[KokoTheKool]

I'm re-writing it so please comment and critique
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Forward:
You've heard a lot of stories of the fall and all of these going-ons. But trust me dear reader you have no idea what it was like. I won't go through all of this 100s of years long tale for your sake reader. You would grow far too bored and annoyed. But I will tell you how my story began and how it ends from the parts you already know. You will see the just what we all had to do to arrive where we are here today.

Your's truly,
Katsura
The Green Rider

Part One-During the fall
I was staring at a family painting, sadness taking control of my entire being. The sadness reached my eyes and I felt a tear slide down my face. My parents looked so happy not sad angry and argumentative this war had made them. My mom's gold hair was in painted to perfection, giving her a carefree stance and my Dad's eyes seemed to actually staring at you, contemplating the best way to make you laugh. I wished I didn't have to leave. But the evil riders were coming and I was not allowed to fight. I didn't understand why.

I am able to fight with a blade and bow well enough. Why won't they let me? Surely an extra pair of hands is need. It doesn't make since why I have to leave.

I carefully removed the painting and placed it into my bag; I didn't know where I was going. Somewhere safe my dad said. I had argued day after day for him not to send me away but my only response to anything I said was 'if you don't he'll kill you, torture you, or both'. It was finally agreed on, I would leave for a while and when they beat the black rider he would come and get me. He also said if anything happened to him I could do whatever I wanted. But nothing was going to happen to him. Nothing was going to happen to my mom either despite the fact she didn't live with us anymore.

I decided to take one more walk around the city of Illeria. I walked down the halls of the Rider's hold to the city outside. Its magnificent work would be covered by the grim of war and elves and ipocoleans must flee should its walls be breeched by the enemy. There was a small army setting up defenses on the tall grey walls. The Rider Oromis was looking over plans with my Dad in a section of the pavilion nearby. The city looked as it normally did, with plants everywhere, birds singing in building's eves, sun shining lighting up everything giving all things a weird tint and the only thing was wrong was all the people. None of the people were laughing, playing games with one another; no one was trading wares in the market, no one bustling about doing their normal job. Everyone was preparing to leave or readying themselves for an attack, gathering weapons, making arrows, practicing all skills they had. Magicians were running over spells they thought they would need, swordsmen were making sure their blades were clean and in proper working order.

"Katsura what are you doing?" and elf demanded. Looking closer did I realize it was Evandar, the elf king. His emerald eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I'm taking one last look around before I, you know, leave." I explained to the King.

"You weren't trying to set up a plan that makes circumstances have you stay here where the fight is, would you?" He had a slight grin on his face, and even if I had been doing such he wouldn't have told. I think.

"Of course not," I told him, "What makes you think I would do such a thing?" I kept my face straight even though I was dying to grin.

"You're sneaking around," He said, using a serious voice.

"It's because I have to leave soon, Sir."

"Then I've got news for you. One we're blocked in. No ones taking the roads out that's for sure. Well, they're not taking the roads unless they want to be chopped up into small pieces. Secondly, Your Dad's looking for you. He went to check your room a minute or so ago. He left from the north wall."

I quickly ran off to get wherever my father was so hopefully he wouldn't be to mad at me taking a stroll. I should be back before him anyway. The North wall was five minutes away and I was two minutes away from the keep. If he left a minute ago I would be back before him. Once I arrived I flew up the white marble stairs into a room on the east end. I opened the door and sat on my bed and opened a book about philosophy. No one would know I had gone, Except Evandar which probably wouldn't tell.

My father walked through the wooden door-frame, sung to perfection. His face was blank. It always was unless he was laughing. His red hair was longer then normal, and his brown eyes seemed ancient and old. His strong looking figure took up most of my door way.

"How was your day, father?" I asked him quizzically.

"It would be a lot better if someone wasn't sneaking around the city." He said in a neutral tone of voice. His face told me nothing, It would take a lot of improvising to come out of this with good grace.

"Who did you hear that from?" I asked evenly. He wasn't going to get it out of me. Not without a fight. We normally agreed on everything but this was a matter on which we didn't. "Because if it was King Evandar he's lying."

"No it wasn't him. Why did you say Evandar of all people? His tone was mildly interested but I knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to get me to say something that would contradict my other statement by leveling or equalizing his sentences with mine.

"I say Evandar because even in this war he'd pull a practical joke. Why remember just last week he replaced all soup with magical itching powder that was hardened to suit its purpose. It took only a simple spell to fix it but it made us all laugh." It was true and served as a nice distraction by changing the subject. Evendar and my father were friends as a important rider and King should be but they had their ups and downs. Like the time he replaced Father's shoes with shoes that made you dance and only stopped once you said 'Letta un deyja' or stop and die.

"I didn't hear it from anyone," He said with a small grin forming "I found your bracelet outside where defenses are being made to the north-east wall. It wasn't there yesterday and you were wearing it this morning."

"Really?" I asked. I was sunk. I knew it. I'd lost this argument for now.

"Yes really and speaking off which would you like your bracelet back?" His light brown eyes twinkled with amusement at my expression of defeat. Normally it had made him laugh but now all I got was a small smile. Just what had this war done to all these people? Once laughing friends they were now grim comrades in war. It just showed how soon this battle needed to be finished so it could all return back to normal. But even I was smart enough to know that the coming battle had grim chances at victory and not without heavy causalities. I'd rather lose my bracelet then anyone here.

"Is all your stuff packed?" He asked me carefully avoiding my light green eyes. Last time we'd gone over this subject I'd ended it with a bang. It just goes to show that you should not teach magic under anyone under the age of 15. Especially how to make your words in large explosive letters that can be set off by nearby insects. Once again I'm sorry to the fly that got scorched when he went through the letter n.

"Yes it is." I admitted. "But how am I going to leave if the roads are blocked?"

"Who told you that?"

"Evandar, He saw me and I thought he'd told you I was out, which was why I suspected him of telling you."

"It would be like him to do that but no it wasn't him. Although he is correct the roads are blocked which is why we are hiding you in a secret passage under the castle." He knew of another passage? There were only four not five. Unless he knew of another one or a new one was recently excavated.

"Where is this new passageway? Why haven't I found it before?"

"I'll show it to you. It doesn't lead to outside the city unlike the other one" So he only knows of two and neither lead outside the city. Well if I'm going to have a chance of helping the other one has to remain a secret. There seemed to be five passages total, the one dad was talking about, the one that lead from a spot in the south wall to the pavilion in the garden, the one that lead from the gardens east fountain to the kitchen, from the kitchen to the vault, and from the vault to the tower close to the garden but three stories up. The passages had peepholes so you could listen and watch people come and go. One passage went by the discussion room so you could stay up to date on what was happening. It would be our demise if anyone found these secret passages.

"Where are they?" I asked in a regular tone of voice. If he knew a about the other one then I would have to leave.

"One is in kitchen and it leads to the vault and one from the vault leads to the big room that was used as a throne room a long time ago that hasn't been removed." I silently thanked my lucky stars. I might be able to help. As long as no one saw me coming and going I could shot some bad guys with my bow.

"I need to show you how to open and close it. It requires a password you see. The other you just have to knock three times to enter."

"Ah, that makes since. Make it hard to find so enemies can't exploit it." I was just playing along. I really wanted that password. I'd made it a game to see how fast I could get around the palace. One of these days I'd get dad to race me. Maybe now.

"Father, after you show me the passage way can we race from the south wall all around the keep and back?"

"Sure. But you know I'm going to win." Oh we'll see about that.

We went from my room on the second floor to the vault one the first. The vault had many magical features designed to keep intruders out. But if you were smart enough and good enough at magic you could get in no problem. First you had to find it. The vault was hidden behind a tapestry of the elves finding Alageasia and then you had to say 'Nen ono vakna stner' or 'as you waken stone'. Then you had to get through several wards that were connected to a huge mass of energy. It would fight you and if you lost you were history but if you vanquished the supply you could go through to the room which held all sorts of magical secrets, I'd only gotten in there by the secret corridor.

My father walked over to the wall on the right the passage way from the kitchen let you in on the left. He said "Gata fram" or path forward. Where his hand had been suddenly was a hallway. It was light inside I realized by silts in the wall. You could hide rows of archers there and remain completely un-detected.

He turned to face my and remarked "Ladies first." I cautiously enter weary of anyone who might be hiding in the corner up ahead. I crept forward on the veined marble stone only to find a door at the end of the corridor. We couldn't possibly be at the old throne room; it was in the castle part of the keep on the other side. So there had to be something someone wanted badly hidden behind this door. My father had walked ahead right next to me and kept on going through the wall with the door.

"Come on Kat, the passage isn't dead-ended there." He didn't se it? How could he not? It was there plain as day. I even reached out and touched the brass handle on the door. It was real to my touch but I could faintly see through it to where my dad was waiting for me.

"It's okay. I'll be there in a few minutes." I actually had no idea how long this would take. What if it shut me out from the world? What if I had no way out? Regardless of this I would go anyway. If it helped us in anyway I would take that chance. I owed it to my Dad, Evandar and everyone else. If I could help I would, no doubts. But this door seemed eerie and mysterious. Like it hid a huge secret, a secret that deserved to be covered up. A secret that should never be told by anyone, a secret that seemed it shouldn't be known by any living thing. So I did the natural thing. I opened the door.
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This post has been edited by KokoTheKool: 23 October 2009 - 11:54 PM

[soldierofwill]

Great second start . I don't usually care much for fan-fics about the fall but I gotta say, I like it! It was a very interesting start and I hope to see more. Keep it up!
Your interested reader soldierofwill, bye

[KokoTheKool]

If you looked into the door you would have thought, just a lab. No big deal, moving on. But this lab was apparently dedicated to the learning or practicing of an old kind of magic. Well it wasn’t really a lab, more of a library or study. Ancient and powerful it was the kind place mentioned only in stories. I slowly entered the room careful for traps. None whatsoever came at me. So was I meant to be here or what? I looked around and to my surprise I could still see the windows. Everything was frozen. A bird was still on the winds breath, the trees held their positions as if in an army, a drop of water was in the air as it fell from the rafters like a tear left to stand in the space of frozen time forever.

I carefully looked around the old place. There were books everywhere. Small books skinny books, big books, thick books all of them about magic or mind manipulation. It was a magician’s dream study. There was a note tacked on a wall. Leaning in closer I started to read and the words shocked me.

If you get passed my test you can train in two rare abilities, if not you leave unscathed. If you mock me, refuse whole-heartedly, and go on your way what happened to an unfortunate young man is going to happen to you.

I sat down on a leather back red chair near the desk, re-reading those words over and over, trying to fathom their meanings. I would have to speak to the writer, room or speaker. But how?

“How do I speak to you?” I pondered aloud, not really thinking. A quill appeared on the desk and the original words faded from the parchment.

Seizing an idea I began to write without ink. True enough, words appeared on the page. Just as I had thought, or hoped.

What do you mean when you speak of rare abilities, tests and a warped fate? What in Fate’s name are you talking about?

I’m offering you a chance of a life-time. Most people just see books and not me a blank page on the wall. But I see potential in you, so I’m offering you a chance. IF you pass my test I will grant you two exceedingly rare abilities. Only few have these abilities and more often only one. It is rare to have both and you must past your test first. Most take the test without realizing it and get their ability or abilities. I’m offering you a chance to hurry the process. For you do have potential.

What is this test you speak of? How do I learn to use these abilities? Who else has one of these abilities? Whose fate are you talking about? Is there some sort of price? I wanted to know what had happened to the other poor soul who made fun of this mysterious form of magic. And a test? I wasn’t completely stupid so I might pass should I take it. But the last person who turned down his test got a horrible misfortune. Would I end up like that?

Well I can only answer one question at a time so bear with me and should you feel bored do not annoy me. I do not take kindly to people talking to me and refusing to find out if they fit the requirements. So, one of the ways to offend him was to not take his test when he offered it to you. I guess I’ll take it. But what about the other things I don’t know? If this is some trick of Evendar’s I’ll get him. We shall start with your first question. The test consists purely of questions, nothing more. I was glad it was only questions. It was the kind of questions that kept me in doubt. Your second question is easy enough to answer. Once you get the abilities you learn to use them yourself. It may sound cold, but is the best way to learn. Learning alone didn’t actually sound so bad. IF I should take the test. I haven’t decided anything, I think. It seemed like my mind had made up itself without consulting reason or sense. Question number three I am not allowed to discuss in great detail. Let’s just say that fool had it coming. And Medamina there is no price.

So in other words it’s free providing I pass this test or yours?

Exactly, but you must prove you know more then ordinary. You need to prove you are something special not the ordinary person who walks by this door. Regular people do not see this door. If you should happen to see it the chances are one to a million you’re the right person for these gifts.

So I just take your test, but how do I prove I’m extra ordinary as you say? I’m a rider’s daughter yes that is true, but I’m just me. Katsura, able to fight but can’t because I’m too little. I could be considered smart but it never seems to be smart enough to some people. Vrael especially. When I was done writing that I was rightly furious. It angered me that he could be so full of himself when people where dying. Just because he was the lead rider that did not mean he had to be so arrogant and rude. Even when it’s a small chance of victory he parades around like he’s already won.

What happens to people who tempt Fate Medamina?

They get brought down? Disgraced and alone?

Exactly. Trust it will happen to Vrael for being a fool. That is why the Riders are being brought down Medamina.

What about the good Riders?

The good Riders will be remembered for such.

You are going to kill them? I was shocked. Sure some of the Riders were no good fools, but not all of them. What will happen to Oromis, Brom, and my Dad? They were all good Riders. They didn’t deserve such. It wasn’t fair they had to be punished along with every other decent soul for what some evil and corrupt riders were doing.

Everything must die. Surely you understand that. They will play a huge role against evil and will be rightly remembered for such.

But Vrael will fall?

He is corrupt is he not, Medamina? So yes.

But that means the Riders will fall too. The thought of such made me feel sick. No way to punish evil doers? If they fall so will the human government. And humans are only satisfied with something for so long. They will want more and kill whatever gets in their way. Chaos will rule the world.

Well yes. But the good Riders will fight it. Don’t you trust me Medamina?

You are piece of paper that claims it can teach me things to hone some rare power I have to take some test for and you speak as though you know the future. You also call me a word I’ve never heard.

Well when you put it that way you’re right. But you have to trust me Medamina. I’m here to help put the universe back where it belongs. And for your information Medamina means miss. It is used by a secret society with people of the talents.

So there’s some secret society? My head was beginning to spin. People with rare and mysterious powers banding together? Why had they never been heard of? Surely they must be mentioned somewhere? They can’t be completely obscured from the World. Could they?

Yes there is. But to know more you must take the test. If you pass then you will find them when the time comes.

I wasn’t sure I trusted it. But all the same a cursed fate? Horrible things to hound me until I died, perhaps causing me to die. But I wasn’t sure about this and part of me still hoped this was a joke.

Hurry up Medamina. I don’t have forever you know.

I’m trying.

Is it really that hard? Just write yes or no.

I still wasn’t sure of the paper or whoever controlled the paper. Surely only something extremely powerful could know who to enchant this piece of paper or keep up its spell for this long. But one thing was for certain, I wasn’t messing up the land with my choice. Which meant I wasn’t going to let myself get cursed, all I had to do was write one word,

Yes.

So you will take my test and answer all it’s questions, no matter how absurd they same?

Yes.

And you will use your powers for what they are worth?

Yes but isn’t there some kind of mortality code?

No what happens happens because it’s fate. Always remember that, you can change the future but in the end what will happen will happen. You can change little things like with a word two friends can become a couple but the Riders will fall regardless. For now.

What do you mean for now? Is there hope?

No more questions. Only answers from you.

I was still burning with curiosity but knew it was better then to push for answers. The parchment might seem to be in a good mood now. From what it had described bad things happened to people it didn’t approve of. I had no desire to find out what exactly it would do to people on its bad side.

First question, you see something unlawful going on. The person committing the crime is stronger then you. What do you do?

Simple I set them up to get shamefully caught. But I set up the trap so that no one knows I am behind it. If they suspect me for setting them up I melt in the shadows. They will forget it eventually.

Interesting, number two, you find an artifact you know for a fact was stolen from its rightful owner in someone’s room.

Again I make sure the two are near each other then confront the thief. When they two get in an argument I leave and get authority. It could come to blows and they’d figure the story someday.

I am beginning to see what gifts you posses. Number four, a friend plays a joke at your expense; you do what to get back at him or her?

Very simple, I make sure he has an accident in front of many people and make sure that they believe is my fault but the rest of the people in the room believe it was an accident. They have no reason to get back at me or at least everyone else thinks so, we become even and if they do try to get back at me they get ashamed for everyone knows I didn’t do anything. I may sound manipulative but no one gets away with something wrong around me. Even if it was a joke. I will not be humiliated or let someone get away with something they shouldn’t. Unless it’s me doing the getting away with. But if I’m doing anything wrong it’s to righten the scales or help do something good. Even if I have to something wrong to do what’s right.

Most believed I was an innocent little girl. But I had learned early if people could get away with anything they would. So I had decided to righten the scales without ever reveling my hand in the affair. Everyone still believes I’m just a child but when something serious comes up I put the trouble maker or culprit in their place. Most of the time I never had to do such but there are times when you have to do what you have to do.

Well I know what gifts you posses.

Already?

Yes I know. In fact I’m sure of it. You posses both gifts very rare, and I can tell you will use them well.

So that’s it? You just have to tell me that? Is there anything else I should know? For instance what these gifts are?

Oh all right. I’ll tell you but if you become scared do not blame me.

I don’t scare easily Mister.

It’s Mesire to you. Mesire for a man or boy, Medamina for a young or un-married lady and Melussina for a married woman. Can you remember that?

Yes Mesire. I decided not to push it at the moment. I had no idea who this page belongs to, but I would to go out and pay them back for their insults. Someday.
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Comment, Critique. I would have gotten this up earlier but looked at again got seized by a better idea and re-wrote this.

This post has been edited by KokoTheKool: 29 August 2009 - 09:56 PM

[fistsofsteel]

I'm re-writing it so please comment and critique
________________________________________________________________________

Forward:
You've heard a lot of stories of the fall and all of these going-ons. But trust me dear reader you have no idea what it was like. I won't go through all of this 100s of years long tale for your sake reader. You would grow far too bored and annoyed. But I will tell you how my story began and how it ends from the parts you already know. You will see the just what we all had to do to arrive where we are here today.

Your's truly,
Katsura
The Green Rider

Part One-During the fall
I was staring at a family painting, sadness taking control of my entire being. The sadness reached my eyes and I felt a tear slide down my face. My parents looked so happy not sad angry and argumentative this war had made them. My mom's golden hair was (i took out the "in") painted to perfection, giving her a carefree stance and my Dad's eyes seemed to actually be staring at you, contemplating the best way to make you laugh. I wished I didn't have to leave. But the evil riders were coming and I was not allowed to fight. I didn't understand why.

I am able to fight with a blade and bow well enough. Why won't they let me? Surely an extra pair of hands is need. It doesn't make since why I have to leave.

I carefully removed the painting and placed it into my bag; I didn't know where I was going. Somewhere safe my dad said. I had argued day after day for him not to send me away but my only response to anything I said was 'if you don't he'll kill you, torture you, or both'. It was finally agreed on, I would leave for a while and when they beat the black rider he would come and get me. He also said if anything happened to him I could do whatever I wanted, But nothing was going to happen to him. Nothing was going to happen to my mom either despite the fact she didn't live with us anymore.

I decided to take one more walk around the city of Illeria. I walked down the halls of the Rider's hold to the city outside. Its magnificent work would be covered by the grim of war and elves and ipocoleans must flee should its walls be breeched by the enemy. There was a small army setting up defenses on the tall grey walls. The Rider Oromis was looking over plans with my Dad in a section of the pavilion nearby. The city looked as it normally did, with plants everywhere, birds singing in building's eves, sun shining lighting up everything giving all things a weird tint and the only thing was wrong was all the people. None of the people were laughing, playing games with one another; no one was trading wares in the market, no one bustling about doing their normal job. Everyone was preparing to leave or readying themselves for an attack, gathering weapons, making arrows, practicing all skills they had. Magicians were running over spells they thought they would need, swordsmen were making sure their blades were clean and in proper working order.

"Katsura what are you doing?" and elf demanded. Looking closer did I realize it was Evandar, the elf king. His emerald eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I'm taking one last look around before I, you know, leave." I explained to the King.

"You weren't trying to set up a plan that makes circumstances have you stay here where the fight is, would you?" He had a slight grin on his face, and even if I had been doing such he wouldn't have told. I think.

"Of course not," I told him, "What makes you think I would do such a thing?" I kept my face straight even though I was dying to grin.

"You're sneaking around," He said, using a serious voice.

"It's because I have to leave soon, Sir."

"Then I've got news for you. One we're blocked in. No ones taking the roads out that's for sure. Well, they're not taking the roads unless they want to be chopped up into small pieces. Secondly, Your Dad's looking for you. He went to check your room a minute or so ago. He left from the north wall."

I quickly ran off to get wherever my father was so hopefully he wouldn't be to mad at me taking a stroll. I should be back before him anyway. The North wall was five minutes away and I was two minutes away from the keep. If he left a minute ago I would be back before him. Once I arrived I flew up the white marble stairs into a room on the east end. I opened the door and sat on my bed and opened a book about philosophy. No one would know I had gone, Except Evandar who probably wouldn't tell.

My father walked through the wooden door-frame, sung to perfection. His face was blank. It always was unless he was laughing. His red hair was longer then normal, and his brown eyes seemed ancient and old. His strong looking figure took up most of my door way.

"How was your day, father?" I asked him quizzically.

"It would be a lot better if someone wasn't sneaking around the city." He said in a neutral tone of voice. His face told me nothing, It would take a lot of improvising to come out of this with good grace.

"Who did you hear that from?" I asked evenly. He wasn't going to get it out of me. Not without a fight. We normally agreed on everything but this was a matter on which we didn't. "Because if it was King Evandar he's lying."

"No it wasn't him. Why did you say Evandar of all people? His tone was mildly interested but I knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to get me to say something that would contradict my other statement by leveling or equalizing his sentences with mine.

"I say Evandar because even in this war he'd pull a practical joke. Why remember just last week he replaced all soup with magical itching powder that was hardened to suit its purpose. It took only a simple spell to fix it but it made us all laugh." It was true and served as a nice distraction by changing the subject. Evendar and my father were friends as a important rider and King should be but they had their ups and downs. Like the time he replaced Father's shoes with shoes that made you dance and only stopped once you said 'Letta un deyja' or stop and die.

"I didn't hear it from anyone," He said with a small grin forming "I found your bracelet outside where defenses are being made to the north-east wall. It wasn't there yesterday and you were wearing it this morning."

"Really?" I asked. I was sunk. I knew it. I'd lost this argument for now.

"Yes really and speaking off which would you like your bracelet back?" His light brown eyes twinkled with amusement at my expression of defeat. Normally it had made him laugh but now all I got was a small smile. Just what had this war done to all these people? Once laughing friends they were now grim comrades in war. It just showed how soon this battle needed to be finished so it could all return back to normal. But even I was smart enough to know that the coming battle had grim chances at victory and not without heavy causalities. I'd rather lose my bracelet then anyone here.

"Is all your stuff packed?" He asked me carefully avoiding my light green eyes. Last time we'd gone over this subject I'd ended it with a bang. It just goes to show that you should not teach magic under anyone under the age of 15. Especially how to make your words in large explosive letters that can be set off by nearby insects. Once again I'm sorry to the fly that got scorched when he went through the letter n.

"Yes it is." I admitted. "But how am I going to leave if the roads are blocked?"

"Who told you that?"

"Evandar, He saw me and I thought he'd told you I was out, which was why I suspected him of telling you."

"It would be like him to do that but no it wasn't him. Although he is correct the roads are blocked which is why we are hiding you in a secret passage under the castle." He knew of another passage? There were only four not five. Unless he knew of another one or a new one was recently excavated.

"Where is this new passageway? Why haven't I found it before?"

"I'll show it to you. It doesn't lead to outside the city unlike the other one" So he only knows of two and neither lead outside the city. Well if I'm going to have a chance of helping the other one has to remain a secret. There seemed to be five passages total, the one dad was talking about, the one that lead from a spot in the south wall to the pavilion in the garden, the one that lead from the gardens east fountain to the kitchen, from the kitchen to the vault, and from the vault to the tower close to the garden but three stories up. The passages had peepholes so you could listen and watch people come and go. One passage went by the discussion room so you could stay up to date on what was happening. It would be our demise if anyone found these secret passages.

"Where are they?" I asked in a regular tone of voice. If he knew a about the other one then I would have to leave.

"One is in kitchen and it leads to the vault and one from the vault leads to the big room that was used as a throne room a long time ago that hasn't been removed." I silently thanked my lucky stars. I might be able to help. As long as no one saw me coming and going I could shot some bad guys with my bow.

"I need to show you how to open and close it. It requires a password you see. The other you just have to knock three times to enter."

"Ah, that makes since. Make it hard to find so enemies can't exploit it." I was just playing along. I really wanted that password. I'd made it a game to see how fast I could get around the palace. One of these days I'd get dad to race me. Maybe now.

"Father, after you show me the passage way can we race from the south wall all around the keep and back?"

"Sure. But you know I'm going to win." Oh we'll see about that.

We went from my room on the second floor to the vault one the first. The vault had many magical features designed to keep intruders out. But if you were smart enough and good enough at magic you could get in no problem. First you had to find it. The vault was hidden behind a tapestry of the elves finding Alageasia and then you had to say 'Nen ono vakna stner' or 'as you waken stone'. Then you had to get through several wards that were connected to a huge mass of energy. It would fight you and if you lost you were history but if you vanquished the supply you could go through to the room which held all sorts of magical secrets, I'd only gotten in there by the secret corridor.

My father walked over to the wall on the right the passage way from the kitchen let you in on the left. He said "Gata fram" or path forward. Where his hand had been suddenly was a hallway. It was light inside I realized by silts in the wall. You could hide rows of archers there and remain completely un-detected.

He turned to face my and remarked "Ladies first." I cautiously enter weary of anyone who might be hiding in the corner up ahead. I crept forward on the veined marble stone only to find a door at the end of the corridor. We couldn't possibly be at the old throne room; it was in the castle part of the keep on the other side. So there had to be something someone wanted badly hidden behind this door. My father had walked ahead right next to me and kept on going through the wall with the door.

"Come on Kat, the passage isn't dead-ended there." He didn't se it? How could he not? It was there plain as day. I even reached out and touched the brass handle on the door. It was real to my touch but I could faintly see through it to where my dad was waiting for me.

"It's okay. I'll be there in a few minutes." I actually had no idea how long this would take. What if it shut me out from the world? What if I had no way out? Regardless of this I would go anyway. If it helped us in anyway I would take that chance. I owed it to my Dad, Evandar and everyone else. If I could help I would, no doubts. But this door seemed eerie and mysterious. Like it hid a huge secret, a secret that deserved to be covered up. A secret that should never be told by anyone, a secret that seemed it shouldn't be known by any living thing. So I did the natural thing. I opened the door.
________________________________________________________________________

Great start love the story so far i will be checking the other chapter in a few and could you add some chapter names or at least like 'Chapter one'

This post has been edited by fistsofsteel: 17 September 2009 - 10:19 PM

[KokoTheKool]

Part three.
__________________________________________

I had just thought of destroying this parchment, if that's what it was, and was appalled with myself. Sure I'd had some evil moments, which being hasn't, but the thought of being that dark was depressing. I was a bit afraid of my new self, who suddenly thought bad things were okay. In the pursuit of justice, maybe but just plain manipulative and cold, the very thought struck fear within me, the thought of turning my back at all values and tossing them away like ashes after a fire.

So are you finally going to stop asking questions and let me tell you? I stared at the paper, it had ignited a struggle within me, within my judgment. I was sick of listening to it, sick of its words and stories. But somewhere inside, I knew. I knew I was in too deep to make it out unscathed and unhurt.

Yes. I wrote back. I hated that it had so much control over my actions now. I hated the mess I had gotten myself into. If I only hadn't opened the door, if I had followed my Father, if I hadn't touched or looked at the parchment, I might not be in this mess.

I sense you are struggling within, are you sure you want to know of these powers you posses? And you should know that even if I had not appeared you would have changed anyway,

What do you mean changed? I hated the dark part of me. If I could get rid of it I would.

I mean these people have a sense of right and wrong, just they don't do things the heroic way. They often use ways of evil to get their point across, and justice systems no longer matter either.

So when I get those gifts I got my personality messed with?

Tweaked.

But still messed with? I mean I'm getting evil thoughts and how to do them, and what are these gifts of your's anyway?

Which question would like answered first? And don't interrupt, it's annoying and takes longer to get answers explained.

Both. And I won't interrupt.

I hold you to your word. Yes justice systems do not matter to them because they do not belong to a society, Even if they did, they would be driven out as outcasts and evil-doers. People, any kind of people, fear those who are different. And these people often have to fight for the right to live, so a relaxed idea of things you should and should not do come with it. Because it could cost you your life if you don't do what the situation requires, understood? And the gifts, there are only two and you have to be born with them, the people who have these gifts are chosen because they will change the world, Somehow, Someday.

The first I will describe to you is the Snakes Power. It gives you control of what people see around them, hear around them, and dream. you can appear as whatever you please, or not be there at all, you can have them hear voices or those they once knew speaking to them, and you can give the pleasant or disturbing dreams. You can slip around so silently, no one can tell you are coming, not even mentally.

The other is the Eye. You look a person in there eyes and instantly see every bad thing they ever did. They feel shame and begin to confess. With that power you can also command people to do things.

Wow, treasured abilities indeed. But dangerous. Extremely dangerous. With a look I could send someone into the misery they thought they had left behind. I could cover or revel the truth. And I was shocked.

Do the answers satisfy you?

I suppose they do. Though I wish to know more of these people.

Knowledge comes with age and experience though it is often very hard to come by.

Yes. My head was still spinning a bit from the thought of what I could do. It seemed extremely strange, me of all people to have such an extraordinary power. But then I was struck by a thought.

What ever happened to he who made fun of you?

Oh. That. Well he was a Rider student, and he had the possibility to have these gifts you now posses. He could have been the best Rider of them all, He could have been a hero. One day he stumbled across my doors. Realizing his potential I let him inside. Once inside I wrote what I did on the paper. But instead of being honored or awestruck at his gift, he laughed at it. He called me a liar and had many jokes at my expense. Bubbling with mirth he left without a second thought. Well, All the members of the society, all 3 of them, decided his gifts needed to be recalled. They were deleted out of his being and as punishment for insulting me, he was cursed. The Rider's dragon would die, he would go crazy and one day rule the World only to be shamefully taken down.

That sounds like Galbatorix.

It is.

But why? Why did he turn it down? Why did he turn the gift down? Why did he refuse to believe you? And why did he insult you? This was my enemy, though I had never met him. This was my chance to learn what I could about him, and pieces of his past. The knowledge could even teach me how to defeat him.

I don't know, your guess is as good as mine. However it is time for me to go, but before I do, I will tell you one last thing.

What is it? I hoped for anything, anything that would help destroy Galbatorix.

It is un-explainable at the moment.

That is alright. I think. Was I foolish in not asking more? Maybe, but knowing one's Destiny or Fate is not entirely a good thing, for if you know the future, what is there to work for?

One the fight's hundredth anniversary, the unlikely foursome shall untie and face their biggest critics. Good. Meanwhile I have a word of advice to you.

What?

Trust Murtagh and his partner and he that is suffering darkly.

But what does it mean?

I cannot tell you, but for now steel yourself. The final bit of your identity must be marked.

By what? How am I marked? Explain? Please? I had no idea what was next, or what was going to happen. I wanted to know. Right then and there.

I cannot and will not explain. Good-bye and good luck, Katsura, until we meet again.

The page went blank and try as I might, I could not make any words appear on the page. I carefully set it down, the person who controlled the paper might be mad I destroyed it and if we really met in person I might get killed. Over a piece of paper, as trivial as that sounds. I stood up and started to stare at the fire. The more I looked, the more it seemed I could see things. Terrifying things. Like a man falling to a sword wound. A girl at a king's side. A dragon fighting a dragon. Overwhelming images flooded until the fire suddenly went out.

Taking it as a request to leave I started to head toward the door, as I did my left fore-arm began to burn. I yelped and stumbled backward, tripped and landed on the floor. I looked at my arm and a symbol had started to appear. From the crook of my elbow to my wrist was an emerald snake in an S shape, its mouth drawn open a attempt to strike whoever was unfortunate enough to be its target. In between the curves of the S were the symbols of two elfin like eyes, black and white.

I stared at it for a long while and as the pain began to recede. I wondered how I was going to explain this one away to my Father and everyone else. It was doubtful I could tell them the truth as I would never be believed. I would have to hide it somehow, searching around for an idea, I quickly found one. Taking my arm I put it at my side, when I found Father I would pretend to be cold and ask for his cloak. Not a very good plan but better then nothing, other then that I would just have to use my arm the least amount possible, if able.

I opened the lab door and stepped out felling cool air rush after staying still for so long. The drop of water continued to fall the tress started to sway again and the birds kept flying. It was as if nothing had ever happened, except for the mark on my fore-arm as proof, nothing could have happened.

I saw the door begin to fade until it gradually became nothing. I saw my Father up ahead walking at a steady even pace. I ran to catch up and tapped his shoulder. He could have set a record for jumping so high, he must have gotten really startled.

"Kat!" He sounded annoyed, and was using that voice parents have when they intend to convey the meaning 'that was a very bad thing to do and you better not do that again.' "You scared me! Please stop running up to people and having them jump out of their skins. It's rude."

"I though you could hear me coming." It was true, I mean when you run on stone you make that thump-thump' someone is running up behind you' sound. It's impossible to miss or not hear it.

"I never heard a thing. Now please can I show you the rest of the passage in peace?" His brown eyes looked at me, pleading for cooperation and a bit of control. I knew the past couple months had been hard, for all of us, with Mom leaving and saying she never wanted to see my father again.

"Of course." I decided to be nice; after all I'd been through a lot with him. But why did he have to complain about not hearing me when even humans can hear the thump thump thump? And asking for peace! I wasn't disturbing it like that Rider. But after a moment the truth dawned on me. It was that snake gift. Slipping around silently, well I had apparently done just that. I tried not be heard again. Just one pair of footsteps echoed in the hall. My Dad's.

Excited I though of all the things I could do to help. But I wasn't allowed. A part of me wanted to fight, and destroy those people who'd caused my family so much grief my parents didn't want to see each other, and when I found those people I wanted rip them apart piece by piece.

The other part of me demanded to know if I was sane and if I could really bear to hit someone with a sword, let alone rip them apart.

Nevertheless, I wanted them to pay and maybe my abilities would help me do just that. Maybe I would be able to turn the tables of this war in our favor. Maybe we could win this war and destroy him right here.

But a voice in the back of my head nagged at what the parchment had said, Regrettable but everything must die or something like that. I had a really bad feeling my Dad wasn't going to make it. And the fire in the fire place, a man falling to a sword. Pure coincidence, I don't think so. After all you can change today but not the grand scheme of things like the piece of paper had said as well, and I had a horrible gut-feeling, that part of the grand scheme of things was my Father's dimise.

But I hoped not. I started to hope as hard as I could it wasn't him. It was bad enough my parent's refused to see one another but for one of them to actually die, would be even worse.

Still the feeling would not go away and as I looked at my Father, tall and still in his amour, I hoped harder then I ever had before, that I was wrong.

But what of the girl with that King? Who was she? Who was the King? Questions drove through my mind at all speeds, demanding answers in order to put them at rest. But I didn't have answers, I had the opposite.

We reached the end of the passage way, at the very end was a wall. Its gray stone seemed to exclaim 'you reached a dead end, hahahahahaha' Paying no attention to that fact my Father reached up and pushed a stone. The stone's mood seemed to change from snub to subdued as a way through the wall appeared.

"Ladies first." My Father seemed more tired then before, he seemed even more depressed as well. It was our victory chances I was sure, they were exceedingly grim. It didn't help when 'I'm so full of myself' Vrael told us we were going to win and had been strutting around like a rooster even though we were far more likely to lose.

I stepped through the door and entered a section of the room in a corner. The room was a very tidy one excluding neatness and importance. The room was the current king's, whatever his name was, throne room. No one was in it at the moment, but I was pretty sure me and my Dad where being watched. No one was there, it was a room it was extremely probable to have a hiding place, I felt like eyes were watching me.

I'd felt paranoia before, this was different. It seemed like someone actually was there. But there was no one in there, or so it seemed.
________________________________________________

Sorry for neglecting this, I have been so busy with school and all.

This post has been edited by KokoTheKool: 22 October 2009 - 06:04 PM

[KokoTheKool]

Shadows were in all parts of this room, it was possible to walk all the way around without ever touching the light. The room held an inherent chill as it had its breath waiting for something terrible to happen within its walls, something chilling something so horrid it was the type of things real life warriors and hardened heroes shied away from. The kind of things people fled from, the kind they feared. The rug was thick and the room full of strange things, armor here, a strange instrument over there, a be-heading device and a type of music maker, an organ I believe. The room held its breath and in the silence not a thing moved. You could hardly dare to breathe. But there was a scuffling and one of the shadows moved. It was the type of thing you blamed on imagination, just something silly but my gut screamed it was something more. My gut commanded my brain that it was something; someone or something was in this room.

That something was dark and nearly invisible. Had I not felt its eyes and seen it move thanks to these gifts, or curses, we might die had we walked into the trap. However we still might die and we needed a way out. Casting my mind out to the nearby area, I tried hiding in the confines of my mind while watching. I felt my Father's consciousness and a faint glow of something else. They did not notice I had touched their mind and still remained focused on whatever they were thinking. It was hard to make out and had I not been close it would have been impossible, re-treating into myself I carefully felt in my sleeve for my knife. It was a rather odd knife made of a strange bronze and steel but it could work.

I heard the whispering of an arrow being necked and a bow pulled back. In that instant I knew, if I didn't act fast my Father would get killed. I had no way of knowing the arrow's path through the air, only guesswork could save us now. While they were assuredly after my father they would kill me too. The thought of being murdered and having my last emotion pain wasn't appealing which of course called for some unorthodox action. At that same instant I heard the arrow start its flight from the bow-string I reached and grabbed my father's shoulder and yanked him as hard as I could. My arm shrieked in agony over the weight as I tried to pull him over or at least out of the way. I stared as an arrow flew less then an inch from my Father's face, where it had been a fraction of a second earlier. The arrow lodged itself into the wall and there was a low hiss of displeasure. I now knew what the attacker was, a Razac. Only they could hiss like that. No wonder I could sense it but faintly with my mind.

My Father did not hesitate in pulling out his sword, Anaklusmos and charging toward where the arrow had been released. Another arrow came and another but they were deflected by his sword. Reaching the shadow were the creature hid he stabbed with the blade but was met with another blade. The darkly-tinted steel met my father's blade with a large amount of force, wheeling backward, my Father struck again and again was met with resistance. Even if my Father could not see the problem I could, he needed to get the Razac out of the shadows or the fight would continue to be slanted in the foul creature's favor.

I was taken by a crazy idea, crazy enough it would be considered fool-hardy but crazy enough it just might work. I took my knife and commanded no one to look at me. The Razac and my Father however needed no mind-nudging. They were so locked in combat that they would not notice if a pack of bulls wearing dresses and Galbatorix waving a white flag and meaning it ran by. Sneaking up I jumped on the organ. The piano was silent as it was broken and had long since bean given up on. Sneakily jumping from item to item I made my way over to the fight. I carefully held the knife, my only weapon except magic which I didn't want to use. It was far to draining.

I had no thoughts except how to get to them. I wasn't thinking a single thought, I was acting on a whim sure, but it would be worth it.

It seemed forever to get there but when I did that time seemed to have gone by much to fast. They were still dueling to the death, a stab here, parry there, and a feint on the right. It was fast, and exceedingly dangerous.

Taking a deep breath, I gripped the knife, my only real weapon, my only chance at doing any damage. I jumped off whatever I was standing on and the seconds seemed to stand still. The Razac seemed to be frozen in time, forever to wear a scowl of frustration. Taking the knife I slashed at his arm, a cascade of purple liquid seeped from the wound, like a lake behind a dam. I was so surprised I dropped my weapon; the Razac made a low hiss of pain and was distracted.

It wasn't much of a distraction but it was enough. Seizing his chance my Father took his sword and drove it through the fiendish creature. An ocean escaped from it, pooling to floor staining it purple. The Razac was dead, never to darken a dream again.

My father wiped the blood off of his sword in silence. The silence hung, I was not willing to break it, it was not my place, nor the fitting time.

Finally he asked "Why in a million and one years did you do a blasted fool thing like that for?" I cringed, his voice was cold and seething, and it was the type of voice I'd think to imagine belonging to Galbatorix, not my father. I did not know he was capable of even getting near the sound of that voice.

"I helped you." I was surprised my voice was even level, if he had normally been talking like that I would have trembled. I was strong, and had no idea if that was a good thing or not.

"If I wanted your help I would have asked, I don't need you running to my defense over every little thing. Your my daughter not my hero." The words where harder blows then a whip covered in seithr oil, the voice held contempt and shook me to my core. He hated me; all for helping him win a fight. I had been stronger and withstood it once but could not a second time. Before yes, but this was too much, I felt tears slid into my eyes, threatening to spill like the Razac's blood had.

The door clanged open to my surprise; Vrael and Evenadar were standing in the doorway, wearing near identical expressions of chock and amazement.

"A Razac dead?" Vrael asked.

I nodded there wasn't much I could do without spilling tears, my Father certainly wouldn't tell them anything.

"Who killed it?" Evendar asked. He was just curious and I was hit with a pang of emotion, of what kind I wasn't sure. But I realized no matter what happened my Father would be the one they associated all the fancy and heroic deeds with, I would just be Katsura, his daughter. No one special, just Katsura. No gifts were going to change it, nor being the greatest hero who ever lived was ever going to change that, nothing in this world and beyond.

I didn't answer Evendar's question, I grabbed my knife from the floor and ran out the door, blood still on the precious metal.

I ran through my favorite city in the world however it was not the kind place I had known it to be, every faced seemed to sneer, the birds songs seemed to taunt and the wind blew whispering 'nothing, nothing'

I ran to the wall on the edge of town and scaled it without thinking about what I was doing, sitting at the top, I sat and pulled my knees as close as I could.

I wasn't sure when I started to cry but when I did I found I couldn't stop, there was always another tear, another sob.

I felt alone, gone and full of nothing. Why hadn't the world stopped in sorrow, my Father didn't seem to love me anymore. Even when my Mom lived with us it was never Lily and Aven, it was Aven and Katsura or as some rider's had nick-named me, Kat. But she walked out of my life, out of our lives, saying she never wanted to see us again.

My Dad was all I had left, and his dragon was friend but we had never really been close. His dragon rarely spoke to me or anyone else.

But now my Dad wasn't there.

He'd gotten upset over a deed that I had done to help him, I'd never meant to cause him pain, just help him.

He was ready to never hug me again, to never tell me an interesting story.

I was there in silence for what seemed like an eternity, not really taking anything in.

Only one thought was clear, and it was 'he hates me.'

With that a fresh tidal wave of tears was in my eyes, I wondered somewhere when I would run out, the cloudy sky seemed to darken and I sat there some more with tears falling down my cheek until a drop of cold water hit my back, then another and another.

I looked up, the sky was grey, and drops were falling, threatening to downpour, drenching me just like my tears had my cheeks.

I stiffly stood up from the wall, and clambered down. Not an easy feat now that the hand-holds were all wet and slippery.

I ran through the town once more not concentrating on anything but the road and not bumping into anyone or thing. I was fully focused on getting to a place in the city, a private, abandoned place in the city, a place no soul knew about but me and me alone.

Racing down like demons were after me, I ran street after street, corner after corner until I reached the place.

It had a roof, and was not out of the oprdinary, no one would find me here, no one could bother me.

I opened the door and headed to another room where the fireplace was in order to warm the place up.

The only problem was someone was already there, bending over the fire. I couldn't help it, I gasped in surprise.

The figure, a man, whirled and looked at me.

"Now what are you doing here?" It was a nice voice, calm and trusting. But there was something in it that made me want to run out the door and scream. It was hidden but I could pick it up, it was coldness, cruelty, and darkness. And it was staring me in the eyes.

"I'm sorry; I seem to be in the wrong place." I had no trouble lying; it seemed natural now, natural in a world where my father didn't love me.

"Are you sure?" He seemed skeptic, as though he knew I was lying, it was a clever tactic.

"I'm very sure." I said my voice even again. "I'll be leaving you now."

I turned and walked to the door, as normal as possible. That was my mistake. Just when I was about to exit into the street, into safety, the door clanged shut and locked. I was trapped, and I immediately knew with whom.

It was him, the traitor himself, the men who had torn my family apart.

The man in the other room was Galbatorix.

And I was instantly afraid.

Note: Spoiler to whoever wants it for finding the two Percy Jackson and the Olympians references.

This post has been edited by KokoTheKool: 23 October 2009 - 11:53 PM

[KokoTheKool]

Part:Five

I felt blood roaring through my ears, I could hear my pulse sending blood through my veins.



Because in that single split second, I knew, the fate of the land had changed. For better or worse I knew not, but I felt the land seem to shift, and just had that feeling deep deep deep inside, that gut instinct, telling me, something was changed.



My fingers were wrapped so tightly around my bronze knife the knuckles were white, my only weapon other then magic, but I might as well be holding a stick. Knife wielders have to be very careful when fighting people with swords; they have the smaller weapon which requires them to get in closer in order to make a mark. If the tales of his cursed acclaimed prowess were true, I had as much chance giving him a scratch as I did shooting down the moon with a bow and a couple of arrows.



“Stop staring at me!” He barked. “I’m not going to kill you.”



I didn’t believe a single word that came out his mouth. I had a really bad mental picture of what blood would look like on the cold stone floor and walls. Out side the rain beat down in a hypnotic rhythm and there was no way anyone would be looking for me. They’d think I’d have done the sensible thing and gotten shelter. If they only knew what kind of shelter I’d gotten myself into. And it was my entire fault, due to my own carelessness.



“I don’t believe you.” I tried to sound like I wasn’t afraid of him. I tried to sound like he didn’t scare me. I tried to sound like I was a superior, not by far his inferior. But my voice betrayed me, it trembled the tiniest amount. Just enough to show I was afraid.



“I’m not lying, but as you decided you had to barge in here and interrupt, you’re going to make yourself useful.” I had no idea on what he meant and felt like I was drowning in sea of confusion.



He decided he wasn’t going to bother telling me anything more. Instead he grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the door, to another part of the building, beyond the stairs near the back.



Now normally in stories this is the part where the hero plunges their knife into the bad evil villains arm and heroically escapes. Well that’s not what happened. In truth it’s not even remotely close to what did happen. I seemed to have shut down; I wasn’t able to do anything except get dragged along. Even if I had tried anything, his hand was like an iron clamp, pulling me forward. I was pretty sure even if I had stabbed him he wouldn’t have done anything.



He stopped at a wall. Reaching out his free hand he tapped the wall three times and murmured ‘Vakna’. There was a deep rumbling, along with the sound of stones clanking together. There was a faint roar, I roar I knew well, there were dragons nearby. All of a sudden, a staircase appeared, right where the wall had been, it’s base was unseen due to the inky blackness shrouding the staircase spiraling down. I did not want to go, despite my curious nature and love of secret passage ways. He however, had no such fears and yanked me down along the stairs, the moment I was out of the entrance’s way, the doorway out disappeared, the only light in this place blinked out of existence, leaving me and a power-hungry mad man in the dark.



I thought the stairs would last forever. I had no idea how far down I was. 1000 yards? 2000 yards? It was a mystery to me, but Galbatorix seemed to know were he was going I started to dread what was ahead, every now and then you would hear a faint roar. As we went farther on and the stair’s leveled out to a corridor, the roars grow louder and so did my fears.



But after what seemed to be hours in the darkness, there was a light as if from a doorway up ahead. I couldn’t make out what was ahead, the light blinked it out. A figure was coming, cloaked in black it looked like a demon running in to kill. There was no way to see it’s face against the harsh brightness. Whatever it was, it frightened me, my fears grew even more, if possible. Running as fast as it could, it drew its blood red sword and stopped running and swinging the weapon around only when it recognized who Galbatorix was.



It quickly placed the sword in its sheath; the blood-red malevolent weapon disappeared. The color reminded me of what was going to be spilt. I lost my urge to want to be at the fight in order to destroy him, as much as I hated him, now more then ever. I wanted to run and run and never look back. Anyone who would do that to another living thing was horrid, I couldn’t believe I’d ever wanted to be among the people we called heroes. Heroes gave us peace but destroyed in the process, if that was what heroes did.



Galbatorix spoke crisply and calmly, his voice was deceptively different, “Morzan put that toy away or I shall take that toy and personally shove it down your gut.” Despite the words, it seemed as if he has said a hello and not a threat.


I shivered, I knew he would not hesitate to do it and apparently Morzan knew it too. I shivered again, his eyes were different colors and they studied me with an intensity that would rival an elf’s. He scared me as equally as Galbatorix but in a different way.



“Who’s she?” He asked Galbatorix. His tone of voice was suspicious as if I would suddenly lunge at him and attack.



“This is a kid who was wandering and stumbled upon us. I figure she’s pretty important.” He said it with such conviction I thought for a fraction moment, it just might be true. But that little voice in the back of my head reminded me who I was. I was Katsura, the red-headed ipocolean 15 year old girl. No one special.



“Well yes, some one special, regular commoners and servants don’t wear that kind of clothing. But who?” Morzan asked. He wanted answers and didn’t seem to particular on how he got them. I had a feeling if Galbatorix went out of the picture, Morzan would not hesitate to take over, and kill whoever got in his way.



“I don’t know!” Galbatorix snapped his black eyes flashed, he had gotten very angry, very fast. It scared me. “She’ll talk soon enough.” He said as if convincing himself more then Morzan.



I made a silent hope that I would be able to keep my mouth shut. If they knew who was my father was they would grill me for information. For information I had yes, but was crucial I not share. Even my own name could destroy the chance of any victory the good Riders had. I owed it to them to keep my mouth shut. To make sure that we still had a chance. That we still had a chance to defeat him.



Morzan shrugged his shoulders as if it were no big deal and started down the passage-way. Of course it was no big deal to him; he didn’t have information that could destroy his side’s shot at victory. Galbatorix walked with him, slightly ahead of him while dragging me along with him. I dreaded what was at the end of the passageway. Another roar, a lot closer this time, shook the walls, neither Rider flinched but I had to bit my tongue to keep from crying out. Just where were they taking me?



I kept hoping I was dreaming or that I was going crazy, just like Galbatorix had when his dragon had been killed, but it was not to be.



Everything I saw was real, my fears were, the pain in my arm from Galbatorix’s grip, and the trouble I was in was real as well.



We came to the end of the corridor all too soon. Inside was a whole other story, there was an army. Dragons and Riders were bustling about putting on armor, practicing dark magics and stealing energy from dragon’s hearts. A man with maroon hair, who had been supervising the going on, ran up and sank down to his knees in front of Galbatorix. My heart sank like a stone in a river the tales of the shade assisting Galbatorix in his quest for ultimate power were true.



“How is everything Durza?” Galbatorix demanded. He sounded extremely impatient, but what he has to do was beyond me. He already was in armor, ready to fight. He released my hand but shot me a merciless glare that clearly stated just would happen to me if I tried to leave.



Durza rose and straightened. “Everything as planned Sir.” He looked at Morzan who had busied himself with polishing of a piece of his already spotless armor and then his gaze feel on me. I squirmed. His eyes were like magic fire, scary, alive, and blazing with the force that rivaled Nature’s very best. “And this is?” he asked in a tone that made it clear that he looked at me as if I were mood on his shoes and would treat me as such.



“She’s a piece of this ever complicating puzzle. We just have to find out where she belongs” Morzan said, not looking up from his task.



Durza grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer. His hand was freezing like a hand made of ice. Its touch numbed my shoulder and went down my arm. I leaned back as far as I could, but it did no good. He gave me the once over and said “Ipocolean. Maybe we should have Lil watch her for a while until we can talk to her later.” He added a sinister spin to the word talk. I wondered what he was planning or had planned. Whatever it was I probably wouldn’t like it.



But who is Lil? Where am I? What are they talking about for later? These questions and ones like them zoomed around through my head at speeds that dragons could not hope to fly at. I was confused and scared then I’d ever been in my short 15 years.



“No, not Lil,” Galbatoriz snarled. “She’s going to be in the fight. Until then we’ll just put her in one of the rooms until,”



He was broke off by a woman’s voice saying “Durza what do you want?” It was the voice that was full of confidence; the voice was of someone who had no fears, I’d heard this voice before, I knew that much deep inside. But where I could not place.



“Lil you interrupted me!” Galbatorix thundered, his face was a contorted mask of rage, his eyebrows slanted down, his eyes were blazing, warning the one who dared oppose him of danger, and the fiend’s mouth was in a snarl one would find on a wild untamed animal. People and dragons alike stopped what they were doing and gazed on Galbatorix and the hooded figure. They were clearly expecting a fight, and from their faces clearly wanted one. Just what was wrong with these people?



“Calm down, you can finish.” The silhouette remarked with nonchalance. Despite my deep dislike of the people here and what they did to bring about a reign of terror, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. The woman was treating him like an equal when her life was in danger. There was no way I could do that, I would tremble, and I simply wasn’t brave enough.



Galbatorix was still quaking with rage, he was furious, like he wanted to utterly destroy the figure in front of him then go back in time and do it again. However, the woman wasn’t backing down, not moving in defiance.



“You can’t do this without me, and you know it.” She remarked. It was clear who had the upper hand in this deal; he was sunk in the argument.



“That doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.” He was back and in a deceiving calm. If not for his words, one hearing it would think all was forgiven.



“But I’m indispensable. There is no way even with all the power in the world you could take out Aven and the other top riders without me. Without me, you would still be in your cave, plotting all you liked, but getting nowhere. I am your way to success and you cannot alienate me. Without me you would epically fail, with me gone you are vulnerable, weak without information, dead without knowledge.” She replied with ease. She knew us from the past! She knew all about us! No small wonder we’d been losing, she knew strengths and weakness, and she knew strategies they would use. But who was she?



I had to escape this nightmare to tell them, my eyes scanned the room in vain. The only way out was they way we’d entered. All the others were conference rooms and it would do me no good to run toward the exit. Two large dragons stood by the door, prepared to incinerate anyone who left without permission. And I remembered Galbatorix’s gaze, even if I got through the dragons and other Rider’s he would kill me with no regrets, no matter how important I was.



Durza was explaining what Lil had been called for when she yanked one of my shoulders and pulled me toward her. Glancing over my face quicker then I thought was possible, shock registered in the green ipocolean eyes. The light, forest, green eyes, just like my eyes. Exactly like mine, inherited from my mother. But it couldn’t be, she wouldn’t do this to me. She loved me, didn’t she?



Her voice was quiet, a whisper in fact, only Galbatorix, Morzan, Durza and myself could her ask, “Where did you find Aven’s daughter?” She was clearly shocked, it only confirmed my fears. The fear that she knew me. The fear that she was Lily, my Mother. It all fit, her knowing internal affairs, knowing who I was, and her eyes. I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t want to believe it.



“How do you know?” Morzan bluntly demanded. “How are you sure she isn’t someone else?”



Lily sighed and started to explain “First off, she has her Father’s red hair, how many people besides Durza have red hair? Except the two of them and I’m positive this isn’t him. Second her eyes, they’re that exact shade of green just like my own. This is Katsura of this I have no doubt.” How could she stand there and tell them everything? How could she betray us? I thought she loved me. But like my Father apparently not. I struggled not to cry at this. If they both didn’t care for me, then who did? Was I really and truly alone?



Galbatorix looked like he’d been told that the good side had surrendered, Durza looked malevolent, Morzan was looking in interest and I couldn’t see my mother’s face.



A sense of hopelessness sank even father in. I was afraid for myself and the resistance and alone, a bad combination. I told myself what a real hero would do, what a rider would do, but it just made me feel worse. I was lost in a nightmare, left to fend for myself.




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With the holidays, the already slow updates, might get slower, I'm sorry to whoever reads this.