Night had fallen. After along, boring meal with some of her advisors, she had gone to her bedchamber, complaining of a sore throat hours ago. The city had fallen silent. I t was nearly midnight. Something had woken Nasuada. Outside the moon shone brightly on the half-inch of snow. It was a spectacular sight. Nasuada wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and stepped out onto her balcony. The stars were brilliantly lit. The cold air alerted and shocked her awake. She rested her forearms on the railing. Suddenly someone…someone very powerful was breaking through her thought barriers. He fixated her gaze on a star and threw up her barriers, but the force was to strong. It was a strangely familiar conscience, a combination or Murtagh and Saphira. "Saphira?" She asked "Lady Nasuada" said a deep masculine voice. "I am not Saphira-blue-scales. I am Thorn, Murtagh's partner of heart-and- mind.
"Thorn? Why are you here? Where are you?
"About a mile away from your city. I seek your aid"
"What's wrong? Is Murtagh alright?"
"No" The word radiated through Nasuada's mind. Thorn continued; "No. He needs assistance. I did not know who else to trust. "
"What happened?"
"There was nothing for either of us to eat. We flew over a new Urgal village. That night, Murtagh snuck into it. He tried to steal food for us. We had no food and we were weak. He had not enough energy to hide himself. An Urgal caught him. They are war-hungry. He was enraged and tried to kill my Rider. He was foolish and did not take the blood-red-scales-sword, for fear of the noise. The Urgal took his knife before he could stab him. The Urgal stabbed him with it after pummeling him with his fists and horns. I flew down and he was frightened of me. He fled. Murtagh was hurt, nearly unconscious. I carried him to a safe place he showed from his memories. He blacked out then. In the morning, he came to, but he was very weak. He is injured badly. I worry that an infection will spread into his wounds. He was too delirious and weak to heal himself. I will take you to him, Lady Nasuada, if you are willing." A faint ping of Thorn's thoughts indicated that he knew of Murtagh's feeling for Nasuada, and hers for him. Nasuada trembled. Murtagh was hurt, and quite possibly dying. "Of course I'll come. Should I come alone?"
"Try to bring someone you can trust. Someone who can help him. We leave tomorrow night. Meet me here at this same time." He sent her mental picture of knoll she vaguely recognized. She sensed his concern for Murtagh and that he was upset. He then withdrew from her mind. She looked out over the city. A faint outline of a dragon on silent wings swept high above her. He loosened a few flames as if to acknowledge her before climbing higher and disappearing into the night. She became aware of her freezing feet. She went back inside and lay down. She thought excitedly. She was going to see Murtagh again! Her happiness was short lived. I can't leave.
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