Snap-shot Nine: Galbatorix, 9

Labeled: Galbatorix Tyrsson, Age 9

A small, white haired boy sits outside of a window, listening to his parents argue. A smile is on his lips and his odd, silvery eyes gleam with excitement over what he is hearing.

Galbatorix looked out the front window of his house, eagerly watching for his father.

At the age of nine, Galbatorix was a small bundle of energy. His hair was light blonde, so light it was almost white. He watched the rest of the world through deep, wide-set silver eyes. At the moment, he was nursing a split lip from a fight with his brother, Æthelstan, who was two years his elder.

Galbatorix let out a whoop of delight that quickly turned to a yelp of pain when he saw his father.

Tyr of Inzilbêth, a minor lordling who made a living as a spice merchant, smiled when he saw his young son come racing through the front door.

"Hello Galbatorix," he said cheerfully. His smile quickly changed to a frown when he saw the blood on the boy's face. "What happened to you?"

"Æthelstan hit me," he replied, taking great delight in the expression on his father's face. Galbatorix knew Tyr wouldn't stand for family violence and would punish Æthelstan, even though Galbatorix had provoked him a bit. The anger left Tyr's face when he looked up and saw his wife in the doorway.

Faydra Karonasdaughter was a pretty young woman of two and twenty. She had married the widower Tyr six years before and had given him a son soon after the wedding. Galbatorix always had a vague sense of dislike for the woman, though she was like a mother to him. Something about the way she treated him and his sisters and brothers made him uneasy, even at his young age.

"Don't lie to your father, Galbatorix," Faydra said sternly.

"What really happened, Faydra?" Tyr asked as he walked up the path to the door. Faydra sighed.

"Æthelstan and Galbatorix were playing quietly in the courtyard. I went inside to get a needle and when I came back a moment later, they were fighting." Tyr nodded.

"I'll deal with it later. For now, I need to speak to you." Taking Faydra's arm, he drew her into the house. After a few minutes, Galbatorix followed them into the house. Once he entered the main hall, he took off for the back of the house where he found his twin playing with dolls.

Merana was her brother's opposite. While Galbatorix was small and fine featured, Merana was tall and heavy boned. Galbatorix's hair hung in white blonde waves while Merana's dark brown hair fell straight past her shoulders. Her eyes were a deep black while his were silver mercury.

"Merana, will you play with me?" he asked. His twin shook her head.

"No. Go ask Dion."

Galbatorix wrinkled his nose at her suggestion. Dion, his second oldest brother, was five years older then him. The black haired boy was almost never seen without his nose in a book. Galbatorix regarded Dion as a necessity to life, for he was always able to convince Dion to do most of his schoolwork for him, but not good for much else.

"What are you doing, Galby?" a small voice behind him said. Galbatorix grit his teeth and turned around slowly.

A boy about six years old was watching him. His auburn hair hung around his chubby face. Galbatorix clenched his small fists and bit back a stinging reply.

Evan was his half brother, the son of Faydra and Tyr. Galbatorix had never really liked his younger brother. Something about the way Tyr treated the younger boy, like he was gift from the gods, vaguely disturbed him.

"Go away Evan," he said shortly. The younger boy looked hurt, but the older boy ignored him and rushed out of the room, up the stairs and into his room. Making sure no one was around; he carefully twisted the knob of the door until it wouldn't turn anymore. When he released it, it stayed where it was. Good.

Carefully, he pulled himself out of the window and slowly, silently, made his way over the roof to the window of his parent's room.

"It's a great opportunity, Faydra. How many families get asked to have a child touch the eggs? Most people just come and the Rider's can't refuse them, because what if a future Dragon Rider is among them? But so few are chosen, asked to come because the leaders of the city think there are exceptional. Think about it, Faydra. They want him. He'll be honored and we know he is almost certain to have an egg hatch for him!"

"Tyr, I don't know," Faydra answered worriedly. "Don't you think it might be a good idea to wait, talk about this a little? I mean, we have six months; he doesn't turn ten for four more months. Let's talk about this before we jump into it blindly."

"While I see why you think we should, I don't," Tyr said firmly. "I've already accepted. Galbatorix is going to the trials."