The silence was comforting as the two canoes raced each other across the lake. The elf in Mellary's canoe continued to daydream, leaving her and Arya to paddle. They fell into an easy rhythm, stroking on opposite sides and switching with every stroke. Mellary, seated in the middle of the boat, provided the power with deep pulls of the leaf-bladed paddle. Arya, in the rear, leant her impeccable precision and kept their nose square on the opposite shore.

As soon as they reached the lake the river bottom dropped, the sandy bed vanishing from sight and replaced by sapphire water brilliant enough to rival Saphira's scales. Embrald fell with it, gliding down through the water into the dark depths. Mellary tilted her head back, enjoying the warm sun on her face. The faint drone of voices, drifting across the still water like early morning mists, reached her ears. Mellary pulled herself from her daydream long enough to recognize the history of King Palancar. Then she was swept away, the wind filling her imaginary wings and lifting her off the ground. In her mind, the blue sky beckoned to her. Just to her: no dragon, no spell. Just her, and the air, and the sky.

Flying without me? Embrald asked, amused.

I wish I could, Mellary replied without thinking. The sudden surge of righteous indignation made her backtrack. What I meant was…

I know what you meant. I too get lost in the song of the wind. His voice sounded distant and almost alien, as if he spoke of things she could not understand. Mellary shifted uncomfortably. Embrald may have had the dragon's timeless knowledge, but she had spent lifetimes traveling, studying, and learning. For the most part, they were on the same level. She knew more about magic, he knew more about flying, but they understood each other.

This was something she did not understand. Something she could never understand.

Embrald's presence retreated from her mind, lost among the clouds and leaving her unsettled. Mellary didn't try to follow.

When Embrald spoke to her again her mind was on other things, once again as calm as ice.

Still thinking about flying?

The mental image of a frozen wasteland, how she returned to a calm state, must have masked her thoughts.

I'm trying to piece together my story.

What story?

The story that I'm going to tell people when they ask about my history.

The massive, completely false lie?

That's the one.

I see. What do you have so far?

Born in Narda, parents both died in a fire when I was sixteen-

How old are you?

People think I'm around twenty three. I found my swords at the market. My father was a librarian, my mother had a small amount of magical skill inherited from her family. From them both I learned a little bit of magic and some ancient language. After they died, I decided to start traveling, apprenticing to a scribe. It explains my magical talent, because I wouldn't be as accomplished as I am if I had to learn after I met you, and my knowledge of the ancient language and history.

And the illusion talent?

Illusion talent? How did you… my memories. Ah. Well… She considered it. I haven't practiced illusions in fifteen years. It shouldn't be an issue.

The dragon didn't respond.

They passed back into the river. As the current snatched at the light craft again, Mellary noticed a slight difference. The water was riled up, tugging at her paddle before she shipped it. Rocks became more frequent, requiring their guide to come out of his daydream. Embrald grumbled about the swimming conditions.

Then fly. Or did you forget you have wings? Mellary teased.

The dragon pointed his nose towards the surface. Seconds later, the water by the shore bulged and the smooth surface shattered as Embrald lunged out of the water. His leap carried him up onto the bank. He crouched for an instant then exploded into the air, massive wings snapping out. Water flew in every direction, making the very air sparkle in the sunlight.

The elves laughed with delight. Mellary grinned. Embrald arced in front of the sun and darted into the forest, his scales blending with the foliage. In a heartbeat, he was gone.

Good hunting, Mellary called after him, smothering the longing and strange abandoned sensation in her chest.

Embrald was gone for the rest of the day, reappearing from the gathering gloom as their small company edged the boats out of the current and onto the bank. Mellary went to him and stroked his nose. The dragon pressed his snout into her silver-marked palm comfortingly.

A pained cry from the woods distracted her. Mellary recognized the high, plaintive scream: a gyrfalcon. Many of them roosted in the north; she had often woken up to the early morning victory screams of the hunters. They were solitary wanderers. Loners.

She followed the scream, arriving at the edge of a ravine just as Eragon did. They stood, looking across the gulf at the wounded bird. Its wing was snapped; the bird was in obvious pain.

Mellary examined the ravine. It was wide, certainly. But not… impassible. She judged the distance and backed up, eyed the gap again, and took another step back. Her muscles tensed and she sprinted forward, blowing past Eragon. Her foot found the edge and she leapt. She sailed across the ravine as if she had wings of her own.

She landed in a crouch. The bird's stripped head swiveled, one black eye locking onto her. Mellary sank lower, murmuring in a soothing voice. The bird hissed at her, screaming again. Its wing was snapped, glistening white bone was visible. It looked like something had raked claws down the bird's wing; the flesh was torn, and the feathers had been yanked out. Blood was still oozing from the wound, even though the cream and brown feathers were already caked.

"Be calm," She murmured, magic woven through her soft voice. The gyrfalcon calmed. Its beak dropped open, its feathered breast heaving. Mellary crept closer, still speaking softly.

"Easy, beautiful. No need to worry. It's going to be fine now. Just keep calm." She knelt next to the gyrfalcon and reached forward, words of healing already on her lips.

An arrow blossomed under her fingers. Mellary reacted instantly. She whirled on her knees, swords clearing their sheaths in harmony, poised to strike before her mind registered Arya standing on the other side of the ravine, bow in hand.

"Why?" Eragon asked.

"It was too injured for me to heal," She replied, black eyes locked onto Mellary's steel grey ones. "For anyone to heal. I saved it hours of suffering." She turned and left.

"Never ask an elf for help," The dwarf growled. "They might decide you're better off dead, eh?" He walked away as well, taking Eragon with him. Mellary stood alone on the edge of the ravine, staring down at the falcon. She slid her swords back into their sheaths.

"I'm sorry, winged one," She said mournfully, easing the arrow out of the bird's breast. "None who have the freedom of flight deserve to die on the ground."

Mellary called on her magic, passing her hand over the body. White flame followed her fingers, incinerating the gyrfalcon. A whiff of burnt feathers drifted up into her face, all which remained except for a handful of delicate, blackened bones. She heaped dirt over the bones. "At least the scavengers will not get you."

She dropped down into the ravine and climbed up the other side, arrow clenched in one fist. She stalked into camp, not even bothering to conceal the anger in every line of her body. Walking right up to Arya, who was sitting on the ground, she pitched the arrow into the dirt. It stuck in the ground, quivering. Without saying a word, Mellary walked away.

You're angry, Embrald said as she passed by him, heading to the edge of camp. Mellary didn't respond. She sat against a tree, drew her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs, rested her chin on her knees, and stared into the night.

You're hurting. Why?

I may be a killer, but sometimes, just sometimes, I have a healer's instinct.

Arya claimed she couldn't have healed that bird. Why do you-

Gyrfalcon.

Pardon me?

It wasn't a bird, it was a gyrfalcon.

I see, He fell silent and curled up around her tree.

Mellary had shaken off her anger by the next morning, greeting Arya cordially. They settled back into their boats and pushed off. The current snatched them up. Mellary frowned, pausing to listen to the surge of water against the taut sides. Was it stronger than before?

Yes, Embrald said from his customary position in the water underneath her boat.

Are you part fish or something? She asked.

Sea serpent, He replied smugly. And to answer your question, the current is moving faster.

The waterfall, Mellary realized. I had forgotten about it.

The current picked up, moving faster and rougher as they drew closer. The sound crept up on them as well, starting as a low murmur and gradually building to a thundering roar. They rounded a bend in the river, and ahead the water seemed to simple fall away into nothingness. A curtain of mist, hanging in the air where the river had been, shimmered in the sunlight.

Their guides produced poles and began to battle the rushing current, dragging the boats through the water to the left shore.

Embrald picked up speed in the water, surging out of it like a leviathan from the deep. He landed on one of the rocks that jutted up from the riverbed like a set of teeth. He perched on the edge of the waterfall, staring down at the roaring, chaotic tumble as it fell. The curtain of spray closed around him, the flying droplets of water sparking rainbows. It was a majestic sight.

"How do we get past that?" Eragon asked as the canoes bumped against the steep river bank.

Her guide pointed to a trail that vanished over the edge of the falls. "We have to portage our canoes and supplies for half a league before the river clears."

They hauled everything up onto the banks and divided the supplies between the six of them. Mellary grimaced as she tested her pack. It was heavy. Very heavy. She preferred to travel light.

Saphira climbed out of the river, her crystal voice ringing against Mellary's barriers. I could fly it upstream for you…. all of it. Her scales rippled like water as she shook herself dry.

The elves looked like they were about to faint. "We would never dream of using a dragon as a beast of burden. It would dishonor you, Saphira- and Eragon as Shur'tugal- and it would shame our hospitality."

Saphira snorted blue fire, causing a cloud of steam to erupt from the river. This is nonsense. Mellary smiled wryly. She recognized that tone of voice. The blue dragon snatched her Rider's pack and took off over the edge of the waterfall, leaving a challenge behind her.

The cloud of steam writhed, split by Embrald's massive wings. He shot out of the steam and, without landing, grabbed one of the canoes with all four feet. He winked at Mellary and rose up. Over the void he folded his wings and plummeted out of sight.

Don't break anything! Mellary shouted after him.

Arya's clear laugh rang through the air. "You have much to learn if you presume to tell a dragon what they may or may not do."

Stubborn beasts.

I get it from you.

"But the dishonor-"

"It is no dishonor if they do it of their own free will," Arya said with certainty. "Now, let us go before we waste any more time."

Mellary shouldered her pack, following the second canoe along the steep trail. Past the waterfall the river was dominated by rapids, the water vicious as it wound between the sharp peaks. Finally, half a league later, the water settled down, returning to it smooth state. The dragons were waiting for them there: Saphira catching fish, Embrald wound between two trees. Mellary walked over and inspected the canoe. Not a scratch was on it.

Arya called to her. Mellary walked over to where the elf was standing with Eragon and Saphira. Embrald unwound himself from the tree and followed. They listened patiently to Arya's explanation of their location, just down the river from Sílthrim.

Have you ever been there? Embrald asked.

No. I rarely left Ellesméra, and I gave all cities a wide berth when I was leaving the forest. However, I expect it to be nothing less than beautiful.

"We will encounter many elves close to the city. However, I don't want any of you to be seen until we speak with Queen Islanzadí."

Why? Saphira asked.

"Your presence represents a great and terrible change for our kingdom, and such shifts are dangerous if not handled with care."

Why? Mellary asked cynically. They had been passing Saphira's egg between themselves and the Varden for fifteen years before she hatched. Even for elves, a decade is enough time to get use to an idea. They're just upset because the next Rider is human.

"The Queen must be the first to meet with you. Only she has the authority and wisdom to oversee this transition."

"You speak highly of her," Eragon said.

Mellary tensed, along with their guides. The entire party paused, waiting to see how Arya would respond. The elf pierced the boy with her black eyes. "She had led us well." She said haughtily.

Mellary wanted to knock her head against a tree. Tact! She screamed at Eragon silently. You need to learn tact! Get your foot out of your mouth and realize that there are certain things you simply don't say!

That's rich, coming from you. Embrald commented.

Arya and Eragon were oblivious to her rant. "Eragon, I know you carry a hooded cape from Tronjheim. Until we are free of observers, will you wear it so none can see your rounded ears and know that you are human?" Eragon nodded and began to dig through his pack.

The elf looked at Mellary and paused. She could almost read Arya's thoughts, as the elf realized that she had no idea if Mellary's ears were rounded. She had merely assumed.

"I have a cape." Mellary supplied, hopefully distracting the elf from that train of thought. "It might be best if I wore it."

"Yes." The elf said, and her eyes shifted away. Mellary reached for her pack.

"And the dragons must hide during the day and catch up with us at night." Mellary froze. "Saphira, Ajihad told me that is what you did in the Empire." The elf continued, but Mellary lost track of the conversation.

Separate?

She straightened slowly and found her voice. "You want us to separate?"

"It's only for today and tomorrow." Arya said patiently, in a tone that implied she was repeating herself.

No. Embrald growled, broadcasting his words.

"Absolutely not." Mellary said at the same time.

"We can no longer travel together." The elf insisted. "The risk of discovery is too high."

"I am not leaving Embrald." Mellary said slowly, lacing each word with venom. "I'll hide here with him."

"I am willing to leave a dragon alone in Du Weldenvarden, but I cannot leave a Rider."

"I can defend myself against anything that lives in these woods." Mellary snarled.

Are you implying that I cannot protect my Rider? Embrald asked.

Arya inclined her head to the dragon. "Of course not."

"Then there's no problem letting me stay behind." Mellary insisted.

To her credit, the elf met both pairs of eyes, rounded grey and slit green. "It must be done." She insisted. They both glared at her.

Very well. Saphira said. All three twisted to look at the sapphire dragon.

I am surprised she agreed. She does not like to leave Eragon. Embrald commented to Mellary.

But I won't wait any longer than tomorrow night, even if you're in the middle of Sílthrim at the time.

"I understand." Arya said.

Mellary turned to look at Embrald.

I don't want to leave you. She said. Even if it's only for two days.

Nor do I. The dragon said. But it appears that we have no other choice. You know elven society, do you believe what she says?

Mellary sighed in defeat. Arya is correct about the need to meet with the Queen first, especially Eragon. Islanzadí will not manipulate him the way others will, given the chance.

"Fine." She spat at Arya, dropping her hand from Embrald's neck. Her fingers ached, and she realized that they had been wrapped compulsively around one of Embrald's neck spines. She flexed them to loosen the muscles.

Eragon and Saphira went off into the woods to find a hiding spot. Mellary led Embrald in a different direction.

Finding a hiding spot for one dragon is going to be hard enough. Find one for two dragons will be next to impossible. She commented.

A ways away from the river she found a cluster of trees, whose above ground roots interlocked and formed a sheltered nook. Embrald squirmed his way inside and curled up in the middle.

Mellary wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. The dragon dipped his head, hugging her back.

Riders and dragons aren't meant to separate. She said.

Two days. It's only two days. Embrald reminded her.

So much can happen in two days.

I will be fine. Embrald said.

There aren't many things that will challenge a dragon in these woods, but the things that would are formidable However, none that I know of can fly. If you do get into trouble, take to the air.

I will be fine. He repeated. As for you, relax. I believe the others can sense your distance. Be friendly.

They reluctantly separate. Mellary walked away slowly, making her way back to the others. Just out of sight, she angrily brushed a tear out of the corner of her eye.

Eragon had already returned by the time she got back. Mellary pulled her cloak out of her pack and fastened it around her throat. She pulled the voluminous hood over her fiery hair, disappearing into its depths.

The paddles dipped into the water, and they moved away from shore. Mellary focused on paddling, ignoring the others around her. The river spilled into Arwen Lake. Mellary's paddle paused in the air as she took in the sight before her.

The lake was like a sheet of perfect glass, impossibly smooth. Mellary reached down and dipped her fingers into the cool water. She watched the ripples spread, making the reflection of the trees and the clouds dance. Across the surface, she could see swarms of boats swooping across the water like lithe birds.

They moved out across the water, leaving the shore behind. The distance between Mellary and Embrald grew. She could feel their link withering, becoming thinner and thinner. As it did, Mellary felt like a part of her was slowly dying. The horrible sensation lasted all afternoon. Finally, only a thread connected them.

Mellary dipped her paddle into the water, which blazed gold with the light of the dying sun. The boat slid forward, and she crossed the threshold. The thin wisp of her connection to Embrald, like a dim light in the dark mist, vanished.

Silence crashed down around her.

She was alone.