Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Seventy-Three: Blinding

"Spring is coming," I murmured, the branches had the very first of the buds of the new year. The snow would eventually thaw, leading the way to the brilliant shades of green that dotted Du Weldenvarden.

"You like spring?" I glanced back at Murtagh, who was following me silently.

"Yes, spring and fall," I replied. "I find the weather in winter and summer to be too extreme. Spring and fall, well you can't beat the blooms and the changing of the leaves."

"Funny that you like the spring and fall, isn't that when you have to work the hardest to plant and harvest?" I shot him a look before rolling my eyes.

"Spring and fall are my favorite seasons when I am not planting and harvesting from the fields." I threw over my shoulder as I climbed up a rock. "Do you have any favorites, or are you one of those people that is indifferent?"

Murtagh, from the base of the rock I was climbing, reached up and pushed me to the top. I turned around and glared at him.

"I had that handled."

"I was just being helpful."

"No, you just wanted a reason to touch my ass." I shot over my shoulder as Murtagh took a couple of steps back before dashing forward and jumping up the rock. He landed next to where I stood.

"Spring," Murtagh replied, ignoring my jab at him. I blinked and cocked my head.

"Why spring?" I asked as we started moving forward once more.

"Because it reminds me of you," I looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. "bright, sunny, beautiful."

"Alright, don't get sappy," I muttered as a bird sang out a tune overhead.

"Spring really must be close if the birds are coming out to sing."

"Make's me wonder when Fen will start pestering us to go down to the Berry patch," I said as the fine layer of undisturbed snow crunched underneath my boots. I heard Murtagh laugh.

"I'd say soon, but she is also going to have to learn to wait, the berries need time to grow before picking." Looking back, I sent a devious smile at Murtagh.

"And you can be the one to tell her," He let out a groan as I laughed. Having to tell Fen that she was going to have to wait even longer for the berries to grow was going to be a nightmare, and I had just gotten out of being the one to tell her so. "better get prepared for that conversation big boy."

Murtagh growled at me before lunging, darting forward with a laugh, I started running to avoid capture. Charging ahead, I ran as fast as possible while laughing, behind me, Murtagh gave chase.

Branches covered in ice and snow whipped by me as I raced through the dense forest. My footfalls were light against the ground as I leaped over downed branches and hidden rocks in my daring sprint.

Elves were fast, but so were Dragon Rider's, and if I didn't keep pace, Murtagh was sure to catch me. Keeping an even sprint, I wove in between trees, ducked underneath low hanging branches, and sidled around large boulders.

The forest was quiet save for my breath and footfalls. It almost reminded me of the Spine, when Eragon and I set out to try and bring home some deer to feed our family.

I broke through a tree line and skidded to a stop at the view in front of me. Much like the view at Master Oromis's home, a significant drop off stretched before me, revealing a massive plot of woods far below. Arms wrapped around my body before I felt my back connect with Murtagh's chest.

"I think I know what I want to do now," Murtagh's words were quiet, even with the silence of the forest.

"And what's that?" I asked.