Murtagh scooped the elf up in his arms, chuckling as she fell limp into his chest. "Cute." He noted idly then dropped her into Thorn's saddle then clambered on behind her, her head lolling backwards onto his shoulder.

Very cute. Thorn muttered dryly as he launched himself into the air. Where to?

"Just fly in a general north direction till nightfall." Thorn exhaled sharply and beat his wings, propelling them higher and forward.

For a few hours, Thorn flew long and hard, desperate to find a suitable place for him and his rider to hide for a few years. He knew Murtagh had fallen asleep behind him because his mental presence felt warm and fuzzy. He tilted left to avoid a cloud and felt his saddle shift slightly. It seemed strange to him when he saw a large concrete column sprout up before him then the tip of an iron tower erect itself to his left.

Sorcery. He muttered then let out a blast of flame as he prepared to collide with a volley of arrows which passed through him harmlessly. What in the world…? Pah! Stupid mages thinking they can fool me. I'll show them. He dipped down beneath the clouds then halted in a state of utter confusion; nothing but a barren wasteland sprawled before him, no towers, columns or archers. He shook his scaly head, I must be seeing things… He sped forward then blinked furiously as an entire city developed directly beneath him.

He let out a roar of annoyance and the city flickered. His companions remained sleeping as he blasted a powerful inferno of rage at the imaginary city. The buildings flickered, its response to fire damages far too slow to make Thorn believe it was real.

Stop! A shrill cry pierced into his conscious by an unknown intruder. Its alien features changed to Murtagh's familiar mental presence, Look, there's a place we can stay in just beyond that mountain. We'll stay there tonight.

How did you see that? Thorn inquired harshly, alarmed at the city's sudden disappearance.

I've heard stories about it. The presence flickered back to alien momentarily but Thorn placed it down to his inanity. Thorn glided towards the mountain with a strange uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

…

Thorn's giant paws finally touched down beside a homely-looking Inn with a large wooden stable beside it. Murtagh woke with a grunt, "Good work." He muttered as he surveyed the white, ivy covered exterior. He tugged the elf down behind him then carried her into the building.

"Hello my dears!" A female cheered from behind an oak counter, "Ooh dear, the poor gal…" She remarked at the elf's limp body. Murtagh barely let out a word before she had hustled them up into a tiny room. "Have a nice night!" She shut the door and left.

I didn't know anybody lived up here, Murtagh released his loose hold on the elf and tucked her into bed before slipping downstairs to the bar.

"Gimme something strong." He grumbled to the bartender then to Thorn said, Go hunt, patrol, something. Then sleep in the stable, it looks big enough.

Such a caring rider have I. Thorn sniffed before setting off to hunt. Murtagh groaned and found comfort at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. He rose the glass to his lips then paused as he saw the walls flicker. He shrugged it off as he drained the glass then felt someone sit in the stool beside him.

"Magdalina can answer your questions." A female voice whispered softly as though the person was in a trance. He glanced beside him but no one was there, "Magdalina knows everything… Providing you can find her…"

Murtagh panicked, "Where are you?" He snapped, standing abruptly and frowning as his scenery flickered once again.

"I'm the floor you are stood on and the whiskey you were drinking…" Murtagh spun around, desperate to find the owner of the voice in the suddenly abandoned bar. He rotated once again, the once homely building was suddenly a derelict building with skeletons dotted around the place in various tortured positions. He yelped when he realised the glass in his hand was a blood-filled skull. He spat and cursed before tearing up the stairs to retrieve the elf.

His stomach churned and he raced outside with her in his arms, "What is this trickery?" He demanded the haunted building to answer.

"I told you I was jinxed…"