Hey guys I am back for chapter 23!
Quick responses to reviews
Guest-Yes, the last chapter was more of a transitional chapter. I have always been conflicted over Arya being queen. On one hand it is in line with her character to serve her people and she feels that this is the best way to do so. On the other hand, I always got the feeling Arya would hate the job and the politics associated with it. I am also a big fan of dragon riders being separate from the other races and her being queen seems to contradict this. In all I would be ok with Arya accepting if she eventually left the throne once she felt she could do more as a dragon rider.
IDK-Thanks for the support! I agree completely that a mature scene changes the story and it is was part of the reason I was hesitant to incorporate such a scene but you guys seem to be interested in one and I have had one planned for ages so we will see! As for length of chapter It really depends how much I feel is necessary to get the story and feeling I want from a chapter.
Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Onto the chapter
Arya's POV
Arya awoke suddenly as a blast of cold air blew into her. Her eyes opened and she saw the green scales of Firnen in the fading light of the sun. Kayla sat behind her staring into the growing darkness around them.
Arya sat up with a small groan. Her hand went down and felt where she had been injured but found nothing but smooth skin.
"Why does it still hurt?" She wondered to herself as she examined the area
As though she had read her mind Kayla spoke
"I healed the physical injuries to your body, but the poison remains most strongly concentrated in your thigh."
Arya nodded before turning toward her
"What of our people? I have left us leaderless without warning" Arya said worried
"Our people believe you are dead and Firnen, in his grief, killed the rest of the assassins" Kayla said
Arya stared at Kayla in shock and anger
"How could you allow that to happen!?" Arya said still trying to comprehend that she was dead to the world
"It was not the elf's idea" Firnen spoke calmly in her head
"YOU approved of this?" Arya asked Firnen even more shocked
"I did" He responded simply
"It is our best course of action and allows us to travel without anyone thinking to follow us. On top of that it will allow us to learn who attempted to kill you. I doubt someone did this without political gain. I would think that whoever succeeds you as leader of the elves will be the person who ordered the attack"
Firnen then spoke softer and more gently
"I once said I would do anything to ensure your safety little one. If that means the world believing you are dead, I will do so happily. All I care about is your safety"
Arya was touched at his devotion to her. In truth Arya could see very few flaws in their plan although Arya hated it anyways.
Arya stretched slightly and asked to both Firnen and Kayla
"Who knows?"
Kayla responded carefully as though concerned what reaction she would get
"Only us three, No one else knows"
"We should tell Eragon at least" Arya said immediately
"No" Kayla said forcefully "It is crucial that Eragon be kept in the dark in this. We cannot rule out that one of the elves he works with was not somehow involved in the plot. If they learn through him that you live, it will become harder to reach Mount Arngor. Even more important is the fact that Eragon will be speaking with whomever succeeds in replacing you. If we are correct in our assumption that they are behind the attack, then his grief and anger needs to be real and genuine or else we put ourselves at risk!"
Kayla ended her speech loudly
"Great idea in theory but there is a good chance he is already well aware that I am alive" Arya said with a faint smile as she held up her ring
"Look closer" was Kayla's only reply to her statement
Arya looked at her ring and with a start realized that the small gem that normally ordained the ring was missing.
Arya glared at her
"How did you know about the rings?" She asked trying to control her rage
"I guessed; you do not seem the type to wear unnecessary jewelry" Kayla said coldly
Arya cursed her for being so throughm without the jewel the rings magic had no power to harness. Eragon had been particular about the ring to only using power from the stone so that if you used the ring in combat it would not put more strain on your bodies energy supply.
They sat in silence as they reached the edge of Du Weldenvarden. It was only when the trees of the forest were far behind them and the sands of the desert replaced them did Arya speak again
"Why did you help me? You clearly do not care about me at all and yet you risked your life to ensure my survival and you are doing so again by accompanying me back to Mount Arngor" Arya spoke in a calm and collected tone but she could not stop the slight drip of venom slip from her lips
Kayla stared into the distance for several moments. She appeared to be gathering her thoughts.
When she finally spoke, it was in a surprisingly pained voice
"I came to this land to get my revenge. I came with no other reason than to end your life. A life I so wished to have"
Arya couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for her. She asked in a much kinder tone than before
"What stopped you?"
Kayla smiled a small, pained smile
"I met Murtagh on the road, I was in a dark place at the time. In many ways I still am. But he convinced me to spare a life that day. We spoke for hours about many topics. The most noteworthy was of life and death. He explained how life had options while death was final. He spoke of love and how if you truly love someone you must put their needs ahead of your own even at the expense of your own happiness. He explained how he had changed so drastically in the last few years. He had forgiven others for their past wrongs and mistakes and he vowed to no longer live his life based on anger and vengeance. I thought he was only speaking of himself at first, but I now know he meant me as well. I am attempting to follow his advice…to limited success."
Arya looked at Kayla with newfound respect. It was one thing to simply listen to a person's advice, but it is a totally different thing to look at your flaws and actively attempt to change.
"Murtagh has grown wise in his absence" She thought
Arya hadn't missed the fact that she had spoke of someone she loved, and she had a good guess as to who it was, but she declined to comment. She wondered if it was more than just protection that Kayla did not wish to contact Eragon.
Night had fallen some time ago and they traveled for hours until the beginnings of a new day started as the sun began to peak around the distant horizon.
"Do you think we can trust her" Arya asked Firnen
"I think we must if you are to reach Eragon safely. Her motives seem genuine but do not forget she tried to kill you only two years ago. We must be cautious"
Arya agreed and spoke
"You should rest my friend" she told Firnen who promptly agreed in his exhaustion
Firnen landed in a large sand dune about half a mile from a small village on the edge of the Hadarac Desert before promptly falling into a slumber.
Arya lay awake for quite awhile unable to sleep. Something felt off but she couldn't place it. She was restless but she forced herself to sleep. It had been a long day.
Kayla's POV
Kayla took first watch as Arya fell asleep with Firnen wrapped around her protectively. It was clear neither of them trusted her very much. That was fine with her, she understood their reservations.
Her thoughts went to who had planned the attack. Kayla had not been able to learn who the mastermind was when she had infiltrated the assassins ranks. Her failure had frustrated her to no end.
Kayla felt something had been off since they had landed. She felt like she was being watched by someone, but she couldn't see anyone nearby. The only thing she could see was a few bushes on an otherwise flat landscape. There were very few places for someone to hide. She scanned the perimeter of their make-shift camp one last time trying to shake the unsettled feeling.
Her eyes roamed over the landscape before something caught her eye. A shadow on the ground about thirty yards from their camp. This wouldn't have been odd except there was nothing nearby to cast a shadow. Kayla cursed under her breath but pretended she didn't see anything. She looked away but kept the shadow at the corner of her vison. Her fears were confirmed when the shadow moved. It was only about a foot, but it was noticeable.
Kayla reached out with her mind and made contact with Arya and Firnen's minds
Immediately their barriers went up as they both woke
Kayla fought them for a moment before yelling in her head
"Stop fighting me! There is someone here, someone hidden by shadow! Firnen, you must ensure Arya is not seen! Keep her hidden!"
Kayla moved slowly and casually toward the shadow, pretending to find a suitable place to retrieve water from the ground. She got within twenty feet before the shadow bolted towards the small settlement and their invisibility spell ended. Kayla recognized the mask they wore as belonging to the assassins that had attacked Arya.
Kayla cursed and took after them
"If I am not back in three hours you must leave!" She spoke desperately to Firnen and Arya as she chased after the assassin
The assassin was certainly an elf considering the speed and grace they ran with. The figure continued to pull away from her despite her best efforts. She cursed her damaged body willing it to move faster but it simply couldn't. She didn't give up because she knew if the Assassin was able to contact anyone then it would be incredibly difficult to make it to Mount Arngor in time to save Arya.
The figure looked back at her about sixty yards ahead of her and Kayla could see the glee in their eyes even from that distance. They knew they had won. Kayla drew from her reserves of power and was about to use magic at any cost to stop them when a figure emerged from the house ahead of the assassin and fired an arrow. The assassin was still looking back at Kayla and never saw the arrow that embedded itself deep into their neck.
The assassin slumped forward and rolled several feet before laying still on the ground.
As Kayla approached the now dead elf, the figure drew back their bow to fire at Kayla but seemed to freeze. Kayla looked at him carefully and recognized him as the lead rider that had attacked her in the desert.
They regarded each other warily
"Are you here to kill me?" He asked calmly but with a slight hint of fear in his voice
"She shook her head slowly
He sighed and lowered his bow
"I hope that wasn't your friend, I thought you were one of the rogue elves that have been attacking people in this area."
She shook her head again and spoke
"I was trying to do what you just did"
He just nodded and opened the door to reenter the house.
"Thank you" He said softly before closing the door
Kayla stood for a moment with a faint smile on her face before casting a spell that turned the body to dust and she began to make her way back to camp.
She glanced back at the town and smiled slightly
"Not a slave in sight"
What did you think guys?
I loved this meeting between Kayla and the lead bandit. I had this idea planned for ages and I am happy with how it turned out. I loved the idea that Kayla gets to see the results of her choice and it affirms to her that she is doing the right thing.
Hope everyone is doing well!
I might get another chapter out later today if possible!
Stay safe guys!