Chapter 2. Training Day
The new young riders were in the courtyard standing next to their dragons. "Stay in formation and follow Murkall and I through the air…" He turned to Kialandi, "No flying off…"
("That goes for the both of you…") Murkall said projecting his thoughts.
"Yes master…" They replied sheepishly.
They all climbed on their dragons and together they all leapt into the air flying north along the coast. As always Kialandi and Tiar showed off twisting in the air as they followed the others.
("Hey Gal you and Jornunvosk want to race…") She said to their minds.
Jornunvosk snorted smoke; ("Shall we oblige them?")
("Yes my dear heart…") He responded.
Both Dragons went into a dive towards the water and at the last minute they opened their wings flying thirty feet above the water.
The elves looked at each other as the two dragons dove. Murkall snorted in disapproval. ("Words are wasted on the young…") Murkall said.
("You think their dragon's would know better…")
("Their attitudes reflect those of their riders…")
("You call yourself a dragon…") Jornunvosk said.
("You should call yourself a dragon snail…") Galbatorix said finishing the sentence.
Then Jornunvosk spoke again, ("Yes and you Kialandi should be a snail rider…")
("You will swallow those words…") Kialandi and Tiar said at the same time.
("Hey Kianlandi… Why don't you…") She smiled and started whispering in the ancient language. When she finished her spell hundreds of sea birds flew towards Jornunvosk attacking the dragon without care for personal safety.
("That little witch!") Galbatorix grumbled, ("Dive…")
("What… Why?") She asked confused.
("Just do it!")
Jornunvosk obeyed and swam under a fishing boat startling the crew and rocking the huge vessel. ('What are they up to?") Tiar asked.
("I don't know, but whatever it is… it is not good for us…") Kialandi looked this way and that way, but she found no one. ("Pull up!") He obeyed and as they did Jornunvosk came up out of the water pumping her wings. She rose up right underneath Tiar, when Galbatorix and Jornunvosk rammed into Tiar's belly she and Galbatorix splashed and became water causing Tiar to tumble through the air. Then the real Galbatorix and Jornunvosk rose up out of the water.
("ENOUGH!") Murkall shouted with his mind.
("Why do you human riders have the need to show off to one another…") Shou asked.
("Sorry master…")
"You cheated!" Kialandi yelled over the sound of Tiar's wings.
("You were the one who used magic first…") Jornunvosk said.
This time Murkall addressed both Tiar and Jornunvosk in private. ("The two of you are Dragons… ancient and wise in your thoughts… racing is for the fool hearted…")
("We were just having fun master…") Jornunvosk said.
("Have fun in your private time… There are creatures in the world that can kill dragons especially if they catch you off guard…")
After being thoroughly chastised Kialandi, Tiar, Galbatorix, and Jornunvosk flew without speaking with Shou, Murkall and the other riders to the academy fortress of Vroengard. When they landed in the courtyard, the Headmasters of the academy, Master Niala an elf and her white Dragon Starholm greeted them. Niala's voice was rich and strong like the cross between thunder and a musical harp. She was tall and strong, built like a runner. Starholm's scales were white as snow, but his spikes, teeth, and claws were black as marble. He was an ancient dragon the oldest dragon Galbatorix had ever seen and when he moved the ground shook.
"Wenoma…" They said in the ancient language. "Welcome to Vroengard young hatchlings…"
("Please step forward and tell us your names…") Starholm said.
As arrogant as ever Kialandi and Tiar stepped forward first and gave their names. Niala smiled, "I see that humility is something we must drill into the two of you…" Just as bold Galbatorix and Jornunvosk stepped forward and introduced themselves. ("You are full of pride hatchling…") Starholm said to Galbatorix, ("…Be careful pride is an enemy to the riders of today.") Next, the Elf Meldwen and Diaxus came forward. "As an Elf the order expects more from you… for our race is the reason the riders exist…" Niala said. Starholm turned his huge eyes toward SaKaul and Axhema, ("And the two of you are?")
("I am Azhema master…")
"And I am SaKaul…"
("What a pair you make I can't wait to see what becomes of the two of you…")
("Marvol and this is my rider…")
"Luheim… Masters…"
"We are well met Luheim… I knew your father and his dragon Vanfier… How is your mother…"
He smiled, "She fairs well… She has taken up the deeper studies of the ancient language…"
"I will write her for Starholm and I have been longing to visit Sithri…" She addressed them all Riders and Dragons, "You have had some training, but know the real work begins… Tomorrow you will be assigned to your masters both Dragons and Riders… Contort yourselves well…"
"I can't believe we are here…" Galbatorix said.
("Really…") Tiar said, ("From what Kialandi told me I am surprised by that statement…")
He smiled addressing him aloud. They were making their way to the Dragon hold. "Imagining something is one thing Tiar, but to actually get to do it is a far greater experience…"
("There is my keep…") Jornunvosk said.
'Who is that?" Kialandi asked in excitement staring at a wild scruffy man with a red dragon.
"That is Morzan… and his dragon Brael…" A human with pointed ears said standing behind them.
"Who are you?" Galbatorix asked.
The question was ignored, "That human trailing behind them is Brom and his dragon Saphira… They are apprenticed to Masters Oromis and Glaedr the Dragon… Morzan and Brom are currently the most powerful student riders in the academy…"
("Who are you?") Tiar asked.
"Forgive my manners… I am Shaw an attendant and I have been assigned to Galbatorix as a personal valet…"
"Why does he get a personal valet…" Kialandi asked.
Shaw smiled, "There are Riders here and then there are Riders… Exceptional riders… Galbatorix's abilities need special attention…"
Tiar snorted, ("What about Kialandi she has talents as well…")
"That is why I have been assigned to you…" another human with pointed ears said standing on the opposite side of Tiar. "My name is Cosann…"
Because Galbatorix and Kialandi could already speak the ancient language and use magic to a certain degree they were trained separate from the general population. Kialandi was placed with an Elf Master named Hethmar and his blue dragon Phirebell. Galbatorix's Masters were the Elves Shou, Dersjon, and the human Welmon.
As days became weeks, weeks became months, and months became years Galbatorix developed a reputation among the apprentices of the academy. He solved every puzzle put before him. He became a master singer in the ancient language and a master of breaking into people's minds. In one particular session Galbatorix took on three apprentices at once in a dual of the mind and he beat them all. Galbatorix invented a spell that allowed his body to draw energy from the sun and wind so when he used magic his body hardly ever tired. With the sword there were few who could hold a candle to him except the elves and Galbatorix had beaten a few elves himself. His strength increased greatly when he discovered his own true name.
As for Jornunvosk she grew to be a fit dragon, unusually fast for one her age as her masters would say and she became even faster when Galbatorix discovered her true name in the ancient language. She beat the dragon Cacarot in an aerial duel. Cacarot was an orange tanned dragon whose rider was Master Welmon.
Night had fallen over Vroengard, Galbatorix and Jornunvosk walked with Masters Shou and Murkall in the garden. "Master I was in the archives and well Could you tell me what Eldunari are…"
Murkall growled when the word was mentioned and Jornunvosk touched Galbatorix's mind.
("Be careful you seek knowledge you are not ready for…")
("You know what they are…")
While they were talking Shou and Murkall were in a heated discussion inside their heads. Murkall growled once again and stood in front of Galbatorix. Smoke streamed from his nostrils.
("Have I offended you master…")
The dragon scratched the ground with his claws and snorted fire from his nostrils, ("In more ways than one…") He replied in the ancient language. ("For one that piece of knowledge is in the restricted archives so I ask how did you a mere apprentice gain access to the restricted archives…")
("I uh… used a mouse and looked through its eyes to see what I wished…")
"You will be punished for your actions my apprentice…" Shou said interjecting.
("This is known only to elder dragons and it is not something we share with unseasoned riders… But since you know I will tell you… The common word for Eldunari is Heart of Hearts… We dragons have two hearts… One to pump the blood through our bodies and the other if we so choose to when we die… can hold the souls of our minds… When she was deemed old enough Jornunvosk was told of her heart of hearts but under the condition she swore never to reveal it to her rider… Now I have told you enough… You must now swear in the ancient language to never tell another student what we have revealed to you…" He swore feeling ashamed, "… as for your punishment…"
The Dragon turned his massive head to Shou who sighed, "You shall be placed in confinement for the next week during which time I must speak with the headmistress… And you will have no contact with Jornunvosk during that time either…"
Murkall turned his raging mind to Jornunvosk, ("I know you didn't break your vow so you will not suffer in Galbatorix's punishment…")
"I am very disappointed in you Galbatorix… Sneaking information from the restricted archives…" Shou said.
The matter was kept quiet, but it was brought before the council of masters and the head mistress. "Humans in deed… I curse the day Anurin allowed them into our magical pact…" Master Maciel said. He and his dragon were speaking at the same time.
The dragon Cacarot roared in anger, but it was Welmon who spoke. "Be careful what you say Master Maciel I am human…"
"ENOUGH!" Boomed Niala's voice with a touch of dragon on it. "This debate has been going on ever since the Dragon Rider Foromor disgraced himself… And we will not have it in this academy… Not so long as we are headmasters… Is that understood?" They all apologized and adopted a more reverent tone. "Now as we understand it Masters Shou and Murkall have punished Galbatorix appropriately…"
"Yes we have mistress…"
"Then the matter is settled…"
"But mistress…"
Niala and Starholm gave Maciel a stern look and it was his dragon that touched his mind and told him to drop it. "We said the matter is closed… Starholm and I will place wards on the restricted archives and no one will be able to access them by any means unless he or she has permission of three masters.
Galbatorix was in the common hall eating with Jornunvosk, ("I have missed you…")
("And I you…")
They were joined by Kialandi and Tiar, "Long time no see Gal…" She said teasing.
"You know I despise that nickname…"
"A little bird told me you accessed the restricted archives…" She whispered.
Galbatorix looked this and that way, then he put a spell up so that no one could hear them. "How did you find out about that…"
Jornunvosk growled.
"I have my methods… You would be surprised the sneaky things the students do around here…"
("Apparently ease dropping is one of them…") Jornunvosk said.
"No one in this academy is as strong as you Gal… Galbatorix accept maybe the elves and you have been shaking them up… Well I want to be stronger in magic… So I need your help to sneak into the archives…"
"I have had enough trouble as is… You will have to find your own way…" Kialandi begged and pleaded, but Galbatorix wouldn't help her.
("I thought you were our friend, but you are not…") Tiar said projecting his thoughts and ignoring a growl from Jornunvosk. ("…Come Kialandi we will find another way…")
Galbatorix shoved his plate away, ("Ignore her she is jealous of us… we can find new friends…")
The beginning of the following week over a hundred students were gathered in the courtyard along with their dragons. Niala and Starholm stood on a raised platform with ten other masters and their dragons.
"Today… You are all going to meet Elf Blacksmith Rhuenon… Rheunon forges the blades of the order and today you all will be measured and fitted for your swords she will make for you… Know yourselves and you will know the kind of sword you are meant to hold.
Rhuenon sat in a chair with her apprentice who would record the names of the riders, the color of their dragons, and the kind of sword they would possess. Rheunon would ask them questions like how they gripped their swords and whether or not they would fight with or without a shield. She would also have them perform a few moves to see how they would fight and stand.
"You have strength, but you are also fast…" She said speaking to Galbatorix in the ancient language, "You need a long sword strong enough for strength attacks, but light enough for speed attacks…" She looked at her apprentice. "I think a curved blade is what is needed…"
It took Rheunon a year and a half to finish over one hundred blades and when she was done a ceremony was held as each rider received their new blades from Rheunon.
The next day Galbatorix and Jornunvosk were flying over Vroengard, the academy masters had given everyone the day off. ("I can't believe they would hold us back like this…") Galbatorix said to Jornunvosk.
("I am sure the masters have their reasons…")
("You and I have surpassed every student here and still we are made to stay here and study…")
("Gal…") Jornunvosk was the only one he allowed to call him that. ("Be patient…Our time will come sooner than you think…") Jornunvosk tried to comfort him, but Galbatorix would not be appeased. He had patitioned the masters to grant him the rank of Honorary Rider a title that would allow him to go on missions for the order. Galbatorix had been studying in Vroengard academy for the past three years and in those three years he had completed six years of study as a Rider.
