Age of the Dragon 3: The Eye of the Storm

Chapter 2

Fang drifted over the treetops, as she and Fallyn basked in each other's presence. Word had been sent, and the siblings would be arriving as soon as possible. Word had reached Fallyn of Hrothgar's death, and she mourned his loss.

She'd known him since his birth and had been very close to the old dwarf. She mourned his death, and she mourned that he had not died as he would have wanted.

But she also mourned the one who had done it. She feared that Murtagh was deliberately becoming more like his father - and was eager to set out and determine this for herself. But still, Islanzadí forbade her to leave the forest.

She had also learned that Eragon had gone into the heart of the Empire, in order to hunt the Ra'zac. She'd questioned why he would risk something like that when he was so needed, but understood that there wasn't much that could be done about it now since it was already done.

She also learned of his judgement of a human man called Sloan, who had betrayed his village to the Empire. For his daughter.

Fang climbed high, then fell into a steep dive. At the last moment, she pulled out of it, and Fallyn hummed to herself as the dragon practised her flying.

"You could have held out a little longer on that dive," Fallyn commented.

Fang growled in acknowledgement and began climbing again. Repeatedly, Fang would fly as high as possible, twisting and turning and performing every possible acrobatic maneuver possible. If not for her bulk, one might almost have mistaken her for a great serpent.

Eventually, when their flight exercises were ended, Fallyn found a warm, sunny spot to meditate. Breathing deeply through her nose, she allowed her mind to wander across the land. With the help of spells and Fang, Fallyn was able to extend her consciousness far - three hundred years of practice made her extremely proficient in the art. But her mind would be drawn back to her immediate vicinity, as she was drawn into the song of the lyrium in her skin and imbued in all her equipment. She simply sat there, listening to the hauntingly beautiful song that soothed and filled her up until all she could hear was the song.

She was brought back from this trance by powerful minds brushing it away, almost reluctantly, and opened her eyes slowly to see Glaedr and Oromis had come by.

"Such a lonely song you sing," Oromis murmured. "It's beauty is matched only by the song you sang at Agaetí Blödhren."

She hadn't realised that she had begun to sing aloud and flushed slightly.

"The song of magic," she responded lightly. "It is enough to drive you mad if you get too lost in it. I fear all the time to myself, followed by the sudden activity and returned to silence has left me vulnerable to its beauty."

"The time soon will come, when we are needed," Oromis assured. "Islanzadí has given the order to begin preparing for war."

"Us or the elves?" she chuckled.

"Us, little one," Glaedr made an odd noise, that Fallyn knew to be him chuckling.

"I am eager and ready," Fang's jaws snapped with a snick as she kneaded the ground with her claws.

Fallyn smiled warmly to the large dragon.

"We have made a decision, to share the truth of the Eldunarí with Eragon," Glaedr informed them. "As mine will be given them, to allow communication between us."

Fallyn's blood turned cold, as terror clamped her heart. The thought of Fang parting with her Eldunarí frightened Fallyn, and she immediately tried to think of some way to refuse to let Fang's Eldunarí be parted from her.

"Mor'ranr, Fallyn-svit-kona," Oromis said gently. "We do not expect you to make the same choice. This one was a difficult one for us, and only came from much contemplation."

Fallyn bowed her head, embarrassed. "It shames me that my thoughts appear so plainly on my face for all to see."

"Not all, little one," Glaedr assured. "Only those who know your mannerisms, and your heart."

Fallyn smiled at the golden beast. "My thanks, Glaedr-ebrithil."

"Come, practice with me," Oromis said gently. "It has been some time since I have sparred, and I will need to see the extent of my strength before I march to battle."