As they flew towards the Vardens camp the huge black dragon took flight and headed straight to them.
"That can't be King Galbatorix," Murtagh commented. "we just left him and Shruikan at Uru'baen." His mind swarmed with many answers, but none seemed to fit. "My Lord sent us to capture Eragon and Saphira, but now we find ourselves facing another challenge, Thorn." He yelled over the wind.
'Murtagh,' Thorn said, shifting his large red head to the side to glance at his rider. 'This seems impossible to me. The only riders alive that we know of are us, the King and his dragon, and Eragon and Saphira. Perhaps she is a wild dragon that remained in hiding for almost a hundred years.'
"She? How do you know her gender?"
'Her scent is carried on the wind as she flies to meet us.' Thorn answered, breathing in deeply for the only female dragon he knew of was Saphira; and she was his named enemy.
"Shall you fight her, if need be?"
'I will decide that.' Thorn replied after a short pause. Turning his head around to face the approaching dragon he noticed that she was much older than even the King, and perhaps much wiser. 'Murtagh, she is old, strong, and chances are, very wise in the art of battle; I do not wish to fight.'
"Thorn, think of it.' Murtagh said. "If we kill her or manage to capture her and bring her to my Lord, he will reward us greatly."
Thorn snorted at Murtaghs comment. 'Murtagh, she has an elf on her back, they are dragon and rider.'
"Impossible." Murtagh said as he looked back to the approaching dragon, following Thorns gaze. Sure enough, on the back of the large dragon sat a female elf; her long black hair held back by a circlet, her slanted emerald eyes glancing between them and her dragons head, and she had a black sword on her waist. He looked back to Thorn as he swerved a bit as he flew, indicating his wish to return to Uru'baen. "Not now, Thorn, we need to know who she is."
Thorn held back a wine as the other dragon and rider approached. Ignoring the words being spoken between Murtagh and the elf he surveyed the large female. The center of her forehead was marked with a lightning bolt that looked as if it was taken directly from the heavens, her head in itself was so huge he was sure she could swallow him in a single bite and still have room in her mouth for more, but her size was what amazed him the most, for he could easily sit behind her rider with Saphira next to him. He returned his attention to the riders when he felt Murtagh draw his sword. Glancing back at the female he released a loud roar, turned, and flew off to Uru'baen.
"What did you do that for?" Murtagh asked, obviously annoyed with Thorns actions.
'Did you not see the size of the dragon? We would not have lasted in battle, so I decided to return to Uru'baen and save us.' Thorn replied harshly. He was relieved, however, when he felt Murtagh put away his sword. Before midday they arrived at Galbatorixs' castle in Uru'baen.
"The King is awaiting you." Said a servant as they landed.
Frowning, Murtagh climbed off of Thorn and together the two followed the servant to the Kings' dining hall, where he awaited them. Bowing, the servant ushered them into the room and closed the large oak doors. The moment they walked in a harsh, booming voice greeted them.
"What were you two thinking?" Galbatorix yelled more than asked. "I sent you out to bring back Eragon and Saphira, and here you two turn around before even setting eyes on them!" Galbatorixs' gray eyes were flashing with anger as he raised a bony hand to sweep his silver hair out of his face.
Bowing to the King before answering, Thorn and Murtagh exchanged a quick glance as if daring the other to tell him the news. Finally, Murtagh spoke as he straightened himself out.
"My Lord, there was a, complication, if you must know." He glanced back to Thorn before continuing. "You see, there was another rider there."
Galbatorix burst out laughing, his thunderous laugh echoing off the walls. "Am I really supposed to believe that? There are no more riders left, only us and your brother."
'Tell that to the large black female with the lightning bolt on her forehead, my King.' Thorn said.
Suddenly the laughter stopped cold as Galbatorix stared at Thorn and Murtagh in obvious disbelief. "Did you say the large black female dragon had a lightning bolt on her forehead? A bolt that looked like it was taken from the sky during a thunderstorm?" he asked, all harshness in his voice gone.
Thorn dipped his head in a nod. 'You know them, my King?' he asked.
Shruikan released a small growl as Galbatorix turned around to face him. "Don't expect them to come to soon, dragon." He told Shruikan before turning around to Thron and Murtagh again. "Yes, Thorn, I know them, Kveykva and Ayiana Riderslayer. I had thought that my thirteen followers killed them a hundred years ago, just before I took the throne. They fell from the sky into the darkness of Du Weldenvarden and were never seen again. I didn't know what side they were on during my fight with the Riders, but at the beginning I believed they fought for me." The nervous king glanced around quickly before taking a seat at a nearby table. "Come Murtagh, take a seat for this will be a long story and I do not wish to repeat myself."
Walking forward cautiously, Murtagh joined his king by the table and listened intently as Galatorix described the history of Kveykva and Ayiana Riderslayer.
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