The Last Dragons

Chapter 18; In with the old

Free Army Camp

When Caleb woke again he was still acting as a pillow to Solembum who was in a younger than normal child's form. Maybe not even a ten year old's body. All around him were scaled walls. He was lying against the silver bulk of Lucus and was closed off from the rest of the world by the sapphire-blue and flame-red scales of Saphira and Thorn. He felt much stronger than he had the last time he'd been awake and he'd probably regained perhaps a fifth of his magical reserves. Far more than a normal human Magician. His mind touched Lucus' not more than a second after he woke and his bonded slowly awoke to greet him. They merged together fully without a word and took stock of each other's bodies, checking for lingering damage from the fight with Galbatorix and Shruikan and Caleb felt Lucus' satisfaction when he discovered that Caleb had no lingering damage beyond the exhaustion.

"You are well, love." Lucus told him more than asked.

"As are you." Caleb answered softly before touching Solembum gently on the back of his neck. Solembum came alive rapidly and stretched out like the cat he sometimes was. He tucked his arms around Caleb's neck and pulled them tight, clinging to Caleb as he pressed his face into his neck and purred. Caleb could hear Lucus laughing through their bond but ignored him as he sat up and put Solembum in his lap. Solembum was naked but Caleb still retained his clothing. They were shut off enough from the rest of the world though so he wasn't that fussed. Solembum looked up at him sleepily before kissing his lips and before Caleb could respond the form in his lap was shifting and soon Solembum curled up in his lap as a cat once more.

Caleb stroked the back of his neck as he spoke. "Now there's no more war." He told himself, Lucus and Solembum. "Now we can live."

Lucus raised his head and the movement startled the other two slumbering dragons who twisted their necks to find their charge. "Now we can live." Lucus told them all.

"I'm going to find my brothers." Caleb announced.

"We're here, brother." Eragon's voice echoed across their open bond and with it he saw Murtagh laid out on a cot with a blanket up to his bare ribs. He didn't look as ill as he had before. His concern for Murtagh was clearly obvious though since Eragon addressed it quickly. "He's going to be fine but he hasn't woken up yet. Arya thinks it's just exhaustion."

Caleb raised an arm as Thorn set his head down beside him and then dropped his arm around Thorn's neck in way of comforting him. Thorn was his brother just as Murtagh was and he was worried for his rider regardless of Eragon's confident words. "I'm coming to you, Eragon." Caleb announced and lifted Solembum up into his arms as he rose.

"Your swords and bow are with Ingwe." Eragon told him. "You'll want them."

"I will?" Caleb frowned even as Saphira lifted herself up to give him a route out of the dragons nest.

"You will." Eragon told him though he was clearly hiding something. The same something he'd hidden from Caleb before.

"I'll be there soon." Caleb informed him before reaching out with his mind. His mind was subtle and only the best of the Elves sensed his presence as he sought out his Uncle. He found him across on the other side of the city and poked at his defences. They hardened against the intrusion but Caleb just waited patiently and they opened up just enough for him to leave an impression of himself. They opened quickly and Caleb slipped inside just enough to talk to him. "Ingwe. Uncle." Caleb called to him.

"Caleb. Nephew." Ingwe responded quickly, putting aside whatever else he was doing in the middle of the day. There was underlying concern there.

"My brother tells me you have my weapons." Caleb told him. "I need them."

"You are on your way to your brothers now?" Ingwe asked before continuing when Caleb confirmed it. "I shall meet you there."

Caleb withdrew without delay before walking between two tents and into the camp proper and the short walk to where Eragon was nursing their older brother. The tent was clearly the one that the Elves had made for Murtagh. It was red with the same trim that Caleb's had, signifying that Murtagh was family to Caleb. He walked straight up to the guarded door but one of the human guards leaned his spear across the entrance. Caleb frowned as he came to a stop and looked around. This wasn't a quiet part of the camp and they were not far from Islanzadi's command tent nor probably Nasuada's, Orrin's or Hrothgar's. There were also two Dwarven guards lingering nearby though they didn't come between Caleb and his brothers.

"Move aside." Caleb told him with a dangerous edge even as he spared a thought to Eragon inside the tent to stay out of this.

The men shook their heads. "We've been told that you are to see the Elvin Queen as soon as you awake."

"You were told wrong." Caleb told him sharply. "Move aside now or I shall go through you."

"You two!" Caleb wasn't surprised by the voice but more so by the tone he used and that Roran had interfered from where he had arrived with Katrina on his arm. The men frowned passed Caleb at the human even as the man moved to stand beside him. "What do you think you're doing? Get out of the damn way!" The men flinched at Roran's tone. "What do you have for brains? Razac guts? You don't get in a Dragon Rider's way. Move it!"

The men surprised Caleb by bracing themselves and clearing his path. Caleb walked between them with a muttered insult in the Ancient language and Roran followed him inside with Katrina. Caleb's gaze scanned the room even as he let Solembum jump to the ground. All the furniture was there that Caleb remembered and Murtagh was behind the screen on his cot although the screen had been pulled back so that Caleb could see all but his face. Eragon sat on a stool at the bottom of the cot looking rather tired. His face did light up at seeing Caleb in person though and Caleb returned the look with a warm one of his own. All irritation vanishing with the need to comfort his younger brother. Solembum hopped up onto Murtagh's stomach and then curled up on his chest and Murtagh grumbled in his sleep.

Caleb turned to Roran and Katrina. "I thank you for your help outside, Roran-vor." Caleb bowed his head and found himself being embraced by his human friend.

"I figure I owe you." Roran laughed. "Or you owe me. One way or the other, I don't really care to keep count."

Caleb turned to Katrina and his gaze flittered to her protruding stomach. She had to be three months into her pregnancy now. He focused on the growing life form for a moment before smiling up at her. "I sense strength." Caleb assured her being careful of his wording.

"You can feel her?" She asked.

"Or him." Roran grinned although it was clear to him he didn't mind which.

"I can." Caleb nodded before looking at Eragon. "As I could Eragon shortly after he was conceived. Elves are more attuned to it but anyone capable of sensing life can sense them after they grow a little."

Roran smiled at Eragon even as the younger boy stood up and crossed the room to join the conversation. Solembum could watch Murtagh for the time being. "Can you tell if it's a boy or a girl?" Eragon asked.

"I can." Caleb nodded before looking at Roran and Katrina. "Do you wish to know?"

They shared a look but both seemed delighted by the idea. They nodded to him. "He or she will be your extended family after all." Katrina smiled at Caleb.

"He and she." Caleb corrected making everyone stare in shock. "Twins."

Eragon threw himself at his older cousin and Caleb smiled and slipped away from the happy trio and over to his older brother. He knelt beside him on the other side of the cot and gently smoothed his hair. Murtagh twitched in his sleep and Caleb could feel his mind throb against his own. Thorn was all around Murtagh's mind, protecting his bonded while he was vulnerable but Thorn didn't prevent Caleb from reaching for his brother's mind. Regardless of the damage they'd all sustained in the final battle with Galbatorix and Shruikan the bond between the six of them still held strong. Murtagh was merely exhausted and Caleb withdrew to let him sleep in peace.

He looked up as he felt Ingwe and Arya's mind at the entrance to their tent but he didn't rise as Eragon shared the news of twins with her. Arya shot Caleb a look that told him she'd already known of their existence before she turned to congratulate Katrina who she'd fast become friends with. Ingwe moved over to Caleb and knelt beside him, placing both swords, his bow and quiver of arrows behind them.

"I'm sorry you must feel this pain, Caleb."Ingwe told him in a whisper so as not to disturb the others.

"He will recover." Caleb told him. "I can feel his mind against my own."

"This will not be easy." Ingwe sighed before he looked up as Eragon and the others moved closer. He shifted into the common language. "You must tell him, Eragon, and together you and he can argue for Murtagh."

"Argue for Murtagh?" Caleb frowned up at Eragon. "Brother, tell me what it is that concerns you all. I sense it in your minds and Thorn is distressed." Even as he said it he felt Thorn through his connection to the unconscious Murtagh.

"His powers..." Eragon huffed and knelt down opposite Caleb. "Everyone knows that Murtagh rose in power under some spell cast on him by Galbatorix. They let him use the power to win their war but now they're demanding that something is done to strip that power from him."

"That power is already gone!" Caleb hissed angrily. "You and I! Our powers eliminated it and shared our own in its place."

"They refuse to listen to my words." Eragon shook his head. "Even Islanzadi is speaking on their side."

"She is concerned that you are not experienced enough to recognise the danger." Arya spoke up with a sigh. "That you would not know if that corrupted power survives and now bleeds into you and Eragon."

"I know my brother." Caleb rose to his feet and turned to Arya. "I know them both as I know myself. I'd know if there was corruption and there isn't!"

"You must convince them of this." Ingwe told him.

"No." Caleb shocked them all with his declaration. "I'm done bowing to their commands as if we are nothing but horses in their stable! It's time they answer to me!"

"Caleb, control your anger." Arya warned but Caleb ignored her and a shudder ran through the ground and out into the camp, making horses shy in fear. Minds recoiled from him and he lashed out at them all.

"I call on you." Caleb hissed angrily. "Now!" His words throbbed through everyone there but he knew the message would get to those he was demanding to see.

"What are you going to do?" Eragon gasped as Caleb began arming himself.

"What I should have done as soon as I found out that Nasuada and Hrothgar were using you as a political pawn." Caleb told his brother before reaching for Thorn. "Thorn, I need you to come to Murtagh and not let anyone near him."

He heard the roar from where the three Dragons were waiting to see what he'd do. He felt the ground shake and then the thudding of air and then panicked shouts as something heavy landing in front of the tent. Caleb was outside in seconds and without a word the two human soldiers still at the door flew across onto the ground at Thorn's feet. Thorn snarled down at them and they scrambled away in fear. Thorn's tail swept aside a wagon, crushing it before he took up guard over the tent.

Caleb moved over to him as the others slipped outside and he stroked the red dragon under the jaw. "I'll protect Murtagh with my life. They won't touch him. Love you." Caleb told Thorn before turning to the others even as the shadows of Saphira and Lucus moved over them, they'd flown up high in case they were needed. Eragon was tightening his own sword into place and Roran was pushing Katrina back into the tent. Arya stood ready to walk with them as did Ingwe. Solembum still sat on Murtagh's chest and Caleb knew that the werecat would watch him for them.

"Thank you, Solembum." Caleb spared him a thought.

"Just don't leave without me." Solembum thought back in amusement. "Wherever you are going you take my heart with you. I'd rather stay with it if I can."

"We'll stay together." Caleb promised him before turning to the others, turning to Arya and Ingwe. "I doubt this will go well. Stay out of it please."

"I'll be there to support you." Arya told him. "You confided in me once and I told you I would fight beside you. That wasn't limited to Galbatorix."

"I do not agree with their decision on this." Ingwe told him. "I'll stand for what is right."

Caleb bowed to them both before looking at Roran. "In it to the end." Roran grunted and touched the hammer and sword at his waist.

"What is the meaning of all of this!" A voice yelled from the direction of the command tents. Caleb turned smoothly to see a human heading their way. "The dragons are to remain at the edge of the camp on Lady Nasuada's orders!"

"He's a prat. Just get rid of him." Eragon grunted but it was Thorn that took action. He lurched forwards and his furious roar split through the camp even as his tail lashed out and splintered a horse bar. The debris bounced through the tents, tearing holes and knocking down posts but it was the fire brimming at Thorn's mouth that sent the human soldier sprinting away in fear. Caleb reached over and concentrated for a moment on placing basic wards on Thorn just in case somebody tried something.

Caleb strolled up towards the command tent and clearly word of his arrival spread quickly as the soldiers marked him but didn't interfere. A horseshoe of command tents had been set up with a large canopy over the top and it was into this that Caleb strolled with Eragon at his side and Arya, Ingwe and Roran behind them. At the far end sat Islanzadi, Nasuada, Orrin and Hrothgar in a line and then around them stood those that formed the new council between the races. All of them were focused on Caleb though the humans chanced looks around at the others too. The Elves never once tore their gaze from him as they knew how angry he was.

Islanzadi rose gracefully and stepped forwards away from her chair. "Caleb, my pupil. I am pleased to see you are recovered."

"I have barely half of my reserves." Caleb told her truthfully but without any emotion.

"And as I and Arya were forced to look to our own strengths to help heal Murtagh I have not recovered fully either." Eragon moved closer to Caleb's right hand side but by unspoken agreement the others stayed a step back to either side of them.

"Aid was offered." Nasuada pointed out from her chair. "It was you that refused."

"Because you were sending magicians to aid us!" Eragon narrowed his eyes. His tone got a rise out of the crowd of humans packing the entrance behind them and the humans in the council. "I only permitted the Witch, Angela, to tend to Murtagh in my absence." Said witch appeared on their left amongst the crowd though she didn't make to move into the conversation.

"Our healers were rather busy with the wounded. Perhaps you missed the number of our injured while tending to your own interests." A human man stepped up between Nasuada and Orrin. Nasuada glanced his way with a withering stare that the man completely missed. Eragon actually growled as he stepped forwards but Caleb restrained him with a light touch on his arm. The look that Nasuada had given the man was one of warning, not recrimination.

"Since it is clear that you see us as nothing more that soldiers what is it that you demand of us?" Caleb asked seemingly obediently and muttering started amongst the crowd. Islanzadi's jaw tensed as she saw through his calm attitude but she was one of few that recognised the danger before them. The sun was briefly blotted out as the silhouette of a Dragon flew over the command tents but only Eragon and Caleb knew that it was Lucus.

"Murtagh has a taint within him that you must allow us to remove." Orrin spoke up calmly as he fiddled with the ring on his finger.

"And you have seen this taint for yourself?" Caleb asked. "Pray show it to me. All I see is a tired young man who without his aid you would have failed in this enterprise and continued to be at the mercy of a corrupt Emperor."

"A Dragon Rider." Hrothgar finally joined the conversation.

"And a Dragon Rider also saved your life." Eragon pointed out.

"Just as another tried to take it away." Nasuada retorted.

"You know nothing of magic as complex as that which bound my older brother!" Caleb snapped, his temper beginning to rise. His eyes flashed as Lucus merged fully with him and the elves tensed. In fact a few moved their hands closer to their weapons.

"So we must take your word for it?" Nasuada actually laughed at him as if he were a mere child. "It is only by your word that the spell was even broken in the first place. Only you and Eragon were present both when it was broken and later when you left to retrieve Morzan's son."

Eragon hissed. "Call me that if you must call him it!" An explosion of sound erupted at the dangerous tone to Eragon's voice. Outrage at how Nasuada had been spoken to.

"Quiet!" Islanzadi was still the only one standing before them and her words silenced the crowd.

"My point stands." Nasuada pointed out. "We have no body of our own that can testify to what actually happened at that battle and how the bond was broken. In fact I've never heard tell exactly how it was broken."

"Because it's none of your concern and I will not be the one to hand more magic to irresponsible humans." Caleb snapped.

"I am aware of the magic involved in this." Islanzadi cut across the new explosion of muttering as she looked to Nasuada.

"Still you cannot testify about the truth of his statement." Nasuada pointed out.

"He spoke of Murtagh's loyalty in the Ancient language." Arya pointed out as she moved up to Eragon's side.

"He spoke of his loyalty to Eragon and Caleb." Hrothgar pointed out. "They have never once sworn an oath to any of us."

"And why should they?" Roran interrupted. "Who ever said they had to fight for us? They owe none of us anything."

"Caleb owes Queen Islanzadi for his training and Eragon owes us for aiding him in his hour of need." Orrin pointed out.

"Command me on that debt then, Queen Islanzadi." Caleb narrowed his eyes at her as he stepped forwards. "Try it."

Islanzadi glanced around before stepping back and sitting down. "I cannot."

"What!" Nasuada gasped and Caleb knew they'd discussed using that debt before and Islanzadi hadn't promised anything. "What do you mean?"

"Making demands of the Queen of the Elves?" Caleb asked with a raised eyebrow before looking at Islanzadi with the same look. "Shall you explain or I?"

"My motives to train him were not just for his benefit but to ensure that Galbatorix could not twist him with promises of instruction." Islanzadi looked rather pale and worn as she spoke.

"And then?" Caleb pressed.

"And then I betrayed him when he needed me the most." Islanzadi sighed. "He owes me no allegiance."

"Still that leaves Eragon." Nasuada pointed out. "I am his liege-lady and Hrothgar is his clan leader. Such things cannot be cast aside so easily. Not to mention the aid we gave him in his own hour of need."

"You used him to defend Trondheim." Caleb narrowed his eyes again before Eragon could defend his own right to freedom.

"A battle brought on by his own arrival." A man pointed out from the council.

"So you can't fight our battles but we must fight yours?" Eragon asked his liege-lady.

"You must fight for your liege-lady and clan leader." Nasuada looked pleased for an instant before losing the look when Eragon turned to Caleb.

"You are no longer his liege-lady." Caleb told Nasuada before looking at Hrothgar. "Nor is he a member of your clan for you to order around."

"Such an oath cannot be rescinded." Nasuada looked smug.

"Yet again you do not understand the magic behind our bond." Caleb smirked. "We share everything including oaths. Either it is shared by us all or by none of us. Murtagh and I do not accept the oaths that you strong handed him into making when he could not fend for himself so it no longer exists."

"This is not a matter of magic!" A magician called from the side of the room. "It is a matter of a sworn pledge to serve our Lady!"

"Be silent." Caleb snapped angrily. "You have no place here." He turned back to Nasuada. "You were underhanded when you made Eragon swear that pledge to you because you knew he had nowhere else to turn to for support and King Hrothgar used that pledge to make Eragon swear his own."

"I've done nothing but support Eragon." Hrothgar pointed out sharply.

"When it furthers your own agenda!" Eragon snapped and moved closer to Caleb. He was nervous about facing the others, Caleb could feel it thrumming along their bond and spreading to them all, but Eragon drew strength from Caleb.

"Was it not spoken when Saphira's egg was first stolen from Galbatorix that none of the races would lay direct claim over the Rider that she chose?" Caleb asked with false calm.

"That changed when Eragon started a war." Nasuada shook her head. "We were forced to do what had to be done."

"You overstepped yourself." Caleb told her simply before turning to Islanzadi. "What is it that this council demands?"

"That Murtagh be given to the Elves so that the power that was granted to him by Galbatorix be removed." Nasuada told him. "This the Elves tell us is possible."

"Then I assume that they also told you of the risks." Caleb didn't take his eyes off of his old mentor. She looked so exhausted that Caleb couldn't help but pity her.

"Risks we are willing to take to ensure none of the corruption still exists." She told him.

"You are willing to take?" Eragon hissed angrily and his hand settled on Brisingr making all of the guards do the same. Caleb tore his eyes away to look around, levelling them all with a dangerous look. Eragon calmed himself. "It is not your right to decide that for Murtagh."

"He is a member of this army." Orrin pointed out.

"He is not." Eragon snapped. "None of us are."

Caleb let Eragon make the statement and he didn't contest Eragon's declaration and he probably couldn't have been heard even if he did since the uproar was enormous. Caleb did note that only Islanzadi didn't react dramatically. She merely shut her eyes and sighed gently.

Eventually the crowd settled down enough that Nasuada could speak and be heard. "Such a thing is dangerous to declare, Eragon. We have Murtagh and he is either our guest or our prisoner. As are the two of you."

Caleb actually laughed at that. "You want to make us enemies?"

"You make yourselves our enemies by not allowing us to remove the taint from Murtagh." Orrin shook his head.

"You could not face us." Caleb warned. "You needed us to face one Dragon Rider. How do you plan to face the three of us together?"

"We do have another Dragon Rider and Murtagh is not exactly fit to fight." Hrothgar pointed out.

"Then where are Oromis and Glaedr?" Caleb raised his hands to the sides. "If they stand by you on this then why do they not stand beside you against us now?"

"They..." Nasuada started.

"Refuse to accept the council's decision." Islanzadi finished simply yet her words carried easily and Caleb finally saw it in her eyes. She herself would give Caleb, Eragon and Murtagh their unconditional freedom. She wanted no part of this but to build up this world again she needed to be part of this new council or the three races would collapse on their own.

"What!" Nasuada gasped and looked around for support. Caleb looked around himself before focusing on Islanzadi with his mind even as his eyes scanned the council to see what they all thought.

"What will you do if I continue to defy them?" Caleb asked her as soon as she granted his mind access. "Will you let us leave without a fight?"

He met her eyes and stared into their depths as she focused on him completely but her response was spoken out loud into the noise of the outraged crowd. "The Elves release Caleb, Lucus, Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh and Thorn from any debts that may be envisioned by any here. They choose their own fate on their own from this time onwards and may none of my kind ever deny them their assistance." The crowd went utterly silent and the council shifted nervously. "Du Weldenwarden will forevermore greet them with open arms."

"You do not speak for the entire Council!" Nasuada rounded on Islanzadi and as one the Elves in the crowd tensed to come to their Queen's aid.

"No, I do not." Islanzadi nodded. "Yet if a decision is still made to attempt to force this decision on Murtagh then it will not be made by this joint council but by the Dwarven and Human races. Be it on their heads if they wish to make enemies of our greatest allies." She stressed the last word and a chill ran through the crowd.

"There is a taint!" One of the Magicians cried out. "Let them go and they'll return and try to destroy us all!"

Caleb seethed and turned to look at Eragon who was shaking with anger. "There is no taint. I would know if any of what Galbatorix did remained in my brother."

"If it hasn't already corrupted you." The magician spat.

"Is there a way of finding if such a taint exists before we do anything?" Hrothgar asked. He was looking a little more unnerved now that Islanzadi had completely sided with Caleb and Eragon.

"There is not." Islanzadi shook her head. "If there is a taint then it would react to any attempt to find it."

"There is no taint." Caleb told Islanzadi seriously and she nodded in acceptance.

"We should cast a spell to be rid of this taint just in case it does exist." The Magician told everyone and there was a smattering of agreement from the crowd.

"Such an invasion could permanently harm Murtagh." Arya spoke up as she lightly took Eragon's hand in her own. None of the Elves reacted to the display of affection.

"We must take that risk." Nasuada nodded to herself as if it were her decision that mattered.

"Vote on it then." Caleb said bluntly. "If that is your will or let us have our own choice."

"You will refuse." Orrin shook his head. "We will vote. All those on the council in favour of erring on the side of caution and targeting this possible taint raise their hands." He raised his own and Nasuada copied him and then Hrothgar. Most of those two races agreed but not one of the Elves voted against Caleb now that Islanzadi had told them what she really thought. There was no reason to count the votes of those agreeing with Islanzadi though since clearly the majority had won.

"I stand by that this is not a council decision but a decision made by the Human and Dwarven races." Islanzadi rose once more.

"Yet this vote stands in reference to this combined army." Orrin stated simply.

"Perhaps." Islanzadi nodded and stepped away from them. "But do not look to the Elvin army to help you enforce it."

"Enforce it?" Nasuada frowned before turning to Caleb and Eragon. "You would still refuse this order?"

"This decision holds no power over us." Caleb stated simply and slowly drew his sword. "You will give us leave now."

"That's not possible." Nasuada shook her head even as every soldier around them drew their weapons, even the elves though the human and dwarven soldiers were as worried about them as they were the two Dragon Riders. Roran, Arya and Ingwe all drew closer to Eragon and Caleb and raised their own weapons and Angela finally chose a public side in the argument and slipped up to them. Caleb and Eragon still stood facing the council though and Nasuada raised a hand. "Murtagh shall be attended to by Du Vangr Gata who will attempt to remove the taint."

"They don't know how to go about such a thing!" Eragon gasped in surprise. Clearly he hadn't realised what Nasuada would do without the Elves to cast the spell necessary for it. "How can you do this to him!"

"I have a world to protect." Nasuada told him simply.

"Then from this moment onwards you do it yourself." Caleb told them all loudly before suddenly kneeling down and touching the floor with his left hand as he muttered aloud. The Magicians cried out a warning but they had no idea what he had planned. Even as he cast it Arya told the others to crouch and the group bent down on one knee even as the earth heaved beneath them. Light erupted from Caleb and the earth followed the light as it burst out at the crowd around them. The Elves crouched quickly and rode out the attack but every human and dwarf around them was thrown bodily away from them because they didn't realise they needed to brace themselves.

Caleb only needed a little clear space though and a mass of silver thudded into the roiling earth in front of him as his magic tore the canopy to shreds. Lucus reared up and Caleb grabbed Angela and hoisted her up onto his back. He leapt up after her and glanced back at the disarray he'd left behind. Saphira was crouched low as Eragon helped Roran up onto her back and Arya and Ingwe had moved to her mother's side as the elves formed up around them, protecting them as they loaded up onto their Dragons. Caleb stayed crouched on Lucus' back since Angela was on the saddle and Lucus launched himself into the air with a thud of his wings that flattened the tents that still remained upright.

In seconds they were flying across the camp and landing heavily by Thorn who had flattened ten tents in his anxiety and was keeping everyone more than a hundred feet from him with his angry growls. Caleb leapt off even as Lucus ran to a stop. He took a waiting Katrina's hand and helped her up onto his Dragon's back. "Stay on Lucus." He told them both before focusing a thought on Lucus who growled but leapt back up into the air.

Caleb walked past Thorn with a gently pat and into the tent that housed Murtagh. Solembum was dressed in a baggy shirt and trousers, clearly some of Murtagh's and his brother was sitting up on the bed. Caleb grinned at him as he crossed the room and grabbed Murtagh's sword and armour and ducked back out of the tent and tossed the whole lot into Thorn's saddle bags. He was back inside as Solembum tried to help his brother sit up. "I'm sorry we woke you." Caleb told Murtagh as he helped him stand on his own feet.

"I'm confused." Murtagh frowned around him.

"We'll explain." Caleb told him. "Right now we need to leave."

Murtagh swayed and his eyes shut and Caleb took his weight as he sagged back into unconsciousness. Solembum ran out ahead of them and Caleb carried Murtagh out after him. By the time he had Murtagh strapped into Thorn's saddle and was climbing up behind Solembum they had a large group of humans heading their way, all armed and formed up into a defensive line. "Let's go, Thorn." Caleb patted his side and with a lunge Thorn leapt a dozen feet and then up into the air with his huge red wings thudding loudly as if to announce his departure. Thorn was furious and his roar of rage shook the air.

"Are you safe?" Eragon asked.

"We're safe." Caleb told him. "Our emotions woke Murtagh but he needs more rest."

"Where are we going to go?" Eragon sounded scared and Caleb pushed across every reassuring emotion that he could spare even as he held Murtagh tightly and Solembum hugged his back. "We can fend for ourselves but what about Katrina? What do we do now?"

"We head north along the river." Caleb told him and the Dragons who wheeled as they regrouped and headed north. They were already out of view of the army so they didn't need to worry about being followed. "The Elves left scouts in the towns that they passed through. We'll stay with them. I'll call Islanzadi now."

His mind slipped away and reached back to the armies below and he easily found Islanzadi in the middle of the Elvin sector. He could sense serious dispute below but the humans and dwarves weren't foolish enough to try anything against so many Elves. "Caleb..." She sounded so sad as she let him into her mind.

"We go north." Caleb told her.

"As will we." She agreed. "I cannot afford to sever all ties with this world. We must be one to rebuild this world and in time they will realise their error. We will rejoin with you and protect you. Murtagh will be left to recover in Du Weldenvarden. It's time for you to come home to us, Caleb."

Caleb choked and slipped out of her mind and buried his face in the back of Murtagh's neck. Solembum squeezed him tightly as he sensed his emotions. "Brother?" Eragon sounded concerned.

"I'm going home."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

They'd gone as far north as they could over the course of the day which in the end brought them to the Elvin controlled city of Gil'ead on Lake Isenstar and they'd been expected by the two hundred Elves and one hundred humans left to garrison the city who had all turned out to welcome them. Even though the city was excited to have them there it was clear that they all knew what had happened with the Council and except for being brought food and ale the group was left alone in one of the large stables that the three Dragons could just about fit inside. The three dragons were exhausted because they'd all been carrying at least twice the normal weight. Caleb had stayed with Murtagh and Solembum on Thorn's back while Angela and Katrina rode with Lucus and Eragon and Roran rode Saphira so even the large Saphira was tired and it wasn't long before all three dragons were asleep curled up together in a circle with a gap left between Lucus and Saphira if you stepped over her tail. That way they could all sleep inside the circle of their dragons.

Murtagh had yet to awake again and Caleb didn't expect him to wake until at least the morning so he was wrapped up against Thorn's side to sleep out the night. Caleb and Eragon had slipped outside to talk until nightfall and then so that Caleb could spend a few hours teaching Eragon one particular spell. It was a rather complex spell and took a great amount of focus to cast but Caleb had proved over and over again how useful the spell actually was. He preferred to teach Murtagh and Eragon the spell separately so he didn't mind teaching Eragon before Murtagh and he doubted his older brother would complain.

After Eragon actually cast the dream wandering spell Caleb lifted Solembum's cat form up into his lap in way of protection and left a hand on the back of his neck as he cast the spell himself. He focused straight down to the south where he could feel the Elvin army's camp about half a day's quick march north of the human and dwarven armies. He found Islanzadi's mind and slipped inside without resistance.

He appeared in Islanzadi's garden in Du Weldenvarden, he'd obviously never been there but she'd used it before when Caleb had contacted her. She forced his appearance briefly but then let him regain control of his appearance after it didn't really change. She looked around before smiling at him. "No Lucus?" She asked without letting him greet her.

"He is sleeping." Caleb shrugged gracefully. "All three of them are very tired."

"I received word that you reached Gil'ead safely." She nodded.

"We did." Caleb nodded before looking around with a slight frown.

"Caleb?" Islanzadi prompted.

"Eragon is taking his time." Caleb frowned but he'd barely looked back at her when Eragon appeared on his right and grinned widely at Caleb. "There he is."

"He successfully cast the spell then?" Islanzadi asked before nodding to Eragon in way of a compliment. "How is Murtagh?"

"He's sleeping." Caleb assured her. "I believe he'll wake up feeling much better in the morning. He awoke briefly during out confrontation with the council and I don't fear any consequences from his injuries."

"I am glad." Islanzadi nodded. "The both of you should return to your bodies and get some decent rest. You especially, Caleb. We march north now to Gil'ead and you may travel into Du Weldenvarden with us and remain as our guests until you decide what you wish to do."

"Some rest will do us good." Caleb nodded referring to the longer break in the Elvin forest city and not the coming night's sleep.

"It's time that you all get the chance to just be Dragon and Rider." She smiled warmly at them both. "No responsibilities."

"Just family." Eragon smiled brightly before they both faded from the dream reality.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three weeks later

Caleb didn't really know his own heart when they finally caught sight of what had to be Elesmera, the capital of the Elvin People deep within Du Weldenvarden. This was the centre for all of the Elves and even though most of the Elves lived spread out within the massive forest they all felt tied to this place. The place where the Elves had settled the longest.

Over the last nine days they'd trekked and flown through and above the trees. The trees had steadily grown to an impossible size, so much so that some of them took a full ten minutes to walk around their trunks. Caleb, Eragon and Murtagh could feel the throbbing sentience in the old trees and it filled Murtagh and Caleb with wonder even though they both hid their amazement from all but their bonded, Eragon and Saphira.

Caleb's own parents had lived near the edge of the forest closest to the Empire within a community of Elvin families that had chosen to live near to one another. There was no name for the community like the humans would call it but Ingwe tended to refer to it as the Water Glade because of the glade that the houses had been grown around.

As they emerged into what was clearly the city Caleb found it hard not to gaze around him in curiosity and merely kept his wandering eyes to a slow pace. Eragon was standing between his two older brothers in moral support and both he and Murtagh kept glancing at Caleb in concern. The buildings were all wooden and formed part of the trees themselves and most were at least a hundred feet above their heads with winding stairs inside or around trunks, all living parts of the trees.

"Eragon, please show your brothers around." Islanzadi turned to the youngest of the Dragon Riders. "We shall celebrate tonight in the main hall but please fly up to the nests and chose which of them you each would like."

"Nests?" Murtagh asked.

"Where the old Dragon Riders always stayed when they visited." Eragon told them before grabbing Arya's hand in his own and tugging her through the trees as he beckoned to Murtagh and Caleb. Arya didn't put up a fight but glared when Caleb laughed at her. Caleb turned to Islanzadi and offered a smile.

"It kind of feels like I belong." Caleb told her before glancing at Murtagh. "As long as my family are here really."

"I understand." Islanzadi nodded. "Please, follow Eragon."

Caleb nodded and turned to look at his silver dragon and Lucus lowered his head. "I will follow." Lucus told everyone with his mind. A black shape leapt off of the back of his head and Lucus huffed in annoyance even as Caleb caught the black cat and let him snuggle down into his folded arms. He dipped his head and kissed the fur on the back of his neck and heard Solembum purr in contentment.

They followed Eragon around for about an hour before flying for another hour and spent very little time finding a place to live. Eragon took the same nest as he had used in his previous stay and there were two other nests on the same tree, under each other and Murtagh took the lowest and Caleb the one in the middle. The 'apartments' were massive with large doors leading out of the tree that dwarfed even Saphira. It would be a very long time before the Dragons were too big to live in these nests with them. They cleaned themselves up and dressed in the nicest items they had and flew down to the main hall where they ate and celebrated with the other elves and finally returned to their nests late in the night.

"Horrible!" Solembum whined as he shook himself. He'd dressed for the meal but he tore off his shirt and threw it on a desk grown out of one of the walls even as Caleb slid the large doors across the entrance and Lucus circled the floor and settled down to sleep.

"Wearing clothes?" Caleb asked in amusement even though he knew exactly what was annoying the werecat.

"No!" Solembum huffed. "Her!"

Caleb crossed the room and gently circled the sixteen year old looking boy in his arms. He'd chosen a more adult form for the celebrations because of Maud gawking at him on the way to the city. He'd spent most of the trip through the forest curled up on Lucus' saddle or in Caleb's arms and in cat form because only with Caleb and Lucus was he spared Maud's attention.

"She knows I've accepted your advancements." Caleb whispered into the shorter werecat's left ear as he tightened his arms around his waist. "Everyone here knows it by now. I'm done being subtle."

Solembum twisted around with a smile. "You held my hand all through the feast!"

"I don't mind people knowing now." Caleb told him softly.

"And before?" Solembum asked.

"I didn't want anyone to hurt you to target me." Caleb told him before catching his lips with his own.

"I can look after myself you know!" Solembum told him but his happy smile didn't fade.

"Let me look after you too?" Caleb asked.

"If I get to look after you." Solembum countered. Caleb nodded and Solembum continued. "Deal then."

"Let's go to bed." Caleb told him and lifted the boy up into his arms with his enhanced strength. He let Solembum hug Lucus from his arms and then kissed his Dragon between the eyes.

"Goodnight, love." Lucus told him before putting his head under his wing. Caleb carried Solembum up the stairs even as the werecat worked at the buttons on his shirt and pulled it off. Caleb kissed his neck before lowering them both to the bed and moving to strip them both off for the night's continued celebrations.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two months later

Caleb held Lucus' neck lightly as he faced the others. They had quite a large audience but the most important of them were Roran, Katrina, Arya, Ingwe, Islanzadi and of course Murtagh, Eragon, Saphira and Thorn who looked rather solemn to see Caleb, Solembum and Lucus departing without them. Caleb had been planning this for almost two months though and Murtagh, Eragon and their Dragons had been in on it the whole time. They'd only announced it to everyone else a few days before though and he'd been given gifts by most of the people he'd gotten to know.

Caleb felt a pull to the south and Solembum had been encouraging him to follow it. Everyone knew that if you travelled far enough east along the Beor mountains you could find a way further south but nobody really knew what lay that way. Oromis had told him that to the south of the mountains grassland quickly gave way to a desert that made the Hadarac look like a beach. The Dragon Riders' influence had reached far down into those deserts but it had been the home of nomadic tribes of humans that had little to offer the Dragon Riders, thus they hadn't explored much further because of the harsh climate of the desert. Caleb would deal with all of that as it came and with Lucus and Solembum with him he wouldn't get lonely and he doubted that the bond he shared with Murtagh, Thorn, Eragon and Saphira had a limit on distance. If his family needed him he'd come back but he needed to know why he felt drawn to the south.

"Take care of yourself, Caleb." Ingwe embraced him fondly before backing away. He'd gifted Caleb with a hundred arrows that were tucked away in his large saddle bags.

Arya came forwards next and kissed him on the cheeks. "Look after Eragon for me?" Caleb asked. He and Murtagh were well aware that Eragon and Arya had moved into a sexual relationship, just as he was sure that Murtagh and Eragon knew that Solembum and Caleb had long since advanced their relationship on the journey to Du Weldenvarden.

"Of course, Caleb-vor." Arya hugged him. She'd gifted him with a cloth satchel bag that she told him had conveyed Saphira's egg through Arya's travels with her. It was well made and enchanted and he knew he'd find a use for it.

"My student." Islanzadi gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead even though Caleb had to dip his head for her to reach. "You have outgrown your teacher in so many ways. I will contact you at times since you cannot and I look forward to hearing of your travels." Caleb smiled back at her. She'd given him a second bow in case anything happened to the one Ingwe had sung for him before. The first one though was made for war and the second had clearly taken much time and was covered in the loving touch of something made to astound others. It was still made to withstand everything Caleb could throw at it though.

Roran and Katrina approached together. "So you're going to probably miss the birth then?" Roran asked but he was grinning a little.

"I'll be able to witness it through Eragon and Murtagh." Caleb assured them even though he'd said this all before.

"We'll be travelling back to Carvahall once the twins and I are well enough to travel again." Katrina told him. "Some of the Elves are coming to help us rebuild and the rest of the village is supposed to be returning there next summer after the snow thaws."

"I'll be sure to visit." Caleb promised.

"You'll have to visit Caleb and Luce." Roran told him and everyone got a laugh out of Caleb's shock and Lucus' snort of surprise. "We're naming the twins after the two of you for everything you've done for us. We know that without the two of you giving up your first time together to come to rescue us we'd probably all be dead."

"Thank you." Caleb told them before hugging them both. Lucus shifted and touched Katrina's swollen belly very lightly with his snout and Caleb, Eragon, Murtagh and all the elves felt the ripple of magic in the air. Lucus had just blessed them in that way that only a Dragon could and always without meaning to.

Finally Caleb found himself faced with his brothers and their dragons. "I wanted to fly with you for a while." Eragon told him miserably. "But that'll just drag this out and I know we'll still be able to feel each other in our minds."

"We will." Caleb nodded and suddenly found himself wrapped in a hug from the younger Dragon Rider.

"I'll miss you." Eragon whispered into his ear. "You've always been my strength in all of this, ever since you first visited. You were the first one other than my mother to know that I existed. You've always loved me in some way haven't you?"

"I have." Caleb whispered back before pushing Eragon away to arms length. "Murtagh will look out for you and so will Arya. Keep an eye on Murtagh though, okay. He's always getting into trouble without me around to keep him out of it."

"Standing right here you know?" Murtagh grumbled and Caleb turned to him and hugged him tightly. "The only other time we've been apart like this for so long was..."

"I know." Caleb nodded sadly against his brother's shoulder. They both knew Murtagh meant when Murtagh had left to find Eragon, been captured after Caleb had escaped and then the six months until they'd met again. "You have Eragon this time."

"I do." Murtagh glanced at his younger brother with a fond look. "I'm growing quite fond of him." Eragon spluttered out in horror at the words and Murtagh wrapped an arm around him and drew him back but not without parting words for Caleb. "You take good care of yourself."

"Of course." Caleb nodded even as Thorn lowered his head and jabbed him in the chest hard enough to send him staggering backwards. Caleb caught his head and hugged the large red head against him even as he kissed him between the eyes. "Lucus will look after me and I'll look after him. I promise you."

Thorn looked up into his eyes but didn't have to say anything before he moved to Lucus and looked over the saddle and then his brother's wings and tail before finally butting heads with him. Lucus let his head fall against Thorn's neck and a growl rippled in the air as the two shared their farewells without needing words. They might as well be twins as far as things went.

Saphira was right in front of him when Caleb turned away from the silver and red dragons but she turned and dipped her head to meet Solembum eye to eye. "Together you will not fail." She told everyone even though the words were for Solembum and Caleb.

"No." Solembum shook his head. "We won't." He agreed before grabbing Saphira by the neck and hugging her head." Caleb moved and hugged her too, rubbing at her scales as he did so. He finally backed away and let Saphira say goodbye to Lucus briefly and then let Murtagh and Eragon hug his dragon before he climbed up into the saddle and pulled Solembum up with him.

"This is not goodbye." Caleb told everyone loudly. "I don't exactly know what I'm going to look for but I'm not abandoning this part of the world or my family and life here. I'll be back to hold Caleb and Luce and I'll be there to stand with Eragon and Murtagh when they wish to face the world. Take care of one another."

Lucus spread his wings and turned to the cliff that had been behind them all of this time and in a single bound he threw himself off of the edge. Seconds later Lucus' wings caught the wind and they were soaring high over the trees below them. They banked sharply and started to climb and soared over their friends and family even as Saphira and Thorn roared after them. Lucus twisted in the air in farewell and then they were gone from sight, hidden by the huge green canopy of Du Weldenvarden.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Tronjheim

News had spread from the Elves to the other races that Eragon and Murtagh were remaining in Du Weldenvarden for the winter to be there for Katrina's birth but they also learnt that Caleb and Lucus were flying south beyond their borders in search of something important even though nobody knew what it was. So it came to be that whilst travelling down the eastern edge of the Hadarac desert he was contacted during the night by Arya with an invitation to Thronjheim. He'd been tempted to refuse and tell Arya to tell them that she hadn't been able to reach him but in the end he decided that whatever ground he could cover with the dwarves could only help Murtagh and Eragon when they emerged from Du Weldenvarden so he met up with members of Dugrimst Ingeitem, Eragon's former adopted tribe, in a valley close to the insurmountable mountain that housed the dwarven city and travelled on foot through a day's worth of dark tunnels before emerging in the hollow mountain centre with its massive tower.

As he, Solembum and Lucus paused at the entrance to the city, ten miles from the tower, he could see why Eragon had been awed by this place. It was a testament to dwarven engineering and he couldn't wait to get up into the air and see it from high above. He wanted to get as high as he could and see the tower from so high that it was barely visible. He knew though that near the peak of this mountain the air was so thin that he'd suffocate and he didn't think he could hold the air for long enough with his magic to make that an easy exit. If it had been possible then the old Dragon Riders wouldn't have put up with the long treks through the dark tunnels when they visited.

The city was filled with dwarves of all ages as well as several thousand humans, mostly women and children, the families of the Varden that had stayed behind when the battles had started. They all filled the streets to watch Lucus parade himself down towards the tower and Caleb was told to ride his Dragon. He'd long ago gotten over the shock of hearing people talk about Lucus as if he wasn't there and unfortunately Lucus had gotten used to it too. Caleb normally made rather short responses to people that acted like that but he rarely really got up in arms about it.

King Hrothgar was waiting in the entrance to the tower when he arrived as well as about a hundred very well dressed Dwarves. Probably clan leaders and their senior clan members. King Hrothgar bowed to him in a jerky motion like that made by an elderly man and Caleb dismounted from the saddle and helped a ten year old looking Solembum down after him. Caleb was dressed in his own Elvin armour and so was Lucus and Solembum was dressed in brand new armour that the Elves had gifted to him before their departure. It was silver just like Caleb's and Lucus' and he knew that Lucus was pleased by the colour. He'd said that it was Lucus' claim to the two of them. They were his because of the colour of their armour. It could be said that most armour was silver in colour but the Elves had gone out of their way to make their armour look as close to Lucus' colour as they could manage and it shone with all the spectrums of the rainbow just like his scales did making them seem beyond mere mortal in appearance. Solembum refused to transform in the armour because he said it was simply impossible to be a cat when wearing the armour even if it was impossibly light and easy to move in. He did have several different sets though for the different aged bodies he took on.

Caleb turned back to face Hrothgar and saluted him with a fist over his collar bone in the way of the Elves and bowed ever so slightly in the way of humans and dwarves before he lifted a hand to sit on the side of Lucus' large head, reminding the others of Lucus' presence and just so he could touch his bonded.

"Welcome, Shurtagal, to Tronjheim." Hrothgar announced loudly. "Where you and your kin will always be welcome."

Caleb nodded and Hrothgar gestured behind him. Caleb followed him into the ground floor of the tower and into a massive corridor that Caleb knew led into the central chamber that reached all the way up to the nests at the peak of the tower. Lucus walked slowly on Caleb's right as Hrothgar guided them from his left and Solembum walked right between Caleb and Lucus. "I understand that you are leaving Alegaesia for a time."

"I am." Caleb nodded. "I have always wondered what lies south of Alagaesia and this is the time to venture out and find the truth."

"But you will return?" Hrothgar asked.

"I shall." Caleb nodded. "Be it in a few months or a year or ten years."

"I requested your presence because I did not wish for you to depart these lands without hearing my apology." Hrothgar sighed and Caleb glanced at him with a frown. "I did a great wrong to you after the battle that won us our freedom. It was my folly to allow myself to be convinced by Lady Nasuada's argument but she was not wise in this. I should have heeded Queen Islanzadi's council. She has reigned in this world longer than even I have been alive. She told us to trust your judgment in these matters but the humans of the council are like us in that over the last century we have grown to distrust all of the Shurtagal. It is not a mistake I plan to make again and you have my faith in whatever decisions you are fated to make."

"I appreciate it." Caleb told him after a moment's delay. "I accept your apology however it is not Murtagh nor I that this apology must be tested by."

"Eragon." Hrothgar nodded.

"You betrayed a member of your own clan, King Hrothgar. Your clan turned its back on one of its own and not only that but you attempted to use his faith and allegiance for your clan against him." Caleb spoke harshly and could hear the way the dwarves behind him reacted to his words. A lot of them were from the clan that had betrayed Eragon. "You tried to make him choose Clan over his own brother. I believe you have laws within your clans against such a thing."

"Eragon is the first human ever to be adopted into a clan and normally brothers would never be raised in separate clans." Hrothgar sighed before shaking his head. "No matter though. Your words are true. We mistreated Eragon and we shall not ask for his support until we are ready to truly support him in return."

"Tell him I will be waiting." Eragon whispered into his mind and Caleb bit his lip to prevent the laugh that tried to escape. He'd known Eragon and Murtagh were watching through his eyes.

"Eragon will be waiting." Caleb told him before stopping just as they entered the massive central chamber where a team of dwarves were painstakingly repairing the enormous ruby that Saphira and Arya had broken more than a year ago. "He has heard your words though."

Hrothgar flinched and bowed low to Caleb and Caleb turned to look around in way of ending the conversation. It was for Eragon to make in person and not to continue like this. "I cannot remain here long. I have a path before me and I wish to follow it."

"I understand." Hrothgar looked eager to change the subject too. "It is quite late now but if you wish to give us a list of supplies we will be happy to accommodate you for the morning. We've made up one of the nests for you to stay in and I only ask that you eat breakfast with us tomorrow morning. I will walk with you out of this mountain and see you off tomorrow and please visit us here when you return from this adventure."

Caleb nodded. "I will try."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Ten months later

The sand slowly slid away like an ebbing tide and out of the golden sea emerged a stone structure, just like Garraday had promised. The onlookers gasped in awe of Caleb's magic and moved back away from the emerging tomb. It was a simple entrance to a deeper chamber that was spoken of in Kete legends but Caleb felt drawn to its treasures just as he had for the long months behind him so with Solembum at his side and Lucus ready to wait outside for them he moved closer to the dark mouth of the tomb. He paused in the entrance and glanced back at the twenty men that the tribe had sent with him. Their debt repaid.

The road had been long for Caleb, Lucus and Solembum but they hadn't been alone. Murtagh, Eragon, Saphira and Thorn shared in their journey just as Caleb and Lucus could share in their brothers' lives back in Alegaesia. Murtagh and Eragon had emerged from Du Weldenvarden after the twins had been born and returned with a few elves including Arya as well as Roran and Katrina to meet with the people of Carvahall back in Palancar Valley and had spent the summer rebuilding their homes.

Caleb's own journey had only born results after two months of exploring further south. The sun now travelled closer to the northern horizon than the southern but he'd found civilisation in the way of roaming tribes in the vast golden deserts. They had been overwhelmed by Lucus but the tribes had been gathering against an invading threat from the south. Raiding parties had been capturing tribesmen for decades but the tribes had had enough but they were nothing compared to the more advanced southern peoples who held the same sort of weapons as those in Alagaesia. Caleb had spent months moving slowly through the desert with the tribes, learning their language and culture even as he told them about the Dwarves, Elves and humans of the lands north of the 'Wall' as they called the Beor Mountains which had been discovered and forgotten about in all but legends amongst their people.

They hadn't asked Caleb to fight their battles for them but Caleb had chosen to help them defend their greatest settlement near the southern edge of the desert and he'd been happy to protect their children against what he'd learnt was a cruel people. It had taken months of fighting but finally the tribes had beaten away their enemy and Caleb had flown south to make his own point against slavery of any kind, going so far as to burn a city to the ground although he'd avoided killing anyone in the process.

After their victory the tribal elders had summoned Caleb to a remote mountain deep within the desert where the tribes' treasures were stored and amongst their greatest treasures were the stories told between old Elder and new Elder, passed down over one hundred and fifty years ever since a mighty beast had appeared to them with a human rider and a treasure the worth of which they could not guess and did not understand. The Rider had bid them to hide the treasure until a worthy person came before them and that was what led Caleb and Solembum to cautiously slipping deeper beneath the ground into this tomb.

Caleb kept one hand on Solembum's shoulder as he held a magical light in his other which he could use to defend himself with also but he was the one to gasp when his light hit part of the treasure causing it to glow and reflect the light against more of the treasure.

"Brother..." Murtagh gasped within his mind and Caleb felt every other soul that was watching through his own eyes vibrate with happiness at the worth of the treasure spread out for the single Shurtagal and Werecat far away from Alagaesia, hidden away by some Dragon Rider a century and a half ago as an insurance policy. This, to Caleb and his family, was the greatest treasure in the entire world, a chance for them to better the world.

The true treasure was that they were no longer the last of their kind. The Dragon eggs slept peacefully waiting to choose a worthy Rider, just as Saphira, Lucus and Thorn had. The ones they loved were no longer the last Dragons.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The End