Journey of the Dragon Egg

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Chapter 1: The Birth

"Ohhh, Iormungr! Why am I so miserable? Can't laying an egg just be nice and easy?" groaned Mama.

"Shhh, Vervanda. Everything is all right. Just a few more seconds and…"

"Ohhh!"

"There, there, now. It's all over. The egg is out," reassured Father.

"Oh, Iormungr, what a beautiful blue egg! I would love to see the day it hatches."

"Do you really think we will be alive then? I mean, what if the baby is not wild, like you?" asked Father.

"I sure do hope she is wild. Don't you hate always being linked to a Rider?"

A Rider? What was this talk of a Rider? I wished I could break out of the shelled encasing and bury my parents with questions.

"Tell me, dear. What is it like? Being linked with a Rider, I mean," inquired Mama.

"Very different from being a wild dragon!" laughed Father. I could hear Mama settle down in anticipation of a good story.

"As a dragon with a Rider, I am always at risk of being woken up if I don't keep my Rider close by my side. This mostly happens to new Riders."

" And? What happens if the little one strays?" Mama asked Father, intrigued.

"If the 'little one,' as you call him, strays, and somehow manages to get himself hurt, I feel the pain, too. You see, it is not just mental feelings we share; it is physical, too." I was fascinated by Father's words. I still did not know if I wanted to be a wild dragon or not. What I also did not know was that I had no choice. I was destined to be bound to a Rider. "As I was saying—"

"Iormungr! Behind you!"

"What—ahh!" I heard Mama roar and take off, leaving me alone. I felt myself being lifted, then laid down carefully—but not on the ground. In a sack. I felt frightened. What in the world just happened? Why was I being taken away from my mama and father so soon after I was born? I heard a voice, beautiful yet strong, say, "What a beautiful blue egg. Oh, what Galbatorix wouldn't give to have this one, I can't tell you. But I gotta protect ya, little one."

The owner of the voice carried me to what I assumed was his home. Then he went to bed.

During the night, I heard soft voices. "Over here! The egg's over here!"

They were talking about me! "What a beauty! Ol' Galbatorix sure gonna be happy when we return. Makes me happy jus' thinkin' 'bout the reward we'll be gettin'." For the second time that day, I was lifted up and put into a bag. And I was so tired from the day's events that I simply curled up and went to sleep.

Chapter Two

Galbatorix Receives the Egg

It was, I think, morning when I woke. I could not hear anyone walking around. Where am I? I thought. No light filtered into my egg, so either it was dark outside or something was covering my egg. Then, I heard a mighty, booming voice. "Servant!"

"Y-yes, your m-m-majesty?"

"Has the egg arrived?" asked the voice.

"Y-yes sir," stammered the servant.

"I must see it immediately! Bring it here!" I heard soft footsteps, then whatever had been covering my egg was lifted off. I expected sunlight to flood the egg, but I could only see a dim light, like that of a lantern. "Ah. I suspect a fine dragon will hatch from this shell. Strong, too. A dragon that will serve me well for all eternity. Go back to your quarters, servant. But be prepared to follow my orders with every breath you take, or you won't have any breaths to take. Now GO!"

The servant paused, then quickly trotted away. All of a sudden, I was very frightened. Who was this man, who commanded strict obedience or death? I decided right then that I would do everything in my power avoid hatching for this man. My egg was the safest place to be. Then I realized, the servant called him "Majesty." He must be…A king! This realization was even more unsettling. It meant that since he was the king, he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and however he wanted. He needed not justify his actions. If someone dared ask, "Why?" this man would probably say, "Because I am the king. That's why." And he would make sure those were the last words the inquirer ever heard before being executed for having the audacity to question the king. Now, my mission was to find out this man's name (might as well have something to keep me busy!) I hoped he would be dead and gone by the time I hatched. Hatched. I stopped thinking about the evil man and started thinking about the person whom I would hatch for. That would make me a Rider's dragon. I wished I were still high in the mountains, under Mama's warm wing, listening to Father's comforting voice, telling us about the mighty Riders. Still, I felt privileged that I knew they even existed. How many newborn dragons could say that?

"Your Majesty!" shouted a servant, "Your majesty! A band of Elves has been spotted!"

"Where, servant?" asked the king.

"Up on the hill! They ride pure white horses! What are your orders, King Galbatorix?"

"Go after them. They have probably gotten word of the egg, and are coming to take it for themselves! We cannot allow the Riders to rise up again. The only way to prevent that from happening is to protect the egg at all costs. Sacrifice yourself for the egg if the need arises; protect it with your lives! Do not let the elves come any closer!"

Galbatorix.

So that was his name. But something he had said puzzled me: 'we cannot allow the

Riders to rise up again.' What had happened to the Riders? Father spoke of them as if the Riders were still going strong. He himself had a Rid—

Oh, no. The dark realization of my parents' fate dawned upon me, and I shuddered at what happened. My parents had been killed: my father, at least. I did not know what had become of my mother. Had she escaped?

My thoughts were interrupted by the shrill war cry of Galbatorix's warriors. If I knew anything, I knew that I must get out of this place. I knew it was wrong, but at that moment I wished one of the king's soldiers would steal me away and deliver me to the elves.

Little did I know, I would soon get my wish.

Journey of the dragon egg

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