The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 15 Bonus

Murtagh stared out over the city, deep in thought. It had only been a few days of sustained torture. He felt a lot of sympathy for her, having been through it himself.

"At least she doesn't need to fear the last egg hatching for her or Galbatorix harming Fang to break her," he said. "Especially since no sign of Fang has been seen... Spies haven't seen any sign of her near the elves, and no one in the Varden knows where she or Nasuada is."

"Fang has remained hidden for a hundred years... and there was the entire time Fallyn travelled with you that they were separated," Thorn reminded. "Either she has superior self-control, or we may be right that she is a wild dragon helping Fallyn for vengeance."

"Then Fallyn's dragon would have been lost during the battle," Murtagh felt a pang of pain at the thought of going on without Thorn.

The very thought of making a pact to work with another dragon to avenge the death of Thorn didn't seem too outlandish, but he didn't think he'd be as fluid with another dragon as one he was actually bonded to.

"No, I don't think she lost her dragon," he said. "Galbatorix confirmed the blade she has been fighting with is her own, and not her mother's, based on its design and symbols. So it would be an extremely rare thing to meet and work with another dragon that happens to share a resemblance to your fallen dragon."

"Murtagh," Thorn said after a few hours of silence. "I've been thinking about what she said..."

"I'm not sure I'm ready to think about it," Murtagh said, turning away from the view.

"You know she's right," Thorn said. "About giving up. And I think you were right too."

"Wait, what?" Murtagh looked in the direction where Thorn was resting.

"About how she is one of the few people who really sees you," Thorn explained. "I think she sees the real you so well... it's someone hidden so deep inside you; Galbatorix has no hold on that part of you. And I think that's what she meant by 'finding' a new name."

Murtagh hesitated.

"I... am afraid of digging that deep," he admitted. "I'm afraid that if I uncover that part of myself, if I... remember him... What if I find that part that she believes in, and Galbatorix discovers it? I wasn't strong enough to resist when he hurt you. It kills me to be involved in harming her. I... I can't."

"I understand," Thorn said gently. "But... consider this. She mentioned she could escape at any time? Why doesn't she?"

"She claims to be trapped," Murtagh flopped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. "But didn't explain it."

"I think it has something to do with the word vhenan," Thorn said. "I went over your memory of their first interaction - she reacted strongly when Galbatorix used it and implied he possessed something important to her. A heart? Perhaps he possesses the Eldunari of someone she cared about?"

Murtagh sat up, frowning.

"Where would Galbatorix have learned the meaning of words of a language that is 'all but dead', where the only one who speaks it is Fallyn and likely her family?" Murtagh questioned.

"Do you trust that he won't use that question to harm her?"

"Not even a little bit."