Chapter 2: The Fire, the Ice, the Lightning

Triston was about to place the dragon egg beneath a tree in the ground when he felt the stone twitch. He froze and dropped the egg on accident. He heard a crack in it, and fell to his knees as the red dragon egg hatched before his eyes. After the top of the egg had cracked open, a little red dragon head popped its head out.

"This... can't be happening! I was never in the visions! Why am I receiving a dragon, and Eragon isn't! Eragon is the savior of Alagaesia, not me!" Triston watched helplessly as the dragon waddled out of the egg and touched its talon to his left hand. A searing pain instantly erupted from that spot, and it felt like someone had poured liquid metal on Triston's hand, which almost made him scream. As it was, he gritted his teeth and let the pain pass. He opened his eyes he didn't remember closing, and looked at the dragon. The dragon lifted its eyes and Triston felt a presence in his mind.

Are you of the Dark or the Light? asked the presence.

I don't know! I haven't chosen yet, and I don't know if I ever will! Triston responded in his head.

As long as you devote yourself to the Balance, I shall aid you, human.

Are you the dragon in front me? You seem smart and wise, but you would be so young if you were. Are you?

Yes indeed. Do you know what the Balance is?

No, but I'd like to know. What is it?

The Balance is the pursuit of freedom for all, yet in a way that no one has more power than another. Its name in the ancient language is Sjálfvili.

How do you know so much as a newly-hatched? Triston asked in his head.

My egg is ancient. I have learned much from all my bearers, and have visited by the Balance itself. I know much because of that.

Alright, where should I keep you? In my house, the forest, the shed? Where?

I will be fine in the forest, where I am least likely to be discovered. I must grow and then we may leave this place together.

How will I talk to you if you're in the forest?

Have you not heard of the bond dragons share with their Riders? I can still communicate mind-to-mind with you. I will call for you when I need you, human, and you will do the same, I hope.

Of... course. What should I call you, dragon?

To stop referring to me as "The Dragon", you should come up with a name yourself.

Alright, I'll try.

Good. I bid you farewell, and hope that your actions preserve the Balance. The dragon began to walk away into the forest, leaving Triston amazed and stunned. He then sighed and made a note in his mind that dragons were tiring, especially when they were unexpected.

Eragon was frustrated. He and Roran had only found only the blue stone and a buck, and they'd been hunting three days.

"Let's go back, Roran," Eragon told Roran, angry.

"Sure, we're not going to see any more meat this close to winter anymore. You know the way back, right?" Eragon nodded. He knew the Spine inside and out. At least, the part near his farm. Eragon turned back and began to make the way back to the farm. The stone in his arm seemed to wiggle a bit, but Eragon thought it was because of a stumble.

Roran and Eragon came back, Roran carrying a buck and Eragon carrying... A shiny blue stone? Triston walked up to Eragon and asked:

"What's the stone?"

"It's none of your business." Eragon said through gritted teeth. Triston sighed inwardly because of his brother's foolishness, and then felt the presence of the dragon in his head.

You do not have a name for me yet? Ah, that is of no matter. He's carrying a dragon egg.

Really? So he is our savior after all.

Where did you get that information?

I scryed the future. I need to listen to Eragon now!

You scryed the - Triston shut the dragon out of his mind, and managed to catch the last part of what Eragon was saying.

"-Roran, should I take this to Brom?"

"How about you ask Triston? He knows more than I do about Brom."

"Fine." Eragon turned to Triston and asked: "Would Brom know anything about this stone?"

"If it's magical or not natural, he would," Triston told Eragon. "Otherwise you'd be better off asking Horst."

"So you don't know anything about it?" Eragon said snidely.

"That's... right." Triston said, somewhat resigned.

"Well, you sure aren't as smart as you like people to think, aren't you?"

"You could say that..." Triston responded, slightly angry.

"Well, I should get on my way. I need to know if I can get any money from it, to help the family, unlike you, Triston. Sitting around with Brom all day doesn't make any money, does it?"

"You're correct..." Triston trailed off, the word Svell at the tip of his tongue. He was simply tired of Eragon now, and didn't know why he was affected by it now and not before.

"I'm leaving, Triston. And hopefully you could learn to contribute to the family before the year is over." Eragon turned his back to Triston, who was seething, and was walking leisurely on the path to Carvahall. Triston's anger got the better of him, however, and he intoned in a whisper:

"Svell." He imagined Eragon's hand becoming cold so he would have to drop the egg, and a second later, Triston felt slightly faint, but Eragon dropped the egg, and cursed about icy winds in the harvest season. Roran looked hard at Triston, and asked harshly:

"Did you make him drop it? That could be our meals for a long time!"

"I don't know how I could make him do it! I don't know magic, just the theory that I'm learning with Brom!" Triston lied convincingly.

"If you're sure." Roran said, and walked towards the house, casting a final glance towards Triston as he stepped in the house. Triston sighed and began to walk to the forest. He really needed to find some peace.

"Svell! Svell! Kveykva! Svell! Svell!" Triston was using all his anger to cast spells on the ground of the forest, dead and cold as it was, but he was making it colder and killing more things. Triston felt extremely light headed, but continued in spite of that.

I need to keep my temper around Eragon. He's the savior of Alagaesia, I can't turn him against me! I need to calm down! And so, Triston continued with the spells until he heard footsteps behind him. He whirled around, Brisingr on his lips, and saw his red dragon.

You smell of anger and pain. Why do you smell of that? the dragon asked Triston internally.

Because I can't get mad at Eragon, because he is the savior of Alagaesia! If I turn him against me, then he will kill me!

Why would he kill you? You are his brother. Are families not supposed to be close?

He and I aren't! He detests me...

Why does he detest you?

I don't know! I don't know what I did to make him hate me! But if I hurt him, then he will turn the world against me once he saves it!

You are basing your entire worldview off divination? Why? Do you not know that divination is the wildest form of magic, and the least accurate? Why do you feel he must be the savior? Why not you? Why could you not become that savior?

Because I... can't! I just can't, alright?

Why can you not fathom being superior to your brother?

Because I know he's the savior of Alagaesia! Triston was frantic now, wondering why the dragon was not agreeing with him. He had seen it, Eragon fighting the Urgals and saving a fortress! Who else could be the savior of Alagaesia, if not Eragon? He even had the name of the first Rider, while Triston had just a normal name! Who would be the one destined for greatness out of strong Eragon and weak, puny Triston? Eragon, of course! Why don't you understand?

It is you who does not understand, but I will endeavor to make you do so. I will be in your thoughts every day, and try to make you see beyond this shallow veil of idolism. I will make you see. The presence left Triston's mind, and he collapsed to the ground as the dragon walked away. Triston rose after five minutes and began to go back to the house. He had a lot to think about.

Eragon arrived at Carvahall feeling rather good about himself. He had found a stone that could be sold for food, and could be of some help to his family, unlike that bastard Triston. Oh, how he hated Triston! He never did a thing for anyone else! All he did was sit around with Brom all day and learn magic no doubt to help the Empire when he joined their army!

Triston will join the army and then die hopefully, because he deserves it for helping the Empire! I wish I could go to the Varden to help them fight fucking Galbatorix! He deserves to die even more than Triston, because of his harsh taxes and his mercilessness against those who don't agree with him! I wish I could kill both of them with either my sword or my bow! Wrapped in these thoughts, Eragon passed into Brom's home, after alerting him he was there.

"Brom?" Eragon asked.

"Yes, Eragon?"

"I have a stone here, I'd like you to tell me how much it's worth." Brom turned to Eragon, took one look at the stone, and said:

"Heyra Neo. That's a dragon egg."

"What!"

"That's a dragon egg. Hide it until it's about a month old, then come back here to find me. I will help you accomplish what you want with your dragon."

"First, what does Heyra Neo mean? And second, how do you know it's mine?"

"Heyra Neo prevents anyone else from hearing us. I know it's yours because the egg would not have found you were not it's true Rider. It will hatch soon, and you must take care of it. Feed it meat, and keep it hidden from everyone else, including your family, and especially Garrow and Sloan. To everyone else, it's simply a expertly crafted art piece that you decided you wanted for yourself. If you are not believed, tell them that it's worth an immense amount of money but no one in Carvahall would buy it. You may go back now, and I would advise you to travel through the back roads or even the forest, Eragon, because if someone finds out, it's all over."

"I understand." Eragon said with a fierce pride. He could battle the empire now, or rather, soon, but he could get rid of Garrow and Triston with barely a thought, those Empire loyalists! He could do so much now, much more than he had ever dreamed! "Thanks, Brom."

"You're welcome. Lúka Heyra Neo. Be safe!" With that, Eragon turned and walked out of Brom's home, taking the forest trail back to the farm.

Eragon was about halfway to the farm on the forest trails when he heard a crack from the egg. He practically jumped and set the egg down on the ground. He watched while the blue egg shattered and a blue head popped out of the top. He offered his palm to the dragon, and the dragon touched it's talon to his palm. Immediately, a burning sensation spread across his palm and he screamed a short time before calming down. He looked at his hand and saw a silver mark on it, and he looked into the dragon's eyes in awe. He then felt a new presence in his mind. Not a threatening one, but one that seemed like a small child.

What is your name? asked the presence. Startled, Eragon could think nothing but the truth.

Eragon.

Hello, Eragon. I have waited a long time for you.

Why? Eragon asked.

Because you are my Rider, and I am your dragon.

Why did you pick me?

You are good of heart, and are able to hate those who deserve it and love those who deserve it as well. I can see your burning hatred for Galbatorix, the Egg-Breaker that he is, and know that you are the right one. When I am grown enough to fly you, you and I must leave, for the Empire will want to know where the egg they had went.

How long will that take? Eragon was curious.

About two months, but one month if we absolutely must. We could even leave before that if you got one of those animals you humans ride when you must go fast -

Horses?

Yes. I can feed myself on mice now, but I will need some meat from you if you can spare any. You and I are able to talk to each other with our minds, so finding you will be no problem. You seek vengeance, and so do I. We will take down the Empire, by ourselves if we have to. Right?

Yes! Eragon was almost exploding with excitement. Have you heard of the Varden?

No. What is the Varden?

The Varden is a group of rebels who fight the Empire, and we could go to them and learn how to fight better! Brom, my brother's mentor, wants to come with us, so I suppose we should let him. But we will take down the Empire. I vow it!

I vow it as well. We vow it! The last line was thought by the dragon as the same time as Eragon said it out loud:

"We vow it!"

Good. Now we are bound, and we will take down those who break eggs, and who rule their lands with fear and hatred.

When should I put you in the forest?

Now. I will come to your farm in two days for some meat, which I expect you to have when we meet again. Goodbye, I will see you soon! The blue dragon walked away from Eragon into the forest, and Eragon felt his heart thumping in his chest.

Finally, a way to make a difference in this world! We will destroy Galbatorix!