{'So, who's the father?'} asked Logan, gazing down at the newly laid egg.

{'I'm not obliged to share that information,'} replied Sashi with a dragon's smirk.

The golden dragon was curled around a nest, the silver egg sitting neatly in the middle, only an hour or two old. When Logan had found out that Sashi was with egg he was surprised, to say the least. She had shown no sign of courting any male dragons, nor any emotions for any. When he had probed her mind for the information she had blocked him out, annoying him to no end.

{'Come on Sashi. It's been lain now. You can tell me,'} he exclaimed, resting his head against her flank.

{'Nope, I think I'll keep you in the dark a while longer,'} she said with a rumble.

Logan thought, {'Is it that green dragon you've been spending time with lately.'}

{'Of course not! He's my sire. Even dragons don't commit incest,'} she growled, shocked that her rider would even think of the possibility.

{'Well I didn't know that,'} he said a little defensively.

She snorted. A large object tapped Logan in the head, causing the prince to gasp, his hand flying to his head. He rubbed the saw spot caused by the golden dragon's tail, and glared at her. She rumbled a laugh again, nudging him comfortingly with her muzzle. He pushed her snout away, grumbling.

{'You should go,'} said Sashi after a moment's silence, {'Eragon has called for you. I think it has something to do with that sickness. Your one of the few that hasn't caught it yet.'}

Logan sighed, not wanting to think about it. The sickness had come in about a month ago. It hit hard and fast. Not one rider was ready for it. It started off simple enough. The occasional headache. Nausea. Dizziness. The normal symptoms of a common cold. But it had gotten worse, far worse. Both riders and dragons started going mad from the disease. Crazy hallucinations affected both sides of the partnership. Nightmares awoke people from their sleep and every night screams and roars of terror were thrown through the mountains from both partnered and unpartnered dragons.

Yet that wasn't the worst part. It seemed the dragons were... dying. Not in a physical sense but in a mental sense. As if their souls just left them in the middle of the night. It had only happened a few times, but it was enough to kill a few riders. One or two had even committed suicide, while others had just gone mad with grief and attacked and killed others. Logan himself had been attacked once, when he was trying to comfort one of the riders who's dragon had just slipped into the mental death. He was lucky however and got away uninjured.

The golden rider got up from his seat at Sashi's side, {'Be careful, and stay here until I get back.'}

Sashi snorted, {'You're in more danger then me out there. Besides, what sought of mother would I be if I left my egg.'}

Logan smiled tiredly and her and gave her a pat on the head. She purred slightly at his touch. He strapped on his two swords. The golden riders sword, Kuldr, and his shadebane sword. He never went anywhere without them now.

As he walked through the halls of the seemingly empty riders halls cries of anguish and horror echoed through them. Like a haunted city. He shivered, trying to block them out. He could do nothing for them now, not until they found a cure to this sickness.

It was a long ten minute walk to the master's room. He met very little people on the way, not that there were many that were fit to walk anyway. He stopped before Eragon's door and knocked heavily. It opened, seemingly by magic.

Logan entered. It was a rather large, plain room. There was a bookshelf hanging from the side and a table surrounded in leather strapped chairs. In the centre was a desk covered in papers and drawings. On the other side sat the haggard figure of Eragon, bent down, writing quickly on a piece of paper using the light of a single candle.

"Ebrithil?" asked Logan hesitantly, sitting down on the other side of the table.

Eragon looked up from his work, revealing his tired face. Bags hung from under his eyes. The energy that Logan remembered in his mentor was all but gone. Eragon gave him a tired smile.

"You came," he made an effort to sit up, yawning.

"Are you infected?" asked Logan, slightly scared by his appearance.

To his relief the older rider shook his head, "No, not yet. I'm just exhausted. Tired."

A rustle behind him caused Logan to looked up. The large blue form of Saphira shifted so her head came to rest behind Eragon. She didn't look much better. The usual glistening blue scales seemed rather dull and one or two looked to be torn out from her side. They looked infected.

"Me and Saphira have been making quick flights across the land, trying to find a cure," explained Eragon when he saw Logan's doubt, "We haven't had much of a chance to rest. We were just recently attacked by a mad wild dragon, and were forced to retreat back here."

The golden prince nodded in understanding, "Have you found a cure?"

Once again Eragon shook his head, "No."

Logan hung his head.

"But we no of someone who may have an answer."

At this Logan's head perked, and a small feeling of hope swelled within him, "Really?"

Eragon smiled grimly, "Yes. My half brother. Murtagh. I have recently tracked him down, somewhere just a little west of the Beor Mountains in Alagaesia. Right on the border of the country. Apparently he managed to cure a wild dragon, though he hasn't worked on humans yet. My plan is to bring him an infected rider, so he can find a cure for them as well."

Logan smiled, so there was hope after all, "Who were you thinking?"

"One of the newly infected. Maybe Trixie. She caught the disease yesterday," he said, "But I'm going to need help. Both Saphira and I are exhausted. I don't think Saphira will be able to make the distance at speed, which is needed. And all the other dragons big enough to carry three are sick."

"But Sashi..." he stopped talking, realising what he meant.

Eragon nodded, "Yes, besides Sashi. I want Trixie, you and me to ride Sashi to Murtagh. From what I've seen from her she is a strong minded and willed dragoness, and will be able to get there with speed. I want you to come because I also know that you are the only human she trusts completely, being basically a wild dragon."

Logan nodded, knowing Sashi didn't think much of other humanoids, "There's just one problem Eragon. She has just laid her first egg. I'm not sure whether or not she would be willing to part with it."

Eragon raised an eyebrow, "Who's the father?"

Logan shrugged, "She hasn't been obliged to tell me."

Eragon let out a bark of laughter, before growing serious again, "Share my congratulations with her, but we need her if we are going to take this trip. No other unsick dragon is big enough, besides Saphira who is to exhausted to fly."

Eragon paused. Logan assumed Saphira was talking to him. His master turned to face the large blue dragon and shook his head. Their argument lasted for a couple of minutes, before the large blue female shuddered with a sigh and turned away. Eragon turned back to Logan.

"Sorry about that," he apologised, "Could you perhaps persuade her to take us. If not then I fear all is lost."

Logan nodded his head, "I'll try Ebrithil," he spoke in the ancient language, before turning and leaving the room.

He walked quickly through the sunken halls of the dragon rider academy once again. Screams and wails echoed all around, causing a familiar set of goose bumps to rise on his skin. He passed one of the non-bonded elves that lived with Eragon. She gave him a tired smile before hurrying on.

It was strange that none of the unbonded elves had caught the disease. It seemed only dragons and their riders were trapped by the sickness. It had caused Eragon suspicion but once he had gone through the minds of the elves nothing had come up. Logan's theory was the sickness only affected dragons and through them their riders. It was the reason that only the dragons fell into the dead mental state.

As he rounded into the room to meet Sashi he was surprised to find her standing and stretching. She was beating her wings, seemingly warming up for a flight. She glanced down at him, nodding at him.

{'What are you doing?'} asked Logan surprised.

{'I listened to you're conversation with Eragon. My answer is yes. I will go. But I'm taking my egg with me,'} she said.

{'Um... okay,'} said Logan, even more surprised that his dragon had accepted the contract.

{'Close you're mouth Logan,'} she said with a snort, {'You shouldn't be too surprised. I know that soon I'll also catch this disastrous sickness, and if we can't find a cure what use is a dragon mother that doesn't even have a consciousness. Besides, I can't have my hatchling hatching in a world where everything dragon is gone.'}

Logan nodded, {'Well that's great! I guess we should get ready as quickly as possible. I'll put you're egg in a saddle bag so we can carry it.'}

Sashi nodded, {'Good. I just told Saphira of the situation, and she seemed a little annoyed that I had said yes, but it can't be helped now.'}

She paused suddenly, titling her head, probably receiving a mental message, {'Oh, Eragon said the sooner the better. He said 'meet him at the front of the academy'.'}

* * *

It didn't take long for both of them to be ready for the trip. They didn't plan on bringing much. Logan had his two swords, a bow and a pack full of dried food and a camping mat. He would just use Sashi as his tent.

He made a mental checklist and delivered Sashi's egg into a pack. She looked back at him, making sure that it was well secured. Dragon eggs were harder to crack then diamond, but a fall from high enough would break it.

The dragon and rider made their way through the halls haunted by screams one last time. Both hoped it would be the last. Eragon and Trixie both met them out the front of the academy. While Trixie and Logan still had a strong dislike for each other, it was shadowed with respect, and probably fear as well. Only Eragon and Trixie knew what had happened in the shade's cave, and both had agreed not to talk about it. Eragon and Logan healed rather well from their wounds, but the prince was stuck with two more scars. One in his wrist and the other in his shoulder. They didn't hurt much however, and didn't give him the pain that Eragon spoke off that usually came with wounds from a shade.

And the spell he had cast then... surprised him. As far as he knew, and Eragon knew, Sashi was not a word in the ancient language, and therefore could not be used to cast a spell. Eragon had guessed he had just cast it through thought of mind, and just shouted the name out of instinct. Logan wasn't too sure however. The word commanded the spell.

He had tried to get back in contact with Torik multiple times, but the dwarf had just disappeared, and once the sickness appeared he gave up looking. Once it was dealt with he would begin his search once again.

The three riders hauled themselves onto Sashi's back. The golden dragon watched and shifted slightly. Logan could feel that she was uncomfortable with having other two-legs, as she often referred to humanoid creatures, on her back. Once they had all strapped themselves into the saddle Sashi took to the air with a beat of her wings.

She circled once around the mountain that house the dragon rider academy before turning southeast under Eragon's command. Logan found himself smiling. One could not fly on a dragon's back without feeling a sense of wonder and excitement.

Logan arranged himself in the saddle so he was as comfortable as possible, ready for the long flight ahead. He turned back to Eragon and Trixie. Both looked a little sickly, Trixie more then Eragon, but Eragon seemed better then before. He guessed Saphira had given him some of her energy.

Because Trixie hadn't fully succumbed to the sickness yet she was still able to hold an intelligent conversation, somewhat. Occasionally she would groan, placing her hand on her head fighting a wave of pain. Other times she would faint, probably from a dizzy spell. Only the leg straps on the saddle kept her in place.

The three passed the time talking to each other. Occasionally Logan and Trixie would argue, and at other times they would discuss what the cure for the sickness could be, or how it came to be. They came up with interesting theories, but Logan knew that they were too bazar to be true.

As the sun began to set on the horizon Sashi began searching for a spot to land and sleep. She circled around a nearby clearing and came down into it, landing with a slight thud. Logan could feel her exhaustion seeping through her tired wings. She curled herself around her tail and almost instantly fell to sleep. He smiled as he realised the saddle bag with the egg was in the middle of the circle she created.

Eragon and Logan started a fire while Trixie sat down, complaining about another wave of dizziness. Eragon had Logan light the fire, for when ever he spoke the word 'Brisingr' his sword caught alight. The three riders sat around the golden fire, warming their hands. Trixie fell to sleep quickly, leaving Logan and Eragon alone.

They sat in silence for a few moments, alone in their thoughts, when Eragon suddenly spoke up.

"What is Alagaesia like now?" asked Eragon suddenly.

Logan was surprised by his question, looking up at his master, "What do you mean?"

"I haven't been there in... twenty years now I think," he said frowning, "No, twenty five. For you it has been two years since you left. What was it like when you left?"

Logan thought for a second, "It was a peaceful place. Everyone seemed happy, not worrying about the world beyond. The only pain was being rejected by the dragon eggs, or lovers of course. The Urgal games are looked forward to every four years and thousands of people from all over Alagaesia participate. The elves usually win of course. Its kind of the challenge to beat them. Ilirea has grown as well, and Nasuada has done well as queen, but she's getting old now. I assume she's going to name a heir soon, since she hasn't married."

Eragon smiled, "No, no she hasn't."

A slight flash of sorrow passed through the master's eyes, and Logan pitied him. He hadn't seen his homeland in such a long time, and to be able to get so close, but not enter was probably hard for him to bear. It was hard to imagine that the mighty Eragon had feelings like a normal man, but he did. It felt strange to see him this vulnerable.

With a sigh Eragon got up from his seat on the ground, "Well, we best get to sleep. Put out the fire if you don't mind. I assume Sashi will want to hunt in the morning and we will have to be ready to leave as soon as possible."

Logan nodded and got up himself. He put the fire out with a wave of his hand and a word, leaving the campsite dark. He made his way over to the glittering golden body of Sashi and climbed over her tail and under her wing. He didn't bother with a camping mat, being too tired to care. Sashi murmured a little and moved, allowing Logan to rest more comfortably.

{'Good night my rider,'} murmured the tied mind of Sashi.

{'Good night my dragon,'} replied Logan with a tired smile, and fell to sleep.

* * *

The next few days followed a similar routine. They would wake early in the morning. Sashi would eat breakfast while the other's got ready, and then they would set off again. Always flying southeast. Both Logan and Sashi were getting more excited as Alagaesia flew closer. They would not enter it, maybe, but it would still be a relief to at least spot their homeland again.

All three riders on Sashi's back sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying the wind. Logan had his eyes closed and his hand resting on the golden dragon's neck. She was humming contently, letting the comforting sound run over the humans on her back.

Suddenly the humming stopped, and Logan felt his heart jump. A pain began to worm its way into his head. It started as a dull throb and was slowly getting heavier. A snarl came from Sashi.

{'My head's hurting,'} she growled in his mind, and Logan could feel her worry.

{'Mine is to,'} he replied, scratching the saw spot on his head.

He looked back at Eragon and Trixie. They had not yet noticed. Eragon was gazing far into the sky, seeming lost in thought, and Trixie was unconscious from her latest laps in consciousness.

Suddenly the pain worsened ten fold and Sashi screeched in pain, faltering in the air. She dropped a couple of feet before righting herself again, beating her wings furiously to keep in the sky. Eragon was jolted out of his daydream and gripped her saddle a little more tightly.

"Logan what's happening!" he yelled over the wind.

"Hold on!" he yelled, before reaching his mind into Sashi's again, {'Find a landing spot and wait for it to subside.'}

Sashi was in too much pain to argue, and frankly Logan wasn't feeling up to flying any more either. They crash landed into a clearing that they managed to find. The riders quickly slid off her back. Eragon unstrapped Trixie from the saddle and carried her to the ground.

As soon as Logan hit the ground his vision swarmed. He stumbled and ended up on the ground on all fours, groaning. His vision swam with red and he couldn't feel the rest of his body. Behind him he was vaguely aware of Sashi thrashing around, struggling with her own dragon-downing pain.

It seemed like forever for it to ware off. As it dissipated he felt the hand of someone on his back. He looked up to find the worried look of Eragon watching over him. With a grim grin he pulled himself to his feet, coughing.

"It's seems to have caught up to us," grunted Logan.

Sashi crawled her way over to them. She seemed to have suffered worse then her rider. Golden fire was washing away at the trees. Torn up trees were scattered around the clearing. It was as if a hurricane had attacked them.

Logan placed what he felt like was a comforting hand on Sashi's head. She murmured slightly under his touch. Their minds melded, comforting each other in as many ways as possible. He hugged her head to his chest, whispering sweat dragonsong to her. Something she had taught him a while ago.

He looked back at Eragon, who was sitting on a log with his head in his hands. Trixie had just woken up, and was gazing around in weary confusion.

"What happened?" she asked.

Eragon looked up at the fallen dragon and rider, "I can't ask you to go on. Not like this."

Sashi growled, {'I will carry you to Murtagh Eragon, that I promise you. I don't want to end up like the others.'}

"But your sick! Going any further could hurt you far worse then what happened then," he exclaimed.

{'No!'} replied the persistent dragon, hauling herself to her feet, {'I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me, and my rider, and my hatchling. I would go through pain far worse then this to see this mission through.'}

Eragon sighed, shaking his head, "You sound just like Saphira."

She snorted, {'Now all of you, get on my back. This mission just became so much more urgent.'}

An understanding struck Trixie and she looked at Logan in shock, "You have it too?"

Logan nodded his head, "It seems."

They all scrambled atop the golden dragon once more and she took to the air with what seemed like a new strength in her wings. They sped towards the southeast as fast as dragon wings could carry them.

* * *

As each day past the sickness grew worse. Sashi was forced frequent rest stops, sometimes even falling out of consciousness. Logan felt no better and often followed what happened to his dragon. Trixie was getting worse as well. Headaches plagued her every hour and at some points she said she saw movements in the woods. Hallucinations. It wouldn't be long now. Eragon was forced to watch hopelessly as two of his best trainees were reduced to pain ridden beings.

As the flat forest land turned into mountains Eragon stated that they were at their destination. Sashi landed heavily on a outcrop jutting from the side of a cliff. Her breathing was laboured and Logan could feel the formation of another headache rising up in his head again. He grunted, holding his forehead with his palm.

"Brother!" yelled Eragon, cupping his hands to his mouth, "It is me Eragon! We have come to seek help!"

At first nothing happened. They waited; Logan's headache began to throb. Sashi was whimpering slightly as it formed. A roar suddenly echoed through the mountain range and a large red dragon swooped above them. Logan had no time to admire him though, as the headache hit him full force. He cried out in pain and fell to his knees, before blacking out.

* * *

"He defeated three shades in a single fight once," a voice pieced through Logan's consciousness, and he shifted slight.

"Maybe he can be off some use here then. A few shades have been terrorising these mountains for months now. Thorn and I have tried to hunt them down but to no avail, besides, I wouldn't like our chances against one of them," stated another voice, this on unfamiliar.

"True, true. But you know the true name of the ancient language. Use it to break their defences and stop their magic."

"As I said before, it's extremely difficult to catch one of the things."

Logan opened one eye, letting out a small groan. Candlelight illuminated what looked like a gloomy place. It was a cave, a rather large one. Their was evidence of broken stalagmites and stalactites that had been cleared as well as a large creature that rested in there, courtesy of the claw marks scarring the cave wall.

In front of him was a wooden table, which held the candle. Eragon sat on one worn looking stool on one side while another human he didn't recognise was leaning back on another. This new human looked maybe thirty, with black hair and a scar down one side of his face. He had a red riders sheath strapped to his waste accompanied by the sword.

"Well, look who's awake," said the unknown rider, looking down at him.

Logan went to get up but stopped when his vision swam with colour and he felt his food that he had eaten threaten to come back up. He let out another small groan and turned his gaze back to the rider.

"I'm Murtagh," said the rider, "Rider of Thorn. I'm pleased to meet you at last."

Logan let out a small smile; "Likewise," he managed.

He felt a mental grown come through his thoughts. Sashi. He reached out his mind into hers and let out a small sigh. She was alright, well, as alright as one could be under the circumstances.

{'Sashi! You're awake,'} he said with joy.

{'Don't yell Logan. My head hurts enough as it is,'} she groaned, {'Where are we?'}

{'Thorn and Murtagh's cave, I think,'} he replied.

He heard a dragon sigh from behind him, but resisted the urge to turn around. He knew she was safe. He looked back at the form of Murtagh, who was talking with hushed whispers to Eragon.

"What happened to Trixie?" he asked.

Eragon turned to him, "While you were unconscious her dragon's consciousness suddenly disappeared, driving her mad. We have been forced to tie her up for our safety."

Logan managed to sit himself up, and put his hand on his head in a small groan. The golden form of Sashi rested behind him. Though she had her eyes closed Logan could tell she was listening attentively to what was being said.

"Do you have the cure?" asked Logan, looking at Murtagh.

"Straight to the point I see," said the red rider with a sigh. He glanced at Eragon before answering, "I do know the cure to this sickness. But I fear it is hard to come by. You see, the sickness is targeted at dragons, and once you heal the dragon their rider will also be cured. It's the reason why unbonded people haven't got the disease. What it does is it slowly takes the dragon's soul away, causing the dragon major pain, hallucinations and fear. The rider feels as if half of themselves is being torn away, thus they feel the effects as well. Where the souls of the dragons go, I have no idea, but I do know how to get them back."

Logan nodded along, trying to follow Murtagh's train of thought, "How?"

"Through the thing that ties the soul to the body," Murtagh said, looking at Eragon again, "You must speak the dragons true name. It stops the soul from leaving and brings it back if it does."

Eragon sighs, "What he speaks is true. The reason why Saphira and I haven't got sick yet is we often use each other's true names. Especially when the other is feeling down."

The form of Sashi shifted and she opened an eye, gazing at the humans. Logan felt her stretch her mind out the three of them.

{'If this is true then I must find mine,'} she said, before retreating into only Logan's mind once more.

Eragon and Murtagh looked at her. Eragon nodded his head.

"I will help you," he said, "I have only ever found two true names, and known five. But maybe with my help it will happen."

Sashi nodded. Logan felt her sorrow. A true name was something that neither of them really wanted to find. They had talked about it once before. Both had decided it would be best if neither knew it. Sashi said that a true name was a weakness that could be used by an enemy if they ever broke into their minds, and Logan agreed.

{'Well I suppose we best get started,'} she said quietly to him.

{'Not quite yet, we should rest first. Maybe once this damn headache has disappeared we'll be able to think more clearly,'} he replied.

They both settled down again. Murtagh and Eragon resumed their quite conversation, and evidently Logan found himself drifting to sleep once more.

* * *

Eragon sat with Sashi and Logan on the outskirts of Murtagh's cave. It sheltered a dragon's view of the valley below. The wind was rather wild up there as well, and Logan felt Sashi's longing to fly build up within her. They couldn't however, for they were trying a game that Eragon said helped with finding a true name.

They had sat across from each other, both with their eyes closed. They were both delving deep into each other's mind, nothing held back. He found it a strange experience. A dragon's mind was so vast it almost captivated him. There were so many different things happening within that he nearly lost himself.

The further he dove, the more surprised he was. He was finding out parts of Sashi he had never known before, like her fascination with gems, a great love for heights, a strange dislike, even fear, for humanoids, her immense hatred of shades. All these things flooded through him. At one point he passed a rather happy memory from her, and grinned.

{'Aaah, so that's the father,'} he mentally laughed, watching one of her memories with a deep blue, almost black, dragon that lived nearby the academy. He had only seen this dragon a few times but now he realised how much Sashi spent around him. Many of the times she had been out to 'hunt' was to spend time with this dragon. He carefully skimmed over her memories of him, and felt sorry for her as she watched him descend into the sickness and eventually fall into that scary sleep like death.

{'I'm sorry,'} he said, feeling her sorrow once again.

{'Don't be, once we do this we can fly back and find his true name and wake him once again,'} she said, with a new found determination, {'Now don't stop, keep going.'}

This they did, and the days slowly passed by. Both human and dragon were oblivious to the world around them, each living inside the others mind. The only times they stopped was when they needed to eat or the slowly growing sickness disparaged them.

At one point Logan was walking out of the cave to their usual spot, when he froze, fear curtailing up inside him. There, at the entrance of the cave, stood Kazra. His grinning evil face taunting him. Logan cried out in rage and ripped the shadebane sword out of its sheath, charging at the shade. He swung a clumsy blow with the sword, only to be met with the blue blade of Kazra. Wait.... Blue?

"Logan, it's me! Eragon! Get a hold of yourself!" cried the voice of Eragon, dispersing itself into Logan's consciousness.

The golden rider fell back, gasping, his sword dropping from his grasp. It clanged to the floor. He looked up at the figure to reveal it really was the master Eragon. He leaned against the doorframe, breathing heavily. Eragon bent down and picked up the sword, handing it hilt first to the sick rider. Logan took it shakily and put it back in its sheath on his back.

"I'm... I'm sorry," he said, looking downcast, "I really though you were him."

Eragon nodded grimly, placing his hand on Logan's shoulder, "I know. But you must get a hold of yourself. Now go. Sashi is waiting for you outside."

Logan did as he was told. As his gaze fell upon his dragon he felt a tear fall from his eye. It was all too much. Sashi whimpered at her rider's sorrow. She walked over to him and curled around him, nudging him with her snout. No words were exchanged, just feelings. They were likes this for a few minutes. Suddenly Sashi's head shot up.

{'I believe I have found you're true name,'} she said.

Logan looked at her with surprise, {'Really?'}

She nodded her head, seeming to go over something in her mind. With a nod she spoke a sentence in the ancient language. Logan felt his very being shudder with delight under the name. His sorrow was suddenly washed away, and he gave a half laugh. He embraced Sashi with his arms, scratching behind her ear. She purred.

{'Thank you Sashi. Thank you,'} he said.

Sashi purred again, enjoying his touch, {'There is no thanks needed my rider.}

They stayed like that for a while, revelling in the other's presence, before they broke apart again.

{'Now, lets find yours. It is yours we are looking for anyway, not mine,'} said Logan, a small smile spread across his features.

Sashi rumbled a dragon's laugh, {'Yes, yes it is.'}

Logan once again descended into the dragon's mind, tyring a few phrases in the ancient language as he did, yet none seemed to match the full greatness that Sashi really was.

* * *

That night Logan went to sleep slightly happier then the morning. They hadn't suffered any more headaches or sickness for the rest of that day, which had made Logan think that they may not need Sashi's true name after all, but as he fell to sleep that theory quickly fell away with a single dream.

{They were above somewhere up a high mountain. The air was cold, but Logan felt hot. Golden fire was lighting up everywhere and there was a disastrous pain aching through his right arm. To his left was Kuldr, or what was left of it. The golden sword had been broken in half, only the hilt remained.

Up in the sky Sashi roamed, yet she wasn't Sashi. Her eyes were a wild red and her scales looked more like molten gold then the sun. She let loose a horrible screech and descended upon the broken rider down below. On her back was a figure that Logan hated with every fibre of his being. Kazra. Kazra the first shade, embodiment of the first wild rider Eragon.

He pointed his sword down towards Logan, "KILL HIM!" he screamed.

The golden dragon that was once Sashi screeched again and dived down towards him. Pain spun through him as her claws ripped apart his flesh. The last thing he heard was the laugh of a mad, power hungry shade, and Sashi's roar as her maw opened to take the last of the rider into her mouth.}

Logan lunged awake wildly, clawing at the covers of his bed. Sweat covered him and his heart felt like it was trying to tear its way out of his chest. The keening wail of a dragon got his attention. He ripped of the covers and ran to where Sashi was. One eye of hers opened as she jolted awake.

{'L... Logan. You're alive?'} she said.

{'Yes, Sashi, I'm still here,'} he replied, embracing her head.

She relaxed in his grip, before sudden sob racked her body. He looked down at her in surprise. He had never seen a dragon cry before, he didn't even no they could. He held her tighter, quietly humming dragonsong to her.

{'I... I couldn't stop myself. I... just reached down... with my claws... and taw you up... and then... and then,'} she rambled.

{'Sshh, don't talk,'} he said with as much comfort as he could muster, comfort that he didn't feel himself, {'Everything will be alright.'}

He lay down next to her flank, with her head on his lap. She covered him with her wing and they slept like that for the night, as close to each other as possible. As more dreams came they both worked together to fight them away.

That morning was one of the happiest Logan had ever woken up to. He was awoken when Sashi's form shuddered and her scales lit up. Her roar of joy bungled throughout the cave causing even the distraught form of Trixie to look at the dragon-rider pare.

{'What's wrong Sashi?'} asked a perplexed Logan.

{'I did it!'} she said, {'I found my true name!'}

She told him a phrase in the ancient language and her form lit up once more. Almost instantly Logan felt more clear headed then he had in weeks. He could finally breathe again. A smile spread across his face, followed by a laugh of joy. He embraced his dragon again.

She spoke her true name once more. It was a complex phrase. One that held so much meaning, hope, love and hate that it was hard to comprehend. One part of the name spoke of the golden dragon's love for her rider and her recently diseased mate, as well as love of flying and the rich greens of a mountain forest. Another part spoke of her hate, and fear, of Kazra and fear of what will come off the future. Her name also spoke of the sun and all its glory and the self-righteous attitude that came with it. She spoke the name one more time, causing them both to laugh.

Eragon and Murtagh came rushing in to see if anything was wrong. Once the golden dragon and her rider had calmed down enough to tell them what had happened Eragon congratulated them both. Logan could see that he was nearly as relieved as them, another problem off his back.

That afternoon they packed up to leave back to the dragon academy. Murtagh was going to come with them and help with Trixie along the way. Her dragon was still gone, which meant she was still dangerous.

Eragon and Trixie, after some persuasion from the master, climbed onto Thorn with Murtagh. Sashi would be carrying only Logan and the supplies they needed. Both Eragon and Murtagh agreed the dragon and rider deserved some time with each other after their recent accomplishment.

Once everything was in order, Sashi took off into the sky followed by the far larger form of Thorn. The two dragons flew off, ready for the final challenge of defeating this sickness.

* * *

Kazra sat back in his chair, toying with a large topaz gem. It glittered in the dim candlelight casting golden streams of light through the small room he called his own. He seemed deep in thought, continually flicking the golden rock up into the air and catching it again.

He felt a mind coming to his room and sat up straighter, hiding the rock in his pocket. Another shade entered, bowing in reverence.

"My Lord, we have come to tell you that Sashi and the human have broken the curse, and the dragon riders are steadily becoming better," it said.

Kazra snorted, it was about time, though he would have like to have played with Sashi's soul a little before it was returned to its body. Still, it was just a matter of time now.

"Thank you for telling me this," he said, red eyes blazing towards the other shade, "Tell the others to be ready for the final phase of the plan."

The shade nodded and turned, hurrying out of the room as quick as he could. Kazra grinned, he found it odd that even other shades feared him, even if he was the most powerful creature off this earth. He stretched himself and looked to the roof. All he needed was her. Yes, definitely, it was only a matter of time.