Dear Readers,
The beginning of this story is under reconstruction. When you read a chapter that has nothing at all to do with what you have just read, please keep in mind that is the previous version of the story and I am redoing it as quickly as I can. I apologize for the inconvenience. Some details are being added along the way that you may not find later on in the story. That will soon be fixed as well.
This is Chapter 4, revised.
Thank you and enjoy!
DragonRider2000
Murtagh awoke to furious knocking on his door, and he rolled over and groaned. He'd lain down on his bed and fallen asleep… not long enough ago.
The knocking continued, and he heard Captain Melcar Di'Acor yell his name.
A little dazed from sleep, Murtagh still knew that something wasn't right. He got to his feet and opened the door and found himself facing three of Taya's bodyguards.
"Melcar?" Murtagh asked, not missing their tense appearances.
"Is Taya here?" Melcar asked while pushing past him into his room, looking around.
"No, she's not. I last saw her when she left the kitchens. Why."
Melcar faced him squarely, his eyes filled with worry. "Kyra called us up to Taya's room because the door was locked and we had to force it open. A chair was wedged under handle… her room is a disaster, and Taya is nowhere to be found."
Murtagh's heart seemed to freeze. He jumped past Melcar and the others and raced down the familiar halls to Taya's wing, and burst into her room… what had once been her room.
Drawers, papers, clothes and books had been pulled out from their places and rummaged; the small table by the bedside was turned over, the lamp broken and oil spilled everywhere. The rug on the floor, and her bed were askew, and a few pillows were scattered on the floor; the drapes were torn…
"Her valuables are gone too, whatever was sitting out. Her weapons are missing, but no clothes that we are aware of." Melcar said, coming up behind him.
"Where's Kyra?" Murtagh demanded. Kyra Merrik was Taya's personal maid.
"Shalla has her in the kitchens, trying to keep her from fainting. She was in hysterics. Raneck is also with them." Raneck Katifa was a Hljodhr Evarinya, and Kyra's fiancée.
Another bodyguard appeared suddenly from the balcony.
"There's a ladder down to the garden." He said darkly. "The dogs seem a little on edge, but that could be anything. It's been fully dark for nearly four hours. If someone kidnapped her, they did it a while ago."
"Kidnapped." Murtagh's head whirled, and he leaned against the bed frame for support. Only, it gave slightly and upon closer inspection they found it cracked, as if a body had slammed against it.
"But Taya's strong. She could also use her mind to call for help if something happened." Murtagh said, unwilling to believe what was staring him in the face.
Thorn, this can't be happening.
"It is not impossible to overwhelm Taya, sir. A big man could catch her by surprise. That he got a struggle out of her is a good sign, it means she wasn't taken wholly unawares. But, it's a safe bet that she was kidnapped. I can't see any other explanation for this." The man from the balcony explained. His name was Marthl Duven, one of Taya's older bodyguards. He was also the darkest tempered and the quietest. It was easy to see that at the moment the man was incredibly agitated.
"What have you done in light of that thought, Captain?" Murtagh turned to Melcar, who seemed only slightly taken aback but stared at him seriously.
"In light of any possibility, Zax, Drayson, Arder and Xackzan have gone to the castle and city gates, and everyone else is searching the castle and the grounds. They'll return here to report soon or hopefully soon. I hope they have good news."
"What could be good about this?" Duven grumbled quietly as Murtagh demanded,
"Have you alerted the city guards?" The rider found himself pacing the floor. Melcar shook his head.
"No sir. That, I am afraid, is your duty. If my men cannot find her, then it becomes the investigation of the next highest authority. In this case, that is you."
Why is this happening, Thorn? We just got back! Taya would not be taken easily…
"Murtagh, look at your feet." Melcar said slowly, and Murtagh stopped and looked down. There, on the rug he was standing on, was blood. It was unmistakable against the rug pattern.
But she could be taken, Murtagh. You must check for the egg! If someone could be foolish and brave enough to take the princess, they would try to take the egg as well. Curse their timing! With the King gone, and you and I barely returned from the battlefield…
With no explanation Murtagh raced past the bodyguards, his heart dreading every step to the egg chamber. If it was gone, and so was Taya, he and Thorn were doomed.
Melcar didn't need an explanation to know where the rider had gone. The look of horror that had come over his face was enough of an explanation.
He knelt beside the blood stains on the floor and pressed his finger to them. It was dry, telling him what he already knew, that Taya had been gone at least a couple of hours. Melcar stood and looked out the window, his heart heavy. He'd failed to keep his princess safe… he'd failed to keep his friend safe.
"Melcar?" A woman's voice said softly from behind him. He felt her touch his shoulder timidly.
"Something's not right about this, Ayda. Something is… off." He said.
"What do you think it is?" She asked, stepping up beside him and looking up at him with worried grey eyes. He looked back at her, wondering if he should confide his thoughts to her.
No, he needed more evidence.
"I don't know yet, but I'm going to find out. How is Kyra?"
Ayda sighed heavily. "We think she'll be alright, but she's still in shock. Raneck was able to calm her down a little. I almost lost it when I saw this place, so I don't blame Kyra at all. This is awful! Who would… well, never mind."
Who would do such a thing like this? Melcar finished her thought for her. That's what I am going to find out. Something is too obvious that we're missing it.
"The others should be back soon with a report." Melcar said, and he looked over at Marthl. "Could you make out any footprints?"
"No sir, the ground is too dry, and the grass too thick. It was a perfect way to escape… sir," Marthl tilted his head, and Melcar reached out with his mind to his fellow bodyguard.
Yes Marthl?
Melcar, the escape route was almost too perfect. I think I understand why you say something is off about this whole thing. That is what I am thinking as well.
Interesting point, Marthl. But let's tread softly with this idea around the others, for the present time.
That is wise. I'll keep it between you and myself for now.
Good. Melcar felt a little relieved knowing that he wasn't the only one with suspicions as to the princess's disappearance.
The first two guards to return looked exhausted and downtrodden. Larel Katzia and Izaak Veriad had gone to the stables and the armory/treasury, and theirs was not an encouraging story.
Izaak, the youngest Hljodhr Evarinya, who had come under their protection/direction by the most interesting circumstances, was too perturbed to speak, so Larel, who was not quite as easily fazed as the 15 year old, shared their report.
"Chester and the grey racer are missing from the stables. While at first I thought it was stupid for someone to take Chester, if that person had any appreciation of horses, he took two of the best horses in the city for traveling. Chester can easily take two people a long distance, and while the racer is shorter, it's a fast horse and in perfect condition. Worse than that find though, we found Davrin, the stable hand, unconscious on the ground outside. We coaxed him awake, but his memory is fuzzy, at least for the moment. Taya wouldn't knock him out, even if she was escaping on her own."
"I don't even see how you could even think of Taya leaving without us!" Izaak fumed. "She wouldn't do that, so stop bringing it up!"
Melcar put up a hand to stop the young man.
"It is a possibility that merits consideration, Izaak, and we cannot afford to lose our tempers at each other." His look sent Izaak into a sullen silence, but no one really blamed him. Melcar wasn't worried about Izaak and his reaction to the situation. He was worried about a different bodyguard.
"Was anything amiss at the armory or treasury?" He asked, breaking the silence.
Larel shook his head. "Nothing we could tell. Everyone was slightly rattled, though. Somehow, some crazy way, the word has gotten around that Taya is missing. Possibly through the kitchens, but that doesn't really matter anymore." Larel said, but Izaak jumped in,
"One of the treasury guards was gone. They said he'd been let off duty this afternoon to go home. He'd received a letter that his sister was deathly ill. They did mention, though, that he's been saying she's been unwell for weeks."
Melcar filed that piece of information away for further investigation at a later time. "It might be true, it might not be. Good work. You two go down to the kitchens and see how Kyra and Raneck are doing. But do not say anything about what you found, and I mean nothing. If rumors are spread, I do not want them to be traced back to the Hljodhr Evarinya. Understood? I'm afraid there's going to be bigger news than the princess's disappearance spreading around soon enough."
They all stared at him for a moment, and it was Izaak who said quietly,
"You mean the egg?"
Melcar said nothing because he knew nothing, but they all understood his thought anyways.
Larel let out a low whistle, and then motioned to Izaak and they left for the kitchens.
"Ayda dear, would you go and fetch a nights worth of candles for in here? And a new lantern?" Melcar looked at her, and she nodded. It was a sensible thing to ask. There was little doubt that they would all be awake and in and out of the room all night.
Ayda disappeared out the door, leaving Melcar and Marthl alone.
"You're worried about Zen, aren't you?" Marthl said, stating rather than questioning. Melcar had learned long ago that almost nothing slipped past the silently observant bodyguard.
"His affection for Taya runs deeper than we like to admit and, I hate to say it, but he's the least stable out of all of us. He's not grounded; he's too unpredictable. We know that, but he hides it well. But there's a hidden mountain inside him, and I'm afraid this might push him over the edge. He will balk at the idea of Taya leaving on her own, just like Izaak, but he will balk far worse."
"He is rash. There's no other way to put it. Without Weston, he'd be dead three times over." Marthl replied bluntly. "He's cunning and smart, but rash."
There was a quick rap on the door and the two men mentioned rushed into the room.
Beside Zen Drayson, Weston Kliviyan was tall, dark haired, and of darker complexion. He was a solid built, broad shouldered man, but also not overly intimidating. His smile was pleasant and friendly, making it easy to like and trust him. But he wasn't smiling now.
He sported a goatee, which made him look older than his 25 years, and it also made him look wise… which he was.
"The guards at the south gate say they let out a man going on a night hunting trip, just at sunset. The dimwitted idiots let him escape scot free!" Zen burst out angrily, and Melcar knew his fears were well founded. Weston put a hand on his friend's shoulder with a stern look on his face.
"There were others they let pass." Weston said, meeting squarely the angry blond man's hot stare. To Melcar, it looked as if they'd been arguing on that point while they were on their way to Taya's room.
"Who goes on a night hunting trip on the same night Taya, the princess, disappears?" Zen replied scornfully, shrugging off Weston's hand from his shoulder.
"They said the horse had a blaze, and no other markings. You and I both know there are no black horses with just a blaze in the stables." Weston replied in turn, but it sounded like he'd made that argument before.
" 'My face is my own.' " Zen scoffed. "That would have been enough for me to take him in."
"Enough!" Melcar scowled, and both men straightened suddenly, Zen looking only slightly chastened though.
"I don't want an argument for a report." Melcar tried not to snap, but his voice was taught and the three other men in the room knew that he was not in the mood to put up with anything, and they knew pushing him was not a good idea.
"The men at the south castle gate said they let out nine people around sunset. Two were maids, one a gardener, three nobles, a treasury guard and two unknowns. One of the unknowns they let out an hour before they shut the gate, and upon inquiry he said he was going on a night hunting trip. He was mounted on a black horse with a blaze, and was outfitted with hunting gear and had a loaded pack horse. He was cloaked and his hood didn't allow for anyone to see his face. Yes, he did say, 'my face is my own,' when the guard told him that they were suspicious of a man who wouldn't show his face. But we even sometimes don't want to be recognized when leaving the castle, so I don't find that as unusual as the gate guards seemed to." Weston gave Zen another pointed look, and then continued. "The last unknown was a man with a loaded donkey, and he left just before the gate closed. The guards said that he seemed to be an old man, and they were fairly certain that they'd seen him before, but they'd never seen his donkey so loaded down. Naturally, those two men are the most suspicious."
"Anything from the other gate?" Melcar asked.
"One man who they hadn't seen before was taking away the usual kitchen leftovers. Other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary."
"Did you tell them what you were looking for?"
"No, sir. I figured it was best if they heard it from someone higher up."
"Good." Melcar nodded wearily. All he wanted was to sit down and sleep, or at that point just disappear into the floor.
"What do the others have to say?" Zen asked, clearly trying to keep his voice calm.
"Xackzan, Kell and Larton haven't reported back from the other gates. Only Larel and Izaak have come back."
"What did they find in the stables?" Zen's blue eyes were alight with a sudden raging fury, but Melcar's black and gold eyes met his look with an ice cold stare.
"Something that will tell us little of who might have done this. I am waiting to hear everyone's reports before I put anything together."
Surprisingly, Zen only nodded. "Taya would do the same." He said in approval.
Melcar visibly relaxed. Zen could have easily flown off the handle at him.
Why was he worrying so much?
He looked over at Marthl.
Why? Because everything was wrong.
Melcar thought it was two hours later when Murtagh stepped into the room crowded with bodyguards. Nearly everyone shivered when he walked in, because his rage was almost potent.
The rider looked at Melcar with blazing eyes and said darkly,
"The egg is gone."
The silence that followed was eerie.
"Thorn and I have flown for miles in every direction, but have found no trace of a lone rider, and we can feel nothing of the egg. The King had placed a spell over the egg so he and I would always be able to feel it." Murtagh paused. "Our thief and kidnapper is likely a magician; possibly an elf. What he did was no small feat… Captain, report."
Melcar looked at the other Hljodhr Evarinya, and then back at Murtagh.
"Chester and another horse were taken. As we all know, Chester is not only black, but he is an ordinary black and one of the fittest horses in the city for a long distance trip. If I were to pick a horse to steal, he would be one of my top choices just by looking at him. Personal items of Taya's, such as her weapons, except for a few, are missing, but almost nothing else of hers is gone. Her tack is in the stables, untouched. There was a struggle here in this room, where she was likely wounded, or she managed to hurt her kidnapper. The guards at the south gate say they let a hunter with a pack horse through before they closed the gate, as well as a man with a loaded donkey. The guards didn't know either. It is possible that either man could have overpowered Taya, strapped her to a pack horse or donkey under baggage for his escape out of the city. The south gate city guards let the hunter pass, but did not find him as suspicious as the castle gate guards did."
"I have contacted the King and informed him of the situation." Murtagh said, and they all knew by his expression that his had not been a painless task. "He will be here by morning. His reaction upon arrival will not be pleasant. Thorn and I are flying out again tonight, and soldiers have already been dispatched to the city and outlying farms and homesteads. We will have no rest for a long time. Everyone will be utilized for the search and investigation. But," Murtagh's expression changed, but they couldn't tell if it was more relieved or annoyed, "the King has intimated that he does not find fault with the Hljodhr Evarinya in the event of Taya's disappearance."
Melcar unconsciously looked at Zen, and saw the blond man's face tighten. The remark, while coming as somewhat of a relief, made them all feel rather incompetent, as if the King was mocking them. But Melcar knew the King was right in his judgment. If someone was going to kidnap Taya Corsallen, they had to factor in getting around her bodyguards, but also a rider and dragon, the King, and countless guards. But if someone really wanted to, they could do it. It was not an impossible feat… obviously.
But to also steal the dragon egg… that had been lucky… Murtagh would be held doubly responsible.
"You know we will do all and more than we are able." Melcar said gravely. "While it is not impossible to swipe our charge from under our noses, we should have made it to be impossible."
Murtagh's expression practically said, 'I know what you mean.'
"I want Xackzan, Weston, Zen, Zax and Duven to join the city search. Katifa, you stay with Kyra but keep your eyes and ears open for anything that might be suspicious. Feist and Arder, you will ride out to the farms, as I know you know some of the people who live out there. Melcar, Ayda and Larel, I want you three in the castle where you can observe, search, and communicate." Murtagh turned abruptly on his heel and left, leaving a room of silent, distraught bodyguards behind.
"I want discretion in your searches." Melcar snapped suddenly, startling them. "Taya and the egg are gone; do not carry a hope that either is in the city any longer. Crashing through peoples' homes will do nothing but inspire panic. I am counting on all of us to behave with discipline and control our tempers. This will not be easy, for any of us. Understood?"
They nodded or mumbled 'yes' in response, and Melcar waved his arm towards the door.
"Off you go, then. And do not give up hope. We know Taya better than anyone, and we know that she would not go without a fight. She will never stop fighting."
Unless she'd dead. A little voice said in the back of his mind but he shook the thought out of his head.
She's not dead, nor will she be. And I will not think it. I will not believe it.
Taya stoked her little fire and looked up.
The sky was alight with the glory of the sunrise, and the vast plain of grass glowed with the morning dew.
She had ridden to the house where her horse Gypsy was, and left the trusty grey racer there in her place as a thank you to the family living there, and then she'd ridden on in haste almost all through the night to put distance between herself and Uru'baen, knowing that Murtagh and Thorn would fly out to search. Her hiding place was a good one, and well camouflaged from the air.
She would not emerge from her shady refuge until evening.
Her horses grazed contentedly by her, untacked and groomed. Taya watched them thoughtfully for a while, and then lay down on her back, staring up into the sky.
She would go to Dras'leona, as that was the last place anyone would expect to find her. Traveling there by night would not be difficult, and on the last day she could take the road and blend in with the traffic going into the city.
But with all her planning, she could not stop worrying about those she'd left behind. She knew she'd hurt Murtagh the most, because the egg and the princess were snatched right from under him. The King would react terribly.
She shuddered, an image of the past surfacing in her mind.
The King was ruthless… she had to stop him. She had to stop him from hurting those she loved. The Varden was her only hope of doing such a thing, but how would they ever trust her, the daughter of their greatest enemy? Why would they ever believe that she wanted her own father's downfall?
She just had to hope, and deal with that mountain when it came time to climb it.
Taya thought of the egg she was using as a pillow, and she smiled. She'd masked the egg's existence with magic so Thorn or Murtagh couldn't feel it, and she was incredibly proud of herself for accomplishing such a great feat.
She closed her eyes, and let a light sleep wash over her. She would hear anyone or anything coming.
One step of her escape was done, but she knew there were many more to take, and they would not be as easy. But she was ready.
Maybe.