"Are you sure we can do this?"

The plan is simple; just let us work our magic

Jake sent us with the thought; I powered my ice white blue wings to fly in the pace of others. The Animorphs were all here in dragon morph, Brom riding Saphira the first, and Eragon riding Saphira the second with Arya. I flapped silently; Brom took the whole morph-into-anything-we-want thing pretty well. He enjoyed flying on his dragon thanks to me. Others respected me more now. We were to hack into the king's castle…third time for me. We were after one goal, Murtagh. If we got him, than the king had no more tools to use, he would become weaker and weaker. The best part of it was that the king had no idea of us; the Animorphs were stronger than the riders if we had the appropriate morphs. We could crawl into the castle as flies, and kill thousands as a mighty dragon. We flapped getting closer to our target. We landed just on the last row of trees, the city in the distance. The Saphira's and Brom were to stay here, because they were our best transports.

"We'll contact you in about an hour. The morphs will, or Eragon will stretch into your mind. Kill anybody who crosses your path."

Arya said, taking off her equipment. Only I could morph weapons, one trait they were jealous of. Brom nodded and muttered something, immediately, the dragons blended, it was almost impossible to see them now. I nodded and focused on the only animals that lived here.

I watched as my skin turned black, my legs thinned, until they collapsed under me, my nose ran together with my lips hardening and turning black. My skin burst with feathers. My arms stretched out and my bones realigned. Slowly the changes stopped, it ended with me shrinking. I looked over at a group of crows. They looked back at me with beady red eyes; I cawed flapping into the air. Some flapped and scratched at another, I saw two crazed birds turn, I turned frantic at them.

Arya! Eragon! Snap out of it! You are elf and dragon rider!

They snapped out of it and looked down sheepishly. We flapped into the air racing towards the castle. We cawed like normal birds. We got to the building and sat on the surface. The guards paid no attention.

All ready?

I asked tending to my wings like Tobias.

As we ever will be.

Arya said. I nodded and sunk further back onto the roof. I swiftly demorphed out of sight. Slowly we all were ready, even Tobias who took to the air as lookout. Ax was feeling creped. He clomped his hooves and glanced around with all four eyes. We quickly morphed to morphs that we acquired a while ago. It was a quick insect. It had two pairs of wings, each fast beating like a humming bird. It was thin and black, commonly seen.

We morphed and zipped down the hallway ever alert. We were spaced out not to draw attention.

Okay, spread out, if you find anything important, report back. Now let's go!

Eragon said.

Let's do this!

Rachel shouted in my mind. We zipped away in different directions. I took the stairs and turned left, my nose guiding me to a yucky burning smell. I crawled under the hard iron door and climbed the wet slimy wall. A giant window was in the back, but iron bars blocked it. In the center of the floor, was to my amazement. A bed of straw. It was crumpled down. I zipped over to it, and felt the straw. It was warm to the touch. I know, I should have reported back but I wanted to know whose dragon nest this was. I went to a broken open crate, and demorphed inside. I stretched and drew my sword, slowly edging out. I looked over the room and knelt by the nest.

"The question is, Shruikan or Thorn…"

I mumbled to myself, not caring.

Thorn.

A deep voice rumbled in my mind, I bolted upright backing away. In the shadows of the far corner, two giant glittering eyes looked at me. Slowly Thorn the dragon crawled out and looked at me wondering what I was here for.

Who are you? Another one of the kings stupid tortures?

His voice sick with hatred, he growled softly. His breath smelt of….I don't really want to describe it. I took a step back and took a risky move. I knelt down at the dragons talons and held my sword at the floor, totally at his mercy.

Guys? I found Shruikan's dragons hold. Say if you find anything.

Jake said informing us. We were running out of time. The dragon tilted his head in surprise.

"Dragon of the ruby scales, I am at your mercy. I have one goal and I believe you will approve of my mission."

And what that might be, wielder of the ice sword?

I rose slowly sheathing my sword looking the dragon in the eye.

"I am with a group investigating the castle, we are here to find you, and Murtagh. We are here on a rescue mission."

His eyes filed with hope but he looked down.

No one can get into and out of this castle alive.

I smiled stroking his cheek scales.

"I have gotten into this castle many times. This in my third time."

He looked impressed.

I am honored to be in your presence than. Your goal is mighty; we go by oaths, only the king can break them.

I froze looking dead at him.

"Only the king? Thorn, I will be back soon, but do not tell my secret to anyone. Even Murtagh."

I...I promise.

He said in the ancient language. I smiled.

"I can shape shift, if only the dark king can break your bonds, than he shall."

I said, I focused on the bug again. Thorn yelped in surprise as I changed, he grinned as I zoomed away. I zoomed faster, going to the smell of silk, I don't know how, but it worked. I heard yelling and than a quiet silence, I crawled under the door and froze. If bugs could grin, I would be. The dark king, lying arms out on a black bed. Eyes closed all the way, sword on his side.

Everybody okay? Checking in.

Rachel called, I said my name as with all the others. I demorphed and as quietly as possible approached. My dagger in hand, but killing him wasn't my goal. I touched a bit of skin on his hand. He twitched slightly, and I froze. As fast as I could, I focused on him. I felt my finger go numb for a second, then I started to morph my bug. I flew back, my mind and body was aching tired. I crawled in tired. Thorn saw me.

Is it you ice sword?

Yes its me Thorn. Don't freak, but I am tired…I need some strength.

If it will free me.

I felt power travel into me; I gasped and demorphed freely smiling. I hugged the large red dragon and it nuzzled me. I backed away, and took a deep breath. I focused and felt myself grow taller and darker. My clothes darkened and I felt gristle burst through my chin, my vision fogged slightly, but power radiated from me. Thorn cowered before me. I smiled and he whimpered.

Is-s t-that you ice sword?

I figured he would be afraid of the kings voice.

Yes, it is me Thorn. What was the oath you swore?

It was to stay loyal, and to do his every command.

That complicates things. I will free you, trust me.

I do.

I took a deep breath and drew my pale sword. I held it above the dragons head.

"I free Thorn from his oaths made by me."

I said hard, my voice was bold and my sword flashed with a white light as soon as I said the breaking bond. Thorn raised his head in happiness.

"Thorn, bow to me."

I said testing him.

No way! You can't make me!

I smiled and quickly demorphed.

"Send down Murtagh, we have little time."

My pleasure.

Thorn looked off, and in a moment, I heard running footsteps. I rushed to a crate and hid behind. Murtagh ran in alarmed.

"What is it Thorn? What's the problem?"

He said rushing in. Thorn lowered his head and said nothing.

"Thorn?"

"He is waiting for me to speak."

I said walking out. Murtagh drew his red sword, I drew my white one. He looked at it surprised.

"Murtagh, hear me out, I have freed Thorn from his oath, and now I will to you."

"How? Only the dark king can."

He said putting his sword in an attack position. I remained expressionless.

Murtagh, she is a changer. She can change into different shapes, and she just freed me.

Murtagh had hope shining in his eye.

"Very well ice sword."

I nodded and focused my morph. When I was done, Murtagh and Thorn were looking scared.

Guys, it is me. I shall not hurt you.

They nodded and I looked directly at Murtagh.

"I release Murtagh's binding to me."

I said hard, Murtagh flinched in a flash of white light. He smiled and actually hugged me.

"I am in your debt ice sword."

I smiled and demorphed. I turned to the doors. Then back to the window.

"You need to escape."

The bars are too strong for me.

My head snapped up. I smiled and walked to the bars. I closed my eyes and pictured the ice dragon, my dragon. I grew and grew, when I was complete, I looked at Thorn and Murtagh. Murtagh had a look of recognition, and Thorn looked happy.

I wrapped my claws around the bars, and pulled with the strength equal to Shruikan. The bars groaned and bent, I made an opining large enough for Thorn.

Did anyone find Thorn? We are running out of time. If we don't find them….

Eragon thought.

I have found them Eragon, meet me outside. I will take them to Brom.

You have done well Cassandra.

I demorphed and Thorn walked through. Murtagh climbed on his back. I also climbed on. Thorn opened his wings, and we flapped to the heavens. We flew above the clouds to avoid being spotted. I focused on my ice dragon again; I was tiring after morphing so much. I focused on my wings first. Made sure they were the proper size, and then I started to grow. Soon I was a midget dragon the size of a pony perched on the back of a giant dragon. I leaped off, growing by the second. Soon, I was guiding Thorn and Murtagh to the hidden area. I saw a group of crows below the clouds.

Is that you?

We're the group of crows flying towards Brom.

Jake thought. We continued flying, once out of sight of the castle we dove downwards. I landed with ease, not tired, but Thorn was panting and dripping sweat, this was a long flight for him.

Are you okay Thorn?

Not…used…to…long…flights….

I grinned and walked over to the other dragons. As I drew closer, I heard a deep growl, it echoed two dragons. I growled to Thorn to keep back. I lowered my heads to show it was me, the growls turned to happy hisses. They walked out rubbing my muzzle. So did all our shape changers in their true form. I felt Tobias land on my neck spike.

"Hey Cassandra."

Eragon said. I bowed my head to him. I signaled Thorn and Murtagh t come forward with a flick of my tail. He came forward nervously. Saphira the first hissed, Brom settled her. Murtagh stared in disbelief and shock.

"Brom…but you.."

"Died? Yes, Cassandra summoned the king's hearts to give me enough power to bring me, and my dragon back to life."

"Now we have two Saphira's, you won't believe how confusing it is."

Little one…

Saphira the first said in a scolding tone. Murtagh looked around the clearing; I demorphed quickly and got a hug from Jake.

"Are you okay Cassie?"

I nodded, he smiled in relief. Murtagh looked around uncomfortable.

"What about his oaths?"

Arya asked.

"Gone."

I said blankly, cleaning my sword. Arya looked at me in disbelief.

"Only the dark king can do that."

I shivered, everybody saw that.

"The worst morph I ever did…it was worse than the ants."

I said shivering. Eragon looked at me shocked.

"You acquired the dark king?"

He shouted at me. I looked at him coldly; they did not know what I had in me. I felt my body shift and grow, change and twist. Soon Eragon was looking right at the dark king. He flinched and Thorn whimpered.

"That's just creepy."

Marco said taking a step back.

"Worse. Morph. Ever."

I said through clenched teeth. I demorphed quickly. They burst out laughing, and the Saphira's comforted Thorn. Eragon comforted Murtagh…they were a family once again.