Prologue
Rechuk awoke to the braking of glass and people screaming. “
“I am on my way!”
“Do you know what’s going on?” Rechuk asked.
“The Ralac”
“Here?! Now?!” Rechuk said.
“Yes,”
“I know,” Rechuk answered, “meet me by the north gate!”
“Okay,”
“I can’t believe this!” Rechuk said to himself, “the Ralac here!” Rechuk finished getting ready and walked out of his house and ran to the dragon hatchery. When he looked at the sky, he saw that it was ablaze with the fiery mounts of the Ralac’s. As he was running, he heard the screams of the dieing, and he smelled the smell of burning flesh. When he walked in the dragon hatchery, he saw a group of other dragon riders already assembled themselves together in the main chamber. “What should we do?” one of the dragon riders asked Rechuk.
“We should each take an egg and separate and leave for towns and villages far away, where the Ralac won’t find us, and then we try to raise future dragon riders. We will communicate with each other with our dragons,” Rechuk said, grabbing a black egg. “Now, may our journeys be safe, let us find new riders, and together we will overcome the tyrannical reign of the Ralac!” Rechuk said, “goodbye my fellow riders, until we meet again.” Rechuk said, and ran out of the hatchery and to the north gate.
Chapter One
Chaz woke up in a cold sweat, frightened by his dream. He had a horrible dream. Fire everywhere, burning his eyes, nostrils, and body. Chaz looked out his window and saw that the moon had not yet reached its zenith, so he turned around in the bed for a moment, until he was comfortable, and lay back down to go to sleep.
Chaz woke to the roosters cry that morning. There was a knock on the door, “Chaz, get up, time to do the morning chores,” his mom Shell said.
“All right mother,” Chaz answered, stifling a yawn. Chaz got out of bed, and walked over to the basin of water and splashed his face a few times to wake him up. He walked over to a cloth and furiously scrubbed at his face. Chaz changed into his work clothes and walked out of his room and went outside. Chaz got outside, and grabbed a pail and a stool, and walked over to the barn where the cows were and set the stool down by the first cow and milked.
After he finished the tenth and final cow, Chaz dumped the last pail full, and grabbed a handful of empty bottles, and walked over to the trough full of milk, and set the first bottle under the valve and filled the bottle with milk.
After he had repeated this process about twenty times, Chaz carried the bottles to a shelf, and screwed on lids, then but them in the ice chest, and went inside for breakfast. “Chaz, can you help Baby eat her food?” Shell said as Chaz sat down.
“Okay,” Chaz said with a sigh, “where’s Dad?”
“He went to the town for market, after you finish your chores, you’ll take some fresh food over to him and help out,” Shell replied.
“Fine,” Chaz said, a little exasperated, as he spooned some food into Baby’s mouth. When Chaz finished breakfast he went outside to gather the eggs, gather the carrots, potatoes, and squash, and picking the strawberries. When Chaz finished about an hour later, he packed up a handcart and yelled to his mom, “Mom, I’m leaving now!”
“Okay!” Shell yelled back, “and be careful!”
“Don’t worry!” Chaz said, exasperated, and walked on the path towards town.
When Chaz reached town, he heard no noise other than his approach. There was a crowd of people in the town square, and they looked around at his approach. Chaz felt a rush of temperature rise to his face and ears at the being the object of so much attention. Chaz looked around with a hurried glance, and saw his father Terok and asked, “What’s going on dad?”
“It’s a long story,” Terok responded.
“Well I’m going to be here a while, helping to set up,” Chaz said, “You might as well tell it to me.”
“If you insist,” Terok responded. “I might as well start at the beginning. I had just arrived and was setting up the stall, like on normal market days, and a great rush of wind hit us, blowing most of us over. We looked up and saw a dragon, white as fresh snow, land in the center of the square. We saw upon it a rider, looking of rough build, very muscular, broad shoulders, and a clean shaven chin. As the dragon landed, the rider spoke in a gruff voice, “I have come here to reside in your close mountains. I have brought a single egg with me. It may hatch to anyone, but only one person. I have come here because the Ralac have struck.” As the riders words sunk in, the people began to murmur in fear.
One person called out, “Why have you come here then? Why aren’t you out fighting the Ralac?” Many people murmured their agreement to his words.
“Because they struck us in the night, killing off most of us dragon riders, myself and a few other dragon riders took some eggs and flew to far away towns and cities. I will reside here, until either the egg hatches, or it doesn’t hatch to anyone. I will find a cave for me and my dragon to stay in.” And with that he flew off, up to the mountain.” That’s what happened.”
“Thanks Dad!” Chaz said, “I’m going to ask some people some questions,” Chaz as he ran off. “Oh,” Chaz said as he turned around, “here’s some fresh produce.”
“Thanks Chaz,” Terok responded as Chaz ran off.
“No problem!” Chaz called out, already having disappeared into the crowd. As Chaz entered the crowd he slowed down to a trot, and then to a walk, looking around him as he went. When Chaz had been in the crowd for a while, he noticed a bright blonde head, standing out from all the browns. “Torson!” Chaz called out.
The blonde turned around and yelled, “Chaz!” Torson yelled back.
“What was going on here?” Chaz asked, “My dad told me there was a dragon rider here. Is that true?”
“As true as I am!” Torson replied, “Is that all you wanted to know?”
“Yep!” Chaz replied, “Oh, by the way!” Chaz called out as Torson started to walk away, “how’s your family?”
“They’re okay,” Torson replied with a sigh as he turned back.
“What do you mean ‘okay’?” Chaz asked.
“Well, mom’s been in bed ever since the last baby,” Torson said, “and she’s just been getting worse and worse. Metak’s doctor said that there’s no cure, and expects she will leave us within the month,” Torson gasped with a sob. “My father’s been depressed ever since he heard that news, he’s just given up on life, I’ve had to do all the work. I’m afraid that he’ll die when she does. I don’t know where me and the baby will stay if that happens.” Torson finished with gulp.
“I’m sure my family will take you in,” Chaz said, “if that happens, just come over with the baby and your belongings, and explain the situation to them. They may be gruff on the outside, but they’re one of the nicest people you’ll meet.”
“Thanks Chaz,” Torson said, his tears running slower.
“No problem,” Chaz replied, “well, I guess I better be going back to help my dad,” Chaz said as he turned around, “bye Torson!”
“Same to you!” Torson replied, as Chaz disappeared into the crowd. When Chaz finally found his way through the crowd and back to his father, he noticed a huge ring of people standing around his stall. Chaz ran up to his father and said, “What do you need me to do dad?”
“Nothing,” Terok replied, “oh, wait! Here’s what I need you to do, take these ten gold pebloms, and go buy yourself something nice, I’ve got huge amounts of buyers thanks to your fresh produce. Now go!” Terok finished giving Chaz a shove.
“I can’t accept this!” Chaz said with a gasp. “It’s too much!”
“Not for what you have done.” Terok replied, “now go and by yourself something nice.”
“Fine,” Chaz said, faking a groan, and Chaz turned back and started going around the stalls. After Chaz was wandering around the different stalls, he arrived in the blacksmith’s area. As Chaz was scanning the wares something dark caught his eye. As he turned he gasped in surprise. He saw hanging on a pole and black sword and matching dagger, hanging from a belt, the hilt ending in a dragon, its wing’s spread for flight. And for eye’s, little tiny rubies.
“Ah they’re a beauty, ain’t they,” a loud voice said behind Chaz, making Chaz jump a little in surprise. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you!” the voice said with a laugh.
Chaz turned around and saw a bear of a man and said, “Hello smithy Corson, did you make this?”
“Aye, I think they be my best work, though no one but you has stopped to look at them. Want to here the story on how they were made?”
“Sure,” Chaz replied.
“Okay, so I was in my forge, trying to decide on a new mold, and then a stranger walks in and said, “Would it be all right if I could stay at your house for a while?” And me being the generous man I am said, “Of course you can!” And he said, “Thank you for your kindness,” and then he muttered some mumbo-jumbo and pulled out to molds from his cloak, and said “these are the molds you will use, a matching sword and dagger, and this is the ore you will use” he said putting the molds down and pulling two bricks of black ore, the likes of which I have never seen. And he said “this is the belt and sheaths you will use” he said, pulling out the most beautiful decorated leather I have ever seen. And then he said some more mumbo-jumbo and disappeared. Imagine my rage when I had been so hospitable, and he disappears.” Corson finished
“I’m sure you were very angry,” Chaz said, “how much is the whole set worth?”
“Since you’re the first person to look at it, I’ll lower it from 12 gold pebloms to five gold pebloms.”
“Hmm,” Chaz said, “I think I’ll take it.”
“Here you go,” Corson said, lifting it down off the pole.
“Thanks,” Chaz said buckling the belt on.
“No, thank you,” Corson replied, “I was afraid I was never going to sell it.” Corson finished as Chaz walked away.
After awhile of wandering, Chaz eventually bought a backpack, tent, bedroll, a few pieces of flint, a bow, and a quiver of arrows, Chaz returned to his dad’s stall, “Dad!” Chaz called out.
“I see you spent the money I gave you.” Terok replied.
“Most of it,” Chaz replied, “Dad, can I buy two cans of milk, and mixed dried vegetables and fruit?” Chaz said, handing over three silver pebloms.
“Okay,” Terok said, taking the money, “why do you think you need this though?”
“I’m going to find the dragon rider,” Chaz replied.
“Fine,” Terok replied with a sigh.
“What, you’re letting me go?!” Chaz said shocked.
“Yes,” Terok replied, “but I don’t like it, and neither will your mother. I just know there’s no point in stopping you.”
“Thanks dad,” Chaz said with a smile, “oh, could you do me a favor?”
“What,” Terok replied, his old gruffness returning.
“Torson’s mom is dying, and he’s afraid that his dad will die when she does, so I was wondering if that happens if you could take him and his baby sister in?”
“Of course we would,” Terok replied, “you didn’t even have to ask.
“Thanks dad,” Chaz said, “I knew I could count on you!” Chaz said, loading the food in that his father gave him. After he finished loading, Chaz walked away from his dad’s stall and yelled, “See you soon dad!” and then he walked forward and mingled with the crowd.
When Chaz got out of the town square, he ran for a while, than slowed to catch his breath. Chaz walked then to the base of
Chapter Two
As Chaz started walking up the mountain, he noticed several animals running away because of his presence. With a laugh Chaz started looking around at the scenery and noticed a fairly strait branch on the path in front of him. He picked it up and noticed that it was about his height, and he walked over to a near by boulder and sat down and took out his dagger and started whittling away on the branch. When he finished he said to himself, “That should make a nice walking stick,” and so he stood up, put his knife away and started walking up the mountain again. Along the way he saw a continuing amount of deer running away from him and he said to himself, “I should probably go hunt them for some food. I should probably set up a target range to practice on.” So, he went to a near by tree and took out his knife and carved an X into the tree. When that was done, he put his knife away and stepped back twenty paces. When all that was done he took out his bow and clumsily knocked an arrow and pulled back on the bow and let the arrow fly. With a gasp of pain he dropped the bow and looked at his right arm, the arm that had held the bow, and saw that from his elbow to his wrist was cut up and bleeding. Chaz looked up and saw his arrow had barely hit the tree he was aiming at. With a grimace of pain he stood up and walked over to where his arrow lied. He walked back to his backpack and dug around in it and saw a band of leather in there that would fit perfectly on his arm and said, “I guess that this came with the bow and the quiver of arrows,” and slipped the leather on. When that was on, he picked up the bow again and knocked the arrow, pulled back with all his strength and closed an eye and had the arrow pointing to where he wanted to shoot, and when his arm was steady, he let the arrow fly. With a thud it hit right below the center of X, with a cry of delight, he ran over to the tree and took the arrow out. He then proceeded to shoot the arrow until he could hit the center 30 times in a row. After that he went out hunting.
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