Yuna felt sore the next morning, but not unbearably so. She climbed nimbly into the saddle of the palomino, ignoring her dully aching sides and the tinges of blue, purple, and green that danced across her arms.

"You should name her," Brom said, nodding to the horse. Yuna looked at the other horses- Snowfire and Cadoc- and nodded, thinking.

"Kiirai," Yuna murmured. The palomino's ears twitched and Yuna gently pressed her mind to the mare's, repeating her name. The palomino whinnied happily, tossing her mane and flicking her tail. Yuna smiled before her thoughts darkened, turning to her dream of last night. There were monsters in the dark, monsters that relentlessly chased Arget and, through him, her.

The Ra'zac, for that's what the monsters were, knew they were being followed. They were leading their prey out of the minimal protection of the Spine into the open plains. Or further still, to their lair.

Yuna shook her head clear of thoughts. Ahead of her, Brom and Eragon had already started riding forward. Yuna flicked the reins and Kiirai began at a steady trot, catching up with Snowfire and Cadoc easily.

At the beginning of the plains, Brom dismounted, followed by Eragon and Yuna, and checked the trail for evidence of the Ra'zac. The trail split into three; one headed into the plains, one turned north towards Ceunon, and the last went south, following the Spine.

"It's seems they've gone to Yazuac," Brom said with a perplexed air.

"Where's that?" Eragon asked. Yuna nodded her head, looking to the old man.

"Due east and four days away, if all goes well. It's a small village situated by the Ninor River." Brom gestured towards the Anora River to our left, which branched away to the north. "This is our only supply of water. There isn't another pool or stream between here and Yazuac."

And so, the three filled their waterskins to the brim. They drank as much as they could from the river and watered the horses. Arget and Saphira, joining them, each drank their fill of the cool water.

Content that they couldn't gather any more water, they turned eastward and started across the plains.


Sick of the wind that somehow buffeted them from each side, Yuna called for Arget.

Is the wind any calmer higher up?

There was a moment of silence before Arget responded.

It is just as strong, but the wind is not fighting us. Why? Is your deer-animal being weakened by the winds? There was an amused snort accompanying Arget's words and Yuna smiled wryly.

No, but it's really bugging me... Would you mind coming-

I come.

Arget flew downwards in a gentle spiral, letting the wind carry him. The lower he went, the stronger the winds became from the east, disturbing his balance. He compensated easily and landed in front of the three horses with a toothy grin. His silver scales shone almost painfully in the bright sun, making the humans squint as their sight readjusted.

"What is it?" Brom asked, glancing at Yuna. Yuna only grinned as she slipped off Kiirai's back. She led the palomino to Eragon, pressed the reins into the boy's hand.

"We're going for a flight. See you at dusk," Yuna said as she jumped into Arget's saddle. She didn't bother strapping herself in this time, confident that she could hold on with her own strength. If not, there was no doubt in her mind that Arget would catch her.

Brom didn't scowl, apparently having expected this. Yuna flashed him a smile before Arget crouched and pushed away from the earth, his silver wings whipping the air powerfully. Once they were airborne, Yuna let her mind touch Eragon's.

You really should fly with Saphira. It's so exhilarating! And, I think you're hurting her feelings, Yuna said matter-of-factly. Eragon, in the recesses of his mind, recoiled at the thought of flight and Yuna rolled her eyes. What kind of rider are you?

Yuna felt anger stir in Eragon's mind and she released her hold on his consciousness, concentrating once more on the rhythm of Arget's wings. Arget's mind was exuding contentedness, just as Yuna's was.

I feel so...

At home? Arget guessed, finishing her thought. Yuna smiled.

Complete. Have you ever felt that you were made to do something? This is what I was made to do.

I am pleased, little one.

Thank you for hatching for me, Arget. Yuna leaned against Arget's neck, holding on tighter when Arget entered a corkscrew. While she would have been afraid if he had attempted that in their earlier flights, now she only laughed as he soared playfully through the air.


As promised, Arget and Yuna met up with the others at dusk. Saphira seemed sullen, and it was obvious to Yuna what was wrong.

I'm sure he'll get over it, Yuna said in a gentle voice as she and Saphira watched Eragon struggle with the tinderbox, trying to light the fire. He just needs to-

Remind himself of his place as a Dragon Rider? Saphira said, a tint of anger in her thoughts. Yuna sighed. She stood from her place beside Arget and walked to Saphira.

May I? she asked carefully, bowing her head. Saphira nodded, a cautious look in her eyes as Yuna climbed onto her back. Saphira's caution melted when Yuna ran a hand over her neck soothingly.

Eragon tossed the tinderbox the Brom, unaware of his dragon's retreating distress. Brom however, watched all with calculating eyes. Nevertheless, he accepted the flint and knelt before the tinder.

Yuna continued stroking Saphira's smooth blue scales as Brom sent cascades of sparks onto the dead brush. There was smoke, but nothing else. He scowled again, trying once more. Again, there were no flames.

"Brisingr!" he swore angrily, striking the flint once more. Flames suddenly appeared on the brush and Brom leaned back with a satisfied expression. "There we go. It must have been smoldering inside."

Yuna slipped off Saphira's back and began making dinner. From the first day of traveling, the three had decided that Yuna was the most able cook. While she worked around the fire, Eragon and Brom sparred with the mock swords. The session was short, thanks to the fatigue both had been suffering from, but it was long enough for Eragon to earn several bruises.

Once their dinner was over, Arget and Saphira gathered close together around the three humans, their bodies providing shelter from the wind.

In the morning, the wind was back with a vengeance and a biting freeze. Eragon's and Brom's lips were cracked and chapped thanks to yesterday's wind, and Yuna's were no better. Each time they spoke or smiled, blood would bead across the abused skin and licking the blood away only made it worse.

Yuna once again took to the skies with Arget, comforting Saphira all the while as Eragon led his 'deer-animal' across the plains. The day went much the same, except it was Yuna's turn to collect bruises at Brom's mock sword.

On the third day, the wind had finally stopped. The bad news, however, came with the dark thunderheads raging in the distance. It was with caution that Yuna strapped herself into Arget's saddle.

"Normally I wouldn't go into a storm like that, but we're in for a battering no matter what we do, so we might as well get some distance covered," Brom reasoned, grimacing all the while.

"We should fly low today," Yuna said cautiously.

I agree, Arget nodded. Strong as we are, we have not entered such strong gales since we hatched.

If you think so, Saphira said, her eyes slightly narrowed as a tendril of smoke rose from her nostrils. With a glance at Eragon, she crouched and took off into the air, circling around them in a wide arc.

Yuna looked at Eragon with a sad look in her eyes.

"The skies are lonely," was all she said before Arget took off, following Saphira into the clear skies, not looking forward to entering the storm. It was that caution that had him flying only fifty feet above the ground. Saphira, believing more strongly in her abilities, flew at least twenty feet higher, even as they entered the shadow of the clouds.

Minutes after entering the darkness of the storm, a ripple raced over the grass. Realizing what it was in an instant, Yuna looked up to see Saphira, her eyes wide with panic.

Saphira, land! she urged mentally, even as Arget began a speedy descent. She distantly heard Eragon echoing her cry. Arget touched the ground roughly, forcing his wings closed to his body. Saphira dove towards the ground, striking the tall grasses, flattening them.

Even with her quick descent, Saphira could not manage to fold her wings to her sides before the wind grabbed hold of her. Yuna, still strapped into Arget's saddle, fumbled with the straps in her rush to help her friend as the blue dragoness' wings whipped around uncontrollably at the mercy of the wind. Eragon urged Cadoc towards the struggling dragoness. Arget moved towards Saphira as well, careful to keep his wings tucked in as he clawed at the ground, anchoring himself as he took each step.

Yuna, unable to get off the last strap, pulled herself as close to Arget's neck as she could, trying to avoid being grabbed by the wind. Arget crept ever closer to Saphira as Eragon leapt from Cadoc's back, running unevenly to his dragon's side, mindful of her flailing wings.

Arget stepped in front of Saphira, trying to block some of the wind's power before pulling himself to her side, leaning his shoulders away to shield Yuna from Saphira's wings. Arget lifted a foreleg carefully, bringing his paw to Saphira's wing joint and pushing down, forcing the wing to buckle. Arget ducked as Saphira forced her wing to obey her. Eragon, on her other side, pushed against her left wing, helping Saphira to bring the wayward limb close to her body, keeping the wind from tossing her around.

Eragon leaned against Saphira's side, panting. Arget nearly collapsed onto the ground from the effort. Yuna let herself rest against Arget's neck, mindful of his spikes, as she breathed heavily, glad that nothing terrible had happened.

I'm not- going to say- I told you so... Yuna said, mentally exhausted. Saphira, if she had not been so tired, might've gotten angry. Instead, she was grateful for the help.

Thank you, she said, brushing her side against Arget's. Nothing's broken... I- I couldn't do anything. The wind wouldn't let me go. I was helpless.

Saphira shuddered and fell silent. With much care, she and Arget crept towards Brom, who had all three horses. Eragon was clinging to Saphira's neck, just as Yuna was to Arget's.

"Is she hurt?" Brom shouted over the wind. Eragon shook his head and slid off Saphira's back, pulling himself onto Cadoc's back.

I'm going to stay with Kiirai for a while. I don't trust her in these winds alone, Yuna said, untying the final strap that had kept her pinned to Arget. Arget nodded in understanding.

I will walk beside you, he said. A ripple spread throughout his body as he pulled his limbs in tight and began walking, joined by Saphira. She knew better than to fight against the storm, especially when flickering bolts of blue lightening began to dance across the darkened skies. An ice-cold rain began to pour from above, drenching the travelers within moments. The rain stung were it struck, sapping their strength. Grass fires, lit here and there by bolts of lightning, were quickly extinguished by the freezing rain.

The group forced themselves forward and, as the day went on, the storm slowly faded away. The dark thunderclouds shifted behind them in time, leaving behind a blue sky dotted with harmless white cumulus clouds. The wind began to die down, letting the travelers enjoy the brilliant setting sun.

The storm left the earth smelling fresh and untainted, clearing minds and raising spirits. Saphira stretched her aching limbs and roared happily, soon joined by Arget. The horses skittered away from the dragons, but the humans smiled at their energy.

Camp was made in a shallow scoop of earth before the light faded.

Just before falling asleep, Yuna numbly smiled, realizing that Eragon had missed a day of sparring thanks to their exhaustion.

Oh, well... she murmured to Arget, curling into his side. Arget loosed a contented rumble before falling fast asleep, exhausted.