Mind Speak
Having three hatchlings around was a refreshing experience. They climbed all over each other and fought over food. It reminded me of Xupae and Haldrak when they were that age. Something I liked to remind them of all the time.
What surprised me were the hatchlings eagerness to contact my thoughts. I assumed they'd be more like their mother, and keep their thoughts a secret, but I often found one or all of them curiously rifling through my mind. I didn't know if Xupae knew they were doing this, but I wasn't going to stop them.
Another thing they did that was much more heart stopping was their wish to fly. They would throw themselves out of the cave and down the the mountain side. Haldrak, Xupae, and I all had our turn jumping after them.
After they've grown up a bit they could eventually jump off the outcrop without needing anybody diving after them. At first they jumped off cause they wanted to learn how to fly, but after seeing our reactions they did it for fun. Until Fafnir started flying on his own. That made Eridor and Kaida competitive and want to fly for themselves.
Now we had three flying hatchlings that enjoyed trying to get me to fly with them. The boys would grab my arms and carry me off the outcrop. Kaida would just fly around us with her amused mind brushing against mine. Of course with Eridor and Fafnir still young my weight was too much for them, and Kaida would have to grab onto either my clothes or a leg to help keep me in the air.
At that point the four of us would just be suspended in the air. I had to shake the dragons off, and use magic to raise myself back up to the cave.
The older they got the more they grew, and eventually they were taught how to hunt and speak. Once they could fully understand Common I explained why we were confined to the Spine.
"Dragons were the first beings on Alagaësia. The kings and queens of the continent. Then the elves came, and after them the humans and dwarves. The dragons and elves fell into a great war that seemed endless. Only finishing when an elf named Eragon found and raised a white dragon hatchling. The two of them proposed a truce, which is how the dragon riders were born." I showed all the dragons the silvery oval on my palm.
"The riders prospered for decades. Humans eventually became riders, and they were affected the most. Their features change to make them look half-human, half-elf. Those who weren't born with magic gained it from their dragons. Every rider has magic, but not everybody knew that. Even their lifespan was changed to immortality.
"About a century ago a young boy was born. His name was Galbatorix." Haldrak and Xupae growled at his name, and their reactions made the hatchlings grow even more interested in the story. "He was human, and fortunate enough to become a rider.
"However, his new status as rider made him arrogant. He thought himself stronger than he was. Of course, he didn't know this, so he took his dragon and flew into the Spine with his friends.
"During the night their camp was attacked by a band of Urgals. Galbatorix survived while his friends and dragon were killed. He was driven into madness. Challenging everything he came across in the hopes they would kill him, but he won every battle. It made everything run from his path.
"One day he collapsed from exhaustion and a farmer found him. He took Galbatorix to the Council, a group of the most powerful dragon riders, and they healed him.
"When Galbatorix woke up he got an idea. Maybe the Council would give him another egg. So he went to them and requested another chance, but they denied him.
"In a rage Galbatorix left the elves city. He was missing for years, and the dragon riders foolishly believed he would no longer be a problem.
"Instead, Galbatorix tricked a young boy, Morzan, into leaving one of the gates to an elven city unlocked. He snuck into the city and stole a black dragon hatchling after murdering it's rider.
"He tainted the hatchlings mind with black magic, and forced it to bond with him. Galbatorix used magic to quicken the hatchlings growth, and after enlisting thirteen other riders they attacked the elven city.
"This started a war between Galbatorix and his thirteen riders, known as the Forsworn, and all other riders.
"It was a gruesome war, and in the end Galbatorix and a few of his followers came out the victors. He killed every rider and every dragon–wild or otherwise. The only ones to survive were the Forsworn and three dragon eggs."
That can't be right, Eridor's gruff voice was filled with anger. How could only thirteen riders kill off all of the others?
Fafnir's voice was smoother than his brothers, Not to mention all but three eggs.
But this doesn't make sense, Kaida had the most musical voice of all the dragons here. If he destroyed all of the dragons and their eggs, how are we here? Eridor and Fafnir stared at me as well, wondering how they hadn't thought of that before.
"It's because I found your grandmother, Vervada, in a cave far north of Alagaësia. She was dying, and had four eggs with her. Two were hers, two belonged to another, and all of them were wild. She gave them to me to turn into riders eggs, but I left her daughter to continue her legacy as Queen of the Skies."
The three young dragons looked at their mother in amazement. Connecting the dots that she was the daughter I was talking about.
Does that mean you're fathers rider? Fafnir inquired.
"Yes," I nodded. "He chose me as his rider."
What's it like? Kaida looked at her father. Having a rider I mean.
Well I don't expect it's much different from being wild. From her place sunning outside of the cave Xupae snorted, but Haldrak ignored her. The only difference I can think of is your thoughts.
Thoughts? This confession confused Fafnir.
Yes. My mind is constantly opened to Lyari. We share thoughts, feelings. If we wanted–
"We could even–"
Finish each–
"Others–"
Sentences.
The young dragons alternated on who to look at, and when Haldrak finished our sentence Eridor shook his head. That was unnerving, yet amazing.
Does that mean there are two more eggs around here? Kaida inquired.
She always was the brightest of the three.
"Yes, there are. I have them fused against Haldrak's saddle."
They looked at me oddly, so I stood from my seat on the cave floor and walked up to Haldrak. There was a patch of fur that extended out from the saddle, and I rested my hand on it while looking at the young dragons. "I made a pouch to fit the eggs into, then fused it closed. To unknowing eyes it just looks like an awkward bulge."
Using a few words in the Ancient Language I had the top of the extra skin un-fuse, so I could take out the eggs and show them to the curious dragons.
So, Eridor looked up from the eggs, the seven of us are the only free dragons?
I nodded solemnly, and Xupae and Haldrak stared at nothing. Lost in the thought that our small group was all Alagaësia had left.
That's not quite true, we all looked at Fafnir. There are still three other eggs that have yet to hatch. They are still free dragons, just confined behind walls.
Walls we couldn't get passed, Kaida pointed out. A man who was able to kill an entire species with only thirteen others behind him. He would do everything in his power to keep those eggs in his grasp. They may be free now, but once they hatch they would be in serious danger. Much like we are now. He may not know of us now, but eventually he will, and he'll hunt us down to enslave us or kill us.
It grew silent, and Eridor broke it by shifting his position. He walked to the mouth of the cave and spread his maroon wings. Where are you going Eri? His brother made sure he and his sister were the only ones able to hear their next exchange.
I need to think. I'll just be gone for a few hours. With a beat of his wings he took off for the sky, and nobody tried to stop him.
I'll go with him. Kaida followed her brother, and Fafnir followed her.
That left Haldrak, Xupae, and I alone in the cave. "They should be back in a couple of hours." Xupae sighed and laid her head on her paws, Haldrak moved to the back of the cave to lie down for a nap, and I was left to wonder what would happen next.
