Part 14 – In Darkness of the Night

Khariaya walked out of the Grand hall once again, but this time she walked into the sunlight and more busy streets. She stretched her arms upwards and gasped out realising all the tension from her muscles. A meeting was being held talking about what they were going to do from here on in. The plan was that they were going to go in and save Katrina from the Ra'zac. Roy, Erik, and Golan, the men how came with them from Farloden, and gave Eragon much more information about the way to go about getting in and different weaknesses of the Ra'zac's lair, where they were probably holding Katrina captive.

Khariaya didn't feel like she was much use too them but offered her thoughts and advice when she saw fit. Over all she thought it went very well and smiled to herself, now she was ready to search Osilon for the elf she meet so many years ago. Eviothx flew down beside her Saphira right behind him; Saphira greeted the priestess and went into the hall in search of Eragon.

I'm going to go find her. Khariaya told her dragon partner and headed off down the street. Eviothx knew who she was talking about and nodded.

I will come too I want to meet her. He said trailing after her down the street, elves glance and stared in awe of Khariaya and Eviothx, well more at Eviothx than her. She had gotten use to it by now but still wasn't all that comfortable with the attention. Khariaya spotted a woman standing at a fruit stand and walked over to her; the woman turned and spotted her approaching when Khariaya was only a few strides away.

"I'm looking for theCarula healer." Khariaya said to the elven woman with a bright smile. The woman smiled and bowed her head to her.

"So you are looking for Cristala, she lives on the far side of Osilon." She said pointing west-ward down the street. "You'll know when you reach her house; she runs her shop from there it's a nice blue with many plants around it." The elven woman said smiling to Khariaya. The priestess nodded and gave her thanks before turning to Eviothx; the dragon knelt telling her for him to mount him. Khariaya had only ridden a few times before and it had hurt her, since he was in hiding she only flew at night when no one could see. She smiled and climbed on since she first rode on Eviothx she put extra fabric as padding along the inside of her hakama's to prevent her legs from being hurt.

A large group of elves stopped to watch as Eviothx braced against the ground and fanned out his wind and jumped into the air. Khariaya held onto one of the boney spikes that ran along Eviothx's spine with her hands as he gently took off. She had become use to his lift offs and they soared higher into the air. Eviothx went only a bit higher then the trees but stayed low enough to make out the buildings below.

Eviothx landed in a small clearing near a blue herbal shop just outside of Osilon. Khariaya slid off of Eviothx back and nervously looked to the shop; Eviothx stood beside her and nuzzled her affectionately with his snout. She clasped her hands together and sighed this was it, the priestess walked up to the door of the shop and walked in. A bell rang as she entered, the shop was well kept different jars of herbs and plants lined one wall while creams and potions lined the shelves on the other wall.

Eviothx poked his head in the door he looked around the shop slowly; Khariaya looked at the herbs seeing no one in the shop. She smiled to herself looking at some jars of herbs the elf had described to her when she was young. Khariaya knew she found the right place and looked to Eviothx with a smile on her face.

"Hello? Who's out there?" came a female voice from behind Khariaya; she froze in place and turned to look at the direction of the voice, it came from a door behind the counter. "Hold on I'll be right out." The voice said again. Khariaya felt her breath get caught in her throat as an elven woman walked through the door.

The healer, Cristala eyes grew wide seeing Eviothx head sticking in through the door and slowly moved to look at the priestess standing in her shop. She looked at her as if trying to decide what to say, there was a silence for a moment then Cristala broke it.

"So you're that new rider." She said more than asked Khariaya with a grin. The priestess nodded, wondering to herself if Cristala would remember her or care to see her. She pushed that away and looked straight into the elf's eyes. Cristala studied her for a minute sometimes looking to Eviothx, she tapped her chin and realization washed over her.

"I know you from some where." She said walking out from behind the counter and closer to Khariaya for a better look. Khariaya smiled to her and nodded.

"You once told a young priestess in a temple you visited that when she came to Osilon to come find you the Carula healer." She said smiling still. The Elf was quiet then smiled brightly taking a step closer.

"Little Khariaya? You're the new dragon rider?" she said in disbelief and happiness and looked sideways at Eviothx and then back at the priestess. Khariaya nodded once more and the two old friends hugged and laughed together and Eviothx grinned at the sight.

Khariaya walked from the blue house hours later smiling brightly to her self. She had spent the rest of the afternoon with Cristala. She told her about different things from her childhood since Cristala was last there and how she came to find, and raise Eviothx and what happened when Eragon found out. In turn Cristala told her of all she knew about Riders and many other things that happened after she left Farloden, Cristala was very interested with Eviothx and talked with him happily as she did with the priestess. Khariaya left that night as the sun set with the promise to visit tomorrow.

She climbed onto Eviothx back and they headed back to the quarters she shared with Eragon. As soon as they got there a worried Eragon greeted her with Saphira.

"I was worried something happened." Eragon said as Khariaya slipped off on Eviothx, he walked up to her and looked at her almost making sure she was okay. His concern touched Khariaya's heart and she smiled fondly at him.

"I was just visiting a friend. I'm fine." She said smiling to him. Eragon looked into her eyes for a moment then nodded.

"I'm going to the local pub with Roy, and Erik would you like to come?" he asked looking away so he wouldn't see the blush rising on his face. Khariaya thought for a moment with some advice from Eviothx she agreed to go. Eragon nodded and smiled to her in a reply. They went leaving Eviothx and Saphira behind to relax and hunt for themselves, meeting up with Roy and Erik in front of the pub they went in for a night a fun and relaxation.

Khariaya walked out of the pub, she giggled a bit. She was not drunk, she had only one drink of beer for the first time and felt overwhelmed and didn't have anymore. She instead listened and laughed with the other men she was with and elves as they sang danced and talked amongst the others. After a few drinks later Erik turned to Eragon and asked him in slurred speech if he had a fiancé like Roran. Eragon shook his head no, and then Erik asked him if anything was happening between Eragon and her self. They all went silent and both Eragon and Khariaya blushed a deep red, Eragon didn't even answer. Feeling the need to escape the tension filled pub, she went and stood outside and thought about what happened.

She moved away from the pub as a group of drunken elves walked out through the doors, Khariaya got pushed by one of them as they stumbled around. She retreated into the alley on the side until they moved along. She leaned against the wall of the pub and started to think.

Why do I feel this way? I can't control my heart around him; I just don't know what happens to me when he's near. Why does Eragon affect me like this? She wondered to herself, no longer hearing the drunken elves loud talking she turned to go back but came face to face with a certain pair of brown eyes.

She gasped and jumped slightly startled by the man now suddenly standing behind her. She opened her mouth and tried to say something but couldn't for a moment.

"What are you doing out here, Roy?"

Authors Note : Okay I finally did it! I wrote it and wow I had fun doing this one, man tell me what you think! Did it shock you? Well maybe not so cause I introduced Roy in the pervious chapter but please review with your thoughts! This one goes out too, daydreamin' angel, thanks for your support and so I dedicate this chapter in her name!