I've recently been rereading this series so I figured, why not.
Sorry if
anyone was looking forward to another chapter in a different series
of mine.
I've been trying not to overwork myself but at this
point I'm working on 3 stories at once.
Anyway, here you go!
__
He coughed his thirst and hunger overwhelming, his lips dry and cracked. Everyone was thirsty and hungry, but no more so then him. He often acted up, and was beaten and refused food and water. As a slave, he had no rights. But today he had a plan. He and a few others had managed to pool together a nice amount of items and bribed the guard to "accidentally" leave the storage room door unlocked that night. He would sneak out, get a good amount of food, and share it with the others.
It was just about midnight, when the guards changed shifts. An older fellow by the name of Gerard urged him on. "Come Xander, it's your only chance!" Xander nodded, and rushed out. Xander dashed across a small area between the slave homes and a large room leading in many directions. He was being as quiet and fast as possible. He opened the door to the storage room, and realized it was more of a hallway. There were many doors on either side of him. He picked one at random, and went inside. He opened a small box and inside found a silver stone. It was very large, about a foot-and-a-half tall and oval-shaped. Xander's eyes opened wide. It was Galbatorix's last dragon egg. The first had gone to the Varden's Rider, Eragon who Xander had admired since he had first heard of him and his majestic blue Dragon.
He stuffed the egg into his makeshift backpack, and ran out. He found another room, this one actually being a storage room, and took some food. He made it back without being discovered. All the slaves celebrated and had a small feast, at least that's how it seemed to them. Xander got more food then the others due to his actually getting the food. He smiled and played along, but the whole time he was worried about the Dragon egg. It had not been discovered by the others but what would he do with it? Keep it? If he tried to return it, he would be caught for stealing and executed. Thus the only thing to do was keep it. Dammit. Why did I have to go and take this damned egg? Xander was angry at himself. He should have just left it. But… He thought What if it hatches for me? Xander dismissed the thought, knowing it could never happen. He stuffed his pack, with the egg in it, under his cot.
He knew the egg wouldn't hatch but he spent the night thinking of what he would name the Dragon, what his Rider's sword would look like and what it would be named (he didn't know the ancient language of course but thought of some interesting names anyway), and what he would do as a Rider. He fell asleep dreaming of epic battles, riches, and freedom. During the middle of the night, he heard a crackling noise. He lit a candle by his bedside and looked around. Nothing to be seen, but still a crackling sound. Has Daren gotten into our food stores again? But, he realized, the sound was coming from beneath him. No… no, no, no! Xander quickly threw off his blanket and grabbed his pack. Inside, the egg was slowly breaking open. He twitched. This can't be happening! He may become a Rider but if he did it would only be for a small while before Galbatorix would find out and execute him.
He cried to himself. Please god no… But no matter what god he may have prayed to, the Dragon broke through the egg. It was a silver color, with small spines all the way down its head, neck, and back. It had small horns and was in total about the length of his arm. It was very big from what he knew about dragons. It opened its mouth and let out a shrill squeak. He flinched and hoped that nobody would wake up. When nothing was heard he delved into his knowledge of Dragons. At last, Xander remembered something he had heard. Dragons could communicate with their Rider through their minds. Xander closed his eyes and concentrated until he felt something. A quiet presence, but one that brushed against his very soul. He pushed into this presence. Inside was a silent soul. His Dragon. He tried to get the Dragon to understand that he needed to be quiet. The Dragon seemingly understood and became quiet. Xander reached into a secret compartment in his pack, after lifting the Dragon out and onto his cot.
Inside the compartment was his secret stash of jerked meat. He pulled out a piece and held it to the Dragon. It sniffed it and then snapped it up. It chewed it toughly for a moment and swallowed. He realized that the meat was very tough and it might not be good to feed it that when the Dragon didn't yet have very strong teeth. But regardless, it was all he had that the Dragon would probably eat, seeing as it was a carnivore. He fed it a smaller piece and reached to pet it on the head. When he did, his hand began burning. He cringed and held it. When he looked at it, the pain had stopped and on his hand was a silver marking. It glowed dimly. Xander looked at it questioningly. Did this happen to all Riders? He once again petted the Dragon, this time without the pain. It chewed the meat and swallowed. When it did, he dived into its mind again. He tried this time to tell the Dragon his name. He was telling it Xander over and over as a way of telling it. When it spoke back. Xander. It said to him. He brightened. It understood. And it was rather intelligent for a hatchling.
Xander smiled. He might as well enjoy the time he had with the Dragon. What should I name you? I've thought of a couple of good ones. How about Lance? The Dragon looked at him and shook its head. Scratch intelligent, it's a damn genius! He looked at the Dragon and smiled again, holding it and petting it. Then what about Drake? It means Dragon. How's that one? The Dragon shook its head again. Xander almost laughed. A cute little baby with an attitude. It was barely 20 minutes old at this point and it was already bossing him around. Well I only have one more. What do you think of Fawkes? Is that one okay? The Dragon stopped for a moment. Then after a minute or so had passed, the Dragon nodded. Xander grinned. Fawkes it is then!
For the next 4 days, Xander managed to keep Fawkes hidden by telling him to stay and feeding him pieces of jerked meat. In just those few days, Fawkes learned almost the entire human language. At night, Xander would talk to Fawkes, and actually had some very intelligent conversations with him. Even though he was only about 4 days old, he had the wisdom of an old man. Xander lined his backpack with shreds of his own clothing for bedding, but at day 3 Fawkes was almost too big for it. He was surprised at how fast Fawkes had grown. At 4 days old he was nearly at Xander's waist in height and at least as tall as him in length. But on Fawkes' 5th day of being alive, he and Xander got a rude awakening.
Several guards pulled Xander off of his bed and onto the ground, awakening him instantly with a massive pain in his head from hitting the stone floor. Swords were pointed at him from all directions by the soldiers standing over him. "The King wishes an audience with you. And bring your Dragon. Fawkes crawled out from under the cot, having been awoken by the noise and Xander's thoughts of fear. He bared his teeth and let out a small growl from deep within his throat. The soldiers back off slightly and Xander got up, rubbing his head.
"It's fine Fawkes." Xander told him. "C'mon." Xander began walking out with several guards in front of him. Fawkes followed close behind, and when the rest of the guards began to walk he turned to them and let out a dull roar letting them know to keep their distance. Fawkes walked right beside Xander, like a loyal dog. He was about the size of a large dog as well.
They finally got to King Galbatorix's throne room. The guards pushed him and Fawkes inside and closed the door. The Kind himself stood at a window looking out at his kingdom. "You… Um… Wanted me your Highness?" Xander said nervously. He already knew that he was going to be executed he just didn't know how it was going to be said.
"Hello." The King turned to him. "Xander isn't it? Please, sit." He motioned to a table. Xander sat, Fawkes next to him, ready all the time. "As we both know, you have acquired the last Dragon egg I owned." Here it comes. Xander thought. Your punishment is death. He said to himself, mocking the King's voice. "And it hatched for you which surprises me greatly." Xander started sweating. Get on with it. "Normally for stealing an egg your sentence would be death." Xander raised an eyebrow. So what's he gonna do? Torture me or some shit? "But I've decided to let you live." Xander's mouth almost dropped open. Excuse me? Fawkes spoke to him.
It's
not like that's a bad thing Xander. You get to live and so do I. I know but… We'll owe him. He's got something up his sleeve.
"I call him Fawkes." Xander answered. So what? I'll be Galbatorix's 2nd in command or something like that?
That isn't so bad. Fawkes responded.
"As I was saying, most of my kingdom still doesn't know about you or your Dragon, and those who do are being executed as we speak. I'd like to keep them ignorant."
What's he got planned? Xander wondered.
"My plan is to raise you two in secret until your Dragon is about 1-and-a-half months old, then send you out to find the Varden. You'll pretend you've escaped my clutches, and join them. You'll have them send you to Ellesmera to get training from the elves and a Rider's sword. Then you'll return to the Varden and eat them from the inside." Xander listened. It would work. It was smart, but also vile and wrong. "You have two choices now. Die, or accept." Xander stood.
"I accept."
__
There's chapter one for you.
I hope you enjoy, and chapter 2 will be up soon.
Please review!