The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 1 Bonus

Murtagh cursed as Thorn roared in frustration, the two of them trying to fly out of the storm that had swirled around them.

The king was growing impatient. He was also growing aware of Murtagh's reluctance to capture her.

"Reluctance aside, she seems impossible to capture," Murtagh grumbled. "How do you catch someone with the power to command the weather and is somehow able to pacify Eldunari? There's no way to stop it without knowing how she does it."

"Galbatorix will simply train us more to compensate for the loss of power against her experience," Thorn agreed as they began to wing their way towards the Varden on Galbatorix's orders.

He cast his eyes across the horizon, using Thorn's vision to amplify his own as they searched for any sign of Fallyn and Fang along the way.

"We could try checking the other locations she keeps going back to?"

"There's no way to be certain which one she will appear at next," Thorn said. "We were lucky to come across them on our way. Though I suppose we shouldn't really consider it luck considering the punishment for her escape every time."

Murtagh grimaced. "I don't need a reminder. Thank you..."

"I envy them," Thorn eventually said. "To fly free..."

"I know," Murtagh reached out and gave Thorn's neck solid pats. "I'm sorry."

"We may never know freedom, but I have never and will never blame you for our fate," Thorn said gently. "I will, however, be envious of Saphira and Fang for their freedoms."

Murtagh's expression turned dark.

"Fang and that other dragon have been hidden with the elves for the last hundred years," he said. "That means there could be others hiding while all this is happening."

"You're right," Thorn snarled. "They're cowards."

"Especially if Fallyn has chosen to reveal herself and her dragon at this time, and that other one, Glaedr... he and his rider chose to come out and die rather than hide," Murtagh frowned. "Wait, that suggests the elves feel like it's all or nothing now... wouldn't they send out everyone they have?"

"You think Fang did not mate?" Thorn paused. "But why? Our kind is all but gone. Besides herself and Glaedr, she only knew of Shruikan and the three eggs in Galbatorix's possession. Why would she not breed to save our kind?"

"That might be something we should ask when we get the chance," Murtagh said. "But it makes no sense to keep dragon riders with decades of experience in reserve when you have your oldest riders and your most inexperienced rider fighting against Galbatorix and all the Eldunari in his power."

Thorn grumbled. "You are right; it doesn't make sense."

"Saphira is required to restore the dragons, but Galbatorix wants Fallyn for her powers... And we're expected to capture both," Murtagh sighed deeply.