Age of the Dragon 1: Return of the Riders

Chapter 21

Fallyn stepped slowly among the shattered remains of the Star Sapphire, unable to stop the flow of tears from her eyes as she looked upon the destruction of this ancient and beautiful work of art. Dwarves tore at their beards as they cried out in mixed anger and anguish. Hrothgar looked to her, and she could see the pain and understanding in his eyes.

This was one of the signs.

The scattering of Tronjheim's petals indicated the first real sign of unyielding change.

Now was the age of the Dragon Rider, come again.

But now was not the time to mourn. There was too much work to do. Fallyn spent hours healing Saphira's wounds, while Angela worked to save Eragon's life and keep Arya from dying after the amount of magic she expended in trying to save Eragon's life.

After a whole day, Arya was revived and waited anxiously for when Eragon would stir. When it became evident that more was needed, Fallyn came to help.

Angela cleared the room and turned to the elf with an anxious expression.

"Nothing I do is helping," she said. "I suspect whatever has him, is likely the result of a curse from that Shade."

"So you need me," Fallyn concluded.

"I need that other magic that only you can call on," Angela nodded her head. "I know you don't like to use it, but we need to save his life."

She hated using that magic. Besides the physical effect making her light up like a star, it also burned her skin and invited the whispering voices to grow louder. But Angela was right... Eragon's life was too important for her to ignore that power now.

Removing her gloves, she held her hands over the wound on Eragon's back. The silver tattoos that swirled on the backs of her hands started to glow, as a soft silvery-blue light emitted from her hands and washed over the boy's back. Skin began to knit back together at her gentle command. Fallyn could sense the dark power that held the boy, and her hands drifted from his back to his head, the wound knitted closed. Fallyn gently brushed her mind against his and could feel the waves of evil that sought to destroy his mind. There was little she could do against the Shade's curse, but with the help of a distant power, she was able to drive the darkness back and lock it away behind a wall of ancient magic. For most of that day, she worked.

When her skin stopped glowing, and the magic ceased to flow, Fallyn stumbled back. Exhaustion left her limbs sapped of strength, and the trickle from her nose informed her that she had pushed the magic too far.

Angela handed her a potion, softly glowing blue.

"It's the last one I have," she said softly.

"Then I won't be able to do this again until more ingredients can be obtained," Fallyn drank the potion, wincing as it burned down her throat.

For a moment, she could hear singing in her ears, and the world wavered as if seen through water before everything righted itself.

"How is he?"

"He should wake soon," Fallyn said tiredly. Her hand brushed the scar that remained. "You did well to get him this far, Angela."

"Thank you for the rest," Angela said solemnly.

Fallyn shook her head. "Even with all I've done, healing magic was never my strength. There may be side effects that I haven't been able to heal."

"Like what?"

"I'm not sure," Fallyn shrugged, sinking heavily into a seat. "He should be able to move relatively well, but there is a possibility that fighting may be beyond him. The scar is in such a dangerous place... he's lucky the Shade didn't severe his spine..."

Angela hummed in agreement, then patted the elf's hand.

"You need to rest," she said gently. "I know how that magic takes its toll on you."

Fallyn smiled gratefully, and slowly stood to leave. She had barely opened the door when her exhaustion overtook her, and darkness swallowed her up. The last thing she was conscious of, was Arya's mind touching hers, and voices crying out in surprise as she fell.

And then... nothing.