Months of travel had left Fallyn frustrated but also convinced of it.
The Age of the Dragon Rider was beginning. A new Rider had been chosen, but thus far, was missing. She had also learned that no one knew what became of Arya - but that the egg had hatched would mean either Arya was the new Rider, or had been forced to relinquish the egg. Fallyn suspected the latter, in part because Arya would have returned to the elves if the dragon had chosen her. There was also the case of the dragon not belonging to Galbatorix, which meant she had been forced to send the egg elsewhere. Avoiding cities as much as possible, and keeping to the outskirts of villages, she was careful on her return journey home.
It was along the way that she came across a most curious sight. A sandstone hill, that glittered in the sunlight at its crown. With Clathus following, she decided to investigate.
She found the crystalline structure and ran her fingers over its surface, seeing words carved into the crystal and seeing the familiar but older face of a human man inside.
"Brom, you old fool," she whispered. "What happened to you, I wonder?"
She took some gold coins from a pouch at her hip, and with a few words, the gold became molten and fused into the words barely visible in the diamond.
HERE LIES BROM
Who was a Dragon Rider
And like a father
To me.
May his name live on in glory.
"Falon'Din enasal enaste," she said.
She took a moment to reflect on Brom, recalling the small boy who had first come to her as a new Rider. She drew her finger along the crystal surface of his tomb, then turned away.
"Now, Clathus, we need to find the one who crafted this tomb."
The stallion whinnied, nudging her shoulder.
"Afterall, this feat could only have come from a dragon," she said with a slight smile. "Any lesser being would have died from the strain without success."
Mounting the horse again, the two resumed their journey, following what tracks were left. Along the way, signs of a dragon could be seen.
"They make this too easy," she murmured, disapprovingly.
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Age of the Dragon 1: Return of the Riders
FanfictionPart 1 in my Age of the Dragon series. Fallyn senses a change is coming and leaves the safety of her home to meet her Destiny head-on. Along the way, she finds herself in unusual company and embroiled in a headlong escape from the Empire. This is a...
