"How do I look papa?" Mariya asked as she spun in the light-blue dress she was wearing for the coronation.

"Very beautiful, Mariya." Jason said, finishing buttoning his shirt. He looked over at Catherine who was wearing a purple dress. He smiled. "Both of you look beautiful."

"Will you be alright, Jason?" Catherine asked.

James smiled and kissed her, holding her. "As long as I have you, I'll be fine."

She smiled.

Meanwhile.

"King Orrin is dead, Eragon." Nasuada said to him in the mirror that allowed them to communicate.

Eragon stared. "What? How?"

"According to James, the Ra'zac killed him." Nasuada said in a low voice.

Eragon cursed. "So some or perhaps all have hatched." He said. "James is the next in line?"

"Yes, he's being corrinated today, along with his wife and daughter." Nasuada said.

"Did you check his story?" Eragon asked

"I asked Orrin's advisors. They all say James is no liar and his eyes, Eragon, they were filled with horror and fear." She said. "I hadn't the heart to have a magician go through his memories."

Eragon sighed. "Very well then. Did any of the eggs hatch?"

"None to my knowledge, but they haven't researched all the towns yet."

Eragon nodded. "Let me know once one does."

"You and Arya will be the first to know." Nasuada said.

Eragon said good-bye and his face faded from the mirror. A knock came to the door then. "Queen Nasuada, it's time." Jörmundur said.

Nasuada exited the room and headed to the courtyard.


The coronation went without incident and after Nasuada and her guards headed back to Ilirea.

James went immediately to work on reading through the politics and affairs Orrin was involved in. Most he knew about, but there were some where he either never heard of, or knew little about. Catherine studied as well, wanting to help James in all she could.

Mariya played with some servants and explored the castle, getting familiar with her new home.

A week after Mariya's 10th birthday, the elves that carried the eggs were going to pass through Aberon on their way to the Boer Mountains.

James and his family met them near the west gate. "Greetings!" He shouted.

The lead elf who had silver hair and black eyes smiled. The five others with him stopped their horses behind him. "Greetings, King James. We heard word of your recent crowning. I am Veraias, these are my companions Connack, Rysha, Illia, Vena, and Celeril." He said pointing to each elf. I tried to put names to faces, so I could remember them.

"Welcome all of you. I know you have a long trip ahead, but you are welcome to stay in Borromeo Castle tonight, I have ordered rooms to be put aside for you." James said. "I must admit however, I thought your party would be at least three times larger considering the item's you carry."

"Queen Arya selected the best magicians in all of Du Weldenvarden for this journey. We only carry a small amount of the…items." Connack said. He looked to his companions. "I believe we will take you upon your hospitality then."

We rode back to the castle. After dinner James showed the Elves to their rooms once their horses were in the stables.

That night my mother tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead. "Sleep well, Mariya. We are not far from here if you need us."

"Night, mama, papa." Mariya said. "Goodnight."

Father sat on the bed and kissed my forehead to. "Mariya promise me you won't go and touch any of the eggs, alight?"

"Yes Papa."


The next morning I wandered through the castle and I ended up walking into one of the elve's guests rooms. I was about to leave when something under the bed caught my eye. I kneeled down and brought the object out. It was black, oval shaped and was about a foot long and had grey lines that resembled a river that had split and wandered. It was then I realized that this may have been a dragon egg and I put it back under the bed before running to the dining hall.

Once there, I took my place at the table. Only five of the elves joined us for breakfast. The cooks brought them their salads and our meals as well. Veraias was missing. When James asked Rysha answered. "He stayed behind to guard the items we carry. He asked that a meal be sent to his room."

As we finished eating, Veraias entered, a small black dragon on his shoulder.

The elves stood in excitement immediately asking if the dragon had hatched for him. "No, I left the room to go to the privy, and when I returned he was crawling on my bed. I think a servant may have been curious and touched his egg."

"I'll have all the servants come to the throne room at once." James said, standing.

Just then the dragon jumped off Veraias' shoulder and glided to the table. It crawled along until it came upon the plate of meat near my chair. It ripped off a piece of meat and ate it before staring at me. It crawled unto my plate and ate the meat that was left. Unconsciously, I put my right hand out towards it. Just as my father called my name, the dragon put his snout to my palm.

I wanted to scream, but the sound wouldn't leave my lips. Later I would describe the sensation as like someone had chilled my blood, causing it to tingle and snap inside my veins. Only when the sensation ended did I realize I had fallen to the floor, and my mother had run over to hold me. "Are you alright, sweetie?"

"I'm fine, mother." I said, sitting up.

The dragon glided to my lap and it rubbed its head against my hand, but the sensation didn't repeat. I noticed I felt the dragon's mind against my own. I could feel the dragon's emotions. I smiled at it.

"Mariya you disobeyed me." James said.

"James she never saw a dragon's egg before, how could she know?" Catherine said, helping Mariya stand, who held the dragon in her arms.

After some conversation, Veraias and Rysha helped me pack some things, and we went down to the stables. "You should name him." Veraias said before listing off a few dragon names he knew. "Briam…"

I felt pleasure from the Dragon's mind. "He likes it." I said.

"Briam it is, then."