The Broken Scale (The Dragon Riders of Arvain) Read online

  They did not speak as they sat there, but instead tried to focus on their own breathing and Hayden was trying to listen to the others that had fallen behind. He could only make out a few words here and there, but for the most part he heard the one loud one complaining and the others telling him to shut up. Hayden was content to rest for a little longer and wait for the others to catch up, but Shane jumped up and was ready to go.

  “What’s the hurry? We can just wait for the others and climb up with them,” Hayden protested as Shane helped him to his feet.

  “The others I don’t mind so much, but it’s Sebastian I don’t want to wait for,” Shane said.

  “Sebastian, which one is he?” Hayden asked as he took his place in the front and began forcing his already sore muscles to continue the climb. Sitting had caused them to get stiff which added to the pain he was already feeling.

  “The one who yelled at you; his father is a rider and he thinks he will get a dragon’s egg just because of it. He thinks that he is already better than everyone else.” Hayden did not have to look at Shane to know that he was mad. He could hear the anger lain underneath the words that he spoke.

  “I heard him while I was heading to the trials, he was bragging to anyone that would listen to him. Don’t worry though, at the rate that we are going and how much he is complaining back there, I don’t think he will getting an egg any time soon.” They both shared a short laugh as they climbed; Hayden was really starting to like Shane.

  “So, Hayden, why haven’t I seen you around the city before; do you live outside the walls?” Shane was using the left hand wall to help support him as they climbed.

  “You could say that; I am from Erskine, it’s a small village about three days walk from here.”

  “You’re an outsider; no one from outside the city ever tries for an egg let alone gets one. It’s amazing that you have made it this far.” Shane did not try to hide his shock when he found out that Hayden was not from within the walls of Celestial City; it didn’t bother Hayden that he was amazed about where his home was, but Hayden hoped he would not get looked at badly just because he was from somewhere else.

  “So I have heard. Is it a problem that I am not from here?” Hayden was already getting ready for some form of ridicule.

  “No of course not; I am just impressed. Never before has someone not born with in these walls ever gotten an egg, most never make it past this trial, but here you are in front of everyone.” Hayden relaxed and was slightly amused by Shane’s answer. If I get a dragon it could change everyone’s views on outsiders, Hayden thought.

  “Well I am not the first one up here, I saw someone else running up the stairs before I found you guys.”

  “Oh well, what do you think the last part of the challenge is, the whole thing about going to the top of their home and seeing as they see?”

  “I don’t know, but look up through the center, I can see a ceiling.” Shane ran to the railing and looked up through the center shaft that ran the entire length of the stairs. He looked up and let out a sigh of relief.

  When they reached the last few steps they noticed that they could no longer hear the others bellow them. As they made it to the landing at the top, before them stood a door, this one normal size. Hayden went to push the door open and Shane put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.

  “Before we open the door, there has been something on my mind that has bothered me and I have to say it.” He kept his head down as he spoke. Hayden was worried that something bad was about to be said.

  “What is it?” Hayden asked.

  “When you found us and said that he never told us to go through the labyrinth, just to make it out. Well he did tell us we had to go through it.” Shane turned his lowered head to the side and scrunched his shoulders like he was expecting to get hit. The site of the bigger man cowering before him was very strange to Hayden.

  “Ha ha ha, I know he did, but it was the only way to get you guys to follow me. Look, we made it out didn’t we, and now we are at the end so just forget about it, ok?”

  “Alright,” was Shane’s only reply; he loosened up and did not look like he was scared of Hayden anymore, which made Hayden feel a lot better.

  “Now let’s go through the door and be done with this trial. I am ready to start the next one.” Hayden spoke as he made his way back to the door and pushed it open. Immediately they were both blinded by light as the door opened. Hayden also noticed a rush of air flow over them, reminding him what fresh air smelled like.

  They both stood there looking into an empty cavern; it was almost twenty feet tall from floor to ceiling with rounded off walls. Where one of the walls should have been was a giant gaping hole that opened up to the sky. The walls and floors had deep scratches, much larger than those a human could ever make, carved all around in an unorganized mess. The two men just stood there trying to find some clue as to what they were supposed to be doing next.

  “Did we go the wrong way?” asked Shane, as they both made their way into the hollow room, still shocked by not finding what they thought was going to be the end of their second trial.

  “How could we have, there was no other way to go the entire time we were climbing the stairs. The other person must have come this was because we did not see them come back down. We need to look around for some kind of hint as to what we are supposed to do next.” Hayden was starting to doubt himself even as he spoke to reassure Shane. What if we did go the wrong way, what if there was exit down there in the labyrinth and I led every one the wrong way. They will fail me for sure; I will never get an egg.

  Hayden was ready to give up, to admit that this was it and that he was done, when he noticed Shane slowly inching his way towards the edge of the room. He stayed near the wall to steady himself as he slowly moved closer to the edge.

  “Careful, Shane, what are you doing?” Hayden asked.

  “I want to see how high we are,” Shane said; he kept one hand on the wall, one on the floor, and one foot far behind him as he leaned over the edge. Hayden could hear him swallow and he watched as the color drain from his face. Shane made to head back when he stopped all of a sudden and leaned a little further out and looked to the right over the edge.

  “Hayden, why are there foot holes in the side of the pyramid?” Shane asked while his head was still hanging in the air.

  “Why would there be foot holes in the side of the pyramid? You must be seeing things out there.” Hayden walked calmly over to where Shane was. As he neared him Shane leaned back into the room and, while still looking completely terrified, he pointed outside where he had seen the foot holes.

  Hayden leaned out side, much more comfortable then Shane had been, and looked down first and realized they had to be almost two thirds the way up the pyramid. He held on to the wall a little tighter as he looked down the slope of the pyramid and the ground a few hundred feet below him. Hayden swallowed loudly, without meaning too, and looked at the side where Shane had pointed and there were, in fact, foot holes scaling the rest of the pyramid all the way to the top. The foot holes were about two feet across, six inches high, six inches deep, and there was one every foot. They were only a foot away from where Hayden stood.

  “Well I think we just figured out what we are supposed to do next, Shane,” Hayden said as he was already reaching for the first of the foot holes.

  “Now might not be the best time to tell you this, but I am afraid of heights,” Shane said, his face still deathly white, and Hayden noticed that his hands were starting to shake.

  “How, exactly, are you going to be a dragon rider, who spend most of their time in the air, when you are scared of heights?” Hayden was already on the outside of the pyramid, looking at an angle, up to the top of the pyramid.

  “Well maybe the dragon would like to stay on the ground and walk,” Shane tried to argue.

  “Come on, this is supposed to test us and see how we handle our fears. Let’s show them that our fears can’t get the best of us.” Hayden was sl
owly climbing up, testing the footing as he went, and he had gone high enough so that Shane could lean out and start climbing also.

  He stopped and looked down and watched as an arm came out, hugging to the side of the pyramid, and felt its way to the first of the cuts in the side of the wall. Once he found it he grabbed it so tightly that Hayden could see Shane’s knuckles whitening. Shane slowly made his way out onto the side of the pyramid, he came out one limb at a time and he was very reluctant to let his last foot off the ground but he made it none the less.

  They took their time with each step, they would slowly raise one arm to grab the next foot hold, and once that one hand had a good grasp they would move their next arm. Once both hands were secure they would move their feet up one foot at a time.

  As they ascended the wind began to howl and rip at their clothing, Hayden felt like someone was trying to pull him off the pyramid by his clothes. He looked up and could see the sky full of sparkling dragons, hovering over the pyramid with their steady wing beats, which was causing the strong wind, and he could hear the occasional roar as they made their way closer to the top.

  As they climbed Hayden dared a quick glance at the city that was spread out before him. He gazed down across the shining buildings that surrounded him, each one reflecting the warm glow of the sun. Hayden almost forgot his fears as the wind blew the last of the smoke and sweat off his body.

  Hayden looked over Celestial City and watched as the metallic dragons filled the air around him. He had never seen so many dragons in his entire life let alone at one time. His eyes were drawn back the city and he watched as the river Savior flowed peacefully through the city, shimmering slightly as it passed under the bridges.

  Hayden noticed that the people looked like small insects from so high up and the thought almost made him laugh, till he remembered that he was climbing up the side of the Metallic Pyramid. Even as he took his short break to take in the scenery he never loosened his iron grip on the cold metal slots. He looked back towards the top of the pyramid and continued his climb.

  When they got twenty feet away from the top of the pyramid, their muscles screaming at them from the stairs and now this climb, Hayden saw that the top of the pyramid was not at a point like he thought it was. Instead it was flat so that a large dragon and its rider could land on top of it. It still appeared to come to a point from the ground because it was so high up and the pyramid was so massive.

  They climbed the last few feet, each foot hole seeming a little further away than the last and each step seemed to be getting harder as they went. Finally, Hayden reached the top and pulled himself up, he did not turn to help Shane because as soon as his foot hit the platform Shane’s hand was already on it and he was rushing to end his climb.

  Hayden stood there facing him, both of them were panting and out of breath, but with smiles on their faces because they had made it. Hayden began looking out at the land around them, but Shane tapped him on his shoulder and pointed at the opposite corner of the platform. Hayden turned around and saw the same girl whom he kept running into smiling at him.

  “Well it’s about time you boys got here; I was starting to get afraid that I was going to be the only one to make it through this trial. Have you guys been having fun?” she asked. She was sitting down cross legged with her back to the horizon; she had been facing where they had climbed up at like she had been waiting on them.

  “Loads of fun,” Hayden said; he broke eye contact with her to get a better look at her. He could tell she was well built if not a little skinny, Hayden had been correct about her dark hair and she had eyes the same color to match. As Hayden looked her over she noticed Hayden’s eyes wondering over her.

  “So do you see something you like?” she asked, being playful, but drawing a clear picture that what he was doing was not wanted.

  “Sorry, I uh, was just uh, sorry.” Hayden started to blush, which made her smile grow. “I didn’t catch your name; I am Hayden and this is Shane.” Shane gave small wave, and he was clearly uncomfortable and it wasn’t just from the height of the pyramid.

  She jumped up and walked over to where they were standing. “Nice to meet you both, I am Cassidy, but please call me Cass.”

  “Nice to meet you too, Cass. So what are we supposed to do now that we are up here?” Hayden asked both of them. Shane just shrugged his shoulders.

  “We enjoy the view and wait for anyone else who might make it. Congratulations, you guys have made it through the second trial,” Cass said with a smile on her face. Shane and Cass both turned to face the city while Hayden couldn’t help but stare at Cass. He was enjoying the view.

  Chapter 6

  Hayden, Shane and Cass remained on the top of the Metallic Pyramid, which felt like being on top of the world, for almost another hour before anyone else made it up the side of the pyramid. While they waited, Cass and Shane took the time to explain to Hayden all the different parts in the city.

  They had a perfect view of the whole city and it was easy for him to see where they where pointing to. Hayden was able to get a better idea of where everything was in the city and he wasn’t very surprised when he saw that it seemed like the whole city worked around the dragons and their riders.

  There where blacksmiths who worked for anyone willing to pay for their service, but there were some larger buildings that housed the smiths used only by the riders. There where farmers and herders who sold their harvests and live stock in the market and there where fields farmed just for the riders and herds that had the best grazing lands that were for the dragons.

  “Honestly, the riders can take whatever they want whenever they want it,” said Shane as they stood looking out over the Housing District. “There have been a few times in the past were they over used their power and took too much from the people. Sometimes they gave what they took back other times they gave the people a break for a while and then went right back to what they have always done.”

  “Why don’t the people stop them?” asked Hayden. Before anyone could answer a silver dragon flew past them and landed in one of the open caves in the pyramid bellow them.

  “That’s why; they have the power and they have the dragons,” Cass replied; he could hear sadness in her voice as she spoke, but Hayden thought it best not to ask for that story just yet. Hayden kept looking over the city as he tried to learn his way around it. More than once he caught himself watching the dragons flying over head, some seemed to have places to go, others where in formations practicing aerial moves while others seamed to just be gliding around leisurely above the city.

  “That could all change though, if the riders themselves tried to change it,” Shane said.

  There is more truth to that then you know, Hayden thought.

  Finally four more people made it to the top of the pyramid, none of them Hayden knew, but they all wore the same tired and irritated look that he knew he had worn when he first crested the peak of the pyramid. They began to ask, all at the same time, what they had to do next.

  “Just relax and enjoy the view,” Cass told them just as she had told Hayden and Shane.

  “Who cares about a stupid view, let’s get moving to the next trial!” the guy who had been the first to make it over the ledge said.

  Hayden looked them over and realized that Sebastian, the young man Shane had told him about, was not among them. “Where is Sebastian, is he still climbing?” he asked the four guys.

  “No, he was too scared to climb out of the cave; he kept going on about how this was too dangerous for a son of a rider to be doing,” one in the back of the group said.

  Hayden learned from Shane that the four young men were close friends and they were part of a group that was always up to trouble. When Hayden had asked Shane how he knew all this Shane explained that they had wanted him to join because of his size; but once they figured out he did not like to fight they gave up on him.

  Hayden, Shane and Cass sat on the opposite side of the platform to the others. Hayden had made an att
empt to be friendly with them, but his kindness was meet with cold silence. They had no desire to relinquish any information about themselves as they huddled together and spoke in hushed whispers. The one who had done most of the talking, Shane had told Hayden his name was Giles, kept looking away from the others and looking at Cass.

  They waited atop the building for another hour; during this time Hayden was able to feel the soreness that had crept into his muscles. He was also extremely thirsty and hungry. He could tell by looking at Shane’s and Cass’s dried lips that they felt the same as he did.

  They heard someone climbing up the steps and were surprised to see the rider who had started them on their trials. He looked each one up and down while showing nothing on his face.

  “Well it seems like you guys are all that’s left, two trials in and we have cut you guys down to seven. Take comfort in knowing that there are only three of you who will not be getting dragons. Now we have one more trial to go, so unless you guys have something to say… no? Ok, let’s move on then.” He clapped his hands when he had finished talking.

  He walked over to one of the banisters and pulled out a long piece of rope that he had looped up and tied on his back so it would not get in the way as he walked. He tied one end to the banister and threw the other over the side of the pyramid.

  He then grabbed the banister and threw his legs over; with a firm grip on the rope he began to descend at a slow pace. He stopped and checked his footing as Hayden and the others leaned over the banister to watch his progress.

  “What are you guys looking at? Grab the rope and let’s go. It’s a long way down and we have to hurry, you don’t want to be late for your last trial.” He laughed as he loosened his grip on the rope and went flying down the side of the pyramid at a speed Hayden thought could not have been safe.

  This time it was Hayden who made the first move; he was not terrified of heights but his stomach would still tense up when it came to something like this. He did not let his nerves get the best of him as he grabbed the rope and threw his own legs over the railing, his grip on the rope tighter then Hayden thought he could grab.