The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 9

Fang hovered quietly over the city, Saphira circling further below. Both dragons waited silently for word from Eragon that would signal the start of their distraction. When it finally came, the sun had begun to peer over the horizon, and a thrill of excitement passed between Rider and Dragon.

They patiently watched as Saphira landed on the roof of the cathedral and roared her challenge. It did not take long for Thorn to give chase.

"Be ready," Fallyn said, shifting her position in the saddle. She loosened the straps holding her legs in place, fixing her staff to its loop on the saddle, and strapping her bow to her back. A spell was cast over the quiver to keep arrows from falling out, no matter which direction she was thrown, except when she physically removed an arrow. Then they waited.

Fallyn tightly clenched the neck spike before her, while Fang maintained her height far enough that they would not be seen.

Fallyn was honestly impressed with Saphira's tactics, as the young dragon brought the cathedral down on top of Thorn, and Fang shared a certain appreciation for Saphira's agility and speed. Though the two were eager to fight, they were not so eager to battle with those they wished to free.

Fallyn also watched for Eragon, hoping he had reached the gates and that the siege would soon be over.

"Fallyn!" Fang warned as Saphira suddenly dove towards the gate in question, with Thorn close behind.

"Quickly now!" Fallyn responded as Fang dove towards them.

A mighty roar rattled the air, and while Saphira did not look to see where it had come from, Thorn started violently as he turned his head sharply. Unable to avoid collision with the black dragon, he instead breathed fire at them, which washed over Fallyn's wards. Fang flared her wings, catching hold of the red dragon in her claws as she held him fast and forced him towards the ground, their teeth snapping at each other while he tried to wiggle free. Fallyn nimbly dismounted onto Thorn's back. Moving with quick, sharp movements, she drew her sword and lunged toward Murtagh, who was in the position of aiming to stab at Fang.

At the last moment, he started and moved to block her blade, and they began a dangerous exchange of blows as he sat restricted in his saddle, and she held tightly to a spine spike to avoid falling to her death.

Fang released the red dragon and started beating her wings to regain altitude, while the red dragon tried to stop himself from crashing into the buildings below.

"I should have known you hadn't left!" Murtagh yelled through the roaring wind. "You seem to take great pleasure in tormenting me!"

Fallyn did not answer him, keeping her face stoic and emotionless as she exchanged blows with him. Fang roared as she climbed higher, and Thorn twisted to follow.

"Why!?" he yelled, pain in his eyes. "Why do you hate me so much? Is it because of my father? Is he why you torment me? Why you let me think it didn't matter?"

Fallyn could feel his pain and anger washing off of him in waves, and she hesitated.

She so wanted to tell him the truth. That she did not hate him. That his father had stopped being present in her thoughts long ago. That it was never her intention to torment him. That it truly never mattered.

But Galbatorix kept her tongue-tied.

All she was able to say, she knew in her heart was not enough.

"Ir abelas, da'vhenan," she said, her own expression barely hiding her pain. "This was never my intent."

As he swung to strike at her again, she felt the assault of his mind and Thorn's against her but she simply repelled them. However, a distraction on Thorn's part as Fang tore at him with serrated claws, caused Fallyn to lose her grip and slip from his back

Murtagh's confused yell echoed as he called her name. Brief surprise and panic washed over her - Fang was in no position to safely catch her, and Thorn was still attempting to turn. Saphira was far away...

So she called on magic from the well of mana inside her, the lyrium in her veins singing to life as her body shimmered and shivered until in a burst of light she felt wind under wings and she beat those wings as she climbed higher and higher until she was flying with Fang. An eagle's cry escaped from the beak she now had, as thrilling adrenaline washed through her. A tail helped her direct her path through the air, and she quickly made her way to Fang's saddle, as she felt the mana reserves dip quickly.

She would have been capable of so much more, had she only been able to feel the Fade on her skin and mind, but the dream-magic of Thedas was silent and flat in Alagaesia. With a sigh, she released the magic and returned to her normal form as she swung into Fang's saddle.

"That was dangerously close," Fang said, her own relief palpable.

"Too close," Fallyn agreed as they continued to spar with Thorn.

Fang's teeth and claws tore deep furrows in Thorn's hide, though she avoided attacking directly where she could. Fallyn's wards also eventually gave way, and soon Thorn's attacks carved into the softer parts of Fang's body, and wings. Fallyn spent her focus on healing Fang's wounds as quickly as possible, so there was never really an opening to exploit, but even she could not keep it up forever.

Her shapeshifting had taken a great deal of her mana and left her to rely on the source of Alagaesian magic and Fang's reserves of energy. While there was significant power stored in the gems she had on her staff and sword, even they would not last forever.

"The Varden have breached the city," Fang said, flashing an image of the Varden streaming through the gates.

Thorn gave a frustrated snarl, as he tried to extract himself from Fang.

"Curse you, brother!" Murtagh called out, his voice magically augmented. "And damn you Fallyn! Take the city, it means nothing to Galbatorix. But I will have blood for the injuries done to Thorn!"

Thorn twisted away, and Fang allowed him to go free, growling tiredly as she began to aim for the ground.

Fallyn watched the two disappear into the distance, a tired sigh escaping her own lips.

"There is still so much more to do," she said.

"Yes, so we'd best get to it," Fang answered.