Some Other World

I Stayed At Camp Because Reasons

When Eragon and Roran set off in search of Roran's lover, I stayed behind. It stood to reason that a Rider should stay with the army to combat the Red Rider, should he return. I also wanted to talk to Maggie some more.

I met Elva two days after the cousins left.

The girl was unsettling, to say the least. She looked to be about six years old, but when she spoke her voice betrayed that she had the mental identity of someone much, much older. The silver star on her forehead matched the star on my hand.

She actually sort of reminded me of Hestia, if the goddess hadn't chosen to be the way she was.

"So you are the one they talk about. The strange man who appeared with the white dragon."

I watched her semi-warily. The purple eyes were throwing me off.

"Elva, where are you?" A woman's voice called from along the row of tents.

"What is your name?" Elva pressed, staring up at me.

I crouched, scanning her face. After a moment, I decided 'hey, why not?' She was certainly a strange child, though by no means mortal. "Percy...."

"Hello, Percy. I must tell you to be wary of your family. Someone you love dearly is not who they seem... I cannot tell who. That is strange... Usually I can see everything in a prophecy."

I had to smile a little. "You know, I've sort of got that figured out... thank you though."

"There you are, Elva. Come on, I've got dinner ready in the tent- oh, hello."

Percy stood and faced the woman that had walked around the corner.

She was shorter than he was, but that was unsurprising. Percy would have to guess she was about five feet and six inches tall. Her wildly curly brown hair was pulled back out of her face, and she was wearing a dress with multiple patch pockets sewn into the front. He could see wary intelligence sparkling in her dark eyes.

He bowed, since it seemed proper. "Apologies, I was distracting... Elva, you said?"

"Yes." She spared the girl a glance and then looked back at Percy. "And you are?"

"Percy Jackson, the White Rider."

The woman nodded slowly. "Yes, I remembered hearing about you. Nasauda would like to meet you, when you have the time... my name is Angela."

Ah yes. I'd heard about Angela, the herbalist. Eragon had warned Percy about her, only because he had, as he confessed quietly, suspicions that she wasn't completely human. Looking at her, I could see exactly why he was thinking that.

"Of course, I would love to meet her. At the moment, however, I am going with my dragon to scout the other end of the field, to make sure there are no troops on their way to us. We wouldn't be able to deal with it the way the camp is currently set up."

Angela raised her eyebrows. "You'd do well not to keep Nasauda waiting. She is a good woman to be loyal to, but not one to ignore."

I mimicked her expression, drawing myself up. "The only woman I am loyal to is my lover-"

"Annabeth." Elva said suddenly. "The blonde girl with the silver tiara."

I glanced at her and nodded. "Annabeth. I have worked with this army so far because I can see that whatever the king has planned will not be good for the country, and I've seen my fair share of evil rulers, but I will not be bound in a way that forces my fealty to Nasauda, or the- the Varden, I believe it's called?"

Angela nodded slowly.

"The Varden." I turned. "I will visit Nasauda and speak with her, but on my time and on my terms. I do not take well to being ordered around."

"Then that is something you will have to take up with her." Angela nodded sharply.

"And I will." I reached out to Anareem, who was napping by the stream, and told her I would be heading in her direction soon. Angela motioned for Elva to follow her as she began to walk off.

Suddenly, something the strange little girl had said hit my chest like one of Thalia's lightning charged kicks when she was upset.

"Elva."

She whipped around, forcing Angela to stop and turn as well.

"Could you describe Annabeth for me again?"

"Blonde, curly hair. Some freckles, mostly on her nose, grey eyes. A silver tiara- well, its more of a circlet than anything. Strips of silver braided together. There's a point here." Elva touched the center of the star on her forehead.

I nodded slowly, but it felt like an icy hand was squeezing my chest.

Why would Annabeth be wearing Lady Artemis' sign of a lieutenant?