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 35, revised.
Thank you and enjoy!
DragonRider2000
Raya found herself back in the tower, but it was different. Only Taya was there, leaning against the window sill. Melcar was gone. But something else was noticeably different. The whole feel of the scene was more vivid, clearer. What was it?
"Wherever you are, Raya, you have to leave, and swiftly. Murtagh is very near, maybe even outside. Heed my warning and you will barely get out unscathed. Otherwise you will be captured and all is lost. There is something else just as important that I must tell you before you go."
Raya could hardly believe her eyes and ears as Taya turned towards her. It was not a younger Taya, but her Taya, looking as she had in Dras'leona. Raya couldn't hold back a gasp as she stared at her sister.
Taya smiled. "Yes, it's me. I found out a way to link to your mind. I tried to warn you sooner but… things became a little more complicated than I thought they would. You guessed rightly about your dream this morning, though. I only have three days left, maybe a little longer. I cannot be sure. But Raya, help is out there somewhere, closer than you think. Try for Dauth. Just try it, but be careful! And don't get caught. I'm sorry that I couldn't warn you earlier, but I only learned about this this morning. We are very lucky that I did learn, otherwise it would have been a surprise to us all. If it helps at all, the poison is called Corsent Solenta. Any person learned in magic or herbs will know of it." Taya's voice shook a little then. "I love you, Raya. Tell the others the same for me. All of them." Taya smiled sadly, and lifted her hand in farewell.
"Fly, Raya. RUN!"
Raya crashed back to reality and grabbed the worried and astonished Sacar by the arm just as Kuntar turned sharply away from the window, a word on his lips, but Raya spoke first, urgently.
"We have to go, now!" She hissed, pulling at Sacar, and they all stiffened when they saw a shadow move outside the house beyond the curtains.
Raya pulled Sacar as he pulled her out of the kitchen and with Kuntar on their heels they ran to the bedroom. The trap door was open, and before Raya practically dove down the opening she gave Kuntar a kiss on the cheek. She scrambled down the steps and popped the horses' reins loose, throwing the extra saddlebags over Mirax's neck and she swung into the saddle, pulling on the reins to check Mirax's forward steps.
"Sacar!" She yelled frantically, and she could hear Kuntar speaking urgently to the young man, and then there was an explosive pounding from somewhere up above… and Raya's blood ran cold as someone outside bellowed,
"Open the door, in the name of King Galbatorix!"
"Go, Sacar! Get out of here!" Kuntar demanded, and Sacar sped down the steps and the trap door was slammed shut behind him. Sacar's expression in the lantern light as grim and fearful as he jumped into his saddle. Raya was too frantic to wait for him to get settled into the saddle however, and she kicked Mirax into a run. The horse was more than willing even underground, sensing keenly the emotions of the humans.
Raya wondered about Kuntar, and if he would be alright. But Taya's words rang loudly, louder than anything in her mind.
I only have three days left.
Kabarak! She nearly screamed with her mind. Murtagh was there, he was waiting to break into Kuntar's home. You have to be ready to run! We don't have much time. We are coming. We are running.
We are ready. He replied. We are waiting on the outside edge of the wood.
Good. Raya was extremely relieved to hear that. The little area by the tunnel would have been thrown into utter chaos if the others were there when she and Sacar came charging out of the tunnel.
Behind her, Sacar's mind was racing. How had she known? What had her unfocused stare and horror stricken expression meant? And his uncle… they must have led Murtagh there. How else would Murtagh have known about the place? He hated that he was probably the one who was responsible for whatever happened to Kuntar.
What his uncle had said… and how had Raya known about the danger?
The exit of the tunnel rushed at them, and they burst up the ramp and into daylight like arrows.
Raya heard Sacar yell the password to close the tunnel, and they only slightly checked their pace as they ran through the trees. There was almost no sign that someone had even camped in the clearing. Raya heard a whiny, and she somehow managed to slow Mirax down when they exited the trees.
"What happened?" Sasha exclaimed worriedly, and Raya blurted out everything as best she could.
"I had a dream this morning about Taya, and she said something about three days and it would all be over, only it wasn't a dream! Taya was actually using our minds to communicate. In Kuntar's home, just before we were about to leave, I was back in the dream but it was different. She spoke to me, and she told me that Murtagh was close and we had to leave. But…" She choked up, but got her voice back, and she stumbled on.
"She also told me that she only has three days left to live. She's going to die in three days!"
There was complete silence.
So that's how she knew. Sacar thought to himself.
"We won't even be to Dauth in three days!" Sasha gasped. "Unless we all grow wings like Kabarak. How does Taya know that?"
"She said that we should go to Dauth and that help was closer than we thought. She didn't say how she found out, just that we are lucky that she did." Raya replied quietly, and Sasha's expression showed her mixed feelings.
"Then let's get moving and waste no time. We have a good amount of supplies, and we have a rider and time to outrun. That should put a fire under our horses' feet." Sacar said sternly, breaking up a tense moment between the cousins. Kabarak spread his wings and jumped into the air.
"What about you uncle? Will he-"
Sacar cut Sasha off. "My uncle can fend for himself, and he will not give us up for anything. And he already knew about Murtagh and his army."
Then do not worry that it might have been us that led Murtagh to him. Your uncle probably figured on Murtagh paying him a visit. But neither expected you and it is merely coincidence that brought you there at the same time. Kabarak said wisely, speaking to him privately.
It will do you no good to think of it anyways. You got out of there safely. Of that I am grateful.
You're right Kabarak, but that won't keep me from thinking about it.
"Come on, let's go." Raya urged, and set off at a trot. Everyone followed her lead, and Sasha rode beside Raya and got the full story from start to finish. Finally Sasha was satisfied and then they rode in silence. Sacar would talk to Raya about the whole thing, but later. Now they just wanted to get out of the area.
All their minds weighed on how little time they had left to find help for Taya. After all this way they weren't about to give up on her. There was still a chance to save her.
Only when they had ridden for hours and they were far away from Kuntar's home did Raya and Sacar's nerves quiet. Their close shave with Murtagh had shaken them both deeply. Finally, Sacar rode up beside Raya and asked her how she was, and they didn't stop talking for a long time.
Darkness lurked behind them and uncertainty clawed them. Dauth seemed very far away.
Gasping for air, Murtagh had to use the tree beside him to support himself. His head was reeling and he felt cold and clammy. He could hardly move, and as he slowly flexed his fingers they felt stiff and cold.
Murtagh! Thorn roared over their link, and the noise made Murtagh cringe. Murtagh guessed that his dragon had been trying to communicate with him but had been unable to as he was in Taya's mind.
What was that? What happened? You were completely blocked from me!
Thorn… I was in Taya's mind. It was Galbatorix's doing. Thorn, she's so close…
So close to what?
She's going to die in three days.
There was a growl of anger and despair across their link from the dragon.
She is lost to us. Murtagh added, angry at himself for everything that had happened.
Maybe, maybe not. Thorn said thoughtfully, thinking past his emotions. This is Taya. She is strong, and her will is great. I will not give up on her quite yet, not until I know that she is gone for certain. But how do you know this? You said that you were in her mind?
Murtagh stared at the house before him, feeling his energy slowly returning. His thoughts drifted to the strange occurrence. The power she had in her own mind… it had been incredible. Then she'd removed Galbatorix! How could she be so powerful? It had been the most bizarre experience he could remember having. The deep feeling in her mind…
The poison trapped her in her mind, and Galbatorix created and added an image of Morzan to haunt her there and render her helpless in her mind as well as in body. But Taya was able to work on the poison's image, and Morzan told her that she had only three days left. It gets even more complicated. He outlined the whole thing to Thorn, who listened quietly and pondered.
Murtagh was startled when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Captain Melcar Di'Acor, and his expression was unreadable. That normally meant that he was not in a good mood.
"If we're going to move, now would be a good time. The man is home, and the longer we wait the longer we are away from the army, and the longer this man might have to disappear or learn of our presence before we want him to. What are you waiting for? And what happened to you? You look terrible."
Very few people could challenge him, and Melcar was one of those few who could challenge him and speak to him bluntly. It annoyed Murtagh most of the time. Especially now.
"I'm fine." He snapped, and Melcar raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Do what you are there to do and get back here. He's right, so go. Besides, I despise babysitting puny humans such as these. Thorn grumbled.
Oh be quiet. Murtagh growled back, and then he nodded to Melcar.
"Give the signal." He said, and he put his palm to the red ruby in Zar'rocs hilt and he immediately felt his full strength come back to him.
The captain watched him for a moment, missing nothing, and then he turned away silently to give the signal.
Murtagh stared at the house again and narrowed his eyes. It was time to see if his side trip yielded any favorable results.
Kuntar Liastrin waited a moment until the dull thud of hooves faded, and then he quickly went to the front door before whoever was pounding on it bashed it in. His experienced mind was working fast. The appearance of the girl Raya had set off a warning bell in his mind. Kuntar knew who she was… or at least who she looked like. The similarities she bore to the Princess Taya Corsallen were unmistakable, as he had seen the princess before. But she had not seen him that he was aware of.
Every nerve in his body had been on edge the second he'd heard a board creek. He'd figured for a long time that he would have visitors of a military sort. It was inevitable.
Grabbing the only weapons available, being the pan and the butcher knife, he cautiously stalked into the living room. He had never expected to hear or see his nephew. He couldn't have been more surprised, he'd thought.
And then Raya came out of her hiding spot and the fear of pursuit was clearly heavy on them. Kuntar did not doubt that one of the others of their company was the missing and presumed dead princess of Alagaesia. It only made sense to him.
It was his duty to help the two to the best of his abilities… and if he did not live through his encounter with the imperial soldiers that he was about to face, he hoped Sacar and Raya would find the package he had hidden in the saddlebags that he had sent with them.
And Sacar… he had not seen his nephew in a very long time. He was growing into a man, and Kuntar wanted to live to see him again.
They were away safely. The tunnel was an excellent escape, and they knew how to stay clear of his home on their travels. He wished them luck.
Before he could open the door it burst open and slammed against the wall, and Kuntar stepped back hurriedly as two men in black clothes entered. Their faces were hard and grim.
They immediately took a hold of him, but he didn't struggle. It did take them a moment to force him to his knees.
Kuntar didn't know who he was expecting to enter. A captain, maybe. But when a dark haired, dark eyed man stalked in, Kuntar's face went ashen, but he held his ground.
The Red Rider himself had deemed him worthy enough of his presence.
Two more black clad soldiers entered behind Murtagh, and one of them was a stern, dark haired woman with a strung bow over her shoulder.
Kuntar would not break and give Murtagh what he wanted… whatever he wanted. And if he did say anything, he would make sure it wasn't wholly accurate. His chances of survival were very slim, but he would take every break he could in order in come out alive. But he wasn't going to make it easy.
"Hail, rider." Kuntar said coldly. "Welcome to my home."
Murtagh's eyes hardened, although there was a hint of a smile on his face.
"You're most kind." He replied just as coldly. "You have information I need, and I intend to have it. You understand my use of force, I know."
"Naturally, to show your power. I would offer you a cup of tea, but you have made it impossible for me to be a gracious host. Therefore I will give you nothing that you seek." The hands holding him tightened, but he did not show any discomfort. Murtagh seemed to ignore his cold humor and defiance.
The valiant yet foolish defiance of an old man would only lead to more strenuous methods of extracting information from him.
"You will regret your decision before this is over." Murtagh said softly, and the implications of his tone chilled Kuntar to the bone. He braced himself for the worst, and looked directly into the hard eyes of the rider.
Larton Zax was stiff and disgusted. He was holding the prisoner on his knees, watching Murtagh with blank eyes. On the outside he was cool and impassive, his face showing nothing but a mask of deception. But on the inside he was seething. His anger was aimed at Murtagh and at himself. Every part of him was crying for justice, knowing that what they were doing was horribly wrong and that he was no better than one of Galbatorix's personal guards.
Larton never would have agreed to this if he had been the only Hljodhr. But Murtagh had requested Melcar, Ayda, Sade and Larel as well as himself to go with him, and Larton was not about to abandon them in the face of danger, no matter how much he despised the venture.
Taya Corsallen and her bodyguards had changed Larton's life, made it finally worth something and gave him a purpose… to use his abilities to keep them from danger or at least to warn them of any danger. Among other things.
He knew that none of them here were even remotely alright with Murtagh's show of force, and that they would stop him if they could. If they could.
Larton's family had been poor, and they'd lived in the outer edges of Uru'baen. He had two older sisters, both of whom had moved away and married when he was still very young. When Larton was ten years old he outlived his parents when a sickness swept through the country side, and Larton had been left with nothing and was alone on the streets. If his sisters knew of their parents deaths and looked for him, they did not find him.
After his parents deaths he hated the king, who lived comfortably in his castle and didn't have to worry about any sickness, and the nobles and the rich were able to afford healers and people of medicine to keep them healthy. His disdain for most other humans grew.
He learned to be invisible, to steal without anyone noticing, and to watch without anyone knowing he was there. His only purpose in life as he grew up was to wreak havoc on nobles and the wealthy, and make their lives somewhat miserable. He was a shadow, thin and wiry, and as he grew older his anger at the world in general was almost palatable if someone ever came face to face with him.
One day his hate and his pride at never being caught proved to be his downfall. The king and his train were traveling through the city, and Larton couldn't help but shout an insult at the high and mighty king who did little for his kingdom, and then he tied his insult to a young woman who was following close behind the king. Larton had no idea who she was or what she really looked like because of her cloak and hood, but then he realized that some in the train had spotted him. He barely managed to slip from the grasps of soldiers, and his pride in himself spiked when he was finally back at his home, safe and sound.
That night all he heard was the scrape of a boot on the floor and then he was grabbed, gagged, blindfolded and bound tightly. After a horseback ride, and absolutely no noise from his captors, he was walked hurriedly through stone halls and a door opened and he was suddenly pushed forward.
"You are clever enough to free yourself, no doubt." A deep, cool voice said, sounding rather amused, and Larton heard the door shut and a lock click.
It took him longer than he expected to untie himself, and when he'd removed the blindfold and gag he was surprised to find himself in a rather cozy stone room with a fireplace, a bed, a table and chairs, a desk, dresser and wardrobe, and a washroom. There was a window, but he knew it would not open or offer him any escape.
There was a plate of food on the table with a glass of wine, and a note beside them. He picked it up and it read:
'You need not fear the food or drink. If it had been your death I sought, you would not be reading this note.'
He sat and ate, and he wondered who had gone through all this trouble just for him.
He was sitting by the fire a while later when there was a knock on the door and he stood as it opened. In walked a man wearing completely black and he had blond hair and bright blue eyes. Behind him came a beautiful copper haired young lady, regal in a flowing green dress that matched her eyes.
The bodyguard closed the door and stood beside it, watching Larton with a cool expression, but the lady had a genuine smile on her face.
Up close Larton instantly knew who she was, not because he'd seen her before, but he had heard many things about Taya Corsallen… the princess of Alagaesia. He bowed low, rather overwhelmed. Who was he to stand before her? She was probably the only person he respected besides himself. What he knew of her was gentle and kind, fair to those who were in need.
"I see you ate the food." She said in a clear, light voice, her eyes twinkling. "I'm glad. What's your name, sir?"
"Zax, milady. Larton Zax." His voice sounded gruff compared to hers.
"Well, Larton Zax, you certainly know how to call attention to yourself, don't you? You're extremely good at slipping away and staying hidden too. It took the Hljodhr Evarinya a good while to track you down after the ride through the city."
He could have choked. Taya Corsallen laughed at his expression.
"Yes, I was the lady following the king like a puppy today. But while some of the Hljodhr's are of the opinion that you should be hung by your thumbs, I like a man with audacity and skill, and you obviously have the skills to move about unseen… most of the time. I have a proposition for you, Larton Zax."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Actually, you only have two options. You can thank me for the meal and my men will let you go outside of the castle and you can be hunted down by the king's guard and imprisoned and possibly executed, depending on the king's mood, or," her green eyes glinted mischievously, "you can accept my proposition, which is to stay here in the castle as one of my bodyguards and you will have almost whatever you wish. You would answer to the bodyguard captain and me. No one of the court or castle would ask questions, and no one can recognize you because no one knows you."
"Only two options, eh?" A smirk flitted across Larton's face briefly.
"Naturally for your own good I would strongly suggest the latter option, but that is only my humble opinion." The princess said slyly, and Larton bowed low again.
"I am utterly and completely your servant, bodyguard, and loyal man, Princess Taya."
Her smiled sealed his fate, but his life had only just begun. He'd found a purpose, and Taya was that purpose. But now Larton grimly thought about the recent months since Taya had disappeared, and the scene of her wrecked room and the blood on the rug were burned into his memory. The king said later on that the Varden had stolen the dragon egg and the princess. Taya was held for ransom, but killed before the ransom could be paid. Evidence and rumors were on his side, but Melcar refused to submit to the idea and still believed that Taya was alive.
Larton was more inclined to side with Melcar, but then where was she? Perhaps a prisoner of the Varden?
He knew that some of the other Hljodhr's were hesitant to believe Melcar. Zen had taken what the king said personally and had started on a rampage of revenge against the Varden.
Xackzan, Marthl, Larel, Sade, and Kell believed as Melcar did, while Weston, Ayda and Raneck didn't know what to think.
Before Izaak had left Uru'baen with Kell and Sade's families, he had refused to believe that Taya was dead and was even more adamant about it than Melcar.
Larton briefly wondered if he would ever see the 15-year-old again. He liked Izaak, as he would a little brother.
But now Larton was trapped in a situation he despised. Murtagh was looking for something more than news on the Varden and the Surdan's. Something else was in the wind. What? Did it have to do with Taya? The ordeal in Feinster was never far from the stealthy bodyguard's mind. They would see the girl and the boy from Feinster again, he predicted.
Larton wished that he could stop Murtagh. He would not accept death as the reward for the man's pains. He would not.
Ayda Sen'Dala watched Murtagh with cool eyes, a fire smoldering inside her. Cruelty and oppression did not sit well with the bodyguard, as she knew personally.
But Murtagh would not stop his ruthless beating, his exit to his built up anger, for her. Who was she but a bodyguard of a missing woman?
In reality, Ayda Sen'Dala was far more than a mere bodyguard. She was the daughter of a renowned General of the Empire, Rorick Sen'Dala. But her father had been either captured or killed by the Varden 16 years before when she was only 3-years-old, and her mother had died not long after of a broken heart and broken body. Ayda had been transferred to the care of her aunt and uncle, who failed to tell her that they were not her actual parents.
Growing up Ayda had always seen a different woman as her mother in her dreams, and an image of a huge, handsome man who had her eyes grew as she did over the years.
Rebelling against her 'parents', they decided to set her to work on their ranch until she was old enough to fend for herself and then they made her almost the sole worker of a market store and an inn that they owned.
Ayda one day went looking through their important papers, and found a will giving them the guardianship of one Ayda Sen'Dala, in the event that Rorick and Amerina Sen'Dala perished.
The pieces fit together for Ayda, but she kept her discovery silent. She did not have the ability to be on her own yet. So she began her preparations..
Working at the Inn, she befriended a handsome man who intervened on her behalf against a couple of drunken men. He hadn't been fazed by the uneven odds, and after one bloody nose, the drunks saw that the odds were no longer in their favor.
His name was Mel, and he came back often to visit her, and then his visits abruptly stopped. Ayda was devastated, but managed herself well for the next couple weeks. And then one day in the market she saw him again, in the company of the Princess of Alagaesia, and on the breast of his cloak was the emblem of her bodyguard.
But what followed her second life-altering discovery completely astonished her. That night at the Inn, Mel was back, sitting with two other men and a woman, all of them dressed in outlandish gear. He asked Ayda if she had a minute to spare them in private.
Ayda found out a few minutes later that the woman was the princess, and the other two men were also her bodyguards. Friends, rather. Their companionship made her slightly jealous. She had never had a steady friendship because of her 'parents'.
"Now you know who I am, Miss Sen'Dala." The princess began, staring her straight in the eyes. Ayda started. No one except her aunt and uncle and herself knew that her last name was 'Sen'Dala.'
Her last name was different at that time.
But the princess laughed at her expression. "You do not think that the library of the capitol of the country would not have a record of noble lineage in its keeping?"
Ayda looked at Mel, who explained in his soft tenor voice that she loved to hear so much.
"My full name is Melcar Di'Acor. My father too was a General of the Empire, and as a young boy I remember seeing your father once or twice at our home. His eyes I have never forgotten, so when I met you and saw the same eyes, it made me start looking into records. Taya found me out and started helping me look, and after having spent time with you and knowing a little about you, I proposed to Taya, if you would accept, to make you apart of the Hljodhr Evarinya."
"And we now approve of you as well." One of the other bodyguards said, winking at her. His name was Zen. "I will admit that we were pretty skeptical about another woman in the ranks, but you've dispelled our fears."
"You scamp, I am the only other woman." Taya replied flippantly, and then said to Ayda, "I accepted Melcar's proposition when I saw you at the market today. Your hidden reaction to Melcar's identity when you saw him was enough for me. And there are benefits to having a female bodyguard sometimes."
"It's not that she can't take care of herself." Zen cut in. Ayda already had a good idea as to the nature of his character. "She just keeps us around for company and for show."
"You're for show, the others are for company." Taya retorted, and the second man, whose name was Marthl, snickered. "Now be quiet before I have to send you out!"
Ayda couldn't help grinning at the exchange. It was refreshing compared to her aunt and uncle's morose attitudes.
"So your riding through the market today was a test?" She asked, slightly bewildered but more excited. She could leave home, and have somewhere to go, and she already knew that she liked these people. And her aunt and uncle's guardianship ended when she turned 17, which she had a few months before. She could leave and become who she was supposed to be, and they could say nothing against her, and she would be doing nothing wrong, even to them.
"Yes, it was somewhat of a test." Taya conceded, smiling slightly. "We wanted to gauge your reaction to Melcar. So what do you think of it?"
Ayda looked between them all, trying to keep her expression impassive.
"I suppose," she started, looking at Melcar, who raised an eyebrow at her. "I suppose it shouldn't take me too long to pack my stuff."
"Welcome to the Hljodhr Evarinya." Zen said, grinning and slapping her on the shoulder. He did so rather hard, but Ayda didn't care.
"I'll have to explain this to my aunt and uncle." Ayda added quietly, but Taya shook her head.
"No, you get your stuff and we will talk to them."
As Ayda left to go to her room she wondered how that meeting would go. Her aunt and uncle would stand no chance against the Princess of Alagaesia's will. The thought made her smile.
After getting her things, which were not many, she went back and found Taya sitting on the table, staring down her aunt and uncle with her bright green eyes.
"Ayda, truly you cannot believe what these people are telling you!" Her uncle burst out as he saw her standing in the doorway, but he stopped abruptly when he saw the bag slung over her shoulder.
"I did not need them to tell me who I was, uncle." Ayda replied softly, but there was nothing hard or patronizing in her tone. "I found my parents' will a long time ago, but I chose not to say anything and look for a time when I could go off on my own in peace. Princess Taya and her bodyguards have given me an offer of a lifetime, and I have gladly accepted. I'm over seventeen, so your guardianship is no longer. I'm sorry to leave you in a spot with very little help, but I cannot delay."
"You see? It's as I told you." Taya smiled warmly and hopped off the table. Her outlandish gear had definitely rattled them. "Ayda Sen'Dala will be a very important part of the Hljodhr Evarinya, and if I may speak rather bluntly, she will be better off." Of course she could speak bluntly. She was the Princess of Alagaesia.
"Goodbye." Ayda said, giving her astonished aunt and uncle each a quick hug, and with Zen in the lead they left the room, and the Inn. Ayda suddenly realized that Marthl wasn't with them, but the mystery was solved when she saw her own horse standing saddled with their own, and Marthl handed her the reins with the ghost of a smile on his face.
Since that night Ayda's life had been up and down, with trials and tests thrown at her at every turn, mysteries that were hard to solve, especially when it came to Melcar Di'Acor, who she learned immediately that night was actually the Captain of the Hljodhr Evarinya. But the Hljodhr Evarinya were her family, and the castle became her home. It was rather thrilling to be the bodyguard of a princess, but Taya was no ordinary princess, and Taya certainly enjoyed having a female bodyguard. Zen had been right; Taya was easily capable of taking care of herself. But they all, especially Taya, felt better with at least one of them there. Although she did throw them a bone once in a while and she would disappear, and show up sometime later that day.
When they had found out that Taya had been 'kidnapped' and the dragon egg stolen, Ayda hadn't known what to think. She knew that Melcar didn't believe a word the king said and thought something else entirely had happened, but she just couldn't bring herself to his line of thinking, even if she was in love with him. But he never forced his opinion on her, which was sometimes just as annoying as if he did.
Now, Ayda kept her eyes on Larton Zax, who was holding their prisoner down. Ayda didn't like the man's treatment any more than Larton did, and she could only imagine what Melcar was thinking. So when would Murtagh stop? When the man died? Or would the man finally give in before death and tell Murtagh what he wanted?
Ayda couldn't stop him… but Melcar might be able to.
If it weren't for us, Shadow would be working for the Varden by now. Ayda thought grimly, her fists clenching. How much longer could it go on?
To the Hljodhr Evarinya's immense relief the man finally shouted to stop and he immediately blurted out, his words slurring slightly,
"You're too late to attack Surda without warning, rider. Your force is already known, and they are preparing for you." He gasped for air. "Although, there are rumblings that they do not know where you would attack and so their forces are scattered… spies and riders are watching for you all over Surda." He looked up at Murtagh with already swelling eyes and snarled, "News of your work in Feinster preceded you. I know that my brother is in your custody… he was well known there. But whatever else you seek has still managed to slip through your fingers yet again."
"You do know of the girl, then?" Murtagh betrayed himself with those words, and Kuntar knew that was exactly what Murtagh wanted; information on Raya.
"My nephew escaped with her from Feinster and came this way before you, begging for provisions. But you will never catch them." Kuntar coughed, and Murtagh made to strike again, but Melcar caught his arm, ignoring Murtagh's murderous glare.
"How long ago?" Murtagh asked instead, jerking his arm away from Melcar.
"Too long." Kuntar said weakly. "And I am glad of it."
Murtagh merely glared at him, and stood there deep in thought. The girl who looked like Taya was ahead of him. If she was linked to Taya, then she must know how long Taya had left to live. Murtagh was not happy knowing that she had escaped him again. And was what the man said true? Had the girl and boy been there that long ago?
He looked down at the man, and frowned to himself. He couldn't trust what the man said entirely. He would foil Murtagh's plans for anything, even his life, which Murtagh had almost taken.
Unwanted, an image of Taya flashed across his mind, and he shoved it away. She would not approve of this… but she was dying and had no say in what he did.
Or did she somehow?
He turned to stare at Melcar Di'Acor, who was in turn staring back at him with a reserved expression.
"What should be done with him do you think, captain?" He found himself asking, and because he was turned away from the man, he did not see Kuntar lift his head and peer up at the two of them. He knew that whether he lived or died was in the hands of the man Murtagh had called 'captain.' Who was he that Murtagh would call on him for his judgment?
"Our arrival into Surda is already known and nothing he can tell them will do us any harm. I do not see him as a threat or liability if he should somehow reach the Varden. There will be no more death. He will go free."
There was no give in the captain's expression. But to Kuntar's surprise Murtagh seemed to have guessed what his answer would be. He was stiff, but resigned.
"Very well then. Tie him up, and see to it that he cannot ride away from here." The rider stalked from the house, leaving Kuntar alive, to his bewilderment.
"Zax, you and Larel get him up and Ayda I want you to see if you can help him. I'll get Sade to get a rope and I'll send Murtagh and the others on their way. I think we can handle this on our own." The captain said, and he turned and left quickly.
Kuntar stared around at the three of them incredulously as the two men holding him stood him on his feet and maneuvered him to the kitchen, where they sat him down on one of the chairs.
Ayda retrieved a bowl from the counter and found a pitcher of water and a towel and she started to gently clean his face, with his permission.
"Who are you?" Kuntar managed, trying to stare her straight in the eyes and to see her clearly. Who did she remind him of?
"We are Hljodhr Evarinya." She replied softly, simply.
The captain returned with another man, who had a rope in his hands.
"Larel, you and Sade… hold that thought. Sir, can you ride?"
"Melcar! Look at him! Does he look like he can sit a horse?" Ayda reprimanded, glaring at him as she paused her dabbing at Kuntar's face.
"I wouldn't put it past him." Melcar replied to her. "Murtagh might change his mind. I only have so much sway over him and that's usually only when he thinks of Taya. And besides, I fully expect this man to be a liability to our army." His black and gold eyes glinted as he looked at Kuntar.
"Can you ride?"
"I can manage after a rest, son." Kuntar said, sitting up a little straighter. "But tell me, how are the bodyguards of Princess Taya apart of an army and have some sway over the Red Rider's decisions?"
"Very good questions. First, Larel and Sade, I want you to go saddle his horse, and Larton I want you to gather any supplies that he tells you to get. We don't have much time before Murtagh begins to wonder at how long we're taking to catch up."
The rope was discarded on the table, and the two men disappeared outside.
"To answer your questions sir, the Hljodhr Evarinya are a part of this army because it is a suicide mission, and Galbatorix does not expect us to live through it. Murtagh and I have an understanding, as he cannot forget about Taya, our charge, and I am a captain of the army under him. You see? You must get to the Varden long before we do. While I do not know exactly where we will strike now, I know that it will not be Dauth, Aroughs or Aberon. Aberon was our target, but with the Surdan's and the Varden knowing of our approach, that attempt had been abandoned." Melcar produced a roll of parchment and set it beside Kuntar. "The information here will aid the Varden in defeating the army. It is mandatory that they do. Many lives will be spared, and Galbatorix's plans will be foiled yet again. You will be doing us a mighty favor."
Kuntar asked,
"Why do you stay with the army if you know it is a suicide mission and you will probably perish? Do you want to die?"
It was Ayda who replied, and her grey eyes were sad.
"Does anyone want to die? We would join the Varden if we could, I think. But we are bound to Murtagh. We cannot leave. We must either die in battle or somehow survive the slaughter. You see?"
"You are loyal to him, then?" Kuntar questioned, but she shook her head.
"Our loyalty lies with Princess Taya, and with each another. We are bound to Murtagh on this mission."
"If Taya were to appear, would you still be bound to Murtagh?"
Their eyes narrowed at his question.
"I believe the answer is no. But that would hinge on Taya's reappearance." Melcar replied cautiously.
"She is out there somewhere, you mustn't give up hope. The girl that your rider is so interested in told me that her name is Raya. She is not your princess, but they are too much alike for it to be coincidence. As you trust me, I will trust you. My nephew Sacar and Raya did not pass by but a few hours ago. They will have a head start on us, and I do not know the road they will take. But we may reach the Varden around the same time… maybe."
"Do you think Taya might be traveling with them?" Ayda asked sharply.
"It is possible." Kuntar replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders, which hurt slightly.
"That would make Murtagh's actions make more sense." Melcar said softly. "And it adds a new perspective to our suicide mission. Thank you, sir. I am sorry we allowed him to go so far with you."
"My name is Kuntar Liastrin, and because of you I am still alive. Of that I am grateful. I will see that this gets into the right hands."
He put his hand on the role of parchment. "Who exactly am I to thank?"
"You may not be so thankful when you know my name." Melcar put in quietly, and Kuntar's eyes widened, and he looked then to Ayda.
"Ayda Sen'Dala is my full name." She said, and Kuntar paused for a moment.
"Really…"
"I am Larton Zax." The remaining bodyguard, one of them that had held him down, commented as he packed a wrapped loaf of bread into a travel bag.
"And Sade Feist and… Larel Katzia." Melcar added quietly as the two men entered. They didn't seem fazed by their names being spoken for them. But Kuntar was.
"I had no idea that the people who made up the Hljodhr Evarinya of Taya Corsallen were such important people with names of high birth and honor. Or that some of them were people who are supposed to be dead." Kuntar turned his eyes on Melcar. "Who are you, Captain?"
Melcar looked resigned as he spoke. "Captain Melcar Di'Acor, at your service." He said, his voice impassive.
"By the stars…" Between Katzia and Sen'Dala, he didn't think he could have been more surprised. But to have been saved by a Di'Acor…
"I thought the house of Di'Acor fell a long time ago." Kuntar said softly, and grimly Melcar nodded his head.
"It nearly did, by Galbatorix's hand. My brother and I were the only survivors of the raid, which was the king's doing. I nearly killed my brother years later at Galbatorix's command, but then I realized that I could not and I would not. If it had not been for Taya, my brother and I would both have died that day."
"I believe you, son. But you are wise to be cautious who you tell your name to. Your father's name does not bring good memories to people of the Varden who suffered at his hands."
"That I know." Melcar said softly.
"Which is ridiculous." Ayda snapped. "That the son should carry on a bad reputation only because of his father… that is absolutely wrong. Opinions should be made after you know the person."
"It is the same thing that has gone on with Murtagh, Ayda, and that is the way most of the world sees the situation." Melcar replied. "And that is also one of the last things we should be worrying about right now. I am not my father, and we are pressed for time."
While Melcar had been talking, Kuntar had been pointing Sade, Larel and Larton to what was left of his supplies. Now Larel set the bags on the table and looked at them, and he nodded.
"We are done here. We have your horse saddled and ready to go, and your other horse we let out into the fenced area." Larel said pointedly to the two men.
Melcar dipped his head in reply to Larel, and then he said to Kuntar,
"We will leave you. One last thing, though. Tell no one of us when you reach the Varden… unless it be Taya if she is on her way there or is there already. No one must know of our presence until… well, until they know."
"You have my word of honor, Captain Di'Acor." Kuntar replied, holding out his hand, which Melcar clasped in farewell. "May you and the other Hljodhr Evarinya be spared, and may we meet again to stand side by side."
"And may your horse carry you swiftly to safety." Melcar replied, and then the Hljodhr Evarinya left his home.
Kuntar remained seated, and again he heard the sound of retreating hooves. He would leave soon, after giving them enough time to be well away. It was not going to be a pleasant journey…
This truly had been a day of surprises.