She was woken by a sense of danger but not quickly enough for before she knew it she was upright being held by the crook of Murtaugh's arm curled around her throat.
"What is this place?" he hissed in her ear.
She opened her mouth to speak but nothing but a croak escaped her. She cursed herself, it had been years since she last used her voice and the pressure on her windpipe didn't help.
She coughed twice and managed to gasp out "It's underground. It's my home."
His reply was drowned out as Rend tried to force her whole body through the door snarling at him the whole time. His shock at the sudden entrance of the great white dragon loosen his hold enough for Lyria to escape his grip and make her way next to the head of her friend. She stroked the top of Rend's head to calm her. I am alright. He is just frightened. Calm down or your going to cause a cave in.
Rend tossed her head but withdrew slightly, teeth still bared.
Lyria turned to look at the man who had pressed his back to the wall as far away from Rend as he could get. "Where is Thorn?"
Lyria had time enough to think that at least Murtaugh had his priorities straight before Thorn said to the three of them. I am just outside the room. We are safe.
Lyria assumed more words were spoken privately between the two of them for it was a few moments before Murtaugh's relaxed slightly and made his way away from the wall and towards the door. Rend retracted enough to let Lyria and Murtaugh to pass though kept both eyes trained suspiciously on the man.
He made his way over to Thorn and leaned up against the ruby dragons neck seeming to absorb a little bit of strength from the safety of his partner.
"Thorn says the two of you saved our lives. Thank you." Murtaugh said.
"You are welcome." Rasped Lyria, speaking for the both of them.
Murtaugh's eyebrows contracted. "I didn't mean to hurt you, just hold you. Are you alright?"
She nearly laughed at his concern. "You would have to do a lot more than that to do any damage. I simply haven't spoken aloud for several years. My throat isn't used to working so hard."
Before he had a chance to ask anymore questions Rend interupted. What are the two of you doing this far north? How did you come to hatch young one? Are you under the control of Galboratrix?
A shadow passed over Murtaugh's face and he said the words neither Lyria or Rend expected to hear. "Galboratrix is dead."
A stunned silence followed before Lyria used her extra speed to rush towards Murtaugh surprising him but to his credit he did not flinch. She was inches from his face. "Say it again." Lyria whispered slowly.
He caught her meaning for he replied in the ancient language. "Galboratrix is dead."
She felt as if every care that she had ever had disappeared into the air. She whooped and grabbed Murtaugh in a quick hug, shocking him again before she went to Rend and hugged her face. Rend laughed from deep in her belly making the peculiar growling sound that was dragon laughter. Rend tossed her up in the air and she landed happily on her feet. Incredulity crossed his face but he allowed a small smile as well. She sat on one end of the sofa in front of the fireplace crossed her legs and patted the spot next to her eyes gleaming. "Tell me how this happened."
As Murtaugh sat to tell his story the two dragon lay their heads down closing their gleaming eyes but listening intently. Lyria gazed at him with rapt attention as he told her of a farm boy named Eragon who found one of the last dragon eggs in the forest of the Spine and went on to raise the Varden, the Elves and the Dwarves from their haunts to march on Uru'baen and kill the mad king.
At the conclusion of the tale of Eragon she asked him "Where were you through all of this?"
The same shadow clouded Murtaugh's expression but he did not answer her question. "Suffice to say I played my part."
From his tone Lyria doubted he would share more on the topic.
He made an attempt to brighten his expression before asking her "How did an human girl come to live in the far northern reaches with a white dragon with Galboratrix hunting down all the riders?"
She told her story "I lived just outside Ceulon with my mother till I was twelve I went wondering in the outer edges of Du Weldenvarden. I found Rend's egg buried deep in a cave under a mountain. She hatched for me. I knew that he'd find us so we ran. I went north till I couldn't go any further and made a camp."
"When Rend was big enough we flew even further north and dug this place out. We've had to make it larger and larger as time went on to accommodate her growth."
"So you've lived away from people since you were twelve? Never speaking to other humans?" Murtaugh asked completely stunned.
"Well, not exactly. I ran home once a year to visit my mother until she died." she explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that she died. Was it the war or sickness?" He asked.
Lyria smiled and said gently. "Old age actually." He began to ask but she prempted him. "Eighty six, I am eighty six years old."