"They would leave him here, and if anyone came around he would be a sign of what the guards are capable of doing. Come on."
They dismounted their horses and tied them to the building's porch railing, and carefully followed the footprints up the steps and into the building, which was a house. Inside it was
dark and stuffy and damp, and the three of them split up to search the house, but they found nothing. Taya hesitated before walking to the side room windows, and when she
looked out, she found there was a sort of enclosed yard between the house and the one next door, and both ends were high walls of stone.
"Let's try out here." She called softly to the other two, who came immediately. She didn't really want to be alone going out there. Then she finally saw the footprints leading
outside. It had been too dark and she honestly hadn't thought about a light. So they stepped outside, and the door creaked eerily open. Taya shivered, and she knew without having
to see him that the man they were looking for was there. She walked onto the muddy turf, and looked around, and then she fully turned to the side with a horrified gasp, causing
Zen and Westen to jerk ever so slightly and whirl in the same direction.
Sagging by his wrists from the wall was their mysterious young man, or what was left of him. His feet easily touched the ground, so when he had been conscious he could have
supported his weight.
"Let's get him down from there." Taya said quietly, not trusting her voice. She stepped towards him, but Westen put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. So she stayed
where she was while Zen and Westen carefully cut the ropes binding him, and as they hoisted his dead weight between them, they all froze when he let out a nearly inaudible moan, but there was no mistaking it.
"Would you believe that?" Westen breathed. "He's still alive"
"But for how long?" Zen grimaced. "Undoubtedly among other things, he's been flogged, and not for a short amount of time. He's probably already lost too much blood."
"We have to get him back to the castle. I'll be able to heal him there."
"Taya… how are we going to do this? He's rather conspicuous." Westen asked pointedly, but surprisingly Zen shushed him.
"Hush, you. I have an idea."
"I hope it's a good one."
"Aren't my ideas always good?"
"No." Taya and Westen said at the same time, but Zen only grinned. "Come on, let's get out of here."
As she turned, something in the mud caught her eye, and Taya turned back to investigate. Trying to ignore the blood stained wall, she reached down and pulled a dagger from the mud. Its hilt was jeweled and rather small, so she doubted it belonged to one of the other guards. The blade was caked with mud, but also blood. Looking on the ground for anything
else discarded, she found a long piece of rope. With it she wrapped the dagger so as not to cut herself with it, and she hurried after the bodyguards.
"Put him on Chester." She told them firmly as they reached the horses, and when both men hesitated, she sighed and explained,
"One, I am not finicky about blood, and the gate guards will have less to say if I'm carrying him. Now come on and stop stalling."
Grudgingly they complied, and after Taya had mounted they hoisted him up in front of her. "So, what's your idea, Zen?" Taya asked as they mounted and they started back the way
they came."
"It involves a poor, starving and sickly child from off the street."
Taya and Westen looked at each other, and then slowly at Zen, who still only grinned at them.
"I hate it when he does this." Westen growled, rolling his eyes. Taya shrugged, knowing that they'd find out sooner or later.
As they were passing the place where the boy had pointed them in the right direction, Zen suddenly broke away from them and rode down the street, ignoring Westen's
exclamation. Taya watched him curiously as he asked someone something, and then he went across the street to a group of kids, and waved at one of them, and the same boy
from earlier jogged over to him. Zen leaned down and the two talked for a second, and then Zen reached a hand down and swung the boy up in front of him and trotted his horse
back to them.
"Zen?" Taya said pointedly, smiling at the boy, who grinned back, and then his eyes widened when he saw the person in front of Taya.
"That's who I'm supposed to act like? He looks… dead."
"Taya, Westen, meet Izaak. Izaak, meet Taya and Westen. And yes, that's who you are supposed to act like, except your role will be much easier than his. And he's not dead, just
close to it." To Taya and Westen he said, "I have hired Izaak to play the part of our charge here. The story is for the moment that you, Taya, since you are such a kind hearted
person, picked these two kids up from the street and are taking them to the infirmary. The young man you are carrying either dies or is a quick healer, and Izaak here plays the
part of whichever, and is the one people see. He told me that he has an aunt in the kitchens, so he can go see her. This is all so that if Sen learns about you bringing someone back
from your escapade into the city, there's a fairly solid background to hide the evidence."
"And how much are you paying this young man for sticking his neck out for someone he doesn't know?" Taya asked thoughtfully, trying not to let on how brilliant she thought Zen's
idea was. Too much praise and it would go to his head.
"Several crowns… and he asked for a horse."
Izaak grinned at Taya, who grinned back. "I think that's fair enough. But you do realize what you are doing, young man? You are sticking your neck out for someone you don't
know."
The boy sighed heavily. "It seems a rather easy way to get a horse, actually."
Westen barked a laugh, and Taya smiled widely, but Izaak continued seriously. "Besides, I live on the streets. I'm always sticking m neck out farther than I should, especially for
other people. I'm one of the fastest kids in the city, too."
"Something tells me that you and Zen will be best friends before the day is over." It was Taya's turn to sigh heavily, and then she started Chester forward. "Alright you three, let's
get home."
Their little party earned a few interested looks, but other than that they were ignored. Taya wasn't exactly recognizable as the Princess, and there were so few who actually knew
what she looked like or that she existed that she wasn't worried about the people in the city. It was the castle guards and the people inside the castle she worried about talking.
When they rode across the bridge before the western castle gate, the guards at the gate looked at them in surprise and halted them.
"Milady? What is this?" The captain stepped forward, eyeing Izaak and the form in front of Taya, whose face was hardly visible beneath his hair.
"I'm taking these two young men to the infirmary, Captain." Taya said firmly, staring him down. The captain hesitated.
"Is that wise, Milady, to pick up to kids off the street and bring them into the castle?"
"Is it wise to let them die?"
The captain sucked in a breath, and nodded slowly. "You're right, Milady. Welcome back to the castle, I hope your ride was a pleasant one."
"Thank you, Captain." She replied lightly, and they rode on past the guards and trotted to the stables. It was just starting to mist as the dismounted under the barn overhang, and
Westen went to find the groom as Zen helped Taya take her charge down.
"Well, that's lovely. I don't know how you will explain that." Zen said, looking at Taya. Her saddle was stained with blood, as was the front of Taya's shirt.
Chester flared his nostrils and tossed his head, rolling his eyes at the smell of blood, and Taya put a hand on his neck to soothe him.
"You're alright, boy. There's nothing to worry about… or to explain." Taya took up her cloak and wipe
d off the saddle, and shrugged at her shirt. "That's what I have a cloak for."
Izaak was staring at the limp form Zen was half holding up with wide eyes, seeing his condition for the first time.
"What happened to him?" He asked quietly, and Taya hesitated. "I'll tell you in a little bit, Izaak."
Westen came hurrying back. "Alright, he's on his way. We'd better hurry inside before he does come, because he'll be the first one to spread the rumors."
Taya nodded, and deftly tied Chester to a tie ring, and then with an arm around Izaak's shoulders, she started the group off as quickly as they could manage.
"Why are you holding me around my shoulders?" Izaak whispered.
"You're supposed to be sick, kid. Would you rather I carried you?"
That shut him up.
They were safely inside the castle, and Taya was taking a short cut to go through her garden, which would give someone less opportunity to stumble onto them, but as they neared
the garden, someone hailed them from behind, and Taya stiffened, then slightly relaxed as she recognized the voice.
"We are kind of in a hurry, Murtagh. Try to keep up."
"Taya, what's going on? I have to tell you… what are you three doing with that kid?"
Taya rolled her eyes. "Going to try to save his life. Do you have a problem with that?"
"You're going to what?"
"Not helping, Murtagh." Zen said patiently as Taya held the door to the garden open. "Keep moving, Murtagh. You're a part of this too, now. Quickly quickly!"
Murtagh made a face but didn't say anything, and followed them the rest of the way quietly. Once they were safely in her wing where no one but her people could be, Taya let go of
Izaak, and tousled his hair. "Step one complete. Good job, Izaak."
"Who is he?" Izaak motioned with his head to Murtagh.
"That, my young friend, is Murtagh. He's my best friend. He can know what's going on. I trust him."
"Ok, good. Just making sure he wasn't some creep. He kind of looks like one."
Taya snickered. Murtagh straightened as if slapped, and even though she couldn't see his expression, she could imagine it.
"How old are you, Izaak?" She asked as they neared her room.
"Twelve."
"That's kind of what I thought." Taya jumped up ahead of Zen and Westen to her room, and knocked, then entered. Kyra was sitting on her bed, reading a book, and she looked up
with relief when Taya burst in.
"Taya! Thank heavens! Where have you been? Raelack came to tell me that you called off Westen and Zen from the wing doors, but he didn't know why."
"Kyra dear, brace yourself. We have a new charge."
"We have a new… Oh my word." Zen and Westen entered, carrying their mysterious young man between them, and Kyra's face went as white as a sheet. "Is he alive?" She asked
almost in a squeak.
"Barely. He was one of Galbatorix's trainee's."
Murtagh's eyes widened and he leaned against the door frame, staring at her almost in admiration. As Taya hurried to the bedside and began stripping the covers and the pillows
off, Izaak joined her and Kyra looked ready to go into hysterics, but she calmed herself and rushed out to find some more help and the things they would need.
"Is she always like that?" Izaak asked after Kyra was gone.
"Come now, who wouldn't be a little freaked out if someone brought a nearly dead man to them?" Taya replied. "Kyra's fine, it's just a bit much for one day. I hope she finds Shalla
and Mari, though. They could handle this better than anyone else."
"Before I forget, Taya, I really do need to tell you that Sen has been scouring the castle looking for you. Not that he ever seems happy, but he really didn't seem happy when I ran
across him. I'm glad I found you first, considering the purpose of your spontaneous jaunt into the city."
Taya frowned. "Why would he be looking for me?"
"I think it has to do with the king."
"Oh dear… It's all too close together; I doubt it's related, but still… I don't want to leave here now, though, so Sen and my father will have to wait a little longer."
Izaak froze as he was tossing the discarded sheets onto the couch.
"Who?"
"No one told him?" Murtagh asked incredulously. "I don't think I know enough to understand the depth of what is going on."
"You don't, that's for sure." Westen said seriously. "We will fill you in, just not at this second."
Taya turned from what she was doing to Izaak, who was staring at her.
"I'm not just some girl who lives in the castle, Izaak. I'm the princess. Zen and Westen are two of my bodyguards, and Murtagh is the son of Morzan. Are you sure you want to stick
your neck out further?"
"You had to tell him exactly who I was? Now do I not only look like a creep, but I am a creep." Murtagh sighed, looking sadly at Taya.
"He has more cause to be frightened for his life by my father, not yours. Yours is dead, for goodness sakes! Mine is ruling the world."
"I guess I'm not really all that surprised." Izaak startled them all with his calm statement. "I mean, what girl tries to save a beatenupguy's life and practically waltzes into the
castle without the guards freaking out? And I guess it just makes sense that you and he would be friends. So, I'm not really surprised." The twelveyearold went back to helping
Taya, blowing them all away. Taya smiled, and shook her head.
"Yep, best friends." She opened the closet and pulled out a pile of faded and slightly stained linens, and placed them on the bed and started to remake it.
"Those look like blood stains." Izaak commented as he helped her layer the sheets.
"They are. This is not the first time I have accommodated a wounded man… just not one so beat up."
"Hurry, Taya. He's getting heavy, and he's not doing so well."
"Alright, set him down on the bed." Taya stepped back and let them lift him onto the bed. Murtagh stepped up beside her, and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You'll do your best,
Taya, and more. Just don't hurt yourself. I'll be back. I'm going to tell Raneck and Kell you three are back and to make sure they tell Sen you will be along as soon as you can. I'll make up some excuse."
"Thanks, Murtagh. I appreciate it."
"Anytime." He turned and walked out quickly, and when he'd left Zen asked,
"What do you need us to do, Taya?"
"I need you two to follow Murtagh and tell Raneck and Kell that absolutely no one is allowed in without my express permission. Obviously that means Murtagh can come in. But
that's about it."
"Alright. We'll be back to check up on you."
"Thank you."
Kyra nearly ran into them as the exited the room, and behind Kyra came two other women. The first was a tall brunette and the second had long midnight black hair.
"Shalla, Mari." Zen greeted and let them by, and Shalla, the brunette, replied.
"Hello Zen, Westen."
Mari just nodded her greeting, but she was busy balancing two water bowls. The bodyguards left, leaving the four women and Izaak to take care of the new 'charge'.
"So, what am I supposed to do?" Izaak asked, looking between the four girls. Taya made a face, and then asked,
"You said you had an aunt who worked in the kitchens?"
He nodded.
"Ok, Mari, if you'd go with Izaak to the kitchens and bring some food up here, that would be much appreciated. This is going to take a while."
"Of course, Taya. Come on, Izaak." Mari grinned at him, and he grinned back. "Oh, and by the way," He said as they walked out the door, "I'm supposed to be really sick."
Taya smiled to herself as she heard Mari's reply before the door shut all the way.
"I'm sure that was Zen's idea. I'll remember to keep a healthy distance between us."
"Izaak was Zen's idea." Taya explained to Kyra and Shalla, an
d then they got to work. They worked over their patient for hours, taking breaks when they needed new bandages or medicines. Theirs was not an easy job, because there should have been no way their patient should have survived the beating he got. By the time they were finished cleaning his
wounds and bandaging them, he was mostly covered in white. What had Taya worried the most were the gashes on his head and chest, and the wound to his abdomen, which she
was fairly certain was made by the jeweled dagger she'd found. The most curious thing they'd discovered was a massive black and green bruise on his right forearm, with a tiny
dark spot at the very center. It had Taya worried because she had a feeling it was tied to a drug, but what she didn't know. Yet.
They'd reset a bone in one of his legs, and relocated a shoulder. With her slight magical ability Taya had healed a few of the less fatal wounds, but she knew she didn't have enough
energy to heal the major ones. This annoyed her, but she was too worried to think too much about it.
He had a fever, but at that moment it wasn't too high, and with all the care he'd received he was actually sleeping. He hadn't stirred or made another sound, but his heart was still
beating and he still breathed. It seemed Taya had won the race against time, for the time being.
Taya, Shalla and Kyra sat down altogether on Taya's couch, and Shalla commented,
"And I thought what happened to Zen was bad."
"Our patient makes at least three of him." Kyra agreed.
Taya nodded, thinking. She was thinking about the bruise on his arm, the curious one. If it was where they'd injected a drug, what drug was it that would cause such a hideous
reaction? And what were the drug's effects on his body?
"What are you thinking, Taya?" Shalla asked quietly, seeing the look on her face.
"I'm thinking about what drug Sen would have used on him. What's the cruelest drug you can think of?"
"You're asking me?" Shalla asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm just one of your maids."
"Shalla, hardly. You also work in the infirmary, the kitchens, and countless other jobs around the castle. You must have heard something."
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