Now that Vascar could talk, it seemed like he wold never stop. Not that I'm complaining, he keeps me company when I'm feeling alone, and now he could respond back more efficiently. One thing he comforted me the most one was my parents. After two weeks with no response, I was getting worried. Had the runner been ambushed? Or did they just not want to respond?

'Talia, do not fret, the runner could have ran into trouble', he said laughing at his play on words, then continuing in a more serious tone, 'have patience.'

But patience was one thing I couldn't tolerate at the moment. I had had patience with my parents for my whole life. I was always good, did what I was told, spoke respectfully, and listened, not counting my last day at home, of course. But now, I was sick of it. It was time for them to show me some respect for once. Patience, why would I need patience to wait for them to write back to their only child? Vascar, sensing this, changes the subject to training tomorrow, and I go along with it for his sake, but in the back of my mind a storm was brewing and the world would shake when it broke loose.

~*~

Time seemed to fly by, and about two weeks later, Vascar and I both arrived at our lesson excited beyond belief. So excited that we arrived early for once.

This time, it was just Oromis and I alone, for which I was grateful, I didn't want Morzan ruining the moment I have been looking forward to most.

Oromis laughed a deep hearty laugh when we walked in early as he said, "of course you arrive early today! I'm guessing you would like to start right away?"

Instead of answering, I just quickly nod my head as he motions to his studies. I had never been in there before, but it looked fairly simple. A desk sat in the middle of the room and numerous white slabs with beautiful pictures on them lined the walls. But we did not stay in the room for long, but instead walked right through to a dark room set on the opposite side of the study.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was that it was dark and smelled like leather. Oromis lights a lamp and revealed to me the reason for the leathery smell. Along the wall, saddles of all different makes, models, and sizes are hanging, their straps dangling down to the floor. Walking up to the far left, I run my hand over the sleekest and smallest of them all. Oromis follows me over and grabs it off its hook, then turns and walks out the door, shifting the saddle to support its awkward shape.

As we head back out into the large training room, Vascar sniffs the saddle excitedly, then says, 'well what are we waiting for? Let's strap it on and get going!'

Oromis laughs again then sets to work strapping on the saddle, telling me how to do it as he goes along, but honestly, I wasn't listening. I was too excited to pay attention to anything except strapping myself into the saddle and flying with Vascar for the first time.

The leather was old and worn, molded from riders before using it as their first saddle. Thinking of the legends who had rode in this before me causes my body to tremble from excitement. Vascar is also trembling, his muscles clenched and reading to spring into the open air.

"Now, what I would like you to do", Oromis starts, causing both Vascar's and my eyes to snap to him, "is to fly out the whole in the ceiling and do one lap around the city. Just one, then come back. You may go-."

He wasn't even able to finish his sentence as Vascar launches off, his muscles springing into action. His wings snap out and propel us forward and out the ceiling into the open air.

I had flown many times before, whether on Jarnunvösk, Valeska, or Glaedr, but none of those could compare. The wind blew through my hair as a through my hands into the air and laughed my joys into the wind. Letting out a bugle of his own, Vascar turns towards the perimeter of the city and pumps even higher into the sky.

'I'm taking a random guess that we are not just taking one lap of the city?', I say slyly.

He makes a strange coughing sound, that I had found out earlier was laughing, before he answers back just as mischievous, 'oh we will take our lap, but after that we will not just go back to the Eragonian Training Center.'

'Lets do it.'

And with that, he launches forward and we complete the lap in what seems no time. Streets and buildings seemed like blurs as we flew by. After we had made the full circuit, my hair had come out of its normal braid and was billowing around me, sometimes whipping at my face when I was unlucky. Turning towards the center of the city, Vascar starts to climb in the sky, going higher and higher. But he was still young, so we couldn't go as far as either of us would have liked. To make up for it, he plunges straight down without warning and dives for the earth, spiraling the whole way. No matter how many times I did this, I never got used to the feeling of weightlessness and how my stomach dropped. All I could do is clench, the spike in front of me and try to let the scream in my throat out. But no sound was released.

Finally, earlier than normal, for which I was grateful, he started to back-flap and leveled out. I thought he was done and we would head back to the Training Center, but he had a few more mischievous plans before that would happen. Sensing this, I adjust myself in the saddle to a more stable position and grip the spike in front of me all the harder.

And just in time, for quickly rolling to the right, he spins upside down twice before climbing a bit higher in the sky and completely an upside down loop. My head spins as I shut my eyes and tell myself it's alright.

'Problems?', he teases.

Instead of answering, I just push half-heartedly against his mind, not angry just frustrated at not being able to handle it. Luckily, he causes no more problems, and flies back to Oromis's room without a second comment.

Tucking in his wings, we glide in gracefully, and despite the last part of the experience, it was still the best flight I had ever had. Oromis stands waiting for us, a disapproving look on his face, yet slightly amused. Though I did not let my guard down at the amused part, the disapproving still as most prominent.

"I see you two did not follow my directions. I know that this is an exciting time but you need to learn to listen. I'm sorry but there must be some kind of punishment for disobeying a direct command."

"We're sorry Oromis-elda", we say at the exact same time, Vascar with his mind, I with my voice.

"I'm glad", he says, his eyes boring wholes into ours, "but as I said before, you need discipline", then he stopped, and continued in a more understanding voice, "it's not like I did not expect this. I have not had a student yet who has just completed the lap, and only the lap, on their first time flying. But, they also had the same punishment, it has become a sort of ritual."

"I understand Oromis-elda", I say, looking down at my hands in my lap.

"And that is the point of this, for you to understand. So, you're punishment is to keep guard over the eggs in the Nesting Building tonight. Do not think you are getting off. This job requires responsibility, good judgement, quick reflexes, and you must, at all costs, follow directions. If you do not do these things, or you fail, the consequences may be.... Severe. Consider this a test", he says ominously. My happiness at having the job of watching the eggs burst as I started becoming nervous. There was no margin of error.

"Vascar too?", I say out of curiosity.

"Of course", he says slightly stern. Then motioning me down, I quickly unstrap myself from the saddle and climb down to where Oromis is standing.

He motions to the back wall where all the weapons sat. I quickly grabbed my normal sword and walked carefully, to not impale myself on the sword, back to where Oromis stood. As usual, he made the sword untouchable and handed it back saying, "Guarding the eggs is a difficult job. You will need to be quick to make decisions and you may need to fight to protect the eggs. Usually, just a display of force will be enough to scare away any intruders, but those that are determined will not be so easily deterred. I am confident enough that you will be able to hold off any thieves, but if it ever becomes too much, contact me, and Glaedr and I will come to help."

"How can I contact you?", I say slightly confused.

"With this", he says handing a ring to me. Placing it on my finger, I admire the way the sunlight glints of its silver color. It was pretty and all, but I still did not understand how this would help. Noticing my confusion, Oromis continues, saying, "if you are in trouble, twist the ring twice around your finger and say, 'master I need your help', and I will come as fast as I can."

'And I', Glaedr says from outside.

All I could do was stare in shock. How could a ring do that? It was unbelievable..... Almost like magic.

"Thank you masters, we will not disappoint you", I say sincerely.

"I hope not", he says, shifting his sword slightly. This is the only warning I get before he launches at me, sword aiming at my right hip. I quickly back up, bringing up my sword to block at his sudden attack. I expected him to continue pushing me back, but instead he quickly spins to my right and goes for my side. Wheeling around, I prevent him from landing a touch on my collarbone, before trying something of my own.

In all of our mock fights, I was always on the defensive, just trying to keep him from landing a touch on me. During the few times I had tried to attack first, I always ended up with a large welt. But, now... Something felt different. A strange feeling bubbled in my stomach, and moments later I realized what it was.

It was confidence.

Dashing forward at him, I aim for his shoulder, then quickly twist to his hip. He stopped it, but something different shone in his eyes. Shock, surprise, and a hint of pride. He doesn't stop, but instead doubles his efforts as he pushes forward again, trying harder than ever before to break past my guard.

I had no clue where this energy was coming from. Out of instinct I twist to the side and attack at Oromis's side, hoping to catch him off guard. Somehow, he managed to spin and stop my sword before making contact once more, but I had been close, which only caused me to renew my efforts.

Slash, jab, block, and push forward again. I could sense Vascar watching the battle closely, paying attention to every single move. My face was set in a snarl as determination burst through the surface of my feelings and for the first time, I want to prove myself and beat him. No, not want, need to beat him. I needed to win.

But, the universe apparently did not care what I needed or wanted, for after A few more minutes, the tip of his sword lies on my neck, trembling ominously. We sit there for a few, breathing heavy until he finally lowers his sword and lets it rest at his side.

Then he says, "if you fight like that tonight, only if there is the need of course, I have no doubts that you will be fine. I am impressed with how much your skill with the sword as increased. I think, in our next lesson, I would like you to spar with Morzan, to determine your skill, and help you learn even more."

Morzan. A feeling of dread settled in my stomach at the prospect of fighting Morzan. He had been here two years, two years, longer than I had. He was sure to be a master of the sword. And he would not go easy on me even if it was a direct order from Oromis.

Despite how worried I felt, I said, "yes master", without a single note of fear creeping into my voice. I actually sounded normal, which impressed myself immensely.

"Good", he said, his normal smile creeping across his face, before he continued, saying, "now, I want you to take the rest of our lesson off to prepare for guard duty tonight. Find the darkest clothes you can to be stealthy. I am counting on you to prove yourself and follow every direction you are given. Are we understood?"

"Yes master", I say, excited to get to leave early, nervous for tonight, and terrified for sparring with Morzan.

Vascar and I turn to walk out the doors, but Oromis shouts one more thing before we leave, "I forgot to mention! You will only be there from dusk until around midnight. After that someone will come to relieve you! Good luck!"

Saying nothing, I just smile and wave before the doors shut behind me.

'You're more worried than you let on', Vascar says sensing my thoughts.

'Of course I am. If we mess up then..... There's just so much pressure.'

'Talia, do you not realize what just happened in that room?', he says exasperated.

'What do you mean?', I say curiously.

'Talia, that was the best I've ever seen you fight. It's as if the fire in your belly finally let loose in a fury of fighting. You could hold your own against almost anyone if you fight like that!', he says looking at me proudly.

'Really?'

'Really.'

I didn't say anything for a few moments, just sat and thought about what he had said. Something did seem to finally break free in me during that fight. As if everything had finally been let go. All my anger, all my regrets, all my fears. I felt like a new, more free part of me had been born and set free. A dragon in my heart.

'You're right! I've never felt like this before Vascar! Like I'm finally becoming a real dragon rider.'

'Yes, yes we are. Now let's prove it to all those that have ever doubted us. Especially Morzan and Dagshúro', Vascar says with unexpected venom in his voice.

'Down boy', I say playfully.

Lowering his head to look straight at me, he says back slyly, 'I'll pin you down if you keep it up.'

Slightly ominously, I say, 'save it for guard duty tonight...... We may need it'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: HEY GUYS SO I GOT AN INSPIRATION KICK ON THIS STORY SO I JUST HAD TO WRITE IT!!!!!!!! I HOPE YOU REALLY LIKED IT AND I GOT SOME BIG PLANS FOR THIS STORY AHEAD!!!!! IF YOU LIKED IT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASSSSSEEE

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~Bert