Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty-Three: Blinding

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The sun began to set as I headed out of the hidden space to set camp and start dinner. The three Dragon's had joined me, on account of them not appreciating the enclosed space. In under an hour, I had set camp, gotten a fire started, and had a pot of milk water started over the fire.

I added vegetables, cheese, and an herb pouch before letting the mixture bubble away and the cheese melt. I then dropped myself onto my cot and sighed. In a flutter of wings, Alethea was standing next to me sniffing the golden egg I had tied to my wait.

"One of the younglings picked you as its courier?" She asked, blinking her eyes up at me. I nodded at her before looking down at the bulge.

"Cuaroc said he wished to be in my care until he has found his Rider," I explained.

"Younglings can be quite insistent," Saphira added, joining the conversation. She had settled her body in a curve around the camp along with Thorn who watched the fire as it crackled.

"This one wouldn't take 'I'm inexperienced' for an answer," I laughed. "either way, I will do my best to ensure that this egg has the best care I can give it."

Alethea brushed her snout over the golden shell and hummed.

"He is quite happy." Eragon and Murtagh appeared looking tired.

"How goes the sorting?" I asked, sitting up. Eragon dropped his body onto his cot with a grunt as Murtagh sat next to me.

"It's tiring and endless," Eragon groaned out, spreading his legs in a v shape and leaning his head back.

"Cheer up, Eragon," I said brightly. "you get to do the same thing tomorrow!"

Eragon glared at me for a few seconds before he started laughing, soon I was laughing along with him with Murtagh looking at us like had grown a second head.

"Care to share with the rest of us who are confused as to why you two are laughing like madmen?" Murtagh asked, wrapping an arm around my waist. Smiling, I looked up at him.

"Eragon and I are laughing because we used to say we'd do anything other than the back-breaking work of a farmer."

"I haven't felt like this since that last harvest." Eragon chortled before a sad look crossed his face.

"Dinner should be ready," I said, hopefully distracting Eragon about Garrow's death. I moved to get up but was held back.

"Eragon and I will get it, you stay put," Murtagh said as he stood up and dug out our bowls and utensils. Eragon lifted the pot from the fire and set it off to the side.

"Smells good, Mal," Eragon announced as he took in a deep breath. "what is it?"

"Something I picked up in the capital," I replied as the two men started to ladle portions into the bowls. "It's broccoli and cheese soup."

"Broccoli and cheese?" Eragon asked, sniffing the mixture once more. "it doesn't sound good as a soup, but it smells divine."

"Just try it," I said, rolling my eyes and Murtagh came back over with two bowls. I accepted a bowl and dipped my spoon into the mixture as Murtagh sat back down. I shoved the soup into my mouth.

It was pretty good, obviously not as good as the one served in the castle but for one thrown together with only a pot and a fire, it was decent. We ate in silence, once the soup was gone, Eragon collected the bowls and went to wash them. I sighed and leaned back against my bedroll, holding the golden egg to my chest.

"I wasn't aware Cuaroc was allowing any of the eggs to be taken at this moment," Murtagh said as he stretched out onto his back next to me.

"Apparently," I said, holding the egg up. "the little one inside this egg chose me to be his courier."

"Doesn't surprise me," Murtagh said as I slipped the egg into my saddlebag before wiggling close to his body. "you have a way with dragons."

"I'm going to sleep," Eragon yawned as he walked back over with the now clean pot, bowls, and spoons. "we've got some work to do before we figure out what to do next."

"If the trees ask you to dance, say no!" I called to Eragon with a wicked grin.

"I had that dream one time! Why do you have to keep reminding me!?!"