CONSCRIPTION DAY isalways said to be the deadliest. At least that's what I have been told. That may be why the sunrise is particularly beautiful this morning, painting the sky in pink and orange hues — because I know it might be my last.
I am Estelle Riorson, younger sister to Xaden Riorson, a legacy to the rebellion led by my father, Fen Riorson, one of the most influential figures in the uprising. Eight years ago today my father was executed. Xaden, being sixteen when my father was executed, was thrust into the rebellion's consequences — forced into Basgiath War College when he turned 20 under intense scrutiny like all of the other legacy children. Unlike my brother, I was hidden. I was twelve years old on the day my father took his last breath. His last dying wish was to protect me from the fallout which in effect, hastily lead to me being taken in by allies of the rebellion, loyal to the Riorson family. Loyal to my family.
I was hidden in a remote village near the Graykeep Mountains, far from Basgiath and the centers of political power. Many thought of me either kidnapped or worse — killed. Because of this, no one came looking for me. I was taken in by a former friend of my father, Lyra Serafis, an ex-military strategist who secretly sympathized with the rebellion but was never exposed. She served with my father during his earlier military career before he defected to lead the uprising. With Lyra's extensive knowledge of the political and military networks, she was able to protect me and keep me hidden — until it was time for my existence to be revealed.
She raised me as if I was her own daughter, training me in survival, strategy, and defense for the future if I decided I wanted to fight for the Riorson name. Despite my isolation, I was always aware of my background and my brother's fate making it paramount I was to not try and contact him out of fear that it would jeopardize both my safety, but also Lyra's. During the eight years I was hidden I struggled with feelings of guilt and helplessness. Where Xaden and the other legacy children were forced into Basgiath, fighting every day under the watchful eyes of those who hated our father — I was free. My price for freedom was their continued suffering. Because of this I finally decided I had had enough. For the past year and a half I fought harder ever single day, trained until I couldn't stand anymore, until my muscles felt like jelly, poured my mind over textbooks to learn everything there was about Basgiath, dragons, signet powers and listened intently to Lyra's expertise of strategy and survival. I decided when the day came, when I turned 20 — I would stand by my brother's side. This meant one thing and one thing only — enrolling in Basgiath War college to become a dragon rider.
