Murtagh watched with mounting horror as the red speck in the sky tumbled gracelessly, the impact increasing in intensity as the pull of gravity dragged his beloved dragon to the ground.
Thorn! He shouted with his mind, projecting his thoughts as far as they could go. The speck in the sky roared in return, a jet of fire issuing from its open maw.
"You have to choose now, Murtagh," Galbatorix hissed from behind him. "Time is of the essence." Murtagh struggled against the invisible barriers that held him rooted on the spot.
"Let him go!" Murtagh shouted. He could feel Thorn's fear through their bond, bouncing back and forth like a rubber ball as Murtagh too was terrified for his partner's life. Galbatorix laughed, a mirth-filled laugh that suggested that he was quite enjoying himself.
"No," he said, his lips curling into a frigid grin. "Choose. Return to my service or watch your dragon suffer for your stupidity."
Murtagh stared helplessly at Thorn who was currently hurtling to the ground at breakneck speed. Thorn roared, a high scream of terror, plunging downwards and spiralling upwards again as Galbatorix directed his path with lazy flicks of his finger. He looked like a mad conductor of an orchestra.
Murtagh flinched violently as the roar echoed in his skull.
Don't go back, Murtagh! Thorn yelled in his head.
I have to, Murtagh answered, tears rolling down his eyes as he watched his dragon do another unwilling death-defying somersault before plunging headlong into the ground. I can't let you die. You're the only one that ever cared.
Murtagh felt a shift in Thorn's emotions as the fear was shadowed by something more. Don't say that. Look at your palm and know that I will always be there.
From up above, Thorn released a resounding roar. The ground trembled with the force of it as women and children from the nearby village screamed and scattered.
Murtagh gazed at the powerful ferocity that was his dragon. It was hard to believe that Thorn just hatched a few months ago. It suddenly dawned on him that his dragon was too young, just too young to be caught in such a fight. He raised his tear-stained face to the heavens. All of a sudden, he felt like the world was shattering under the weight of the decision.
I can't do it, Thorn, Murtagh whispered.
Yes, you can! Thorn screamed back. Let me go. You might feel like dying the first few weeks but you will forget. You will forget and live on knowing that I am with you as long as forever. We will meet again. In the sacred place where Riders spend eternity with their dragons.
For an instant, Murtagh could see Thorn's crystal red eyes, clear and swimming with love and pain and fear sparkling back at him. Something within him cracked. Pent up energy from years of loneliness and frustration exploded from deep within him like a pressurised volcano. He howled to the sky, screaming the injustice to the unwavering firmament. Thorn joined him, their twinned voices rising and falling together in a loud melody of pain.
Galbatorix smirked. What a loving display. With a flick of his hand, he sent the tumbling red dragon crashing headfirst into the ground like a plunging broken heart.
