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 inconveniance. I am not trying to confuse you! Later on, after chapter 28, things mostly fit together with the revised chapters of the story.

This is Chapter 14, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

The next morning Taya went out to the stable to check if the three strangers were gone. Sure enough their horses and tack were missing, and when she asked Jerdan Caldell how long they'd been gone he said they had left only a few minutes before.

Feeling lucky and strangely excited, Taya went back in and aroused Sasha and Raya, and they hurried to get ready and go to the lake.

Kabarak was more than ready to get out and stretch his wings, and especially hunt. Being cooped up in the room was incredibly unpleasant, he said, and as he was growing it was that much more unpleasant. Plus he was rather grouchy, which they decided was due to the fact that he probably wasn't getting enough food to sustain him and his growing. It would look strange if half the contents of the kitchen suddenly went disappeared, so Kabarak was on something of a diet.

Once they were a good ways away from the city they let Kabarak out, and he immediately flew high above their heads and performed all sorts of maneuvers, really stretching his wings and putting himself through his paces.

"I think he's serious about this growing thing." Raya commented lightly. "It almost looks like he's trying to get his wings to be longer, the way he's straining them!"

Taya nodded, and then said privately to Kabarak,

Don't hurt yourself. Having you strain your wings and accidentally pull something is not on my agenda for the day.

He merely grunted a reply to her and then sped away, closer to the ground this time, and the girls went back to talking as he went off to hunt. They weren't worried about him running across anybody, and they knew that Kabarak could easily hide himself. He was still on the small side.

"So, what do you think Eric and his friends' business is here? I know it could be anything from trivial to very important, but if you're right Taya, and they are important people, what do you think they could be doing?" Sasha asked curiously. Taya frowned, thinking about it for a long minute.

"Well, I guess it all depends on which side they are on, if they even have a side. They could be hired mercenaries for all we know. Dras'leona is sort of a halfway point in Alagaesia, and you have a bunch of lords who have direct contact with the King living here. The Katzia's, for instance. But you also have a strong band of underground people who are against the King. That is, a number of people who disagree with his rule and not necessarily a band of people like the Varden. There is something far too different about Eric and his friends for them to be here on trivial business, I'm thinking. But as of today I cannot imagine what their business is here. I just know that I don't trust them."

"I can't wait until we get to the Varden. Hopefully it will be easier to trust people." Raya said quietly, looking off towards the south with a longing expression. Taya kept her face impassive. She was thinking; thinking of what the Varden would think of her, do with her... especially since she was Galbatorix's daughter and the last rider. Things could get very tricky once they reached the Varden. Of course, that wasn't going to stop her or sway her from her ultimate decision, but it was certainly something to think about.

Sasha looked over at Taya and easily read her blank expression. It was not hard to guess what she was thinking about, with her silence after Raya's comment. Suddenly Taya returned her look and smiled brightly.

"Not to worry. We'll get there in due time, no matter what. In the meantime, we have things to prepare for."

"Right… like what?" Sasha queried hesitantly.

"Like trying not to make fools of ourselves when sparring against Eric and Randen, traveling through the wilderness, fighting, things like that. There's a lot more to learn before we go, so we can be prepared for whatever comes our way."

"Of course… whatever comes our way?" Sasha repeated.

"The future is uncertain, my dear cousin. We must be prepared for anything."

Eragon, alias Eric, stepped into the saddle of his horse beside Arya and Roran outside of one of the Dras'leonan mansions, and shook his head in wonder.

"That was a lot easier than I expected. I had no idea a man so close to the King could be so sympathetic to our cause."

"It is hard to know a man's heart, Eric. From what I know of this man and his family, he has not had such a good relationship with the King, although there is really nothing to point to it except his willingness to meet with us and discuss an agreement with us." Arya said from beside him. Her expression was clouded, and he wondered what she was thinking.

"From what I can tell he is a very intelligent man." Roran commented from Eric's other side. "But there's something else behind this move of his, I'm thinking. I doubt we'll ever find out though."

"Who knows? But at this rate our visit here will take a lot less time than we'd thought, which is good. It means less time to figure out who Tanyel Cavrona is, but it is better that we return home as soon as may be."

"I agree, Eric." Arya nodded. "You will of course keep up your offer to help her teach her cousin and sister?"

"Every chance I have."

"Good. I think I am more than capable of handling the proceeding negotiations on my own, except for when I need you for the details and the final decision. You and Randen may stay at the Inn when I don't need you and get to know her and her family." At their skeptical looks and before Eragon could protest, Arya continued softly. "She is hiding something, Eric. I think she is hiding something very important, or she might be what is so important. You are the best out of us who can find out what we need to know. Besides, negotiations like this are usually tedious and boring. This man certainly may not take as long as most, but I have a feeling you would much rather be doing something other than negotiating. And I can take of myself. It is not too far from the Inn, and we can still communicate."

Eragon was reluctant to agree, but he finally did and all the rest of the way back to the Inn they were silent, each of them thinking privately to him or herself. It was midafternoon by the time they dismounted outside the stables, and on leading their horses inside they found Raya Cavrona and Sasha Tatanya brushing their horses. Tanyel Cavrona was nowhere in sight, but her black horse stood in the aisle, un-tacked.

"Good afternoon!" Sasha greeted, turning to them with a smile. "How are you all?"

"Fine, thank you. And you?" Eragon asked, looking around for any sign of Tanyel.

Sasha seemed to notice who he was looking for. "Oh, I think we are all doing very well. Tanyel just went to put away our stuff."

At Eragon's questioning look, Raya piped in.

"We went for a ride and a picnic."

"Ah. And you're just now getting back?"

"Yes. It was a long, fun day. And how did your day go?"

"Very smoothly." Eragon replied as he tied his horse to its stall and proceeded to un-tack it and rub it down. "Actually, it went so smoothly that we might not be here as long as we thought!"

"Really?" Raya truly sounded disappointed. "How long do you think you'll be staying now?"

"For a week at the least, I think. It's always nice when business is easy."

"Oh… that doesn't seem like very long."

"No indeed. But that means we will be able to go home sooner, which is very good."

Eragon was feeling the two young ladies out, trying to get them to say something that could give him a little bit more information about them, and Tanyel Cavrona.

"Do you have much family in Gil'ead?" Raya asked innocently. She was feeling slightly awkward, especially with the way Eric was talking. She didn't really know what to say. She was wishing Taya would come back out and take over the talking.

"Some, but most of my family is spread out over all of Alagaesia." Eragon hit a stalemate on how to continue. He'd left himself wide open for her question, but he didn't know if he should also answer for Roran and Arya. He decided not to, since she'd seemed to specifically ask him.

And then, to the relief of both, Tanyel walked into the stable.

"Good afternoon, Eric, Randen, Aryana." She said kindly. "I hope your day has been a good one?"

"Yes, it has, Tanyel. I hear that yours has been as well." Eric replied.

She smiled widely and chuckled. "Yes, it certainly has been! It is just so nice to get out and be free. There's so much in life that has a habit of weighing us down. Are we still going to spar this afternoon?"

"I was planning on it."

"Excellent! I am very glad you offered to help us out. You'll probably want to take it easy for a little bit before we get started, since you've been gone all day. And since it's a little hot still, what if we started in an hour or so?"

Eragon was taken aback by her enthusiasm, but did his best to match it.

"That will work quite well." Eragon closed the door of his horse's stall and hung the halter up before he turned back to Tanyel. "I'll meet you in the back in about an hour, then."

"We will be there."

Eragon nodded, and left the stable. Arya had already gone in, and Roran left with him. As they walked the few steps to the Inn, Roran asked quietly,

"What do you think has her in such a good mood?"

"Probably what she said, about it being nice to get out and be free. I certainly know what that feeling is like." Eragon's expression changed, and Roran noticed. He decided it would be better not to pursue that topic. It was easy to remind Eragon of just how far away from Saphira he was, and Roran had a feeling that was what his cousin was thinking of now. So he slapped him on the shoulder and entered the building, Eragon close behind him.

"So how are you going to help her teach? I'm curious." Roran suddenly inquired. Eragon paused, and then shrugged.

"I don't really know. Just however I can help I guess, but it all depends on their skill level and how fast they learn. Tanyel is a good fighter, and I am wondering how much she was able to pass on to Sasha and Raya before we arrived. I can't see her being a horrible teacher."

"I guess we will find out soon enough."

"Yes we will."

They met as planned in the back behind the Inn an hour later, Tanyel with Sasha and Raya, Eragon with Roran. Arya had stayed up in her room, which hadn't really surprised Eragon or Tanyel for that matter.

They all stood there in silence for a minute, and then Eric asked,

"So, how do we start?"

Tanyel chuckled. "Well, actually I was waiting to see how you would start, since you offered to help me teach them. How would you like to start out?"

Eragon frowned, and then shrugged and looked at Sasha and Raya, who looked very much put on the spot.

"We'll start off by you two showing me what she taught you, and then we'll go from there. How about that?"

"I think it's a good way to start, Eric." Taya nodded, and drew her sword. Sasha and Raya did so too, and Taya led them in a pattern she'd taught them the day before, and then Eragon jumped in and partnered up with Raya and had everyone else watch the way he moved his feet while he fought the same pattern against her.

"Did you already know that pattern?" Tanyel asked curiously, and he shook his head.

"No, it was just that easy to pick up on. Once you're a skilled swordsman, or swordswoman, it becomes very very easy to pick up on most patterns, especially when you've fought in a real battle, because there is hardly any place to use a pattern. It's mostly freestyle."

His back was turned to Tanyel, so he didn't see her eyes narrow and her quick glance at Randen.

Taya's mind was working fast. Eric hadn't realized it, but he'd just given her a clue. He'd been in battle. That was someplace to start in her investigation.

After a little while it was very clear that he had taught people to fight before, and when Taya was able to watch, she saw how easily Sasha and Raya picked up on what Eric was showing them. They were intent on him, soaking up anything and everything he said and showed to them. Taya admitted to herself that she learned a few things from him too.

But the main thing she noticed about him when she watched him move was that he almost seemed too agile. She knew that swordfighters had to be swift on their feet, and she herself certainly wasn't slow, but Eric, compared to Randen, was fantastic.

Eric incorporated her into the sparring lesson a lot, and she began to pick up a little on his own personal style of fighting, and it was different from anyone she'd ever fought in Uru'baen. There was a certain grace to it that told her not only was he very good and had experience, but he was also taught by the best. How would she really compare to him if they went all out? The thought made her uneasy. She had a feeling she would be outmatched, which was not usual. Who were these people?

Randen was not a swordsman. This was obvious by the way he handled his sword and that told her he was accustomed to a much different weapon, probably something like a mace… but he really didn't seem like the kind of man who'd fight with a mace. Looks could be deceiving, though… this she knew.

"So, Tanyel, when did you learn how to fight with a sword? You are a fair swordswoman." Eric asked inquisitively once they had ended the sparring lesson. Taya shifted her sword to her other hand and replied truthfully,

"I've been using a sword since I was very small. My father wanted me to be able to defend myself."

"And yet Raya does not know how?"

Taya was caught flat-footed. How could she have not seen that one? Raya was her sister and they'd come from Uru'baen together to pick up Sasha. How could she not know how to use a sword? Trying not to seem too taken aback, Taya answered him slowly,

"Well, our mother took us to another city when we were younger, and where we were it wasn't proper for women or girls to fight, and by the time we returned home our mother was becoming ill and our father had lost interest in us, especially since we were girls and we were older. So Raya never had anyone to teach her, and we've been slightly separated at home. Our mother is now dead and for the last couple of years our father has been doing more with me, but it's like he has completely forgotten that Raya exists. And as we know, this is my first time trying to teach anyone."

Eric merely stared at her for a long minute, and she stared back, trying to seem confident of her story, which in a way was true, if you looked at it from a rather twisted angle.

"Well, I guess that makes a little bit of sense. Forgive me if I seem taken aback."

"It's alright, Eric, it is a rather strange situation." Taya shrugged, very thankful that he had dropped the discussion instead of working out the details.

"Well," Randen cleared his throat, "since we are finished out here, shall we go inside now and meet up for dinner? We have no fixed plans for tonight."

"That's a wonderful idea." Taya agreed. "Do you think Aryana will join us?"

The two men looked at each other, and Eric answered.

"I highly doubt it, but we will ask her. We will meet you down here in say, 10 minutes?"

"Ten minutes starting at the stairs. I have to check on something in the kitchen."

As they were trooping inside, Taya paused in mid-step as Colt and Dierik Silwona came in through the front door. She thought when they saw Eric and Randen that they did a double-take, but when she thought about it, she couldn't remember anything so she discarded the thought. The Silwona twins went over to them immediately.

"We are meeting for dinner in ten minutes. Would you two like to join us?" Sasha asked after she'd introduced them all.

Dierik shot Colt a calculating look, and Colt sighed heavily.

"Unfortunately we can't. We are meeting with the Katzia's tonight, and we really only stopped by to see how you three are faring, since we haven't seen you in a while."

"I was thinking about that just today. Why haven't you been coming around?" Sasha inquired to Colt.

"Well," he replied, "things have just been hectic. Rycher is moving from Dras'leona, and we are helping him get ready, and Lord Katzia is making ready to make his annual trip to his country lodgings. Dierik and I will be going along with them, since we are Sharac's friends and their ultimate helpers."

"Ultimate helpers, indeed." Dierik snorted in slight disgust, and then he grinned at Taya. "I'd say we were more like servants, but nothing I say ever matters."

Taya laughed, and then stiffened slightly as she felt someone or something try to touch her mind. It almost felt like someone was trying to scry her, but she had safety precautions against that. Involuntarily she looked over at Eric and his expression told her something was going on with him too.

No one else seemed to notice, and Dierik continued talking.

"But, no matter what we are, we must go now. We did just drop in to see how everything was going. We'll be around more often now, hopefully. It was a pleasure to meet you." Dierik bowed his head to Eric and Randen, who did likewise, and then the three parties split. Colt and Dierik left the Inn, Eric and Randen went upstairs, Raya and Sasha went to their rooms, and Taya went to the kitchen to get something for Kabarak to eat.

The funny sensation was fading away, but she would bet anything that it was Murtagh trying to scry her, or maybe Aryana. But why had Eric felt it to, or something like it?

Taya thought about that and what the rest of the week would reveal, and she worried about Murtagh. It would do no good to let her guard down, especially now. And what about the Silwona twins? There had been something there which she'd seen at the very end. What it had been, she didn't know. As with many other things, she intended to find out.

Eric, Randen and Aryana stayed for a whole week, in which time the six of them spent a fair amount of time with each other. On the third day after they arrived, Aryana came and watched them spar, and made a comment to Taya that the other two were very quick learners, and they were good with their weapons. She and Taya talked for a few minutes before Eric called Taya into the sparring fray, and after that Taya could actually have a somewhat normal conversation with the other woman.

But Aryana was mostly gone, doing whatever they had come to do, and so Eric and Randen spent most of their time with Raya, Sasha and Taya. This didn't do any favors for Kabarak, who was mostly cooped up in Taya's room, but he kept on top of everything through Taya, and with his helpful analysis of everything the three did, Taya came to the conclusion that they were not from the Empire but from the Varden; and that they were very important people was becoming even more obvious, especially by the way they each acted around each other and the way they talked.

What gave them away to Taya most of all was that the more they spent time around them, the more she began to feel a magical talent in them, or at least Eric and Aryana, and the feeling was becoming stronger and stronger. So the reason why they were in Dras'leona could only be something involving the downfall of Galbatorix.

Arya, who at Eragon's urging began trying to pay more attention to the group, found being around Tanyel almost dizzying. They worst part for her about it was that she couldn't identify why Tanyel's presence was dizzying to her, and this made her begin to think she could use magic and was disturbing the energy field around her while trying to hide something. That she was hiding something was obvious, because not only was she very good at sword fighting, but she also had an eye for tactics and solving problems. These things and more told Arya that Tanyel Cavrona was someone of a higher rank than others, and she and her sister and cousin might be valuable assets to the Varden, a feeling which Eragon shared with her one hundred percent. The only thing was, was it a trap? Because they still didn't really know who Tanyel Cavrona was, and Taya still didn't know who they were.

It was a very interesting week for both parties, and everyone was still skeptical of one another until the end of that week, and even after that the feeling did not go away. But some things did resolve… just not in the way expected.