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 40, things mostly fit together with the revised chapters of the story.

This is Chapter 38, revised.

Thank you and enjoy!

DragonRider2000

He was close.

His horse was lathered with sweat and its mouth was covered in foam, but that was to be expected. He had ridden as fast as he could without killing the horse, and just before dawn he had ridden past Dauth. He reined in his horse and dismounted. Quickly he made a fire, fed his horse a little, and prepared a meal for himself. He had only a little ways to go yet, and he and the horse needed rest.

He had done worse things before than lay claim to the body of a dead woman, but his nerves were high and he was hesitant to go on. He knew where he was going, he knew how many people were there, and he could guess who some of them were. That didn't matter, though. He had no choice, and he could not fail. He would not.

Her memory was strong in his mind, and he dreaded what he was about to do. Could he look at her face?

Dawn was approaching quickly, and he watched the sun start to rise. The sky was red and gold, with light blue and magenta mixed in.
She would have loved this sunrise. He thought to himself, and then he hardened his resolve and thought of it no more.

It didn't matter anymore. That part of his life had ended… at his own hand.

He thrust angrily at the fire with a stick, sending sparks flying. The horse rolled its eyes at the fire, but did not spook.

He made himself calm down.

He had no choice.

The sun was barely peeking through the trees when Raya awoke, staring at the treetops and the blue and gold sky above her.

Instead of waking to the feeling of a new day, she felt as if something was terribly wrong. Her dreams had been dark and confusing, as if she was trying to find something that wasn't there.
She couldn't hear any birds chirping, and she heard the horses shifting nervously. An eerie silence hung over the camp and in the forest. It was as if everything was waiting.

Raya frowned and poked her head out from under her blanket and looked around. What could possibly be wrong with this morning?
Sacar was asleep. Kabarak was gone, probably hunting. Sasha was by the fire… Sasha was by the fire.

Raya's jaw clenched and she pulled the blanket over her head, tears flooding her eyes as she remembered just what was so wrong with that morning. Sasha was where Taya usually was.

Taya was gone. Taya was dead.

She cried.

Why her? Why her beloved sister? The lady who had treated her like family from the beginning, not even knowing who she was? The woman who had become her sister in blood and had loved her like no one before?

Raya didn't feel like getting up anymore. What was the point, now? Even the wild seemed to be stricken by her sister's death.

She heard someone moving in the camp, and then there was silence again.

Raya was shaken awake by Eragon's voice and a push on her shoulder.

"Raya! Wake up!"

The girl jerked upwards and blinked blearily up at him.

"What?" She grumbled in annoyance, her face an expressionless mask.

"Sasha is missing. She's nowhere near the camp."

To Eragon's surprise, Raya didn't even react. She just sat there, looking up at him with an unreadable expression.

"Sasha is missing." He repeated, emphasizing the words in exasperation. He was slightly worried by her lack of reaction.

"Then go look for her instead of bothering me!" She snapped, and lay back down with her blanket over her head.
The Rider stood, surprised, and then he turned to Vanira for help, but she shook her head sadly and disappeared into the trees to search of Arya, who had gone to look for the also missing Kabarak.
Sacar and Roran had already gone looking for the missing woman, and that left Eragon alone to deal with the grief-stricken sister.

I've never been good at this. He thought to himself.

"Raya," He said softly, sitting down beside her and taking a deep breath.

"Go away." She growled, and he almost smiled.

"I know how hard this is for you. I too have lost a loved one to Galbatorix."

"Not like this." She replied coldly.

"How can you be so sure? My uncle and my father were killed by the Raz'zac, servants of Galbatorix. And my half-brother fell to him and I have to fight against him over and over again. I think I know a little of what you're going through."

This time she didn't reply, so he continued on,

"None of those things were easy to get through. All I wanted was revenge. In the end, that's what I got for my uncle and my father, but I had the help of many others along the way and especially from my cousin. Sasha is just as torn and shaken as you are, Raya. She needs you as much as you need her. She can't be herself right now, going off alone. Can you abandon what's left of your family? Can you abandon your kin, Raya?"

She was as stiff as a board, and Eragon could say nothing more. He didn't know if his words had any effect on her, but he continued to sit by her, for comfort at least.

Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, she hurled herself off the ground, ignoring Eragon, and he watched as she belted on her sword and daggers, grabbed up Sasha's discarded bow and slung the quiver of arrows across her back. She fitted an arrow to the string as she stalked into the forest.
Once out of sight from Eragon, he heard her start running.

That went better than I ever expected. He told Saphira, who was in the air trying to find where Sasha was.

Vanira burst through the trees as Eragon was standing, and he was slightly alarmed by the queer look in the elf's eyes.

"Taya Corsallen's body is no longer in the cave. It is as if something carried her away as we slept. Her sword and satchel are also gone. I do not know exactly what this means… and there is still no sign of Kabarak either. Arya will not stop until she finds him… if she can. Apparently Raya saw reason?" She nodded to Raya's empty bedroll.

"Yes… you could call it reason." He was worried by Taya's disappearance. What else could go wrong that morning?

He regretted thinking that immediately.

Eragon! Saphira's voice was alarmed. We are no longer the only ones here. Another human has ridden into the vicinity… a powerful, dark human.

Eragon's blood ran cold.

"Murtagh." He spoke the name as if it were a curse.

Vanira stared at him with wide eyes.

"Vanira, find the others! Murtagh has come."

The surprise on her face disappeared and she nodded coolly.

"Arya was that way." She said, pointing to her right. "She may listen to you now. But be on your guard. I will do my best to find the others."

From above them they suddenly heard Saphira roar, and then a scream of pain came from behind them.

Eragon! Saphira was panicked, and she showed him a bird's eye view of Sasha barely fending off Murtagh.

They are only on the outskirts of the trees a mile to the west. Hurry! He is blocking me from Sasha.

"Vanira!" He yelled, but she was gone. When they'd heard the scream she had taken off in that direction.

Eragon leapt forward, racing through the trees after her.

Hang on, Sasha!

Raya pushed herself, running faster than she remembered ever going. Her heart was racing, from the running and fear. She thought she knew why Sasha had screamed. She thought she knew who had come. He had to be stopped before he killed her only other family.

"No!" She cried, bringing her bow up as she broke through the trees, and she loosed her arrow at the black haired man who was circling her cousin. She didn't know what she hoped to gain, knowing that the arrow would probably bounce off of his magical wards.

Something strange happened then, and as if her arrow had been guided it embedded itself in Murtagh's right leg, through his calf. His wards had not stopped the projectile, and it had gone all the way through the flesh and lodged there.

Murtagh yelled in pain and surprise, and he turned sharply in her direction. Raya saw his double take when he saw her, and his face paled. She notched another arrow coolly to the string and aimed it directly at him.
Raya looked past him to Sasha, noting that she was pressing her hand against a growing red stain on her side, and she was shaking and barely able to keep her sword up to be ready for Murtagh's next blow.

"You…" Murtagh said quietly, in awe and anger. He looked down at his wounded leg and back up at her again, reading her expression and her burning emerald eyes. He bent over and broke the shaft, and pulled it out. He tossed the broken arrow aside and laid his hands over the wound, which was pouring blood, and he whispered a healing spell.
Raya narrowed her eyes in annoyance at his magical advantage as the blood ceased flowing and the wound knitted together.

While his attention was diverted, Sasha was backing slowly away, her eyes darting between Murtagh and Raya.

The bushes behind Raya rustled and Sacar skidded to a halt beside her, and he quickly took in Murtagh's position, Sasha's wound and Raya's expression.

Murtagh realized then that he was looking at Kuntar Liastrin's visitors. Up close, he could only marvel at the resemblance between the girl and Taya. Since Liastrin's home, he had not thought much about the girl, thanks to other things and Melcar Di'Acor. The man had steered him away from anything that might bring up the subject, and Murtagh swore at himself for not seeing it.

While the two teenagers stood glaring at him and they were at a temporary stalemate, Roran ran up and a minute later Eragon and Arya appeared.
Vanira had still to show herself.

"What an audience." Murtagh spat, stalking back towards Sasha, but he was confused when his magic had no effect on her as he tried to hold her still. Roran stepped in front of Sasha, with Eragon beside him.

Be careful, Murtagh. Thorn cautioned. The girl's arrow penetrated your wards. Something is not right there.

While Thorn had been ordered to stay behind, he was still able to somewhat communicate with and see through Murtagh's eyes.

"Leave her be, Murtagh." Eragon growled, advancing slightly, but Arya and Saphira stopped him.

No, Eragon. Let him tell us everything he knows before we take any action.

But what about Thorn?

Thorn is not here. Murtagh seems to have come alone…

Not completely alone. He has the powers of many Eldunari. That is why he is so confident that he would come alone.

And yet Eragon, with all the power he commands, Raya's arrow still hit its mark. Something is different this day.

Murtagh paused when confronted by Roran and Eragon.

"Why would I do that?" He smirked, but it slipped away as Raya replied in a chilling voice,

"Because if you do not I swear that I will make sure that this next arrow finds its resting place in your skull… magical wards or not."

Murtagh's demeanor changed slightly as he turned and eyed her warily. There was nothing but absolute seriousness in her tone, posture, and the bow held ready in her hands. He could tell how angry she was… how protective she was. She reminded him so much of Taya.
He did not advance any closer to Sasha, Eragon and Roran. Not out of fear, but he needed to assess the situation before he went farther. And Sasha wasn't worth it anymore.

"You know why I'm here." He said softly, looking at each of their stony expressions. "I did not come to kill anyone, nor do I want to." He looked at Sasha, who glared at him. She was slightly pale from the loss of blood.
He looked back at the others. "I have one condition and then I will leave you all alone."

Raya's grip tightened on the bow, but before she could say anything, Eragon spoke.

"Speak plainer, Murtagh. We are dying to know what your business is in your own words." He growled and his choice of words had their desired effect.

Murtagh flinched slightly.

"I have come for the body of the late Taya Corsallen."

"NO!" Three unified voices shouted, and their shout echoed off the trees around them. The three members of Taya's group glared even more heatedly at him, but he was not surprised by their rejection.

"What makes you think that you will leave here with her?" Eragon asked, staring hard at Murtagh.

"She doesn't deserve to be dishonored by you or Galbatorix or anyone after the battle she fought." Raya cut in, her harsh tone biting at him. "Do you honestly think we would give her to you, her killer? Think again, Rider." She scoffed, disdain thick in her retort.

Murtagh's eyes widened as the accusation ripped a hole in his heart. He was the one who'd killed Taya… he could feel her soft skin beneath his fingers. He saw her pleading, panicked expression as he came back to himself.

Pull yourself together, Murtagh! You knew that would you would be accused of that. Thorn said sharply in warning, and Murtagh brought his thoughts back to the present.

Raya saw and relished his pain. No amount of thinking could clear him of the fact he had killed her sister. He deserved the pain she inflicted on him…
But her moment of triumph faded as the pain in his eyes did, and he glared at her viciously, which made her skin crawl. The strange, angry spark in his eyes scared her and she knew that she had gone too far… there were two parts to Murtagh. There was the real, true Murtagh, and then there was the Murtagh that Galbatorix had broken, molded and controlled. She had let loose the latter.

He stepped towards her, and she dropped the bow and arrow and quickly drew her sword, holding it ready before her.

The Red Rider laughed, shaking his head.

"You really are a lot like Taya… but not enough, girl. Do you honestly think you can fight me? But for the grief you have caused me I wouldn't even deem you worthy of my attention. You will not stand in my way for long." He lunged, and as Raya raised her sword to defend herself, there was a premature sound of the clash of steel.

Eragon, knowing Murtagh and his fighting style and having seen the light in his eyes, had thrown himself into Murtagh's path, saving Raya.

"I think I'm more worthy of your attention, Murtagh." He said through clenched teeth as they strove against each other.

Murtagh growled and slashed, and Eragon danced away, and then struck back.

"Perhaps." Murtagh said coldly.

"Taya only died last night, Murtagh." Eragon said, knowing that he instantly had Murtagh's full attention. The comment made the other rider back track, and Murtagh narrowed his eyes, unable to hide his shock.

"That is not possible." He said, shaking his head and parrying a blow of Eragon's as he said it. "The poison kills its victims within a time frame. Taya's was past."

"Maybe so, but maybe you did not acknowledge her strength. I speak the truth. She drew her last breath late last night."

"It… doesn't matter when she died. This is a task I cannot fail in doing, Eragon, as I have been so lenient with you. I will be taking her body to the King." He crouched, staring intently at Eragon. "And if I have to fight you and all here to do that I will, and I will win this time."

There was silence, and then Eragon replied softly,

"We will not surrender her to you, Murtagh."

"You cannot stop me, Eragon." Murtagh shot back quietly.

Eragon twirled Brisingr in his hands and kept his eyes steady on his half-brother.

"We will see about that."

Please be careful, Eragon! He is already angered. Do not try to push him farther. You are strong, little one, but so is he.

As they started towards each other again, Eragon's flesh seemed to crawl and he suppressed the urge to shiver. Something had caused the energy around them to shift… Murtagh shuddered, and Eragon realized that something was happening.

Vanira had still to come.

Could she have something to do with the strange feeling that was growing around them? He didn't have time to think about it anymore as Murtagh made the first move.

So the battle over Taya Corsallen began.
Ruby sword vs. Sapphire sword.
Misery vs. Fire.

It was clear that Eragon was the better swordsman. He had the advantage of being lighter and swifter on his feet, and more athletic. Minutes went by, the only sound being the clash of swords and the two fighters labored breaths. Raya could tell that Eragon didn't want to mortally wound Murtagh.

But Murtagh was annoyed by constantly being outwitted by Eragon. The younger man realized this too late, and he was suddenly hurled off his feet and sent sprawling by a spell. Murtagh took the opportunity to stalk towards Raya, but Eragon flipped himself back up and the magic duel began, Eragon driving Murtagh back away from the others.

Raya could somehow feel Arya and Saphira aiding Eragon against Murtagh's incredible onslaught.

Then a spell hit Eragon in the chest and he crumpled to the ground, stunned, and Murtagh advanced on him.
Before anyone else could interfere, Raya launched herself at Murtagh from behind, and she felt her sword connect with flesh. She jumped away as Murtagh whirled and struck out, and there was a loud clash, and her sword vibrated uncomfortably.

He seemed surprised that it was her, but that went away quickly and he snarled. She had somehow managed to get through his wards again and cut his shoulder. He was slightly disoriented, so she took the opportunity to lunge at him again, and she crashed into him, sending him to the ground.
Raya knew she had no lasting chance against him, so she gave the fight her all.

She had to allow Eragon time to recover, to be able to fight again. She had to stall… something was going to happen.

Block, parry, slash, block, jump… move after move; slash after slash; block after block. She only got him one more time, and he caught her three times. Aside from the wounds and blood everywhere, Raya thought she wasn't doing too badly against him. But she was tired, and her energy was quickly draining.

"You're fighting hopelessly, girl. You'll die, and I'll take her anyways. You can die knowing that!"

Raya never had the chance to block him as his sword lashed out and struck a blow across her shoulder and another to her side. She felt sawn in half and burning alive. Something tore at her thigh and she stumbled back, dizzy, and her sword dropped from her hand. She went to her knees and looked up, knowing he hadn't even been trying to fight her the whole time… everything was whirling.

"Raya!" Sacar's cry sounded distant. Murtagh stood over her with a look of triumph on his face. She thought she heard running feet. Sasha screamed her name at her. Arya was diving at Murtagh… Raya saw Eragon's horror stricken face as he struggled to his feet.

She was focusing on Murtagh and his sword, which was dripping with her blood, and she thought she was staring at certain death when from behind him came a voice like a flowing stream, and Raya watched as Murtagh's expression went from triumphant to horrified.

Sacar took her in his arms and pulled her to her feet, not caring that he was instantly covered in blood. He slowly backed her away from Murtagh, but the Rider didn't seem to notice. Arya checked her direction and stopped beside Raya, laying her hands over each of her wounds and saying a string of healing spells.

"Murtagh!" The cool, clear voice yelled again, and Murtagh spun around. When Murtagh's eyes caught on the figure standing some feet away from them, he stepped back in shock.

All around them there was silence. Everyone stared in confusion at the figure, dumbfounded and disbelieving. The gown she wore was white and green with a green sash around her waist, and the wind was blowing her fiery copper hair about her shoulders, while the skirt of her dress billowed behind her.
Around her neck was a silver chain attached to a round emerald stone that was flashing back and forth from green to red.

Her face was paler than when Eragon had seen her in Dras'leona, but she was far more regal, and ever so much more alive than she had been late the night before.
The magnificent sword she held in her hand glittered in the light, just like her eyes.

Her green eyes were narrowed and trained on Murtagh, and her lips parted and her voice came again softly to their ears,

"I thought you said that you did not want to kill anyone here, Firestone. You wanted me. And here I stand."

"No… you're…" No other words could Murtagh speak.

"Dead?" She finished for him, and she laughed. Raya missed that laugh.

"Yes, I am supposed to be dead. But there are things at work in this land that you or my father will never begin to understand. I never really died. Though my heart stopped beating, I was never truly gone.
Step away from them, Murtagh. You will not hurt anyone here again. Step away, Firestone."