Reviewssss!
Bananasrokk: What happened to Thorn? Hmm. I've only done a Thorn POV once, but I could try again. We'll see.
Dragonmaster1992: Here…this chapter (in my opinion) is a bit lame, though.
Mistress-of-Misery: Yes, I know I'm actually really lucky because most stories never reach a hundred reviews, and I'm only about halfway through! It really is a huge inspiration :) Actually, this story is veering a wee bit off-plot already. I guess it's a gift, or a curse. I did mean to stick to the plot (seriously!) but as I'm typing, new ideas just form…I'll try to set it right again, though.
Emerald Tiara: How much do you think Eragon knows about history? I'm going by what it says in the prologue of Eldest—I quote: "A stalemate has existed between these factions for twenty years, preceded by eighty years of open conflict brought about by the destruction of the Riders." So that's a hundred years already. The first chapter takes place in the twelfth month (as soon as I get the dates up and running!) so that's another year. Now we have 101.
I Elenial I: Yes, I have plans for Gen, believe me! He's maybe about six feet-ish, dark brown hair that flops a little into his eyes, hazel eyes, slender, and has a mouth made for grinning! I like him; he'll play a big role to come!
Gewher: Ahhhhhhh! I seriously do mean to start a Murtagh/Salem relationship; it's just a little…slow. But it will come. Someday. That's why it's under the romance genre. And thanks for your other comments :)
Mozart's Requiem: That is a brilliant idea. I've never been one for symbols, but 9/11 for the Burning Plains is excellent. I love that.
Speaking of 9/11, are any of you going to watch the movie United 93? It's the first official movie to be made about 9/11…I know a lot of people are saying it's way too soon, but I think we've got to face it and remember it.
Not a GeishaGurl: I always thought ooc stood for out of character and that's when you bump something in that's…uh…not in character. But thanks!
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4/3/101
Martaila eyed the figure before her with deep suspicion, her crossbow held by her side and partially hidden in the swaths of her skirt. "Who are you?" she demanded again.
The stranger hesitated, then pulled down the hood to reveal a man, his hair a light straw brown, face slightly pale but set. "You can call me Barley," he said quietly. "I bring news."
Martaila's eye caught sight of Neal in the boughs above the man, his hunting bow held strung in his hand. She allowed herself a grim mental smile. "How do I have proof?" she demanded. "You could be anybody."
"Eka shakel sa Galbatorix, sen yawe foraya Sílica," he said in reply. Martaila considered it. True, he spoke it with a hideous accent and much halting (she rather suspected it was a memorized phrase), but it was in the ancient language. She gave a curt nod, fixing her eyes on him. He hesitated, looking a little taken aback by all the attention, then repeated, "I bring you news from Sílica."
She waited. He seemed uneasy, shifting within the folds of his cloak. "All right," he said resolutely when she didn't utter a single sound. "You might have to wait a little longer before you can rejoin us, Lady. I..."
"Does Miyan know about this?" she said, arching an eyebrow delicately.
"Miyan?"
"You might call him Henrides?"
"Oh." Barley flushed red. "Yeah, mostly Ides. But noooo…but please don't tell him, at least for a while. None of them know because, you know, I just—I—I—" he hesitated, then said, "I think there's a spy," he said in a rush. "A traitor. I've got no proof yet, just suspicions, but—please, please don't tell Ides. Sorry. Miyan."
"I hardly think he would be this spy you speak of," she pointed out. "Seeing as he is one of the ringleaders of Sílica. If he were a spy, the whole operation would've fallen apart long before Heii was ever captured."
He hesitated. "Maybe. But all the same, I want to find out some more before finally telling anybody. Just please, Lady, for your sake and all who oppose the emperor, please stay hidden. And change hiding places. Something like that."
"That's a pretty speech," she said, her voice even. "Do you have anything else?"
"I don't know," he said, drawing his cloak back over his head. Martaila watched in stony silence as he slipped into the trees and out of sight.
Neal spoke as soon as he was gone. "If we're going to hide, we better do it quickly."
"Yes…we don't know when the dragon will be back, though." She tilted her head. "I'm starting to think it was a mistake to trust him."
"Half of what you told him was a thick batch of half-truths," he pointed out cheerfully. "The other half were half-lies. We never needed contact with Sílica."
"Yes, but I told them enough." Martaila rubbed her temples and sighed. "Pack whatever's left; it shouldn't take long. I'll find Reya. Meet me here and we'll leave."
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Murtagh leaned against a mucky wall, taking a deep breath and massaging his calf gingerly. His healing felt like it was falling apart now, and it was starting to hurt.
He straightened and consulted the map again. He had followed the smeared roads uncertainly and now was wandering again and again in the same four-block square, searching for any hint of Salem. It seemed so pointless—how did he know she had even stayed here?
A croaky voice interrupted his thoughts; a hand tugged at his sleeve. Murtagh looked down to see an old crone, grinning toothlessly up at him. "Spare a copper, good sir?" she said. "For an old maid who's got naught?"
He pulled his sleeve free. This was the fourth such beggar who had approached him. "I don't have any crowns," he said roughly. "Search elsewhere for your coin."
"I'll tell you a secret," she said, eyes glinting. "A secret about the child of eld."
"Sell your wares somewhere else," he said tiredly as his leg protested again. "I have nothing for you."
The crone laughed, then hobbled down the street. Murtagh watched her go, feeling drained. Where else could he search? Unless he wanted to raid all the buildings one by one…but there was no guarantee she was even here.
He leaned back against the wall, watching the slum folk go about their business. A group of street urchins were huddled together, whispering excitedly and throwing looks at him. A tired-looking woman trundled a wagon along the street, her step weary and resigned. An old man lay in a crumpled pile near a corner, the remains of a fish in front of him. A cloaked figure hurried past him and into a dingy-looking building. There was nothing to indicate that Salem had ever set foot in this part of the city.
He passed a hand over his eyes when a thought struck him. What was he doing, wasting his time by searching on foot? Why didn't he cast out with his mind? He'd touched Salem's mind before; she was guarded by a barrier that had a distinctive tone and field. He could sense it if he tried!
Murtagh laughed softly, then proceeded to search. Most of the minds opened to him easily, showing details of their sordid lives. He set out at a brisk pace, walking away from the urchins—their minds showed that they planned to jump him in a few minutes, and while he could handle them, killing them off wasn't very inconspicuous. The crone's 'secret' proved to be nothing but some odd children's rhyme. Moving onward, he slid into the tapestry of minds, searching for the distinctive feel of Salem's.
Where are you hiding? Oh, I'll find you—
There was a block! His mind bounced right off, unable to penetrate it. Murtagh stopped, searching and trying to pinpoint it. It wasn't Salem's, but it had a curiously similar feel. It was much stronger, however, and was the work of—
He stopped. It was a strange block and spoke of several different people's power. This wasn't protecting a single person's mind—it was protecting a group, a place…
He ran forward, closing in. It was protecting a building.
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Matiel came in the door, looking tired and pinched. "How was it?" Rina asked softly.
He sat down hard, dropping his hood. "I don't know," he muttered.
"Did you get them?" Liane asked forcefully. "Where are they? Where's Peregrine?"
Matiel shook his head wordlessly. Liane and Rina traded looks; Liane shook Matiel slightly. "Did the emperor capture them? Why aren't they here with you, Matiel? Where are they?"
"Don't, Liane," Rina said softly. "Look, Matiel, what went wrong?"
Matiel swallowed, his gaze flicking to where Gen and Ides lay. "There were problems," he said hoarsely. "We got—we got split up, and—"
"Did he come?" Liane said harshly. "He and that black devil?"
Matiel shrugged. "I didn't see…"
Liane gave a snort of disgust. "Well, brilliant! What do we do until then? Sit around and twiddle our thumbs and wait for them to pop up onto our doorstep? We've got no hope; Sílica's torn apart, and now we don't even have Peregrine. Good job, Matiel. And now—"
She continued in this vein for a while, ranting about the loss of hope and incompetency. Salem listened, bleak despair gathering. It was true, every single blasted word. Sílica had been destroyed by Heii's death and the routs, and now they were fugitives and traitors with nowhere to go. Without Peregrine, there was no hope now either.
She sighed and rolled over, staring idly out the windows. She should've never gotten involved in the first place. If she'd just used her common sense and not touched that crystal necklace, Aliya wouldn't have appeared, Reynold would be alive, Charis wouldn't be missing, and she wouldn't be rootless and useless in this whole stupid city. If only, if only. If only she'd—
"What?"
Salem gave a small hiss and leapt off the couch, stepping cautiously near the window. That was the Rider! Murtagh! He was leaning against a wall—eyes closed—
"Liane! Rina!" she said in a soft hiss. "Look—that's the Rider—"
Liane's speech halted; the two women flocked around her, peering anxiously. Liane turned to give Salem a sideways look. "You are sure?" she asked. "The second Rider?"
"How do you know?" Rina added.
"I—we've met," she said awkwardly. "I know what he looks like." Hurriedly changing the subject, she said, "We're guarded, aren't we? I remember how it looked different from the outside."
"That's an illusion to change the windows, that's all," Liane said grimly. "That spell also bars the door to outsiders, but if he manages to break in we're lost. It's not that strong—it's running on residual energy from what Talinia, Heii, and Miyan—Ides—placed in it."
"But it was dark when I came in," Salem said. "There's got to be something."
Rina laughed hollowly. "We blew out the candles. That's how we made it dark, Salem. No, we've—"
"There's a backup spell," Matiel said from somewhere behind them. "I don't know the technicalities, but I think it makes this place look deserted and dingy. We've got to get out of here for it to work; it doesn't make people vanish."
"But who's going to run it?" Liane yelled. "Ides is the only magicker and he's fast asleep!"
"He's leaving!" Rina said in a whisper. "Look!"
Sure enough, the Rider was walking away. Salem watched him go, feeling relieved. "That's a relief," Rina murmured. "Who knows what wanted?"
"Us? Or maybe he just couldn't find us."
"Or maybe he was here for some pleasure sightseeing, what do you think?" Rina joked. "See the pleasures of the dark side of Uru'baen."
They wandered away from the window; Liane to pore over some papers, and Rina to tend to Gen and Ides. Matiel stood watching Salem, a small frown on his face. "How do you know him?" he asked slowly. "You worked in the palace, right?"
Salem turned slightly, not liking the tone in his voice. "I had a few unfortunate encounters," she said shortly. "It wasn't very pleasant."
"Right." Matiel's tone was bland. "Gen brought you in, didn't he?" he asked suddenly.
She stared at him. "Right. So?"
He gave her a small half-smile, then turned around, disappearing into the bowels of the house. Salem watched him go, frowning slightly. What was he thinking?
She turned back to the window and got the shock of her life as she stared through the clear glass straight into Murtagh's face. "Rina—Liane—he's back!"
"He's what?" Liane said sharply, looking up. "Oh, dear Orcane and Siyana," she muttered. "He must have sensed something wrong at first—Matiel! Come here!"
Matiel came sprinting into the living room at a run. "What is it?" he asked, eyes alert. His gaze fell upon the Rider, and he understood instantly. "I'll get Gen and Ides out of here. Rina, help me—"
"No, wake Ides," Liane said tightly. "We need him to cast a diversion, no matter how drained he is. Get water and dump it on him—Rina, you do that. Matiel, get Gen out of here, Salem, you help him. What are you staring at me for?" She twisted slightly and gazed through the glass at the Rider. "Would you hurry it up? He's coming to the door!"
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Sorry…I know it's lame. But I've had this case of the most hideous writer's block anybody could ever be cursed with…it's Saturday morning and I'm typing this as quick as I can, making it up frantically as I go along.
I meant to send this on Saturday, by the way, but my computer screwed up majorly on me and wouldn't let me log in!
There are certain connections you need to make here or else you'll never understand what's going on. I'll help you a bit. Matiel is Barley, it's because of his last name, 'Ryeson' and so barley's just another kind of grain. Miyan is Ides. Peregrine and Sílica—Sílica translated means Peregrine, but in the story context they have different meanings. Sílica is the name of the organization, while Peregrine is the name for a person.
Does that help clear it up a bit? Sorry, next chapter will be better. Also, I will try to update next week, but I've got midterms (again). Well, you can't really call them midterms, can you? They come about once every two months and mean studying till you faint. So don't go around killing me if I don't update! But I will try my very best to complete a decent chapter.
Now, this note is no guarantee, but I think (think!) the next few chapters will take place over a span of a few story days, at most a week. Not sure, though.
Here's a cast list to keep you all straight:
(original characters, minor or major) Murtagh, Thorn, Galbatorix, Twins
(my characters, alive, major characters) Salem Blackfire (23 to 25 or so years old Nealan (18 ish), Martaila sa DeVann (45), Henrides Miyan (Ides, Miyan, 26), Gen (no last name! 24), Matiel Ryeson (Barley, 22 years old, Liane Jeryl (32 years old), Rina Onadatir (31), Connac Blackfire (34 years old)
(my characters, dead or minor) Tria Atalini (Talinia, 32 years), Jacob (Heii, 46 years old), Reynold Barrickson (26 years), Charis Felin (24 years), and assorted other characters who are either unnamed or kicked the bucket too early to get a mention in here.