Part 7 – Khariaya's Tale

Eragon stood dumbfounded at Khariaya's palm; he even stared at the spot her hand had been even after she lowered her hand onto her lap. She lowered her hand and slowly stood up and looked back up at Eragon. The rider shook his head slowly trying to get his head around the unexpected and shocking news that he priestess before him was a Rider. He felt overwhelmed with joy in the fact she was one but confused about it as well.

"I'm sorry I lied to you…" she muttered sadly and Eragon was surprised by this too. He understood what it felt like to hide a dragon. He had hid Saphira from his Uncle and Roran after she had hatched. And Roran never found out until a few days ago.

"Why?" was all, Eragon could ask her his voice was weak as he finally got around his thoughts to speak. He heard noise of people running through the brush behind him and enter the newly made clearing. There was a collective gasp from then when they saw the dragon standing with Khariaya. Khariaya looked to then and looked at the black dragon and looked back at them.

"This is my dragon Eviothx." She said and the black dragon raised his head a bit to look at all of them. His eyes lingered on Saphira with curiosity and caution.

"It's true I am a Rider, and it was Eviothx that everyone had been spotting. I don't like to fight and I didn't want to cause trouble to anyone. I just thought it would be better if Eviothx stayed hidden." She said looking sadly at Eragon who nodded his head, he understood how she felt. He didn't want to fight at one point before Garrow was killed.

"This is your dragon?" Arya asked the priestess taking a step forward glancing at Eviothx as she did. Khariaya nodded solemnly in response. Arya raised an eyebrow questioningly to her.

"How did you get an egg?" she asked. "Too my understanding there was only three eggs left Saphira's, Thorn's, and the last one in Galbatroix's procession." Arya pointed out and Eragon snapped his head to look at the elf then back at Khariaya.

"One day while I was out gathering herbs, I tripped near a riverbed and found the egg among some rocks. I probably never would have seen it if it wasn't so smooth and if I didn't trip. I brought it back to the temple and kept it in my room. A day later it hatched and then I knew that what I had found was a dragon's egg." Khariaya explained looking at Eviothx as she told the story and the dragon seemed to give a short nod in agreement.

"I think we, including your dragon should go to the temple." Arya said firmly. Khariaya nodded and Arya stared sympathetically at the girl. She had tried so hard to avoid conflict and fighting but now she couldn't be ignored.

Eviothx stepped up closer to Saphira and reached his head out sniffing slightly at her. Saphira looked at him and huffed a bit, now knowing how Glaedr felt when Saphira first saw him. But Saphira was almost equally excited to see Eviothx as she was when she saw Glaedr. Saphira reached out calmly and Eviothx looked to Khariaya who smiled at him a bit.

It's good to finally see another dragon. Eviothx said to Saphira but allowed Khariaya and Eragon to hear his thoughts. Khariaya smiled but was still nervous and saddened they had been found out.

I'm glad there are others. If your egg was found that means there could be others too. Saphira said contently her tail twitched back and forth excitedly. Eviothx shared the enthusiasm.

Eragon looked to Khariaya, her face was clouded with mixed feelings and Eragon knew she was having a hard time, just like he had. He walked over to her and smiled at her.

"It will be fine." He said trying to reassure the girl. She nodded to him and looked to Eviothx who turned from Saphira and walked over to Khariaya. He reached out and nuzzled her shoulder lightly with the tip of his nose. Eragon knew Eviothx must have comforted her because her face relaxed and she smiled to him.

"Ready to go?" Eragon asked her calmly. Khariaya looked to Eragon and nodded with a grin. She was ready to face the day she dreaded, but suddenly it didn't feel as scary as she thought. Maybe things will turn out for the better, whatever that was.

They walked back into town know accompanied by two dragons, many villagers gasped and stared in shock when they spotted the new dragon with the group. Many even noticed how closer the dragon was to Khariaya, some wondered if she was it's rider others thought it was because she was a priestess that it followed and obeyed her.

Khariaya glanced nervously at the villagers and looked to Eragon. He knew she didn't really like this but like Arya thought they couldn't ignore the fact that she was a Rider. Khariaya thought the walk back to the temple was way to quick and the climb up the stairs was also far too brief. They entered the courtyard and life in the temple seemed to stop. A couple of priests froze in place and looked at the group but also at the black dragon with them.

It was only a moment later the head priest rushed out of the main building and looked at them in shock. He rushed down the steps and ran over to them; Khariaya didn't look at him afraid to meet his eyes. The priest looked to the dragon and Eviothx looked back at him. Damion galnced to Eragon then to Arya, his eyes followed along until they reached Khariaya and stopped on her. She still wouldn't look at him, she lied to him hid the most important thing in her life from the man who rasied her like his own daughter.

"Khariaya?" he inquired and the priestess flinched when he said her name. She knew that there was no hiding no running now. This was the time to tell him and hope he understood why she did what she did.

"I...I have lied too you..." she began her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. Damion's eyes widened as she spoke. Khariaya lifted her head slightly and opened her plam to him showing him the mark. "I'm a Rider to this dragon." she said lowly. The priest looked at her plam and then at the dragon. He reached out and took her hand, making her look up at him. He smiled gently at her.

"Come on inside we have much to talk about." he said and led them back towards the main building calmly.

Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing everyone! It's helped me sooo much and I'm glad to be back writing again. I want to thank everyone for their critique and comments it has really help me write this chapter. So this chapter gose out to everyone who has rviewed thus far; Super-hero Fan, daydreamin' angel, spotfireee, DragonRider2000, Nuria VanWelick, Fogelin, Americancrow, and Almostinsane. Please review with critique, comments and/or ideas! Love you all! (But not that way)