AN: I'm sorry this chapter is so short. I thought about writing a new situation into this chapter, but I decided to just focus on what Murtagh has been up to. I won't say much more, since I don't want to ruin the chapter for you. I really hope you like it. I promise the next one will be longer.
Things continued like this for the next few weeks. Alianna would wake up to find Murtagh gone and he wouldn't return until very late in the afternoon. When Murtagh did return he was always exhausted and in a great deal of pain.
Many times Alianna would ask Murtagh about where he had been, but he would either tell her it was nothing or change the subject entirely.
Then one morning, Alianna woke up just as Murtagh was leaving the room. She quickly got up and got dressed. She was tired of all the secrets. Today Alianna was going to find out once and for all what Murtagh was up to.
But by the time Alianna left her room and went out into the hallway, Murtagh was long gone. She went back into her room, pulled a bowl out from under her bed, filled it with water and began to scry Murtagh.
From what Alianna could see, Murtagh was walking into a large training room. Alianna recognized this room. It was in the east wing of the castle and she thought she remembered her father saying it had been used by the Forsworn at one time. But why would Murtagh be in there? Alianna projected the image on the water for a few more seconds before letting it go. She then left the room, but before she could get far, she ran into Argus.
"Where are you going?" Argus asked.
"Nowhere," Alianna lied.
But Argus wasn't convinced, "You're lying. You're going after Murtagh aren't you?"
"How did you know?" Alianna asked him.
"I know you," Argus answered, "You have that look on your face that says you're up to something. And since Murtagh just left a few minutes ago, I knew that had to be it."
"I'm tired of all the secrets." Alianna said, "I'm going to find out what Murtagh is up to. Don't try to stop me."
"I won't."
Alianna was surprised, "Really?"
"You have a right to know what's going on." Argus said, "Besides, no matter what I say you're going to go after Murtagh anyway. Just be careful."
"I will be," Alianna assured him, "Thank you." She turned around and began walking towards the east wing.
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It had been a long time since Alianna had been to this end of the castle. Most of these rooms were one that only her father used for the most part. Luckily for Alianna, it was early morning and there weren't too many people around. Finally, she found the training room and slowly opened the door.
The room was all lit up, but Alianna didn't see anyone as she entered the room. She then saw some books lying on a small table. They were all about dark magic and how to cast certain spells. Alianna skimmed through some pages of the first book in the pile and then put it down. She figured that her father had left them there. But then Alianna saw Murtagh in the far corner of the room. He appeared to be speaking in the ancient language. Alianna was confused since she thought Murtagh didn't know much of the language, just a few words and phrases. She slowly began to walk over to Murtagh and when she got there, she froze.
Now that Alianna was closer and could hear him more clearly, she realized that Murtagh wasn't just speaking in the ancient language- he was trying to use magic! Dark magic at that. She knew it was dark magic because she had seen her father use this spell many times.
Alianna couldn't believe what she was seeing. Murtagh was practicing evil! How could he do something like this? Murtagh- her husband and one of the only people she thought she could trust, had lied to her. For a brief moment Alianna wished she hadn't found out what Murtagh was up to. Maybe it would've been better to be kept in the dark then to see what he was doing now.
Finally, Alianna worked up the courage to speak, "Murtagh?!?!"
Murtagh turned around and had a look of terror on his face, "Alianna…"
Alianna could feel her heart tightening in her chest, "Why… how…" She was so upset that she couldn't even speak clearly. She turned around and ran out of the room.
Murtagh followed her shouting, "Alianna, wait! I can explain…"
Murtagh said more, but Alianna didn't hear him. Instead she kept running. Running from what she hoped was all a bad dream.