Part 5 – Suspicion

Khariaya walked quickly down the hall her breath caught in her throat she stopped a short while later and leaned against the wall. She looked back down the way she had come, a worried look crossed her face and she continued down the hall. She entered her room and turned on a lantern that hung on the wall, giving light to the room.

Eviothx, I think they suspect something. She said to him quickly sitting down of her futon bed. She could sense his concern, and worry for her. She looked down at the gedwëy ignasia on her palm and sighed.

I could come and get you and take you away from there. He offered to her, she shook her head even though Eviothx couldn't see her do it. She stood and walked to the other sliding dorr that led out to the courtyard and sat on the small deck that circled the building.

No I can't run now. That other dragon is here and we'll blow our cover enitrely. She replied sighed once more, she'd have to cover herself and make their suspicion on her dissapear. The priestess felt a pain of guilt hit her stomach for lieing to them but she knew it would be better this way.

Fine but anything happens I will come for you. He said firmly and he wasn't going to hear any of her arguments against it. She huffed and smiled to herself, gald that Eviothx was being himself it helped her to calm down. She jumped slightly hearing a knock from her door. She got up and went back into her room and closed the sliding to outside, then crossed the room to the door where she could see a shadow figure standing infront of her door. She opened the door and saw Eragon standing there, she breathe hitched in her throat and she moved to the side to let him into her room.

Eragon looked around the priestess's room, the walls were a cream color, the room had a sweet scent of many different kinds of flowers, some he recognized with a strong familliarity. He turned to her and opened his mouth to say something but she beat him too it.

"I'm sorry for earlier, I guess I was nervous around you. I really don't think there and dragon but I guess I'm the onlybone who thinks that." She said and bowed her head to him. Eragon was taken aback by her apology but it sounded sincere and true. He was quiet as he waited for Saphira to say something since she was listening aswell.

I believe she is telling the truth. Saphira said after a moment of thought. Eragon agreed with her and turned to Khariaya.

"It's alright. I just didn't know where we were eating." He said quickly coming up with an excuse for his reason for coming to see her. She blinked once then nodded and motioned for him to follow. He followed her as she walked out into the hall and knocked on Arya's door. Arya answered it quickly and looked between the two standing at her door.

"Dinner should be soon." Khariaya said and gave the elf a warm smile. Arya nodded and stepped out and closed the door, Khariaya started to walk down the hall and went outside and started to cross the courtyard to another building when Eragon interrupted.

"What about Roran?" he asked halting in place and looked behind them at the building they were just in. Khariaya and Arya stopped and turned to look at Eragon.

"Roran isn't in his room. It seems that he is over there." She said pointing to the side. Eragon and Arya looked to where she was pointing, the priestess was pointing at the main temple building. Eragon was about to ask why she said that when the doors of the main building slid open and out came Roran.

Khariaya hadn't even looked at the building but she knew that Roran was there. Arya and Eragon looked at which other then over at Khariaya, who just smiled at them and motioned for them to follow her again. Roran spotted his cousin and Arya and walked over to them as they started to once again follow the young priestess.

"Is something wrong?" Roran asked Eragon as he approached. Eragon looked at Khariaya she was out of clear ear shot and turned to his cousin.

"She seems to have powers, strong one at that." He said shortly and became quiet as they came to the building and Khariaya opened a door for them and showed them into a room with a low table filled with food, and empty plates for them all and one extra.

"Well you all must be hungry." Said the head priest as he entered behind them, and smiled at them all. Eragon just nodded and proceeded to kneel at the table with everyone else and eat.

"You think she's hiding something?" Roran asked Eragon through the steam that was rising for the hot spring. Eragon raised his head to look at Roran and nodded to him. He was quiet for a moment as he let the hot water relax his tense muscles.

"It maybe nothing, but she's strong. I can sense it around her, Saphira can too and I'm sure Arya can as well." He said tilting his head back once more to look at the night sky. Even though she said she was just nervous around him, Eragon felt there was something else. No common priestess was that powerful, he could sense she was more powerful than the head priest and almost as powerful as him.

"I think you're over thinking it." Roran said leaning against the stone carved spring edge. The young rider just nodded slightly still in thought.

Maybe we are over thinking this. Saphira added into the conversation, Eragon looked over to the stone wall to the right. Over on the other side Saphira waited patiently for the two men to finish their bath. Eragon didn't respond and continued to dunk his head under the water.

Arya slid open the door into the female hot spring area, a dry towel wrapped firmly against her body. She walked to the edge deep in thought and removed her towel and stepped into the steaming water. She wadded over to the other side and sat on the low stone ledge under the water. Running her arms through the water and closed her eyes and smiled to herself. The sound on the door residing open caught her attention and she looked over to see Khariaya walked out. The priestess looked over to the elf she seemed surprised to see her for a moment and then smiled quickly to her.

"I didn't expect anyone to be out here." She said with a smile and removed her priestess garments. She stepped into the water and sat down opposite to Arya. She let her body sink in and soak in the warm water.

"I'm normally here by myself." She said looking over t the elf. Arya smiled at her a sense of understanding swept through her. She knew what it was like to be alone for parts of her life, with out normal company. But she knew also that this priestess was not normal. She felt great power coming from her, it even rivalled the power of Eragon, and no normal priestess no matter what would have that much power.

"We're going to check for the dragon tomorrow." Arya said and leaned her head back to wet her hair. Khariaya felt her stomach clench as the elf said that but she kept her face composed.

"Well I don't think you'll find anything but could I come?" she asked timidly trying to seem mildly interested like anyone would be. "I know the forest very well and could help you." She added in to not draw any more suspicion.

"I don't see why not." Arya said and looked over to her. This girl was strange and defiantly something was going on that she knew about, but Arya didn't think she was a bad person. Only tomorrow would tell.