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 16, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

It was a little less than a week before Taya, Sasha and Raya would leave Dras'leona for Surda, and that morning Taya had awoken with a feeling of dread inside her that she could not ignore or understand. The feeling was strange, and she decided it would be best to get the day started and try to dismiss it.

Kabarak yawned widely and opened his eyes as Taya swung her feet over the bedside and stood up, and he watched suspiciously as she took a few steps towards the door. Taya paused as her head started to swim, and when she tried to move forward again, her legs became very weak and she stopped abruptly. She looked down at her hands and was surprised to see that they were shaking.

Are you alright, Taya? Kabarak asked worriedly, coming to his feet.

I don't know, Kabarak. I don't feel so well. She sat back down on her bed, trying to keep her eyes open, but a wave of exhaustion hit her and all her energy seemed to leave her.

I think I will try sleeping this off, whatever it is. Hopefully it is just a temporary thing.

I will tell Sasha and Raya what is going on if you are not awake by the time they are. It is still quite early.

Thanks, Kabarak. Taya lay back down again and closed her eyes, and before she drifted off to sleep, she thought she heard someone laugh, but she was asleep before she could wonder who it was.

Kabarak watched her for a long minute, warning bells going off in his mind. He too hoped it was only temporary… he also hoped it had nothing to do with their upcoming departure.

Taya awoke with a start, and gasped as her vivid dream came crashing back to her.

Murtagh…

For a moment she felt as if she couldn't breath as fear caught her in its merciless grasp, and then she quickly got out of her bed and pulled out her maps of Alagaesia. She didn't notice when Kabarak woke up, and she didn't notice when he tried to speak to her.

She jumped when something green landed beside her, and she tried to relax as she stared into Kabarak's calculating eyes.

Taya, what is going on with you? He asked furiously. I can feel your emotions burning like wildfire, and I felt them also in your dreams. If you do not speak to me, I will find out. You cannot continue to ignore me.

With an effort Taya looked away from him and said softly,

"We must leave early, Kabarak. If we do not, we will die."

Her explanation caught him off guard, and he did not reply immediately. Taya reached out with her mind to Sasha, and said before Sasha could say anything,

I need you and Raya to come up here right away. Something has come up and it cannot wait.

We are on our way. Sasha replied immediately.

Taya looked back at Kabarak and he asked matter-of-factly,

It is Murtagh?

I am afraid so.

Then you are right. We must leave early if we are to escape him. A dragon can fly faster than any human can ride.

There was a knock and Taya went to open the door for Sasha and Raya, who entered with questioning looks. They noticed Taya's maps spread out over the desk, and Kabarak perched on the back of the desk chair.

"Sasha, how soon can we be ready to leave?" Taya immediately asked, and Sasha frowned.

"Three or four days, I think. Three if we really try hard. Why?"

"We must leave the day after tomorrow, and I think we should go the way that goes through Belatona and then Feinster, instead of Melian. Dauth is a good city to pass through. I know that road will take a little bit longer and that it is more roundabout, but it is a safer road."

"The day after tomorrow!" Raya gasped. "Why in the world?"

Taya held back a sharp reply and calmed herself. She did not want to frighten them, but there was also no way not to tell them, and they had little time.

"Murtagh and Thorn are on their way here. My link with Murtagh is still strong, and the magic I placed in the ruby he wears around his neck can sometimes, when his emotions are very strong, enables me to feel them. I am sure they are coming here."

Raya's face went white, and Sasha took a deep breath.

"If you think Belatona is the best way, then we will go that way. As for the day after tomorrow, we can make it happen. My father can help us if we need him." Sasha stepped forward and put her hands on Taya's shoulders and looked directly into her eyes.

"Do not be afraid we cannot handle something, Taya. If we do not know what is going on or what we are facing, we cannot be any help. Hang in there. We'll get through."

Taya only nodded, and while Sasha's words were comforting, she was still worried.

Sasha stared at her for a few more seconds and then nodded once. "Alright Raya, come on. We have work to do. We will go get the supplies and when we get back you and Taya can pack them up and I will see to the horses. Taya, you get some more rest if you can. You look terrible."

"Be safe." Was all Taya could say in reply, and Sasha eyed her, and then she shrugged.

"You too."

Raya followed Sasha out, and when the door was closed Taya sat down on her bed, her chin resting on her hands. What could she do to protect them all? She had raised the stakes, since she was now sure that Thorn had felt her instead of finding Kabarak, and that was what was leading them to Dras'leona. There was no way she was going to let them find Kabarak, Sasha or Raya if they flew fast enough to get there before they left…

Straightening, Taya closed her eyes and drawing on her magical ability, she began weaving wards around Kabarak, who was beside her now, and around Raya and Sasha. Her strongest wards were at the core, and she built on those to create a magnificent shield. Kabarak stared at her the whole time, feeling her energy slowly sap away, and when he tried to add his own, she batted him away. After a little while he grew annoyed, and in response to her action he put his own wards around Taya, without her knowing it. It did little to his energy supply, but he knew that since he was a dragon, his wards, his protective shield around her would be very strong.

When she could handle it no more, she released the magic and let herself sink back onto her bed, and through a haze of exhaustion came a trickle of energy from Kabarak, and she looked over at him to see him staring at her sadly.

What, Kabarak?

You will not always be able to be the hero, Taya. I do not want you to always be the hero. You have done what you can, and we are grateful. Now, focus on yourself for once, because you are as important to us as we are to you. And we outnumber you three to one.

Taya groaned.

Why did you have to say that, Kabarak?

Because, Taya, you are as much my responsibility as I am yours. And that will never change.

Sasha Tatanya stood against one of the barn stalls, facing her big grey horse, which was staring at her with large brown eyes. One of her hands lifted and she rubbed his face gently, and the horse closed his eyes contentedly.

"What do you think, Shacour? Are you ready for a long journey? I hope I am. Now that the time to leave is so close, I'm not so sure anymore."

"You sound like Emerson." A voice from the other side of the stable said calmly, and Sasha jumped. She pushed herself off the stall and looked under Shacour's neck to see who it was.

"Jerdan! What are you doing here?"

Jerdan Caldell came around behind Shacour, a hint of a smile on his face. "Your father and I went to buy a supply of wood, and we have just returned. He will be in here in a moment with the horses. Not deliberating on backing out of going with Taya, are you?"

"No! Not at all… What did you mean when you said I sounded like Emerson?"

The young man sighed, and put a hand on Shacour's back, rubbing the horse slowly.

"You just did." He said, as if it explained everything.

"Jerdan." Sasha frowned at him.

"What do I tell you, Sasha, that you do not already know?"

"I know that he left, and he is gone... and that is all."

"And you do not care anymore?"

Sasha froze, and her expression must have answered his blunt question. Jerdan shook his head.

"Emerson said exactly the same thing you did. 'Now that the time is so close, I am not so sure anymore.' Word for word, Sasha. In the end, Emerson didn't want to leave. On that last day… I know I have never seen a man more unhappy than he was."

"But he left."

"And he had no choice."

Sasha looked away from him, and at Shacour. It had been a long time since Emerson, and she had been young and naïve… now that he would be brought up again just before she left home…

"I will not preach to you of all people Sasha, but I will say this. You cannot run forever. With that said, I know that this journey of yours will be incredible. We will miss you, all of you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Jerdan, I have something to tell you. We are leaving sooner than we thought. We have to. Tomorrow will be our last day here."

It took a lot to surprise Jerdan, and what she said certainly did surprise him. He stared at her for a long minute, as if going through some calculation in his mind, and then he let out a soft whistle.

"That does not give you much time. That does not give your family much time."

Sasha nodded, and then she shrugged. "Maybe an unexpected break is what we need. This is not easy for any of us. Luckily though we are more ready than I thought we were. All we have to do is ready the horses and the supplies, say our goodbyes, and go. Taya and Raya are packing the supplies as we speak, and I came down here to make sure that all the equipment is ready to go. Tomorrow all we have to do is get the stuff down here, and the next morning we will pack it all onto the horses."

"Then I will be of any help I can then. I wish you well, Sasha. All of you. I hope it will not be too long before we meet again."

"Maybe you can join us someday."

Jerdan laughed. "We shall see."

Just then the barn door opened and Nacar Tatanya came in, leading their two draft horses. He saw the two of them talking, and smiled.

"Sasha! How are you?"

"Well, father. Here, let me get Tira." She walked swiftly over to him and gently took one of the draft horse's lead lines.

"Thank you. What are you doing here by yourself? Where are Taya and Raya?"

"They are in the house, packing our supplies."

Nacar paused for a moment, and he looked at her calculatingly. "You are leaving early, then?"

Sasha took a deep breath. "Yes, father. The day after tomorrow."

"That is early. Three days early."

"We must, father. Taya-"

"I am not arguing, Sasha. Nor am I saying you should not. In fact, I am not surprised you are leaving early, although I do not know your reasons. For sure it is not wise to drag out your departure."

Sasha stared at him, unable to speak. Out of everyone, she had not expected him to take her news so well.

Nacar looked over at her and laughed at her expression. "Taya, it seems, has had an effect on me. She has helped me to become a much more reasonable man. And for that, I am grateful. Put Tira and Shacour away, and come inside. We will tell your mother together, and she will undoubtedly agree with me. Jerdan, I will be back out to help you unload to wood. If you would please make sure these two hard workers receive a reward for their good work?" Nacar patted his horse on the rump as he let it go into its stall, and then he hung the halter on a peg by the stall door.

"I will do that, Nacar." Jerdan headed down the barn aisle to where they stored the hay as Sasha untied Shacour and put him back in his stall, and with Nacar went back into the Inn.

As she went, Sasha thought about Jerdan's words, and reconciled herself that he was right. She could not run forever. Unfortunately with Murtagh on their tail, all she would be doing until they reached the Varden would be running, and who knew if she would be able to stop there? She thought of Taya and how distraught she'd looked earlier, and a little warning bell began to sound in her mind. She knew that something more was bothering her cousin, but she didn't know whether to attribute it to her not feeling well, or Murtagh's approach. Or maybe the former correlated with the latter…

Sasha frowned as she followed her father through the door. Could Taya really be so connected to Murtagh that the closer he was to her, the worse she became? It certainly was something to keep in mind. She would have to run it by Kabarak and Raya when she was finished talking with her parents.

Are you ready?

No.

Neither am I. You know that she will not be easy to bring back with us.

…That is not his plan.