So…chapter 11. This is now my longest fanfic (out of 5, wow!). I apologize if you found last chapter boring. I had to find a way to get to where I needed to be for this chapter and the rest of the plot. So yeah, I'm sorry.

-AmayaSora

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"Penelope?" he asked again, a bit louder this time.

I stopped in my tracks and straightened up. I squinted to try to make out his face, but his features were obscured by shadow. My heart momentarily soared, until my survival instincts kicked in again. I immediately became suspicious and resumed my blocking stance. There were a million more likely scenarios than the one that I secretly hoped was occurring.

The soldier relaxed a little, getting out of his defensive posture. "Nel? Is that you?" he said as he stepped closer to me. His face was now bathed in lantern light and I saw the flashing teeth of his smile, the spikiness of his black hair, the gleam of laughter in his eyes, the same hue of green as mine, but a lot more vibrant.

"JEREMY!" I said, running into his arms. Against all odds, I had found my brother. Tears fell then, tears of joy and relief. Jeremy hugged me strongly, radiating warmth back into my cold body.

"Wow, Nel, way to make an entrance," he said finally.

Drying my eyes, I said, "You didn't do too bad a job yourself. You nearly scared me to death." Then I felt a blush creep across my face as I realized that I had been stealing from my own flesh and blood. "Um, yeah, and, um…I'm sorry." I finally managed to mumble, shoving his pack back into his hands.

Jeremy stared at it for a heartbeat, and then burst out into rolling, full-hearted laughter. I smiled, despite myself. This was definitely my brother.

All around us lamp lights flared on and the sounds of men rushing around in the dark was heard, complete with curses as they ran into things. "Wait here," Jeremy ordered quickly, just as he had done when we were on our own.

He stepped outside for a few minutes and I heard the muffled sound of his voice, and other voices as well. His comrades finally retreated to their own tents, and he returned to his.

He blinked once, as was his way of apologizing, than said, "Well. It seems this is going to be a long night. Here, I'll make coffee."

I watched him shuffle around here and there, gathering ingredients. He started a small fire –in only one try, something I'd still never achieved- and then turned to face me. "So, how have things been? Although, judging by how thin you are, I can probably assume not as well as I would have hoped." He paused, and smiled up at me. Quick as a flash, he had me in a headlock and was giving me a noogie. I struggled, laughing all the while.

He let go. "Quiet!" he urged. His smile was still tugging at his lips, however, even as he said, "You're going to wake the whole camp."

"You're a fine one to talk," I retorted.

"I'll give you that, at least," he said, now full-out beaming. "Now, you never answered my question. How are you?"

I considered lying. It would impress him if I spun some fabulous tale of survival on nothing but my wits. But my brother could always see right through me, so I decided truth was best. "It's been tough since you left." I said honestly, and then began to recount my adventures since we'd parted a year ago. I paused when I got to being chased out of Daret, not sure of what to say next.

Jeremy cut in, "You still take three lumps of sugar, right?"

I nodded, more grateful than he would know for the change of subject. "It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since you left, isn't it?"

He handed me my coffee. As always, it tasted marvelous. "Year and a half. I counted every day." He smiled, sadly this time. I could tell he'd missed me as much as I'd missed him.

But his cheer returned quickly. "And so you're here. You decided to take a shot at the Empire while helping yourself survive, right? Kill two birds with one stone? That's the ticket," he said encouragingly. "I'm just grateful you picked this tent. Yoldin next door sleeps with his sword drawn," he stopped, and whispered dramatically into my ear, "Weirdo."

I giggled. "Yeah, that would have been bad. Especially because I lost my dagger when Ve-" I stopped mid-phrase, horrified with myself. I had almost revealed Verina! I figured Jeremy could be trusted, but a part of my brain couldn't be persuaded fully. "-when very suddenly I was ousted from Daret." I finished weakly.

My brother's eyes flashed momentarily with skepticism, but he didn't comment. "Well, you can have mine if you want. They're supposed to be giving us new ones next week anyway." He paused, and then added sourly, "The key word being 'supposed to.'"

I smiled in understanding. "You still hate the Empire just as much as always, don't you, Jere?"

He nodded vehemently. "How can I not? You know as well as I do what they did to Mom." His voice still choked whenever he mentioned our mother. I hugged him, feeling that all-too-familiar pang in my heart.

"But let's move on to a happier topic. Grelnor has a new son." He smiled happily. "Jeremy Thomas." My brother always loved talking about his best friend. He'd never forgotten how Grelnor had covered up the fact that he robbed a butcher shop when we were staying in Teirm. The two had been inseparable until the recruitment officers showed up.

"Wow! That's great. Give them my regards," I said happily.

"I will. If these stupid Ra'zac will stop eating all the couriers."

My heart stopped. "You know about the Ra'zac? They eat people?"

"You know about the Ra'zac?! And, yes, those disgusting pigs eat people."

"Aye, I read about the Ra'zac somewhere." Fear took hold as my sleep-deprived mind supplied images of gory human flesh entering those weird beak things- I shuddered. "Maybe I should go, who knows what they'd do to you if they found me here."

"I can handle myself." Jeremy asserted. He stared at me quizzically, and I got the feeling that he knew I wasn't sharing the whole truth. "Do you know why I'm here? The Ra'zac believe that there's a new dragon wandering around here, and that we can defeat it. Can you believe that?"

I laughed, trying to hide the nervousness of the action. "How weird. Maybe the King's craziness is rubbing off on them."

"Talk like that's treason in the army," Jeremy whispered darkly. "The vast majority of us here were conscripted, and nearly everyone hates the Empire as much as you and I do. I bet if any of them actually saw this dragon they'd all desert in a heartbeat and go join the Varden."

My mind grabbed this bit of information and ran with it, rushing through victories won by a reinforced Varden and the overthrow of Galbatorix by the very soldiers he'd trained. I grinned; maybe this plan wasn't as desperate as it sounded.

"What are you smiling about?" Jeremy asked good-naturedly.

"Nothing," I answered, grinning. Just then, my stomach growled loudly. I laughed weakly. "Sorry, I guess I didn't eat enough today."

He handed me his sack. "Here, this is stolen food anyway. You gave me a way to get rid of the evidence." Grateful, I devoured a pastry and a small chuck of bread in a few bites. "Wow, you really were hungry," he commented.

"I guess so, huh? Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Now, what until you hear this. This is top-secret information, so keep it to yourself." When I nodded, he continued, "This guy- actually, he led a platoon in Daret. Maybe he was the guy you met. Anyway, he said that this teenage girl was sneaking around his campsite –much like you were doing, Nel- and when he apprehended her, this baby dragon swoops down from nowhere and attacks him. So, it looks like another Rider has risen up to oppose the King. Isn't that great?"

His eyes were shining with excitement, the likes of which I hadn't seen since we first left home on our journey. I suddenly had a really strong urge to tell him everything, but still held back, if just barely. "Do you believe it, though?"

"Well, if we're being sent all the way to Kuasta, there must be something to it."

Kuasta! That was where I was headed. Maybe Solembum knew all of this and was trying to force a meeting, but for what purpose? "Hey, Jere, do you remember that old werecat story? Could the werecat tell the future?"

"Hm? That's a bit off topic, but the stories never make it clear if they can or not. It always seemed as if they could, at least to me."

I was silent for a while, pondering this. Suddenly Jeremy got up. "How far away is your camp from this one?"

"What? Oh, about a mile I figure."

"We'd better get a move on, then. On marching days the wake-up call comes at 4 a.m."

"We?" I asked as he guided me to my feet and handed the backpack to me.

"What kind of an older brother would I be if I let you get lost in the Spine at night?" And so he gently herded me out of the tent.

"No, no, it's not necessary. I can find my own way back. I'm not the little girl you used to know."

"Of course you're not. Dad would be proud," he added, giving me the highest praise he could.

"Thanks. He'd be very proud of you, too."

"I don't think so. You know Dad."

I did. My father was very sparing on his praise, especially when it came to Jeremy. In the 16 years he'd lived under Dad's roof, Jeremy had only received half a dozen or so compliments.

While we were whispering thus, we had started off into the woods. I guess Jeremy was walking me home, anyway. But I had passed a clearing on the way from my camp to his, so I planned on going there instead.

"So, where do you plan to go next?" Jeremy asked.

"I was actually going to Kuasta to supply myself."

He glanced at me skeptically. "Sure you were. You just want to spend more time with your brother."

"No, really, that's where I was going. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing you again."

"Why don't you just come with me, then? There are always a bunch of women hanging around by the wagons and no one seems to care."

I was tempted, but I couldn't bear to leave Verina to fend for herself even for a few days. Besides, one of the other Daret soldiers might be around to recognize me. "I wouldn't really feel comfortable around that many people." I smiled weakly. "You know me."

"You're not telling me the whole truth, I can see that." My heart stopped, but quickly started up again when he continued, "But I do know you, and so I know it has to be for a good reason. Any chance you'll tell me eventually?"

"Yes, definitely, I'll tell you as soon as I feel it's safe to." I met his gaze so he'd know I meant it. "I love you, Jeremy."

"I love you, too, Penelope." We hugged. When we broke apart, he said, "Whatever it is you're hiding, it's not dangerous, is it? It won't hurt you, or anyone else?" I paused. What would be the appropriate answer? He continued, "I won't push you either way, but I think I have a right to know if my little sister is getting herself into trouble."

I sighed. Jeremy had the infuriating quality of making it impossible for me to lie to him. "It won't hurt me…directly. As for other people, it depends on who they are and in what circumstances our meeting occurs. And as for danger, the thing itself isn't dangerous to me, but knowing about it puts me in a great deal of danger. That's why I need to get on my way as quickly as possible. And why I can't tell you what it is."

He looked hurt, but he nodded grimly. "I understand; you're trying to protect me. Just be careful, okay?"

I met his gaze. "I will." And if I'm not, Verina will always help me out, I added to myself.

He laughed again, and all the tension evaporated. "Why do I get nervous every time you say that?"

I grinned innocently. "Why, I have no idea, Jeremy."

He rolled his eyes, and then we both burst out laughing. People always told me our voices melded together very pleasantly when we laughed together, and that maybe we should try singing a duet. We actually did once, when we were in Ceunon. Thinking back to those good times, I began to sing.

Flowing and flowing goes the river of life

And we in canoes are along for the ride

Jeremy caught the thread and then joined me.

Through doldrums and rapids alike we float

Until over the great waterfall we slide

A wandering pathway through forest glade

Or maybe a cave filled with wonder

Shall be our home where'er we shall roam

Until the wind comes, takes us under

La la la la la la

Da da da dee

The fortunes of life are so confusing

Even for one such as me!

We repeated the last verse a few more times as we had been taught by the minstrels. Suddenly, I heard a chorus of voices coming from behind us, and in the same instant I heard Verina in my head, calling my name urgently. Penelope? Penelope, where are you?? Penelope, are you okay?!

Aye, I'm fine. Calm down, Verina.

No! I cannot find you. Where are you?

I'm just outside the campsite, Verina. I'll be back in a second.

No, I am coming to get you. I sense that something is wrong.

No, Verina, I'm fine. Really. But she paid no attention and I could somehow sense her nearing through the connection made by our link.

Panicked, I turned to Jeremy. "What's that sound?"

"What sound?" he asked, puzzled.

"That sound, there. Didn't you hear it? People talking?"

"People talking?" He paused, and then heard leaves rustling, as I did, in addition to the voices. "I don't hear talking, but I heard that rustling."

I heard more rustling, from in front of me this time, and my heart sped up as I realized that Verina was almost here. In desperation, I cried, "Jeremy it's most likely your fellow soldiers, out looking for you! I should go. I'm sorry!" I turned to leave.

"Wait! In Kuasta, meet me by the armory, okay? If you go at night it'll be deserted. I'll pay off Tom, who runs the guard."

"Okay, sure. Bye!" I took off full tilt into the undergrowth. I had only gone a few steps when I literally ran into Verina, who balked with fright. Frantically, I cried, Verina! It's me! Calm down!!

Penelope! You had me extremely worried.

Sorry, sorry. I hurriedly urged her away from the woods and my brother.

For what was left of the night I sat atop Verina's back, as she didn't trust me to be on the ground. I was far too anxious to sleep, so I just sat awake. I kept thinking about how weird it was that Jeremy didn't hear those voices. They were extremely loud. Suddenly, an astonishing thought lodged itself in my mind. What if those weren't voices, but thoughts? What if… I had read those people's minds?

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Sorry the chapter was so long. I really wanted to get the thought-reading part in there. And, if the song was horrible, I apologize for that as well. I hope you'll review anyway.