Chapter four – The ways of a rider

There, stood in front of me, was a huge orange dragon. I was petrified and looked across to Ginerelya for help; however, she was too busy saddling another dragon! Yes! Another dragon that had appeared next to the huge orange giant that was sat before me. I reached my mind out, feeling the sense of emptiness closing in around me, and called to this dragon but only so it could hear Alex is that you?

To which it replied in a funny voice Indeed it is Bakura, what is wrong?

I sighed a long and meaningful sigh, I know it's you Alex so stop fooling around, now tell me and be serious this time. Is it you Alex?

The mental voice came back again inside my mind with a slight giggle, Yes… Hello Erik. You look different to say the least.

I scoffed and stared at Alex, or Xander as I should have been calling him I can say the same for you mate! You're a dragon!

Yes, I am. He said proudly, licking a spot in between his leg and his thigh where it must have been dirty before continuing, You'd best talk to Ginerelya, she seems to be looking at you in a funny way. Besides; Vería said that Eragon had some lessons planned for you two so it'd be best if you got a move on.

I know, I know. I replied in an exaggerated fashion, Well… See you later then.

You do realise we can keep in contact mentally don't you? Xander said simply.

Oh… I hadn't thought of that. I replied feeling a bit dumb to which the orange dragon shook his head and grinned before taking flight again with Vería. I headed off down off the balcony and into the clearing where Eragon was waiting with Ginerelya; I had read the Inheritance Cycle and had imagined how he looked but meeting him in real life was stunning. The most strange feature was his beard, which he had allowed to grow slightly but it was still well trimmed. The rest of him was as I had expected, elfish looks and brown hair – as was my own – but actually meeting Eragon… I was awed in his presence. He said to me in a stoic voice, "Greetings my son; I trust you slept well?"

I stuttered slightly but managed to say, "Y-yes I slept very well thank you father."

"Good." He replied satisfied by my answer; then enquired the same of Ginerelya who answered just as politely. Now the moment I had been dreading came, the moment that I had to use magic.

I knew the basics from reading the inheritance cycle of course but beyond Deyja (which I understood to mean 'death') I did not understand much else. But I assumed now I was an elf just speaking the word 'fire' would allow me to control fire in any way, shape or form. It was the doubt of not being able to do this that had caused my fear. Eragon quickly explained about light energy and how it could be controlled in certain ways to be advantageous both in war and in menial uses. The elder rider said, "Now Evyar and Ginerelya, I want you to focus the light into a ball of energy, once you've done that I would like you two to make certain shapes with it then put the light into other uses. Is this reasonable?" We both nodded in silent agreement and Eragon continued, "Very well, you may begin."

Walking to the centre of the clearing I rolled up my sleeves in preparation to use magic, I could see Ginerela next to me throwing a smile my way which I instinctively returned. Again focusing on the task at hand I reached into my mind, which was something I was not used to. Searching around I found a bright nub at the edge of my consciousness and tried to break it and access the huge amount of energy I could feel behind its borders. Speaking the words I said, "Light focus!" And suddenly, when I opened my eyes, rays of light shone into a single point and focused there before expanding slightly to make a ball about the size of a dragon egg (for some reason I thought of that analogy then, putting it down to my elfish instincts).

Ginerelya stared across in amazement, "Evyar! That's amazing, how did you do it?"

She looked at me expectantly and I didn't want to disappoint her, it was not I who wished to do this but some other strange force almost compelling me to. Suddenly an accusing thought came from Alex, You fancy her don't you?

No I don't! I replied to Alex's call. I could sense the truth in those words but I pushed the thought aside and concentrated on explaining how to use magic to Ginerelya. Even though I had never used magic before the explanations almost came naturally to me, which was very strange for it was like a long lost memory that had been surfaced. After another few minutes of telling Ginerelya exactly how to word the spell, as different people used spells with varying success, I stood back and allowed her to practice whilst moving onto the more difficult exercises that Eragon had set us.

The morning flew past as I gained more experience with magic and made steady progress; this I was rather surprised at for it was my first time using magic and even Eragon, sorry, my father, was impressed with my work - which I was certainly proud of. I also got used to speaking with my mind by conversing with Alex about what he and Vería were up to; it was strange feeling someone's emotions but after a while I put Alex's feelings to one side and concentrated on talking with him. One thing I did pick up however, was a certain admiration for the dragoness whom he was with and he often doted Vería on her flying skills, which resulted in me reminding him that he was a human not a dragon, to which he retorted about me fancying Ginerelya which worked every time… But it's hard to argue with a dragon, even if you're bonded to them, and win.

There were some grains of truth in his words, but I put that down personally to one of two things: jealousy (which was very unlikely) or simply that I did and the emotions could be felt across the link. This was the more likely of the two. And perhaps he was right… Her hair was exceptionally beautiful and her face was ever so pretty… Focus Erik. I thought to myself and went back to spell casting.

And so the day wore on and we had many more exercises and lessons on things from magic to literature, which I picked up rather quickly, until the sun reached the horizon and we decided to head back to our respective houses; this time Ginerelya giving me some privacy as she did not come to visit, which I was slightly saddened at but I could not comprehend fully why… Anyway I knew I had spent too long in Alagaesia but something was tempting me to stay and as I lay down on my bed I thought not of home but of Alex and myself – Evyar… Alex must have detected what I was thinking as he said Erik it is best we return. I shall see you tomorrow little one – sorry, Erik. Goodnight and we shall talk tomorrow at school.

That we shall… I replied glumly before focusing on home and drifting back to sleep…

Author's note: nothing much to say really :p hope ur enjoying the story and peace out! Shortest author's note ever o.0