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The Last Rider

Chapter - 06 – Before the Storm

Play Music - Color The Sky – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations

The rest of the war council went by in a flash with commanders and captains getting their placements with follow up strategies and civilians evacuation routes.

All the while one lone female elf couldn't stop thinking how dim-witted one silver hair man was and couldn't figure out why it bother her so much the thought of him died or dying alone in that dark passage.

Arya was torn, she was angry at the fact that she was removed from the front lines to command the archers an important task seeing as they the only support for the vastly outnumbered Varden and Dwarves.

However a part of her that she didn't comprehend wanted to fight alongside Koinzell in the center passage. Arya knew she wasn't as strong as Koinzell but knew she could help at the least.

That small part of Arya when remembering the thought of dying caused her chest to tighten and a sickening feeling she refuse to acknowledge. Which alternate from pain at the thought of Koinzell dying, to anger and irritation at the fact he hadn't ask anyone for help, and that small part was wondering why he didn't ask her.

The meeting was over before she realized it with Arya barely paying it any attention. Eragon tried to says something to her but Arya saw Koinzell slip out the back after talking to Hrother causing Arya to frown which Eragon misinterpret his asking if she wanted to join him in getting something to eat with him and talk.

Arya missing it completely turned briefly to Eragon giving a flat "No" that left no room for argument before storming off to find that poor bastard that many believe as they saw Arya pass in a fury of anger.

It did take Arya long to catch up to Koinzell he wasn't exactly moving in a hurry as Araya was to catch him. Moving quick turn a corner following him and give him a piece of her mind on how ridiculous and suicidal he's plan to defend the center passage alone is.

Though Arya saw Koinzell she always seem to be just out of reach as he keep turned moving through a passageway or going up stairs, and around another corner. It didn't take long before she figured out that Koinzell was heading to what many called Hrother climb.

It was nothing more than a couple of twists and turns up a steep staircase to reach the top of the mountain overlooking the city and valley and much of the area around the mountain. Arya had never been up there, never having the need before.

Will till now that is as Koinzell gingerly walked up the last of the long staircase and opens a heavy door without any effort and gracefully moves out to the cliff face. Arya saunter after him but stops in the doorway at seeing both the view of the valley and the backdrop of Koinzell looking up at the half moon just beginning to rise into the sky as night fell over the land.

Play Music – Fortress of Seduction – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations

To Arya, Koinzell seem to glow with a silvery amethyst aura, leaving her shunned at the sight at how regal and otherworldly he looked. Arya was broken from her staring causing her to blush slightly which she would utterly deny if asked and say it was the cold wind, when Koinzell spoke to her.

"You may as well come outside instead of standing in the doorway staring at me." Koinzell plainly

"I mean you went to all that effort to follow me up here and all." Though his monotone was still their Arya picked up the teasing tone in the way Koinzell said it.

Anger her flaring, and with her cheeks tinting red at being caught having followed him Arya stormed outside to stand next to Koinzell arms crossed under her breast and not to happy look on her face glaring at him.

Koinzell just smirked slightly at how easy it was to tease the elf, which made Arya anger explode in rage feeling him smirking behind that damn mask. Grabbing his cloak and pulling him forward so their faces were nearly touching catching Koinzell slightly off guard and with her eyes blazing with fury.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" Arya shouted out animatedly

"Thiers's no way you can hold center passage all alone by yourself for long. And for what a guide that you say you don't even need to help just because you can." Arya nearly yelled

Koinzell lean forward so their forehead almost touched, "You better be careful she-elf that almost sounded like you were concerned for my health." Koinzell moved back

"One might think you were worried about me dying. But don't worry you're little head she-elf dying is quite painful and I'm not into the whole pain thing so I'll pass on dying tomorrow."Fuming Arya nearly succumbs to the very strong desire to sock the jerk in the face for his aloft attitude.

"Why would I be worried about your sorry ass?" Arya said heatedly

"And stop calling me that, I have a name you suicidal bastard." Koinzell now with a full fox like grin

"Then how about sapling since you elves live among trees or little elf seeing your so young and all." Koinzell said evenly and sarcastically

Losing the urge to punch him Arya now want to bash his face in. "I have a name you fool and it's Arya!" With eyes full of fury

"And what a beautiful name it is." Koinzell says deeply with underlining emotion for the first time. "It too bad you didn't say so sooner?"

Koinzell says off handedly breaking Arya from her rant and letting go of his cloak and stepping back confused, "But other people have said my name so there no way you didn't know it?"

Koinzell shrug somewhat, "True enough." He says looking at the moon then back to Arya, "However you never told me your name or introduce ourselves now did we…?"

With a slight bow, "I'm Koinzell the Blair Meister of the Blackwing School of Swordsmanship." Rising up again Koinzell finishes, "It's a pleasure to meet you Arya of Ellesmera of the elven kin."

Arya was taken back stunned by the formal introduction taking a few moments before she was able to reply. "Uh…you too… I mean it's a nice to meet you as well Koinzell of the Blackwing."

Arya spoke after recovering from her shock and improper response before giving a formal one, "Why didn't you ask for any help…the chance of you surviving even as skill as you are, isn't that high."

"At the very least have some of the dwarves cover your back." Koinzell gives her a small smile

"I believe that would be unwise. While the dwarves are skilled true enough, none of them have fought beside me or seen me fight before." Koinzell explains

"They lack the finesse required to fight with me and would only get in the way more than anything else." Koinzell tone was light and even

Koinzell turns from looking at the moon to Arya, "Besides that's not why you're so perturbed, nor why you are so upset with me defending the center passage."

Looking into Arya eyes Koinzell concludes," I would have thought you would have relished at the chance to finally be rid of a troublesome guy like me?"

Arya started to answer but stopped realizing that she didn't really know why nor could she voice it, either way choose to change the topic, "Why do you want to go to Ellesmere anyways?"

Turning back to the moon Koinzell lets the previous question go, "Why so interested in me, thought you hated me?"

Arya reply wasn't immediate, "Of course I do." Arya said looking away from Koinzell, "Whatever gave you the impression I didn't." Stating more to herself then to him

Koinzell choose not to comment on that it was Arya who complain about him dying earlier after all. "My business there is like I said my own… I simply have an inquiry I need to ask someone there. Once I do I will leave the elven lands, I mean no harm to the elves nor do I plan to get involved in another stupid war."

"Once my business is done I leave and your never have to see or hear from me again." He looks back at Arya, as she turned to face him with a conflicted look on her face.

Though Arya didn't know why the thought of never seeing the enigma swordsman again was vastly unsettling to her and she knew somehow that if she did let him just go, she would never him again once he left.

"I've have seen enough bloodshed for two life times don't really care to see more than I already have." Arya gaining a thoughtful and yet confused glance at him

"Then why are you helping the Varden against the Urgal, Kull, and Durza?" Koinzell had to some extent a puzzle look in his eyes

"Whatever gave you the impression that I was helping the Varden? The Varden are providing me a guide through the Du Weldenvarden forest, thus saving me time of having to find the way myself. The fact it make it easier to get Gildrien permission to enter is just a bonus." Koinzell states matter of factily

Koinzell stands up seeing both he and Arya had ended up seating down on the edge and the cool breeze was getting colder. Why'll he was use to much colder climate and not much of a problem he notice that Arya was shivering slightly.

Offering his hand to Arya helping her to her feet, "Only a dwarf would built a city inside what was once an active volcano and make a staircase to the summit with a wide area on top." Koinzell remark as they both walk gingerly back inside.

Arya turns back at the door and pause for a moment before continuing inside and down the long staircase, "I was told it was once a land place for riders to land and takeoff to enter the city, though with the fall of the riders it not in much use any more."

Koinzell nods at Arya remembering Hrother saving something along those lines only about his personal stairway to the skies. Koinzell turns down a sided passage to the dwarven quarters with a small wave over his shoulder as he walks to his room.

"See you around Svit-kona perhaps if you or I live past tomorrow we will meet again." Koinzell turns to look over at Arya

"Assuming we don't kill each other next time we fight, though you should raise your guard on you right and lower it on your left so your rear flank isn't so exposed." Koinzell remarks leaving a stunned, then angry Arya in his wake at both complimenting her then insulting her fighting style all in sentence.

Arya storms to her room arguing and grumbling the whole way for even being concern for the fool and already had forgotten the worry about him dying… for the moment anyway.