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“So when are you going to be back?” Eragon asked.
A skewbald brown and white hatchling leapt to his shoulder and hissed at something on the floor. A small violet head popped in and out of frame, snapping its jaws at the other hatchling’s tail. His brother set the piebald hatchling on a high shelf, where they proceeded to smugly dangle their front paws at their playmate.
“It’s complicated!” he snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose and tipping his head back in a big show of irritation. Then he added in a softer tone, “I don’t know. We found another of Durza’s little surprises. I’m not even sure what we’re looking at. It could be a few days, could be weeks…”
Eragon shifted uncomfortably. “Do you want me to go out to help or…”
“We have it under control,” he said. “It’s not dangerous, at least not to us, just weird.”
“Alright, just be careful,” he said.
“Stop worrying,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”
Then Murtagh clicked the compact mirror shut and all but threw it into the saddle bag. He’d normally be more careful, but he didn’t want anybody to contact him. Or to know if anybody was trying to contact him. He still regretted listening to Eragon and putting a bell on the mirror.
Then he picked up his book, the coconut, and a bottle of spiced rum before wading over to where Thorn lounged in the shallow lagoon, the crystalline water lapping at his calves.
They’d had to fly off course on their way back to the academy to avoid a storm and taken refuge on a deserted island. When the weather cleared, they decided to explore a bit before moving on. So far, they’d discovered a lagoon, perfectly sized for a large dragon to have a nice swim, and a shipwreck with several casks of now very well aged rum.
“I’ve decided that they do not need know where we are,” he said, settling down on the soft sand beside his partner. He could figure out a better explanation for their sabbatical later. “Or when we’ll be back.”
“If we’ll be back,” Thorn said, tearing into the side of another large tuna.
“I like if,” he said, swirling the drink again, before tapping it against the dragon’s own in cheers.
Then he tipped his head back, enjoying the warm afternoon sunlight and the salt breeze on his face while cooler water washed over his legs.
If anything, the experience was altogether too pleasant, but while they remained vigilant, he could let him relax a little. He’d already decided not to ask too many questions about where Thorn had found a dragon sized coconut. It didn’t appear poisoned, it hadn’t made him sick, and a fancy drink was the very least of what the dragon deserved.
Before he could pick up where he left off in his book, Thorn nudged at his mind to show him the reefs enclosing the lagoon. He’d spent the late morning watching the colorful fish flit in and out of the coral before flying further out after larger prey.
“I want to show you in person later,” he said.
“It’s beautiful, I can’t wait,” he said. A sunset swim seemed the perfect way to end the day.
“And I heard whales while I was fishing,” he said. “We should try to find them tomorrow. Not to eat, they’re too clever for that, but I want to watch and listen.”
“They’re clever?”
“Far more than we are,” Thorn said, tossing his head back and swallowing the rest of the tuna in a single gulp. “For one, they don’t spend their days getting into the sort of trouble you get us into. And they make such lovely music…”
“When we get back, we can explore the island a little more,” he said. “I think there were tide pools by the ship.”
Before they’d landed, they saw cliffs of shining volcanic glass along the mountain to the north. As much as they were enjoying the beach, he was curious about what was hidden further in the jungle. But for now, all of that could wait.
He closed his eyes, listening to the waves and the strange, fringed trees rustling in the breeze. For once, entirely unconcerned.