There was nothing I could do, all I could do was try to forget I even went and saw the thing. But that was impossible, it was like the sleek silver stone haunted my every move. Jesada noticed I was distracted, she said I was useless if my mind wasn't cleared.

"You must be awake to focus on the oncoming attack," she circled me.

This felt like hours, I was tired, my muscles were strained, but she made us keep going, I was on the verge of collapse.

She moved effortlessly to strike me and I tired to side stepped but sh hit my shoulder and I fell.

"But you are not focused," she leaned over me.

"That's because I don't care about any of this... This is stupid," I groaned, not moving to stand up.

"Moaning like a child will not help you."

"Neither will this," I argued. " No one fights like this... why don't you have guns or something," I muttered. "I thought we were supposed to delegate ... not fight. That's what you said."

"Stand up or leave," Jesada wasn't listening to me.

"I'll leave then," I rolled over and got up on my knees. "I'm tired."

Jesada looked me over once then walked away without another word. I rolled my eyes, who cares, soon I'll be out of here.

Luna took me back to the castle, she told me all about her training, but I was worn out I barely heard a word she was saying to me. She landed by the entrance.

"I can feel that you worry about the egg."

I leaned forward against her her neck," I don't want to think about that."

"Neither do I... but I believe we must until it is certain you are not the Skulblaka Ebrithil"

I rubbed my eyes," Of course it's not me. It'll be Collin, that's who I'm betting on."

"Why him?

I shrugged," Hes arrogant, white, a guy... usually that qualifies you for most things."

"This planet does not follow that of our home."

"From what I see, it's all the same."

"What else is bothering you? I can feel it something is not right." Luna craned her neck to look back at me.

"I don't even know anymore," I told her honestly. "We're running out of time here, Luna. My parents will expect me home, I can't just... disappear."

"We should leave that worry for when the day comes. As of now, you could still return home. We should have faith in the Queen."

"There really isn't anyone else here I trust... besides you."

"Quinten has been there for you, he came for you when you were with Corin. He seems to be watching out for you."

"That doesn't mean he's trustworthy."

"You've trusted him before."

"I also used to trust Collin and look where that got me. Now I'm trapped in another universe," I slid off Luna's back.

"You should rest, my acorn... I will see you up in the room."

"See you there, I just want to stop and grab some food."

I watched Luna find her way around the castle to my room, the turned and headed into the doors.

"Long time no see," a shadowed figure leaned against the wall.

I stopped, who is that? They stepped out and it was Serena.

"Serena?"

"Hey Alyson," she smiled.

"Hey," I felt a little more at ease.

"Heading to dinner?," she asked.

I shrugged," I guess you could call it that," I walked up to her.

Serena looked around for a moment," Look, Alyson... you're right," she told me . "You are trapped here, we both are."

"Oh, so you heard that?"

"Yeah... but I think I know a way we can both get home."

"What?," I whispered then also checked to make sure no one was around us.

Serena pulled me off the cobblestone path and around the corner," Look, there isn't much time. We need to find a way to get us far away from this castle. Everyone here is evil."

"Wait, you said you could get us home? Like open the portal?"

Se shook her head," Not exactly, but it'll get us home. I trust it."

"Trust what?," I asked suspiciously.

"I can't stay here long," Serena looked around nervously. "I'm still in trouble for not going with you guys, I'm not supposed to talk to any of you."

"But you have to tell me, Serena!"

Serena pulled me down so we were squatting on the ground," Okay fine. I know this guy, his name's Atar. He's a potion's expert, he studied under Tathari, so he knows the spells and magic of the portal. He can recreate it and get us home!," Serena was visibly excited.

"Atar, who even is he?"

"I met him in the marketplace."

"In Ilirea?"

"No," she shook her head. "Aroughs."

"Where is that?"

"It's south," she rushed her explanation. "What matters is that I know him and he is a good man, he will get us home."

"But what if he doesn't. If it fails, we'll be like traitors or something."

"I won't fail, Alyson. I have to go. I'm meeting with Atar about some things, I'll find you later," she slinked along the edge of the castle wall.

"Wait! Serena!," I called after her but she was gone.

He could get me home, both of us. Luna too! Luna will have to want to go home, but what if she doesn't. I fell down into the grass. But how can I trust Serena? She was the one who told me not to trust anyone here. Now she has some mystery guy that knows magic? Why didn't she mention it before? Who is Atar? If he can get us home, what is stopping them from just following me and forcing me back here, but now a prisoner. I have to get approval from the Queen or it will never work... Fuck... this place sucks.

I got up and made my way into the castle skipping the food and going straight to my room.

"How was the meal?," Luna asked.

"I didn't go. Serena stopped me."

"And?"

"She said," I stopped myself from talking out loud. "She said she had a way to get us home."

"How so?," Luna asked.

"A man, named Atar, he knew how to recreate the portal or something. He can get us home."

"That seems...," Luna paused.

"Suspicious? Yeah, I know. Believe me, I want to go home, but we can't run away. They'll just follow us."

"Yes that is a fair point."

"When I saw the egg, the Queen made it sound like we could go home soon."

"That is if the egg doesn't hatch for you."

"It won't," I spoke aloud. "I told you it'll be Collin."

"I am also worried," Luna told me softly.

"I'm not... I just don't want it, Luna. I have you and you're all I need."

"As are you, my Rider."

"I think about when the Queen told us... about the Dragon Master. The only person that really was okay with it all was Matt... and the egg didn't hatch for him. That means one of us have to be it, right?"

"Perhaps, but a dragon doesn't hatch for just anyone, they must feel the bond as I did with you. Just because the egg can hatch to one of you does not mean it will."

"That's what they should do, separate all the eggs and make sure no Rider with a casted on dragon ever sees another egg. That would get rid of all the problems, once all the eggs hatched, there would be no Dragon Master."

"That might not have worked, some eggs may never hatch if they never sense their Rider."

"Better than what they're doing...," I grumbled while changing. " I think what makes me really mad is that they still won't even tell us what this Dragon Master is. They have a bunch of dragons and what? Matthew said they'd be unstoppable, but how? Alagaesia has hundreds of dragons."

"These are questions that only a wise source can answer."

"Well, then Collin can ask, because it'll be his problem to deal with."

"I can sense your true feelings, Alyson. I know you are curious."

"No... I'm not. I don't want to know at all," I lied.

"If anyone were to know the stories about this, I believe Eragon would be the one to ask along with Saphira."

I rolled in the bed," Where would we even find them?"

"I would assume they would stay here at the castle."

"Maybe I should wait until tomorrow," I said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"We are not ones for waiting," Luna told me.

"But you don't fit in the halls."

"Yes, I can look around outside, maybe there will be a window."

"Okay... I guess I'll start with..."

Who do I even go to? There is no one here I can really ask. Matt doesn't like me neither does Ashley, Serena can't be seen with me and Collin is... probably my best bet.

"Collin it is," Luna confirmed, squeezing out of the window.

I turned down the corridor, I knew that past Matthew's room was Collin's, it wasn't far at all. I stood in front of the door, this will be simple and easy. I knocked but there was no answer.

"Collin?," I called and knocked again.

"He isn't here," I reached out to Luna.

"Try Matthew."

I moved back towards the room I had once entered and knocked," Matthew?"

I heard movement and then the door opened with Mat looking at me grumpily with a scowl.

"What?"

"Hey.. sorry to bother you. I tried Collin first but he didn't answer."

"Collin doesn't use his room. You can find him in Ashley's," he started to close the door.

"Wait... uhm, maybe you know. I need to talk to Eragon, is he here?"

Matthew reopened the door and looked me over," Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

Matthew scoffed," You really think you can just waltz up to him, he's not just some guy. He is Eragon Shadeslayer, restoring of the Riders and bringer of peace. You can't just 'find him' when you 'need to talk'," Mathew used air quotes. "It can takes months to even see Eragon when you have a meeting scheduled. I can't believe you think you can just... wow," Matthew chuckled. "You have a lot to learn still."

"So I'll take that as he doesn't stay here?"

"He does," Matt nodded," But it doesn't matter. You can't just waltz up to him."

"Why not?"

"It'd be like trying to waltz up to Johnny Depp. You just can't."

"He's here, Luna. Any luck?"

"No."

"Okay.. thanks," I turned away from Matthew.

"Why are you looking for him?," Matthew asked.

"I... I just need to ask him something."

Matthew sized me up again, this time he went very slowly.

"You went to see the egg didn't you?," the realization dawned on him.

Why do I need to lie?

"Yes."

Matthew gruffed," Makes sense I guess."

"Uh... yeah. Listen, I'm sorry it didn't hatch for you."

"Don't be," he cut me off.

He is still not over it.

"Did I want to be the Ebrithil Skulbakla? Of course. It would have been a honor to help the Queen, I know she is under stressful times. I could have helped her and saved Alagaesia!," he rambled to me to which I nodded. "Those fucking Torjeegians, you know they-..."

What is he talking about?

"Actually, Matt," I stopped him. "Maybe you could help me. I mean, you know a lot of things and I just want to know more about this Dragon master thing."

Matt recomposed himself, it was obvious he hadn't meant to tell me what he did. Without a word he gestured me into his room.

"I might have found an alternative. Sit tight."

"I will keep a watchful eye out for Saphira or Eragon," Luna responded.

"Why are you curious? Think they egg will hatch for you?"

"God, I hope not," I answered honestly. "No offense, it's not really my dream."

"It can't be for everyone," Matt huffed and went over to his large desk, which was covered with books and papers. "To explain the Ebrithil Skulbakla, is like explaining a piece of history. It was always thought to be an old wives tale with no real merit, even the stories of the old ones who were once cursed with the burden."

"See, when you say things like that, it makes me not want it even more."

Matthew didn't look up," Back in the day everything was a curse, looking at the sea when a storm was eminent or taking the last drop of ale from a cup that wasn't yours. These people have evolved so much since they went to Earth, I'm telling you, it's amazing what they've done in such a short time," he almost grinned.

"So the Dragon Master is bound to a lot of dragons, that part I get," I wanted him to stay on track. "But why? What did Tarathi do this?"

Matt sat and gestured to me to sit too.

"He never said, when Eragon found him he had long since lost is mind. He never wrote it down or left any explanation as to why. But, from what we think, it was his last attempt to hurt the Queen."

I was about to ask why when he continued.

"Why? That must be what your thinking. We have a working theory... but, it's beyond what you need to know."

"Matt, what the hell? You can lead me on like that. Tell me."

"You'll find out if the egg chooses you."

"Well it must be something great if you wanted it so bad," I countered and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I... I didn't want this for fame or glory, Alyson," his eyes narrowed. "I wanted to save the people of this country."

"From what? What do they need saved from?"

Matt sighed," Don't worry about it."

"Am... Am I danger being here?"

Matt closed his eyes," Is that what you care about? Yourself?"

"Well no one else here cares about me," I snapped.

Matt opened his eyes and leaned forward across the desk," I hope you get what you want and the egg doesn't hatch for you. If it chose you as the Dragon Master, I think all of Alagaesia would be doomed," he spoke in a cold calculated tone, his beady eyes drilling into mine. "You should go."

I hate to admit that Matthew had intimidated me, but he had. I got up and left the room, quickly closing the door behind me.

"Forget it Luna, I changed my mind, I don't want to know. Let's just go to bed."

"What did young Matthew say to you?"

"He didn't really say anything..."

"That is a lie."

I got into my room and shut the door," He's just an ass. He's all mad that he's not the Dragon Master."

Luna climbed in through the window," Maybe it is something you should want? Matthew is very intelligent and if he craves the title, he may have a good reason."

"I don't think so. He kept saying he wanted to save Alagaesia. He wouldn't tell me what from."

"So this Dragon Master will be the savior?," Luna asked.

"I don't know... but after all of that, it just confirms I want nothing to do with that egg. Whatever the dragon master has to do, I don't want to be involved."