The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 9 Bonus

Murtagh's heart hammered as the soldiers loaded into the device that Thorn would carry over to the Varden camp.

The things he was about to do...

"Kill Nasuada then," Galbatorix's orders replayed in his mind. "As for Fallyn, I'd prefer her alive, but kill her if she proves too much to capture alive."

He closed his eyes, squeezing them shut to try and push down all the stress and disgust he felt, only to have the vision of her falling from Thorn's back overlapping with the sight of her falling from the cliff.

Thorn brushed the memories aside, instead reminding him of the incredible sight of her form shifting into a beautiful, snowy griffon, how she soared - the eagle's cry was one of excitement and joy.

"She is not so helpless as she was when the Twins had her drugged and disoriented," Thorn reminded him. "I doubt we'll be able to kill her. Despite everything the King has taught us, we are barely their match. Fang was holding back... she wasn't trying to kill us."

"Capture?"

"Maybe, but I know she had more than one occasion to do more than cut my belly and bite my limbs," Thorn said. "She and Fallyn are holding back. Perhaps to avoid tipping their hand to Galbatorix?"

"You'd think he would know all that she is capable of," Murtagh grumbled. "But this power to pacify... he said that belonged to Clanes. Perhaps she shared the secret with Fallyn before dying?"

"That would make sense to me," Thorn agreed. "He was also just as surprised that she could change shape."

"What else could she be capable of that she hides?" Murtagh shuddered. "Some days, I'd rather not find out."

"Come, little one," Thorn said warily. "We should go now. I hope we don't need to fight both Saphira and Fang this time as well."

"Saphira was obviously the distraction," Murtagh said, swinging into Thorn's saddle. "Fang's only advantage is ambush tactics."

"It is night, Murtagh," Thorn pointed out. "This is when she is most dangerous."

"Hopefully, Fang and Fallyn are scouting, and we miss them completely," Murtagh agreed. "The darkest point of the night is the last place I want to encounter either of them."