The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 25 Bonus

He woke up, seeing all the destruction around him, seeing Eragon leaning down to lift the unconscious Fallyn. He struggled to his feet, clutching the wound around his belly. He grasped Eragon's wrist, glaring at him.

"I'll take her," he growled.

Eragon stepped back, watching as Fallyn was lifted into Murtagh's arms, her head resting against his shoulder. Murtagh grimaced, feeling the blood gushing from his gut as he tried to carry her over to Thorn, rubble tumbling around them.

He felt her mind brush against his, an exhausted thought pressing to him.

"Is he dead?"

"He is," Murtagh answered. "Hold on, we're getting out of here. Stay awake, you hear?"

"Your wounds..." she said.

"I'll manage," he answered.

He felt her hand press against his chest, a warmth that spread from that point, causing his wound to knit shut.

"Don't be so reckless!" he admonished.

"Ir abelas, vhenan," she answered.

He adjusted his grip on her as she slipped out of consciousness again.

"Fallyn, wake up," he murmured.

Thorn gently lifted her with his teeth as Murtagh clambered into the saddle.

"Your wing," Murtagh realised, taking Fallyn from him.

"Later," Thorn said. "We need to leave here."

"Wait!" Arya appeared beside Thorn, looking up at him. "Where is the egg? And the Eldunari? We can't leave them!"

Murtagh frowned before reaching out to Arya and passing the information to her directly. He withdrew quickly, uncomfortable with the contact.

"Her mind is similar to Fallyn's in many ways," Murtagh commented to Thorn as he adjusted his grip on Fallyn, and Arya sprinted out of the room. "But Fallyn's is..."

"Older, and not just from the years between them," Thorn agreed. "Almost like it's bone deep."

"She did say she was different from the elves of this land," Murtagh commented.

Fallyn's mind touched his again, and his arm tightened around her waist. The easy banter, despite her obvious exhaustion, eased his fears.

She wasn't in danger, at least not if they got out of the building quickly.

When they were outside, the light falling on Fallyn's face, he saw the three dragons circling above.

"Vhenan!" she called out, her face shining with absolute joy.

Fang twisted into a dive, roaring in reply. Within the span of a few heartbeats, she had arrived, galloping to a stop beside Thorn, her head twisting to see Fallyn.

"Ah..." Thorn tensed.

"It should be alright," Murtagh said uncertainly as Fallyn lay her body on Fang's snout. "She did ask us to bring Fallyn back to her alive."

Fang shifted, and Fallyn leaned back against Murtagh. The black dragon tousled his hair with a puff of air, turning to Thorn to nuzzle him with a rumbling draconic purr.

Murtagh helped Fallyn down from Thorn's back, seeming stronger now until her knees buckled.

Worried, he checked in on her, but she assured him there was nothing he could heal, but she was fine. Fang took to the sky, and Murtagh looked down at the woman who had set him free.