EDIT; I'm currently rewriting this story, so there will be no more updates (the last was two years ago). The new version is called "A Glimpse of Silver", and I'm telling you now, Its a lot better. I would've taken this one down, but I just didn't have the heart to remove my first ever fanfic from the internet. If you like this, please check out the rewrite :) ~

Lyroxia scowled as Anthony walked away. "Aww, come on, Anthony, I need your help!" she called. "look, I know it's your spare time and everything, but if I don't finish, the steward will make sure I don't have any spare time for months, not to mention the beating i'll probably get... "

"Yeh, well that's your problem, in't it?" Anthony replied over his shoulder.

Lyroxia was desperately trying to find someone who would help her with her evening duties, and so far she wasn't having any luck.

"Why ain't Denzel helping you? He's supposed too, in't he?" Anthony said, coming to a halt and turning to look at her.

"Well, yes, he would be, if he hadn't got himself sold." Lyroxia couldn't stop an icy edge creeping into her voice.

Anthony paused and folded his arms. "If i decide to help you, what would i have to do?"

Lyroxia smiled. "We'll be working in the stables. Between us, we'll have to prepare about six horses for a ride along Leona Lake. Lady Salissa and her friends want to have a stupid picturesque picnic on the shore of the lake."

" ... Ok, i'll help, but don't expect this all the time, alright, Lyra?"

Lyroxia would have hugged him, if they weren't distracted by a loud smash that came from a room along the corridor. " Meet me down by the stables in about two hours, yeh?" She said.

"Alright then", Anthony grumbled, walking towards the slave's quarters.

Lyroxia was about to set off towards the source of the smash when Emeril, the steward, suddenly appeared round a corner to her left.

"Lyroxia!" he barked, in his coarse voice. "The master wants to speak with you, so get over to his study, quick, now, move it!"

Lyroxia was confused. "But, why, sir?" she dared to ask.

"Oh, don't ask me why a Lord like him wants to speak with a slave like yourself! I don't care, neither should you, just get over there!"

So Lyroxia turned on her heel and traversed the short distance to her master's study, passing old tapestries, statues and high arched windows as she walked. She was actually a little scared... she was sure she hadn't done anything wrong, but the only reasons she could think of for Lord Alexander Bailey to summon her would be if she had gotten into trouble, or if she was about to be sold.

She stopped outside the study door, and tentatively knocked.

"Come in."

Lyroxia entered, closed the door behind her then looked around. This room was different from the rest of the house, with its dark green walls and oiled ebony floor. Her master was sitting behind his dark wooden desk.

"Sit down, Lyroxia." Lord Bailey said, indicating to the chairs in front of the desk. Lyroxia decided not to mention that she hated being called by her full name.

Once Lyroxia had sat down opposite him, he continued; "I believe, Lyroxia, that if I am correct, you are the only person who can help me out of a rather tough predicament."

What? she thought. "... I don't understand, sir..."

" Lyroxia, you were sent into slavery as a punishment for stealing jewellery a few months ago, am i correct?"

" ...That's right, sir."

" But it is my guess that you have stolen many things before that, for which you haven't been caught?"

This time Lyroxia stayed silent.

" I'll take that as a yes, shall I?... Now, before you became a slave, did you travel much?"

Lyroxia became more and more confused. Where is this conversation going? " Umm... yes, sir, i've been to Gil'ead, Uru' baen, Tierm, Kuasta, Dras Leona... i've been all the way down to the southern ports, sir."

" Good, good... are you competent in any kind of weapon?"

" Yes. i used to use two daggers and a shortbow..."

He nodded, and a small smile touched his lips. " And, er... how old are you?"

"Fourteen, sir"

"All right." He said. "So, to sum all this up, you are a fourteen year old, accomplished thief, competent in blades and archery? Perfect. Just what I thought."

" But sir... what do you mean?"

" I need you to deliver something to King Orrin for me."

Whatever Lyroxia had been expecting, it wasn't that. She retreated into silence, waiting for him to explain further. Instead, however, her master crossed the room and took an ordinary wooden box out of an oak wardrobe. Then he put it in front of Lyroxia, and lifted the lid. She gasped in shock.

Inside was a gleaming, silver dragon egg...

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