Chapter 8: Everything Gets Tricky From Here
Having officially decided to postpone their departure, Taya went to find Raina. Her search ended with the girl's room, and upon knocking and getting no answer, she pushed open the door and peeked inside.
Raina was sprawled on her bed, still dressed in yesterday's clothes, and out cold. Strands of her hair were across her face, and she was lying on her stomach. Taya laughed to herself. Raina reminded her so much of herself, which fueled her belief that the girl was indeed Taya's lost little sister. Stalking quietly up to the bed, Taya leaned over and tickled the back of the girl's neck until she groaned and twitched. Then Taya pinched the girl's sides and jumped backwards, laughing as Raina flew up and off the bed. The girl was so disoriented that Taya grabbed her by the arm to keep her from falling back onto the bed.
"Good Morning, Raina." Taya said brightly, grinning from ear to ear.
Raina blinked a few times, and her hazy eyes became clear after a second, which enabled the girl to glare directly at her.
"What was that for?" She asked moodily, causing Taya to laugh again.
"I guess you aren't a morning person either." She commented lightly, and looked around the room. There was a small, narrow dresser with a mirror hung over it, a bedside table with an oil lamp and a book, a small one door closet, a bed and a window. There was no desk or any other piece of furniture in the room, which was small itself. Taya prowled around, and Raina watched her with a raised eyebrow.
"Did you wake me up just so you could investigate my room?" She asked, confused.
Taya smiled "Not really. Please tell me you have a change of clothes."
"Of course I have a change of clothes!" Raina defended, and then paused. "Actually, my other clothes need to be washed…" She trailed off, looking down at herself.
Taya sniffed the air, and sighed "It smells like fish in here, darling."
"It always smells like fish in here." The younger girl grumbled, sitting back down on the bed.
"What are you doing sitting down for?" Taya scolded, and the girl stood up in a flash. "Just because you don't mind smelling like fish because you always smell like fish doesn't mean I don't mind you smelling like fish."
Raina raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh, but at a gesture from Taya she obediently followed her out of the room and up the stairs. Taya looked around, and then sighed. "I'll be right back." She was flitting back down the stairs before Raina could blink, and was back upstairs a minute later with a towel draped over her arm and a bar of soap in her hand.
"Well, come on then." Taya said, pushing Raina into her room and locking the door. She ushered the girl into the connected wash room, and fiddled around with a large, oversized bucket of water that was ice cold. Raina was afraid Taya would dump the freezing water over her head. It just seemed like something the older girl would do, her being in such a good mood.
Taya made a satisfied noise in the back of her throat and then picked the bucket up easily and dumped the water into the wash tub. Raina gaped at the vapor that came from the water, and then remembered Taya could use magic to heat the water to a warmer temperature.
That is... strange, but cool. She thought to herself. Taya then proceeded to pour some sort of salt into the water and the air suddenly smelled like a mix between lavender and roses. Honestly, Raina didn't like the smell but she didn't voice it. Taya grinned as if she knew what Raina was thinking, and then held the towel and soap out to Raina, who stared at the items with a strange look on her face.
"Wash up. Lakes smell like fish. And so do you. Unless of course you don't know how to clean yourself up…" She eyed Raina's dirty hair as if to make a point.
Raina stared into Taya's eyes, with an eyebrow raised
"I can do it fine myself. And how come you don't smell like fish too?"
Taya laughed. "I'll come in and scrub that head of yours, though. I don't trust you to clean it that well. And I don't smell like fish because I was smart enough to get cleaned up once we got back."
"No you didn't!" Raina retorted "You never left downstairs at all last night!"
"Wrong. After I petitioned Nacar for your freedom and he said yes I came up here and rid myself of the horrible fishy smell. So did Sasha, though she did it later. But you just went to sleep. No wonder your room smells like fish!" Taya grinned, forcing the towel and soap into Raina's hands.
"I'll be in here in five minutes flat." She warned, and closed the door. Raina sighed.
She had so much to learn about Taya, so she guessed she had to start now.
Taya opened her travel bag, pulling out her clothes and surveying them critically. In a minute she had something for Raina to wear, and Taya knew they'd have to do a little shopping for the young teenager.
When the five minutes were up, she knocked on the door and went in, finding Raina buried by bubbles. Taya split up laughing, and Raina had to smile
"I didn't know the stuff you put in here was bubbles!" Raina defended. Taya just laughed and grabbed a stool sitting in the corner.
"You weren't kidding, were you?" Raina queried, shifting in the water as Taya snatched the soap, still grinning ear to ear.
"Nope, I wasn't kidding. Prepare yourself!"
Taya proceeded to swab the girls red hair in soap, and while she did Taya told the girl about life in the castle, and a few stories from her childhood. Raina periodically tossed soap suds at Taya, who would retaliate by splashing water in her face.
When all was finished and Raina was in the clothes Taya had picked out for her, they both sat on Taya's bed, still talking. Then Taya finally changed the subject to more important matters.
"Well, I have some news for you, Raina. I convinced the Tatanya's that Sasha had to go with us, and in turn Niera convinced us to stay here for a little while longer. Most likely so she can question me about her sister and keep Sasha close for a little longer, no doubt. We decided we would stay for an extra month, which suited Nacar and Niera just fine. That will give us more time to prepare for our adventure."
Raina shrugged "Alright. That's fine with me, I guess. Have you told the Tatanya's what happened to your mother yet?"
Taya nodded "Yes I did. Like I said, Niera wants us to stay so she can question me further about what happened to Lenya. Although I will not tell them how she died. That is my secret. But Niera deserved to know what really happened to her beloved sister. Going almost 21 years without an answer is hard."
"Wow… that is a long time. I can't imagine what that would be like." Raina paused, thinking. "What are we going to do for a month?" She asked, running her fingers through her hair.
"Nacar and Niera have offered to let us work here, under pay, until it's time for us to leave. Besides that, it is up to us what we want to do. You're free, so if there's anything you want to do that you couldn't do before, just tell me. We will certainly teach you how to defend yourself, among other things."
Raina sat still, thinking hard. Then she said quietly.
"More of this."
"Say again?"
Raina waved her hand around "More things like this. Talking, laughing, having a good time… like the lake yesterday. I'd never done anything like that before. But…"
Taya smiled. She knew what Raina meant. She too had experienced the same feeling when she was shackled to the castle. But with bodyguards at her disposal, her father had agreed to let her out of the castle at times, giving her a little freedom.
"But what?" She questioned softly.
"It sounds silly." The girl confessed, sighing.
"Come now. Silliness is a good thing sometimes. What is it?"
"I don't know how to be free." Raina looked back up at her. Taya's eyes froze on the girl's serious, pleading face. Her expression was mirrored in her green eyes, and Taya had a sudden, strange feeling run through her, which caused her to shiver.
"Being free… it's just like living. It is living. Being you is being free. You have had a taste of freedom, Raina. Yesterday you were completely free. You were yourself. There is little you cannot do when you are free. But you have not been free, we know this. You have been shackled, but now you have a chance to fight for your true freedom. You must try, push, prod, and do whatever it takes to find yourself. Can you?
Raina contemplated what she said, and then nodded.
"I can try."
"You do that, darling. And no one is going to stand in your way."
Raina smiled.
Taya smiled back, and then after a pause she after softly,
"Raina, have you ever wished to be a princess? Or someone of great importance?"
Raina gaped at her. "Of course not! I couldn't imagine it, so I never wished it. I don't think I'm pretty enough to be a princess, anyways."
Taya shook her head furiously, and her eyes flickering with intensity.
"You are far prettier than many princesses, Raina. Besides, that is certainly not what counts. It's true, so don't try to deny it. If you are going to travel with me as my sister, you are going to have to come to the realization you are…" She stopped suddenly.
Raina stared at her suspiciously. "I am what?"
"Do you actually want to be my sister, Raina?" Taya asked.
Without hesitation Raya replied, "I want with all my heart to be your sister, to have a family. But I know I'll never have that special bond between us that other sisters have."
"How do you know that? And why not? It's been done before."
There was pause, in which time Raina suddenly realized were Taya was going.
"I don't know that." She replied cautiously.
"Exactly. Now, I am going to answer the question you are dying to ask by telling you a story. Just know that I am making nothing of this up. Please try to understand. I will say it like a riddle."
Raina braced herself. Riddles, to her, were things people shot back and forth to each other so fast she couldn't figure out what they were saying or how the riddles were answered. So when Taya started speaking in a soft, story like voice, she found herself carried to another world.
"Once there was a young queen, who had had no choice but to marry the King. Not many knew of her existence, much less the existence of her first daughter. Now, she feared for that daughter, because she did not trust her husband, who was an evil king. When she gave birth to a second daughter in secret, she knew she couldn't keep the child as her own unless she wanted the girl to grow up around evil. So she hid her away from the world. The little princess began to grow up as a captain and a maid's daughter. The beautiful queen visited often with her oldest daughter, and all seemed to be just as it was supposed to be. But three years after the little girl was born, she was kidnapped. And no one could find the kidnappers or the little girl. And so the queen was heartbroken. Her eldest daughter grew to be a beautiful princess, and many men wished for her hand in marriage and tried to court the girl. But men and riches and gold held no interest for the princess and she preferred to train with a sword and learn to shoot a bow and ride horses. There came a time when the princess was twelve years old, and her beloved mother came to her one night and said goodbye, giving her a diary that she was not to open until she knew she must read it. No one ever saw the kind queen alive again. So the eldest princess grew up, and her family was the people who guarded her. She loved one man, but in the later years he was corrupted by power and she was afraid if he continued on his dark journey he would be lost forever. She turned eighteen and her father began to realize she was useful to him. So with her horses and her mother's diary and a treasure she fled. Now throughout these twelve years, no one knows anything about the youngest princess. What happened to her? Is she still alive? The eldest princess stops for a few nights at an inn and one night she picks up her mother's diary and reads. In that diary is all her mother's secrets, how she lived, how she died, and about the second daughter she feared for with her whole heart. So the eldest princess now knows she has a sister. But where is her sister? Is she far away, or is she living in the same inn as her?"
Raina stared, open mouthed at Taya as all this began to sink in. When Taya stopped talking, the air felt like it had just rained. Cool and damp, and full of mystery.
What was Taya trying to say? Raina knew the answer to the riddle, which was more like a fairy tale, was in front of her face. It was all too clear that Taya thought Raina was the queen's lost second daughter and Taya's little sister. Raina couldn't bring herself to believe it though. And yet, why was she so averse to being a princess? And why did it matter if she was a 'princess'? Was it because her father would be the most evil man in the world? That wouldn't make sense because his evil would be blotted out by the fact Taya was her sister.
"Do you see what I ask, Raina?" Taya asked softly, staring into her eyes.
"I do… but I don't know what to think."
The older girl drew Raina into a tight hug.
"It's clear to me who you are. I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were not just any ordinary girl, someone who wasn't meant for this life. Niera also had a feeling that you were more than just a young slave her husband had bought. She said every time she looked at you, she would see her sister. You can still refuse, you know, but I will beg you on my hands and knees if I have to, to come to the realization you are a princess, my sister. Look at me. I am a princess, but do I act like one? Being a princess doesn't have to mean you adore fancy dresses and flirting with men or parties and girly things. In fact, 'princess' is just a title. You are really no different from any other person. A lord can call himself a lord, but he is really just a human being, like the lowliest slave he owns."
"I…I want to be your sister with all my heart…I just don't know if I can be what everyone would want me to be." Raina said hesitantly. Suddenly, Taya realized what was holding Raina back. 'What everyone would want me to be'.
Taya held the fifteen year old at arms length and lowered her head so she was looking straight into Raina's eyes.
"You can be whoever you want to be, Raina. What other people think of you is irrelevant, just as long as you make sure you don't lose yourself and that you listen to people's advice. You can act like a crazy, insanely hyper fifteen-year-old and although some people will look down on you, others will not. Everyone should respect what you do and how you live your life, just as long as you live your life well and care about others. Do you see? You be who you want to be. Do not let anyone control you. If you give in and be who everyone wants you to be, you are a slave. That is what a slave is. Someone who becomes what someone else wants them to be, and they do everything they are told because that is who they have become."
Raina took all of what Taya said to heart and nodded.
"Does that nod mean you have come to the realization that you are my sister?" Taya asked hopefully, smiling at Raina.
"Yes."
"I don't think it has sunk in yet, my dear little sister. Also, I know that you were named after the rain by Nacar, Niera and Sasha, but as you know, 'Raina' is not your real name, although it is quite similar to it. Your mother, our mother, named you Raya after the stars in the sky and the year you were born. All ties to the world you lived in now have fallen from you. Don't look back. Look ahead."
One thing right after the other. Raya thought to herself. Now she had to have a new name? But Taya was right, her real name wasn't much different from her old one. And to make it even more appropriate, her name was almost exactly like Taya's. Raya Corsallen…
Taya hugged her sister again and whispered in her ear.
"Sister."
Raya suddenly shivered, and everything began to sink in.
Now she was truly free.
Could life get any worse?
Melcar Di'Acor thought to himself as he walked down the deserted corridor to his room on the west side of the castle.
Apparently so.
Not only had Taya disappeared after a 'raid', but Zen Drayson had gone off the deep end. It had been only a week and a half since Taya had suddenly vanished, leaving the Hljodhr Evarinya bodyguards, the Silent Stars floundering. Once the word that the princess had disappeared had spread through the castle, everyone had a hard time being able to stay calm. Luckily, the Hljodhr Evarinya had not been blamed, as they had no more ideas about what had happened than anyone else. Only one man was missing from the castle that Melcar knew of, and there was a good chance he was a Varden spy, but one man could not have subdued Taya Corsallen. There was no way.
Even though the armory and Taya's chamber were in total disarray and it looked like a war -zone, Melcar was the only one at the moment who believed that Taya had purposefully done it all and had left on her own. He had yet to tell this to any of the Hljodhr Evarinya, for many reasons. One of the main reasons was that he had a feeling no one would believe him. Taya had done such a good job of covering up her escape that she had almost fooled him. She had even taken more than 5 horses from the stable with all their tack. That could have been done easily by tacking the horse, mounting and riding out of the castle grounds and selling horse and tack somewhere in the city. That also went for the stolen weapons from the armory. But what made the king so furious was that the last dragon egg had also been taken, and its guards killed or wounded. And it had all been done under Murtagh's nose. The king had been visiting his domain when this all happened and had returned that night when Murtagh informed him of what had happened. Needless to say, he had not been happy.
Melcar sighed deeply and when he reached his room, went in, lit the lamp and sat down on the bed.
He had always known being the Captain of a bodyguard group was hard, but it was even more difficult when the woman they were supposed to be the bodyguards of vanished.
Zen Drayson, who everyone knew had a deep soft spot for Taya, had pulled away from the Hljodhr Evarinya. Just in the last two days he had looked different, and he hardly said a word to any of them, even Weston, who was his best friend. Melcar was uneasy about the new Zen, and said so to everyone else. They, mostly Ayda and Weston, said it was a phase and it would pass, but Melcar had a gut feeling that the only way this new 'phase' of Zen's would disappear would be if he was killed, or Taya herself came back and convinced him she was alive.
Melcar kicked off his boots and picked up a book beside his bed, but found it next to impossible to read. He and Ayda had had their first fight in nearly a year that evening. Melcar, being uneasy about Zen, had threatened to cut him directly off from the group, discharging him from the Hljodhr Evarinya. Ayda, who was almost as good a friend to Zen as Melcar was, had protested. She had said he didn't have a heart… that he was going to ruin Zen by tossing him out of the Hljodhr Evarinya. Melcar, who cared about Zen as a brother would, couldn't take anyone saying he didn't care about the young man, even if it was the woman he loved. It had gone downhill from there and had ended with Ayda bursting into tears and Melcar pounding his head against a wall. All the Hljodhr Evarinya had heard it, except Zen, and Melcar wondered who was on whose side.
Could Ayda not understand that by being the Captain, and with no Taya to lead them, he had the fates of every one of them weighing on his shoulders?
He let out a frustrated sigh.
He stood up and went onto the balcony, leaning against the stone railing and breathing in the cool night air. He was out there for almost a half an hour when he noticed someone down in the courtyard. Frowning, he looked closer. No, it was two people now. That wasn't too odd, as it was Taya's courtyard and it could be any of the Hljodhr's down there, but he knew for a fact it wasn't.
Going back into his room he pulled his boots on again and slipped out into the hallway. He jogged down the hallway and to the stairs that led down to the courtyard. As he got closer, he heard soft voices and he slowed down, not wanting to be heard. When he entered the covered awning, he hugged the wall and snuck behind a tree close to the two speakers. His blood ran cold as he recognized the voice of Sen Karees, Galbatorix's captain who had nearly tortured Melcar to death a few years ago.
"You are sure no one knows of this meeting?" Karees growled softly, and Melcar almost groaned when he heard Zen's cold reply,
"Would I have told you to come here if someone did know of it?"
"One can never know with a Hljodhr Evarinya." Karees spat and Melcar heard Zen growl in answer.
"Very well. The king agrees with you, that the Hljodhr Evarinya should be left alone. For now. They weren't responsible for Corsallen's disappearance, and so they will not undergo any examination. But you know they cannot stay here, in the castle, forever. Also, the King has decided you are right about what needs to happen concerning the princess, and is working on the details. Apparently you have found favor with him, Drayson."
"Perhaps it's the fact that I managed to stay alive and have been living under his nose."
"You've been hiding behind Corsallen's skirt, that's what you've been doing." Karees growled. Melcar wanted to cringe when Zen laughed.
"Hiding is not what I would have called it. Biding my time maybe. I still have not forgiven you for what you tried to do."
"I regret not making sure you were completely dead." Karees snapped.
"Continue regretting it. It gives me a tiny sliver of pleasure to know you are irked by the fact I am still alive."
"You'd better be thankful the King won't allow me to kill you, Drayson, because I'm sorely tempted."
"You can try, but I doubt you could. I've learned a lot in the past few years, Karees. If the King has any news, tell me. The others don't know what's going on, so keep it quiet."
"I might if you stop ordering me around, lieutenant." Karees growled again. It was clear to Melcar that Zen was goading the man, and Melcar wished Zen would remember who he was, grow up, and get out of there.
To both men's surprise, Zen laughed heartily at this.
"Don't give me that rubbish, Karees. I get enough of that as it is."
There was a stony silence, as if the two were glaring at each other.
Then Sen said in a low, calculating voice,
"Until next time then, Drayson. Make sure no one heard this conversation or else I will kill you."
"How could anyone know of this conversation? I am not that stupid."
"That depends."
Zen snarled, but Melcar heard the sound of retreating footsteps and he realized Sen had left. Knowing staying where he was would be a bad thing, he snuck around the way he had come, and as he melted into the shadows of the stairs he heard and intake of breath and quick footsteps behind him.
Shoot. Curse me for teaching Zen to be so aware.
The captain shot up the stairs and through the corridors and skidded to a halt at his room door, opened it quickly and shut it behind him without a sound. He turned around and saw Ayda standing by the fire, and he quickly walked over to her and took her hands in his, saying quietly and firmly,
"I have been here a long time."
Ayda frowned, but nodded slowly. "You have been here a long time."
Seconds later, there was a knock on the door and Melcar raised his hand and counted to five, then walked over to the door and opened it slowly and casually. Zen stood there, cloaked in his black and silver Hljodhr Evarinya cloak and he had a very grim, stony expression on his face.
"Melcar." He greeted.
"Hello Zen. What brings you by at this time of night?"
Zen peered at his face, but only saw curiosity.
"You didn't happen to hear anyone running down the corridor just now, did you?" He asked softly. Melcar frowned. "No, I can't say I did. Are you after someone?"
"I thought I was. It was probably just some servant girl running to her chores."
"I hope so. We don't need anymore good-for-nothing's running around the castle unchecked." Melcar mused. Zen nodded, and when Ayda came into view behind Melcar he seemed to give up and he bowed his head, saying,
"Thank you, Melcar. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Zen." Ayda called and Melcar said softly as the man walked away down the hall,
"Goodnight."
He shut the door and they stood silently for a full two minute and Melcar opened the door again and looked out, extending his senses. Zen was nowhere near. He shut the door again with a sigh and turned to Ayda, who took his hands in hers.
"Please tell me what this is all about. I came to apologize for what I said to you earlier, it wasn't right of me to accuse you. I realized afterwards that, since you are our captain, all responsibility has fallen on your shoulders and you care for everyone like family…I wasn't thinking. Will you forgive me?"
She looked so beautiful and hopeful that Melcar had to chuckle, then he bent down slightly to kiss her on the cheek.
"Of course you are forgiven, dearest Ayda. Everyone is under stress of late… but I need you to know that, now more than ever, we must be wary of Zen. He's taking the situation worse than any of us could have dreamed."
He proceeded to tell her everything that he had heard, and Ayda was so shocked she had to sit down on Melcar's bed.
"How could he?" She whispered despairingly.
"I don't know. I really don't know. It's like he's possessed by something… but I know he's done all this on his own. The only thing we can hope for is he will come to realize what he's doing is wrong… but we have to brace ourselves because there may come a time when I will have to separate him from the Hljodhr Evarinya and he will cease to be anything like the man we know, and love."
"Do you think Taya knows what is going on?" Ayda asked softly, looking up into his eyes. Melcar sighed and said,
"I highly doubt it. How could she? But I know she hasn't forgotten us, wherever she is."
The next day was full of fun for the united family, and Sasha, Raya and Taya once again rode their horses to Leona Lake and spent the whole day in the sun. The two older girls made sure Raya had the best month of her life before they set out on their journey to the Varden, and Raya was thankful for that.
One evening, a week after Taya had arrived in Dras'leona and two and a half weeks since she left Uru'baen, the girls were busy downstairs. It was some sort of holiday in the city, which caused the inn to be bustling with people eager for a drink. Taya and Raya were waiting tables while Sasha and her mother manned the bar. Nacar was in and out, working with his new stable hand to settle horses for the night and going between customers. The new stable-hand was Jerdan Caldell. He had turned out to be an old friend of the Tatanya's, having grown up with Sasha.
Most people who came to the inn didn't know Raya had been freed, so every once in a while someone would start talking smack about the teenager. But Raya took it all lightly, brushing it all off until the person didn't think it was fun anymore. But that night was different. One over-boisterous man yelled over at Raya as she passed by, even though she was right next to him,
"Hey, you! Refill my cup before I give you a good lashin' for your slowness!" Everyone around the man roared with laughter and echoed him.
Raya froze, and Taya watched as the girl's face suddenly hardened and she rolled her eyes, turning around stiffly and walked up close to the man. He stared at her and asked with a wild hand gesture,
"Well? Are you comin' for that lashin'? I'd gladly give it ya, slave. Your master is treating you too well, he is. Eh! Na-" He was suddenly cut off as Raya backhanded him hard across his face and he fell over backwards with a crash. She kept her hand in the air, and everyone gaped at the black brace that marked her as free person.
The room had gone silent, and Raya spoke down to the man in a cool voice,
"I am no longer a dog to be ordered around. No person should be treated as dirt and whether you would think so or not, the people who you call slaves are usually more human than you are." She glared around at anyone in her line of sight, and Taya couldn't hide her smile and her admiration.
Raya turned on her heel and continued back to the bar, where she deposited her dirty mugs. Taya turned and watched as two of the men at the table stood and heaved their companion up, supporting him fully. He was mumbling something, but no one heard what he said. His companions apparently had decided it wasn't worth it to stay at the inn any longer. Taya was glad they took the initiative of leaving, and wished them well as she opened the door for them. Hopefully they would find their way home.
She then shut the door and made her way back to the bar, where Sasha, Raya, Nacar and Jerdan were. Taya put an arm around Raya's shoulders and smiled widely at her.
"You were magnificent, Raya. I'm glad you were able to stand up for yourself. That was… unexpected and very dramatically done!"
Raya laughed, shaking her head.
"What is sad is that it was easy to hit him. I've never had the urge to do that, or the strength. I think I'm a little shocked."
"Don't worry. Change itself is shocking, and sometimes it happens quickly. Just don't go making a habit of smacking people. Most will hit back, and hit back harder."
"Believe me, I won't! I feel bad now that I did hit him."
"This may sound cruel, but don't. He had it coming, and you happened to be the one strong enough to check him. Hopefully he will have learned something. I doubt we will ever know that though." Taya gave her shoulders a squeeze, and then turned to Nacar.
"Is there a chance I can be finished down here? I'd like to check something upstairs."
Nacar nodded. "That's fine, Taya. We can hold down the fort. It's late, so I doubt many more people will come in, and we will close up pretty soon. I'll let Sasha and Raya off in a couple minutes."
"Thanks you! I'll be right back." Taya turned and headed towards the stairs just as Colt and Dierik Silwona walked through the door.
"Come to join in the festivities?" Taya asked jokingly, and Dierik rolled his eyes.
"You could say so…" He said, and then he and Taya watched as Colt made a beeline to where Sasha was. Dierik shook his head.
"He has been chomping at the bit to get here all evening. I swear he doesn't shut up about your cousin. I don't want him to get his feelings hurt, but I can't control who he likes any more than I can control the elements. I don't think he knows that Sasha had a relationship a few years ago. I don't know much about it myself, but I understand that the two were very close until the man was conscripted into the army. He has hardly been heard of since. Colt is a good guy, and I'm not just saying that because he's my twin. It's true."
Taya's ears perked up about Sasha's mysterious relationship. She knew Sasha had had a relationship with someone, but she'd never stuck her nose into the subject. If Sasha wanted to confide in her, she would. But the subject always aroused her curiosity.
"I believe you, Dierik, I believe you. I'm going up to my room, but I'll be back down in a little bit. Will you two stay long, do you think?"
"Well, considering the fact I'll have to drag Colt out of here, yes we will be here a while. Mister Tatanya may get fed up with us and have you send us on our way."
"Yes, I'm so sure he would." Taya snickered, and then bounded up the stairs. She'd had a good reason for coming up here, away from all the commotion. Silence was glorious, but now she wondered what her real hurry had been. She sighed, and sat down on the bed and took out her mother's diary. For a long time she merely stared at the leather binding, her mind miles away.
Oh Melcar... I've left you with the whole Hljodhr Evarinya to look after... was it right for me to leave you with such a huge responsibility? We've shared the leadership for so long... what if something was to go wrong? Oh how I wish I knew what was going on in Uru'baen...
As Taya stood to get a bowl of water, she paused, thinking she'd heard something. The hair on the back of her neck slowly stood on end and Taya cautiously walked to the wash room, retrieved a bowl of water and sat back down on her bed. There was silence in the room. Still, Taya felt suspicious as she whispered into the bowl the 'dream stare' spell and when it went black, she jumped when a loud 'clunk' shattered the silence.
Unnerved, Taya forced herself to watch the water as it swirled and shifted, revealing Melcar standing in front of Ayda, Weston, Xackzan, Larel and Larton. All had stony expressions on their faces. Melcar's lips moved, and Weston suddenly sprang forward, looking as if he had half a mind to strike at Melcar. Ayda jumped in between the two men, her eyes smoldering. Taya could only imagine what she was saying, but whatever the meeting was about it was about something serious. Weston squeezed his eyes shut and stepped back.
But instead of looking at the water in the bowl, Taya's eyes were riveted on her satchel, lying a few feet away from her bed. The bag was shaking. Taya shook her head furiously and looked intensely back at the bag, only to find it still shaking. Realization dawned on Taya, causing her to begin hyperventilating. This wasn't happening…. She couldn't be…
Cautiously Taya undid the buckles on her bag and extracted the shaking dragon egg. When her hands touched the egg though, it let out a high pitched screech, causing Taya to drop it. The egg went still, and she eyed it warily. Maybe it was a false alarm… Taya'd never had a staring contest with an inanimate object before, but there was no other way to describe her intent stare. When the egg jerked suddenly, Taya jumped.
The egg shivered… and then shattered.
Taya yelped as little fragments of emerald egg flew in all directions, and in the place of the brilliant egg was the cutest, most beautiful creature she'd ever seen, if you could call a baby dragon cute.
Even now its head was majestic, its wings nearly twice as large as its body. The creature shivered from head to tail, falling over with a squeak. Shaking its head indignantly, it started licking itself, looking incredibly funny as it stretched its head around to reach the little glistening white spikes on its back. Only when it'd snaked its head all the way around did it see Taya, who was watching the little creature with admiration and awe. Upon seeing her, it let out another squeak, this time in surprise. It did a little circle, and then cautiously, very slowly, approached her with a curious light in its eyes. It stopped a little way from her, cocked its head to the side and grumbled oddly.
Taya frowned, and the dragon jumped back a step. She realized he was surprised by her change of expression, and so she wiped the frown off her face. She had no idea what to do… Murtagh had told her that when Thorn had touched him, it had sent a mind numbing shock up his arm, knocking him down and unconscious for an hour. She knew that first hand because she'd been the one to bring him out of it.
She took in a deep breath, and slightly stretched out her hand. The baby dragon cocked its head the other way, then with a swish of it tail, it reached out its neck and touched the tip of her finger with its nose.
Searing, white hot pain engulfed her whole body, and she let out a moan. It felt like someone had branded her and then tossed her in icy water. But that was all she felt, because a second after the dragon touched her, Taya was a heap on the floor, knocked unconscious by the force of the dragons touch.
The emerald dragon tiptoed up to her and nudged her with its nose. It squeaked, and when Taya didn't respond it nudged her fingers. Still nothing happened and the creature curled up beside her, watching her with intense green eyes.
Taya awoke with a jerk, finding herself on the floor. It took her a second to remember why she was there, but when she did she froze. She felt the strange pressure against her side and slowly turned her head to stare at the little creature. She met its calm green eyes and smiled slightly. She remembered when Thorn was that small…
"Hey there." She whispered, reaching out to touch the baby dragon. She knew there wouldn't be a second shock. She didn't have to look at her hand to know the Gedway Ignasia was imprinted there. But the fact that she was the last dragon rider scared her. The green dragon pressed its little head into the palm of her hand and then yawned. It looked around, sniffing the air. Standing, it waddled over to Taya's bag and began to sniff around.
"I bet you're hungry." When Taya spoke, the dragon whirled around, cocking its head at her. "You know hungry? Food? Eat? Hungry is that funny feeling in your stomach." Taya joked. Then she realized she had no food in her room and it would look slightly odd if she went downstairs and took a couple slices of meat with her back upstairs.
"Well, I blew this one. Except I didn't know I'd have a baby dragon hatch in my room, otherwise I would have stocked up on provisions!" She stood, feeling slightly dizzy and headed for the door. However weird it looked, she had to feed the creature. As she was putting her hand on the door to open it, the baby dragon squeaked loudly and with a clatter barreled over to her and climbed up her leg.
"Ouch! Down, you crazy lizard! One thing has to be made straight… I am not climbable!" She grabbed the dragon and set it down on her bed.
Stay here. I'll be right back. There's no need to be frightened. I'm going to get you some food.
The dragon jumped and stared into her eyes with such intelligence that Taya chuckled and scratched its head.
"See, all is well." This time when she went to the door the dragon stayed stock still, watching her as she left. Taya shook her head as she closed the door, and suddenly it all came crashing down on her.
She was the last dragon rider. The last dragon had hatched for her in Dras'leona, one of the king's cities. More than that how was she, Taya, supposed to continue feeding the dragon without being noticed by everyone? She couldn't raise the dragon in the room… it would grow too quickly. So she needed to tell Sasha and Raya… no one else needed to know. What would they think? Taya was putting them all in even more danger because she was now the last dragon rider.
They had nearly a month to decide what to do. So when would she tell them?
"This has been the most interesting few weeks of my life… and everything will only get more interesting. I have a huge responsibility on my shoulders now… the lives of millions count on me, can I do it? Can I save Alagaesia? Will anyone accept me because of my father?"
She whispered all this to herself as she went down the stairs and into the kitchen. She got a glass of water and as she did so she spotted a few pieces of jerky on the counter. Stealing a glance around, she stepped forward and snatched all but two and went back to drinking her water. No one was close to her, so she was able to slip back upstairs without drawing too much attention to herself. Once upstairs she opened her door and was met by a fierce growl.
Easy little one, it's just me. Good job on the growl. If it was someone else they would have fled for their life. Here, I brought you something.
Taya sat on the bed and held out a piece of the jerky. The dragon sniffed it and gingerly took it off her hand and then attacked it with a passion. Taya chuckled at the sight as the dragon wrestled the piece of jerky, tearing it to shreds with its sharp teeth and then swallowing it. She handed it another piece and this time it didn't attack the strip with as much ferocity.
"What do you think? Good stuff?" Taya questioned as the dragon finished the last piece. It looked up at her with its emerald eyes and sighed. "I agree. So much has changed now that it's hard to think." As she said this, there was a knock on the door. The dragon jumped up and growled low in its chest. Luckily the sound was so soft Taya could hardly hear it.
"Yes?" She asked mildly, glancing cautiously at the dragon.
"It's us! Can we come in?" It was Raya's voice. Taya was suddenly undecided. Did she want Raya and Sasha to see her dragon now? Or was it too early? But then again, why not? What could it hurt to have them see the baby dragon? They were going to find out soon enough.
"One second." Taya said and stood up. She looked down at the dragon, which looked up at her.
They are friends. Their names are Raya and Sasha. They are my sister and my cousin. Would you like to meet them? We will be traveling with them soon. They can be trusted. She sent her emotions across their link and the dragon nodded its head once and sat down, looking expectantly at the door. Taya frowned again. At this age Thorn had not been so… responsive. In fact, after Thorn had eaten he'd fallen straight to sleep. And yet her dragon showed no signs of falling asleep. Taya shook her head. She opened the door and stepped out. The look on her face must have been a serious one, because both Raya and Sasha seemed slightly taken aback.
"There is something you two need to know. I swear this has only just happened. Come inside and I can show you. Be prepared for something seemingly impossible." She slipped back in and shut the door behind them quickly. Their eyes caught sight of the magnificent little dragon sitting on Taya's bed watching them like a hawk. Raya's eyes grew to the size of saucers while Sasha gasped.
"You have got to be kidding." Sasha breathed, looking towards Taya, who shook her head.
"This is no joke. I am now the last dragon rider and this is my dragon… umm, he doesn't have a name yet."
"He just hatched…" Sasha caught sight of the egg fragments, and then she looked back at Taya in astonishment. The baby dragon growled softly, disliking her expression, but then it looked at Raya. Raya's eyes were riveted to the creature as if it was some sort of demon. The expression of fear on her face must've scared the poor thing because it whimpered once, confused by the conflicting emotions and Raya's unnerving stare.
"Raya, he won't hurt you. I know this is a lot. In fact I only woke up a few minutes ago." She lifted her palm for them to see the mark that identified her as a Dragon Rider. The silver mark was glowing softly and around its edges the skin was inflamed. Her hand ached horribly, but she did her best to suppress the feeling.
Sasha stared at the Gedway Ignasia. "You know this puts you, us, in even more danger?" She asked softly, already knowing her answer.
"I do. The three other dragons will know instinctively that he has hatched. Murtagh's search will be doubled. Maybe that will help us… He will be frantic to find the last dragon rider, me, which means he might accidentally skip looking here in Dras' Leona. We can only hope. But if we stay here for the rest of the month our odds of getting to the Varden safely are cut in half. And he," She motioned to the dragon, "cannot stay in my room forever, but I don't want him to be too far away. When he gets big enough, we can take him out to Leona Lake maybe, or somewhere close to it. He needs to learn to hunt for himself. But right now… I guess I can keep snatching jerky and meat for him."
"Had you ever thought he might hatch for you?"
Taya made a strange noise in the back of her throat. "Of course not, Sasha! Who would want the allegiance of Galbatorix's daughter, even if she was a Dragon Rider? This only makes everything more complicated." Taya sat down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. The baby dragon nudged her arm and wrapped its tail around her arm, as if trying to comfort her.
"He's so… cute." Raya suddenly whispered, having apparently changed her mind about the creature, and the dragon slowly turned its head to the sound of the new voice and he suddenly purred. Taya couldn't help grinning as she looked up at her sister. "I think he has decided he likes you, Raya."
"I hope he likes all of us. He's kind of stuck with us…" Sasha smiled.
"Just his luck. He has to live with three girls. The only male… I'm sure he will keep us in line." Taya stroked the baby dragons head, staring into its green eyes… green eyes similar to hers.
I am the last dragon rider... I never even dreamed this would happen. For me it is a blessing and a curse. If my father wasn't Galbatorix the Varden would welcome me with open arms. Knowing that I am Galbatorix's daughter will make them wary of me being a spy or a traitor. What do you think we can do, little guy?
The dragon's gaze softened and he nudged her arm again.
Don't worry, we will figure something out. I am the last Dragon Rider, and we are somehow going to make it to the Varden in one piece. We may have to dodge Murtagh and Thorn and other obstacles, but we are going to make it and everything will be fine. I know it...
"Now what, Taya?" Sasha questioned, dragging her from her thoughts. Taya looked up, away from the dragon and sighed. "Now we must be extra careful. This little guy is my life now, and we are all even more vulnerable to the enemy." Now I know why Murtagh gave in to Galbatorix's torture once he started hurting Thorn... but I cannot do that! I will not give in. "Everywhere we turn on our journey there will be danger; every step we take will be in defiance of Galbatorix. Are we ready for that? Are we ready to be hunted?"
Raya's eyes narrowed. "To be hunted? No. To go, yes. Whatever comes our way, we'll be ready."
Sasha nodded once. "I am ready to go too. We may be vulnerable, but it is easier to stay hidden and be more cautious when you are the one being hunted. And we knew there would be danger. Now we have a dragon, although a small one."
"Alright." Taya sighed, relieved by their display of strength. She knew it was not easy to face such danger head on. "I told Dierik I would be back down… but I don't want to leave this little guy up here alone. Hmm. I wonder…."