Hey you guys! I just put this note here to say that we ALL hate Flamer Rising or whatever! We must unite! Ignore it, just take note of its pennames! Then email Crossbear quick. I think it has an unstable home life which has twisted it up completely. I think its parents are gay, just like SilverAurora. Who's with me????!!!!?????

Rose got Apollo to land during the day. He immediately started yearning to fly again. Rose stopped him.

We will fly by night, baby. We can't be seen by anyone, understand?

I understand. Let us sleep.

Yes, good idea. Apollo extended a wing over Rose, and she fell asleep quickly. Apollo was comforted by her gentle breathing, and eventually fell into restless slumber.

He woke as the sun plunged behind the mountains in a fountain of red-gold. His honey coloured eyes took in the brilliant colours, the gold and black of the night sky highlighted. He smiled and nudged a sleeping Rose in the ribs. She pushed his scaly snout away and snored. He laughed and got up. She blinked as her eyes opened and the colours of the sunset blinded them. She watched it and wished she had something to make a fairth with. Apollo eagerly flexed his wings and Rose smiled.

Let's go, baby!

Fly far! Let's fly over the mountains in the North. Let's go where no-one has ever gone!

Let's fly far. Rose leapt into the saddle, and Apollo jumped eagerly into the cold evening air. Rose relaxed as Apollo beat his coal black wings steadily and powered them on through the night. Before long he became invisible but for his eyes and his shiny golden spikes and claws. They talked on and on, about everything. Eventually the conversation somehow came around to Eragon.

I want to meet him, baby. And if we find him you can meet your mother!

Yes. I would like to meet my mother. We are entering the northern mountains now, Rose. Both fell silent as the great mountains disappeared beneath them. Rose marvelled at Apollo's flying.

You are so fast and strong, baby.

Bluefinch made me practise a lot. It helped. Look, the last mountain is passing beneath us.

How do you know where we are, baby?

My memories are not just my own, they are that of my race. This is the land of Mystery, that no-one ever entered. It is a strange world of ice and myth. We are the first from Alagaesia to enter here. We are blessed indeed.

I suppose there are strange creatures here. Maybe there are Dragons too!

Do you think there could be? Oh, do you think so? Apollo eyes strained for a living being in the expanse of white. After a while his eyes saw something whiter than the pure snow, rippling in the moonlight.

Look, Rose, there's a horse with a horn! How peculiar!

It's a unicorn, baby. I had no idea that they were real.

See if you can reach it with your mind.

You do it. It will trust you more.

Very well. Apollo eagerly sent out probes of thought. He touched the minds of the lichen on the snowy rocks. He found the mind of the unicorn, strongly defended and certainly colourful. He tries the ancient language, then the Human language. The unicorn stopped, looking around for its attacker. Apollo was desperate to make it understand. He took a chance and landed next to it, so dark against the virgin snow it was unreal. The unicorn screamed in terror and bolted for freedom. Rose called after it in desperation.

"Wait. We are friends!" The unicorn slowed and cantered in a wide arc towards them. It kept its distance, well over twenty metres. Rose smiled, knowing that Apollo could cover that in a single bound. She pleaded with it for friendship. Then she gasped as a strange mind touched hers.

Welcome to the land of ice, young Dragon Rider. I am surprised to see you. Our Dragons do not consent to bear Riders anymore. Not after the joined ones rallied to fight against the Traitor King. His maddened mind threatened to want to take over our land, so our joined ones fought him. He obliterated them. Welcome, youngling. You are blessed.

Thank you very much, sir. This is Apollo.

Greetings, Dragon Apollo. I am Thuroman, chief of the tribe of the Flashing Hooves. Follow me to safety.

Are we in danger?

Peace, young Dragon. I meant safety from the cold. The winter here is eight long months. We see little of the sun. Come, follow me. They followed the unicorn chieftain across the icy plain. Thuroman glanced back at them.

Up the pace, joined ones, a blizzard aprroaches.

Oh no!

Don't be such a chicken, Apollo.

She's right, you should not be afraid. It will not harm you, as a Dragon. Your fire will not let you freeze. But it will harm your Rider and I, so let us hurry. Climb astride your Dragon, child. I will run. Follow me exactly.

Yes, sir.

I am Thuroman, not sir.

Yes Thuroman. Rose leapt onto Apollo and he took off, having to beat his wings very fast to keep up with the galloping chieftain. Rose was shocked at the unicorn's speed.

These unicorns could be valuable assets to the war against Galbatorix.

I was thinking that. Rose?

Yes, baby? Are we there yet? My wings are aching.

I don't know, hopefully. Beneath them Thuroman slowed, and then stopped. Apollo landed rather clumsily and Rose hopped off, landing on the snow.

Follow me, younglings. He disappeared into a hole in the ground. Apollo looked at Rose worriedly. She shrugged and followed the chieftain down. Apollo sighed and tucked his wings in tighter, then started down the hole. Thuroman's voice reached him as he pulled his tail out of the cold.

These are our caves. We dug them from the snow countless years ago, and here they stay, frozen into warm, happy homes. They never melt, and we are never cold. We grow food for ourselves inside them, so we do not have to venture into the unforgiving winter, which seeks to destroy us.

They're beautiful, Apollo heard Rose say. He snorted in agreement. The icy walls were a perfect, unmarked white. Then they reached the main chamber. It took his breath away. Rose was in a similar state of amazement. The domed ceiling was way below the surface of the land. Everywhere was a deep, gorgeous blue, more beautiful than any colour the sea ever turned. Bluer than the summer skies of Rose's home. She smiled in delight. Thuroman led them down the gentle slope onto the rug-covered floor. The other unicorns surged forwards to meet them both.

Okay, this chapter is quite short, I'm sorry. I will make the next one very long……I promise!