It had been five and forty years since Galbatorix's overthrow. Alagesia had been united in peace since Eragon Shadeslayer had inducted the dwarves and urgals into the riders. And yet all these years and still rebellions were raised in the mad king's name. All because of the remnants of Galbatorix's spy organizations the Black Hand.

Now their leader stood on a ridge overlooking a growing city as dusk fell upon it. Lots of plots and plans had led them here on the guarantee that one event would turn their fortunes. And now all they had to do was wait. A man wearing his armor underneath a black cloak strode towards the mind of the black hand.

"Is everything prepared?" the leader said not even looking at the man.

"Yes my lord everything is ready," the man replied.

"Good, are they arriving tomorrow?" the leader spoke, still not taking his eyes from the city.

"Yes lord the egg bearer will arrive tomorrow."

"Excellent all is coming to plan."

"It is indeed my lord." the man said, turning towards the city.

"Tomorrow we shall bring about the fall of these false riders and reclaim the stolen throne."

Halbre was getting a final chance to become a rider because an egg bearer would be bringing eggs to the City of Bullridge. All children from ten to fifteen had a chance to be paraded past the eggs today and he knew everyone would take that chance.

He was excited at the prospect of becoming a rider but he was doubtful that any eggs would hatch for him. It had been four years and this was his last year for a dragon to hatch for him and he doubted one would. He stopped his thinking and got up from the hay pile he had been sleeping in, swept off the loose hay and walked outside. It was raining so he pulled the hood of his old cloak over his head and began walking towards the castle.

His cloak was nothing special, just an old tattered thing threadbare in places that he had found by the roadside one day. It was dark green and brown, almost black not easily spotted in the wild or towns. That's why he had picked the cloak up and it had proved a good acquisition. Before Halbre reached the gates of Bullridge he turned aside and walked straight for the first tower to the left.

When he reached the base of the tower he grasped the handholds like he had a thousand times before and began to climb. When he was halfway up the stone walls he was already twenty feet up. Halbre had climbed these walls thousands of times but he always had to be wary of stones that looked steady but would come loose if you put your weight on it.

He was almost to the top when just that happened. A foothold came loose and as gravity took its course he lost his other foothold. He scrabbled for a foothold but couldn't find one. He tried to pull himself up with his arms but they were weak from the climb up. Then a hand came down from above. He let loose his right hand and grabbed the hand letting the stranger pull him up. When the stranger finally pulled him up they sank down and sat backs against the crenellations breathing hard.

"You should find yourself another hobby," Brend said.

"What should I do then?" Halbre said breathing heavily.

"Something that does not involve me hauling you up every time you slip," Brend replied, smiling.

"Only when you stop chasing after Seaget," Halbre said knowing that would never happen.

"Ha Khara would sooner stop chasing you," Brend said

Brend and Halbre had been friends since Halbre had moved to Bullridge with his parents. The two had explored, climbed, and stolen all over Bullridge and it strengthened their friendship. When Halbre's parents had died Brend's parents had all but adopted Halbre and that pulled the bond of their friendship even tighter till they were so close they were all but brothers.

Halbre laughed "Ha there is more chance of a dragon hatching for me."

The pair smiled and pushed themselves up from their seats. Halbre pushed his hood back to let the sunlight spill onto his face. They walked down the stairs off the wall heading towards the forge where Halbre was apprenticed. When they arrived Halbre went in to see if Cristvir needed any help before he went to see the dragon eggs. When he came out, Brend asked him if Cristvir needed his help.

"No he was only repairing a sword and he said it would be a simple repair," replied Halbre.

"Well then let's go see some dragon eggs shall we," Brend said.

"Halbre, can I talk to you for a moment," called a sweet voice from behind them.

Halbre turned rigid and turned around to see Khara walking towards him. He muttered to himself, put on his hood and vanished into the darkness of an ally. When Khara caught up to Brend who was still chuckling she just smiled at him.

"I don't know why he thinks he can get away. I always find him," she said strolling along with Brend.

"I don't know either but he seems afraid," Brend said concerned.

"Afraid? What does he have to fear from me except my frustration for having to hunt him down," Khara asked questioningly.

Brend laughed "I don't know what he fears but I think he has an ecxeptional head start already."

"That can soon be amended." she said and picked up her gate then turned into a small alley. Brend chuckled again and continued towards the courtyard knowing that the two would sort out whatever was going on.

Halbre was never sure how Khara could always find him but no matter what he did to shake her she could find his trail with as little trouble as a hound. He weaved through alleys and side streets sticking to shadows passing like a rustle in the leaves of a tree. After a few minutes he looked down an alley that led to the main street. It was empty but he remained cautious and continued to stay with the shadows. He was almost to the end of the alley when Khara stepped from around the corner and walked straight towards him. When she stood in front of him he stood up to his full height and threw back his hood. They stood there for a moment then Khara threw herself into his arms and he returned the gesture.

"You know you can never hide from me," she said, pulling back a little so she could look into his eyes.

"How you manage to find me is a mystery," he replied with a bit of question in his voice.

She giggled a little "And it shall remain so."

"When will you tell him?"

"In a year or two."

"You know I'm uncomfortable hiding this from your father."

"I know but it might seem premature to reveal it now."

"Alright but I don't like keeping this secret from your father, he's a good man."

"I know he is but will you do this for me?" Halbre stared into her eyes for a moment.

"Fine."

She kissed him for a moment "Alright now I have to go help my mother, will you join us for dinner?"

"Perhaps work may keep me from attending."

"Alright I must be going."

With that Khara left the alley and proceeded to her home. Halbre after a respectable amount of time left the alley and caught up to Brend who was leaning against a wall just outside the keep.

There were two eggs. They were oval-shaped, large and strangely colored. The first was misty grey with thin veins of the faintest blue while the other was a deep pine green with veins that were a lighter green.

Brend and Halbre stood in a corner of the courtyard watching as what seemed to be thousands of children were paraded past the pair of eggs. Halbre watched the children but he also paid attention to the elf who was responsible for bearing the eggs from place to place. He was dressed in simple robes that contrasted with the sword on the elf's hip. Halbre had seen the elf bring eggs through Bullridge every year yet he had never learned his name. The line slowly dwindled and there were a few people who still lingered in hope of seeing an egg hatch. Brend and Halbre moved from their spot in the corner and moved towards the table where the eggs were resting. The elf was about to pull the strings on a bag to enclose the eggs when he saw them approaching he let the bag fall and smiled.

"Would you care to touch the eggs," his voice flowed like water and yet it seemed as smooth as honey.

"Yes, we would if you would permit it," Halbre said somewhat stunned by the elf's voice.

"I am merely a guardian and I would not oppose your request," He replied, still smiling and kindly.

Halbre looked at Brend but he seemed to be entranced by the grey egg and was staring into its depths. Halbre abandoned what he was going to say and did the same with the green egg staring into its depth. A loud squeak interrupted his concentration and he jumped and looked over to see the grey egg rocking back and forth squeaking all the while. Brend seemed stunned but when Halbre looked at the elf he seemed pleased. After several minutes of rocking and squeaking the egg gave a last final shrill squeak and stopped rocking. Then it began to crack. All the cracks spread to the top and a piece on the top fell off and a silvery streak came out and scurried to the edge of the table.

There, at the edge of the table sat a silvery grey dragon hatchling observing its surroundings and licking the membrane from itself. Brend held out his left hand. The dragon sniffed his hand and lay its head in his hand. A surprised look crossed his face and Brend was rigid for several minutes then he relaxed and stood there for a minute eyeing the dragon.

Hello this is my only my second story so easy on the judgement please. Will accept constructive criticism no flames thank you. With that I bid you gooday. Fez style, props to you if you got that refrance.