Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty-Four: Blinding

They would take up less space when I rolled them on top of each other and put them in a saddlebag. I checked the fire to make sure it wouldn't start a wildfire before checking on the gold egg. It was still tucked neatly away in my saddlebag. I double-checked that I had all of my items.

"Bowls, spoons, waterskin, bandages, knife, sword... sword?" Slight panic went through my body as I dug through the saddlebag for Islingr. Curse words spewed out of my mouth as my search came up empty.

"Looking for this?" I glanced up from pawing through the bag to see Murtagh holding out the pearl sheath that held Islingr. Instant relief flooded through my body as I stood up and took the sheath from Murtagh's hands. "Found it with Eragon's sword."

"Thank you," I breathed as I clutched the sword to my chest. "I forgot that I didn't put in my bag."

"Eragon said that you two had a hand in making your swords." I glanced up at him before pulling the sword out of its sheath and reversing the blade, holding it out to him. Murtagh's eyes flashed to mine as I held it out to him. "I know you're curious."

Murtagh took the sword and held it in front of him, examining the hilt before he gave it a few swings.

"It is incredibly light," Murtagh said with a frown. "and the blade is very narrow."

"Slimmer, lighter, faster." I enunciated as I crossed my arms in front of me with a smile. "It suits Alethea and me's style."

"And that is?" Murtagh asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Stealth." I replied, my lips curving into a smirk. "we like to strike and be gone before our enemy even realizes we were there."

"You and Alethea did provide us quite the chase in Dras Leona," Murtagh said as he took a step forward.

"Did we?" I returned, my smirk still spread across my lips. "ate our tail scales did you?"

"Tail scales?" Murtagh asked incredulously.

"Mhmm."

"Are you two done flirting with each other?" Eragon asked. I twisted my neck and stared at Eragon.

"Aren't you supposed to be packing?" I quipped at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Just finished, actually," Eragon replied. That meant we were leaving. Murtagh handed Islingr back to me, and we did one final sweep of the camp. Murtagh and Eragon finished packing all of our equipment onto our respected Dragons before we stood in front of each other to say farewell.

Eragon and Murtagh basically did the whole grasp forearm man thing. I rolled my eyes until it was time for Eragon to say goodbye to me. He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Take care of yourself, Mal." Eragon said in my ear. "and maybe when you are feeling up to it, you can visit me when I get the Rider's school up and running?"

I laughed a shook my head.

"It won't be that long, Eragon, Murtagh and I just need time to find ourselves," I said as I brushed the hair away from his forehead. "we won't be gone forever."

"I know, I just... your practically my sister." Eragon replied as we stepped away from each other.

"And I will take care of her," Murtagh said, wrapping an arm around my waist. Eragon nodded before the three of us mounted our dragons.

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We flew with Eragon until we reached the mainland and he headed south towards Urû'Baen. Murtagh and I continued our venture east, heading for the spot Alethea wanted us to check out as a possibility for our home.

We took frequent stops to explore the sights and just enjoy time being up int eh air and on the ground. There was something peaceful about not having any predispositions. Currently, we were flying over the forests of Du Weldenvarden, our next stop, the elvan city of Osilon.

Alethea was heading the way since she was the only one who knew where we are going. She was slowly descending through the night sky, in front of us lay the twinkling lights of Osilon. Before we reached the city, Alethea landed at the edge with Thorn following.

"We go on foot from here," I told Murtagh before sliding off Alethea's back. "It'll be easiest for Alethea and Thorn, the elvan city paths were not designed with Dragon's width in mind."

Murtagh slipped off Thorn, and the two Dragon's took to the sky once more. I followed the path of glowing pebbles until we reached the city entrance where two guards stood. Upon seeing me, they bowed and did the usual greeting witch I returned.

"My fellow Rider and I require lodging for tonight along with our Dragon's, if you have room," I said bowing my head in respect.

"Of course, Princess." The guard on the left. The two parted, allowing us to enter the elven city. Several elvan children ran up to us giggling and started to tug at our wrists. I looked at Murtagh, who looked mystified.

"Welcome to Osilon, Murtagh." The children had pulled us along until we reached what could only be described as an inn for Elves. Because of my relationship to Queen Islanzadí, we were given the top room and assured that our dragons would have proper lodgings on the outskirts of the city.

Both of us had split up to bathe, it was much needed after nearly two weeks of travel. I was given a flower-scented bath before being dressed in a pale pink gossamer nightgown. Of course, the children had begged me to let them braid my hair so now I sported a delicate braid with flowers woven throughout.

When the children finally let me go, I headed to the room at the top of the inn and wandered over to the open balcony. It felt nice to finally be back in the forest that felt like home. I heard the door behind me open before closing.

"Did they try to braid your hair?" I cracked up at Murtagh's tone of voice. "because they tried to braid mine."

I was full-on laughing by the time I turned around to look at him. He was wearing a white tunic with grey trousers. I walked up to him and looked him in the eye.

"Pity, they would have added flowers." I teased him. Murtagh looked down at me before reaching up to touch the flower tucked near my ear.

"I see they got to you." I cocked my head and smiled.

"I couldn't say no to those girls," I replied softly as we stared into each other's eyes.

"You know," Murtagh started as he slipped his fingers into my braid and pressed our noses together. "I haven't kissed you in almost two weeks."

"Shall we change that?" The hand in my braid traveled to my neck shortly before our lips met. Unlike all other kisses we shared, this was a slow-burning, passionate kiss that I felt down to my toes.

His other hand slid across my back as I reached up at grasped his face. Our lips moved across each other softly, with the utmost care, like a butterfly fluttering against one's skin. The cool air of a summer night touched my skin, but I did not feel the bite of cold.

Fingers worked at the strings attached to my nightgown, the very strings that held the sheer fabric on my body. My own hands tore at the shirt he wore, only breaking our impassioned kiss for a few seconds to yank the shirt over his head. My nightgown fell to our feet shortly before Murtagh picked me up by my legs and walked towards the bed.

"What no manhandling me?" I teased against his lips with a smirk. Murtagh's grey eyes bore into mine.

"Manhandle the woman who is carrying my present and future?" He questioned before he gently set me against the feather filled mattress. He bent down and started to press feather-light kisses the spot below my belly. "Never."