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 23, revised.
Thank you and enjoy!
DragonRider2000
Fire Surrounded her… Burning Everything… She couldn't move…She couldn't scream…Her body was burning…Head throbbing…
Memory's choked her…Good…Bad…Happy…Sad…
She couldn't get rid of them…
Don't surrender… a voice echoed painfully through her mind… You can do this, Taya… just hold on.
Taya was walking down a hallway of the south wing of the castle, humming softly to herself. She had forsaken her wing of the castle for some quiet, slipping through a secret door so she didn't have to bring one of her faithful bodyguards with her. She knew that probably wasn't the best idea, but her independent side had gotten the better of her… as usual. Her only other option for the day would have been driving her best friend and maid, Kyra, crazy, and Taya had decided to have pity on her.
Taya stopped by a window and looked out to the world outside of the castle. It was grey, with clouds threatening rain. With a sigh, Taya moved on, deciding to visit her horses. Sooner or later one of the Hljodhr Evarinya would find out she had slipped past them, and that would undoubtedly be the place the find her.
On second thought, she should probably go get one of them so they didn't worry.
Taya turned around and was about to go back when she heard voices from behind her. She paused, hesitating. That was the way to the stables, and it was unlikely that a group of people would have been out riding with the threatening rain. Curious, but with uncertainty she stayed where she was, bracing herself for whoever might turn the corner.
But she was still surprised when an entourage of Galbatorix's guards came walking towards, a few of them talking animatedly and another laughing. The man in the lead saw her and frowned, and then stopped. There was sudden silence as the men's attention caught on her lone figure blocking their path. Taya stood tall and unswerving, even though her heart was beating rapidly. She wasn't too excited about being caught alone with this particular group of men. Especially not the leader.
After a moment's pause, the man in the lead bowed almost mockingly, saying softly and patronizingly,
"Milady. Fancy seeing you here… alone."
Sen Karees, captain of Galbatorix's guards, had never liked Taya, and vice versa. He was tall, blocky, and as black hearted as they came. At least Taya thought so. He was hardly good looking, and his pale brown eyes looked almost if they were tinted with orange. He always reminded her of one time when she was a little girl, she was racing around her mother's wing of the castle when she stumbled onto a lone man walking away from her. When she called out to him, he had turned his head and his eyes stopped her in her tracks and froze her to her core, because they were the scariest, reddest-orange eyes she'd ever seen. She'd turned and run the other way, and was found quickly by her mother's bodyguard and brought safely back to her mother.
But every time she looked at Sen she was reminded of that man. Lucky for her, these men were sworn by oath not to touch her, or else she was sure she would be dodging at least Sen's hatred. The other guards just followed along like puppies.
"Not quite." She said evenly. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking." Sen replied just as evenly, trying to stare her down. He had no success. She merely glared at him and he grudgingly answered with a stony expression, except as he spoke he almost smiled.
"We have just returned from the King's business. That's all you need to know, of course."
Taya narrowed her eyes. "Not quite." She growled, and for the first time she really looked at them, and she frowned, counting three less guards than usual, which was unusual. And these men were damp and muddy, so they had been out some time. "You've been in the city?"
"That is where we took care of the King's business, yes. If you must know, we were on the far side of the city."
"Where are Gannon, Trier and your other new puppy?"
Sen's eyes narrowed. "Dead, wounded and… well, gone."
Today was the last day of the tests.
Taya froze, suddenly feeling the cold air around her and she shivered. "What have you done?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but it had a slight quiver as she spoke.
Sen started, and then his expression went neutral. "So, you're quick today. How unfortunate for you. It will weigh heavy on your mind now, as you can do nothing… I don't mind, honestly. And it isn't my fault. You figured it out without me saying anything."
"Sen." She growled, trying not to let her fear flare her temper.
"He failed." Sen said simply, staring at her disconcertingly. "And he paid the price for his failure. Now if you will let us by."
"No, if you will let me by." Taya brushed past them and they stepped to the side in a hurry, and as she practically ran down the hallway, Sen called after her,
"You'll never find him, Princess!"
Taya nearly tripped and fell down a flight of stairs in her haste, and then nearly ran into one of the castle servant girls.
"My lady!" She exclaimed, and Taya waved her off.
"Please go to my wing and send the guards at the doors to the stables. Quickly! Tell them it's very urgent."
With a quick bow the girl raced off, and Taya sped on. By the time she reached the outer doors she was out of breath, but she kept going until she reached the stables, and then leaned up against the wall to catch her breath. Before she fully recovered she went in, and when the head groom saw her he rushed over.
"What can I do for you, Taya?" He asked almost worriedly, taking in her appearance and assuming the worst.
"I need Antara and Rhys saddled as quickly as you can."
"Of course." Luckily he was used to such occasions as this, especially from Taya. He hurried off and Taya went over to her horse Chester and took him from his stall. As quickly as she could without worrying the horse she tacked him up and bridled him, and then helped the groom saddle the other two horses.
They were leading them out of the stable just as two men with black cloaks jogged up.
"If I wasn't curious as to what is so urgent I would be berating you from sneaking off without one of us." The shorter one said to Taya with a pointed look as he took the reins of the horse named Antara.
"I know you would be, Zen." Taya replied evenly, and then they all mounted as one. As they rode towards the gate, Taya continued. "But if any of you had been with me I never would have known what happened today."
The two bodyguards looked at each other, and then back at Taya expectantly. Taya almost smiled. Zen Drayson and Westen Kliviyan were two of the best people she knew, and could read her better than anyone else except Murtagh and Kyra. They were the mischievous pair of the Hljodhr Evarinya, and made boring days entertaining. But now was not the time for it.
They were allowed out of the gates and Taya picked up a trot, and then explained.
"Today was the last test."
Both men paled, suddenly understanding all too well.
In order to be accepted into the King's guard, there were a series of initiation tests a person had to go through. They were hard tests, mostly mind games to see just how many horrible things you could do and handle. Death was not necessarily a penalty for failure… but it could be depending on the person. If someone was exceptionally talented but failed towards the end of the tests, Galbatorix would rather see that no one else got that person's talents if he could not. Really only twisted or easily morphed people managed to pass.
There had been three men taking that test, and the Hljodhr's and Taya had profiled each of them. Two of the three were usual 'die for the King' sorts, but the third, the youngest, was different. He was quiet and kept to himself, but he also clung to Sen as if there was some sort of need in him. And yet they thought there seemed to be more good in him than bad, but it was hard to tell as it was just a feeling. They didn't know his name, or where he came from, or why he was there, but they'd watched him fight, and someone had taught him well. He was young, but strong. There was a calculation to his movements that told of training and experience.
"I was on my way to the stables, but about to go get one of you when I was interrupted by Sen and his minions. Three men were missing, Gannon, Trier and that young trainee. Sen, when I asked, said that they were dead, wounded, and gone. Something happened today that was not supposed to. The guards had just returned from the far side of the city, and Sen said that he, the young trainee, had failed and paid for his failure. That's what we are doing now. We are going to find him, and hopefully it won't be too late."
Both men stared at her in shock, processing the whole situation. She knew that they were both horrified at the thought of her being alone with Sen and the other guards, but the surprise of the news about the test and its mysterious proceedings and aftermath with their current mission was nearly equal to it.
"And Sen told you all this?" Westen asked softly.
"He had no choice, nor could they hurt me. Quite the contrary. They do have orders to obey me, you do realize. But Sen knew that I'd go look for him."
"Then why are we? What if we do find him?"
"He said we never would, and he was sure of it."
"Then why are we looking?"
"Because, Westen, we are going to find him."
"Taya, it doesn't make sense. You know they are capable of murder. What do you hope to find, or gain, by finding this kid? What if he's dead? How will that affect you?"
"At least he will have someone to mourn him." Taya replied stiffly, and fell silent.
Zen eyed her, and then commented,
"What I want to know is what happened. How did he 'fail'? He seemed ready, willing and perfectly able to pass the whole test with flying colors. What happened?"
"Maybe the good side of him won." Taya responded, to which Zen immediately replied,
"Resulting in Gannon dead and Trier wounded? How?"
"We won't know until we find him will we?"
"Perhaps not… even then, I'm not counting on it. We are trying to find a needle in a haystack."
The farthest side of the city was to the west, and the further they went from the castle the poorer the city became. The closer to the edge of the city they got the more frequently Taya stopped to ask people if they'd seen the King's guard, but no one had. Finally, Taya was almost about to despair when a young peasant boy informed them that he'd seen them pass that way and ride towards an abandoned area of the west side. Fueled by this, they picked up their pace in the direction the boy indicated, and two more people told them that the guard had passed that way.
And then they reached the abandoned area, which was a group of old, old buildings. The ground before them clearly showed them that the guard had indeed been there, as horse sign was everywhere, mostly centered in front of one building in particular. Taya's heart was already beating fast, and her body was tingling with anticipation. They stopped in front of the building in question and sat there for a moment, and then Zen 'hmmmed' from beside her.
"Well, this is it. It wasn't as hard as it could have been, or I thought it would be. Maybe Sen didn't really think you'd get this far, because he didn't hide their tracks very well. Unless he thought no one had seen or cared which direction they'd gone."
"He certainly thought that I'd never find it…"
"But is the person we are looking for actually here, or somewhere else? They could have moved him if they thought someone would get curious and check out where they went." Westen said worriedly, but Taya shook her head.
"They would leave him here, and if anyone came around he would be a sign of what the guards are capable of doing. Come on."
They dismounted their horses and tied them to the building's porch railing, and carefully followed the footprints up the steps and into the building, which was a house. Inside it was dark and stuffy and damp, and the three of them split up to search the house, but they found nothing. Taya hesitated before walking to the side room windows, and when she looked out, she found there was a sort of enclosed yard between the house and the one next door, and both ends were high walls of stone.
"Let's try out here." She called softly to the other two, who came immediately. She didn't really want to be alone going out there. Then she finally saw the footprints leading outside. It had been too dark and she honestly hadn't thought about a light. So they stepped outside, and the door creaked eerily open. Taya shivered, and she knew without having to see him that the man they were looking for was there. She walked onto the muddy turf, and looked around, and then she fully turned to the side with a horrified gasp, causing Zen and Westen to jerk ever so slightly and whirl in the same direction.
Sagging by his wrists from the wall was their mysterious young man, or what was left of him. His feet easily touched the ground, so when he had been conscious he could have supported his weight.
"Let's get him down from there." Taya said quietly, not trusting her voice. She stepped towards him, but Westen put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. So she stayed where she was while Zen and Westen carefully cut the ropes binding him, and as they hoisted his dead weight between them, they all froze when he let out a nearly inaudible moan, but there was no mistaking it.
"Would you believe that?" Westen breathed. "He's still alive"
"But for how long?" Zen grimaced. "Undoubtedly among other things, he's been flogged, and not for a short amount of time. He's probably already lost too much blood."
"We have to get him back to the castle. I'll be able to heal him there."
"Taya… how are we going to do this? He's rather conspicuous." Westen asked pointedly, but surprisingly Zen shushed him.
"Hush, you. I have an idea."
"I hope it's a good one."
"Aren't my ideas always good?"
"No." Taya and Westen said at the same time, but Zen only grinned. "Come on, let's get out of here."
As she turned, something in the mud caught her eye, and Taya turned back to investigate. Trying to ignore the blood stained wall, she reached down and pulled a dagger from the mud. Its hilt was jeweled and rather small, so she doubted it belonged to one of the other guards. The blade was caked with mud, but also blood. Looking on the ground for anything else discarded, she found a long piece of rope. With it she wrapped the dagger so as not to cut herself with it, and she hurried after the bodyguards.
"Put him on Chester." She told them firmly as they reached the horses, and when both men hesitated, she sighed and explained,
"One, I am not finicky about blood, and the gate guards will have less to say if I'm carrying him. Now come on and stop stalling."
Grudgingly they complied, and after Taya had mounted they hoisted him up in front of her. "So, what's your idea, Zen?" Taya asked as they mounted and they started back the way they came."
"It involves a poor, starving and sickly child from off the street."
Taya and Westen looked at each other, and then slowly at Zen, who still only grinned at them.
"I hate it when he does this." Westen growled, rolling his eyes. Taya shrugged, knowing that they'd find out sooner or later.
As they were passing the place where the boy had pointed them in the right direction, Zen suddenly broke away from them and rode down the street, ignoring Westen's exclamation. Taya watched him curiously as he asked someone something, and then he went across the street to a group of kids, and waved at one of them, and the same boy from earlier jogged over to him. Zen leaned down and the two talked for a second, and then Zen reached a hand down and swung the boy up in front of him and trotted his horse back to them.
"Zen?" Taya said pointedly, smiling at the boy, who grinned back, and then his eyes widened when he saw the person in front of Taya.
"That's who I'm supposed to act like? He looks… dead."
"Taya, Westen, meet Izaak. Izaak, meet Taya and Westen. And yes, that's who you are supposed to act like, except your role will be much easier than his. And he's not dead, just close to it." To Taya and Westen he said, "I have hired Izaak to play the part of our charge here. The story is for the moment that you, Taya, since you are such a kind hearted person, picked these two kids up from the street and are taking them to the infirmary. The young man you are carrying either dies or is a quick healer, and Izaak here plays the part of whichever, and is the one people see. He told me that he has an aunt in the kitchens, so he can go see her. This is all so that if Sen learns about you bringing someone back from your escapade into the city, there's a fairly solid background to hide the evidence."
"And how much are you paying this young man for sticking his neck out for someone he doesn't know?" Taya asked thoughtfully, trying not to let on how brilliant she thought Zen's idea was. Too much praise and it would go to his head.
"Several crowns… and he asked for a horse."
Izaak grinned at Taya, who grinned back. "I think that's fair enough. But you do realize what you are doing, young man? You are sticking your neck out for someone you don't know."
The boy sighed heavily. "It seems a rather easy way to get a horse, actually."
Westen barked a laugh, and Taya smiled widely, but Izaak continued seriously. "Besides, I live on the streets. I'm always sticking m neck out farther than I should, especially for other people. I'm one of the fastest kids in the city, too."
"Something tells me that you and Zen will be best friends before the day is over." It was Taya's turn to sigh heavily, and then she started Chester forward. "Alright you three, let's get home."
Their little party earned a few interested looks, but other than that they were ignored. Taya wasn't exactly recognizable as the Princess, and there were so few who actually knew what she looked like or that she existed that she wasn't worried about the people in the city. It was the castle guards and the people inside the castle she worried about talking.
When they rode across the bridge before the western castle gate, the guards at the gate looked at them in surprise and halted them.
"Milady? What is this?" The captain stepped forward, eyeing Izaak and the form in front of Taya, whose face was hardly visible beneath his hair.
"I'm taking these two young men to the infirmary, Captain." Taya said firmly, staring him down. The captain hesitated.
"Is that wise, Milady, to pick up to kids off the street and bring them into the castle?"
"Is it wise to let them die?"
The captain sucked in a breath, and nodded slowly. "You're right, Milady. Welcome back to the castle, I hope your ride was a pleasant one."
"Thank you, Captain." She replied lightly, and they rode on past the guards and trotted to the stables. It was just starting to mist as the dismounted under the barn overhang, and Westen went to find the groom as Zen helped Taya take her charge down.
"Well, that's lovely. I don't know how you will explain that." Zen said, looking at Taya. Her saddle was stained with blood, as was the front of Taya's shirt.
Chester flared his nostrils and tossed his head, rolling his eyes at the smell of blood, and Taya put a hand on his neck to soothe him.
"You're alright, boy. There's nothing to worry about… or to explain." Taya took up her cloak and wiped off the saddle, and shrugged at her shirt. "That's what I have a cloak for."
Izaak was staring at the limp form Zen was half holding up with wide eyes, seeing his condition for the first time.
"What happened to him?" He asked quietly, and Taya hesitated. "I'll tell you in a little bit, Izaak."
Westen came hurrying back. "Alright, he's on his way. We'd better hurry inside before he does come, because he'll be the first one to spread the rumors."
Taya nodded, and deftly tied Chester to a tie ring, and then with an arm around Izaak's shoulders, she started the group off as quickly as they could manage.
"Why are you holding me around my shoulders?" Izaak whispered.
"You're supposed to be sick, kid. Would you rather I carried you?"
That shut him up.
They were safely inside the castle, and Taya was taking a short cut to go through her garden, which would give someone less opportunity to stumble onto them, but as they neared the garden, someone hailed them from behind, and Taya stiffened, then slightly relaxed as she recognized the voice.
"We are kind of in a hurry, Murtagh. Try to keep up."
"Taya, what's going on? I have to tell you… what are you three doing with that kid?"
Taya rolled her eyes. "Going to try to save his life. Do you have a problem with that?"
"You're going to what?"
"Not helping, Murtagh." Zen said patiently as Taya held the door to the garden open. "Keep moving, Murtagh. You're a part of this too, now. Quickly quickly!"
Murtagh made a face but didn't say anything, and followed them the rest of the way quietly. Once they were safely in her wing where no one but her people could be, Taya let go of Izaak, and tousled his hair. "Step one complete. Good job, Izaak."
"Who is he?" Izaak motioned with his head to Murtagh.
"That, my young friend, is Murtagh. He's my best friend. He can know what's going on. I trust him."
"Ok, good. Just making sure he wasn't some creep. He kind of looks like one."
Taya snickered. Murtagh straightened as if slapped, and even though she couldn't see his expression, she could imagine it.
"How old are you, Izaak?" She asked as they neared her room.
"Twelve."
"That's kind of what I thought." Taya jumped up ahead of Zen and Westen to her room, and knocked, then entered. Kyra was sitting on her bed, reading a book, and she looked up with relief when Taya burst in.
"Taya! Thank heavens! Where have you been? Raelack came to tell me that you called off Westen and Zen from the wing doors, but he didn't know why."
"Kyra dear, brace yourself. We have a new charge."
"We have a new… Oh my word." Zen and Westen entered, carrying their mysterious young man between them, and Kyra's face went as white as a sheet. "Is he alive?" She asked almost in a squeak.
"Barely. He was one of Galbatorix's trainee's."
Murtagh's eyes widened and he leaned against the door frame, staring at her almost in admiration. As Taya hurried to the bedside and began stripping the covers and the pillows off, Izaak joined her and Kyra looked ready to go into hysterics, but she calmed herself and rushed out to find some more help and the things they would need.
"Is she always like that?" Izaak asked after Kyra was gone.
"Come now, who wouldn't be a little freaked out if someone brought a nearly dead man to them?" Taya replied. "Kyra's fine, it's just a bit much for one day. I hope she finds Shalla and Mari, though. They could handle this better than anyone else."
"Before I forget, Taya, I really do need to tell you that Sen has been scouring the castle looking for you. Not that he ever seems happy, but he really didn't seem happy when I ran across him. I'm glad I found you first, considering the purpose of your spontaneous jaunt into the city."
Taya frowned. "Why would he be looking for me?"
"I think it has to do with the king."
"Oh dear… It's all too close together; I doubt it's related, but still… I don't want to leave here now, though, so Sen and my father will have to wait a little longer."
Izaak froze as he was tossing the discarded sheets onto the couch.
"Who?"
"No one told him?" Murtagh asked incredulously. "I don't think I know enough to understand the depth of what is going on."
"You don't, that's for sure." Westen said seriously. "We will fill you in, just not at this second."
Taya turned from what she was doing to Izaak, who was staring at her.
"I'm not just some girl who lives in the castle, Izaak. I'm the princess. Zen and Westen are two of my bodyguards, and Murtagh is the son of Morzan. Are you sure you want to stick your neck out further?"
"You had to tell him exactly who I was? Now do I not only look like a creep, but I am a creep." Murtagh sighed, looking sadly at Taya.
"He has more cause to be frightened for his life by my father, not yours. Yours is dead, for goodness sakes! Mine is ruling the world."
"I guess I'm not really all that surprised." Izaak startled them all with his calm statement. "I mean, what girl tries to save a beaten-up-guy's life and practically waltzes into the castle without the guards freaking out? And I guess it just makes sense that you and he would be friends. So, I'm not really surprised." The twelve-year-old went back to helping Taya, blowing them all away. Taya smiled, and shook her head.
"Yep, best friends." She opened the closet and pulled out a pile of faded and slightly stained linens, and placed them on the bed and started to remake it.
"Those look like blood stains." Izaak commented as he helped her layer the sheets.
"They are. This is not the first time I have accommodated a wounded man… just not one so beat up."
"Hurry, Taya. He's getting heavy, and he's not doing so well."
"Alright, set him down on the bed." Taya stepped back and let them lift him onto the bed. Murtagh stepped up beside her, and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You'll do your best, Taya, and more. Just don't hurt yourself. I'll be back. I'm going to tell Raneck and Kell you three are back and to make sure they tell Sen you will be along as soon as you can. I'll make up some excuse."
"Thanks, Murtagh. I appreciate it."
"Anytime." He turned and walked out quickly, and when he'd left Zen asked,
"What do you need us to do, Taya?"
"I need you two to follow Murtagh and tell Raneck and Kell that absolutely no one is allowed in without my express permission. Obviously that means Murtagh can come in. But that's about it."
"Alright. We'll be back to check up on you."
"Thank you."
Kyra nearly ran into them as the exited the room, and behind Kyra came two other women. The first was a tall brunette and the second had long midnight black hair.
"Shalla, Mari." Zen greeted and let them by, and Shalla, the brunette, replied.
"Hello Zen, Westen."
Mari just nodded her greeting, but she was busy balancing two water bowls. The bodyguards left, leaving the four women and Izaak to take care of the new 'charge'.
"So, what am I supposed to do?" Izaak asked, looking between the four girls. Taya made a face, and then asked,
"You said you had an aunt who worked in the kitchens?"
He nodded.
"Ok, Mari, if you'd go with Izaak to the kitchens and bring some food up here, that would be much appreciated. This is going to take a while."
"Of course, Taya. Come on, Izaak." Mari grinned at him, and he grinned back. "Oh, and by the way," He said as they walked out the door, "I'm supposed to be really sick."
Taya smiled to herself as she heard Mari's reply before the door shut all the way.
"I'm sure that was Zen's idea. I'll remember to keep a healthy distance between us."
"Izaak was Zen's idea." Taya explained to Kyra and Shalla, and then they got to work. They worked over their patient for hours, taking breaks when they needed new bandages or medicines. Theirs was not an easy job, because there should have been no way their patient should have survived the beating he got. By the time they were finished cleaning his wounds and bandaging them, he was mostly covered in white. What had Taya worried the most were the gashes on his head and chest, and the wound to his abdomen, which she was fairly certain was made by the jeweled dagger she'd found. The most curious thing they'd discovered was a massive black and green bruise on his right forearm, with a tiny dark spot at the very center. It had Taya worried because she had a feeling it was tied to a drug, but what she didn't know. Yet.
They'd reset a bone in one of his legs, and relocated a shoulder. With her slight magical ability Taya had healed a few of the less fatal wounds, but she knew she didn't have enough energy to heal the major ones. This annoyed her, but she was too worried to think too much about it.
He had a fever, but at that moment it wasn't too high, and with all the care he'd received he was actually sleeping. He hadn't stirred or made another sound, but his heart was still beating and he still breathed. It seemed Taya had won the race against time, for the time being.
Taya, Shalla and Kyra sat down altogether on Taya's couch, and Shalla commented,
"And I thought what happened to Zen was bad."
"Our patient makes at least three of him." Kyra agreed.
Taya nodded, thinking. She was thinking about the bruise on his arm, the curious one. If it was where they'd injected a drug, what drug was it that would cause such a hideous reaction? And what were the drug's effects on his body?
"What are you thinking, Taya?" Shalla asked quietly, seeing the look on her face.
"I'm thinking about what drug Sen would have used on him. What's the cruelest drug you can think of?"
"You're asking me?" Shalla asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm just one of your maids."
"Shalla, hardly. You also work in the infirmary, the kitchens, and countless other jobs around the castle. You must have heard something."
"I could say that you're the King's busy-body daughter. Can't you use magic to find out what sort of drug is in his blood stream?"
"I could…"
"It would save a lot of trouble."
"Fine, I'll do it, but only because you're not being helpful." Taya stood back up and went to sit beside their patient, and she put her hand over the bandage that was wrapped around the bruise and closed her eyes.
"You know Shalla, she's pretty tired. This might take too much out of her." Kyra said quietly, but Shalla replied with faith,
"Taya's stronger than we give her credit for sometimes. She can do it easily, especially if it means finding out what else is the matter with him."
Taya tuned them out, and then there was complete silence for a long few minutes. Then Taya stiffened.
"What is it?" Shalla asked her softly.
"Salcosa."
"Oh, that's not good at all." Shalla slumped back on the couch, and Kyra looked in growing apprehension between the two of them.
"What's Salcosa?" She asked timidly.
Taya stood and crossed her arms, staring at the ceiling.
"Salcosa is a mixed drug. Not only does it attack the muscles in your body and cause your nerves to spasm, it keeps its victim conscious, at least until the main ingredients breakdown in the blood stream, and then the victim is supposed to slip immediately into unconsciousness, and IF he or she wakes up again, they momentarily forget all that's happened. I don't know if there are any lasting effects, because I just learned about it a few weeks ago. There's… there's a very high possibility that he went through all of this, or most of this, conscious."
"Oh… my…" Kyra stared at the floor, grasping the horrible thought.
Shalla stood. "I'll go to the infirmary and see if there is something that can counter its effects, unless you don't think that's a good idea because it could hinder his immune system from fighting it."
"No, that would be good. We might not use it, but it would be good to have just in case."
"Alright, I'll be back, but I don't know when." Shalla hurried out the door, and they heard he speak to someone, and there was a knock on the door and Murtagh entered with Mari and Izaak. The three looked immediately to the still form lying on Taya's bed, and then they looked at Taya.
"How is he?" Murtagh asked first.
Taya sighed heavily. "Good and bad, more bad than good. He was in terrible condition and in all honesty he shouldn't be alive, but he is. But I just found out that he was drugged. Shalla's going to see if she can't find an antidote in the infirmary."
Murtagh nodded, catching her avoiding explaining the drug itself. "I'm glad to hear that he's still alive. I came back to see if you can spare an hour to satisfy the wolves before they come tearing in here. The 'she's ill' excuse is only making them angrier… although, you don't really look too good."
"I don't feel too good, either." Taya half smiled and then sighed. "If Mari and Izaak stay with Kyra and watch out for him, then I'll feel a little bit better about leaving. I'll send one of the guys in here just in case something happens, and then he can alert me."
"We'll stay, Taya." Mari bowed her head once, and Izaak nodded his head vigorously.
"Good. I think this won't take very long. The hurry is probably just Sen. The King doesn't usually care too much how long it takes me, as long as I get there. You could probably start a fire in the fireplace, if you wanted too. Unless it's just me thinking it's chilly in here."
"No, it's not just you." Mari said, and she walked over to the fire, Izaak following closely behind like a shadow. "Go on, Taya. The sooner you leave the sooner you'll be back."
Taya grabbed her cloak, and with Murtagh they left her room. Once they were away from the door, he asked quietly,
"What drug did Sen use?"
"Salcosa."
"Oh Taya." He said, and then fell silent. He'd learned about the drug at the same time she had, and they'd both been horrified. Now it was worse, but Taya was glad she knew what it was.
"He's a strong person." Murtagh commented. "I can't even imagine what he went through. If he survives, and doesn't take a turn for the worse, we should probably save his horse at least. Someone will claim it soon. It's a magnificent animal, a big black stallion with one white sock on its left hind leg."
"Do you know what his name is?"
"The horse or the person?"
"The person."
"Actually, no. It's as if it was a secret. I don't know the other trainee's names are either, but there is a certain mystery about this kid."
"We should find his sword too, at that."
"So, to satisfy the wolves and a treasure hunt?"
"As long as it doesn't take too long, Murtagh."
"I can continue looking if we haven't found everything by the time you need to get back. The horse and the sword are easy. You should probably ask the King personally for the horse."
"That's not a bad idea; I think I'll do that. That way no one can dispute my claim."
They reached the doors to her wing, and Zen stepped up beside her, with Westen close beside him. Looming behind them was another Hljodhr Evarinya, a man named Xackzan. He was from the desert, from the Nomadi, and not only was he large in stature, but he was 6'6".
"He'll live for now." Taya said before they could ask. "But we found he'd been drugged with Salcosa, so Shalla's gone to find an antidote. I'll go see the King now, to stop Sen from hounding us, and then we are going to claim a horse and other personal items of our friend."
"So, he's our friend now instead of our charge?" Zen asked with a stoic expression. Taya shook her head sadly.
"He's my friend, at least. He has no choice in the matter. And I thought that I was your 'charge'."
Zen made a face, causing them all to laugh.
"Come on, guys. Let's get going so she can get back." Murtagh motioned Taya forward, and Zen stayed behind while Westen and Xackzan fell in beside them. Taya stopped however, and turned back to Zen.
"I need you to go back to my room and stay there, just in case something happens while I'm gone so you can relay it to me. Just don't cause too much trouble."
"I'll try not to, Taya."
"I'm sure." At that she turned and started walking again, and the two guards on the other side of the door, Kell Arder and Sade Feist, her first bodyguards, had heard the whole exchange and so didn't ask any questions but merely saluted jauntily.
Halfway to the king's throne room Murtagh cleared his throat. "Actually, I think I'm going to go search for the sword right now. No, I'm not abandoning you, Taya, I promise. I get this feeling though that to get it I'll have to get there before someone else does. It's part of the mystery."
"Alright, hurry back."
"You do the same." Murtagh turned down one of the corridors and disappeared, leaving Taya, Westen and Xackzan to walk to the throne room alone. They didn't talk about their other 'charge', but about other things, completely random things. They passed a number of people, mostly servants, and they all moved out of the way for the trio.
When they approached the throne room, three of the king's guards intercepted them.
"His Majesty is awaiting your presence in his library, Princess."
Taya frowned, and then shrugged. "Alright, thank you." They changed direction and kept going. Luckily the King's library wasn't much farther than the throne room, but Taya wondered at this. Not that the King was always in the throne room, but he usually was, especially when he wanted to see her.
When they reached the library, there were only two guards stationed there, and they knocked on the door, and it opened. Taya glided into the massive library, which adjoined to the main personal wing, which was the King's. She stopped by the polished oval in the center of the room, and bowed her head to the King, who was sitting opposite her in a high-backed chair, his chin resting on his hand, watching her coolly with dark eyes. She'd become used to the cold stare from those haunting eyes, but for some reason she was always reminded of her mother when she looked into them. When she was little he would stare at her mother the same way he was looking at her now, so maybe that was why. And her mother was always tall and strong and never bent under his gaze, so she would not.
"Hello, daughter." He greeted softly, and she suppressed a shiver.
"Father. You wished to see me?"
"I did. You were a while in coming. But, I see that you do not look well this evening."
"I do not feel well, sir."
"Hmm." He looked thoughtful. "For once it seems your bodyguards told the truth."
Taya narrowed her eyes and replied coolly. "They've never lied."
He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps I will have to reconsider my opinion of them. But that is not why I asked you to come here. It was for a much more important matter that I wished to speak with you about."
"I will listen, but I'd like to ask you something first."
The King sighed, but with a wave of his hand he allowed her to continue.
"There is a black horse in the stables, a large charger. I was wondering who had a claim on him."
The King frowned, and then his expression softened, if it could.
"Actually, if you are speaking of the horse I think you are it's the black horse with one white sock on its left hind leg?"
Taya nodded, mentally thanking Murtagh for his description of the horse.
"Hmm. That particular horse's owner came to a very unfortunate demise not very long ago. Are you interested in him?"
"I am."
"You already have two black horses, Taya. Do you need another?"
"Actually, I think I do. I have something particular in mind for this horse."
"Then it is yours. Is that all?"
"I believe so, for the moment."
"Good. At the beginning of the coming week we will be hosting a few guests for a time, for a week or so. Lord Calveen Katzia and his two sons, Sharac and Larel, come from Dras'leona and provide a great deal to the army. Lord Nezir Bretton and his wife Emrita, with their son Tanan and their daughter Deyana come from Belatona. This is only partly a business trip. I would like for you to see that they are welcomes properly. They have been told of your presence, and I am expecting you to greet them and see them settled in."
"I shall do my best. When exactly do they arrive?"
"They arrive the day after tomorrow."
"Oh… I guess I lost track of what day it is. Hopefully that doesn't happen again anytime soon."
Galbatorix narrowed his eyes at her. "It had better not. I do not think I would be very happy with you."
"I will not forget. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"No, I do not think so, Taya. You may go now."
Taya bowed her head, and with Westen and Xackzan turned to exit, and then she paused.
"Actually, father, would you call off Sen? His hounding is exhausting, and I have absolutely no peace when you send him to tell me something."
Surprisingly, the King chuckled. "I suppose I should shorten his leash a bit. Today has been a very unusual day. Consider it done."
"Thank you." She emphasized, and then they left the room. After a few minutes of silence, Taya said,
"Let's go to the stables and check out this new horse of mine."
"Wait, you've never seen it?" Westen asked in surprise.
"No, Murtagh told me what it looked like as we were walking to the main doors."
"Well. Will we meet him there?"
"If he found the sword, then yes."
"Good. And by the way, you and Galbatorix acted astoundingly civil towards one another. I'm surprised, considering the events of today." Westen glanced sideways at her as he spoke, probably trying to read her expression.
Taya huffed a little. "If I'd been anything else that meeting would not have been as short as it was. I was sorely tempted, but I knew it was better to be 'astoundingly civil'. Maybe it will throw him off track and he won't ask any questions later on. I want there to be no clues as to what is going on behind his back. There are some things he does not need to know."
Westen smirked, and nodded.
"Do you think he will really tell Sen not to bother you?" Xackzan asked quietly, and his deep voice rather soothed her.
"I think he will, with guests arriving soon. Galbatorix doesn't need me harassed, especially when he knows that I will retaliate…" She smiled wickedly. "Like last time."
Both men laughed. "Very true, very true."
They stepped outside, and were greeted by dark rain clouds, and hardly any light. Without pausing they hurried as fast as they could to the stables, feeling a few large raindrops hit them.
"Murtagh?" Taya called once they'd entered the stable, and her friend appeared from a stall halfway down, and he was carrying a second sword.
"You found it!" She exclaimed happily, and he nodded.
"Barely. I was not the only one admiring, or rather, seeking it. One of the guards came in a little after I'd found it and was practically tearing the place a part. It's a magnificent weapon. What about the horse?"
"Mine now."
"Good, because Sen of all people was in here looking at him, and I would have hated to have seen that horse in his possession. The horse's name is Adnarim."
Taya followed him to the stall he'd come out of, and was greeted by a large, soft black nose, intelligent dark eyes and a massive body of a horse.
"Oh my, he is gorgeous." She breathed, entering the stall and running a hand down the horse's neck and shoulder. The horse turned his head to look at her, and she laughed softly, touching him on the nose.
"I might not give him back." She said jokingly, and then exited the stall, and with Murtagh's direction she found the horse's tack and moved it over to her section of the saddle room. She wrote a note and placed it on the groom's board by the door, and it clearly stated that the black horse Adnarim, with the white sock on its left hind leg, was now hers by order of the King.
"Now, if anyone wants to argue, they know where to go." She said simply, and Murtagh handed her the sword he'd saved. She raised her eyebrows, and gripped the handle. It was a hand and a half sword and a tad big for her, but the grip was firm and she liked the feel of it. Along the cross-guard was some writing, but it was too dark to read. The sheath was black leather, well-oiled and in wonderful condition, as was the belt. She slowly unsheathed the sword, and they all admired the shining, grooved blade. Again there was writing, in the groove, but they didn't read it. They heard a door slam at the other end of the barn, and Taya sheathed the sword and they all quickly left the stable. It was barely light enough for them to see, and lanterns had already been lit in the courtyard and along the walls, even with the threat of rain. It still only sprinkled on them, and so instead of taking the way through the castle they cut around and through Taya's garden.
"So, what are you thinking about, Taya?" Westen asked as the ducked under the garden's covered walkway.
"I'm thinking sleep." She said determinedly. "It has been quite an irregular day, so I believe I can safely say that I am exhausted and not sound like I'm whining."
"You don't sound like you're whining. You're stating a fact." Westen replied with a grin.
They reached Taya's hallway, and she motioned at the two bodyguards
"Murtagh can walk me to my room from here. You two get to the front doors and tell the other we are back, and do the night rotation. You, Westen, and Zen if he has behaved can take the night off."
"Thanks, Taya."
They parted ways, and Murtagh said,
"I'll see what I can find out about our mysterious friend, but one of the Hljodhr Evarinya might have more luck. You would have said something by now if the King had mentioned him."
"All the King said was that he'd come to a very unfortunate demise not too long ago. I'm glad I am not the only one who thinks there is much more to him."
"Everyone thinks that, Taya. At least, all of us." He smirked at her. "You really put yourself forward today, Taya. It was a real risk, what you did in order to save him."
Taya sighed heavily. "Hopefully it isn't for naught."
Murtagh shrugged. "I doubt it will be. Hey, do you think Kyra won't jump down my throat when she sees me?"
Kyra wasn't Murtagh's biggest fan, although it was hard to understand why. Taya had never directly asked her because Kyra kept her dislike quiet and loathed him from a distance. It was almost as if sometimes she was trying to protect Taya from him, but separating them was impossible. Their friendship and mutual understanding was too strong, and so Kyra had backed off and treated Murtagh as if he wasn't there.
"I don't know. She didn't act funny earlier, but she was so preoccupied I bet she hardly noticed you. I guess we shall see what she does."
"You'd think she'd get used to me being around."
"Kyra? Never."
They both laughed, and knocked on her door before entering. Taya raised her eyebrows at the little group sitting on her two couches. Raneck Katifa, one of the Hljodhr Evarinya, was sitting beside Kyra, who was sitting beside Mari. Izaak was sprawled on the floor, and Zen and Shalla were on the opposite couch. Everyone was looking at the door when they walked in, and Taya, since she was looking for it, saw Kyra's very slightly annoyed expression when she saw Murtagh.
"Well, hello Raneck! Fancy seeing you here. If you're here, then who's watching the front door?"
Raneck shrugged. "Kell and Sade. I figured they could handle it. Besides, I'm not on duty tonight."
"Hmm…"
"Don't look at me like that! I wasn't going to let Zen stay alone with these girls, are you kidding?"
"Hey!" Zen cried indignantly, and Taya shushed him.
"I hope you haven't been this loud and rambunctious with our patient. If I was as bad off as he is and it was this loud in here I'd still think I was being attacked."
"Now, Taya." Shalla said soothingly, more joking than anything. "We aren't that bad. And he's actually seemed to be more relaxed when we are joking."
"Speaking of, how is he?" Taya asked as she walked to the bedside and sat down on the edge, holding out her hand to touch his forehead. He was sweating and very warm, but sleeping soundly.
"He seems to be doing alright. I changed the bandage on his head, and redid the poultice on his arm." Shalla said, getting up and walking over to her. She pointed out a jar on the bedside table. "I found a salve that should counteract the drug, but I don't know how effective it will be since it's been in his body for so long. Hopefully it will help. I snatched it from the infirmary after hounding one of the healers for almost an hour. Apparently it helps draw infection out of animal bites and stings."
"That's interesting."
"That's what I thought. They had a bunch of jars, so I don't think anyone will miss this one."
"Thank you, Shalla. You're amazing."
Shalla raised her eyebrows and grinned. "And you're tired. I also saw to it that Izaak has a clean bedroom right down the hall, and he's already approved of it."
"It was great!" The young boy bounced up off the floor, beaming at Taya. "I've never ever had my own room! This one makes up for it though."
"I'm glad you think so." Shalla said before anyone else could reply to him. "And now it's time to get you over there and ready for bed, you dirty street tramp."
Izaak looked down at himself and shrugged. "I'm not that dirty." He said coolly, and both Shalla and Mari laughed.
"You're still dirty, kiddo." Mari said, standing up and pushing him towards the door. "And we prefer that you're clean when you go to bed. Goodnight, Taya. We'll be back in the morning."
"Thank you, Mari. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
Mari grinned wickedly and shot a glance at Zen, who was still on the couch. "Oh, not really, but it's apparent that we have a little double on our hands."
"What are you looking at me for?" Zen asked suspiciously, and Shalla merely shook her head at him.
"Maybe one day you'll see, Zen. Goodnight, all." Shalla turned and followed Mari and Izaak, and they could hear his indignant protests as they walked off down the hall.
"Alright you two, I think we are good here for now." Taya said to Zen and Raneck. "I know where to find you if I need you."
"Yes, you do. Come on, Murtagh, you can leave too."
Murtagh frowned at Zen, more surprised than anything. "Oh I can, can I? I don't think I've been released by the right person, though. Your rope is only so tight, Zen."
Raneck snickered, and Zen stared at him incredulously. Murtagh looked over at Taya who was smiling and shaking her head.
"Do you want me to go?"
"What an absolutely ridiculous question." Taya replied. "But, you know I'm exhausted so I guess you can go."
"Alright. Rest well, Taya. Come on Zen, Raneck, we've been dismissed."
Raneck stood with Kyra and he kissed her slightly on the cheek, and then followed Murtagh and Zen out. This left Taya and Kyra alone with their sleeping patient, and Taya watched her friend as she straightened the couch pillows and other little things around the room. Her expression was stiff, and the feeling radiating off of her was annoyed. Taya shook her head in wonder and asked bluntly,
"What in the world is bothering you, Kyra?" She already knew the answer, but with Murtagh's question earlier, she thought it was time that light as shed on the mystery. Kyra sat down, and then stood back up and went to the window.
"Murtagh bothers me."
"Ahh. Why?"
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?" Kyra turned to her, her eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps, but Murtagh is not an apple, so what does that have to do with you not liking him?"
"I didn't say I didn't like him."
"No, you despise him. Answer my question, Kyra."
Kyra winced at her tone of voice, but she didn't back down.
"He's Morzan's son. That's enough for me to distrust him."
"And I'm Galbatorix's daughter. Your excuse is pathetic."
Kyra stepped back, staring at her. "You're different."
"I am not. I'm Murtagh's best friend. I don't like the memory of his father, who is dead and my father is very much alive, but that's Morzan, not Murtagh. I'm Taya, not Galbatorix. You don't have to like him, but you can at least be civil to him."
"Every time I look at him or hear his voice I think of Morzan. That is what is different about you two."
There has got to be more than this! Taya thought to herself angrily, but say calmly,
"Kyra, what did Morzan do to you? To make you despise his son so much?"
Her friend tensed, and said softly,
"He killed my father."
Oh dear.
"That was Morzan, not Murtagh, Kyra! You're blaming his son for something he didn't do. He didn't choose his father, just like I didn't choose mine. Are we so different, really? Murtagh is not bad person, but you're making him seem like one. He's one of the best people I know, and I am not just saying that. You must understand that what you are thinking is wrong, and holding a grudge against someone's child is wrong. You know that. You should know that only too well. What about Raneck?"
"What… about him?"
"Weren't your father and his father mortal enemies? Didn't you not like him at first because your father had taught you to despise his father, and so despise his family? How did you work around that? I remember when you nearly strangled him when you found out who he was. Now you two are considering getting married? I'm not saying you should do that drastic of an attitude change towards Murtagh, but do you see what I mean?"
"I… can't…"
"He's not a bad person, Kyra. You're seeing and hearing someone who cannot hurt you anymore. Just think about it."
"And when I think of my father?"
"You think of your father. And when you see Murtagh, you see Murtagh."
Kyra hesitated, and then nodded. "I'll think about it."
"Good." Taya said. She stood and walked over to Kyra and hugged her. "That's all I'm asking right now… except one more thing."
"What?" Kyra questioned suspiciously.
"That you go and get some sleep. I can manage here by myself, and you look as tired as I feel."
"If you insist…"
"I do. Strongly. In fact I will walk you to the door to make sure you actually leave."
"Alright, alright, alright! I'm going. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Kyra." Taya said as Kyra shut the door behind her, and then Taya fell onto her couch and closed her eyes, finally allowing her body to relax.
"Well, that was interesting." She said to herself quietly. "I hope that helped…" She was just about to fall asleep when a pitiful moan escaped her patient, and she practically flew to the bedside and felt his forehead again. His fever had risen, and she was suddenly worried about the salve Shalla had put on his arm. What if it actually made his condition worse? He was twitching feebly, and she hoped he wouldn't hurt himself even more.
She forced herself to calm down, and placed a cool rag on his forehead.
"You're going to make it through this." She said softly. "You've come this far already and I am not going to let you give up now, especially not with all the effort I've put into you. I am going to figure out why this happened to you, and who you are, and I want to hear your version of it. So, you get better. And relax because you're safe, no one can harm you here. Rest and heal."
To her surprise he sighed deeply, and lay still. Taya sighed too, and stood up.
"Good man. Now, goodnight." She went back to the couch, but this time grabbed a blanket and a pillow and made herself comfortable. She was asleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow.
Where a memory had been, there was only blackness. Somewhere in the distance someone laughed and there was intense heat around her. Taya looked around, fear rising inside of her, and then she jumped when a silky voice said from behind her,
'How does it feel, Princess? To see things from your life again, replaying in your mind as if they were happening right now? Watching as one of your dearest friends suffers unimaginable pain for failing to do his King's will? And what is it like to be at deaths very door, by the hand of the man you love? Tell me.'
Taya whipped around at the all-too familiar voice and she choked back a scream as Morzan advanced towards her, except this Morzan in her mind was mutilated, scarred and horrifying. As he would have been after Brom had killed him on the battlefield.
'Leave me alone, you! You can't be here!' She yelled at him, backtracking.
'You can't run from me, Taya. I'm a part of the poison running through your veins, a very effective measure by your father. I'm here to help you remember why you're here, and to help make your death that much more painful. You're trapped in your mind as your friends, your puny little friends, try to save you, but they will all die in the end. Just as your precious friends in the castle have and will.'
'No! They aren't dead! And they will not die, I won't let that happen. I can't. This is my mind; I don't want you in it.'
'Yes, they are dead, as you are dead to them. All except one… but his fate is sealed, and his life is once again your father's. The one who would give more than his life to save you, to find you? The one who you push away all the time? Here, I'll show you something.'
'No!' But a new image flashed before her eyes, of 6 men lying dead on the ground… all the men she cared about, the ones who cared the most for her, her faithful bodyguards… except one was missing.
Zen…
'You are telling me lies, Morzan.' She growled, facing him, but tears were streaming down her face. 'Go! I want no more of you.'
'I'll be back. There's so much more to show you.' He disappeared without a whisper, and there was silence in the blackness, and Taya shivered. The warmth had gone away, and she wished it hadn't. It had been the only thing comforting about her mind.
'Will I survive?' She asked herself, and then she sank to the ground. Her voice was hard when she replied to herself. 'I must. And I will. I will not surrender my life without a fight.'