Súndavar grinned, letting out a whoop of sheer joy and pleasure. The wind slapped his face, blowing his hair this was and that. The sky was an endless plain of blue. There was not a cloud in sight. We're flying!

In response, Slate went into a dive, plummeting straight down, towards the earth. Súndavar let out a scream of mixed fear and exhilaration. It was snatched away by the wind.

At the last possible moment, Slate flipped over. Súndavar's head grazed the grass below. He came back up with a wildflower in his mouth, his hair tousled. Slate gave a rumbling laugh, pumping his wings to carry them upwards again.

Súndavar spit out the flower, laughing along with his dragon. Despite himself, the flower reminded him of Rune. Sadness tainted his rushing heart.

Slate sensed the change. He turned around, flying back home. They flew in silence, no more jokes, no more dives or freefalls.

I'm sorry, the dragon said finally.

Súndavar shook his head. It's not your fault. I just miss her.

Slate continued to beat his wings, knowing that there was nothing he could say.

Súndavar reflected on how far they had come together. They had been moved to new chambers, built like Eragon's and fit for a dragon. Today was their first flight together. Súndavar sighed. In a month, both he and Slate had changed. Slate had grown from the cute and playful puppy that had asked if Rune was food, into a mighty—if distractible, and a bit cocky—dragon. Súndavar knew that he, too, was different.

Slate landed in the training grounds, giving a mighty roar. Súndavar grinned. That was Slate. You couldn't trust him to make a 'quiet' approach for nothing. Súndavar swung himself off Slate's neck, patting the dragon lovingly.

The instant he landed on the ground, Súndavar found himself in a small crowd of Varden girls. Great. He would have liked the attention, if not for the promise he had made Rune. He would never take another. He didn't regret that promise, but sometimes it got in the way.

The instant he had that thought, Súndavar felt guilty, dirty, as if he was doing something behind Rune's back. He sighed. If Rune was awake, things would be much different.

One of the girls was giggling something. "You're so strong. Just like Argetlam."

Súndavar raised an eyebrow. The Varden had taken to calling Eragon Argetlam, while Súndavar was Shur'tugal. He shrugged. He didn't mind the nicknames, but he wished they could have just called him by his real name.

They stared at Slate with wonder.

"I wish I had a dragon."

Slate, happy for the attention, straightened his neck dashingly, striking heroic poses. He winked at them.

They broke out into giggles. Except one, who stared straight ahead with milky eyes. She blinked slowly. "What happened?"

"Slate was showing you how charming he can look," Súndavar answered, kicking the dragon lightly.

Slate blew hot air at him. The blind girl's hair was blown back, over her shoulder. She looked puzzled. "What does Slate look like?" she asked.

Slate brought his nose up under her hand. She touched him hesitantly, drawing away.

It is okay, little girl, Slate said so everyone could hear. He nudged her again.

She made a fist, biting her lip, then opened it. She bravely placed her hand on Slate's muzzle. She worked her hands over his snout, then up his head. After a few moments, she pulled away. "I can see him now. And you, Shur'tugal?"

Súndavar blinked stupidly. "I…uh…me?"

She nodded. "What do you look like?"

One of the other girls took over. "He's about an inch taller than I, Lexia. A scar starts on his collarbone, and disappears behind his tunic. His face is soft, but determined. Hair the color of shadows hangs to his chin, framing it perfectly in windblown whisps."

Súndavar hated begin described. It made him feel like an animal in a cage. Or a vase on the table. Or a rug on the floor.

He took her hand. "Here. Just, see for yourself."

She smiled, touching his face. She worked her way over his skin gently, fingering his hair for a moment, then moving her fingers over his lips. Her hands were soft. Like Rune's.

Súndavar jerked away. No, no, no!

"Have I hurt you?"

He shook his head, then realized she couldn't see him. "No."

Slate watched him with one yellow eye. Oh, Shadow…

Súndavar shook his head angrily. "I have to go." He pushed past the girls. Slate gave them a theatrical bow, before following his Rider.

Súndavar found Captain Shay on the outskirts of the training field. She looked dead tired, with bags under her eyes and drooping eyelids. She leaned limply against the fence.

"Please, have something for me to do," Súndavar begged her. "Don't I have sword practice or something?"

Shay blinked at him. "Huh?" she asked tiredly. She squinted. "Oh. Um…huh?"

Súndavar quickly explained his predicament. "There's these girls, right? And they won't leave me alone. So I said I had to go. Which would be a lie, unless you give me something to do."

Shay sighed, raising an eyebrow. "So you finally met your fan club?"

Súndavar was nearly on one knee. "Shay, please!"

Shay finally nodded. "Come on. I'm sure a spar will do us both good."

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Lily felt the pain in her head first. It spread to her body, immobilizing her. She collapsed to the ground.

No…

Galbatorix forced himself deeper into her mind. His consciousness twisted with hers. Whereas only moments before, Lily had felt clean, refreshed, she now felt defiled.

Get out of my head!

She could feel Galbatorix's pleasure at her helplessness. Before she had been locked up, Lily would have been able to resist him. Now she was weak. Galbatorix focused on her weakness, drawing her out.

What is your true name? he asked. His voice in her mind was hard, demanding.

No…Lily protested. It's—No. No. Be a wall. A placid lake. Not Lily. I'm not Lily.

Galbatorix sent another shock of pain through her with his mind. She gasped for breath, but nothing came. She couldn't ward herself against him for much longer. Lake. Clear, flowing water. Singing birds.

Lily clenched her fists, trying to force him out of her mind. It was no use. She couldn't keep this up.

Shay…oh, Shay…help me!

But Shay couldn't help her this time. Lily felt her will to resist fading away.

I'm so sorry, Shay,she whispered with her mind. I've failed. Just like before.

Before…Before…Before…

That was the last conscious thing that crossed Lily's mind before she lost total control.

I failed.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Shay's legs crashed underneath her. Pain shot through her body. She fell to the ground. Súndavar knelt beside her, calling her name, but his voice was far away. It didn't matter.

Make it stop! Her mind screamed. Make it stop!

The white hot pain didn't reduce. It intensified, making her writhe like a snake. All thought was beyond her. She couldn't feel or think about anything beyond the pain.

Shay…

The voice was eerie, far away. It echoed in Shay's head like a memory.

Failed…failed…failed…help…before…before…before…the voice was no more than a whisper.

Shay screamed. She didn't know what she said. . Nothing was clear, everything was a big long blur of hate and anguish and pain. She screamed and pulled and tried to free herself from the embrace of hurt that held her. But it was hopeless. Try as she may, nothing would make it go away.

Shay saw red, crowding out her vision. She cried out again.

Things began to go black.

Almost as soon as the pain was there, it was gone. Shay's vision cleared. Her heart was racing. She couldn't breathe. She tried to lever herself up, but it felt as if a thousand pounds of stone weighed her to the ground.

"Help her up!" someone ordered. Shay didn't know who it was, but almost instantly she felt gentle hands help her to her feet.

She was coated in sweat. She gasped for air, opening her eyes. Súndavar was staring at her with concern and confusion.

"What was that?" he whispered.

Shay shook her head. "I don't know."

It was a lie.

Shay knew what it was.

Because in those last moments, a single word had been etched into her mind by invisible fingers.

Lily.

Author's Note: Okay, I think this chapter is an improvement on the last one. My migraine is gone (thanx soooo much for your concern, O faithful readers) and my writer's block has vanished. As you can probably tell, Shay and the mysterious Lily are most likely going to be a bigger part of this story than the last. Hearts to Lily Shay for creating them both. (Although, over time I've began to think of them as MINE grins and starts to whistle innocently) Hearts to all, KittenofShadows.