• As he moved his way through the city streets, he noted how much more crowded it was than normal. Usually, the streets were fairly empty, but now even though he still had room to move, there were many more people than normal. This was good; it would make it easier for him to find a job. He passed a larger man with a thick beard and mustache, who looked like he might have worked on a farm judging by his clothing. " Excuse me sir, " Codali asked. " But do you need a hired hand for anything? "
    The man stroked his beard and looked to the sky in thought. " Ehngh... No lad, I'm afraid I don't. " He shrugged his shoulders as a sympathetic gesture and turned to carry on his way. Codali nodded, accepting that he wouldn't be lucky on his first try, and moved down the street headed towards the Castle.
    This happened several times, he would ask men, or groups of men, if they needed any assistance whether it be farm work or simple tasks. However, the answer was always the same, but not always spoken or acted out the same. For one man, he had to duck as a mug was thrown at his head. He had picked up the mug and had handed it back to one of the man's friends who were of a much better temper. Codali groaned and rubbed his left arm. " This is not going as well as I had planned it. "
    Looking up he could see in the space ahead that he was about to enter one of the cities market clearings. Walking to the center of the clearing, he looked about at the stalls and shops. He unstrung his coin-purse from his waist and peered inside. What he saw lifted his spirits. Ten copper pieces, and five silvers, the normal amount that children are sent off with and even this was a large amount to give away. What really caught his eye though was what Mum had also put in there, three gold pieces. His spirits lifted and with renewed vigor he looked at the stalls once more until he saw one that caught his eye, the Weapons Stall, owned by an elderly man who had survived the war. He was clean-shaved, except for his grayed sideburns.
    " Come on little one, " The man called to him, waving his arm high in the air. With a nod, Codali moved in the direction of the store, careful not to bump or shove any of the other people in the square. Looking at the man, he felt embarrassed that even if he tried his hardest to remember, the shopkeeper's name escaped him. He then eyed the wares; swords, daggers, shining armor, and sturdy shields. " What catches your eye? " The shopkeeper asked, picking up one of the swords and turning it over slowly in his grasp for Codali to see.
    " Hmm… " Codali pondered as he placed his right hand over his mouth. Mum would not be happy if he squandered his money on a sword, there was no war and he wasn't going off adventuring so it isn't like he would need it anyways. Based on that logic, he wouldn't need a set of armor or a shield either. When his eyes passed over the daggers though, his brows arched and he thought for a moment. There were many different stylings, but one in particular caught his eye. It was a slightly curved silver blade that was as long as from his elbow to his wrist, when you added the hilt into that equation though, it was as long as from his elbow to the tips of his fingers. The hilt of it was wrapped with a blue cloth that seemed weatherworn. " How much for this one? " Codali asked, pointing to the unique-looking dagger. The shopkeeper shrugged and placing the sword he was already holding back to its spot, he then picked up the dagger and examined it.
    " Hmm. " The blade in his hands was turned every which way and that, as if he were to examine it longer, the price would increase. " Let's say, two silver pieces. And you can even have it's scabbard for free, it even has a belt you can use to hang it from your waist. " The shopkeeper finally said, looking Codali in the eyes. Codali frowned; that was far too much for a dagger, yes, it looked nice but what really mattered was how well it would last when push came to shove. He shook his head.
    " I will offer one silver piece, and three copper. " With a grin, he returned the same look that the shopkeeper had originally given him. Knowing that the boy had seen through his scam, the man scowled and sheathed the dagger and handed it to Codali, who in return gave the man his money. " Thank you sir! " Codali said as he strapped the belt to his waist. The man snorted. Now on his left side, Codali had his coin-purse hanging, and on his right there was the dagger. " Before I leave, could you point me to the direction where they are setting up for the festival? " Grumbling, the man nodded and pointed in the direction that he should head and Codali's gaze turned to where his hand pointed. " I thank you once more, and bid you farewell. " Codali said happily before he backed away and then hurried off. The shopkeeper had already turned his attention to some other potential customers, and didn't pay any heed.
    As he walked on, the houses became more ornate, and he could see more and more noble-looking folk. He felt slightly humbled by them, even though most greeted him with a smile and a nod as he passed. Looking up, he could see the Castle getting closer and closer, he could also see the colorful banisters of the festival waving in the wind. Excitement caused him to move even faster, accidentally knocking some people off of their track. He could hear the shouts of the people he ran into, but he would only turn and shout back a quick 'sorry!' and hurry on his way. By the time he had reached the gates he could see a small line of people being admitted.
    " Hurry boy! " A person at the end shouted. It was a woman with long, auburn hair. She had a slender figure and was clothed not like a noble, and not like a commoner either. Codali wasn't about to argue, he hurried up and got in line. As he did so, one of the guards checking the people at the gate walked up to him.
    " Sorry lad, we can't accept any new guests. " He could not see the soldier's face from behind his helmet, but he could hear the sympathy in his tone. Codali was about to turn and leave when the woman grabbed his arm and turned him around.
    " But please sir, this is my brother, he was late getting up and we have to go inside to meet up with our parents. " The soldier crossed him arms over his chest and shifted his weight to his back foot, as if he were trying to figure out if this were the truth or not. Codali's eyes shifted to the girl and from this close he could see more details of her face. She had a slightly rounded face, and a little nose that was curved ever so slightly up. Her silvery eyes looked at him, and then to the soldier. Codali nodded, understanding what she was trying to convey to him.
    " Aye, our parents are waiting for us inside. " He paused, looking at the guard for a moment before adding, " Both of us. " The guard nodded and started to step behind them, informing passer-bys that there would be no more guests accepted, and that the gates would be closed soon. Codali turned to the woman. " Thank you for that, it would've been- "
    " Don't thank me. It was nothing. " The woman said as she walked forward so that the remaining guard at the gate could check her belongings and admit her inside. Codali was taken aback for a moment, but then sighed and scratched the back of his head. As the woman was admitted inside, Codali hurried forward so that the guards could check him in as well.
    " What have you got on you today? " This guard didn't have a helmet, and Codali could tell that the large influx of guests today must have him annoyed. He tried to make it pass as quickly as possible so he could get inside. " I have a coin-purse, my clothes, " He said, jingling his purse and ruffling his clothes so that he could show there was nothing hidden in them. " And a dagger that I bought in the market not too long ago. " He showed the dagger to the guard, who seemed to be evaluating how much trouble it could cause.
    " Alright, just one last thing. " And with that, Codali felt and poking and a prodding in his head. It was an unusual, and unpleasant feeling, but it was soon over and he could see a robed man just inside the gates give a nod of approval to the guard. " Okay boy, you're in. Have fun and don't cause any trouble. " He hurried inside, looking for the woman who had helped him get in earlier, but in the throng of people, it was hard to make her out.
    " Didn't I make myself clear? I said you didn't need to thank me. " Her voice chimed from behind him. He turned around to see her standing with her arms crossed, much like the guard had done earlier. Codali smiled and tried to think of what he was going to say to her. She raised one eyebrow questioningly. " You've never been up here before, have you? " He shook his head no, and she smiled and chuckled once. " Come with me then, and I'll try to make sure you don't get lost. Just don't stray too far away. " With that, she turned and started to walk slowly through the crowd and towards one of the stages, where there were two people setting up on front, and there were two very large mounds of colored material behind them. He followed, and turned his attention back to the woman. It was a moment before either spoke.
    " So, what is your name? " Codali asked her as they made their way through the large gathering of people. Her head turned as she looked at him, and then returned to looking forward.
    " Bex. " her pace quickened as they came closer and closer to the stage. Codali could now see that the mounds behind the stage were rising and falling slowly. Wait, the piles themselves were moving? Codali stopped moving, even though Briinah had continued walking. He heard something, yet his attention was solely focused ahead of him. " I said, what is your name? " Bex said, walking back to him, leaving a few feet of space between the two of them. She waved her hand slowly in front of his face. " Are you alright boy? " The movement of something close to his face caused him to flinch, snapping him out of his trance.
    " I'm Codali, now err, those mounds by the stage, what are they? " He asked, moving to her side and pointing ahead. Bex laughed and placed a hand on his back, pushing him forward as she walked.
    " Don't you know anything about this festival? " She said, shaking her head in mocking astonishment. " They are Dragons, the two of them. The two on the stage are their Riders I would assume. " He looked back at the stage, to see an overly muscular child and another figure wearing what appeared a helm with large, curled horns on the top of it. The two of them had stopped walking now, unable to push any further through the crowd that had assembled there. Codali looked at the two more closely. The child had a beard, and the one wearing a helmet was really not wearing one at all!
    " What are those two? " He asked, taking a few steps backwards in surprise. Bex looked at the short one of the left, and then at the much taller one of the right. This happened for a few moments, and she then looked at Codali and pulled him back to where he had been standing, out of the way of another man trying to work his own way through the crowd. Pointing to the one on the left, the shorter one, she spoke.
    " The one on the left is a Dwarf. His armor is simple and his beard is small so I would assume he is young. " At the same time, both Codali and Bex looked to the right. " That one over there, he is an Urgal, and a Kull too by the looks of it. " He was about to ask what a Kull was when one of the Dragons from behind the stage reared it's head up and roared loudly. Codali jumped at the noise, and he knew that he was not the only one in the crowd to do so. A hush fell over the civilians as the two Riders on stage stepped forth.
    " Greetings people of Ilirea! I am the Rider Valkas! " The Dwarf said with a booming voice, walking to the middle of the stage. Behind them, a short stocky brown Dragon stood up and lowered its neck so that it's head was by the Dwarf. " This is my Dragon, Bolzak. " The second of the Riders, the Kull, stepped forward and thumped his fist against his chest. When he-Codali assumed it was male, he did not think that it would be so large or have so large of horns if it were a female-spoke, his voice was low and it sounded as if it were not used to speaking the language of men.
    " I am Kull named Threk. " The second dragon, a bronze colored one and the larger of the two roared once more, raising its head high into the sky as it did so. " Dragon's name is Ahkrin. " Threk said as he gestured with his clawed hand. The Kull then nodded to the Dwarf and stepped back so that he could continue speaking.
    " Today we are here for not just drinking and merriment, " He said with a smile, causing some of the men and women in the audience to laugh. " No, today we are here for another matter as well. " Valkas walked over to two pedestals, a cushion on each with something on top hidden by a black cloth. Threk stepped up to the other one, and the Dwarf could be barley be heard saying" Ready now? One, two, three… " They removed the cloth from each, and Valkas returned to the front of the stage to continue speaking. " We have with us two Dragon eggs, and each of you who may wish to try may line up at the right side of the stage, " As he did this, many people in the crowd moved to the right, and the Dwarf raised both of his hands. " Oh! No, no! My mistake, it is my right, but it would be your left. "
    " Are you going to go and try Codali? " Bex said. She waited for a moment, letting the people that wanted to try move to the left, causing the crowd to thin out a little. The old and the young were left in the crowd, and most of the younger men or those who had survived the war were in the line. There were a few women, but not many. After hearing no response from him, she turned to look at him. " Codali? " Codali did not move however, he just stood there looking at the top of one of the pedestals.
    Sitting on top of it was a white egg, which shone gold in the light of the sun