#gray writes stuff

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. “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 remain 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.

“When we get back, we should take a walk around the coast and see what else there is,” he said. “I think there were tide pools by the ship.”

And they had a whole island left to explore. 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.

Perhaps it would have been more sensible to ask the eccentric libertine to do this, but Thorn could count the number of people he’d allow to stab his partner on one paw with claws to spare. No matter how much he appreciated her music collection. Even if it was just a needle and Murtagh asked her to do it.

Alín leaned a little closer, biting her lip and setting the needle against his ear. “This would be easier if you stopped squirming.”  

“It’ll be fine,” he assured her, willing himself to stay still. He had the decency not to point out that her hands were also shaking. “Just like sewing.”

“Just like sewing.” She took a deep breath before holding the piece of potato behind his earlobe.

“On the count of three.” She nodded in agreement, her hands steadying on her needle. “One, two, thr…”

There was a quick, sharp pinch, then Alín leaned back and wiped her needle on her handkerchief.

“That was it?” Thorn said.

“I told you it would be fine,” he said, picking up one of the little ruby studs Nasuada helped him select. It was tasteful, not too ostentatious and the stone would hold enough power to maintain his wards or provide an emergency store of magical energy. “Gather and store energy from light. If at three quarters capacity, stop. If limit in previous command exceeded, grow cold as ice.”

Both the limit and alert had been Thorn’s idea. He didn’t like the thought of Murtagh putting something dangerous so close to his head, but he’d been brought around to it when Murtagh explained that he could maintain his wards without expending so much of his own energy and promised to take as many precautions as the dragon wanted.

“How do I look?” It hummed faintly as it took in power, but he was sure he could ignore that.

“Very modern.”

“Like a scholar playing at being a pirate,” Thorn snorted.