Ok, so here is the new first chapter. Fair warning, when I recreated Krista, her personality changed a lot. She still has the same values, but her confidence level shot up while her shyness plummeted.

Hood up. Stay in the crowd. You can do this. I'd been on my own for so long, it was hard to be in a marketplace again. It's been 3 years; he's not following you anymore. I told myself, but it didn't calm me down. After all, hadn't I run into his men but 2 weeks ago? Ok, well he's not looking for you in marketplaces anymore at least. I was only here because I had to; my contact wouldn't meet me anywhere else. I felt a tap on my shoulder and spun around, hand on the crude knife I'd managed to steal 2 years ago. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice lined with more than a little hostility.

"Easy, little girl" I bristled a little, and he held his hands up, almost mockingly. "You said you were looking for companions." I leaned back in surprise. This was the contact? Whatever I was expecting, it certain hadn't been him. He, like I, had his hood over his face, but he was tall and thin, like a beanpole. Warily and reluctantly, I lowered my blade.

Straightening my back and adopting an imperious tone, I said "Yes. I am looking for traveling companions. You have information?" The man nodded.

"May I ask why you need it?"

I stiffened. "No, you may not."

"Hmm. That's a shame; I think I've forgotten what I was to tell you. Memory can be a fickle thing, you know." He said. I swore under my breath. Keep it basic.

"if you must know, I had a run in with some unsavory people. I barely escaped, and I realized it would do me well to have a traveling companion to have my back." I said coldly. "Now will you tell me what you know? I was informed that you know everyone in Gil'ead; who would be willing to accompany me, and who is strong enough to help me ward off unsavory characters?"

"Hmm… how interesting. I can give you many names." He handed me a list from the depths of his cloak. "But few of these would be willing to leave the city for a girl. You'd have a hard time convincing most of them, and you'd never get Morjik to go with you. You'd have an easier time with Dormnad or Kinga, although Kinga is no fighter. Not anymore. Arran would be another good choice." He spoke slyly, and I instantly doubted these names.

"Thank you." I said stiffly, and deposited a single silver piece into his waiting palm. I frowned when his hand remained open.

"I've reconsidered. This information was costly to get; I think the price has been raised. A gold token, if you will?" He extended his hand further from his body and towards my money sack at my waist.

"The agreed upon price was a single silver piece, and that alone was far too costly for a list I could have easily compiled on my own. To demand a gold token is laughable, and after a deal has already been reached is outrageous. Accept your money." I turned away, but he gripped my wrist.

"I don't think you know who you're dealing with, little girl. Give me my money." In a moment, I twisted my arm and grabbed his wrist. Before he could react, I pulled down hard, driving the side of my fist into the center of his back. he collapsed, and I followed him, driving my knee into the same spot. I leaned down next to his ear.

"No, you don't know who you're dealing with. You've made me angry; give me my money back and we'll call it square." He hesitated, and I pushed harder.

"Fine!" He gasped out, handing back my silver with a shaking hand. I smiled.

"Now that wasn't so hard. Don't follow me, and don't send anyone after me." I said, pushing harder until he nodded. I jumped up and he sat up, coughing. I looked up to see a shocked marketplace. Crap. Uhh….. Unable to formulate an excuse, I ran. I made my way to a back alley, but stopped short when I saw two men talking. I looked down at my list. That one matches the description of Dormnad. But who is he talking to? I read the notes next to his name. Possibly connected to the Varden? They have strong fighters; could this man be one of them? I decided to follow him. He didn't match the descriptions of any name I had acquired; I had gone to more than just that rat.

I followed him through the streets, ducking behind barrels or people whenever he started to turn around. If he can sense even me following him, he must be good. I've chosen well, as long as he isn't loyal to any enemies of mine. But I find it hard to believe someone my age could have allied with those I stand against. Suddenly, there was a cry from the stall next to me. Alarmed, I hid behind a barrel, but the cry wasn't for me.

"Murtagh?" The man running the stall said, staring incredulously at the man I'd tailed for the past half hour. So that's his name. "Murtagh, is that you? Oh, it is you!" He said, a nervous look entering his eyes. I made a mental note of it. The man, Murtagh, turned tail and ran as fast as he could. Do I keep tailing him, or do I learn more about him? I was torn.

I hesitated, and lost my chance to tail him. My choice had been made for me, and I followed the man who had spotted him. He didn't do much; he spoke of his encounter with nearly all of his customers; the mysterious stranger appeared to increase his sales. I marked it off as a coincidence; the man didn't look clever enough to connect the dots.

When the day was over and he began packing up his stall, I prepared to make my move. When the marketplace was empty save him (he appeared to be remarkably slow; it took him 4 tries to count his money from the day after he got distracted and had to start over), I made my move.

"Don't make a sound." I said cautiously, dropping my voice an octave as I came up from behind him. "I'm not a cold-blooded killer, but neither are my hands clean. I will do what I have to." I could feel the poor man trembling, but my safety had to come first. "Will you scream?" I asked, and he shook his head madly. I released him. He tried to turn around but I stopped him with the point of my makeshift dagger. "You can't see my face. I want to be safe if anyone gets to you. Tell me what you know of the man you saw today; his name was Murtagh." I said.

"He grew up around the marketplace in Uru'baen. I knew him because he frequented my stall. He was always kind to me, but he never said much. One day, the strongest man I know challenged him. Murtagh always did have a superior and mysterious air about him. Murtagh accepted the challenge; and won easily. That's all I know, I swear." He said, voice trembling. I released him, pondering.

"Would he be open to a travelling companion? Do you know?" I said guardedly. It was important this man didn't figure out anything about me. If he figured out my purpose in Gil'ead, the rat would surely lead him straight to me after our incident.

The frightened merchant shook his head. "He was always very private. But he might have changed since I knew him; it's been a while." I sheathed my knife.

"Thank you. You've been very helpful." I was about to walk away when I saw him grip the table, his hands white and shaking still. A wave of remorse and compassion swept over me. I hated scaring citizens, but it was the only way. I placed a gold token on his table. "Here," I said gently. "Buy yourself something nice. You work hard, and seem an honest man." I turned and walked away as he stared down at the gold incredulously.

The next morning, as I prepared to leave the city, a knock sounded on my door. I frowned. I was staying at an inn, and I'd been careful to always have my hood up when i entered or exited my room, and I paid the innkeeper to keep any patrons asking questions about me away. If all was well, no one should have any interest in this room. I grabbed my dagger and crept towards the door. The fact that it was 3 hours before dawn also tipped me off that this was not a normal visit.

I threw open the door from the side, and the rat flew in bearing a cruel blade. He stopped in his tracks, surprised to see no one on his knife, and before he could turn to me, I stabbed him in the side and twisted. He began to collapse, and I elbowed the bruise I'd left the previous day. He cried out, dropping his dagger. I grabbed it and my packs, and jumped out the window, leaving him to bleed out on my floor. That weasel must've paid the innkeeper more than I did. It was more important than ever to find Murtagh. I'd decided after a day of visiting names who turned out to be fat and lazy for the most part that he was the best choice. Apparently I'd been misunderstood when I said powerful. Many of the people were political leaders, the idiots. It appeared Murtagh was my only option.

Luckily, the marketplace had been at the city gates, and the man's stall close to their entry, so when Murtagh had run, I knew he was outside the city. I saddled Arina and rode out. I spent the first hour scouring the countryside before I found him. I stared in astonishment at the scene before me before snapping out of it to help. They had a dragon.

Ok! I like this plot a lot more than the one that's currently up. I hope all of you guys like the new Krista, and the developments in her character that you'll see in later chapters. She has a lot more depth now, and I'm a lot happier with her than I was before. I hope you guys will be, too.

-Maka