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 inconvenience. I am not trying to confuse you! Later on, after chapter 35, things mostly fit together with the revised chapters of the story.

This is Chapter 31, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

It was late evening, a few days down the road from being chased by the strange monster, and the threesome with Kabarak and Taya had made camp and were sitting beside their small fire discussing their options for the road ahead, which were rather controversial do to a suggestion Sacar had made earlier that day. With an extra mouth to feed, their supplies were dwindling quickly and places to get supplies were hard to find and dangerous to go to. And the land they were travelling through had little to offer.

Sacar had thrown them a bone when the topic came up earlier by telling them that he had an uncle who lived on the very outskirts of the Surdan borders, and they could easily get supplies from him. According to Sacar, his father's older brother Kuntar Liastrin lived like a hermit but had ties and connections with many people across the land, especially in Surda. He was a supporter of the Varden, something Sacar stressed, and he trustworthy.

But the last thing Sasha wanted to do was entrust their safety and security to an old man whose character and loyalties were unknown to the majority of them. Not that she didn't trust Sacar but Sasha was a cautious person, especially when it came to their situation… but they already knew that. While Sacar slightly understood her hesitation, it also riled him a little because he would entrust his life to his uncle and wished that Sasha would trust his judgment.

Raya was something of a mediator, seeing both sides of the argument, or discussion, but leaning more towards Sacar's side seeing as how their supplies were dwindling. Sasha sensed her cousins thought process and that made everything go downhill. Before long they were nearly at each other's throats when Kabarak could stand it no longer.

Enough! Stop behaving like animals and remember who you are! He roared in their minds, bringing their cut-throat argument to a screeching halt. Kabarak's green eyes were blazing, and he had almost seemed to grow in size… The three of them stared at Kabarak, who was standing protectively over Taya's body.

What has gotten into you that makes you squabble like hungry dogs? He asked, his wings twitching. I have never seen any of you act this way, and I know that this is not your normal state. Pull yourselves together.

It was as if some invisible hand pulling strings had snapped back when Kabarak spoke, startling the three into silence. They looked at each other, seeing their separate expressions of shock.

That's better. Kabarak huffed. But it is obvious that I will be the decision maker of this disagreement. You are all right, if that makes any of you feel better. It is dangerous and risky to go to this man's home, with Taya so close to death and enemies close behind us. Yet a city or a town would be far more dangerous, with the fear of being recognized by someone from the empire.

We must trust Sacar's judgment of his uncle, otherwise you will go hungry. Although, I could catch you meat and you could do a better job of scavenging.

Sasha and Raya's expressions made the two males laugh.

That answers that, but it matters little. You do not know how to live solely off the land, nor have had to in the past. We must plan this excursion very, very carefully, otherwise we risk too much and we must move on.

"You are right, of course Kabarak." Sasha said with a sigh, and she looked back at the teenagers.

"I am sorry. I started the whole thing and couldn't, or wouldn't, see any other possibility. It seems I have something to work on."

"I am sorry too, as I carried it on." Sacar replied. "It's not like us to argue so much, so something is on the wind. We are all on edge."

Raya nodded. "He's right. We're on edge. Between Taya's condition, our dwindling supplies, and Murtagh somewhere around, the odds do not seem in our favor."

"You're right of course, Raya. Concerning your uncle, Sacar," Sasha started to lay out a plan, but Kabarak interrupted her rather harshly.

Raya and Sacar will travel to this man's home. Sasha and I will remain with Taya and travel around the area as we have done before. We will meet on the road beyond Kuntar Liastrin's home. But you two, He turned his green eyes on Raya and Sacar, must use all the caution in the world. Stealth and secrecy… do you even have an idea of how you will accomplish this?

Sacar widened his eyes as if in surprise that Kabarak would even suggest that he didn't have a plan.

"Of course, I have since I mentioned the idea; you just haven't let me say it. May I?"

Yes. Kabarak replied, unfazed.

"Thank you. The house my uncle lives in was not built by him, but was found by his father when he was searching the borders for the Surdan's. It is a strange house, as the wood is not, or we don't believe that it is native to the area, and on the vertical beams inside the house are strange markings, like a language. Only one word stands out, and that opens a ramp into a tunnel that extends far underground and across a wide stretch of land and ends in an area overgrown by trees. There are old stone walls there, a well, and an old wooden corral. My father and uncle found the tunnel and its end when they were boys and have since fixed up the tunnels end. It is very well hidden, as there are only two ways in and out of the trees, otherwise the trees and brush are too dense to penetrate. Whoever the builders of the house and tunnel were, they were an old race and very skilled. Whatever their purpose was for the place, it will work to our advantage. We can all ride to the wood, and Raya and I will follow the tunnel and so enter my uncle's house unseen by the outside world. We will get our supplies, maybe learn something from my uncle that will be useful concerning the borders, and ride back to you and then hightail it away towards our destination."

"A house with a tunnel large enough for a horse and rider to travel through?" Sasha sounded skeptical. "It would have to be well underground for it to have lasted so long without caving in."

"We think it was carved out by magic, and that magic keeps it intact." Sacar explained. "All four sides are smooth and flat and there are lanterns on the sides that when you light one, they all light. It can be really eerie. The first time I discovered the tunnel I was nine, and I was scared out of my wits."

Raya chuckled softly, and Sacar shrugged. "I was nine and adventurous. Only now can I even admit that I've ever been scared."

"Of course." Raya said, still finding it funny.

"Well, even though this place sounds incredibly strange, it seems like it will work in our favor for our needs. How far from here do you think it is?" Sasha asked, and Sacar frowned slightly.

"Not more than a two days ride, I think. If of course I haven't judged our position wrong."

Then that settles it, and with no injuries to speak of. Kabarak said, sounding incredibly pleased.

Raya looked over at her sister, and she wished she could do more. They didn't know how long Taya had left. And there was no way to find out and no help close by… only danger.

Hold on, Taya. She thought desperately. We're trying!

Her eyelids were drooping. The air around her was stifling, and it was getting harder to breathe. There was no comfort in the glade as the flames seemed to burn higher. What was happening? The only refuge Taya found was in her memories flitting past her like leaves on the wind. But that was hardly a life… and she had to live. She had to.

'Hold on, Taya!' A distant, hardly perceptible voice seemed to call out to her, and Taya lifted her eyelids with an effort.

'I'm… holding on. Hurry.' She whispered back, but her words died in the glade. To wait out the time, Taya let herself be pulled into another of her memories. That was better than waiting long enough for Morzan to appear and gloat, at least.

Taya was sitting on her couch, reading a book. Or rather trying to read a book. She was constantly being interrupted by Melcar, who had the ridiculous idea that he was well enough to stand. To save herself from having to pick him up off of the floor she had on two occasions shoved him gently back down, but now she was just getting irritated at his nagging. The young man had certainly come out of his shell, if only to drive her crazy.

"You know I can. I've lived through worse." Melcar said, proving his point that he was going to drive her crazy until she let him do it.

Taya rolled her eyes. "Absolutely not, and I will not say it again. For the last time, don't you dare try setting one foot on that floor!"

"I'm telling you, I'm fine. I'm not in any pain, except stiffer than a board. I can do it."

"Fine!" Taya exclaimed in exasperation, slamming her book shut and staring at him in disbelief. "A few weeks ago I would have laughed if someone told me that you would be acting like this. Just don't ask me to help you up when you fall flat on your face."

"I won't, don't worry."

He seemed so sure of himself. Taya shook her head, and watched him as he swung his legs eagerly over the bedside, an almost child-like smile on his worn face. He hadn't used his legs in those few weeks since she'd found him, and why he thought his legs were going to support him she had no idea. Trial by error. Needless to say, she was not very sympathetic.

Melcar set his feet on the floor and pushed himself into a standing position… and his legs gave way beneath him and his hands went out to catch himself. The look of horror and defeat would normally have sent Taya into hysterics, but she didn't want to slash his feelings to pieces, so she only grinned when he wasn't looking. He struggled for a minute, and then Taya crossed her legs and raised her voice,

"Zen! Would you please come in here?"

The door opened and Zen Drayson entered, clad in all black as usual and looking ready for anything. No doubt he'd been listening at the door during Melcar and Taya's whole exchange.

Taya motioned to Melcar, who had half pushed himself up, but only with his hands. His legs were not cooperating.

"Would you please aid our ambitious friend here in getting his feet?" Taya asked sweetly, and Zen nodded.

"Gladly." Zen reached down and slipped a hand under Melcar's arm and hauled him to his feet and leaned him against the bed, giving him a stern look.

"Usually when she says 'you're not ready' or don't do that', it is wise to follow her advice." His stern expression changed into a smile. "Although I shouldn't be the one talking."

"Yes, you should. You have the most experience at this sort of thing." Taya laughed. "But Melcar is right on your level. He's almost just as bad as you were."

"If I stop trying, I'll never get out of here." Melcar grumbled, and Taya cocked her head at him.

"Where would you go, if you were able to get out of here?" She asked curiously. She knew that his family, except for his brother Raelack, was dead. The life Melcar had had in the world since that tragedy had been one of hate and revenge aimed towards the ones who'd killed his family and left him homeless. But now that was different. He'd gone through an ordeal that no one should have lived through, and he'd grown through it. Taya had to admit, she didn't want him to leave when he was fully healed.

Melcar thought for a moment, and then looked directly into her eyes. "I never said I was going anywhere, exactly. I just don't want to be a permanent ornament in your room. It's a little odd, anyways, if you think about it." He said it so smoothly Taya almost didn't catch it, and then she and Zen started laughing, causing Melcar to smile.

"No, I only want to feel like I'm worth something. The only place I could or would go if I left this place would be to go after my brother, and that would be a difficult search. He will undoubtedly hide himself after what happened."

"So, do you have an idea of what you want to do?" Zen asked, but Melcar only shrugged, although there was a strange light in his eyes when he looked at Taya.

"Not yet. First things first…." He put weight on his legs, testing them, and Zen moved closer, silently offering his aid. Melcar put his hand on his shoulder and slowly pulled himself up into a standing position. Although he was rather wobbly, he was standing. Taya watched him with admiration. He was resilient, and strong.

He sat back down and nodded his head in satisfaction. He pulled himself up all the way on the bed, crossing one leg over the other and he silently picked up a book from the bedside table. Zen made a face and shrugged, going to sit beside Taya, who leaned on him.

"So, Melcar," she said slowly, and the young man eyed her over his book. "Would you tell me what happened to your family?"

He seemed to freeze, and then he sat up and put the book aside. He stared at her for a long time, as if trying to decide if he was going to tell her or not. Then he spoke softly,

"I can tell you what I know. It's all very vivid, but a blur at the same time, and hard to retell. Nearly four years ago, my older brother Raelack and I went on a hunting trip, and we left our parents and our three sisters safe and sound at home. I was thirteen, Raelack sixteen. Our trip was successful, and on our way back we were very tired so we stopped for a break not too far from home. But we slept later than we planned, and when we awoke there was the smell of fire in the air. We raced home, to find half of the house on fire and flames licking at the side of the barn. It was a race against time, and I went inside the house and Raelack went charging to the barn. The servants, my parents, and my sisters were all dead, murdered in their rooms and throughout the house. Amongst the flames Raelack came in and recklessly we grabbed a few things from the different rooms, and then after a trip to the treasury beneath the house where Raelack took two swords from the wall and we took enough money to last us for a while, we ran to the horses he'd tacked and ran. We even saw the bandits returning from a servant's house that was set against the woods, and Raelack stopped me from going up against them. We never went back home for fear it might be watched. I thought the Varden were behind it and held a hate for them in my heart as we travelled, but Raelack never argued for or against that idea. I only knew that our father had been a loyal servant of the King and I knew he had many enemies among the Varden. Now I wonder if Raelack knew something different but didn't tell me because he knew that I wouldn't listen… I was blind to anything but hate and my sorrow. And then, after working here and there and living off the land a lot, we went to Teirm to possibly get a job on a boat, but I took off from him when I saw and recognized one of the bandits. I lost track of the bandit, and my brother. So, lost and completely alone, I left Teirm and travelled to every place I thought my brother would go to find me. We probably missed each other by days. I fought with myself, trying to decide to come here and avenge my family by joining Galbatorix, or to continue the search for my brother. In the end, my anger and hate won and I came here to continue my father's legacy… something which I have failed to do so far. But when I saw my brother, kneeling before me and awaiting death at my hand, I knew that everything Galbatorix had told me was a lie, and my life's purpose was worthless and corrupt. You see, if Galbatorix had been innocent of my family's fate, Raelack would have been at his side as well, not a prisoner about to be put to death. He used my hatred for his own gain… I was a perfect puppet. So, knowing that I would surely die, I turned against Galbatorix and did as much damage as I could before the end."

He paused and shuddered. "I remember excruciating pain, which I cannot explain beyond that. I had no idea what they were doing to me, and I didn't want to know. But I wasn't dead, and I've never been one to give up, especially when the odds aren't in my favor. So, at deaths door I finally fell unconscious, and then I awoke here, with you Taya above me. And while I was unable let myself trust you, I knew deep down that I could and should trust you. Your risking your own life for my brother's was the turning point. You proved to me that you weren't what people said you were, and needless to say I instantly admired your willingness, almost cocky way of striking deep at Galbatorix." He looked back at her from the ceiling, and a smile tugged at his lips. "You certainly surprised me, princess."

"She's managed to do that to most of us." Zen conceded, and Taya laughed, nudging him.

"I'll try not to make a habit out of it." She said lightly, and looked at Melcar.

"I'm sorry about your family."

"As am I. But I have managed to live with their loss for a long time, and now that I am on the right track, where I know my father would be proud of me, I know that I can be a better man. And besides, I have friends who are becoming a family to me."

The sentence startled Taya, leaving her speechless. Even Zen was surprised… but that seemed to have been Melcar's angle. As if he'd made a comment about the weather, he relaxed and picked up his book again, ignoring them. Taya looked at Zen, who stared back at her, and then Taya relaxed. Melcar Di'Acor wasn't going anywhere. She didn't have to worry about a thing.

I've never been one to give up, especially when the odds aren't in my favor….

Taya Corsallen smiled at the flames around her. 'And so it is with me.' She said quietly, feeling slightly more energetic.

When she fought, she fought hard.