Summit -Chapter 8 Up!

[videlicet]

Another story... I've been having writer's ADHD for a while now, skipping from project to project, but this the farthest I've got in a story for a while. -__-
Feel free to point out typos and grammatical errors. I will take no offense. Actually, I really appreciate truthful feedback of any kind, especially critique. How will I improve if no one gives me pointers? Because I know that this little story needs a lot of work. Give me suggestion of all sorts, please! My favourites are the ones where people tell me what I need to improve.
Oh, and I realize the chapters are short. They're meant to be. ^^
Note: Stealing is not cool. So, I advise you don't even try.

Table of Contents

Extras
-Work in progress
Part One-Skywards
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
-Work in Progress!

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Work in progress

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1

Eva grimaced as she grabbed the scissors, watching sadly as she raised them to her head. For a moment she hesitated, the sharp edges catching the light of the single candle sputtering in the room. Drawing in a deep breath, she proceeded, cutting the long strands of dark brown hair with a slow, grim finality. Replacing the scissors on the desk in front of her, she turned in her chair, studying her reflection intently in the window. With a sigh, she ran her hand through the now short hair, allowing a sad look to cross her features momentarily. It was sad, really, that in order to do what she really wanted, she had to masquerade as someone else. "It'll be worth it," she whispered to the face in the glass, the face at once so familiar, and so alien.

A loud knock at the door shook her out of her revevoire. "Come in!" she said, turning around to face the door. It was set opposite her desk, next to a tall, wooden bookshelf, the first two shelves full of books, the next one, of models of small creatures of all colours, on closer inspection they would reveal themselves to be dragons. The fourth, and top, shelf, was cluttered with a variety of seemingly pointless objects, shiny rocks, dried flowers, shiny bits of metal twisted into interesting shapes.

It opened with a loud creak, revealing a boy, slightly older than she, with black hair, and deep blue eyes. "Eva, or should I say, Eldin." he said with a small, half-smile. She returned it.

"Eldin," she repeated slowly, feeling the name on her tongue. Her name. "That's a name I'll have to get used to."

The black-haired boy nodded in agreement, "Aye, one slip, and you're in big trouble."

"I know." Eva said, getting out of the chair. "How do I look?"

"Like a boy." he stated simply, face displaying no emotion.

She nodded, "Good." She was garbed in a simple beige coat, specially tailored to hide her true appearance. Under it was a shirt of light grey, made of an uncomfortable, scratchy fabric. Her legs were covered by loose-fitting brown pants, covering most of the worn, black boots that protected her feet.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" the boy asked, one eyebrow raised at her.

"Yes, Patrick, you know I am. Don't worry about me."

"It's my job to," he replied, "I'm your older brother." Patrick gave her a small smile. "Shall we be off?"

Eva nodded, answering with the deeper voice she had practiced, "Definitely." Her voice quavered ever so slightly, and she scowled. Moving to the corner of the room, she picked a small, dark leather satchel off of the rickety bed. In it were all of her most prized possessions. "Let's go." she said, heading for the door. She paused at it for a moment, turning back to take in her room. Shaking her now short-haired head, she spun back, waling out the door. Her brother followed obediantely, and they tiptoed through the dakened house, the candle held by Eva giving everything an eerie glow. Looking around, she felt a pang. This was her home, the place she had spent the last four years of her life. Now she was fourteen, tall for her age, and old enough to be eligible for...

"Watch out!" hissed Patrick behind her, pointing at the low ceiling beam, the one that they had both bumped their heads on too many times to count. Eva smiled, ducking, but reaching her hand up to touch the old, hard wood, tracing the grain with a finger.

"Stop being sentimental!" Patrick whispered, "Boys aren't like that!"

Eva dropped her hand, feeling ashamed. She resolved to work harder, storing that useful tidbit in her brain, for later use.

At last, they reached the door, and Eva resisted the urge to turn back one last time, to view her home. No, a boy wouldn't do that, and, if she was going to be one, she'd have to start now. Setting her jaw, she stepped out of the house into the cool, night air, her brother following.

She looked up, relishing the feel of the cool night breeze on her face, ruffling her short, brown hair.

"Hurry up," said Patrick, poking her in the back with a bony finger. "We have a train to catch."

"Aye," They quickened their pace, feet slapping against the cobblestones lining the street, passing rows of houses. No one else was out, the hour was late, the moon shining brilliantly in the sky. Eva looked around, taking in the calm silence of the city streets, the houses with their darkened windows, doors only shadows in the night. Cobblestones stretching out in front of them, gleaming where the moonlight spilled onto them.

"It's so..." Eva mused out loud, earning a look from Patrick.

"Peaceful, quiet." Patrick supplied.

"Yeah," agreed Eva with a nod. Suddenly, she was struck by a realization. If she was accepted... she might not see this city for a very long time. She might not see her brother for a very long time. These two thoughts caused her breath to stick in her throat, and she let out a little cough.

"You okay?" asked Patrick, looking over at her, suprised to see her eyes were full of tears. "Eva...?"

She smiled at him, blinking the tears away. Such a crybaby, she was! If she was going to pass for a boy, she'd have to stamp all of this nonsense out. "I'm fine," she said gruffly, "It's just that, if I get accepted..." she trailed off.

Patrick reached out an arm. "I get you, little sister. Don't worry." He held her hand, squeezing it tight. Eva looked at him, grateful for the gesture. They continued along like this, in silence.

Nearing the train station, Eva let go of the brother's hand. If she were to pass as a boy... A loud horn noise shook her out of her thoughts. The great engine loomed up ahead, it's shiny black exterior gleaming in the moonlight. A surprising number of people were gathered here, for the middle of the night. Eva had expected -or at least hoped- that it would've been deserted like the rest of the city. This was not the case. There must've been at least fifty people milling around, of all ages. Small children clasping their mothers' hands, tall men in long coats and shiny shoes, elderly people, with white hair that caught the light, and a few young boys, ready to embark on the same journey as she. Eva took a deep breath, steadying herself.

"Bye, Patrick." she murmured, beginning to turn away,

"Hey!" he called, causing her to turn about. Patrick
stepped forwards, engulfing his younger sister in a big hug. "Good luck," he whispered in her ear, releasing her. Eva smiled, turning around to face the train. Then, she stepped on board, vanishing out of sight. The train began to move, chugging slowly at first, then picking up speed, carrying Eva Gildeon far, far away. Patrick stood and watched for a long time, long after all the other onlookers had dispersed. He was a lone, dark shadow, standing forlornly on the platform, gazing at the distant horizon, towards the place his younger sister had just headed. The mountains, home of the dragons.

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2

Eva put a foot up, hauling herself into the train. In front of her was a long hall, four doors on each side, and one at the back. The floor was covered in shiny wood, the bare bulbs swinging in their sockets overhead reflecting glaringly off it. She began to walk, stepping slowly, self-consciously. The first compartment was occupied, by a bedraggled-looking family. The second one was taken too, as was the third. She continued down the hall, worn leather boots slapping loudly against the wood. The fifth compartment, full. Sixth, full. On the seventh, she was getting a bit despairing. Sure, there was more than this one train section, but to get to the other compartments she would have to cross the precarious metal bridge, thin as one full-grown man's foot, width-wise. She'd have to walk like a cat to cross it, which Eva did not fancy. Trains themselves, she admitted, made her feel slightly sick. It wasn't motion-sickness, but a fear. Her oldest sister had fallen off of a train, crossing the platform bridging the sections. It had been raining, and she had lost her footing. Eva shivered, remembering the grief that had rolled in waves when she'd recieved the news. She had been but 6. Sudden nausea threatened to overwhelm her, and she leaned on the wall for support. Seventh compartment, taken. Eva let out her breath in an annoyed hiss, continuing on to the final cabin. She turned her head, crossing her fingers for luck. Yes! There was a space left. Opening the sliding door, she stepped inside, causing the compartment's inhabitants to turn and look at her. There were three boys, about the same age as her. One was blonde, his hair sticking up like it hadn't been properly brushed for days. His outfit was ragged too, but his eyes were a bright, intelligent grey. The next boy had dark brown hair, and was rather short. He had a round, well-fed body, and a face to match. The final inhabitant was of a medium height, with jet black hair that fell past his ears. His eyes were a piercing green, and they locked with Eva's, challenging her.

"Er... mind if I sit here?" she asked, remembering to use her deeper voice at the last moment. This statement caused the three boys to scrutinize her more closely, and she felt embarassed under their gazes.

"Suppose so," said the blonde boy, and she almost sighed in relief. She took a seat at the window, resting her head against the cool glass.

Outside, it had begun to rain, and, with a jolt, she realized she could no longer see her home.

"I'm Benjamin Weather," said the blonde boy suddenly, causing her to look up. He had a hand extended towards her, and she shook it, feeling rather daft.

"Eldin Gildeon," she answered, looking at the other two boys out of the corner of her eye.

The black-haired one watched impassively, his head back, rested on his hands.

The plump one, though, piped up, "I'm Geoffrey Tumble. Nice to meet you."

Eva stifled a snort, but shook his hand anyways. Now, they all had their eyes on the other boy, the one who hadn't yet spoken. He looked out the window, ignoring them completely, so they began to talk amongst themselves.

"So, where're you headed?" she asked them both.

Benjamin answered first, "Same place as everyone." This response drew a snicker from Geoffrey.

"And you?" She looked at him.

"The dragon-holds, 'course!" he exclaimed.

This response caused both Benjamin and Eva to smile, which they both tried to hide rather unsuccessfully.

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Jared watched with interest as a tall, skinny boy came into the compartment. He had short, badly cut dark hair, and dark, thoughtful grey eyes. He locked eyes with the newcomer, raising an eyebrow challengingly. The boy opened his mouth, stammering, "Er... mind if sit here?"

Jared held in a snort of contempt. He seemed to be just as pathetic as the other two boys he had the unfortunatecy to share the compartment with. Leaning back, he rested his head on his hands, tuning out the conversation as he watched the countryside speed by. His attention was recaputured as the boy, who had introduced himself as Eldin, asked, "So where're you headed?"

They both answered predictable answers, the dragon-holds. Where else would a boy of the eligable age of 14 want to go? Suddenly, Jared felt the urge to speak, to add his opinion to the conversation.

"I'm Jared," he announced pompously, holding out his hand for Eldin to shake. The brown-haired boy accepted it, and he was suprised to feel the strength in the shake. Skinny though he looked, Eldin was obviously not as spindly as he seemed.
"I'm headed for the dragon-holds as well." he said, ignoring the other two boys completely. "Last name's Silenthill."

Eldin nodded. 'Nice to meet you," he said, "I reckon you've heard my name already?" This answer caused Jared to smirk slightly, this boy was witter than he seemed as well.

"I guess I have. Eldin Gildeon, yes?"

The blonde boy, Benjamin, he'd called himself, piped up, "So... what've you heard about the dragon-holds, and the riders? Have you ever seen them?" He addressed the whole compartment, looking at them all in turn.
"I've seen them," said Geoffrey, and everyone turned his way, "I was out in the village square, in my town, Markten. There was an important-looking figure, some guy, dressed in a fancy suit." He paused, enjoying the attention. "And then, a barking great dragon flew out of the sky! Most of the people ran away, but I stayed to see. It landed in the square, and a man jumped off. He was wearing a red tunic, so I guessed he was a rider. He went up to the fancy man, and they got up onto the dragon and flew away." he finished proudly.

Eldin's eyes were shining. "What did the dragon look like, exactly?" he asked.

"It was bright green," answered Geoffrey, "With lots of sharp spikes along its back." He looked slightly uncomfortable, and Jared stifled a laugh. It was obvious that he hadn't actually seen it, the pudgy boy was probably just recounting what someone else had told him. He bit his tongue, resisting the urge to blurt this out.

"Well," cut in Benjamin, "I've never seen one, but I've heard many a tale. My great-uncle was a dragon-rider, see. I've heard that they can grow to be as big as houses! And that they can breathe fire from the moment they're born, and-and..." he trailed off.
Eldin shook his head. "Aye, they can grow to be as big as houses, bigger, if what I've heard's true. But they can't breathe fire from birth. Nay, they have to be at least a half year."

"And how would you know that?" Jared asked, a scathing edge to his voice.

The brown-haired boy turned, a glimmer of anger sparking in his grey eyes. "Because I do! Only the best, most knowledgable people become riders, and as that's what I plan to be, I research!" Now it was his turn to sound scathing.

The black-haired boy raised an eyebrow, not in challenge, but in defeat. Eldin hadn't looked like the sort with a temper... but, as it had been proven, looks can be decieving. "Touchy," muttered Jared, shooting a glance over at Eldin, waiting for a reaction.

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Eva seethed. The insolence of that boy! She heard him mutter, "Touchy," and bit her tongue, willing herself not to respond. He had already provoked her into yelling, causing Geoffrey and Benjamin to regard her with alarm. A seed of embarassement in the pit of her stomach weighed her down, but the last thing she was going to do was apologize. No way.

"Well..." began Benjamin bravely, attempting to steer the conversation away from disaster. He eyed Eva cautiously, then Jared.
Eva leapt on this chance eagerly. "So, any siblings?" she asked, pulling a question out of the blue. Regretting it instantly, she grimaced. This would probably lead to more questions... ones she didn't want to answer...

"I have an older brother," supplied Benjamin, "and a younger sister."

Geoffrey shhok his head, "Nope, I'm an only child. And I like it that way." They both turned to her, waiting for her answer.
"I -uhh- have an older brother." she said, mostly truthful. Benjamin and Geoffrey nodded, accepting the answer. Jared stayed silent, thankfully. The black-haired boy seemed to have the gift of getting on her nerves.

Sensing that the conversation had come to an end, Eva gratefully turned back to the window, pressing her face against it. Her grey eyes searched the landscape. They had been travelling for a while now, and the sun had risen, casting it's warm glow over the moorland. In the distance, she could see a small town, sending up smoke from its chimmeys. And beyond that, were the mountains, black shapes rearing up into the sky, the jagged teeth of some great monster.

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3

By noon, the train had begun to bore Eva, she was glad that in a few hours they would be stopping at a small village, to refuel, and eat. Eva glanced out the window, squinting, trying to catch a glance of the place they were halting at. She was curious, having never been this far in Carrensky. She had spent most of her life in the south, moving only four years ago to Herrak. Geoffrey was seated next to her, head lolling down over his chest, snoring slightly. Next to him sat Benjamin, his blonde head resting on the cushion, eyes closed. She couldn't tell whether he was sleeping, or just relaxing. Across from them, Jared was spread out luxuriously on the seat, head rested on his hands. His eyes were closed too, but Eva knew he wasn't sleeping. But, she didn't attempt to speak to any of them, the silence of the compartment was wonderful. Resting her head on the back of the seat, she closed her eyes for a moment. 'I'm not going to fall asleep,' she promised herself, 'just rest my eyes...' But, the sleepless night on the train finally caught up to her, and she was whisked away into the land of dreams.

The train lurched to a halt, throwing Eva unceremoniously off of her seat. She opened her eyes, and saw the grimy wood of the compartment's floor. Looking up, she saw the faces of Geoffrey, Benjamin, and Jared, all looking down at her. Benjamin and Geoffrey looked concerned, Jared was stifling a laugh. Sending a scowl his way, she got to her feet, dusting off her clothes.
"Are you okay?" asked Benjamin, looking at her with concern.

Eva nodded, "I'm fine." she confirmed, trying to stop an embarassed blush from creeping up her cheeks. "Are we stopped at the village now?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah," answered Geoffrey, looking out the window. "We've reached the platform." He pointed with one chubby finger to the platform. There was a small building there, with a low roof. It was red and green, overly cheerful.

Eva looked out into the hall, through the glass compartment door. People filled the hall, tired, bedraggled passengers. Mothers, clutching the hands of their children, fathers, carrying sleeping babies. Elderly ladies, garbed in baggy dresses, holding purses. Distinguished men, their fancy suits rumpled from a night on the train. It was into this fray that Eva entered, followed closely by Jared, Benjamin, and Geoffrey. They shoved their ways through the crowd, reaching the exit at last. Eva hopped off of the train, landing heavily on the concrete platform. Then she turned, waiting for the others. They had decided to stick together, by a silent consent. No words needed to be spoken. Once Benjamin, Geoffrey, and Jared had reached her, Eva asked, "Where to now?"

"Well, seeing as we only have two hours here, I say we make eating the first priority. I dunno about you, but I'm starved." said Benjamin, to the agreement of the others.

"But where?" sneered Jared, black hair ruffled, sticking up in all directions, like the nest of some strange bird. "I've never been here before. Know anyone who has?"

"We'll find our way about," said Eva confidently, "This town isn't that big." She looked around. They were still on the platform, which was emptying, slowly but steadily. Beyond the red and green building, she could see a village square, which seemed to be where most of the passengers were headed. That would probably be their best chance for food. "Why don't we try the square?" she suggested.

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Soon, they were seated in a small resteraunt. It was crowded, full of ravenous train passengers. The place was small and stuffy, with a low, wooden ceiling, from it, hanging a few lanterns, swinging ominously. They cast swaying shadows on the grimy walls, giving the place an unpleasant atmosphere. But, it was the only place they could find, and that was why they were here.

"May I serve you?" A woman appeared in front of them, a dirty, off-white apron tied around her neck, reddish-blonde hair coming out of it's messily-bound ponytail. She caught Jared's eye, and smiled. He felt himself going red.

"We want the cheapest meal, for all four of us," Benjamin spoke up, unyielding to her charms.

The woman nodded curtly, turning around to leave. "Your meal will be here shortly." she said, then disappeared into the crowd.

Eldin snorted, watching the spot where she'd disappeared. The brown-haired boy turned to Jared, an eyebrow raised mockingly. "I saw that," he stated simply, and Jared felt his cheeks redden again.

"You saw nothing!" Jared retorted angrily, turning away from him. Eldin made no answer, but he could see the self-satisfied smirk in his mind.

The waitress was back, a plate in on hand, on it, resting four sandwiches. Jared eyed them with distaste. The bread looked hard and tasteless, and the cheese and meat inside, unappetizting. "Ugh," he muttered under his breath.

"Four ham and cheese sandwiches," announced the waitress, setting the plate down on the table. "That'll be three frens."

Jared looked around at the others. Who was going to pay? After a moment of awkward silence, Eldin produced three frens. The bronze coins glinted in the dim light of the lanterns. He placed them in the hand of the waitress, then turned back to the table.

"Time to eat," said Geoffrey, a smile on his face. The chubby boy reached out, grabbing a sandwich. He bit into it. The others followed suit, and soon, all that was left were crumbs.

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The wind blew at her now-short hair persistantly, and Eva smiled. She was in much better spirits after the meal. Turning northwards, she looked at the mountains with a sense of mounting excitement. They were much larger now, much nearer, and she resisted the childish urge to try and reach out and grab them. She set her sights on the highest peak. The dragon-hold. If she looked closely, she could just make out the outline of a large structure, tall and thin, carved out of the mountainside.

"That's it, eh?" said Jared, catching her by suprise. "The dragon-hold. Immitis Ala." Eva nodded, by instinct, scruntinizing him out of the corner of her eye. Immitis Ala? What on earth did that mean? As much as she wanted to ask him, she held her tongue, pride not giving way to her curiousity.

"We should be getting back to the train," Eva broke the silence, turning to face him. "C'mon." She sent him a smirky half-smile, remembering what Patrick had taught her about "being a boy".

Jared nodded, tearing his eyes from the dragon-hold. "'Kay," He did not awknowledge her smirk, instead, he went over to Geoffrey and Benjamin, conveying her message. Eva trailed after him, relishing her moment of aloneness.

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4

Jared pressed his face against the window, green eyes gazing out on the regal scene in front of him. Night had fallen, the half-moon was high in the sky, bathing everything in an etheral glow. Countless stars glittered like gems in the velvet sky, and he felt his heartbeat pick up. The mountains rose up into the sky, indominatible senteniels, watching over the earth. And, on the highest peak, washed in the radiant glow of the moon.... the dragon-hold.

"Almost there..." murmured Benjamin, his words like a whisper of promise on the breeze. Almost there...

"Aye," agreed Eldin quietly, his voice hoarse with excitement. Jared said nothing, but turned to face them. Benjamin had the window seat now, his face smushed against it, eyes alight with a fiery excitement. Jared almost smiled, he must've looked like that too. Eldin was seated next to the scruffy blonde-haired boy, grey eyes shining even more than Benjamin's blue ones. he was craning his head to see out of the window. Geoffrey was at his side, eyes closed, a peaceful smile on his face. Jared snorted in contempt. That boy wouldn't stand a chance. With a sudden, unexpected pang, he realized, if he was going to rise to the top, to secure the legendary position of dragon-rider... he would have to beat at least one of these boys, and all the others headed here. There were only three places, and, each year, boys of eligable age -14 or older- would compete to get a place among the legendary dragon-riders. And, since dragon-riding was such a dangerous job, there was always need for new riders. He brushed his black hair out of his eyes, resuming his position at the window.

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The train lurched to a halt again, but this time, Eva was prepared. Once she was sure the train was completely immobile, she got to her feet, grabbing her aged leather satchel and swinging it over her shoulder. It was time to go.

The other three followed suit, carrying their baggage in their arms, and they all faced the compartment door, hestitating in usion. Once they left, there would be no coming back. Not this way. If they lost, they would return on dragonback, to their home-town, and if they won, they might never come back. Eva swallowed and stepped forwards.

She rode the crowd, all of them moving in harmony, towards the door. The train was much less crowded than it had been when she'd first arrived, many people had gotten off at the village they'd stopped at for lunch, and, they'd stopped again, later in the day, depositing even more travellers. They were unloading into another small town, one right in the foothills of the great mountains. She knew there was a building here, a building where all the potential trainees would congregate, waiting to be taken up to the dragon-hold. Eva felt her heart race. The dragon-hold. She stepped off of the train, and looked up. There it was, framed in the navy blue night sky, an ancient senteniel, watching over the land of Carrensky. She was so close now, so close to her goal, the only thing she'd dreamed about, from the moment she had first heard of it. Eva closed her eyes, letting the memories wash over her.

The sun was warm, casting it's cheerful glow over the grass. Eva had been seated next to her father, resting her small head on his arm, eyes closed. They were sitting in a meadow, just the two of them, out for a morning walk, while Patrick was at school. She was 5, she would have to start the next year.

"I want to hear a story," she'd begged her father, looking pleadingly up into his deep blue eyes. He'd smiled and laughed, brushing the dark brown hair off of her forehead.

"Okay," he'd agreed amiably, lying back on the grass, eyes closed. "What about?"

She remembered having shrugged, saying, "I dunno,", then mimicking her father and lying back on the grass.

"Okay. I'll tell you about the dragon-riders, then."

She had said nothing, content to just be there, laying in the midafternoon sun by her father's side.

"Once, long ago, way before Carrensky was Carrensky, there was a race of people. They were tall, with dark hair, and dark eyes, and spoke in a strange tongue, unknown to us. These people were thought to be the original inhabitants of our land. They are said to have died out long ago. These people lived in harmony with the world, they are said to have been able to speak with the beasts, make the plants do their bidding. For a long time, the land of Carrensky -before it was Carrensky- was peaceful." He paused for effect, looking down at her with a sad smile, "But then, we came, and-"

Eva had interuppted him. "What d'you mean, "We came"? Weren't we always here?" The little girl had looked up at her father with confusion in her grey eyes.

"No, we were not always here. Now, let me continue," He sent her a playful look, then cleared his throat to resume the tale, "Anyways, as I was saying, then we came, over the sea, in big wooden ships. Back then, we were a less cizilized people, we didn't have all the things we do today, like lanterns and steam engines. We began to populate this land, having taken a fancy to it. Apparently, our homeland was nowhere near as nice as this one. But, the problem was, we did not co-exist happily with the people who were already here. No, not at all..." He trailed off, lost for a moment. "So," her father had continued, "There was some fighting, as there always is when us people cannot get along. At first, they were little skirmishes, over food and territory and such. But, as these things tend to do, these "little skirmishes" escalated, they got bigger, and bigger, until, without even realizing it, we were at war. These people had some advantages, they were bigger and stronger, they had the animals on their side, supposedly, but we had other advantages. We were more technelogically advanced, you see. So, there was a stalemate. We were both suffering equal losses, the war could not go on without both races being obliterated. You still with me?" He'd looked down at her with a tender smile, and she'd nodded eagerly. "Good. So, in order to sway the odds in their favour, both races began to look for something powerful. A weapon. This search went on for a long time. The people who'd originally inhabited this land searched the earth, delved into it's secret places in a hope that they would find something there. We, on the other hand, put our faith in science, we looked to create machines that would win the war for us. Eventually, something was found, but not by us." He'd stopped again, just to tease her, and she'd begged for him to continue.''

"What?" she had said, "What did they find?!"

"Dragons." Was his answer. "Dragons. They came one day, as the legend is told, out of nowhere, born of the mountains. Some say the earth sent them, having tired of the war. One dragon is said to have flown first from the mountains, his scales a shimmering green, eyes of sapphire. Apparently he scoured the land, searching for something. It has never been discerned what he was trying to find. Eventually, the people found the dragon, and, being as they were, they decided to try and speak with him. I have heard many versions of the conversation, but I will tell you the one my father told me. It is thus:
"Who are you?" growled the green dragon, in the wild, ancient voice of the first people to inhabit Carrensky.

"I am Darrineyus," answered the man, bowing to the formidable beast. "How come you to speak our tongue?"

"I speak all tongues," it answered, "for I am born of all people, of the wild, high mountains, and the deep earth's core."

The man nodded, satisfied with the answer, for those people set their stocks heavily in lore, they believed in myths, in the unbelievable. "Who are you?" asked Darrineyus curiously.

It is said that at this point, the dragon roared, raising his powerful head to the sky. This frightened the men, all but Darrineyus. Then, he bent his long neck, snaking closer and closer to the man, until they saw eye to eye. "You dare ask that question?" it rumbled, "Dare ask that one question, the question that should never be told to any but oneself? For, whom but yourself has the right to know who you truly are, the right to know your nature, to see into your very soul?"

Darrineyus did not answer, and the dragon snorted.

"You are ignorant and young," it said, voice gentler. "I would not expect you to understand such things. I will tell you my name, so you at least have a way to address me. My name would be Lotherin." The dragon is said to have smiled, curling it's lip up to display rows of lethally pointed teeth.

"Can you help us?" asked the man, his voice desperate. "Please, Lotherin?"

The dragon guffawed, blowing puffs of smoke from it's nostrils. "Help you with what?" it queried. "I could help you with all manner of things, but you must choose only one."

Darrineyus contemplated this fact for a while, then spoke. "May you aid us in bringing peace to our land?"

"Of course," the dragon replied instantintaniously, as if it had been waiting for this one question all along." He stopped then, she remembered, and looked down at her once again. She looked up, and was suprised -she remembered this one fact very vividly- to see his eyes brimming with tears.

"What's wrong, Poppa?" she'd queried timidly, pulling lightly on his sleeve. "Aren't you gonna finish the story?"

He'd replied with a small half-smile, stroking her soft hair gently. "Of course, sweetheart." he'd said, "Now, after their conversation, Lotherin convinced all the other dragons to come down from the mountaintop with him, to help fufill Darrineyus' wish. It is said that they spread themselves out among the people -of both sides, for that was the only way that peace could be made- and looked for those with skills that would help play a major part in this peace-making. They looked for charisma, fair judgment, compassion, loyalty, empathy, optimism, realism, quick-wits, and many more important traits. These people would become the first dragon riders. Their job was to ensure that there was never again a war like this, they were to uphold the honour of the country. And then, at last, they gave it a name. Now, how this name came to be is very curious. According to common myths, it was supposedly the last word Lotherin ever spoke, before he passed away. No one has ever deciphered the meaning of this word, though many have scoured all the known books, searched through all the ancient phrases. Nothing. Many people it was just gibberish, the spew of a dying mind. Nevertheless, it was deemed to be a suitable name, and so, Carrensky was born." And then he'd finished, and she had sat up, jumping eagerly ontop of him, to nestle like a cat in the crook of his arm. And then, she'd fallen asleep.

Eva resurfaced, and started with suprise. She raised a hand to her face, brushing away tears with embarassment. She turned, to see Jared and the other two coming towards her, gleeful smiles on their faces. They approached her, and she overheard their conversation.

"Wow! Look at that!" exclaimed Benjamin, pointing with his free land to the dragon-hold. "We're so close!" He beamed radiantly.
"Aye, all we need to do now is find that place, the recruit-house, or whatever it's called." said Geoffrey.

"Yeah, and then we just need to rise to the top, beating all the other trainees." observed Jared realistically.

Benjamin elbowed him. "Thanks for the motivational speech." he remarked sarcastically, picking up his pace to meet her.

Eva turned to them, after wiping her face once more, just to make sure. "Hey," she said with a smile, "We should find somewhere to stay for the night, eh? And then look for the Hold-House in the morning?"

"Oh, Hold-House, then." murmured Geoffrey quietly to himself. "Not recruit. Hold."

"Sounds good," agreed both Jared and Benjamin.
The four of them set off to look for lodgings.

[videlicet]

[size=150]

5

[/size

]Jared lay on the hard. lumpy mattress, staring up at the water-stained ceiling. A clock chimed loudly in the distance, and he counted the number of times it rang. One. Two. Three. Four. The black-haired boy let out an almost inaudible sigh. He'd been laying here for about three hours, trying to fall asleep, without success. Anxiety tied his stomach into knots. Fear of the unknown, worry about what he would find on the morrow. But, that feeling was coupled by excitement, at last, he would go to the dragon-hold he had dreamt of for so long.

The boy turned onto his side, feeling restless. On the two beds in front of him, he saw the still, calm figures of Geoffrey and Benjamin, blissfully asleep. Jared envied them. He didn't know about Eldin, the boy had opted to sleep on the floor, as opposed to being eaten by bedbugs. Jared smiled slightly. The mooonlight shone in through the single window, casting a ghostly light over the room. Suddenly unable to stand the waiting for one more second, he swung out of the bed, landing lightly on the cold, wooden floor with his bare feet. Jared shivered slightly, but continued forwards. He tiptoed between the beds to the door, passing Eldin on the way. The brown-haired boy was spread-eagled on the floor, the moon illuminating his thin form. Jared assumed he was sleeping, from the stillness of his body, but, since he couldn't see the boy's face, he wasn't sure. Shaking his head, he continued on to the door. He bent down, picking up his worn, woolen coat, and donning it. Then he slipped into his shoes, placing a hand on the doorknob and turning it.

"Where are you going?" The voice, a mere whisper, came from behind. Jared whirled around, to see Eldin, his grey eyes quizzical. Turns out he hadn't been asleep, after all.

"I can't sleep," was his answer, turning back to the door. Jared opened it.

"Wait up, I'm coming."

Jared did not respond. He stepped out into the dark hall, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the gloom. He heard the feet of Eldin coming up behind him, but did not turn around.

Stepping out into the street, he looked about. The cobblestones glowed with an ethereal light, the city seemed caught in a magical peace. Silence blanketed eveything, he found himself stepping slowly and quietly, as not to break it.

"Wait up," hissed Eldin from behind, causing Jared to turn back at last. The skinny boy ran up to reach his side, the pattering of feet echoing off of the buildings and back to them.

"Why're you here?" queried Jared, slightly irritated. He picked up the pace, not looking at his unwanted companion.

"Because I can't sleep either." Eldin responded, and he could hear the hurt in the boy's voice. Too bad.

"Hmph," he snorted, "Ever crossed your mind that I didn't want a shadow?"

Eldin did not answer, and they continued on in silence. He felt a small pang of remorse, he hadn't needed to be so sharp with him...
"So," he began in an attempt at a reconciliance, "What's your motivation to become a dragon-rider?" He cast a glance over at Eldin.
The boy appeared thoughtful. "I guess," he said at last, "Well, I guess, that it's what I've always wanted to be. Ever since my pa first told me about them, when I was a tot, I just knew. If that makes any sense." He let out a little laugh. "You?"

Jared shrugged, heart growing heavier. He didn't want to talk about, not to anyone. The memories -old as they were- were still sharply painful. Age had done nothing to dull their edge. "I dunno..." he trailed off, gazing broodingly into the distance.

******************************************

Sensing his unwillingness to speak, Eva changed the subject. "Well, so... you excited for tomorrow? What d'you think the Hold-house will be like? And the other trainees?" She sent a smile in the direction of the dark-haired, morose boy.

"Excited, yeah. But..." He didn't finish.

Eva picked up where he left off. "Aye, but anxious too. Fear of the unknown, I guess. The bane of the human spirit. In my mind's eye, the Hold-house seems like a big, stone building, a bit intimidating and mysterious..." Now she trailed off, embarassed. The brown-haired girl felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, and blessed the darkness.

"To me, it seems like a small, wooden shack. Something that doesn't look like much, but is more than it seems."

Eva nodded. "It could be that too, but the stone building fits better with me."

They continued the discussion animatedly, two young figures wandering the moon-washed streets, replacing the silence with laughter. The sound of their feet slapping the cobblestones, echoing and rebounding, formed a comforting rythmn. Their shadows, cast out behind them, moving in usion with them, the waving of arms, shaking with laughter, shoving and stumbling, displayed all the gleeful rowdiness of youth.

[videlicet]

6

The clock chimed again, this time, ringing 8. Jared groaned, pulling the sheets over his eyes, trying to block out the day. He had returned to the inn a little over three hours before, Eldin at his side. The dark-haired boy had flopped gratefully onto the bed, sleep enveloping him almost at once. But now, it was time to get up, and he was exhausted.

"Get up!" came a voice, accompanied by a shaking of the bed.

"Go away..." mumbled Jared sleepily, turning away from the disturbance. They persisted, and he rolled out of the bed at last. Jared opened his eyes, looking up into th grubby, bright-eyed face of his antagonist.

"Slept well?" teased Benjamin, holding out a hand to help him up. Jared latched onto it gratefully.

"Not really," muttered Jared irritably, "You?"

"Like a log." announced the blonde boy proudly, as they turned to face their other companions. Jared waas gratified to see that Eldin looked just as sleep-deprived as he.

******************************************

"This is it?" Geoffrey exclaimed, looking up at the wooden building. Eva shook her head, glancing over at Jared. He sent her a triumphant smirk. The building was just as he'd envisioned it.

Eva let out a sigh, and answered, "Aye, I guess so." They had been up for about an hour, after paying the inn, they'd eaten their breakfast, and set off to find the Hold-house. nd now they'd found it. "Shall we go in?" she asked.

The others sent her a chorus of "Yes'", so she stepped up to the door and rapped twice. Then they waited, holding their breaths in anticipation.

"More trainees?" The question was accompanied by the creaking of the door as it was pulled open. A man was revealed, tall and skinny, with shoulder-length grey hair, spectacles, and three parallel scars running across his left cheek.

"Yes, sir." said Benjamin, stepping forwards. "This is the Hold-house, sir?"

"Yes, it is." answered the elderly man, stepping aside. "Come on in, you aren't the first to arrive."

Eva put her foot down gingerly over the threshold, staring down the dark hall. The walls were wooden, as was the floor. It was covered by a long, moth-eaten rug. Definetely not what she'd been expecting.

"Hurry up!"called the old man, far ahead. "I'll show you four to your fellow trainees."

She picked up the pace, shadowed by Geoffrey. Jared, and Benjamin. Eva was acutely aware of her feet,sinking into the once-plush rug, aware of the paintings hung along the wall in a feeble attempt to cover their plainess, aware of the lanterns over head, dimly illuminating the hall.

After a time that seemed much longer than what it was, they stopped. The old man opened the door, to reveal the room, and it's inhabitants.

Eva almost nodded in approval, this was much more like what she had envisioned. The walls here were covered by a flowery wallpaper, the rug here was not yet worn. At the far end, afire roared in a stone fireplace. A long table sat in the center of the room, some of the chairs taken up already. She looked closer at her fellow trainees, counting them. Her heart sank. Twenty-one. That made twenty-five, total. She would have to beat twenty-three of them in order to take a place among the dragon-riders.

******************************************

Jared inspected the competition, as he thought of them. There were two, sitting nearest to the door, who were identical, but for the small, pink scar that ran across the cheek of one twin. Across from that pair, was a stocky, powerful-looking boy, with flaming orange hair, and deep brown eyes. At the head of the table, staring directly at them, was a man. Here, Jared froze.

The man was wearing a high-collared coat, his long black hair tied up in a ponytail. His eyes were a bright, intelligent blue, his face weathered by battle. A long, intimidating scratch ran from his right temple to his chin. Jared shuddered slightly at the sight of it. He knew who this man was. Arthur Ravens, one of the dragon-riders.

[videlicet]

7

"Sit down," commanded Arthur Ravens. He gestured to a set of chairs, near the twins. Jared sat down, attention focused entirely on the dark-haired man. Eldin sat next to him, on his other side, Benjamin.

"This is all of us, then, Walter?" Now he was addressing the elderly man by the door.

Walter nodded. "Yes, Arthur. That's all."

Jared was suprised, and he looked over at Arthur. Would he let the old man -who he'd assumed to be a bulter of some sort- to call him by his first name?

Arthur laughed, looking back at the trainees. "I see some of you haven't been properly introduced. This old codger here is Walter. He will be your Warden -your "chaperone"-, and he will train you in the basics of dragonlore. He trained me, so that's why he can get away with calling me by my first name. I will still be "sir", to you, or "Mr. Ravens", so don't get any ideas." He then turned in his chair, to look at something. Jared followed his gaze, and saw a clock, small, but ornately decorated with silver figures of dragons, mounted above the fireplace. Arthur Ravens turned back to the table, clearing his throat. "Weshould be getting on now. First, we'll do formal introductions, getting everyone aquainted, then move on to the reason why all of you are here. Sound fair?" He paused, looking around at the silent table. "Good. So, I'll start. As most f you have already figured out, I am Arthur Ravens, one of the dragon-riders. My dragon, who decided not to come, goes by the name of Raffeinal. He doesn't really like children." Here, he smiled lightly, turning to the trainee nearest to him, a boy with light brown hair, and blue eyes. He looked uncomfortable. "Introduce yourself." said Arthur, sitting back in the chair.

"I'm...uhh... Samuel Bother," said the boy quietly, averting his eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Samuel Bother. Next person."Arthur turned his gaze to the trainee seated next to Samuel.

"David Clements." announced the boy, less shyly than his companion.

"Good. Next person." instructed Arthur Ravens.

"My name's Felix Wade," introduced the boy, and so it went on from there, until all the names had been called. Jared had announced his name proudly, sitting up straight. It had earned him an approving nod from the dark-haired dragon-rider. When Eldin had introduced himself, though, Jared had seen a strange expression pass over Arthur's face. Brooding and thoughtful. It had caused Eldin to stutter at the end, dropping his gaze embarassedly. A small frown creased Jared's face, and he shot a glance over at his companion.

"Wonderful. Now that we're all aquainted, we can get down to business. I assume all of you are here to become dragon-riders, and are well aware of the dangers involved." He halted, pointing at the livid scar on his face for emphasis. "If not, I suggest you leave." No one moved, all eyes were fixated on the long-haired man at the table's head. "Good. So, I will start off by explaining the duties of a dragon-rider, obligations. The dragon-rider is sworn to uphold the laws of Carrensky. We must never abuse our power, corrupt, or become corrupted. The dragon-riders were first formed to end the War of Beginnings. I assume you are all familiar with the tale?"

Arthur's blue eyed gaze swept over the assembled trainees, and Jared shook his head.

"No, sir." he spoke up, remembering one of his mother's favorite sayings. The first step to remedying ignorance is to admit it. But, it still took a lot to muster up the courage to admit it. Jared was proud, and he knew it.

"No?" repeated Arthur, suprised. "Well, then I guess I'll have to recount it." He sent a small smile Jared's way, then cleared his throat. "The War of Beginnings, the first war. You have heard about how we came to Carrensky, hopefully?" Jared nodded self-consciously. "Okay. Well, there was a long and bloody war between the original inhabitants of Carrensky, and us. There were heavy losses on each side, but we were pretty evenly matched. It was a stalemate, and both sides were looking for something to give them an advantage. They found the dragons. The leader of these people, a man by the name of Darrineyus, asked for the dragons to bring peace to the country. And, so they did. Fourteen dragons set out, to look for people that displayed the twenty-seven virtues. These people would come from both sides, ours and theirs, to govern the country, and keep peace. And so they did, and do to this day. I'm paraphrasing, of course. The actual tale is much longer, and much more detailed. But, right now, we don't have much time."

******************************************

Eva looked with suprise over at Jared. He didn't know about the War of Beginnings? She rested her arms on the wooden table as Arthur Ravens told the story. As he finished, she sat back up, attentive again.

"So," began Arthur, looking over the assembled trainees with his piercing blue eyes. His gaze met hers, holding for a second, and she felt a chill run down her spine. Eva had the strangest feeling... a feeling that he knew. She dropped her eyes to the table again, studying a knot in the wood intensely. The closer she looked, the more intricate it seemed to become. A knot was forming in her stomach, a knot of fear. She dared not think of what they would do if they found out... Prison at least, if she was lucky. If not... She couldn't hold back a shudder. "We are accepting three new dragon-riders into our ranks. The three top trainees will be choosen to join us. You will come to Immitis Ala, the dragon-hold, to begin your training." Here he paused, clearing his throat slightly. Eva took this time to shoot a glance sideways at Jared. Immitis Ala? What did that mean?

"After this meeting, Walter," Here he stopped, inclining his head to the elderly man at the door, "will take you up to the hold." A devillish grin spread across his face. "This will be your first test. He will give you supplies, lead you up to the starting point. Then, your training will begin."

Shocked murmurs rippled out through the trainees at this statement. Eva couldn't help it, she let out a little gasp. They would have to scale the mountain? Alone?! Her eyes turned to Jared, who seemed to be taking this suprisingly calmly, staring off into the distance. She followed his gaze, and found that Arthur was smiling, fighting to conceal the grin behind a hand. Understanding dawned on her, becoming apparent in her expression. Eva stifled a laugh.

Arthur cleared his throat loudly, trying to regain the attention of the distressed trainees. Eva looked around. It seemd they hadn't even heard. He banged a fist on the table, and everyone jumped. "Settle down, please!" Arthur shouted over the din. Silence fell immediately, and he grinned slightly. "Thank you. Now, everyone, calm down. This is just my "little joke". You will be scaling the mountain, yes, but not alone. That would be ludicrous. Do I want to kill you all?"

Eva blushed slightly, ashamed that she'd believed him, even for a second. Now that Arthur explained it, it really was ludicrous. Looking around, she saw she same expressions on the faces of all her fellow trainees. All but Jared. He sat back, relaxed, the only one who'd had the sense to realize the statement for what it actually was.

"So, as I said, you will be scaling the mountain, but with the assistance of Walter, and a man you will soon meet. You will stay together, and, truly, it isn't that hard. It's the only way to get up, besides flying."

A boy put his hand up, Eva recognized him as James Willford. "Excuse me, sir, but what exactly will our training encompass, and how long is it?"

Arthur smiled lightly, and answered, "I was just getting to that. The training will be approximately 6 months -half a year- and will emcompass the subjects of dragonlore, weaponry, logics, arithmatic, and basic fitness. To sum it all up, basically all the skills required to become a dragon-rider. Many of those who don't make it will go on to be soldiers, and will be very successful. Any other questions?"

No voices rang out, no hands went up, so the dark-haired dragon-rider continued. He pulled up the collar of his dark brown overcoat, and cleared his throat again. "You will become further aquainted with me -and the other dragon-riders- at the hold. You will be seperated into three groups, and will be put onto rotary, because twenty-five is too many to teach at one time. I believe we have covered it all, yes?" He cast his serious blue-eyed gaze around the room yet again. "Good. Everyone, please meet here again after you have lunched, bring your possesions with you. Then, we shall depart for the dragon-hold." Arthur got out of his chair, and Eva could finally view him in full.

Arthur Ravens was a tall man, at least six feet, lean and muscular. He was garbed in a dark brown overcoat, with a high collar, peeking out from under it, a shirt of tan. His legs were covered in loose fitting woolen pants, a medium brown. They looked much more comfortable than hers. From his side, hung a sheath, the handle tucked under his coat. She could see a faint bulge where it pressed against the fabric.

"Eldin, c'mon." A voice in her ear shook her out of her scrutiny, and she turned, coming face to face with Benjamin. His face was flushed, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's get our stuff, and go." He grinned widely, unable to conceal his enthusiasm. Eva smiled back.

"Aye, let's get on, then." They turned, leaving the room beside Jared and Geoffrey.

Arthur stood still at the head of the table, resting his palms flat against it. He watched them go, gaze troubled.

[videlicet]

8

Jared sat at the table, stomach churning. The bowl of soup set in front of him, steam wafting up from it in tendrils, sat untouched. He wasn't hungry... anxiety about the climb ahead had twisted his stomach into knots. The brown-haired boy played with a thread from the sleeve of his coat, twisting it around his pinkie, over, and over.

"You okay?" A concerned voice startled him out of his reveviore, and Jared looked up. Benjamin was looking at him, eyes empathetic. In front of him, lay an empty bowl.

"Your soup's getting cold," he noted, inclining his head in it's direction. "We have to go soon, better eat up."

Reluctantly, feeling the eyes of all three boys on him, Jared lifted the spoon to his mouth, taking a sip. Chicken noodle. Benjamin had been right, it was getting cold. He took another spoonful, and another, until the bowl before him was drained.

"Good, let's go." announced Eldin. His voice was accompanied by the scraping of a chair over the wooden floor. Jared got to his feet, as if in a trance. He raised his head, looking around the small tavern. It was brightly lit, by glass lanterns along the wood-panelled walls. There were tables scattered about artfully, but not many customers. They paid at the front, then stepped out into the cobbled street.

Jared clenched the strap of his bag tightly, knuckles whitening. He exhaled sharply through his teeth, and walked faster. The others had gotten ahead, seemingly unaffected by the momentous task ahead. Climbing the mountain! Jared looked up involunarily, the impossibly high teeth of a monster, casting dark shadows over the village.

"You sure you're alright?" He lifted his head, to see Eldin, standing in front of him, arms crossed. Jared nodded, continuing forwards. Eldin stepped in front of him, raising a dark brown eyebrow. "You don't look alright. It's okay to be scared, y'know."

Jared raised his head, looking Eldin in the eye. This boy was persipacious. "No," he muttered quietly, "it isn't okay to be scared." And then he pushed past Eldin, an angry gleam in his green eyes.

******************************************

Eva let him go, a scowl on her face. She'd only been trying to help! "Boys," she hissed under her breath, starting after them.

The street was strangely empty, as it had been for their whole, short, stay. Eva had thought that it was just because it was late at night, or early in the morning, but it seemed she was mistaken. It was noon now, the rush hour in most times, and very few people were out and about. She cast her gaze about, trying to discern why. There were a few others on the street, an elderly woman, thin, with a ragged, patchy coat drawn up high over her face. A man, carting a donkey behind him, rope in his hand. He wore a hat on his head, and like the woman, looked much the worse for wear. Eva frowned. And, there was a little girl, clutching her mother's hand tightly. Both of them had tattered clothes, grim expressions on their faces. Eva's frown grew deeper, and her brow furrowed. Something was wrong here...

"Oi! Eldin, hurry up!" A shout from ahead rang out, causing her to jerk up her head. Geoffrey, at the end of the street, was motioning with his hand. She picked up the pace, feet flying over the cobblestones.

"Stop daydreaming," teased Benjamin in a friendly way, when she reached them. Eva responded with a scowl.

"I wasn't daydreaming," she retorted, "And has anyone else noticed how... empty the streets are? Don't you think that's kinda weird...?" Her scowl slipped off her face, replaced by a look of puzzlement.

Geoffrey shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe they've fallen on harsh times. It's not our problem, so who cares?"

Eva huffed, looking at the other two, hoping for a better answer. Benjamin just shrugged, shoulders brushing the fringes of his blonde hair. Jared refused to even meet her gaze, turning pointedly away when she looked at them. Eva bit her tongue in frustation. "Let's go, then!" she snapped, brushing by them irritably. An invisible black cloud hung over her head, daring someone to taunt her. The brown-haired girl clenched her hands into fists, knuckles whitening with the strain. Did no one else even care? The other three followed at a distance, eying her back warily.

Reaching the door, Eva knocked, not waiting for the others to catch up. The old man -Walter, she thought his name was- opened it for her.

"Where are your friends?" he asked, expression quizzical.

Eva scowled up at him. "They aren't my friends."

Walter raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. "A fight, huh?" he observed, "Friends are useful, you should try to keep them. Remember that." And then, he slipped away, leaving the door hanging open. "Same room!" he called from a distance. Eva stared down the dingy hall, smouldering inside. Who was he to tell her what to do?

Nonetheless, she stepped into the Hold-House, heading towards the meeting room where they had last gathered.

Opening the door, she observed the people inside -her soon-to-be adversaries. It was less crowded than before; she obviously wasn't the last to arrive this time around. The brown-haired girl seated herself, choosing a chair that was a ways away from the others. She did not feel like making small talk at the moment. Hands splayed on the table in front of her, she let out a glum sigh. She lifted one hand, her right, and proceeded to inspect it boredly. Black dirt was caked under her fingernails, and in the creases and folds of her skin. Her nails were short and raggedy, and a thought struck her out of the blue. Do I bite my nails? Her eyes widened as she realized she did. Strange... How people can do things without realizing what they're doing. She brought up her left hand, and compared it to her right. The nails were also bitten on this hand, but it was a little less grimy. The lines on her palm were more defined. Setting them back on the table, Eva resolved to give her hands a good washing soon.

"Hey," A voice interrupted her thoughts, causing her to look up. A black-haired boy stood in front of her, his chocolate brown eyes curious. One of the twins She remembered him from the introductions.

Eva responded with a noncommital grunt, suprised that the boy hadn't been able to read her mood. It was as if a sign was hanging above her, announcing, "Warning: Do not disturb. Bad mood." The thought amused her, and she let out a quiet chuckle, earning a bewildered look from the boy.

"Erm.. the name's Michael, Michael Brockley." He extended a hand, catious.

Eva sent a grin his way, hoping to disconcert him. "Ev-Eldin," she said, catching herself at the last moment. "Eldin Gildeon."

"Nice to meet you," He sat down in the chair next to her, causing her to scowl. This boy was obviously inept at reading body language.

"You have a twin, right?" she said, tapping an impatient foot on the ground.

Michael nodded. "Yep, his name's James. So, excited for the climb?"

The creaking of the door stopped her from answering. Eva turned in her chair, to see Jared, Benjamin, and Geoffrey enter the room. Her black mood worsened immediately.

"Those your friends?" he asked curiously, as Benjamin gave a little wave.

"No," Eva responded curtly, "Acquaintices, nothing more." Subject closed.

"Ah," Michael leaned back in the chair, causing it to moan a little. Her foot tapping increased as Benjamin and the others came her way.

"Hey, Eldin!" greeted Benjamin, taking a seat in the chair on her other side. Great, trapped from both sides. Eva thought cynically.

Just then, Arthur entered, from a side door. His hair was askew, coat unbuttoned. The dragon-rider looked extremely ruffled. The room silenced at once, everyone stopping what they had been doing to watch him.
Arthur laid his hands on the table, not bothering to sit down. "You will leave at once!" he announced. "Walter will direct you, and will provide you with supplies. I had hoped to have a tad more time.... But there has been a change of circumstance." He grimaced, eyes searching the assembled trainees-to-be. "This is everyone?" Arthur cast his gaze towards Walter, who was standing, alert, by the door. The grey-haired man gave a quick nod. "Okay," he said, turning back to the table. The dark-haired dragon-rider's face broke into a small smile. "Well, I'm off! Good luck, and I'll see you at the dragon-hold!"