Dragonsong Book 1

Chapter One

10 years later...
I sat on the stool and tried to look like I actually was enjoying myself wearing a tight dress and listening to men talk on my birthday. I couldn't wait for tonight, when the dragon would sing. I planned to ride out to the forbidden mountains jagged base and climb to the cave where presumably the dragon lived. My mother was against the idea since dangerous man-eating creatures were involved, so she planned a birthday party with the family. That pretty much meant the girls would suffocate in death-dresses and watch the guys talk and drink beer. Not my idea of fun, especially for a fourteen-year-old who was called a witch for her love of science.
I lived in a small village in Europe that only held about twenty families. The houses all had wooden walls and straw roofs and used candles to light up the one-room huts.
Each family had a different business. The Watsons owned the school, the Smiths were farmers, and the Millers owned the bakery. We were the Johnsons, and we owned the blacksmith's shop.
For this occasion, my mom pulled my brown hair into a French braid and forced a blue frilly dress onto my already thin body. I was really pale and had a few freckles across my cheeks.
A man passed and I gave him a forced smile. As soon as he looked away, my mouth formed a frown as I pondered how I would sneak out. I could jump out the window... I would probably end up falling face-first into mud and wake up the entire village.
I could sneak out the front, but there were so many lights.
I could try to sneak out now, but it was my birthday, and they would see me.
It hit me. I would say I was going to get more drinks, then go to the stables and get on my horse, Dawn. I slipped past everyone at the bar and made my way to a group of ladies talking.
"Where do you think your going?" One asked.
"To get more drinks for the men." I answered, and skipped away before more questions were asked.
When I reached the end I saw the door a few paces in front of me and my cousin Ferran, was talking with an elderly man I never saw before. I knew if I gave him my drink excuse, he would get them for me and I would miss my chance. I spotted my little sister near me, who was the best actor I had ever known. A plan formed in my brain as I walked towards her. I slipped her a silver coin.
"Act like you sprained your ankle, and I will give you another." I whispered. She nodded and looked up at me with big brown eyes. I gave her another and walked back towards the door. A few minutes later, my sister fell and started crying.
My cousin noticed and I knew he was going to help. He dropped down and started examining her leg.
I felt bad for my sister, who would probably have to either fake a twisted ankle for a week or face the consequences, but I had to accomplish my one goal; to get to the dragon cave.
Ferran tore a piece of his already mangled shirt off, and tied it to my sister's leg. I hurried to the house and pulled on a plaid shirt and some stolen jeans. I saddled up Dawn as quickly as possible, and took off into the horizon. It was only a short distance to the mountain, I would reach it before the sun sets.