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[Murtagh]

The sun had fallen and the night sky was black. It was time for the pair to stop to rest for the night. They would be able to reach the battle by the next day easily. The two had just crossed a part of the Jeit River, not yet entering Surda though. A faint flapping was stopped as wings opened wide to once again return to ground level. Dirt was kicked up when four claws hit the ground and a small puff was heard as something smaller landed.

Murtagh looked around from his place on the ground. Seems like a nice resting place for the night. The only other conciouses i sense are small ones. So maybe we'll get lucky with a fresh snack. The rider said to his dragon not even opening his mouth.

Thorn's head looked around the dark vast land. I sense only the small near too. Though we should probably rest in shifts just to be sure nothing tries to sneak up on us. The red beast replied kicking some dirt around on purpose. Of course. Though anyone trying to sneak up on us, sleeping or not would prove to be no match. The rider said with truth and confidence.

Not much was around their campsite for the night. There were a few large boulders, but not much else. The young man shifted them to his liking while Thorn kicked the rocks out of the small bed he had been making with a few twigs and things that he had found near by. You can sleep first my rider, tiredness has yet to overcome me and i can feel it strongly within you. The rider looked up at the dragon with a smile. Alright. Wake me if trouble comes. He doubted it would happen but still said it as he closed his eyes and fell to sleep.

[Caladwen]

"How long do you intend to travel while it's dark, Sell? You're going to get us lost," Cala said with a little impatience apparent in her voice. The sun had been set for nearly two hours and yet Sellion continued stubbornly on. Even now he wouldn't turn around to respond to her, he just kept riding. "This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.

One of their companions, Luke rode up next to Cala, "Don't worry too much," he said with a smile, "There's probably a reason why he's still riding, just trust him."

"I doubt he knows what that reason is though," Cala said.

So the group rode on in silence for nearly half an hour more when finally Sellion stopped abruptly. The rest of his companions stopped a few feet away from him and waited for him to say something. Cala looked around at the other boys and rolled her eyes a little bit; she couldn't believe that they all treated Sellion like the leader of the group.

"We're nearing the Jeit River," he said without looking at any of them, "But we need to be cautious, I can sense something... something big."

Cala snorted drawing the looks of everyone in the group. But she checked herself, and then silently the group continued on. Luke rode next to her again, so she broke the silence and asked, "So does he 'sense' things often?"

"Yes," he answered simply, throwing Cala off guard by this answer, "That's why we follow him when he says we need to go somewhere."

"So none of you guys can sense things then?"

He smiled and shook his head, "Your brother is the only one who can. But he couldn't always sense things. It only started after we had crossed paths with a wandering elf. He had said something to Sell in some weird language, and when Sell didn't respond, the elf asked to speak with him for a little while. They talked for nearly five hours, and ever since then he's been able to do different things. He sometimes even talks in that weird language."

"The Ancient Language, you mean," Cala said.

"Yeah, that's what the elf called it. Do you know some of it too?" he asked.

Cala shrugged, "Only a few words."

The pair fell silent for their group had reached the river finally. Without a word, Sellion began to cross the swift moving water and the group followed after him.

As Cala's horse came out on the bank of the opposite river, a gust of wind blew into her face and carried a foriegn smell on it. All of the horses began to get nervous immediately.

Sell spoke again, but very quietly, "We're almost on top of it now, can you smell it?" the boys all nodded, "I think it's best that we leave our horses staked here and continue on foot to it."

Immediately the boys began to comply, and Cala was about to do the same when another gust of wind came carrying the scent on it, and her horse bolted. She screamed as she was jerked in her saddle, and she tried to rein the horse in, but it was frightened beyond the point of responding to her.

Then, suddenly, she felt a feeling of immense power coming closer, and she knew that something big was just ahead. She tried once more in vain to stop her horse, and then jumped off of the horse and landed on her shoulder, rolling to a stop. She looked up to watch her horse, and then a huge pair of jaws snapped out of the darkness and clamped down on her horse. Cala's eyes grew wide with fear as she lay on the ground, and the shock of what had just happened had paralyzed her with fear, so all she could do was stare at those jaws and her now dead horse and hope that she wasn't next.

[Murtagh]

Murtagh had only gotten about thirty minutes of sleep before being woken by his bored dragon. So instead of getting some rest like he had planned they sat up and talked, but that wouldn't last to long either. Soon they were interrupted by what the sensed in their minds. A group was heading there way. Humans with horses were getting near the group wasn't too large so maybe it was a Varden scouting group.

Let us find them before they find us Thorn. The Empire rider said getting up from his place on the stone. He grabbed Zar'roc's hilt just to make sure it was still there. Then he looked around for the direction they were coming from but it was unnecessary the dragon had already figured it out. We’ll catch them by surprise in the air. He said bending his legs a bit so Murtagh could mount. As soon as the rider was in the saddle he took flight raising high into the sky. So the glide down wouldn’t be so loud and much more unexpected.

They spotted the group’s mind fast and the decent began. Thorn twirled through the air as he glided closer and closer to the ground. Soon they came into view still not knowing what was coming for them, not knowing how much trouble they had just walked into. Thorn was close to the ground and gave a small flap as he approached the men on horses. One seemed to realize what was going on as Thorn grew closer. The horse’s rider fell off seconds before Thorn’s jaws clamped around its body.

Murtagh unstrapped himself from the saddle in seconds, after much practice with it. He drew Zar’roc and spoke the words in the ancient language before any of them even had time to move. ”Letta!” The young man said as a command but not loud enough for any of the men he was approaching to hear it. They couldn’t move if they tried all of the men and the horses they rode. This took a small tow on Murtagh but none of this showed and he wasn’t about to waste the energy in Zar’roc’s jewel on them. ”You fight for the Varden?” He asked preparing to probe the mind of the one who answered first.

Thorn knew they couldn’t do anything now so he continued to eat his snack in the back round. The crunching of the animal’s bones could be heard by all of the men present. The dragon put a claw on the horse’s rib cage and ripped away some meat with his teeth as he watched his rider and the men he expected to be working for the Varden. He had already begun brushing against a few of their mind’s waiting for Murtagh to give the word to probe at them.

[Caladwen]

Cala could feel herself shaking a little bit, extremely scared of what might happen now that the young man who had jumped off the huge creature had drawn his sword. None of her other companions were saying anything though, so Cala hesitantly opened her mouth, "We fight for no one, we're only travellers," she said and tried to move but found that she couldn't.

"Who are you?" she asked beginning to get more nervous, Sellion had lead them right to a powerful being, and Cala could already tell that this was not going to turn out well. She had already lost her horse to the belly of the huge creature, hopefully she would not lose her own life as well.

[Murtagh]

Murtagh looked at around at the men as he waited for a reply. He was shocked to find out who the one that had spoken up first was. There sat a woman he couldn't get good look at her in the dark but her voice gave it away. The rider slowly took a few more steps closer to try and see her. Now Thorn. Murtagh said letting his dragon know he could probe a few of them. Within seconds the dragon had sent him the information. One thing was sure the men didn't know how to protect their minds very well though even if they could they would be no match for Thorn or himself.

"No one right now, but it seems you all are going to join the Varden. Now if this is true which I believe it is that would make you all enemy's of Thorn and me." He said pushing her barriers so she would know before they were broken. Then with a stoic look on his face he broke them down and began searching the girl’s mind. He spoke only in her head. My name it is Murtagh. He said going through her memories.

[Caladwen]

Memories of Cala's past began to flood her mind, and she felt as though her mind was holding something extra now, but something that wasn't a part of her. Then she heard something that was not one of her own thoughts. "Murtagh?" she asked with her mind as she stared at him.

But she spoke out loud as her memories continued to flow past her minds eye, "I swear to you, we had no specific intentions of joining with the Varden. We had heard about a great battle taking place at the Burning Plains and so we decided to travel there to see for ourselves," she said and looked to her brother, who hadn't moved from his spot yet.

She tried to take control of her memories, but couldn't seem to make them stop moving. It was then that she realized that it was Murtagh who was inside her mind, and immediately she began to try to push him out, but it felt as though she were pushing up against a mountain.

[Murtagh]

Murtagh seen all of her past up into the present, Caladwen tried to resist but it was no use. After invading her mind he knew a lot about her and from what he had got she was telling the truth at least about this subject. Caladwen was girl from Feinster who knew a little magic and was looking for a side to join. That pretty much summed it up for him.

Thorn and Murtagh conversed on what they had gotten from all of the minds. The rider walked over to Caladwen with a grin. "I believe you. But that one has true dreams of joining the Varden, and becoming a hero amoung their ranks. The rest seem undecided." Murtagh muttered the words and released her from her frozen position. "So what do you suggest I do? The Varden stand against my cause and wish to destroy what will one day be mine." The young man said reffering to the Empire. He didn't take his eyes off her just in case she tried to do anything.

Thorn had just finished the horse and seemed to be eyeing the others still a bit hungry. He took a step forward nearing the men and his rider. He wondered what Murtagh would plan to do with the group, so far he seemed undecided about the situation, but he was sure he would decide upon something fast. Murtagh knew they didn't have much time to waste with the heading to the second battle the next day.

[Caladwen]

Cala knew that Murtagh was refering to Sellion, even she knew that he wanted to join the Varden. It had been his dream for years now. But she couldn't bear the thought that this man in front of her would kill her brother while she stood by and watched.

Slowly, Cala stood and faced Murtagh, her mind working quickly, searching for a way to prevent him from killing her brother.

"Surely there... there must be something we could do to just let us continue on our way. Maybe we can give you something," she said having absolutely no idea what they would give him.

[Murtagh]

Murtagh knew that this was her brother from her memories of him but this guy strongly believed in the cause of the Varden. He didn't know what to do at first an then a thought came to mind. Thorn knew what it was and wasn't sure if it was the wisest thing to do.

I don't know if this is your smartest plan Murtagh. Thorn said a little concerned about what was going on in his rider's mind. Trust me on this one, no worries. The rider said trying to get his dragon to just agree with what he was about to do.

For a minute he thought of how to make his plan a successful one without making her hate him. There wasn't really an easy way to say it and he was almost sure in hate she had for him she would forgive later. "No something must be done with your brother Caladwen. If I let him go we both know he will join the Varden and i since with some training he could make a powerful enemy to the Empire. Now i can't let that happen now can I?" Murtagh said lifting a few rocks into the men preparing to kill all of the men there. It would take almost no strength a simple rock through the neck. "I am truely sorry for your lost Caladwen. I wish there was another way."

[Caladwen]

Cala felt her heart drop in her chest, "For my loss?" she breathed out barely audible. She looked to her brother who was still in the same spot; why didn't he move or fight or something?

"Sell, run! Quick, get out of here!" she yelled at him, then turned to Murtagh, "Please... there has to be another way," she said feeling her eyes begin to fill up with tears, but she knew there was nothing she could do. She was about to lose her brother, her other half. They had been through so much together, been alone together their whole lives and now she was going to be alone by herself.

[Murtagh]

Murtagh looked down with a slight frown feeling bad that he had to take someone she loved so much away from her. "Caladwen, I'm sorry I have to." The man couldn't even look at their faces as he shot the rcoks into their necks. All of the men fell from their steeds and he knew the girl wouldn't stop crying she would probably hate him for a long time but he had to do it.

"Blothr" He said once again freezing the girl in place. "I had to." The rider repeated walking over to her. The son of Morzan walked over to one of the men and stole their cloak. No longer did he need it. "Here." He said putting it on her. It get's cold in the sky. Murtagh took away her dagger and began talking slowly knowing she was going through a lot right now.

"Now I no you hate me right now, but I need you to not try anything okay. I'm trying to help you Caladwen, please don't make this any harder than needed. Just follow me to Thorn's back okay?" The rider said releasing the girl from the magic that held her. For some reason he just knew she would try something.

[Caladwen]

Cala stood, completely stunned as she watched her companions and her brother fall from their horses to the ground. Tears fell from her eyes unchecked. Murtagh hardly even needed to freeze her from moving, because she didn't think she would have the strength to do so. But when he draped on of her former companions cloaks around her shoulders, she felt a sudden flare of anger in her chest.

As soon as Murtagh had released her from the magic, she lunged at him, attempting to tackle him. All she wanted to do was hurt him, hoping that that would somehow take her own pain away. Her fists beat against his body, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Finally she could no longer hold herself up and she collapsed to her knees, tears streaming from her eyes.

Uncertainty and fear of what was going to happen to her began to fill her mind. What was he going to do with her? He could have killed her just as easily, so why hadn't he?

[Murtagh]

Murtagh had expected her to do something and of course she did. One second they were standing there the next minute they were on the ground and she hit him with all the strength she had left. Then she sat there crying while she sat on her knee's. Her attack wasn't unexpected to the rider. The man stood up looking down at the sobbing girl.

He lifted her from her place on the ground. The male held her in his arm's. Slowly he made his way to the crouching Thorn. Murtagh sat her down in the saddle as he half sat on his dragon's scales. "I need you to hold on tight okay?" The rider said sitting in front of her on the saddle. Just so she didn't have to he grabbed her hands and wrapped them around his own waist. "Hold on tight Caladwen."

This is going to be a long flight Murtagh, are you sure you want to do this? Rath asked before getting ready to take off in the air. Yeah, it'll be fine Thorn. He replied. I fear she will slow down, trying to escape. The rider had no response, he just waited for the girl's.

[Caladwen]

Cala's mind was a blur. She didn't resist when Murtagh lifted her and set her on the creature. She barely even realized that he sat down in front of her in the saddle, but when he took her hands and put them around his waist, she flinched at his touch.

She didn't know what he had in store for her; perhaps eventually he would kill her. And she realized that he was far stronger than her, so she figured that it was pointless for her to fight against him, no matter how much hate she had for him.

So in response for his request for her to hold on tight, she squeezed his chest tighter and waited to see what would happen next.

[Murtagh]

The rider felt her grip tightened and smiled glad that she was no longer resisting as she had just minutes ago, maybe she wouldn't hate him either. Don't get your hopes up. Thorn said as he took off into the night sky heading back to their camp.

He ignored the dragon's comment and began strapping Caladwen's legs into the saddle. "I am sorry for what I did back their, but I had no choice, I had to do it." Murtagh wasn't sure if he should trust her enough to explain but he wanted to even if Thorn thought it was a bad idea to go trusting this girl after killing her brother. Something about her just made him want to trust her and let her know. Sure he had just met the girl but he knew a lot about her from the mind scan. Murtagh don't get stupid on me. It is not a wise choice. She will seek revenge you killed her brother! The rider's reply was quick. Thorn I don't need to hear it. I know what I'm doing! And the conversation eneded like that.