Another short-ish chapter ahead. There's a bit more of the Ancient Language included-there's still that empty gap as to how Kaiya can speak it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon. Anything familiar belongs to Christopher Paolini, but everything else belongs to me.


Chapter Eleven

Gingerly touching her bandaged leg, Kaiya shook her head to Haldin's question. "I cannot explain everything until I go back for Tesu—my brother." His mere name caused a pang in her chest, remembering how she so easily left him behind to fend for himself. She snapped her eyes closed instantly and took several slow, deep breaths to calm herself.

Haldin gave Kaiya a troubled look, which Eragon and Murtagh easily observed. "I am afraid that it is impossible for you to go alone, not until we learn how you managed to capture the dragon eggs and where your loyalties lie."

Kaiya's eyes flew open and anger pulsed throughout her body. "No!" she cried bitterly. "Tesu is the only person I have left! If I do not go back for him, then his death shall be by my own hands, and I can't handle another loss!"

What is the matter, Kaiya? Rubaes suddenly asked suspiciously, Have we stumbled upon our enemies or our allies?

If my dreams were true, then these people are our allies. We must go back for Tesu now, though, if we wish to see him alive again.

No, Rubaes snarled in a dangerous tone. They have caught on to our trail and will track us until we are dead. Going back would merely make our death dates sooner.

Kaiya sent her fist crashing down to her leg, causing an unfelt, brutal pain to pulse through her leg once more. Furrowing her brow, she yelled angrily, "Then our deaths shall be sooner than we expected!"

I will not allow you to be placed in danger again, not after that ambush. Rubaes hissed stubbornly, and he blocked out Kaiya's seething responses.

"Aiedail, aí Shur'tugal gata vanta!" Kaiya cried. Turning towards the bewildered-looking Haldin, she continued, "Eka weohnata néiat haina ono! Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal!

(A/N: Aiedail, a Rider lacks passage! I will not harm you! I am a Rider and a friend!)

Slowly, Haldin nodded his head in understanding, knowing that Kaiya could not lie in the Ancient Language. Eragon also understood what she had said and gazed at her in amazement.

"Eragon shall inspect the land from his dragon for this Tesu. But we must know two things: where was he last and what attacked you?" Haldin replied. A slight frown crossed Eragon's face at the mention of his name, but he made no comment.

"We were traveling along Lake Tüdosten the entire night. I-I am not sure what they are called, but Rubaes called them Servants of Him—creatures of shadow. They were two hooded creatures."

"The Ra'zac," Eragon spat angrily. His hands by his side were white from being clenched so hard.

Turning towards Eragon, Haldin instructed in a stern voice, "Anything unusual and come right back."


Eragon shook his head in agreement and started out of the tent, leaving Kaiya, Haldin, and Murtagh alone for discussion.

The evening sun shone hotly on the back of Kaiya as she sat next to Rubaes, her head resting against his massive crimson body. Eyes closed, she tried in vain to focus on anything other than Tesu. Worried thoughts bombarded her mind and sent it into a fresh wave of panic.

Why do you show such anxiousness for this boy? Rubaes asked in concern.

Kaiya looked up at him angrily, And why do you no concern for this? Tesu has always been there, and if it weren't for him, I would have never made it this far. How do I repay his deeds—I send him to his death!

Death is of no great concern to me, human. Rubaes muttered simply, ruffling his wings and looking away.

Wisely choosing not to reply, Kaiya arose from her position and looked to the horizon. Haldin and Murtagh had filled in the gaps of her knowledge of Eragon, and in return she had told much of her part. The one gap in the story that was missing was how Arya, Murtagh, and the Twins had appeared.

"Eragon Shadeslayer should return in time. You should not be concerned," a voice spoke from behind her. Whirling around instantly, Kaiya's eyes found Arya. Her non-injured arm was settled tenderly on her bandaged arm.

"Oh, yes," she replied awkwardly. As Arya passed Rubaes warily, the elf looked to the horizon as well. "He is returning as we speak."

"What happened in the mountains?" Kaiya asked bluntly, choosing not to play games. "It was a sore subject that Murtagh avoided."

Arya gave a sigh and replied, "Following the battle, the leader of the Varden was killed by a group of stray Urgals. They captured Murtagh in the Twins, for what reason I do not know. Eragon asked me to follow them and I agreed. It did not take me long to catch up, but I had to attack at the right moment in order to even the odds."

"I killed the Urgals after a long battle. Instead of returning to the Varden, I choose to leave the mountains and locate Eragon. Returning to the Varden would only complicate matters. They are in a weak state at the moment, and it was best to avoid going back completely."

Kaiya studied Arya carefully and finally nodded. "And do you know who the new leader of the Varden shall be?"

Shaking her head, Arya said, "That I do not know. A possible choice could be Ajihad's daughter, Nasuada."

After a few quick moments of silence, Arya turned to leave. As the sound of her strangely soft footsteps died away, Kaiya let a sigh of her own escape.

Hurry back Eragon.