Thank you to Restrained. Freedom who has reviewed the most (twice, this is obviously a popular story! I want at least 2 more reviews before I update. And in answer to your question, Restrained. Freedom, Murtagh doesn't just grab Jaydia and fly back to the Varden on Thorn because he needs to teach her a bit of magic and stuff first so she's not completely defenceless. Can you tell I just made that up on a spot?

It had been two days since the egg had hatched for me, two very strange and eventful days. I had given in my notice to Lord Risqhart, claiming I was going to visit some cousins in Dras-Leona and couldn't be expected back for a long time.

The dragon, nameless, had branded itself on my skin with a very painful encounter. It had left me with a silvery mark on my right hand. I had no idea what it was, or what it was for but it meant having to wear fingerless gloves everywhere.

I hurried through the streets of Teirm, back to me house. A quick visit to the butchers had left me with enough meat to last me about two to three days, dragon included. After that I would be living off the land. The prospect terrified me.

I reached my home and pushed open the door. The dragon was sitting in the kitchen, seemingly asleep. As soon as I entered it sat up. It watched my every movement as I stored the meat in the cooling house round the back of the house.

'What is it?' I asked.

'Name.' Something brushed my consciousness, whispering.

'Was that you?' I gasped.

'Yes.'

'You want a name?' I asked hesitantly in my head.

'Yes.'

'I don't know any dragon names though!' I wailed inwardly.

'Make one up.'

'Urm… Ted?'

'Don't be ridicules, I am a dragon, not a horse.'

'Eldor? Baltor? Gemlæn?'

'The last one is… acceptable,' the dragon said.

'Gemlæn? You like that one?' I asked

'Yes'

'Do you always say yes?'

'Yes.'

I groaned. Great – now it had a sense of humour. Actually that was a good point, was it a male or female?

'I am female,' Gemlæn said.

'Female? I thought the last egg was meant to be male? At least that's what all the servants said up in the castle…' I said to myself.

'When are we leaving this dastardly city? It stinks.' Gemlæn complained.

'Soon, as soon as the weapons shop opens, which is tomorrow. I need to buy extra arrows. Or maybe the day after tomorrow. That may be best.'

'Why?'

'Because a grand parade is planned for the day after tomorrow. It will only be a very loose guard standing at the gates. It should be easy to get by without to many questions,' I explained.

'And then we are by ourselves?'

'Yes.'

That night I lay in my bed with Gemlæn beside me, thinking over our plan.

Down the Toark River, around or through Dras-Leona depending on the circumstances, follow the Jiet River for a little while and then we are there. I thought, planning it out in my head, mentally bringing up a map of Alagaesia.

Soon gentle snores came from whereGemlæn laid and I decided to follow her example and drift off into sleep.

That was mostly a filler chapter but I needed to name the dragon etc. I hope everyone enjoyed it.