Agentia's Box

Chapter Four - The Rider

The Rider walks into our rooms and sits herself down on one of the richly coloured seats. She sinks into the plush pillows and looks at me expectantly.

"When I first saw you I have to say I was very curious. Your eyes are those of a Rider's. Why are you here?" She asks, and I look at her in astonishment, "Do you not know? I suppose they would've never told you. You're Agentian, right? I'm from Vekreema, but I escaped here when our King turned out to be behind the bandit attacks on the eastern side. My village was overrun. Anyway, when you are accepted by the Elders to be a fully-fledged Rider you are given the gift of gemstone eyes. But you're not a Rider, are you?"

"No." I say simply, overwhelmed. Riders have gemstone eyes, like me? But how?

"I thought not. If you were I would've complained to the Elders about the age they were allowing." She chatters on, and I notice she can't be more than 30. A younger Rider, then.

"Who are you?" I ask, shocked into asking the question.

"Technically, you should tell me your name, then I choose if I will tell you my name or not. But you've never been taught the customs, so I guess I'll have to forgive you," She rolls her eyes, and I can tell she rarely sticks to these customs herself, "I'm Locgarme, but most call me Loc. Of course, you're not allowed to," Another eye role, "But I'll make an exception. What's your name?"

"I'm Nora." Nora pipes up, and Loc looks up in shock.

"I didn't notice you there. Come and sit on your sister's bed, so we can all be closer. I'm assuming she is your sister?" Loc beckons Nora over.

"Yes. She's Favoured." I spit out the words angrily, not caring for my manners. At least she's not Milation, though.

"I thought so," Loc replies, "Please, come over, Nora. I won't bite. Now, what is your name? I'm afraid we missed it." Nora walks over and sits next to me. Loc smiles at her, and she smiles back.

"Myra Shadowfrost. I'm a Harvester." I reply, putting my arm around Nora. She's stopped trembling.

"A Harvester? Fruit and berry, vegetable or grain? I'm assuming fruit, you have the build for it," I nod numbly at this, and she continues, "You also have the build for a Rider. I assume the King will reconsider your job when he sees you, especially due to your eyes. I wonder who your mentor will be... Oh well, you'll enjoy it anyway."

"I'm not becoming a Rider." I say resolutely, and she shrugs her shoulders.

"Your choice is not the King's." A simple sentence, and one I haven't accepted yet. I sigh inwardly and outwardly, and look at her.

"I know. If I do get to ride a Nyrah I do believe I'll just fly away. I wish that the kingdoms weren't so... I don't know, vain and corrupted?" Myra stopped suddenly, realising she had given too much away. She looked away and hung her head, but Loc's gentle gaze brought her eyes back up.

"Don't worry. Don't tell anyone, but all Kings are like that. It can't be helped. Only Queen Draylin of Fyrendor isn't corrupt, and I do believe that is because she is so distant. I'm not sure if Fyrendor should even be counted as a kingdom anymore." Myra gazed at her in astonishment. How could she be so brash? What if someone was listening? What if someone repeated her words to the King?

A loud knock sounds on the door, and we all sit up straight.

"Come in." Loc says calmly, cocking her head to get a better look at the door. I stand and place myself in front of Nora, who accepts this action without complaint. She's used to hiding behind my back, maybe too used to it. I need to start teaching her to defend herself. I can't be there every time.

An important looking man strides in grandly, dressed up in red and white with golden buttons and a hat so tall it almost falls off as he walks through the doorway. He doesn't notice this, and it's hard to not laugh at his precariously placed hat that seems like it's about to fall.

"The Lower Highest Chief of the 6th Division of Lower Class High Achievers of the Newly Graduated 20 to 30 year old Riders would like to have his deputy meet with Locgarme in 5 minutes." He announces, and I am astounding by the ridiculously long name, most of which sounds unneeded. Loc stands and, sneaking a wink to Nora and I, walks out.

As soon as everyone has left the room, and the door is locked behind our visitors, Nora and I burst out laughing. We are overtired, and scared, and overwhelmed, and this recent news has pushed us over the border. Every time we think are about to stop laughing, one of us repeats the title and we start all over again. By the time we stop I'm too tired to do much, as carriage sleeps are not restful but merely time passers, so we both get into my bed and fall asleep easily.

~

I once had an older sister. When the war began she dressed as a boy and went to the army, as an archer. My parents were deeply distressed, and made me promise many times that I wouldn't follow suite, but I've always wondered what happened to her. Was she killed in the war, or taken prisoner? I've heard most of the remaining fighters were taken prisoner, and sent to army camps to be trained and broken in so they would work for the King.

It is probable that she was sent to one of these, or killed, but I've always hoped she escaped. She was clever, and fast. Maybe. I toss and turn in bed, thinking about her. I can't remember very much, but she was kind, and often went out hunting and brought us back our food for the week.

I get out of bed and, softly so as not to disturb Nora, walk to the window. Night has finally fallen, and the full moon hangs pale in the dark sky. Stars sparkle brightly, watching over everyone, and I recognise a few constellations.

The Palace Gardens below have their own weird light, and I realise that the Queen owns what must be the largest collection of Illumenorla, a type of flower that glows at night. Not in the dark, at night. Light doesn't matter to them.

I try the door again, and it's still locked. I sigh, wishing that we had an easier way to escape. Facing King Zandor is not in my best interests. Still, if facing him means my becoming a Rider, maybe it will be worth it. After all, escape by Nyrah would be easier than escape by foot, or even horse.

I go back to bed, comforted by these thoughts. I have difficulty sleeping, it is said the light of Illumenorla wakes up the mind and sets your thoughts in motion, but eventually, my eyes feel heavy and I drift off.

I'm on a Nyrah again, and when I look around, dreading what I see, an identical black dragon rises on our tail. Behind it are several more, and this time I can see people, miniscule compared to its monstrous size, scuttling around, pulling ropes attached to its head and such. I can see in its eyes pain, as it chases to helpless Nyrah.

Once, long ago, Nyrahs and Dragons were great friends. Both are immortal, unless slain by steel, so many still have connections to their old friends. Humans turned them against each other, using the Nyrahs as weapons of war against the Dragons. At the time it was understandable, as Dragons had been destroying villages with single breathes of flame, but after a while it became ruthless, an attempt to force Dragons into extinction. It worked.

Or at least, it seemed to.

~

Hey guys! Thanks for reading this chapter, I'm sorry it took so long again to publish. I really need to find more time to write... Anyway, I was thinking of doing a prologue, to explain a few things that will happen later in the book. Whatdo you guys think? I think it would be fun!

Don't forget to vote, follow, and comment!