Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty: Blinding

"Eragon," I said, addressing the boy-man. "the Eldunarí need to return to Vroenguard, as well as the ones that we recovered from the castle."

"They do," Eragon replied. "but we are going to need at least three dragons to do so."

"Thorn can help," Murtagh said quietly.

"We have three dragons to do so," I said, crossing my arms. "In case you have permanently forgotten, there is something else we need to discuss regarding Vroenguard."

"I will discuss with the council regarding Alagaësia's future while you are away," Nasuada spoke up. My eyes went to the green dragon egg still in Arya's hands.

"To Vroenguard, it is." Eragon murmured before he ordered the Eldunarí to be loaded onto the three dragons.

"What's on Vroenguard?" Murtagh asked as he came to a stop next to me. I looked at him and smiled.

"The answer to our problems." Murtagh scowled at my words as I giggled. Reaching up, I patted his cheek in a teasing manner. "All in good time, my love, all in good time."

"You know he gloated about you two." Murtagh and I whipped our heads to Nasuada who now stood off to our right.

"Who did, and what about?" I asked in puzzlement. Nasuada's lips twisted into a smile.

"Your father did," She explained. "He often went on a tangent about how you two would provide him an army of Rider's under his command."

My stomach rolled at the gravity of our win, had we nod succeeded in killing my father, my child, and those to come would have become brainwashed under his command. Murtagh wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer as I buried my face in his armor. The thought of my children reduced to puppets was overwhelming.

"I'm sorry if my words upset you," Nasuada continued. I shook my head against Murtagh's cool armor.

"No, no, I should have seen that coming." I answered her as Murtagh gently ran his hand down my messy braid. "my stomach has not been as strong as of late."

"He is gone now, Mal," Murtagh said quietly. "He is gone and cannot hurt anyone else with his schemes and plans."

"On a lighter note," Nasuada cut in. We both looked at her as she smiled at us with a glitter in her eyes. "When are you two going to get married and am I invited?"

I sputtered in place, slowly turning beet red as Murtagh started laughing.

"I'm afraid that might be a while," Murtagh answered through his chortling. "the little one is our sole focus for now."

"Does Eragon know?" Nasuada asked the three of us glanced over at the blond. He was currently helping to load the Eldunarí onto the waiting dragons.

"No, he doesn't." I replied. "and I'm not sure he'd take the news so well."

"You've got some time to think about it before you start showing," Nasuada told me before she hurried off to give orders. Behind us, Alethea let out a snarl, startling several elves who had been loading the precious cargo.

"She's just ticklish!" I called to them. Alethea huffed at my admission but stopped snarling at the elves. Eragon trotted up to us with a sack full of fruit and vegetables.

"I know Nasuada said you're fine, but are you really?" Eragon asked as he shouldered the bag. "You know what the winds can be like traveling to Vroenguard."