Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty: Blinding

"I'm perfectly healthy, Eragon," I told him soothingly. "I'll make the trip."

"The winds are that bad?" Murtagh questioned, crossing his arms.

"The sea makes the wind temperamental," I shrugged. "I think that's part of its charm."

"I don't see the charm when you are carrying precious cargo." Murtagh huffed, Eragon, not picking up on Murtagh's word choice, rubbed his hand across his chin.

"Aye, the sea can be difficult, but the Eldunarí will be secure," Eragon told Murtagh before slapping him on the shoulder and heading for Saphira. I turned in place and raised an eyebrow up at the blue dragon.

"Your Rider is not as intelligent as he thinks he is," I told her. Saphira laughed, causing smoke to rise from her nostrils and Eragon to glance at her with a furrowed brow.

"Even so, I would not trade him for another." Saphira chortled at me before looking at Eragon with adoration.

"Something, you woman, want to share with us men?" Murtagh asked as I adjusted the leather straps on Alethea's belly.

"Eragon," I started, looking at the boy-man in question. "is not as smart as he thinks he is, at least when it concerns a woman."

"He might as well still be a boy with the way he pines after Arya." Murtagh mused as I finished securing the straps.

"Of that, I have no doubt," I said with a grin before stepping up onto Alethea's leg. Alethea raised her front leg, allowing me to jump to the saddle that was now perched on her back. "She wants nothing to do with him though, its a pitty."

Murtagh looked up at me before patting Alethea's side, turning to Thorn, and jumping up into his saddle. Once the three of us were settled into our seats, Eragon looked back at us and saw that we were settled.

Saphira then bent low and lunged into the air, carrying her load of Eldunarí upwards. Alethea was soon to follow her and Thorn shortly after. With the sounds of war diminished, it was relaxing to only hear flapping wings once again.

The three dragons got into an even rhythm in the sky, leaving us Riders to enjoy the scenery. The minds of the Eldunarí Alethea carried brushed against mine, they were confused as to what was going on.

"Wait until we are at Vroenguard, then your questions will be answered," I whispered to any of the Eldunarí that bothered to listen. It seemed that words provided an adequate answer. The Eldunarí retreated back to themselves.

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Up ahead, Eragon and Saphira started to dip towards the ground. We had been flying all through the day, and the sun was beginning to set. All three of the dragons had labored breath, understandable because of the fight this morning.

"Saphira found a place for us to rest for the night," Eragon said as we passed through a cloud.

"We'll follow you," Murtagh replied. The four of us followed Saphira and Eragon through the cloud coverage until we broke to open sky. Ahead of us, the vast sea churned. Saphira dove towards a rocky outcropping near the edge of the land.

The dragons landed, and the three of us began to unstrap the Eldunarí from their bellies. Alethea stretched like a cat while Thorn and Saphira shook their bodies out. Eragon floated the Eldunarí into the nearby cave for safekeeping while I stretched my back out.

"Saphira, you, Thorn, and Alethea should head out and hunt," Eragon said as he walked out of the cave, wiping his hands on his pants. Saphira left in a quick flurry of wings, leaving Alethea and Thorn sitting next to each other in an awkward manner. I waved my hand at the two.

"It's not like you two don't like each other," I drawled out. "Is it really that complicated for you two to go hunting together?"

The two dragons looked at me before looking at each other. They seemed to be conversing with each other. Less than a minute later, the two dragons took to the sky and disappeared.

"Good grief," I muttered before collecting wood and piling it in a circle. Eragon and Murtagh took to setting up camp for tonight while I started the fire and filled a small pot with water.

Once the water started boiling, I dropped in mushrooms, herbs, dried carrots, parsnips, potato, and some leafy greens. While the soup simmered and the vegetables reconstituted themselves, I pulled out three sets of bowls and spoons.

"What for dinner?" Eragon asked as he and Murtagh walked over and plopped themselves down against the saddlebags.

"Soup," I supplied him as I stirred the pot. Eragon grunted in response. I looked up at him and saw that he was playing with his hands, something he often did when something was on his mind. "spit it out, Eragon."

"Is it true?" Eragon asked, waving at Murtagh before waving at me.

"Is what true?" I asked hesitantly. Eragon continued to twist his hands.

"You and Murtagh, getting married." My eyes flickered to Murtagh.

"Yes, it's true," Murtagh replied with a shrug. "We're lucky that both of us had something of use to him. Otherwise, it would never have been a choice."

"So, you're going forward with it?" Eragon asked, scratching his head. I stirred the soup; the dried vegetables were looking plumper by the second.

"Yes, we are." Eragon fell silent, considering our words no doubt.

"I'm glad," Eragon finally said. "you suit each other."

"And here I thought you'd put up a fight," I said dryly.