Chapter 27.2

Another Dragon Rider? Tamli asks.

I lower my head in shame. He will now find out about Murtagh becoming a Dragon Rider, something I wasn't planning on telling him.

That's right, I mutter. There is another Dragon Rider.

Who is it? Tamli asks.

Murtagh, I growl softly.

Tamli wraps his hand around Nigar and draws it.

Tell me your not lying, he mutters.

I'm not, I say.

Tamli looks down to find his hand shaking. He attempts to calm himself as I approach him.

I was planning on telling you, I just didn't want Eragon and Saphira to find out, I stammer.

The sudden sound of drums catches my attention. Tamli climbs on my back and we leave the tent. I look up in the sky to see a large red dragon. That dragon? It can't be! It can't be Thorn!

Last time I saw him, he was a hatchling but now he is as tall as I am. I'm never forgiving Galbatorix for this! I gaze up at Thorn as Tamli pounds on my scales, begging me to open my mind to speak with him. I growl and launch myself toward Thorn, nearly throwing Tamli off my back.

Traitor! Egg breaker, oath breaker, murderer! I growl as I quickly catch up to Thorn.

We loop around each other, sizing the other up. Both of us are about the same size though. Murtagh and Tamli begin to fight each other with their swords.

As the day carries on I begin to get tired. My muscles begin to quiver and my Shadow attacks lessen in their power and fierceness. Tamli suddenly leaps off my back and runs Nigar down Thorn's left leg. He starts to fall and it's then that I realize that he wants me to catch him. He never even told me he was going to do that! I go into a downward spin and grab Tamli with my right clawed forepaw.

I land on a nearby plateau and Murtagh and Thorn follow. Thorn lands and Murtagh goes to take a look at his dragon's injury but I quickly mutter a stream of spells under my breathe has his hand goes to his dragon's side. He won't be healing that wound, at least not while I'm here! Murtagh glares at me and he and Tamli resume their sword fight.

A few moments later I see my master is on his back and Murtagh has Nigar in his hand. He strides toward his dragon and I growl sharply. Thorn climbs into the air and I follow.

Using my telepathic abilities I roar out across the whole battlefield: Murtagh son of the traitor Morzan! Unhand Nigar, sword of Tamli Nekita, or else I shall fight you and your dragon Thorn till my dying day! You will not be safe in Uru'baen nor in Das-Lenoa! I shall hunt you down and take what should be rightfully Tamli's!

Thorn turns to look at me and Murtagh slides his hand-and-a-half sword from its sheath. I close my eyes and call Zar'roc, the sword that Brom had given Eragon, to my side.

Switch Zar'roc for Nigar, I growl as my eyes remain focused on Thorn.

Murtagh agrees to the trade and thus I obtain my master's sword.

Before I leave Thorn's side Murtagh stretches over to tell me something: "Zar'roc should have gone to Morzan's oldest, not his youngest."

With that he leaves and I return to Tamli, Nigar held tightly in my jaws . . .