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 34, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

She shouldn't have gone back to sleep, but she was so tired… and she wanted to see if she could get an answer to the question of 'three day' from the last disjointed dream. Raya knew that Sasha or Sacar would be waking her up at any moment, but for now, she was alone and still asleep.

She drifted along, trying desperately to 'sleep', and then suddenly she was plunged into a dream where she was standing in a tower, looking towards a window. Through the small space she could see roofs and towers of what was probably a city. Raya looked around, but there wasn't anything to tell her where she was.

Then she heard footsteps, and she watched as the wooden door to the tower opened, and to her surprise Taya walked in, followed by a man in complete black with a sword buckled at his hip. He was dark haired with black eyes, but Raya saw gold in them… odd. He was extremely handsome… and he walked with a limp. Taya looked younger, and she was lavishly dressed in a light blue, one shoulder gown with a light blue cloak thrown over her shoulders. Her copper hair was done up in twisted braids and then let loose, falling past her shoulders.

Taya leaned up against the window sill and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"Ahhh, fresh air. Melcar, it's glorious! I can't stand being cooped up anymore. This whole business is wearing me thin!"

The man, Melcar, laughed softly and replied,

"Well, you only have three more days, and then it will all be over and you won't have to worry about any of it any longer."

"Three days." Taya sighed, and she looked content. Then her expression changed, and she looked over at Melcar with worry in her eyes.

"But it won't be the same. Things will be different, and maybe not for the better."

"Would you like your sanity back or would you like to give them another chance?"

Taya barked a laugh. "I would love to give them another chance, but they're out of time. When the next three days are up, it will be time to set sail… on rough or smooth waters."

Three day… No! Not 'three day' but 'three dayS! Raya stared at her sister. Did that mean…

"Raya! Raya, wake up already."

Someone was shaking her, and she lashed out sleepily, but it only earned her a laugh from Sasha, who batted her hand away.

"Easy there, hot head, or you'll put my eye out. Up you get, breakfast is almost ready. We let you sleep a little longer than usual, since we know that you aren't the happiest of morning people. And you have to hurry before it gets too late. You have something to do, remember?"

Raya sat up as Sasha moved away, and she put a hand up to her face and she slowly shook her head, groaning.

Had it only been a dream?

Unable to hold on any longer, Taya slowly severed the connection to her sister, shrinking back from the empty abyss that greeted her. Shuddering, she lowered herself to the ground, and stared around the burning glade. Somewhere inside of her a fire began to smolder, starting at her legs and creeping upwards. Fear gnawed at the back of her mind and she continued to strive against the poison in her body. On the outside, she was motionless; unable to control what happened to her and the events around her; but on the inside she was fighting for survival against an unseen foe that was gaining strength instead of losing it.

"So much for extra energy." She grumbled with disgust.

Hopefully Raya got the idea… next I will have to tell her exactly what's happening. That will require more energy and concentration. Piece of cake. I will not let Morzan be right and let this kill me faster. I can still hold out. I'll just have to wait a while before I try again.

Closing her eyes and crossing her legs, she began to allow her mind to regain its strength. She had little time…and oh did she know it.

"Well… be safe you two. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you. After all, I agreed to this crazy idea." Sasha was saying as Sacar and Raya both mounted their horses. It was early, not long after Raya had been woken up by Sasha, and the land was a light grey color, suspended between night and sunrise. The tunnel leading to Sacar's uncle's house was open and the lamps were lit, and inside the tunnel there was a deep yellow glow.

"You only agreed when we gave you no choice." Raya replied to her cousin, settling her feet into the saddle stirrups. Her heart was racing as the excitement of the adventure ahead caused her adrenaline to kick in. Sacar seemed as cool and as calm as ever, while Raya felt like she was over jittery. Well, she couldn't help it. They really were placing a lot of trust in Sacar and his uncle. But she trusted Sacar… a lot. She knew that he wouldn't willingly lead her into any danger.

"True." Sasha conceded, and then she laid a hand on Raya's leg and looked up at her imploringly. "Raya, be careful. If anything is amiss, tell Kabarak and we will be ready to run as soon as you get here."

"I know, Sasha. We'll be fine. Try not to worry too much." Raya gave her a reassuring smile, and Sacar nodded in agreement.

"Have a little faith in me, Sasha." He joked, and he received a glare and a mumbled response.

"It's not you I'm worried about. It's everyone else I don't know."

Her words seemed to have an effect on them, and Sacar looked uneasily at the brightening sky.

"You have a point. Come on Raya, we have to hurry."

Stay alert. Don't let anything escape your notice, even if it is a normal sound. And do not let yourselves be seen from the outside. You do not know what might be lurking behind the safety of the wild.

"Thank you, Kabarak. We will take that into consideration…" Sacar said, trying not to sound sarcastic. The very idea of someone following them or being just outside of his uncle's house gave him the shivers. He was going to try not to think about it.

Sacar led off, reining his horse towards the tunnel. The horse tried to shy away from the opening, but Sacar was firm and with only a slight hesitation the horse went down the ramp. Raya followed behind. The ramp stayed open, and neither teenager looked back. They knew Sasha and Kabarak were watching them until they disappeared. It was rather spooky in the tunnel, and at first the horses were extremely nervous being enclosed. But after a while of calmly walking and Raya and Sacar talking in soft voices, the horses calmed down enough for them to trot willingly.

While they road, Sacar told Raya much of his childhood that had to do with his uncle, and Raya found herself liking the man… as much as she could without knowing him. Sacar was obviously very fond of him, and had many stories. Most of them made her laugh, which was not hard, and Sacar enjoyed it.

After what seemed like a short time but was probably much longer, they saw a very bright glow up ahead, and Sacar said softly,

"That's the end of the tunnel. There are seven or eight lanterns on the wall so you know where it is. We should be as quiet as we can now. I don't know how well, if at all, sound echoes from the tunnel up above."

Raya nodded in reply, and once they got closer to the end of the tunnel they slowed the horses to a walk, and then Sacar put a hand out to stop her. When the horses were standing still he dismounted and pointed to the left wall and upon close inspection Raya was surprised to see steps carved into the wall. Sacar tied his horse to a tie ring on the right wall, and held Mirax's head so Raya could dismount, and then he tied the mare next to Shacour. With a finger to his lips, Sacar easily climbed the steps, and pushed the ceiling slowly with one hand, and it lifted slowly, revealing a well-proportioned trap door. It made no noise, and no sound came from above, so Sacar climbed further up and slowly looked around and then lifted his head above the tunnel. Raya waited in anticipation, and then he climbed through the trapdoor, motioning for her to stay down, and she saw him disappear.

But before she could worry he was back and motioning for her to climb up. She had the saddlebags over her shoulder, so she started up the steps. It was harder than it looked, but she made it almost all the way up, and then her foot slipped as she was reaching up. She almost screamed, but it was cut off when Sacar's strong hand grabbed her hand and wrist, and he held onto her and half pulled her up. She was shaking as she sat on the edge of the opening, and Sacar was still holding her hand and watching her worriedly, waiting until she was alright. His grip was reassuring, and she took a deep breath and gave him a shaky smile.

His return smile was relieved, and he touched her shoulder and then helped her stand, and he took the saddlebags. Raya slowly lowered the trapdoor and replaced the rug that had been laid over it, and then upon looking around she realized that she was in a bedroom. There was no sound from inside the house except their own breathing, and they both exchanged a glance before quietly leaving the room and sneaking through the hallway.

There was absolutely no sign of Sacar's uncle, but the house was definitely lived in. Raya followed Sacar's every move, and she waited as he carefully peeked around a door way. He looked rather confused when he looked back at her and motioned her forward. They were halfway across the living room floor when they both froze, hearing someone whistle. It was a tune, and then they heard footsteps.

Sacar hastily forced Raya back and pointed her to a dark corner beside the massive brick fireplace that jutted out a good way from the wall. They hid themselves there, Raya behind Sacar and pressed up against the wall, completely invisible. The whistling paused, and Sacar tensed against her. In their haste a board must have creaked.

Well, he was going to learn of our being here sometime. Raya thought. Whoever was out there and however he would react, she knew that she was safe behind Sacar, for the moment. Besides, they were a team. The closeness to him, hidden in the corner, helped calm her fears.

They heard a soft clank and then cautious footsteps. Raya wondered what Sacar was thinking at that moment. There was silence, and then a deep voice broke it abruptly.

"Alright whoever you are, come out. I know you're there and I warn you I am not averse to harming you as a trespasser and I will not be easy on you. So watch yourself, and come out!"

Sacar put a hand up to keep Raya from following, and then he replied seriously,

"If you strike first and ask questions later you won't get any answers. Stay your weapon, uncle, and I will come out." Then without waiting he stepped out of their hiding place, holding a dagger loosely in his hand.

"Uncle!? What kind of a trick are you-" The man cut off his one exclamation for another. "Tides be praised! Sacar Liastrin, you rascal! You nearly got your head smashed in!"

Sacar snorted with laughter. "I didn't know that your culinary arts also dealt with human mutilation and frying, uncle. You've gone to a whole new level."

Raya was astonished and curious, and she wanted to know what Sacar had faced, but she kept herself hidden. She heard a soft thump and then a grunt. It was annoying not being able to see what was going on.

"You've grown, young man. Look at you! Your wit certainly has not changed, what there was of it. But what are you doing here? And sneaking around your own uncle's house like a common thief? Coming here was risky, son, risky!"

"Could you draw the curtains closed, uncle?" Sacar asked softly, and the man seemed to comply as Raya heard the rustle of fabric.

"Alright, now tell me what is going on young man before I decide to take the pan to your head to knock some sense into it."

Raya almost laughed.

"We need your help, uncle." Sacar replied smoothly.

"We? Who's 'we'? Your father? Why would he be-"

"No, not my father." Sacar cut him off before he could get any farther. "My father and I were separated in Feinster a few weeks ago. I have traveled this far with a group of friends, and we are on our way to the Varden. One of them is with me."

"What, an invisible friend?" His uncle scoffed, and then Raya couldn't stand it anymore.

"Not invisible, just hidden." She replied coyly, stepping out from the darkness, thoroughly surprising Sacar's uncle. Sacar was expecting her entrance.

"By the stars! A maiden!" Kuntar Liastrin exclaimed and his eyes were wide as he watched Raya step up beside Sacar.

"Yes, uncle. My friend is a girl." Sacar rolled his eyes. "Raya, this is my uncle Kuntar. Uncle, this is Raya."

Kuntar bowed to her. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Raya. Welcome to my humble dwelling."

"Likewise… Kuntar. Thank you, it's fascinating. The tunnel leading here is magnificent." Raya replied with a smile.

Kuntar's eyes twinkled and he looked at Sacar thoughtfully. "I see now how you snuck in so easily. I forgot that you knew about the tunnel. I don't know why I didn't think of that. No doubt the rest of your group is at the tunnel's entrance."

"Yes. Three others are traveling with us. And we are running low on supplies."

"So this isn't merely a social visit?"

"No." Sacar said firmly, slightly annoyed at his uncle's joking. He was getting the subtle hints, and he didn't find them amusing. "In fact our stay needs to be quick and short for all our sakes. Somewhere close is Murtagh and an army. It was extremely dangerous to come here we know, but we had little choice. I apologize for putting you in danger, uncle."

Kuntar Liastrin waved his comment off. "I know of Murtagh's march already. It sours my mouth to think of it. Where I live and with the job I do I expect nothing but danger. I worry only for you and your companions. But come, I will get you as many provisions as you can manage. But quickly! It has been quiet outside, so something is afoot."

Raya looked around and spotted a large frying pan and a hideous butcher knife discarded on the couch, and she stared at Sacar, who grinned back at her as they followed Kuntar into the kitchen. Sacar put the pair of saddlebags on the counter, and Kuntar began pulling out anything and everything that was edible. To Raya's surprise, although it wasn't really surprising, most everything was travel worthy.

While Kuntar worked, and set Sacar and Raya to work as well gathering supplies, he talked to Raya and she listened.

He was a man of medium stature, in build and height, with a deep voice, angled features, and light blue eyes. His hair was mostly grey with little bits of dark. He had a moustache and a goatee, both peppery colored. His features were worn and wizened, but he wasn't very old. His hands moved deftly at whatever he did, and Raya found herself personally liking the man. She could tell how fond he was of Sacar, and that Sacar was slightly like him in little ways.

Then Kuntar went into the cellar, and as Raya was wrapping loaves of bread Sacar sidled up beside her, packing a few jars of jam into his bag.

"So? What do you think of him?" He asked softly, and she grinned at him.

"I like him very much. He's put away most of my fears, and Sasha's too." She replied, and Sacar was obviously relieved.

"I'm glad. He can be rather trying, but he's a good man. He and my father have done so many things together, their stories are incredible!"

Raya was about to reply when Kuntar returned, and he paused when he saw them so close together. He raised an eyebrow, and Sacar glared at him.

"Now don't be whispering about me." Kuntar said mock-seriously, packing what Raya figured was meat into the other side of her saddlebags. "Not in my house. Although…"

"Uncle." Sacar warned, and Kuntar only laughed and continued gathering extra supplies. Raya didn't really notice that Kuntar was watching her closely, studying her. If she had, she would have been slightly alarmed.

"Well, my saddlebags are full." Raya said, latching the bags. She wasn't kidding. The saddlebags were quite literally stuffed.

"I'll bring them down to the horses. You finish mine, and I'll be right back." Sacar said, and he disappeared.

"Here, put these in there." Kuntar handed her an armful of jars. "Canned peaches, strawberries, potatoes, and tomatoes from my own orchard and garden. Eating only a little is quite filling."

"Thank you!" Raya exclaimed, excited at the treats. Then she eyed the saddlebags, wondering. Kuntar voiced her thoughts.

"For five people? That's not enough to get you far." He disappeared into another room, leaving Raya to her thoughts. She packed the jars carefully, and whatever else she could fit into the bags, and then she handed them off to Sacar, explaining what Kuntar was doing. Raya then leaned against the counter, her heart beginning to race. She was thinking about her dream that morning.

Everything became hazy, and she tried to keep from falling over. She succeeded just as Kuntar came back into the kitchen with another stuffed saddlebag.

"Here." He said, handing it to her. "It goes on the front of your saddle. It will help." He stared at her so intensely that she wondered if it meant something else as well. She managed a smile and a thank you, and then Sacar was back and talking to Kuntar. Raya's vision flickered as she stared down at the leather in her hands, her dream crashing back to her before her eyes.

"Raya?"

"You're weak…"

Taya frowned, keeping her eyes closed. That sounded too close… too much like…

As if someone had smashed a boulder to her head, her head seared with pain and she clasped her hands against her head, holding back a scream. Something seemed to tear at her heart, the very core of her mind, trying to shred her to pieces. In agony, she opened her eyes and a pair of boots filled her vision.

"No…" She moaned, and she closed her eyes, trying to shove him out of her mind.

The malicious laugh told her it was useless.

"Are you enjoying yourself, daughter dear? You have held on very well, I have not been able to access your mind until now. You are much stronger than I realized. It is a pity you are so turned against me, we would work well together. But I cannot have you fighting against me; no, you would give people all the more resolve to continue fighting me. And you've been so elusive that I had to go to such drastic measures to bring you to your knees. I am pleased that my concoction has worked so well."

"I'm… not… dead yet!" Taya gasped, lifting her head and glaring defiantly up at Galbatorix. "Morzan made the same mistake in thinking that I would be cowed in my own mind. You're both wrong. I will win against you now, even if I die later." She spat, but she was a puny spectacle to the king who only saw her as a withered beauty surrounded by fire.

To his surprise she lashed out with her hand at his legs, but her hand did not make contact. She was incredibly disappointed that she couldn't hit him, but not disappointed that he couldn't hit her. That renewed her spirit a somewhat and her headache faded a little. But she felt weaker…

"Ahh, you are experiencing the toll on your mind that my arrival is taking. Good. The longer I stay the more energy you will lose. And we have things to discuss… but we must have a witness. Murtagh, answer me!" The king bellowed, and Taya cringed as she felt her breath come short. She wondered if she was showing any outward signs to Sasha and Kabarak. Wait… were her thoughts and the experiences of her mind even blocked from him?! She threw up a wall around her mind, and was surprised to see Galbatorix fade a little. He looked shocked, and then furious. But any remark of his was forgotten when Murtagh suddenly appeared beside him, and he stared in horror at Taya, who tried and failed to stand.

"Ahh, good. As you were only waiting to attack the spy's house I thought you could use a lesson and a distraction." Galbatorix said to Murtagh, who didn't take his eyes off of Taya. Taya stared back, an alarm going off in her thoughts. House… spy… Raya.

"So, daughter, what else have you been doing behind my back for all these years? Everywhere I look I see your hand in secret affairs of the court and quiet goings on that deal mostly with presumably dead bodyguards… oh yes, I have Zen Drayson back, and you certainly did train him well. He has not given up all the secrets of the Hljodhr Evarinya, but there were a few. You were very clever to hide the Nomadi for a long time before bringing him to court. I never did make the connection… and Larel Katzia! How you managed that I would dearly like to know. I knew about Zen from the beginning, but he was useless to me and I hardly cared. Let's see…"

"You will never know everything." Taya hissed. "Not even from Murtagh. He doesn't even know the extent of the damage I have done to your reign. You are not invincible, Galbatorix."

"Oh? Then why have I not yet been defeated?" The king merely laughed at her and continued to bring up trivial things, but Taya was concentrating on Murtagh and figuring out a way of kicking the two of them out of her mind. She knew it was possible, because her energy had to be leaving her somehow…

"Why have you been running from your heritage, Taya? You are the daughter of a king! A very powerful one, at that. You could have ruled the world by my side… but you chose to die."

"I don't look at you as my father, even if your blood runs through my veins." Taya snapped. "You never were a father to me… and nothing would ever bring me to ruling beside you, or beneath you. Not after what you did to my mother. But we've been through this already, and I'm sorry but I have a deadline to outlast. If you would excuse me." To their astonishment, Taya turned away from them and rested her chin on her hands, thinking hard.

"What do you mean a deadline?" Galbatorix demanded, but Taya remained silent, trying to pinpoint where the link was.

"Tell me!" He yelled, and Taya spoke softly, feeling the energy leave her…

"The ghost of Morzan that was a part of the poison, naturally he was your idea for breaking me more easily. But Morzan was always arrogant, so when I pushed him to the brink he couldn't help gloating at my demise. Your plan for me to die without warning failed because of your own invention. I am very grateful."

"This foils my plan immensely. You were not supposed to know so that you could not somehow send out a warning or plea for aid. But your time is shortening every moment, daughter, so that deadline might be shortened as well."

Her eyes glinted, but they didn't see it. Murtagh was utterly silent.

"I'll take every chance I can get." She replied smoothly, and closed her eyes. "But Galbatorix, you have underestimated me greatly yet again."

"Oh? I fail to see how." He was so sure of himself.

"By entering my mind you ensured me of being able to foil your plans even further. By staying in my mind you are opening doors for me to learn many things… and I believe that I have won this round." Slowly, slowly but surely Taya stood and she heard an angry growl from behind her and she turned slightly, a patronizing smile on her face as she looked at Galbatorix who was losing hold on the link to her mind. Murtagh looked as if someone was choking him, and Taya turned fully and strode up to Galbatorix, her face inches from his.

"I have found your link to my mind, and I am reversing the process. You are giving me energy, you and Murtagh. Your plan was foolish, arrogant, and laughable." She was enjoying her power over him, he who normally would have been able to retaliate and she would be dead or unconscious at least. But now she was in control, and she was in a fighting mood. The fire in the glade that was her mind's prison sprang up around them and Murtagh watched her and it in bewilderment, and Galbatorix now realized that she was right. All those years he had underestimated her, and all the while she had grown in power… even at the brink of death her willpower was crushing him in her mind. It was hers; he was losing control. He saw it plainly. She wasn't ready to die. She would fight until her last breath, and she wasn't going to give him a chance to shorten her chances of survival. She was using him and Murtagh to survive.

"If you had paid attention to me as your daughter and watched me as I grew up you would have seen that I was not the weakling you thought I was… of course, I learned to live a lie the day my mother was found dead and I saw the look on your face as rain poured on her grave and as she was laid in the ground. Without knowing it, I knew you had been the one to do the deed." She cocked her head, and laughed darkly. Her voice was no longer weak and forced, but strong and vibrant. She suddenly realized that she could contact Raya very easily now… and she needed to be warned. Murtagh was closer than they thought.

Taya took a step back, her eyes never leaving Galbatorix's loathing stare. "I will get through this alive and live to defy you again to the far reaches of Alagaesia. You will pay for the days you have taken from me and I will stand between you and those I hold dear. Nothing you can do can stop me. You've lost this round, Galbatorix."

Before he could say a word, the flames of her mind enveloped him and he was gone. She could only imagine what he would be like when he recovered from the ordeal. But then she didn't really care. He was out of her mind.

Taya turned to Murtagh, who still stood a few feet from her, his expression shocked and somewhat fearful. The rider couldn't move as he was held firm by Taya's controlling mind.

"Thank you, Murtagh." Taya said quietly, releasing him a little so that he could talk.

"Why 'thank you'? I didn't do anything except stand by and watch as you were mercilessly questioned and then take control of the whole thing. I was only a bystander." He replied, sounding rather disgusted with himself. Taya laughed a little.

"You did far more than just stand by. You quite literally gave me the energy and the strength to overcome Galbatorix. I might not have been able to do it without you here, and I would have undoubtedly died sooner."

She let that hang in the air, and then Murtagh's gaze softened.

"I'm glad, then. I don't want to see you die, Taya. In Dras'leona I didn't have a choice. I'm-"

"I know, Murtagh." She replied, shaking her head and smilingly a little. "I knew it from the very beginning. I wish we weren't at odds with each other and on opposite fields. But I couldn't stay and serve him. I couldn't let that happen."

"I know that now." Murtagh replied, looking deep into her eyes. They were safe from Galbatorix for the moment.

"Taya, I love you, but I hardly have any control over myself anymore. I will have to fight against you until he wins… or I die. There's no going back for me."

"I don't believe that." She replied harshly, catching him by surprise. "Until the day comes when this is over, I will continue to fight to get you back. There has to be a way. I'll make a way."

"Taya. You're not all powerful." He replied calmly. "This is the Ancient Language we're talking about. It's binding."

"Until the day comes when this is over." She repeated firmly, and he looked at her with admiration. She smiled a little, and then her thoughts returned to her predicament.

"If I do not make it past these three days and I die before help arrives, know that I love you, Murtagh. You will always have a little piece of me with you." She fingered the green pendant chained around her neck, and he nodded.

"Remember me, firestone." She whispered, and the flames engulfed him and he was gone. Taya breathed deeply, a huge weight off of her shoulders. She felt… free, and exhilarated. Then something terrible crashed into her thoughts, and she shuddered. Speaking of dying… if she died, then so did Kabarak. Their bond was so strong now that she could almost taste it… she couldn't let him die. He was the last hope of Alagaesia.

She found their link, and with reservations she cut it. Something inside her seemed to burn out, and she wondered if Kabarak felt it too. If she survived, the bond would be repaired and they would still be dragon and rider, but now there was no worry of him dying with her. She felt a little easier, except that she was extremely lonely.

Then, she sat down and reached out with her mind to Raya's, which she already had a connection to. This time she had a double warning for her sister.

There was little time.