The Broken Scale (The Dragon Riders of Arvain) Read Online Free PDF

I mean everything, in order to become a rider.” Fendrel continued to walk as he spoke, but he was looking to his side at Hayden and not at the road in front of him. Hayden tried to maintain eye contact, but he had to keep looking down at his feet.
                  “I have nothing to lose Fendrel, no family to go home to. In fact, I have no home to go back to. Everything I own I am caring on back right now. I have nothing to worry about leaving behind. I will do anything to get this. I’m tired of being a nobody who works hard for someone who has promised pay, but by the end of the day all I get is kick to my backside and sore muscles to show for my hard work. I am tired of being treated like I’m nothing and I know that all around Arvain there must be others like me. Others who need help and can’t find it, others who will die alone with nothing to call their own if someone does not help them.”
    “ I will be their help. I will save those who are thought lost. When I leave this world, I want it left a better place.” Hayden had never said that before, but it sounded like it had been rehearsed and although he was answering Fendrel, this was more for himself. This gave him a goal to work for, a dream to strive for. This gave him fuel to do whatever must be done to get a dragon egg.
                  “Good, you will need that when the time comes,” Fendrel responded quietly, and it was apparent to Hayden that he was lost in some distant memory. Hayden let the gap of silence grow between them for what seemed like too long. He finally spoke up and asked Fendrel the question that had been eating at him the whole time.
                  “What was it?”
                  “What was what, boy? If you have a question, ask it properly. I don’t have the patience for riddles.”
                  “What was it that they asked you to do in the trials?” Fendrel stopped abruptly as soon as Hayden finished his question. I have gone too far, I shouldn’t have asked that question, Hayden thought. Fendrel stood staring down the road as he spoke.
                  “If you do get to become a rider, they will teach you that the only loyalty you should have is to your fellow riders. They will show you that they are your only family, that only they matter. They must know that you are willing to do this or they will not let you have an egg and become one of them. They must know that you will follow orders no matter what. When the trials were almost at an end, my brother and I had both made it to the last trial before they would test us to see which egg we got. We were so happy to see each other there and we could not help but smile at each other.” A smile crept across the old man’s face, but it quickly vanished as he continued on telling his story.
    “ The judges over the trials saw our bond and knew that we were brothers, so when everyone else had gone to prepare for the last trial, they called us to stand before them. Just the two of us together as brothers should be. We stood with our chests poked out and pride in our hearts. Ha, I was so arrogant back then that I actually thought they were going to go ahead and give us our eggs right then and there, with no further trials. As I waited to hear what they had to say, I was already playing it over in my mind about the honor we were going to gain and the fear everyone would have for my brother and I. We were going to be an unstoppable force together.” Fendrel shook his head sadly at the memory.
    “ They looked down at us from their lofty seats and spoke like a proud parent to their children. The judge in the center said, ‘You two have done well. Better than any we have seen in many years. The riders would be very fortunate to have you both. There is, however, one last test for the both of you. It is not difficult compared to all that you have already accomplished . ’ The judge who spoke raised his right arm