The Broken Scale (The Dragon Riders of Arvain) (27 page)

             
“That’s what I have been trying to tell you, Hayden, we need a way to bring peace without war. You would really rather we redo what our ancestors did than trying to find a way to live in harmony with them?” she asked him, nodding to Sebastian and Shane for encouragement.

             
“It’s not that I want war, but that they have taken so many lives, how can that go unpunished?” he asked desperately, he threw his hands up in the air as he asked.

             
“Have the dragon riders not taken enough lives? In the last battle with the dwarfs we had a few minor injuries, but how many of them died, a couple hundred perhaps?” Cassidy asked. Hayden began to feel like he was being backed into a corner.

             
“Look, there is no point to argue about this, the war won’t happen,” Sebastian reassured them. “Hayden doesn’t want peace the way we want it,
then fine, let him be that way.” Hayden tried to speak to defend himself but Sebastian cut him off. “Let’s go back to our rooms and call it a night, although I find that now that I am awake I could go for a little something to eat. I am sure that the dining hall is still open. Cassidy, would you care to join me?” Cass looked at Hayden before she told him yes.

             
Hayden could feel Draek’s discomfort as Rilora and Shaylin both got up abruptly and made their way out of the room. Shane took Rilora back into his room while Shaylin went to hers alone. Cass went with Sebastian into his room to head to the dining hall, leaving Hayden standing alone outside.

             
I know you are upset, but come inside,
Draek begged him.

             
No, they have made a fool out of me.
Hayden was upset, questioning what he thought was right about a possible war.
It will happen, Draek, Sebastian says it won’t, but I know a war will come to Arvain.
Hayden heard his dragon come out of the room and curl around where Hayden was. Hayden sat down and leaned against him, starring up at the stars like he used to so many nights ago.

             
I just don’t know what to do, Draek.
Hayden was confused and overwhelmed by everything that had happened.

             
Maybe you could go talk to Fendrel; you haven’t spoken to him in a long time. He might be able to help you with what’s going on,
Draek suggested.

             
Hayden stood up and ushered his dragon back into their room where they could sleep comfortably.
You are right, that might help. I will go after lessons tomorrow, after I clean you first of course.
Draek rumbled in agreement and fell back asleep. Hayden made his way to his bed and tossed and turned all night; having a restless night thinking about what had happened earlier and about the possibility of a future war. Then his mind wandered back to Cass, and remained there throughout the rest of his night.

             
He woke up the next day and went through his normal routines even though his mind was somewhere else, still thinking about the night before. For the first time he had been the one late and had to wear the weighted harness, he also wasn’t giving it his all like he normally did, so he was finishing last or close to it in every workout. Draek tried to comfort him, but it was causing him to do bad also, so Hayden told him not to worry about it.

             
When they got to Tynan’s barracks, Hayden was sore and worn out like he had been when he first started all his training. Tynan did not let him go easy and forced him to spar with the wooden practice swords they had been using. So by the end of the lesson Hayden was sore and covered in bruises. During lunch Hayden ate slowly because his lips had been busted open by Giles in one of the sparing rounds.

             
Shane sat and ate with him but did not speak while they ate, he didn’t even lift his head up from his bowl of soup. When they had finished eating they walked in silence to Estraken’s library and they were forced to listen to Sebastian, who was walking in front of them, talk loudly about how much fun him and Cass had had the night before and that they were having dinner again today. When they finally got to the library, Shane pulled Hayden aside just before they went in.

             
“Look, I am sorry for not speaking up last night, and I am sorry for how everything is going right now.” He still did not look Hayden in the eyes.

             
“Why didn’t you though, you could have defended me so that I wouldn’t have looked so bad and stupid,” Hayden asked in a hush voice so those in the library would not have overheard.

             
“I would not have defended you, Hayden. You are my best friend and this is why I am telling you this, but you are wrong about what you said last night. War is not the answer to our problem.” Shane walked into the library, leaving Hayden standing in the corridor alone, more confused about how he felt then last night. He followed shortly after and did his lesson. He did not listen to anything that Erskine taught that lesson; he just remained in the back and nodded his head with the rest of them.

             
The lesson ended much sooner than Hayden thought it should have. Hayden walked alone back to his room and waited for Draek to arrive. For the first time in a long time he beat his silver dragon back to the room. Hayden had put cleaning gear in his room weeks ago when Draek was no longer able to walk through the halls.

             
Hayden only did one detailed cleaning a week for Draek because now that he was so massive it took most of his one rest day to do it. They had only been given a rest day two weeks ago; their trainer had told them that their
bodies and mind needed it.

             
Draek walked into their room not long after Hayden had gone off to get the sand and oil. Hayden quickly went to work cleaning off his silver dragon as soon as Draek had lain down. Although he was in a hurry Hayden took his time and made sure he did a good job. Hayden did not want Draek to be uncomfortable while he was gone.

             
Are you sure you are alright by yourself, I can stay if you want me to?
Hayden asked Draek. Draek was all but asleep, so his answer came more as images than words. Hayden saw a large brown bear that Draek had killed and feasted upon earlier, then he got the distinct feeling that Draek wanted to rest and be left alone.

             
Hayden took the hint that was given to him and walked out of the large opening on the far side of their room. Hayden wandered around the Metallic Pyramid for a while, looking at the different blacksmiths and what they had all created, trying to clear his mind and organize his thoughts before he went to Fendrel.              

             
People who recognized him called for him to come over and view their products.

             
“Come, silver rider, have you ever seen a blade so fine?”

             
“Dragon rider, come see the best armor made in all of Arvain,” they yelled at him.

             
Hayden nodded and smiled at them, some he even went and saw what they offered. They all tried to sell him something or another, but Hayden had no money, dragon riders had no need of money during their training time. One old woman kept trying to make him take her dead father’s lucky blade; it had been broken a few inches short and was very dull and jagged.

             
He decided to go up through the Traders’ District instead of going straight to Fendrel’s house. The shops there where the only thing in Celestial City that Hayden had seen that
weren’t organized or all the same.

             
Hayden first noticed the smell as he crossed over into the Traders District; all different kinds of perfumes and foods and smells coming from the materials they were using. Hayden wanted to sniff around and follow some of the better smelling scents, but he accidently walked behind a sweaty, hairy, obese man and quickly decided to stop sniffing the air. He then took in his surroundings and looked at the buildings around him. 

             
Some buildings were small, one story and open to the public, while others where large two and three stories shops that had decorative designs carved around them. The shops had everything from clothing, jewelry, armor and weapon, to pots and other cooking utensils. Some were selling wood and metal furniture while others had artifacts they claimed came from the other races. Elves hair, dwarf hammers and items of that nature. Hayden went by one shop selling fine jewelry and paused to take a look at the items that the craftsman had out on display.

             
“Anything I can help you look for, my young lord?” the old man asked. Right away Hayden liked the man. He could tell that he was a generally happy guy by the way he continued to smile at everything and everyone.

             
“No, sir, I thank you though. I am just passing through to a friend’s house. I came from the Metallic Pyramid and they don’t let us out too often, so I thought that I might take advantage of this chance to see what the entire city has to offer.” He told the man, trying to match his smile as he spoke.

             
When Hayden mentioned that he was from the Metallic Pyramid he noticed a sudden change in the man’s look; his smile faltered and he lowered his head slowly.

             
“I am guessing than that you are running an errand for some rider? So what do they want now, it doesn’t matter because they are going to take in anyway.” He was obviously upset. A young lady, close to Hayden’s age, came around when she had heard the man’s voice change to an angry tone.

             
“What is it, father?” the young lady asked.

             
“Another rider has come to take as he pleases because he does not have to pay for such things. This one didn’t even have the decency to come
them self, they sent some boy to pick up our hard work.” Hayden got horrible looks from both father and daughter.

             
   “I am sorry if I have done something wrong, but I am new to the Metallic Pyramid, and as I said before they don’t let us much. I am not doing anything for a rider now; I am here on my own for no reason. What have the riders been doing to you?”

             
“It’s not just us they do it to; it’s all traders and vendors here. They take whatever they want, no matter what it is, and pay for nothing. They say because they are riders they have the right to take as they please. How do you not know this, they are your masters after all?” the daughter asked. The father looked at Hayden for a few moments when understanding finally crossed his face.

             
“Daughter hush, go back inside now.” He grabbed the girl and tried his best to push her along without taking his eyes off of Hayden. He all but put himself in between Hayden and his daughter.

             
“But, father,” was all his daughter could get out before his stern look silenced her.

             
“My apologies for the way my daughter and I have spoken, rider,” he said as he bowed his head. Once the girl heard what her father had said she faced Hayden with a look of disbelief that turned quickly to shock when she realized what she had said about the riders in front of a rider.

             
“Please do not punish my daughter, she is my only child, and I do not know what I would do if I lost her. Please take anything you want for no charge.” He held his hands out over his jewelry.

             
“But then wouldn’t I be just like the other riders you were telling me about, taking whatever they wanted and paying nothing in return?” Hayden asked the shop owner.

             
The man did not answer Hayden, instead he just lowered his head and Hayden watched the man’s shoulders sagged.

             
“Do not worry, friend, you have not offended me. You have spoken the truth and the truth sometimes stings.” As Hayden heard the words come out of his mouth he heard his entire conversation from the night before replay in his mind. He was shocked by what he had said and he swiftly realized that he had been wrong in so many ways. “If ever I need trinkets from you, I will come and pay for them.” The man looked taken aback, but his smile soon returned to his face.

             
“I have never heard a rider talk like that or act in any kind of kindness towards one who was not within the ranks of dragon riders. May I ask your name?”

             
“I am Hayden The Silver, and my dragon’s name is Draek.”

             
“And a silver rider none the less. Hayden The Silver, I believe I have heard about you. Weren’t you the fifth rider this year, the one from outside the city?” the man inquired. His daughter’s previous attitude had drastically changed, she was still standing behind her father’s back but she was now leaning back against a table and trying to smile slyly at him. 

             
“I am,” Hayden responded. They talked for a few more minutes and then Hayden told them that he had to leave. They insisted that he return to their shop. The man’s daughter lingered and waved as Hayden walked away.