I would just like to say that none of the characters that you recognize are mine. The ones that you don't ARE mine. This is my longest chapter yet (I think) Please R&R Read and review.

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Chapter 3 Magic

"Did you just speak?" asked Velkan, suddenly elated. Yes, but if you want to talk to me, then direct your thoughts to me. Velkan concentrated on directing his thoughts to Orphran, and then replied, with his mind. Okay. Now where did you learn the language?

I studied your memories. Now eat, and we will go to Gallbatorix for lessons in practical riding skills. Said Orphran. So they ate, and reported to Gallbatorix.

Upon entering the room, the king spoke. "Well, it seems that young Orphran has grown. Very good. From now on, at the top of the tower, the one that you sleep in, there is a dragonhold, it will be fixed accordingly, today, and you will have Orphran sleep there."

"Yes Sir." Said Velkan. "There is no need to call me sir, you will call me master, whenever we meet. Now, I will leave you with one of my most trusted spellweavers, Varinik, an elf halfling." Said Gallbatorix. He left, and minutes later Varinik arrived. "Hello," he said, "I am Varinik, and I will be teaching you magic. The first thing that you should know, is that everything in the world has a name in an ancient language. It describes the true nature of things. Now, I am going to put you asleep, and plant the most basic of words in your mind. When you awaken, I will assign you your first task." Velkan took a moment to take it all in, and said "Yes master."

Without warning, Varinik put him to sleep "Slytha!" Suddenly, Velkan's mind went blank, and he knew no more.

When he woke up, Varinik was standing over him. "Now," he said, holding out a small polished pebble. "I want you to raise this stone without using your body." Velkan concentrated on moving it, but nothing happened. Orphran help! He said mentally. There is nothing I can do. The words are already inside of you. You must look deep within yourself, and find the power with which to fuel your magic. So velkan tried again. This time, he looked into the deepest crevices within his mind, until he found the barrier that separated him from the magic. Once he had taken it down, he felt a growing power within him. That' s it. He thought, and concentrated on lifting the stone.

Suddenly, words came out of his mouth, that he did not know. "Stenr riesa!" Before he knew what he was doing, he lifted his right palm, where the dot in which Orphran had touched him, was glowing. The stone rose swiftly, and hovered in the air. Velkan kept it for minutes, until he felt the strength drain out of him, and he was becoming unconscious. Orphran...Help. He said mentally. I will assist you Velkan. Soon, he felt a newfound strength, and the stone stayed in the air. Finally, when most of his strength had diminished, but not to the point of falling unconscious, he moved it slowly to the ground, until it was hovering an inch above the ground, then, he let it go.

"Very good!" cried Varinik, "In all of my years, not even an elf could keep a stone floating like you did! Amazing! The king will be pleased that you have progressed. Now, I am going to teach you something a little but harder. I want you to make the room dark, and then light it, ok?" He asked. "Sure," said Velkan with newfound confidence, "it'll be a breeze." So he concentrated hard on finding the words for light and darkness. Finally, when he thought that he had them, he spoke aloud. "Brakka Garjzla!" The results were instant darkness, as he had expected, but more of a increasingly lower dimming of the light, until it was completely dark.

Though this was not what he had wanted, it worked well all the same. "Different," said Varinik, "but effective nevertheless. It seems that instead of using the word for shadows, Freohr, you used the phrase Brakka Garjzla. That means Reduce Light. Now, I want you to instantly light this room."

"Yes master," said Velkan, "Garjzla." Instantly, there was light. "Good," said Varinik, "Now, we can proceed to a harder exercise. This may be a bit advanced, but I want you to shield yourself from an attack."

Then, Varinik muttered a word, and fire shot out of his hand, it was an odd greenish color, and came at him lightning fast. But Velkan had been searching through his mind the entire time, and found the right words "Nagz riesa moi stenr Skolir!" he shouted. Then, a blanket rose, and immeadietly turned into stone, and became a shield for Velkan, which he held to repel the flames.

But the flames were not as strong as he had thought, and simply faded away into the shield. "Ha!" said Velkan, "this is not as advanced as I thought!"

"I was wrong to underestimate your ability, young rider. You have proved very competent. But now, let us see if you can repel this!" Without warning, Varinik raised his palm, and shouted "Jierda!" A flash of light occurred, and Velkan found his shield being crushed. Desperate, Velkan yelled back some words that had come to mind. "Letta Du Jierda! Thrysta Vindr." The results were instant, and he found himself getting weaker. The spell that Varinik had sent had been dulled, but he still felt as though he had been pushed out of the way by a stronger force. But his spell, the compression of air, went zooming towards Varinik, and would have knocked him on his feet, if he hadn't screamed "Skolir." at the last second.

"Very good," he said, "tomorrow, we will take our training outside, and I will show you more power over the elements. For now, our session is over. Feel free to do as you wish, but I want you to try to find as many words in the ancient language, within yourself, before you go to bed. Is that understood?"

"Yes, master." said Velkan. He and Orphran left the room. You've been quiet. Said Velkan. I...have been listening. I want to know everything that I can, for in two weeks time, I will be able to fly, in three weeks time, I will be able to carry you, and in three months time, I will be breathing fire. Orphran replied. What's your point? Asked Velkan. My point, is that I a maturing faster than any other dragon. Soon, Gallbatorix will want us to complete tasks. When that time comes, we must know everything that we can possibly know. Said Orphran.

Your right, we need to absorb as much knowledge as we can. Now, lets get some dinner, I feel drained. Said Velkan. Wait, on second thought, you aren't allowed in the populated area of the castle. Lets go to the dragonhold, and I go and get some dinner for you, okay?

As you wish Velkan, but don't get into too much trouble. Orphran said. So Velkan and Orphran went to the dragonhold, at the top of the tower. When they opened the door, he was surprised to see how accommodating it was. There was a large pile of hay for Orphran to sleep on, and a small bed for when Velkan slept there. Also, there was a note on the bed. Velkan read it aloud.

Dear Rider,

I hope that this dragonhold is big enough for your dragon, and yourself, if you wish to

sleep there. There is a large indent of a window on the large wall. Tell your dragon that when

s/he wants to fly out, s/he can walk onto a floor tile marked in red, and it will open. This is ideal

for when it is too big for wandering around the castle. When you are coming in from the

outside, simply fly though as if your were flying straight to the wall. Also, if you desire,

meals can be brought up to the dragonhold for your dragon, and for yourself.

The king has also notified us that the entire tower is now yours, and you may do as you with

with it.

Sincerely, the house servants of the noble leader Gallbatorix. P.S. We are now yours to

command as well.

Velkan read, and reread the note, and was grateful for his good fortune. It was not until he realized how late it was, and how much he needed a supper, that he went downstairs to the dining area.

"Is it still dinner time?" he asked a servant, dressed in rags. "No," he said, "but you may still be able to get some food from the kitchens."

"Wher-"

"The first door on the left, all the way down the hall." said the servant, answering Velkan's question. "Thank you," said Velkan, "I will not forget your kindness."

"Your welcome, but it is I who should be thanking you, Velkan."

"How did you know my name?" asked Velkan.

"Everyone knows you, now. You are a rallying point to some, because you have become the last rider to hatch a dragon in a hundred years. You went from servant to rider. Everyone is proud of you."

"Thank you, but it was nothing." said Velkan.

"Maybe,"said the servant, "but what is you dragon's name?"

"Orphran," replied Velkan, "he is a deep earthly brown, and our bond is already blossoming. We have already conversed, and we can only get stronger."

"Thank you for you time, Velkan, but I must go. There is work to be done in the household of Gallbatorix."

"Until we meet again, then." Said Velkan.

"Let your sword stay sharp." called the servant.

"And let your heart remain pure." said Velkan, as he made his way to the kitchens. He got to the door, and knocked three times. "Hello," he called, "hello, could you open up please?" he asked. "Hold on, hold on, I'm coming." Came a voice from behind the door. It opened, to reveal a short portly man, who had light brown hair, with gray streaks running through it. "Ahh, you must be Velkan, I've heard about you. I'm Musbank, the cook. Can I interest you in a dinner?"

"Yes sir, that would be much appreciated." Said Velkan. "Well then come in, come in. I have a table right here," He gestured towards a small table, with large chairs beside it, "and I'll just go and get you some supper. How does venison, potato, and carrot sound?"

"It sounds great sir." Said Velkan. "Oh nonsense, don't call me sir, call me Musbank." Said Musbank. "Okay, then. It sounds great Musbank." Velkan said with a smile. So Musbank made some dinner for Velkan, and he ate it all in a flash. He bade Musbank goodbye, and left for his tower.

How was your dinner Velkan? Asked Orphran. Great. It turns out that I'm a hero to all of Gallbatorix's servants, and I made friends with the cook, Musbank. Orphran, what if I'm not cut out for this job as a rider, everyone expects me to accomplish great feats, I don't know if I'll have enough grit to do them, in the end. Said Velkan. No grit my tail! Velkan, you did outstandingly in your magic training today, and in you swordsmanship as well. You are right though. You might not be able to accomplish Gallbatorix's tasks, but we will.

Velkan went back to his room, and started reading all of the books that he was given. He found out more advanced stances in his weapons training, read more on the riders, and found out three new words in the ancient language. They were Horperd, Kendritha, and Ballimith. Horperd meant reinforce, Kendritha meant freeze, and Ballimith meant "to attack the mind and both with". He had found them in a book called The Forgotten Ages. Won't Varinik be surprised. He thought before falling asleep.

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So, what did you think? Love it, hate it? R&R, and send a lot. I made up the three words that velkan "discovered". Horperd, Kendritha, and Ballimith. I also want to give thanks to Du Weldenvarden Farcai. Wh was my first reviewer. You should all read his/her stories.