Chapter 3

I could see the fissures spreading through the shell, breaking the lovely colour of silver and white mixed together. The egg opened and there on the pillow laid the white dragon.

My eyes watered with tears. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life. Wide, silver eyes peered up at me and the baby dragon yipped in greeting. It looked at me expectantly.

The silence was deafening.

I reached out for the dragon and touched its scaly head. The dragon closed his eyes and rubbed its head against my hand. When we touched, it felt like ice water that tingled and snapped.

I opened my arms and the white dragon leapt into them, scrambling up my body and rested on my shoulder.

Then there was cheering, so loud that it blotted all thoughts.

Lord Roran came over and grabbed my hand and lifted it in celebration.

"Elvana, our new Rider!"

I was officially a Rider.

I still felt tears making hot tracks down my cheeks. I couldn't believe I was crying so much.

In the crowd, I saw Hope yelling in congratulations, Klaus's arm around her waist. He also smiled at me.

The white hatchling snuffled along my ear and fell back into my arms. Lord Roran declared that since I was now a Rider, I would have a room in his hall until the elf-queen-Rider Arya arrived.

I bowed my head in thanks. Then there were even more drinks, more drunken men and more dancing. The white dragon curled on its pillow and closed its eyes. I was pulled into the dancing crowd and I laughed.

My palm itched from being freshly marked by the Rider's brand.

Even now that was a Rider, I still didn't know if I wanted this life. I felt joy and elation from being chosen but feelings like nervousness and terror started to creep in. The life of a Rider was a dangerous one.

I could die in the next month. My training might even be the death of me. There were rumours that a Rider had died during his training because it was so perilous.

The night went on. I had my fair share of drinks. One man I danced with clumsily tried to fondle and touch me but a quick mind slap sent him away.

I started to feel the frantic energy that pumped through me melt away and I slumped against my current dance partner. I weaved my way through the crowd, occasionally being swept up in a man's arms.

I reached for the white dragon's mind and called it to me. I could feel its joy and it jumped down from its perch. I picked it up and wandered over to the sunset coloured egg. I put my hand against the smooth surface and closed my eyes. I reached with my mind and started a heart reading.

The sunset dragon was female. Its Rider was actually here already but she was waiting for her Rider for some reason. My mind flashed back to when Hope went to touch the egg.

I gasped and withdrew my hand from the egg. The dragon was waiting for its Rider to be born.

I approached Lord Roran and his wife, Katrina at their high backed seats, almost looking like thrones. "My lord, I have something to tell you."

He nods assent and his eyes sparkle. "Of course, Elvana DragonRider. What is it?"

"I believe I know why the other egg didn't hatch. With my magic, I have determined that her Rider hasn't been born yet. But the future Rider is present here."

Roran considered this and looked over pensively at the egg. Lady Katrina clasped her hands. "And who might be the Rider, Elvana."

I glanced at Hope who was currently dancing with her husband. I sent a quick relay of images to her. I told her about the egg and how her unborn child might be fated to be a Rider. She caught my eye and nodded. She gave me permission.

I turned back to Roran and Katrina. "It might be the unborn child of Hope, Horst's daughter."

Roran's eyes twinkled at me and they both smiled. "Since it is still undetermined, we will not tell Horst or any of the family. The secret is safe with us."

I nod and leave them. A servant leads me to my quarters. When I opened my door, I gasped. A beautiful, plush bed caught my eye, inviting me to lie down and sleep. My white dragon leapt out of my arms and landed on the bed. It twirled around once and curled into a ball. It peeked at me with one eye open. It felt like it was asking me if I was coming.

I stripped to my shift and slipped under the covers. The dragon pressed into me and huffed. As soon as I closed my eyes, I fell asleep.