Amma's little friend soon became the very thing people in Belatona talked about the most. Everyone wanted to see him. He was the first dragon who chose a Belatonian as his Rider since the war. Not only that, but he was also Saphira's and Fírnen's son. The pickiest one of them all. The youngest and the eldest at the same time, since he was his mother's first egg but he was the last one to hatch. The ocean blue. People called him many things. But to Amma, he was Flauga. His name meant "flying" in the ancient language. Amma knew some of the easy words, this being one of them. It seemed quite fitting, considering that the little dragon made his first attempts at flying only a few days after he hatched.
Flauga was a dragon filled with determination. He never gave up on anything. Unless Amma told him, that his trying was no use. He trusted Amma. As he should.
The youngest and the eldest, as the Belatonians decided to call him in the end, was determined to reach Hjall abr Shulblaka un Shur'tugal as early as possible. He trained every day, hoping to become stronger and stronger. He already told Amma, that he was ready to go numerous times, but one quick flight around Belatona with Amma on his back convinced him otherwise. Until it didn't...
Amma, you saw it! I flew seven times around the city with you and all the necessities on my back without breaking a sweat! I'm ready! Let's go to the Hall! Flauga exclaimed. It was a lovely evening, ending of another day filled with Flauga's training. I'm afraid, that the Hall is a bit farther, than just seven circles around Belatona. Flauga grunted. Trust me, give yourself some time.
And Flauga did. It took him several months before he was finally strong enough, but it was worth it.
Parting with Cishu was difficult. Both Amma and Flauga shed a tear. But the time had come. "We have to go, mom," said Amma. "We need training before we can fully become a dragon and his Rider. We'll come back one day, don't worry. Dragon Riders are here to protect Algaësia so it makes sense, that we'll come back. But it will take some time."
"I know," Cishu sobbed. "But I'm going to miss you. Both of you." Amma nodded. She couldn't speak, because she would start crying if she did. Flauga just shook his head. It's time, he said quietly. Amma nodded again and climbed on his back. "See you someday, mom." And after these words Flauga took off.
The saddle was one of the less comfortable ones. In fact it wasn't even a dragon saddle. It was a regular horse saddle with some added straps around Flauga's neck and such. But it was still better than sitting on dragon's bare back.
They had to make several pauses. Both Flauga and Amma were hungry, Flauga's wings hurt after some time and Amma's legs always became sore after a few hours of flight. And then, at last, the sun began to set. Flauga landed in a meadow near a deep forest. His flight was over for the day. Wow, dragon boy, Amma said, if we keep this up, we'll reach the Hall in two days!
Oh, we will, Flauga purred confidently.
But we must be careful, Flauga, we don't want to end up completely exhausted. The real work begins after we get to the Hjall, afterall.
Flauga, however, did not fear exhaustion. By the noon of the third day of their journey, Amma finally spotted the Hall in the distance. "We did it!" she exclaimed out loud. It took another hour to get close enough to be noticed by other dragons and Riders. Mentors and their apprentices of all species looked up at the sky, as they had been expecting newcomers for a few days now. A couple of Riders rushed inside the Hall, presumably to inform Eragon about the new pair.
Their welcome was very warm. Saphira finally got to meet her son and she made no attempt to hide her excitement. Eragon immediately knew that he would have to make Flauga her apprentice. She had mentored all of her other children and there was no chance she'd give up the chance to teach the hatchling she'd been waiting for for so long.
It didn't take long for both of the newcomers to become comfortable. Amma lived in a cozy room in the Hall, while Flauga lived with the other dragons in small caves in the hill, that the Hall was built on. Being near his mother and siblings made him glow with joy.
Amma was a patient and careful student. She payed attention to everything Eragon told her and was always determined to learn more. Flauga, on the other hand, showed to be a bit of a reckless dragon, but with Saphira's guidence, he too became a fast learner. After five months of their studies, Eragon called the pair to meet him at the Hall's terrace early in the morning.
When Amma arrived at the terrace, there were already two Riders and one dragon. She recognised all of them, they passed eachother in the hallways from time to time. The first Rider was a young elf named Teräos. He had black hair and a scar over his nose. His rose-pink dragoness, Lilio, accidentally scratched him while playing. The second one was a dwarf lady named Mema, who was very shy and rode an equally shy gray dragon named Tidr. However, he wasn't there yet.
"Why do you think we're here?" Mema asked nervously. Teräos grunted with smug expression. "We are taking eggs somewhere," he said and frowned. Lilio nudged him with her nose. Amma suspected, that she was tellinh him something.
Tidr and Flauga arrived together. Amma knew, that they sometimes hunted together. After a few minutes, a dark blue dragoness swooped through the sky down to the terrace. Flauga twitched his tail, when his mother and mentor landed in front of him. On her back was Eragon and a bunch of saddlebags. Dear students, Eragon exclaimed telepathically, I have discussed this with Saphira, other dragons and elves and we have decided, that for this year's egg delivery mission, the six of you will be the best candidates.
Flauga squealed excitedly. He was looking forward to his mission since he and his Rider came to the Hall. Soon after, he stood on the terrace with two saddlebags filled with eggs. "There is a lot of them this year," Mema mumbled. It was true. This year, they had to deliver thirty-five eggs to Ellesméra. That excited Flauga even more, because it met, that he would finally get to meet his father.
As the sun climbed the horizon, the group said their good-bye to Eragon and Saphira, took off and began their journey to Ellesméra
Žádné komentáře:
Okomentovat