"Oh." Was all Zen said after that, and Taya stared at him for a long minute, and then made a shooing motion at him with her hands.
"Go stand outside the door or something, Zen. You're beginning to worry me. But don't you worry, because if there is danger, my 'fascinating decorations' will alert you."
Murtagh hid a satisfied grin as Zen hesitated, but after a moment he nodded and left the room rather stiffly. Once he was gone, Taya slapped Murtagh on the shoulder.
"Don't look so smug!" She hissed. "You'll only make him worse! He'll stand at the other side of the hall until you leave, I know it."
"That makes me feel special." Murtagh drawled, and Taya shook her head with a grin.
"You should, but he does this with everyone… usually. But you really do look too smug. So knock it off or I'll kick you out. With that said, I'm glad Tornac kept up his end of the
deal!"
Murtagh laughed, but took her comment beforehand seriously. "Yes ma'am. Only you could make a deal with him that involved getting me out of training for a day. How"
"No, don't ask me how I did it. I might be able to pull it off again. That's unlikely, but there's still a chance. But you didn't look too bad out there today."
"I didn't feel too bad either, but you looked rather anxious, if I may say."
"I admit I was getting rather impatient."
"Might I ask why?"
"You might, but I won't answer you yet."
Murtagh gave her a humorous stare, and then untied a pouch from his belt. Taya looked at it curiously, trying to guess its contents, and then she gently took it from him when he
held it out to her.
"Your present." He said simply, but he was rather excited to see what she thought. Her face lit up and she was obviously trying to contain her own excitement as she untied the
leather binding the opening end.
Her eyes widened as she pulled out a sleek, ivory hilted knife, sheathed in a brown leather scabbard with beautiful ivy patterns tooled on it.
"Murtagh!" She exclaimed. "How did you know? I thought he wasn't going to sell it!"
"I knew you would like it." He said smugly. "I didn't know if you would remember it. And it might spoil the gift if you knew how I got it."
"What did you do!?" Taya gasped, almost glaring at him.
"Nothing to speak of."
"Murtagh…"
"You'd never believe me."
"I can hardly see you pleading with him either." Taya said sarcastically. "I distinctly remember him saying that he was saving it for someone special and it was only displayed to
see if there was any interest in the design."
Finally he couldn't hold back a smile. "He was saving it for someone special. The knife was made especially for you."
"…what?"
"Now I really won't tell you how I managed it."
Taya narrowed her eyes and sat down on the arm of her couch, folding her hands on her lap. "I am all ears." She said pointedly. "I don't think I have seen you in such a good mood
in a while, Murtagh. I'm going to remember this day."
He ignored the last part of her comment and leaned against her desk. "If you must know, I got your hand measurements from Kyra, and Tornac recommended this man for the job, who turned out to be a very hard man to work with. I don't think he cared for me in the beginning, especially when I demanded that particular ivory. We argued for a while about it,
too. I think he was going to do it from the start, looking back, but I also think he wanted to see what I'd do, and if I'd stick with him. Of course, Tornac warned me that he might be
difficult, and I obviously did not give up."
Taya was looking down at the knife, so he couldn't see her reaction to his tale. He watched as she turned the knife over and over, and he knew that he had done well.
"Thank you, Murtagh." She looked up, beaming at him. "It is absolutely wonderful." Taya stood and before he knew it she had given him a hug.
"Now, I have something to show you." She said mischievously, and went around to the other side of her desk. Murtagh watched as she unlocked a drawer and pulled out a light
colored wooden box with gold designs and a lock. Taya positioned herself beside him, and with a smile she opened the box.
Inside were two gemstone necklaces side by side, one a dark ruby and the other a deep emerald. Each gem was encircled by a silver band, which attached to a silver chain. The
gems were not large, but they were not small either.
"That one," She said, pointing at the ruby, "is yours."
"Mine?" Murtagh stared at her incredulously.
"Yours. I tried to make it look more masculine so you wouldn't feel too weird about wearing a necklace."
Hesitantly he picked it up by the chain, and froze when he held it up to the light and he watched as it slowly changed colors to match the other gem, the emerald. He slowly looked
back at Taya, and still smiling she picked up the emerald necklace and held it up beside his, and it too slowly changed color, to ruby.
"That's… impressive." He managed, and when he removed his gem from the light it quickly changed back to ruby. "You said that you made these?"
Taya looked quite proud of herself. "I did. I've been working on these for a long time. Oh, I have had a great deal of help. I had to tweak the gems cuts to change colors in the way
that they do, which was not easy. I did work with a jeweler for a while so I wouldn't mess it up."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you make these? And why give it to me on your birthday?"
"What, I can't give a gift on my own birthday?" She scoffed, and then at his expression she became more serious.
"The gems are from the same rock. No matter what happens in the future, I wanted you to have something to remember me by, and when I found this stone I thought it was
perfect. It's something to say, when I cannot personally, that I care." She said the last part so simply that he almost missed it, but he caught it and knew exactly what it meant.
"Thank you, Taya."
"You're welcome, Murtagh."
Without hesitating he took her emerald necklace and clasped it around her neck, and then ignoring the fact that he was putting on a necklace, he clasped his own around his neck.
Taya was beaming when he looked back at her. "You get high marks for refraining from saying what you were thinking." She teased, causing him to laugh.
"Only you could compel me to wear anything like it."
"Then you will be happy when I tell you that it looks perfect."
He looked at her necklace, the color of which made her eyes stand out dramatically.
"Perfect is certainly the right word to use." He said seriously, and he hugged her.
Taya was walking down a hallway of the south wing of the castle, humming softly to herself. She had forsaken her wing of the castle for some quiet, slipping through a secret door
so she didn't have to bring one of her faithful bodyguards with her. She knew that probably wasn't the best idea, but her independent side had gotten the better of her… as usual.
Her only other option for the day would have been driving her best friend and maid, Kyra, crazy, and Taya had decided to have pity on her.
Taya stopped by a window and looked out to the world outside of the castle. It was grey, with clouds threatening rain. With a sigh, Taya moved on, deciding to visit her horses.
Sooner or later one of the Hljodhr Evarinya would find out she had slipped past them, and that would undoubtedly be the place the find her.
On second thought, she should probably go get one of them so they didn't worry.
Taya turned around and was about to go back when she heard voices from behind her. She paused, hesitating. That was the way to the stables, and it was unlikely that a group of
people would have been out riding with the threatening rain. Curious, but with uncertainty she stayed where she was, bracing he
rself for whoever might turn the corner.
But she was still surprised when an entourage of Galbatorix's guards came walking towards, a few of them talking animatedly and another laughing. The man in the lead saw her
and frowned, and then stopped. There was sudden silence as the men's attention caught on her lone figure blocking their path. Taya stood tall and unswerving, even though her
heart was beating rapidly. She wasn't too excited about being caught alone with this particular group of men. Especially not the leader.
After a moment's pause, the man in the lead bowed almost mockingly, saying softly and patronizingly,
"Milady. Fancy seeing you here… alone."
Sen Karees, captain of Galbatorix's guards, had never liked Taya, and vice versa. He was tall, blocky, and as black hearted as they came. At least Taya thought so. He was hardly
good looking, and his pale brown eyes looked almost if they were tinted with orange. He always reminded her of one time when she was a little girl, she was racing around her mother's wing of the castle when she stumbled onto a lone man walking away from her. When she called out to him, he had turned his head and his eyes stopped her in her tracks
and froze her to her core, because they were the scariest, reddestorange eyes she'd ever seen. She'd turned and run the other way, and was found quickly by her mother's
bodyguard and brought safely back to her mother.
But every time she looked at Sen she was reminded of that man. Lucky for her, these men were sworn by oath not to touch her, or else she was sure she would be dodging at least
Sen's hatred. The other guards just followed along like puppies.
"Not quite." She said evenly. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking." Sen replied just as evenly, trying to stare her down. He had no success. She merely glared at him and he grudgingly answered with a stony expression, except as he
spoke he almost smiled.
"We have just returned from the King's business. That's all you need to know, of course."
Taya narrowed her eyes. "Not quite." She growled, and for the first time she really looked at them, and she frowned, counting three less guards than usual, which was unusual. And
these men were damp and muddy, so they had been out some time. "You've been in the city?"
"That is where we took care of the King's business, yes. If you must know, we were on the far side of the city."
"Where are Gannon, Trier and your other new puppy?"
Sen's eyes narrowed. "Dead, wounded and… well, gone."
Today was the last day of the tests.
Taya froze, suddenly feeling the cold air around her and she shivered. "What have you done?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but it had a slight quiver as she spoke.
Sen started, and then his expression went neutral. "So, you're quick today. How unfortunate for you. It will weigh heavy on your mind now, as you can do nothing… I don't mind,
honestly. And it isn't my fault. You figured it out without me saying anything."
"Sen." She growled, trying not to let her fear flare her temper.
"He failed." Sen said simply, staring at her disconcertingly. "And he paid the price for his failure. Now if you will let us by."
"No, if you will let me by." Taya brushed past them and they stepped to the side in a hurry, and as she practically ran down the hallway, Sen called after her,
"You'll never find him, Princess!"
Taya nearly tripped and fell down a flight of stairs in her haste, and then nearly ran into one of the castle servant girls.
"My lady!" She exclaimed, and Taya waved her off.
"Please go to my wing and send the guards at the doors to the stables. Quickly! Tell them it's very urgent."
With a quick bow the girl raced off, and Taya sped on. By the time she reached the outer doors she was out of breath, but she kept going until she reached the stables, and then
leaned up against the wall to catch her breath. Before she fully recovered she went in, and when the head groom saw her he rushed over.
"What can I do for you, Taya?" He asked almost worriedly, taking in her appearance and assuming the worst.
"I need Antara and Rhys saddled as quickly as you can."
"Of course." Luckily he was used to such occasions as this, especially from Taya. He hurried off and Taya went over to her horse Chester and took him from his stall. As quickly as
she could without worrying the horse she tacked him up and bridled him, and then helped the groom saddle the other two horses.
They were leading them out of the stable just as two men with black cloaks jogged up.
"If I wasn't curious as to what is so urgent I would be berating you from sneaking off without one of us." The shorter one said to Taya with a pointed look as he took the reins of the
horse named Antara.
"I know you would be, Zen." Taya replied evenly, and then they all mounted as one. As they rode towards the gate, Taya continued. "But if any of you had been with me I never
would have known what happened today."
The two bodyguards looked at each other, and then back at Taya expectantly. Taya almost smiled. Zen Drayson and Westen Kliviyan were two of the best people she knew, and
could read her better than anyone else except Murtagh and Kyra. They were the mischievous pair of the Hljodhr Evarinya, and made boring days entertaining. But now was not the
time for it.
They were allowed out of the gates and Taya picked up a trot, and then explained.
"Today was the last test."
Both men paled, suddenly understanding all too well.
In order to be accepted into the King's guard, there were a series of initiation tests a person had to go through. They were hard tests, mostly mind games to see just how many
horrible things you could do and handle. Death was not necessarily a penalty for failure… but it could be depending on the person. If someone was exceptionally talented but failed
towards the end of the tests, Galbatorix would rather see that no one else got that person's talents if he could not. Really only twisted or easily morphed people managed to pass.
There had been three men taking that test, and the Hljodhr's and Taya had profiled each of them. Two of the three were usual 'die for the King' sorts, but the third, the youngest,
was different. He was quiet and kept to himself, but he also clung to Sen as if there was some sort of need in him. And yet they thought there seemed to be more good in him than
bad, but it was hard to tell as it was just a feeling. They didn't know his name, or where he came from, or why he was there, but they'd watched him fight, and someone had taught
him well. He was young, but strong. There was a calculation to his movements that told of training and experience.
"I was on my way to the stables, but about to go get one of you when I was interrupted by Sen and his minions. Three men were missing, Gannon, Trier and that young trainee.
Sen, when I asked, said that they were dead, wounded, and gone. Something happened today that was not supposed to. The guards had just returned from the far side of the city,
and Sen said that he, the young trainee, had failed and paid for his failure. That's what we are doing now. We are going to find him, and hopefully it won't be too late."
Both men stared at her in shock, processing the whole situation. She knew that they were both horrified at the thought of her being alone with Sen and the other guards, but the
surprise of the news about the test and its mysterious proceedings and aftermath with their current mission was nearly equal to it.
"And Sen told you all this?" Westen asked softly.
"He had no choice, nor could they hurt me. Quite the contrary. They do have orders to obey me, you do realize. But Sen knew that I'd go look for him."
"Then why are we? What if we do find him?"
"He said we never would, and he was sure of it."
"Then why are we l
ooking?"
"Because, Westen, we are going to find him."
"Taya, it doesn't make sense. You know they are capable of murder. What do you hope to find, or gain, by finding this kid? What if he's dead? How will that affect you?"
"At least he will have someone to mourn him." Taya replied stiffly, and fell silent.
Zen eyed her, and then commented,
"What I want to know is what happened. How did he 'fail'? He seemed ready, willing and perfectly able to pass the whole test with flying colors. What happened?"
"Maybe the good side of him won." Taya responded, to which Zen immediately replied,
"Resulting in Gannon dead and Trier wounded? How?"
"We won't know until we find him will we?"
"Perhaps not… even then, I'm not counting on it. We are trying to find a needle in a haystack."
The farthest side of the city was to the west, and the further they went from the castle the poorer the city became. The closer to the edge of the city they got the more frequently
Taya stopped to ask people if they'd seen the King's guard, but no one had. Finally, Taya was almost about to despair when a young peasant boy informed them that he'd seen them
pass that way and ride towards an abandoned area of the west side. Fueled by this, they picked up their pace in the direction the boy indicated, and two more people told them that
the guard had passed that way.
And then they reached the abandoned area, which was a group of old, old buildings. The ground before them clearly showed them that the guard had indeed been there, as horse
sign was everywhere, mostly centered in front of one building in particular. Taya's heart was already beating fast, and her body was tingling with anticipation. They stopped in front
of the building in question and sat there for a moment, and then Zen 'hmmmed' from beside her.
"Well, this is it. It wasn't as hard as it could have been, or I thought it would be. Maybe Sen didn't really think you'd get this far, because he didn't hide their tracks very well.
Unless he thought no one had seen or cared which direction they'd gone."
"He certainly thought that I'd never find it…"
"But is the person we are looking for actually here, or somewhere else? They could have moved him if they thought someone would get curious and check out where they went." Westen said worriedly, but Taya shook her head.
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