A/N: You guys are the best, for real. Late Excuse #2387: Trying to get Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar) edited before the second volume's release tomorrow. The A/N and synopsis for volume one are already posted - click the external link - and the prequel volume Destiny (Volume N: Alalëa) will also be premiering on Saturday, so be sure to check them both out on the 14th! But until then, shall we continue with Niaomi? Oh, but there's been a MINOR CHANGE: the Progenitor is beyond the Spine, not the Beors. And bonus points to anyone who can figure out the reasoning behind Niaomi's fake name! xD

Picture of Galbatorix, the last in our cast, up above.

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Nia stared at the young boy, studying his features with a curiosity born of finally having the chance to see them in person amidst the light of day. His jawline was strong yet still soft, not the sharply hardened version she'd seen in visions beforehand, and his eyes were lighter than her brother's yet deeper still. She made sure not to fall into their line of sight, fiddling with the other part of her powers until she was sure that the blue dragon could not detect her either.

Based on Saphira's height in comparison to Eragon's, Niaomi guessed it had been two months since she had hatched. It felt as if the same length of time had passed since the Alalëan Rider had stumbled into the scene the night it took place. She contemplated whether or not she would be pulled free from the Mists like the last time despite the fact that she wasn't asleep, but her musings were cut short when her pointed ears picked up the sound of words as she drew closer.

" - to know more about my parents," Eragon was saying to his dragon. "My aunt Marian died before I'd turned seven, and that was when she told me how she wasn't really my mother. It was devastating to find that out just before she died. I couldn't even be angry with her for revealing the truth!"

His words prompted Nia to remember her own mother's death. Leafë, as the caretaker of the island, was able to cast the spell "Alalëa", which rendered her body into energy that dispersed itself into the barrier that protected the entire floating continent. It also had the added benefit of removing any outsiders the caretaker saw fit, which was the real reason behind the elf's choice to cast the spell. Doing so removed Liress and the Lethrblaka from Alalëa, saving the five from being Galbatorix's servants at a cost the young woman still felt had been too high.

She grit her teeth to stop herself from crying. It had all been her fault. If she hadn't kept the visions a secret, if she had let her brothers and god-sisters become Riders sooner, then the surge of energy given off the moment they'd completed their trials and touched their dragons wouldn't have reached Alagaësia. Then Leafë wouldn't have had to cast the spell, and Niom...her father...she wouldn't have had to save him. She wouldn't have had to fail.

"You're right." Eragon's voice again distracted her from her dreary thoughts. Niaomi looked up to see him scratching the scales behind Saphira's ears as he said, "Even if she wasn't my mother by blood, she still raised me like a mother would. And that was enough - more than enough. Besides, maybe I'll meet Selena one day."

Listening to him discuss the mother that she knew was long dead was more than the young woman could bare. "Take me back," she begged the Mists as the tears slipped down her cheeks. "Please, take me back."

Saphira raised her head, and the partner-of-her-mind-and-heart asked, "What's amiss?"

Scouring the forest, she answered, I thought I heard a voice.

"Who would be all the way back here besides us?"

The dragon couldn't spot anyone, and she sniffed the slight breeze, which was scentless of two-legs save for Eragon. ...no one.

Nia kept her eyes closed as the Mists swirled around her until she could feel the familiar mosaic of stones beneath her, and blinked rapidly as she found herself in Angela's courtyard once more. As she climbed to her feet, she realized that the witch was no where to be found. "Hello? Angela?"

"Nia!" cried a different voice than she was expecting, and she turned only to stumble backwards as Rosaminda flung herself at the other woman. Hugging her tight, the brunette began babbling, "Thank the gods you are safe! Ren and I ran as fast as we could to get her before Liress did, but we weren't sure we could make it on time and I wanted to warn you but Ren said it was too dangerous to remove the skilna braugh chains but then we - "

"You're going too fast, Rosie," Niaomi managed to wheeze out, causing her god-sister to loosen her grasp just as the other former blonde strode into the courtyard. "Now, what was this about Liress?"

"She found us," Ren stated bluntly, cutting to the chase. "I don't know how, but she managed to track us to Teirm and probably to this very house. We've got to move now, before she returns - "

"What d'you mean, 'returns'?"

"That's what I was trying to explain!" the younger twin spoke up. "We saw Liress as she approached the shop and was talking to Angela, but then she made some sort of excuse and hurried off. Angela said she would track her while we were to pack our things and meet at the western gate."

"But what about the boys?"

"They went to check on the dragons and the bondmates, so they...the boys!" Renata gasped as her eyes widened in horror. "One of them must have removed their chains; it's the only reason that explains Liress's sudden departure."

"Then that means my brothers are in danger." Her god-sister's faux brown eyes took on a fierceness that would made the silver flecks in her eyes gleam if they'd been violet. "We have to go find them."

"But we have to pack as well." Seeing the disbelieving glances the other two threw at her, she hurried to explain, "The Black Hand has tracked us down. We must be prepared to flee as soon as we have rescued the others."

"We don't need rescuing, Ren," came Nicholas's voice from a fountain in the far corner, and the three Riders hurried towards it to see his altered face smiling up at them in the water's reflection. "We're alright."

"How did you escape from our aunt?" Rose asked, making her twin flinch at her title for the Black Hand.

From the small furrow that grew between his brow, Ren knew he'd noticed. "It was Nate. He was able to wound her enough so that she couldn't maintain her spells and had to flee. We're all fine and largely unscathed - "

"Largely?"

" - and preparing to leave," Nick continued, ignoring his sister's outburst. "Nate's leading the dragons and the bondmates around further north, as I assume we're commandeering a vessel of some sort to continue our travels?"

Renata snorted. "We'll be hard pressed to find a craft strong enough to bear all our dragons."

"Why else would you be heading for the port?" he argued with a familiar twinkle is his less familiar brown eyes. "Anyhow, we'd best be getting a move on before Liress returns. Stay safe, all of you."

"You, too," they all replied as the image faded from view.

Standing upright and cracking her neck, Nia told her god-sisters, "You guys go on and get started, and don't forget my jewelry box underneath my pallet."

"And where are you off too?" the twins said in sync.

Hiding a smile, she began to walk off as she explained, "I've got to make sure there's an excuse for skipping town."

Making her way back to the street, Niaomi turned to the right and walked up the marble doorsteps of the house next door. She grabbed the wrought-iron knocker and banged twice politely before settling in to wait, already knowing that it would take some time. Indeed, the minutes passed steadily, and she was just beginning to grow antsy when a pale stooped woman answered the door. "Yes, what do you want?"

"Mistress Helen, I presume?"

"I am she," Helen said, brushing light blonde strands out of her face and standing a bit straighter as she recognized the high breeding in the voice even if the stranger's dress was a bit outlandish. "What can I help you with?"

The swarthy young woman gave her a charming grin and said, "I have a message for Master Jeod from his neighbor."

Her face grew haggard once more at the mention of her husband who was growing more and more destitute by the day. "He isn't home at the moment. May I receive the message for him?"

"Of course. Mistress Angela would like him to inform him that she's going out of town to gather more frogs for her latest experiment, of which your husband knows all about, and won't be back for at least a month if anyone comes asking for her."

"I'll...be sure to tell him," Helen replied, confusion coloring her tone. "May I have your name as well?"

With a slight curtsy, the stranger answered, "It's Ana. Thank you for your time, and have a good day, Mistress."

The blonde watched as Ana walked back off towards the herbalist's shop, shaking her head and muttering, "Such a strange dress and cant for a simple messenger," before closing the door.

Nia just smiled at Helen's words and went inside to help the other Riders finish packing.