asked simply, lying back on her bed and staring at the ceiling.

I think we keep happy. Kiatra turned to the dragon, who had pushed the corners of his mouth up with his claws, created a demented smile for a dragon.

Kiatra laughed. Good night, Aseil.

You as well, Strange Eyes. Kiatra closed her eyes, letting the sleep that had been lingering on the edge of her conscious overtake her.

Dark & wet. It was cold. A burst of light broke through the dark, a shining gleam of diamonds. Kiatra welcomed the rays of light as they hit her face, warming her, smiling as the light broke through the dark chains binding her arms and legs. She felt safe, warm, and protected from the dark that no longer held her.

Kiatra smiled in her sleep, murmured something, and rolled over, falling into a deeper sleep with no dreams.

Kiatra? Kiatra yawned and opened her eyes, turning over on her side to look at the periwinkle dragon.

Mmm. Yeah?

I'm going to get something to eat with Saphira. Just so you know where I am.

Okay. I hope you get something yummy.

Shall I bring you back something as well?

No thanks. I'll go get it later with Eragon.

Okay.

Aseil followed Saphira out the door, his heavy tail trailing on the carpet. Kiatra yawned again and got up.

Its no use, I can't sleep. She changed back into her clothes and knocked on Eragon's door.

"Eragon?" she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she opened the door. He was still sleeping. An evil thought filled Kiatra's head. She would wake him up. Tiptoeing over to his bed, she took a pillow and pressed it over his face.

"AGH!" he was up now. He tore the pillow away from his face and fell off the bed, landing on his head. Kiatra burst out laughing, holding her stomach. He looked so comical, his eyes widened in confusion and his chocolate-brown hair mussed to the point of looking like a bush.

"Oh, that was so funny, mistress of humor." He said sarcastically, placing the pillow back onto her bed before he himself climbed back up.

"It was." Kiatra choked.

"I thought you were Murtagh or the King." Eragon tightened his belt, his face still red from embarrassment.

Kiatra rolled her eyes. "You're so paranoid. The dragons went out to go eat in the kitchens, do you want to go down there and eat with them?"

Eragon's stomach rumbled. "Yeah, that'd be good. Now, get out while I change." He pointed at the door.

"You're so mean." Kiatra sniffed ironically as she marched out the door and closed it.

A few minutes later, Eragon emerged. "Ready."

"Good. I was about to die from hunger."

Though she would never admit it to anyone, even Aseil, Kiatra liked the castle. It made her feel safe, though the two people that were most likely to kill her lived within its walls. She knew most passageways, never got lost, and could hide from people at will if she wanted, due to the innumerable number of secret passages.

After many changes of directions and complaints from Eragon, secret passages and stairwells, they reached the kitchen. Kiatra slammed her body against the simply wooden door, turning the handle, and it opened.

"It gets stuck in the doorframe." She explained to Eragon, who was looking at her with one eyebrow raised.

Aseil and Saphira had already devoured half a pig. With a shudder of disgust at the blood that had collected at the bottom of the giant plate, Eragon took a small roll with raspberry jam in the center from a giant plate of pastries and bit into it. Kiatra chose a pumpkin muffin, topped with a type of fluffy white sugar.

"Eragon, I was thinking today we should practice our fencing skills." Kiatra took a large bite of the muffin and chewed, her eyes closing in ecstasy at the taste.

"Okay." Eragon finished his roll and reached for another. "D'you think there is anything in these?" he asked suspiciously, glaring at the muffin as he did Kiatra that morning.

Kiatra shrugged and tiptoed over to the giant stove. "Brisingr!" the wood under the stove caught flame, and soon the teapot was whistling merrily. Kiatra poured an amount of tealeaves into a mug and then poured the boiling water in.

"Kiatra?" Eragon asked nervously, ready to bring up the conversation of last night.

Kiatra must have thought he was going to turn to that subject. She turned. "What?" she asked snappily, her hands on her hips and her hair, unruly this morning, tied to one side with a ribbon.

"Nothing." Eragon looked down at his hands, losing his nerve.

Watch what you say with her. Saphira warned, looking up from her breakfast.

Eragon nodded apprehensively and closed the connection. "You don't get it do you? We are trapped here. I thought you didn't like to be trapped." Eragon's eyes widened as she gave him a guilty look before turning back to her tea. "You like it here!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, I do!" Kiatra said hotly, slamming the mug down with a crash.

"So you're just going to do the King's bidding without considering your responsibilities!" Eragon yelled, his hands balled into fists.

"You're such a brat, Eragon!" Kiatra hissed, as scarlet in the face as he was. "I like it here because life is easier for me!"

"So you'll choose a life of comfort over a life of fighting for what's right?" Eragon demanded, his eyes narrowed.

"No, Eragon! Life has always been hard for me, so is it wrong to like it here, where I can relax and not have to worry every second where my next meal is coming from and where I can stay? In my mind, it is perfectly reasonable!"

Eragon stayed quiet, staring at her with disbelief as she tossed her black hair over one shoulder and turned back to her tea.

Calm down, Kiatra. He doesn't understand how it has been with you. For all he knows, you could have been brought up as nobility.

I just wish he would leave me alone, Aseil. Why does he have to make it so difficult for me?

I'm sorry for the slow update. I had 2 soccer games, and we won one, lost one. I'm so tired, and my toe hurts. This mean kid stomped on my toe when I got possession of the ball. :sniff: WAHH! Anyway, replies to my loyal and awesomely cool reviewers. :smile:

Korona123, I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in a while. MY COMPUTER IS EVIILLLLLL I SAY!

Hotarya, yes, she did swear, sorry about the confusion:sweatdrop: