I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle!

Thoughts over bond

Leisurely flying through the air David and Aquila basked in the other presence. Happy that their year of being separated was over.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder David turned in the saddle to face Murtagh. "Are you alright back there?"

"I'm fine. I just want to ask you some things."

David nodded and turned his body around so him and Murtagh were facing each other in the saddle. Sitting Indian style David looked at Murtagh expectantly, "What did you want to ask?"

"How old exactly is Aquila? Compares to Saphira, Aquila is much larger. With Saphira I could beget my hands onto her back and I could hoist myself up, but with Aquila she's easily twice my height."

"She's eleven."

Murtagh stared at David with accusing eyes, "You mean this entire time you were a dragon rider?"

David removed his fingerless leather glove, showing the gedwëy ignasia sitting innocently upon his left palm. "Yes, I am a dragon rider."

"Where have you been all this time then? Hiding?"

Aquila growled low in her throat. Setting a calming hand on her shoulder David said, "Waiting. We have been waiting for when our presence would be needed most."

"Then where were you when we were running for our lives from the Urgals? When we needed to get through the dry heat of the Hadarac Desert?"

"Would it really have made that much of a difference if Aquila had shown herself?"

"Yes!" Cried Murtagh, "She could have helped us across the Desert, or against the Urgals. I wouldn't be surprised if there were times where she could have come to help you before I ever met you guys."

"Yes, there were times Aquila could have come to help us. But if she was ever found then we would have been put into even greater danger."

"How?"

"Because Aquila's existence was unknown—and I'm pretty sure it still is—then if she was seen along with Saphira then Galbatorix may have become desperate enough to come find us himself because instead of just one free rider there are two. Besides," David rested his back against Aquila's spikes, "I couldn't just come out and say 'Hey guys guess what? I'm a dragon rider!' That would have been an interesting conversation."

Murtagh hummed in thought. They looked down and saw that they were somewhere in the Hadarac Desert. "It would have been nice if we known though." Murtagh spoke softly, "It would have made traveling so much easier."

"We would have had to leave the horses behind."

Murtagh looked at the ground miles below them. He looked back at the Beors, "why are we not going back to the Varden?"

"Probably because Aquila won't let me out of her sight for the next twenty years." Aquila snorted in agreement.

Murtagh looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Indeed. For the past year the only contact we had with each other was through our bond. We haven't seen each other once and I believe Aquila doesn't wish for it to happen again."

"Why did you never go to see her?"

"Because if Aquila came too close to our camp than Saphira would have smelt her scent. The same goes for if I went to see her. Her scent would have mixed with mine, and questions would have been asked."

"I see. That makes sense considering you were trying to hide here existence. But if we're not going to the Varden then where are we going?"

David opened his mouth to answer, but snapped it shut when he didn't have an answer to give. That is a very good question. Where are you taking us?

For now nowhere, until you tell me where to go.

"It seems we are going nowhere."

"What do you mean nowhere?"

"What it means is that until we find a set destination to go to then we're going to be traveling for a long while."

"Well," Murtagh paused, "Eragon is going to the elves so he can finish his education on being a dragon rider. You could go to the elves?"

"I could, but then where would you go?" Murtagh was silent. "Exactly. I can go to the elves at another time."

"But why not go now?"

"What am I supposed to do with you then? Abandon you?"

"You could just leave me in some town or city I will be fine!"

"You don't understand! Galbatorix is looking for you, for the both of us. We are in danger."

Murtagh gave a bitter laugh, "I've always been in danger. What makes now any different?"

"I'm trying to keep you from swearing feats to Galbatorix."

"I would never, ever, swear fealty to Galbatorix." Murtagh hissed.

David raised his hands in defense, "I know you would never, willingly, swear fealty to the King. But he can be very…persuasive."

"Not for all the riches in Alagaësia would I ever align myself with him."

"I'm not talking about money, Murtagh. I'm talking about torture."

"If you think I would give in just because of that you must think me weak."

Tell him David.

Are you sure.

I believe he deserves to know.

"I'm not talking about just you Murtagh. I'm talking about your dragon."

Total silence greeted David's statement. Murtagh was looking at him with wide eyes. His voice was hoarse when he spoke, "I don't have a dragon."

"Not yet."

"What do you mean?" David said nothing. "What do you mean?!"

It's alright David, just tell him.

If you're sure.

"Murtagh you know that Saphira's egg was one of three, yes?" Murtagh nodded.

"And I told you I knew who the eggs hatched for, didn't I?"

Murtagh's voice was quiet, "I believe you did."

"Then I believe you should know that one of the eggs hatches for you."

Murtagh was shaking his head in denial, "No. No I can't be a dragon rider. I am not my father!"

David saw that Murtagh was more worried about becoming his father than being a dragon rider. "No Murtagh, you're not your father."

Murtagh relaxed a little, "Maybe not. But when others see me they would immediately think I'm Morzan." Murtagh was bitter.

David laid a hand on his shoulder, "No they won't. And you want to know why? Because your father was a heartless man who aligned himself with Galbatorix. And you are nothing like him."

"Thank you."

David nodded and removed his hand. He sat back, careful of Aquila's spikes, and watched the clouds drift by them.

"We have to get them."

David cracked one of his eyes open and looked at Murtagh, "Hm?"

"My dragon. We need to get them away from Galbatorix."

"Oh?" David's tone was slightly mocking, "And how are you going to do that?"

"We," he put a strong emphasis on the we, "Are going to steal him."

David sat up with alarm the same time Aquila faltered in her flight. "What do you mean were going to steal him?!" He's joking. He must be joking.

"You just told me that my dragon is in the hands of Galbatorix. You cannot expect me to be ok with that."

"Uh yeah."

"So if Aquila's egg was with Galbatorix you wouldn't have gone after her."

"Well I didn't know she was going to hatch for me!"

"That's a first, you not knowing something."

"Look," David was getting agitated, "We can't just waltz into Urû'baen, get the eggs and get out—" Murtagh interrupted him.

"Why not?"

"What do you mean why not? Were two of the most recognizable people in Alagaësia!"

"Not of we use disguises. We could sneak into the Empire as servants, find out all we can about the eggs, steal them, and get out."

"Yea ok but a lot can go wrong with that plan. For one with the disguises I would have to change my eye color—"

"Which you could pretend you were blind and wrap a cloth around your eyes and just use magic or something to see with. We could use it to our advantage because I mean, what can a blind man do?"

"—Your voice sounds so much like Morzans that even Ajihad could even recognize you—"

"I can change the sound of my voice when others are around."

"—Just because we're servants doesn't mean we'll be anywhere near the eggs to find out enough information about them—"

"If one of us gains Galbatorix's trust then I wouldn't be surprised if we were allowed to at least see the eggs."

"It could take a long time to gain his trust, if at all. Galbatorix probably has dozens of enchantments around those eggs. One of them was already stolen, there's no way he would ever let the other two be stolen."

"David please. If it was Aquila's egg and you knew she would hatch for you, wouldn't you want to get her."

David sighed, "More than anything but—"

"But nothing. My dragon is being kept under Galbatorix's watch and I want nothing more than to rescue him."

"Murtagh he hasn't even hatched yet, he's still safe in his egg. Besides I could end up being wrong and he won't hatch for you."

"Then we end up stealing the egg and helping out the Varden. But either way unless I have his egg with me I will always feel this anxiety."

And David knew he was telling the truth. His eyes were showing his raw need to get Thorns dragon egg, and the uneasiness he feels knowing its with Galbatorix.

Aquila—

It is dangerous.

I know but—

I have just gotten you back from a year without seeing you.

Aquila if we don't help him with this then he's just going to do it by himself. She said nothing. He is right though. If it was your egg then I would have gone after you.

David it is dangerous. Her tone was softer.

David sighed and rubbed his chin I know.

"Alright, we will go save your dragons egg." Murtagh smiled in triumph. "But! There's a but." Murtagh's smile diminished slightly. "The Varden will eventually need our help, and when they do we will leave the Empire, whether we have the eggs or not."

"When will the Varden need help."

"I'm not sure. I think it will be several months before Galbatorix makes his move against the Varden."

Murtagh nodded in acceptance and stuck out his hand, "You will help me?"

David shook Murtagh's hand, "I will help you."