Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon. Anything familiar belongs to Christopher Paolini, but everything else belongs to me.
Chapter Twelve
As the glowing sun started to sink slowly beyond the horizon, a large sapphire object appeared in the distance. A hard knot twisted in Kaiya's stomach immediately when the figure of Eragon came into view. Eyes closed tightly, Kaiya felt the rumble of the earth as Saphira landed nearby.
Eragon jumped off of Saphira and started towards the front of the beast. Unable to stand it anymore, Kaiya's eyes flew open and darted towards the boy. Tesu had to be okay…She couldn't stand another death on her hands…
Saphira's gave Eragon an unreadable look and then took off to the orange skies. Lying on the ground in her place was an unmoving lump.
"Tesu!" Kaiya choked, falling down beside him. His once white shirt was tainted with blood and his sandy hair was flecked with scarlet. Resting her head on his chest, Kaiya felt a painful sob arise from her throat. First her father…then Jevden… now her only brother…
Both of her hands were wet with his faintly warm blood. A surge of fury swept throughout her body suddenly. Galbatorix had killed her family, but she wouldn't allow him to get away with it. Her haunting words came back to her as if she had uttered them moments before: Du vrangr gata, garjzla, wyrda… Eka weohnata waíse du edoc'sil shur'tugal.
"The wandering path, light, fate… I will be the unconquerable Dragon Rider," Kaiya murmured faintly above the wind. Nothing could hold her back now that she had nothing to loose… nothing except Rubaes.
"Kaiya?"
Lifting her head, Kaiya turned her head painfully towards Eragon. "What do you want," she whispered numbly, in a voice that sounded far from her own.
Eragon's intense brown eyes shone with pity for the sorrowful girl. "I am sorry about your brother." He came closer to her and Tesu; "He was barely alive when I first spotted him. He had a grave would in his chest from the Ra'zac."
"D-Did he say anything to you?" Kaiya asked, not daring to hope. Eragon shook his head regretfully, "I am sorry."
Rubaes settled his head on her shoulder to comfort her, his red eyes flashing with sorrow for his Rider. He felt no emotion for the death of this human, only knowing that his Rider was in terrible pain because of this.
Eka weohnata waíse du edoc'sil shur'tugal.
Tesu was properly buried in the pale moonlight. As Kaiya stared blankly at the freshly dug earth, she felt a new chapter of her life come to a close. The others stood behind her, giving their respects to the deceased.
Putting a hand on the soft dirt, Kaiya whispered in a sorrowful voice, "Moi du deloi." (A/N: Change the earth) Grass immediately appeared over the grave. A cluster of white flowers grew before her emerald eyes, giving the grave the appearance as if it had been there for many long years.
When Kaiya turned around and started walking away, she realized what she must do now. Rubaes, she said determinedly to her dragon, we must travel with Eragon and the elves to Ellesméra.
Is this what you wish to do, Kaiya? Rubaes questioned.
Kaiya slowly nodded, I suppose this is the only option that I am given. Where else could I go? I am a Dragon Rider and an open threat to King Galbatorix and the Empire.
Then Galbatorix shall pay on behalf of my fellow dragons and the blood that has been spilt by his hands. He has been avoiding death for so long; he is nothing but a coward. Rubaes declared angrily.
Kaiya nodded in agreement and looked to Eragon, who had the appearance of being deep in conversation with Saphira. Her thoughts then flickered to the emerald green egg being heavily guarded in one of the few tents set up. It seemed so strange to think that only four dragons were left in all of Alagaësia. She felt honored to be able to call Rubaes her own, and she couldn't understand how anybody could take advantage of being a Rider.
Tears stung her eyes as she forced herself to look back at the lonely grave, remembering the short time ago where she was looking upon the grave of Jevden. Nothing turned out how it was supposed to. If I had stayed to fight, if I hadn't fled from those damn creatures, Tesu would be hear beside me. Suddenly she was silently crying, realizing fully that she would never see her protective brother again. Rubaes was attempting to talk to her, but she instantly blocked him from her mind. She stared at his grave miserably, biting her lower lip as she felt her tears fall freely. I am so sorry Tesu.
As dawn's first light appeared, Kaiya awoke with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Tears stung her eyes as she blindly reached out to get dressed for the day. She felt oddly different and detached from the rest of the world, a feeling that caused the tears to spill over.
Strapping her sword roughly to her side, she hastily wiped the tears from her face before going out of her tent. Emerging from the inside, she saw that there were only a few others awake. Kaiya looked around instantly for the familiar red dragon she sorely needed at the moment. Rubaes, where are you?
Getting food, Rubaes replied uncomfortably. I thought that you would hide in that thing until somebody forced you out. I shall come back immediately.
Another wave of loneliness overcame Kaiya as she muttered, No, it is okay. She fingered the cold hilt of her sword inattentively as she stared achingly at Tesu's secluded grave. Damn it, Tesu, why did you have to leave? As tears pricked her eyes once more, she bit her lip and forced her thoughts away from that painful subject. You can't start this up again… think about something different.
"So you decided to get up?"
Kaiya turned around instantly and found Eragon and Murtagh behind her, both holding waterskins in their hands. She nodded curtly, "Why would I not? I should be used to death now."
"Still does not make it any less painful," Eragon replied. "I also lost someone dear to me by the Ra'zac; I know how much it hurts." His voice was filled with plain emotion at the mention of the Ra'zac.
Do not cry in front of them! Kaiya thought bitterly as she turned her head from them. "Do you?" she whispered, her voice quivering slightly. Her fists clenched as she snapped her eyes closed and gulped in fresh breaths. But it was to no avail; fresh tears spilled over and fell to the ground silently. "Damn it all," she cried, turning back towards the two startled boys. "Why the hell is this so hard for me to deal with? Tesu is dead. Just like everybody else."
"Everybody else?" Murtagh asked, taken aback by her sudden outburst.
"Mother…Father…Jevden…Tesu," Kaiya breathed. "All that I have left is Rubaes. Tell me you know how much it hurts."
A thunderous snarl from above sent all three looking upwards. Rubaes landed next to Kaiya, his scales glittering in the early sunlight. Are these two humans bothering you?
"No, I-I am fine," Kaiya muttered aloud, wiping away the tears from her face. Come on Rubaes, I need to talk to Haldin about traveling with him. After Kaiya excused herself from Murtagh and Eragon, she walked away with Rubaes trailing behind her.
"I take it her mood has not improved much," Murtagh observed with dry humor as they started towards the nearby Jiet River. Eragon shrugged as he glanced sympathetically backwards at Kaiya once more, "Guess not."
