I've always wanted to become a dragon rider. After secretly stealing the books from the grand hall's library and pouring myself over them, I was fascinated with the heroic dragons and their riders of the olden days and aspired to become a dragon rider. Especially more because of Eragon and Saphira, his dragon, who saved Alagaësia from Galbatorix's terrifying reign.
Each time I see the egg bearer who comes every year with a dragon egg, I hope that I might be the lucky one. But my hopes are instantly crushed as the other children of the village stand in line excitedly while I sit in my dark room, unable to join them.
It's happened for years now, and I'm already fifteen. All my life, I've been in my one-window room. I'm alone.
I'm alone and I know why. I'm an outcast, an outsider. The children fear me because of my eyes. The adults fear me because I'm different. I'm not like them.
The old, wooden door creaked loudly and I jumped, startled from my thoughts. Kita poked her head through. I relaxed.
"I brought you some food, and an extra treat," She chirped as she closed the door behind her and strode over to plop herself beside me on the bed. My room only has a desk, a bed, a washbasin, and a stool.
Kita handed me a bowl of soup and a spoon, and I ate it hungrily. I was always famished. As soon as I finished (only a matter of seconds), I thanked her and she handed me a roll of sweet bread. She winked and said "It's my present."
I took a bite and with my mouth full, I asked, "Has the egg bearer arrived yet?"
She shook her head and reported that he, or she, would be here tomorrow. Kita is the village chief's daughter. I am no one's daughter.
We met when we were little, and she sympathized with me, the only being who had ever accepted me for who I was. She didn't mind the fact that I looked different and that my eyes were mismatched. One was an iridescent blue, the other a blazing gold. Kita was my one and only true friend.
"You probably have to go now," I said through bites of bread and Kita took her leave.
She paused at the door and hesitated, but in the end she said nothing and the door closed shut, leaving me alone once again.
I hopped over to my desk and opened the drawer, taking out a hidden book. I leafed through the pages before settling down on one. Since I had nothing else to do, I started learning magic through a book. It was a really old book and its binding was terribly worn and many pages were wrinkled. The book smelled but I didn't mind. It was my only source of fun and I had a goal. To learn as much magic as I can, so I can finally escape this village that has me locked away. I haven't told Kita because I don't want her to be involved. I've been slowly biding my time, preparing myself to leave and to live in the outside world.
"Stenr reisa," I whispered. The pebble in my hand slowly rose up to eye level. "Jierda." The pebble shattered into a million pieces. "Malthinae." The pieces pulled back together until it was the same, solid and complete pebble it used to be.
I sank down on my bed and shut my eyes tightly. A sudden urge to see a dragon egg seized through me. I've never seen a real one with my own eyes, only pictures in the dusty books I stole.
Just then, cheers sounded throughout the village, announcing the arrival of the egg bearer. Excitement coursed through me. This time, I would not miss catching a glimpse of a real dragon egg. I tested the door. It was locked, but the lock was old and weak. With a nifty hairpin Kita had sneaked to me, the lock clicked open.
When the door slowly cracked open, I felt daring and rebellious. Adrenaline pumped through my blood as I carefully inched the door open until I was able to squeeze quietly through.
Once out, terror took hold of my legs. Maybe I should return, in case someone discovered I had left my prison. Then, I remembered how long I'd been in that room, mostly alone, hungry and cold. Their mistreatment stirred a deep anger in me and I moved on.
Silently, like a shadow, I tiptoed my way over to an alley. I could tell I was heading towards the egg bearer's direction because the noises grew louder. I searched for a ladder and upon finding one, I climbed it to the top of a roof.
The sight was breathtaking. The sky looked so blue and fluffy white clouds floated by. A bird circled above. I was wrenched away from my reverie when a harsh voice whispered, "Hey! What are you doing?"
Kita stood below me with her hands on her hips, an angry look on her face.
"I went back to your room and you weren't there. Don't you know how dangerous that is for you? Any of the villagers could've noticed. You even left the door wide open!" She hissed.
I grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, did you close it?"
Her deadly eyes answered my silly question.
I clambered onto the roof and crouched, looking across. I saw the children of the village gather around in the center of the village and a large, elegantly adorned chest guarded by a couple of elves. My heart thumped. The egg was tucked safely inside that chest.
"I just want to see a real, live dragon egg." I said down to Kita.
Her eyes softened and her arms fell down to her sides. Then her eyes lit up and she said mischievously, "Okay! Let's get you close to one!"
She followed after me and together, we carefully crawled across the roofs of village houses. All of them were connected somehow. In case the village was attacked, the people could quickly climb ladders up to the roof and take away the ladders. That way, they were safe high up on the roofs where swords could not harm them. Archers would rain down arrows on the enemy.
Kita took my hand and led me to the edge of a roof. Hiding behind a chimney and obscured from the view of the people down below, we could see clearly what was happening.
One by one, the children stood up and took their places in line to touch the dragon egg and see if they were the lucky ones and have the egg hatch for them. Envy burned in me. I was this close but I dare not reveal myself.
From my peripheral vision, I could see a dark blur so I twisted my head for a better look.
I saw what it was – and screamed.