Shout-out to eragonxarya, who became my 450th voter and thus earned the chance to choose another prize! Check out her account on the external link, along with her stories Coffee and Nutela as well as A New Rider for all you amazing "Inheritance Cycle" fans. ;)

I'm toying around with the idea of making a book trailer for Destiny - if any of you guys are interested in doing it instead, go for it! Though the full cast list won't be revealed until the complete and rewritten version goes up, you can still check out the edited pictures without having to wait if you become my 500th voter or 100th fan (only one user away!) and select that option as your prize; plus, the titular characters of Niaomi - including but not limited to the Five, Liress, and Ruby - will be casted and pictured in the pretty-much-a-prequel. xD

Also, don't forget you can still earn chapter dedications for volume two by being a vocal reader and/or major voter! Love hearing from all of you guys - you're the bomb.com, and I still am totally astounded by the amount of attention this "little side project" has recieved! If you like my work and want something more original, check out the links to my two other books on my profile: Knives Make Lives and Classic Sweet Tea (co-written with RabbitInkStories). :)))

I fixed up the guide to Destiny, Du Kvaedhya Helgr, so that there are virtually no spoilers (and I give advance warning for the few that are present). Check it out if you're interested, but be warned - there is one MAJOR spoiler in the chapter "Dragons & Riders" in Thorn's info section, so be careful not to miss the warning and accidentally spoil it for yourself! But if you somehow manage to do so despite the warning here and there, don't fret - the "spoiler" will be revealed in the first chapter of the next volume (boy, are you guys in for a surprise!). >:DDD

Last but not least, check out a recently updated Transcendent Transcripts to find a selection of astounding stories from some awesome writers. That's all for now; enjoy the end of chapter nine - and try not to get too bent out of shape by the cliffhanger! (:)

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Though it had the same feel as her brothers', picking his way through Niaomi's mind was much different for Eragon. He saw the scenes of the Reminiscence played once more, this time through her point of view. He felt her emotions as she battled through the pain and anger of losing her parents. He caught glimpses of the journey she and the others had taken through Alagaësia: hiding in towns, avoiding Liress, struggling against the visions she'd had of dragons and Riders and battles and rebels and...him.

Eragon was shocked to find out about the multitude of times Niaomi had envisioned him and Saphira, of how she could sense their thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams as if they were her own.

That is the power of a dragonseer, her voice explained as he moved onwards with his search. The power which I denied for a long time during our journey.

He saw that her words were true. Niaomi had battled against her fate, believing that her powers had caused the destruction of her parents. Eragon examined her memories carefully, trying not to pry to far into their depths, but  images and thoughts impressed upon his mind nonetheless:

Storm raging vision boy shooting arrow flaming dragon flying brother gone captured flee fight first kill another storm dad sinking mom gone all gone alone captured fleeing fighting fleeing blood spilling dragonets screeching magic no don't want it liress laughing mountain climbing red hair kind eyes one name the light luminous tattoos visions stronger the boy again meeting brother burying father diamond tomb like belinda training learning controlling visions power growing storm brewing must leave must help must go aunt waiting nasuada waiting scarf waiting to be given must leave must help must go in vision it's destiny.

Finally, the memories came to a stop. Shaken for some reason he could not describe, Eragon began to withdraw his consious when Niaomi's suddenly grabbed hold of his. Trapped, he immediately walled off his mind, but somehow hers remained linked to his. Taking a risk, he asked, What are you doing?

It's a vision, Niaomi replied, her voice slightly frantic. No one has been inside my mind when one has struck before.

Mist seemed to swirl around the rims of his sight, if you could call it that. The outside world was gone, and then he was back in his body but not, standing on some dark plane with mist swirling all around. Eragon shouted, "Hello? Anybody here?"

No one replied, and he looked around the dimness with a growing sense of panic. Where was he? He seemed to be wearing the same clothes as before, but when his conciousness stretched out he could only detect Niaomi's presence yet none of her thoughts. It felt as though she was all around him, but how was that possible? He peered through the mist for a sign of her, but none was found.

He was about to yell again when a voice cut through the gloom. "Eragon!" Niaomi said, and found her hand was in his. He turned to see her beside him, the silver of her eyes gleaming through the wisps of mist that fogged his vision. "Don't panic. It's about to happen."

"What is?" Eragon asked as the mist grew thicker. He felt like he was breathing in pure energy, undiluted power. But how was that possible? "Where are we? What's about to happen?"

"A vision," she explained, squeezing his hand tighter. "Don't let go, no matter what. Just follow me and I'll lead you back to safety. Gods, I hope the others aren't panicking too much."

"This mist," he said, his breath disturbing the fog enough so that he could make out the lines of worry carved around her eyes. "It reminds me of the same kind from your mirror."

Niaomi leaned closer so that he could see her smile through the gloom. "You are a clever one, though it should come as no surprise. Yes, it's the same kind of mist - the Mists of Time and Space. Right now, we are traveling through it."

"Traveling?" He looked down at his unmoving feet. "How?"

"It's in the Mists." Her face was so close now that he couldn't turn his head without their noses brushing. Still, Eragon had to squint through the gloom in order to make out her figure. Their eyes meet and held, and he felt his heart beat harder. Pulling her closer with their linked hands, he let his nose slide past hers so that it rested beside it instead, his mouth less than an inch away from hers.

"Why do I feel such a strong attraction to you though we've only just met?" he whispered the question softly, his other arm moving to touch the bare skin of her waist.

"Because it feels like we've known each other for a lifetime," came her reply, just as soft, her own free hand lifting to brush the curls at the base of his nape. "As if we were already close before we met."

Moving his palm along to her back, Eragon pressed her body against his though he kept their lips apart, revelling in the feel of her heart pounding against his chest, her breath rushing across his mouth. "How is that possible?"

"Do you believe in soul mates?" Niaomi replied in turn, sliding her hand into his hair more fully, her eyes just swirling pools of glittering violet in the thick fog. "Finding that one person who you meet and just instantly connect with, that one person who seems to fit you completely even when you're not sure who you are?"

Smiling, he replied, "I think I'm beginning to," and was finally leaning forward to press his lips to hers when the fog was blasted away by a howling wind.

Jumping back yet keeping his grip on her hand like she'd ordered, Eragon turned to face the wind and confront whatever danger was approaching. He couldn't keep his eyes open against the biting sting of the air, whipping across his body as if it was trying to blow him away. Niaomi dragged herself closer to him, her words lost in the wind as it grew louder and stronger, pushing at them from all directions.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it stopped. Hesistating for only a moment, he finally opened his eyes and gasped at the sight. The dim, dark, misty plane on which they'd been standing had been transformed into a large rectangular room. Shelves of books lined the two longer walls, and a big mahogany desk sat in the back with rows of papers and pens neatly lined up on its gleaming surface. Above glistened an elaborate chandeleir, and in front of them was a set of huge oak doors with tall glass structures standing on either side.

"Where are we now?" Eragon asked in a low voice, examining the other contents of the room. There were large portraits of Alagaësia hanging on the spare spaces between bookcases, and a fireplace as well to their right. The marble floor was covered by a huge rug detailing some battle scene, with dragons fighting as well.

"Urû'baen." He turned to his companion in shock, and Niaomi continued, "Our physical bodies are still in Nasuada's pavillion. These forms are just mental projections of ourselves."

The door handle suddenly clicked, and Eragon stepped back a few paces, bringing the other Rider with him. "Can anyone see or hear us?"

"No, nor can they feel us if we were to touch them," Niaomi reassured him, frowning at the contents of the room. "I believe we are in Galbatorix's castle - mayhaps the study?"

"Galbatorix's castle?!" he near-shouted, gaping at her in shock as the door slowly pushed open.

She let out an exasperated sigh. "No one can see, hear, or feel us, remember?"

"Should we not be exploring the grounds for the layout? It would be useful information for when we arrive here in reality."

"My vision always brings me to a specific location for a reason. And whoever's entering is it."

"Curses!" a girl's voice came through the door as it finally opened wide enough for her to stumble in. Righting herself, she brushed off her frock and stood upright. She was wearing a parlour maid's uniform, her long brown hair knotted in a messy bun and sagging to one side under the small cap she wore. Still grumbling to herself, she picked up the feather duster that had fallen out of her hands and marched over to one of the bookcases.

"A maid?" Eragon could not help but scoff at the fact. "What so special about her?"

"She's not just a maid." He looked beside at Niaomi, who was staring at the girl with a mixture of shock and confusion. "Her name is Mahogany. Mahogany Liressdoter."

"But why is she a maid when her mother is the leader of the Black Hand? And who is her father?" A thought entered his head, and his mouth dropped as he asked, "Galbatorix?"

"No," she responded as Mahogany dusted the books, using the ladder attached to the case to reach the higher shelves. "Her father..."

Eragon didn't like the way she was staring at him. Her eyes shone with pity and sadness. "Who is her father?" he pressed, though his stomach told him he would not like the answer.

After a few moments, Niaomi looked away and finally answered, "Brom. Her father was the Rider Brom. The same father as yours, Eragon."

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