I own nothing except for the characters that I am making.
The storm continued to rage around us. The thunder and lightning was deafening, lighting up the night sky and the dark clouds. The rain and sleet hit us like arrows, and the wind buffeted us all over the place. But no matter what the risk, we were going to make it to the island.
Blugun, my mind and soul partner for almost seven months now had his eyes closed against the freezing rain so as not to damage his eyes. His dark blue scales made him difficult to see in the night but his talons and claws were always a pure ivory white so I never lost track of where his large horns were going until I scanned the horizon for signs of land.
I barely managed to feel joy about finally spotting the island when I felt several sharp, burning, and searing pains run along my right arm. I opened my mouth and screamed in pain, but the wind ripped the sound straight from my mouth. If not for our mental connection, Blugun never would have realized that I was in serious pain.
When he turned his head to look back at me to see what was wrong, his neck spikes tore into my arm further. When Blugun saw what he was doing he quickly dipped his neck, pulling the spikes out of my arm.
I held my arm close to me, to try and staunch the bleeding but it was to no avail. The bleeding wouldn't stop and I was starting to feel woozy. I gripped onto my saddle with my good arm and prayed to the gods that I would live through this night.
The gods must have heard me because the storm started letting up a bit.
Blugun, seeing his chance, flew as hard and as fast as he could towards the island before the storm regained its strength.
The last thing I saw before passing out was the island rapidly approaching. Then blackness veiled my eyes and I barely heard whispers coming from around me. Slowly Blugun's mental connection started to fade and I wondered where he was going. Probably to get some food. I smiled at the thought of warm food in my stomach.
The last thing I did before falling into the dark was thank the gods for letting us through the storm, then I knew no more.
Blugun
I lashed out at the people gathering around me and my rider. I refused to let them near him. They kept saying to let them through so that they can help but I didn't believe them. I knew that they were just going to try and take him from me.
The entire journey here had been a trap to lure us here and now I refused to let them near us to finish off the job.
I continued to fight off the people with fang, claw, tail and mind until I felt another being touch my mind. It quickly tore through my defenses and subdued me. Then in the ancient language it told me that it was a friend and that it wished no harm.
Please, let my healers help your rider. They want only to help, not hurt. The voice said.
I shall not hand over Josh to a bunch of random people. I shall heal him myself!I screamed in my mind. I felt a torrent of energy course through me and I directed it at Josh, who was lying completely still beneath me.
I released the energy into Josh using the first fire I ever breathed. The deep blue of my flames bathed over his right arm. I smelled no burning flesh, Josh didn't scream out in pain, but within the fire I saw his arm changing. Hopefully for the better.
When the energy was all spent, I released my fire and collapsed next to my rider. I wanted to see if Josh's arm was okay now, but I was just too tired to even lift my head. I fell asleep next to my rider, worrying that I had just made his arm worse than before.
The next day
I awoke in a bed, covered in blankets. I looked around the large room for some kind of enemy. The only thing that could have possibly been dangerous to me was the midnight blue dragon that was curled up in the corner on top of a large cushion like a kitten. His sides were rising at an even tempo, so I knew that he was alright and sleeping.
I looked around the room again, but this time out of curiosity. The room was huge, the ceiling tall enough for Blugun to stand up straight with his wings stretched out. The room was wide enough that Blugun could have fit two of himself, tip of the nose to the end of his tail.
The room was nicely furnished. Several comfortable looking chairs, bookcases, the bed I was still lying in, several small tables, and a door on the left side of the room, a door on the right, and a door directly facing the bed. Clear on the other side of the room it looked like a large piece of parchment was pulled over a hole in the wall.
I gently prodded Blugun awake with my mind and I asked him what happened. When he mentioned doing something to my arm I looked down at it. It was covered in bandages, all the way from my fingertips to underneath my shirt.
Before I could try and peel off the bandages a man walked into the room. I looked up from my arm and saw the man I had come to see.
Eragon Shadeslayer. The leader of the riders. He wore a light blue tunic, light brown leather pants, dark leather boots and his dark brown hair was slicked back revealing his intense brown eyes.
I quickly got down out of the bed and kneeled down on the floor. Blugun did almost the same. He dropped his head down and pulled back a paw, slightly resembling a bow. We had practiced it back in Surda with Mother. She had always said that good manners were a good way to a good heart.
"Arise, my new rider and dragon." Eragon waited until we were on our feet then asked us "What are your names?"
"My name is Josh Calvinsson sir. This is my dragon. His name is Blugun." I told Eragon.
Eragon nodded and said "Did you travel far to reach here?"
I nodded and said "Yes sir. We traveled from the farthest border of Surda to get here. It was a long journey but we survived and are very grateful for your hospitality."
"That is indeed a long journey." I barely heard him mumble something about our great manners, unlike all the others. I passed this on to Blugun and he felt the same joy and pride that I did. "From the looks of it, Blugun is about six to seven months old. Am I correct?"
"Yes sir."
He nodded and continued inspecting Blugun. This time Blugun passed on what he heard from Eragon onto me. Eragon was mumbling about how well Blugun looked, especially after such a long journey. Again we felt proud.
"You two do a very nice job of keeping clean. Blugun's teeth and claws are spotless. Usually after such a long journey there is a large amount of plaque buildup on the teeth and the blood from the kills would usually stain the claws. But your teeth and claws are the cleanest I have seen on a new recruit's in years. It is truly astounding. Whoever raised you two, was a great man."
"My mother raised us. My father ran out on us a few years after I was born. He said that he didn't want to deal with me anymore and then he left without anything. He left his clothes, belongings, he left everything behind. It took a while but my mom managed to get back up on her feet and she raised us right. We aren't in the least bit spoiled, mean, know it all's or jerks. We were raised better than that. We were raised to protect all that can't protect themselves."
"Your mother sounds like the best mother in the world. Despite her hardships she flourished. She had a wonderful son who became a rider thanks to you picking him, Blugun. I can understand why you picked him from within your egg. I am grateful that you two chose to come to my island. Please, rest before dinner. I will send for you when it is time to eat." Then Eragon walked out of the room.
I sat down on the edge of my bed and stared at my arm. I ran a hand over it but all I could feel was the bandages. I found the end bandage and slowly started to unwind it from the shoulder down. There were several layers to go through, but I finally reached the last one. I took it off, strip by strip and watched as my arm was revealed.
The arm that hid beneath the bandaged did not belong to me. It belonged to a dragon. The scales were a glossy black, with the scales on my palm fading to grey. But the gedwëy ignasia stood out against the scales in a bright, almost metallic silver. Then an ivory claw extended half an inch out of every finger.
I felt the regret pouring out of Blugun's mind. It was like a tidal wave, about to wash me away. "Did you do this to me?" I asked him.
He didn't answer, but I could feel from his mind that it was his fault.
I went over to him and stroked his scaled nose. "Don't feel sorry. This arm is amazing. Now if I lose my sword then I can just fight using this arm."
Do you really not hate me for it?Blugun asked me.
"Of course I don't hate you for it. Now I am part dragon! That is something not many people can say." I told him.
But now you will be unable to get a mate. What kind of a woman will want a human and dragon hybrid as the father of her young ones?
"Well I don't need a mate. I'll have my best bud next to me at all times."
Blugun grinned his toothy grin and laughed. I joined in the laughing and our joy filled the room with our laughter.
It was several minutes before we stopped laughing and I wiped away the tears that had formed from laughing so hard. I didn't realize I was using my dragon arm to wipe the tears away until I almost poked my eye out with the claw on the tip of my pointer finger.
I switched hands and wiped the tears away, and then I sat down next to my dragon and lay against him. He started humming a song that my mother always used to sing to us. I joined in the song and our voices filled the room with the familiar song, making us miss home.
I uttered the last syllable and heaved a sigh of relief.
"We did it Blugun. We made it to the Isle of the Riders." I said to my dragon.
Yes, we did. I wish that we had waited just another day. Then we wouldn't have had to go through that horrible storm.
"Me too buddy, me too." I said to him.
I fell asleep thinking of all that will be different because of my new arm.
I continued dreaming until a knock came at the door. I looked over to the door and saw an elf standing there, staring at my arm.
"Yes?" I asked him.
"Dinner is ready. Follow me and I will lead you to the dining area." Then he quickly left the room, closing the door behind him.
I hastily rewrapped my arm in the bandages, not wanting everybody staring at my arm. I went back to the bed and looked around for my ring. I found it on the table beside the bed and slipped it on the pointer finger of my left hand. The ring was silver with a dark sapphire set into the center of it. Then I left through the door and looked around.
I was outside a building with three stories on it, each story had its own stair case. Mine was the shortest because of how it was on the bottom level of the building.
From the top story of the building rose a silver dragon with a girl sitting on it. They flew off to the north before I could get a good look at them.
I walked down the stairs and to the ground, then I followed the elf as he showed me the way. Blugun walked through the doorway and jumped into the air. He landed next to us and walked to my right. I laid my hand against him and tried to memorize the way we were walking.
A few minutes later the elf stopped outside a large building. "Rider, you go in here to eat. Dragon, you go up there to eat." He said as he pointed at a large cave opening up on the cliff above the eating building for me. "There is not enough room for the riders and dragons to eat at the same table so we must split them up. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"No problem." I said to him. "Thank you." Then I turned to Blugun and said "Well, see you later."
Don't get into any trouble.
"If either of us gets in trouble it will be you." I told him. I laughed and he laughed with me. Then we split up and went to eat.
I walked in to the noisy building and the room instantly grew quiet. I looked around for the place to get the food and saw it clear on the other side of the room. I walked through the painfully silent room with all eyes on my back.
I grabbed a plate and got some fruit and then went to an empty table with my back to everybody. I ate quietly, and eventually the conversations picked back up.
When I was finished, I stood up and again the room went silent. I put my plate with the rest of the dirty dishes and left the room.
Once I was outside, I sagged against the wall and just waited for the tremors to go away. I hated being the new kid in anything. People always stare at you like you had done something wrong.
I sent my mind up to Blugun and saw that he was still eating so I sat down on the ground and waited for him to finish.
A waited for less than a minute for Blugun, but instead three boys came out of the building. They saw me sitting there and stared at me.
"Who are you?" the tallest of them asked.
"My name is Josh. What's yours?"
"Something you don't need to know. Where is your dragon?" he asked me.
Before I could answer, the boy on the left said with a snicker "I bet he doesn't have a dragon."
Before I could say that I did, the boy on the right said "Yeah, you don't have a dragon do you?"
"Ha! On the island of the dragon riders and no dragon. You are pathetic."
The next interruption I was glad of. Blugun dropped from the sky like a stone and landed in front of me in a cloud of dust.
I climbed to my feet and patted Blugun's shoulder and said "Boys, this is my dragon. His name is Blugun."
"If this is your dragon then where is your gedwëy ignasia?" the boy on the left asked.
"On my right hand. My arm was injured during our flight and I must not take the bandages off of it so if you were hoping to see it you will be disappointed."
The boys laughed and the left leaped forward to grab me. I had absolutely no training in fighting so I couldn't do anything to fight off the boy holding me down. The two others leaped on me as well. Blugun wanted to help but he couldn't attack without hurting me as well.
The boys started to tear off my bandages, quickly revealing my arm. The boys stopped tearing and just stared. Now that they were still, Blugun had a clear shot. He hit them all in the back with his tail and sent them flying. I leapt on his back and he took off for our room.
We went inside and I lit a few candles. I inspected the ruined bandages and saw that they were beyond repair. I tore off the remains and threw them away. I searched the two unopened rooms and found an empty closet, and an elven style wash tub.
I turned on the warm water in the tub, undressed and slid into the soothing water. It slowly relaxed me, helping me to clear my head. After a bit, I climbed out, dried off with one of the towels that were next to the tub, then I got dressed in some sleeping clothes and climbed into bed.
I watched Blugun climb into his bed then curl up. He was asleep in seconds. I followed his example and curled up in a comfortable position and quickly fell asleep.
I awoke the next morning to soft knocking on my door. I sat up and stretched. I stood up from my bed and sent my mind out through the door. It took me several seconds to recognize Eragon's mind. I hurried to my door, brushing my hair into place then I opened the door and stepped aside for Eragon to come in.
He walked in slowly, keeping his gaze averted from my draconian arm. He sat on the edge of my bed and dropped his chin into his hand. "Will one of you two please explain why I had three other riders injured last night with broken ribs?"
I stepped forward and bowed my head. "The boys were trying to look at my arm. I didn't want them to so I tried to fight back. But the three of them overpowered me and as soon as Blugun got the chance to get them off of me he did. He hit them in the back with his tail. We are sorry for the trouble we have caused. If you exile us from the island we will go without complaint."
"You two aren't in trouble. I just wanted to know the truth. The boys said that you and Blugun ganged up on them. Those three are trouble makers and I didn't believe a word they said. I knew you would tell the truth so I came to you."
"Why didn't you just get them to say it in the ancient language?" I asked him.
"Because those three are behind in brain power. They are good with hand to hand fighting, but are bad with magic and the ancient language."
"Oh. When will my classes start?" I asked Eragon.
"Tomorrow, hopefully. I will send a rider by here tomorrow to show you the way." Then Eragon got up and walked to the door. Before he left he said to me, "There is no need to hide your arm. It shows the struggle you had to go through to get here. It would even be considered an insult to some to hide it because it is a token of your journey. Keep it unwrapped, let it be revealed. Take pride in the struggle you had to go through. Farewell." Then he left the room, leaving me to ponder over what he said.
"Do you think I should leave it out?" I asked Blugun as I stared at my arm while I moved my fingers.
Yes. What Eragon said is the truth. It should be shown with pride, not hidden because of its strange appearance.Even with how young Blugun was, his words were laced with wisdom.
I sighed in acceptance and said "Fine. I won't cover it up."
Good. The sooner you get used to it the better.
"Do you know when breakfast is?"
Blugun shook his head.
"Very well. I guess we just have to go over there and see." I said as I started getting dressed.
I slipped on a pair of brown cotton pants, a white shirt and my leather boots.
I left the room and went outside. I mostly remembered where the food hall was, but I had to check Blugun's memory when I forgot which way to go.
I soon arrived at the eating hall and walked inside. It was almost empty. Just a few people here and there. I pulled my arm out from behind me and walked up to the dwarf that was wearing an apron.
I asked her "Excuse me ma'am, could you please tell me when breakfast is served?"
She pulled her black hair into a bun then turned around. Thanks to the angle I was standing, she couldn't see my arm.
"Yes I can." He voice was sweet and gentle. Just like Mom's. "It starts being served in about a half hour. Not that many people are up at this time of the day. You mind telling me what you are doing up?"
"I had a talk with Eragon." I told her.
"Oh, you the boy that had his dragon attack the three boys last night?" she asked accusingly.
"No ma'am. Those three ganged up on me and Blugun helped me to get away." I told her.
"I knew it was those three that started it. If they keep at it then Eragon will kick them off of the island for sure. Good riddance if you ask me. This island is supposed to be the training grounds for young riders, but those three just make trouble wherever they go."
"I can't stand bullies. I think it would be good for them to leave the island as well." I told the dwarf woman.
"You seem like a very nice young lad. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Josh Calvinsson, ma'am." I told her.
"Well my name is Holga and it was a pleasure to meet you, Josh." Holga said as she walked back into the kitchen.
I went to a table and waited for the food to be set out. Holga came out with a cart that had several trays on it that were piled high with food. She set them onto the food table then went back to the kitchen and returned with the plates and silverware.
I got up and grabbed some food then sat down and ate. When I was done I put my plate with the dirty dishes and left the eating hall.
Halfway back to my room a group of kids came around a corner and almost bumped into me. I was about to say excuse me but then I saw who they were. I tried to run but the three boys grabbed me and pulled me down to the ground. They started wailing on me with their fists and feet. I brought my scaly arm up to defend myself and I felt and heard three fists hit it. The crack of bones sounded through the air and the sound was followed by cries of pain from the boys. I got up and hurried off to my room, leaving the boys rolling around in the dirt.
When I got back to my room Blugun asked me what had happened. I showed him the memory of it and he started laughing.
So they hurt themselves trying to hurt you? That is hilarious!He started laughing and I joined in. We laughed for at least three minutes. It was very funny, at least until I heard knocking at the door.
We stopped laughing immediately and I spread out my mind to see who was there. It was Eragon, followed by three people I really didn't want to see.
I opened the door and stepped aside so they could come in. I glared at the three boys as they came in, each one of them with a bandage on their right hand.
"Josh, tell me what happened." Eragon said as he sat down on the bed.
"These three came around a corner while I was walking to my room then they pulled me down to the ground and started hitting and kicking me. I held up my arm to protect myself and then they hit my arm and broke their hands." I told him.
Eragon nodded and then said "That is the exact opposite of what they told me. They said that you had come around the corner, pulled them to the ground, then using magic held them down. Then you used your dragon arm and smashed their hands. But, I could see from the way the bones had broken that they had been in fists while they were broken." He turned to the three boys and spoke in the ancient language. The boys were forced down to their knees in front of me. "Tell him that you are sorry." Eragon told them.
None of them spoke. "If you don't say it, then I will make you say it." Eragon told them.
Each one of them grumbled an apology. "Louder so I can hear you." He told them.
"Sorry." They all said.
"Much better. Now if any of you get in any kind of trouble again, you are going to be off of this island. And for punishment, unlike your ribs, nobody is allowed to heal your hands." The three started complaining but were quickly silenced with a look from Eragon. "The only person allowed to heal your hands, is Josh. So if you want your hands healed right now, you can beg him to heal them for you."
Not a single one of them said anything. The middle one was about to say something but he remained silent.
"Now that that is taken care of, we will leave you, Josh. A rider will be over in a bit to show you where your first class is being held." Eragon told me.
"What will be my first class?" I asked him.
"You will be learning how to use a sword. That draconian arm of yours will help to give you a better grip on the hilt so I think that you will do just fine." Then Eragon got up and left. The three boys quickly got up and followed.
After they left, I closed the door behind them. Then I looked to Blugun and asked him "Do you think that I should have told Eragon that I was left handed?"
It doesn't really matter so no, I don't think you should have told him. Let him find it out for himself. Blugun said to me.
I recalled the past few minutes and started laughing at the irony of the situation. Blugun sent a questioning strand of thought into my head so I explained to him what I found to be so funny.
"The simple fact that my bullies now have to ask me to heal their hands, it is hilarious, as is the fact that they broke their hands on my arm trying to hurt me." I said with breathless laughter.
Blugun joined in my merriment and laughed with me for the next few minutes.
After that we settled down and I went over to Blugun and leaned against him, thinking of the last bullies I had.
Those two boys had thought that they were tough so they had picked on me. I could have taken one of them on in one on one combat, but both of them attacked me at once at least once a week. But then Blugun hatched for me. The two boys had instantly backed off, as if they were afraid that I would kill them.
After my first three months of magic training, I could have killed them. I had quickly mastered lifting a pebble. The very first magic training all riders received. Eragon had insisted that lifting the pebble was the best magic for a beginner to practice with.
Because of this, I practiced non-stop with a pebble. After I was able to hold the pebble in the air for long periods of time, I switched the pebble out for a large rock.
After that, I focused on several pebbles all at once. A trick not many beginner riders could do. I used my new found talents to my advantage.
I chased around the bullies who had beaten me, constantly shooting pebbles at them. Hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to leave a bruise.
Afterwards, I was given my first lesson on how to use magic for good, not bad. I had seen the error of my ways then returned to the boys, this time apologizing to them. Then they apologized to me for bullying me. I had them given each of them a small dragon that I had shaped out of chunks of rock. They had thanked me many times and then I had left with my mother telling me that I had done the right thing.
I was brought out of my memories by someone knocking on my door.
I got up and went to the door. I opened it and saw a human in light leather armor.
The man was tall and well-built with short brown hair, brown eyes and deeply tanned skin.
The man looked at my arm, didn't say anything or become alarmed, and then he looked back up at me. "Are you Josh?" he asked me in a deep and rough voice.
"Yes sir. May I help you?" I asked him.
"My name is Samson. I will be your fighting instructor. Follow me and I will get you fitted for a blade." He said to me. "Your dragon may follow you. His first class does not start until after lunch." Then he turned around and started walking away at a brisk pace.
I hurried through the door to follow and Blugun went through his large door, closing it with his tail.