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 17, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

The next morning seemed to come too quickly for Taya, so when she slowly drifted into consciousness, she attempted to fall back to sleep, but to no avail. It felt like she had been waking up every hour all night, and with a moan she realized she hadn't been dreaming and she actually had woken up every hour.

Kabarak? She asked groggily.

I'm here, Taya. Are you any better?

No, not at all. Very much worse, I think

That's what I was afraid of, in more ways than one. Sasha told me of a thought she had last night, which was with you being connected to Murtagh so strongly, might you get worse as he gets closer to you? It seems so.

Oh, Kabarak, I could have told you that myself. Taya tried to joke, but it hardly helped the circumstances. Kabarak snorted, and a puff of smoke came out of his nostrils.

You were neither in the mood to tell me or the physical state to reply. Don't you dare try anymore wards today, or you will have no energy whatsoever. Murtagh and Thorn are travelling very fast, Taya. I may be apprehensive, but I can almost feel another dragon.

Taya's eyes flashed open, and she bolted upright, her skin tingling. Her body was so tense, she felt as if she could snap at any moment. She suddenly wished Murtagh would take off the ruby, or that the magic she had set in the gem would break. She had never counted on it to be used as a warning to her doom, just to know if he was near and alright. He was coming closer, and he was not alright. She hoped she wasn't right and that the magic was not trying to compensate for his dark emotions.

When Taya went downstairs a little while later, there were quite a few people gathered in the Inn, and it became quickly apparent that it was a meeting. Taya went back into the kitchen where she found Raya and Niera.

"What's all that about?" She asked once they'd exchanged good mornings. Niera sighed heavily.

"It's not something really important. Nacar is a part of a group created to evaluate the decisions of the town's hierarchy, and they meet here twice a month if they can. The hierarchy does not necessarily like the group, but they have no choice. The city is a better place because of these people. You look tired, Taya. Are you sure leaving tomorrow is the best idea?"

"Mother, we've already discussed this." Sasha came into the kitchen with a stern expression on her face. "We are leaving tomorrow, and it is the best idea. We may have delayed too long already."

Taya caught Sasha's look towards her and she nodded her head once.

"Sasha is correct, Aunt Niera. And I will be fine. I know I will be better once we are on the road. Is there anything I can do to help in the kitchen?"

"Well… if you would really like to do something, there are dishes that need to be washed."

"I'll do that." Taya moved over to the implied dishes, and Raya said,

"And I will make some breakfast for you, Taya. Sasha and I have been awake for a while, and I'm hungry again. Food will do you good."

"I'm glad that you are watching out for me, Raya. Food does sound good."

Someone raised their voice in the other room, and Sasha went to investigate. When she came back, she was shaking her head. "Someone raised their voice about the Katzia's." She said, answering their questioning and curious looks.

"Again?" Niera asked incredulously. "They tried that last time. Lord Calveen is on 'our' side!"

"That's what I said." Sasha replied, rolling her eyes in the direction of the door.

"Sasha, you know you are not supposed to interject!"

"It was time for them to stop acting like the fools they are, and I told them that too. Then father stood up and said the same thing. I don't think that topic will come up again."

"I hope it does not. Lord Calveen is a good man, and besides, he very rarely moves in the same circles as the other nobles of the city."

"And for that he is different, and being different to most people is almost as bad as being the same. Don't worry about it, mother. They've moved on to different things now. I won't be sorry to leave that group behind. Their cause is good, but they sure bicker a lot!"

"As it will be with politics wherever you go." Taya said sadly. "It will follow you."

"That's encouraging." Sasha grumbled, and Taya laughed.

"I know, it certainly is. But that is life."

There was a knock on the kitchen door, and Sasha went to see who it was, frowning.

"Well! I certainly didn't expect to see you two on the kitchen doorstep! Why didn't you come through the front?"

"We remembered that today was the evaluation meeting, and decided since most of the people who come are not too fond of Lord Katzia we would just come around back and not be conspicuous." Dierik Silwona's deep voice replied, and Sasha suddenly appeared with Colt and Dierik behind her.

"Colt! Dierik! How are you?" Taya greeted, smiling but not getting up. She hoped she didn't look as bad as everyone was making it seem. From Kabarak's link she felt a burst of energy, and took a deep breath.

"We are well, Taya. And you?" Dierik replied, but he was eyeing her with narrowed eyes, and she knew he could see that she wasn't all that well.

"I'm alright, just very tired. What are you two doing here today?" With luck her question would draw attention away from her, and it was obvious that they would tell the Silwona twins about their early departure. That would definitely draw attention away from her.

"We knew that you were leaving in a few days, so we wanted to stop by and hopefully spend some time with you if you weren't busy, and we would also like to extend an invitation to dinner for you three tonight."

Taya could have groaned, but she didn't. She caught the look Sasha gave her, and knew what her cousin was thinking. Taya would hardly be up for a night out, especially just before they left Dras'leona.

"Well," Niera said almost sourly, "it's a good thing you two came today!"

Dierik raised his eyebrows, and Colt turned to Sasha with a look of confusion. Sasha sighed, wishing her mother hadn't said anything, and proceeded to carefully explain.

"Our plans changed yesterday, quite suddenly. So instead of leaving in four days, we are leaving early tomorrow morning. That's the way it is." She said this also for the benefit of her mother.

"Then I am very glad we did come today, because we would have been sorry not to say goodbye. I take it then that you will probably not want to come to dinner tonight?"

"We didn't say that." Taya said easily, drawing two incredulous looks from her sister and cousin. "It wouldn't be fair to say no right away. We are not busy today and would gladly welcome your company. When it gets closer to that time, we'll put our heads together and decide. How is that?"

Everyone nodded and they all gathered around the table where Taya was, Colt immediately striking up an animated conversation with Raya and Sasha, which Taya and Dierik chimed into every once in a while. They whiled away the hours of the day by playing cards and talking, and to the rest of the group Taya seemed as energized as the rest of them, except she stayed in one place as often as she could and she would every once in a while be caught staring at a wall with her eyes unfocused.

About halfway through the afternoon, Jerdan Caldell came in and informed them that the day was beginning to darken and that they should expect rain that evening. About that time Taya felt a gnawing feeling of apprehension inside her, and Kabarak felt it too. Along with that feeling a thought began to form in her mind, and while she did her best to push it away it still kept coming back to her. She put up her best act, trying to seem full of energy, but she was far from that state. By the late afternoon/early evening she was feeling so drained that she just wanted to go up to her room alone and sleep. That's when something sharp and evil attempted to touch her mind and she realized that they were too late, and out of time.

Taya looked out the window behind her, and saw the scattered raindrops that were hitting the ground. She made up her mind then, and turned to Sasha, who was beside her.

"I think you and Raya should go to the Silwona's, Sasha. No, I'm telling you that you should go. There's no sense in you two not going out just because of me."

"We wouldn't dream of leaving you here all by yourself!" Raya defended, looking almost hurt. Sasha nodded in agreement, and then Dierik spoke up.

"We can very easily just stay here, if you don't feel up to coming along. Our parents were looking forward to meeting you, but I know they would understand and hopefully you all will be back and you can certainly meet them then."

Taya smiled and shook her head. "I will not have it. I would love to meet your parents sometime, Colt, Dierik, and please tell them that I am sorry I could not this evening, but I won't let you two not go." She looked directly at Sasha and Raya. "You will have to live without me for a little while. I cannot go tonight, for all our sakes. I would only be a burden! I will rest here and get the last things ready for the trip. We must leave early tomorrow morning, no matter what, and I am certainly not good company tonight."

They protested loyally to that, but after a little more urging Sasha and Raya gave in, recognizing Taya's want to be alone. Colt and Dierik seemed a little miffed, but they promised her that they would be back in the morning to see them off, and Taya made sure to thank them for the gesture and say that she was glad they had come. She certainly was.

Nacar and Niera were informed of the plan, and they seemed to understand why Taya was staying behind well enough. Taya followed the foursome out to the stables, pausing in the open to be sprinkled on for a moment.

"Are you positive you want us to go, Taya?" Sasha asked quietly as she took Shacour from his stall and proceeded to tack him. Taya nodded.

"I am positive. You will have a good time. Just don't be gone too long."

"That is a given, since we are leaving you here. I'm still not too happy about it."

"I know you aren't, Sasha, and I am happy that you are thinking of me. But it's better this way! Be careful, especially if it starts raining hard."

"We will be, Taya. You be safe here by yourself. You're making me suspicious that something is going on."

To Sasha's surprise, Taya laughed.

"There is always something going on, Sasha dear."

"That is true." Sasha led Shacour outside, followed by Raya, and before Colt and Dierik mounted Taya gave them each a quick embrace, and then Raya gave her a hug before she got on her horse. Taya waved as they walked away, and then stood in the slight rain until they turned a corner and were gone. She saw Sasha look worriedly back, and Taya was comforted by that one backwards glance. Sasha did know when something was going on, but thankfully she trusted Taya. If she ever did again, that was another thing.

After a minute of standing in the rain, Taya looked up at the still darkening sky, and then turned and raced back inside. She took the stairs to the second level and her room two at a time and barreled into her room and nearly slammed the door shut. Rain started pattering against the glass of her window, and Taya stared at the closed door, almost waiting for it to open, her heart racing.

She had to face Murtagh alone. What was more, she didn't know if she would live through the encounter. Her chance to run was gone, and she did not have the strength to run anyway. She knew that the many wards she had placed around Raya, Sasha and Kabarak were the reason she was like this, almost just as much as her connection with Murtagh.

Now, she could not and would not risk her sister and cousin's lives. She hated to do what she did, and she had no idea what they'd think of her, but Murtagh was coming, and only she could face him. Only she could send him away, leaving them and Kabarak unharmed.

I know you said I don't always have to be the hero, Kabarak. She said as she continued to stare at the door. But this decision is so much more than just trying to be a hero. This I know. Taya turned to the green dragon, which was sitting on her bed with wide and sad emerald eyes.

And if he kills you? He demanded softly. Taya looked back at the door.

Then Galbatorix loses a battle that he ultimately cannot afford to lose. Promise me something, Kabarak?

Only if you promise me not to die.

That is not something I can readily promise, but I will do my best. Promise me you will stay strong, Kabarak, and keep Sasha and Raya strong as well. If you are strong, so can I be, no matter what.

That I promise.

Good. Now, you cannot interfere, and I cannot stress that enough. If Murtagh finds you…

I know what will happen. I understand.

Then now you must hide, and I will mask your presence with magic, something you must help me with, strength wise. You must fall asleep, and not wake up until Murtagh and Thorn have left Dras'leona. There is a possibility that they could feel you if you wake up too soon. When you do awaken, get Sasha and Raya here as fast as possible, unless of course they are already back, which I doubt will be the case. You MUST leave before dawn and follow the road I have sketched out. We've already discussed this, so all that is left is for you to climb into your hole.

I will tell everything to Sasha and Raya once we are away from Dras'leona.

Tell them everything, Kabarak. Everything I am thinking, everything you are thinking. They deserve to know it all. Kabarak…

I know, Taya. The dragon stretched his neck out to her hand, and touched her rider's mark with his nose. It glowed red for an instant, and then faded completely to her skin color. Only if Taya inspected her hand closely would she be able to see the mark.

You are my rider. I will keep you safe, just as you keep me safe. I love you, Taya, and whatever comes, whatever danger we all face, we are one.

Taya nodded, and stroked his head for a moment, and then said quietly,

"Go, Kabarak."

Kabarak glided to the ground and crawled under the bed, disappearing. He had made a hole inside the bed's mattress, as it was a warm and safe place to hide. He curled up into a tight ball, afraid and anxious for his precious rider. He hated to leave her alone, he hated her whole plan… but he had no choice and he knew it. Slowly he made himself fall asleep, and then magic from Taya washed over him, completely hiding his very existence. Only if Murtagh tore the bed apart would he notice the dragon, and that was something Taya would never let him do or try to do. Besides, Murtagh was coming for her, and once he found her, his quest, his reason for being in Dras'leona, would be gone.

Taya hung her head for a moment, and then walked over to her desk and took out her quill, starting to write a note for Sasha and Raya, but after the first line she stopped because they would be told everything by Kabarak.

She could plainly hear the rain pounding on the rooftop, and it was now completely dark outside. Taya put the saddlebags by the door, and then turned to the window, staring into the blackness. She closed her eyes, and felt a dragon's presence beyond the city…

Murtagh and Thorn had arrived. Murtagh was here.

Hello, Thorn. She said softly with her mind, gently brushing the dragon's consciousness, and retreating immediately. She knew he had only caught her words, and that comforted her.

She froze as she heard a footfall outside her door and from the hallway there was an annoyed growl as whomever it was their entry had been halted by the magical barrier she had around the room.

Taya felt herself shaking, and before her eyes flashed a picture of Sasha and Raya and Kabarak. She was afraid. She was petrified, because she didn't know what was going to happen to her and she did not want to die. And Murtagh's finding of her spelled out her fate. A tear ran down her face, and the fingers of her right hand grasped the dagger at her side, but it was only for comfort, to know it was there. It would be no use against him.

There was an audible hum in the air, and then not even making a sound the door opened easily and in walked the Red Rider. Taya was still facing the window, and her back was directly to him, but she heard his intake of breath and somewhere inside of her there was a sharp, excruciating pain. She heard the door click shut, and she took a deep breath.

Taya Corsallen did not turn to face Murtagh Morzansson, but instead greeted him in a low, calculating tone that expressed every emotion coursing through her, and her voice seemed to chill the air around them.

"Hello, Murtagh." She said quietly. "I have been expecting you."