The Tale of The Grey Rider

Chapter One

Jesse O'Malley: Urchin

This is a story about the Original Characters I introduced in Rulers of the Skies: Aragon and Thelduin.

It's about how Aragon came to be a Dragon Rider, and, if I finish this, it'll tell about some of his adventures as The Grey Rider.

Disclaimer: I only own Aragon, Thelduin, and any other OC's that appear in this fan fiction.

Incidentally, this is my first actual Fanfiction, most of my other stories are Crossovers.

Jesse O'Malley, sprinted down the narrow alley as the street guard hunted for him, and the stale loaf of bread he'd stolen from The Green Chestnut.
A drainpipe provided easy access to the rooftops, and Jesse was more than happy to take any advantage over his pursuers as he could get.
Shade's blood, if the guards are making this much fuss over a loaf of stale bread, I'd hate to see what they'd do to someone stealing something that was actually worth something. Thought Jesse as he slid across a rope suspended between two buildings, that was hung with fair ribbons.
When he reached the far side, he skipped across several more narrow alleys, and jumped from a beam hanging from a barn across a street onto an awning over a shopfront, then proceeded to scramble onto the roof, before ducking behind the chimney and hunkering down.

A half an hour later, Jesse was eating the slightly stale bread, and thinking.
Not about the arrogant, elven, prat Kialandi, who kept strutting around Tierm like he owned the place, just because the Dragon Riders had allowed him to attempt to join their ranks, although that did give Jesse pause for thought.

No, Jesse was thinking about joining the Riders himself.
He gained nothing by remaining an urchin, and if they accepted him, then he gained everything.
The only things stopping him: First of all, he'd have to pass the mysterious 'test' that was always associated with joining the Riders as an aspirant, whenever Jesse considered everything he'd heard, particularly from the Riders themselves, he shivered in fear, the test was supposed to be the single scariest trial a prospective Rider had to take.

The second thing stopping him, was that every noble, rich-kid or well-to-do, no-hoper in Tierm and for miles in every direction would probably just push him out of the Rider's great keep, and that's if they didn't beat him first.

The third problem, was Kialandi and many of the other rich-boys of Tierm, often hung around the great citadel, to rough up anyone they didn't feel was 'worthy' to be in the well-to-do parts of town.
Jesse had stuck up for one poor girl who'd been cornered by Kialandi and his mates once, and had copped a severe beating because of it.

It wasn't that Jesse regretted doing the right thing, but healer's bills were expensive and healing of your own volition was just as bad.
You know what? Jesse told himself at last, you'd be completely stupid not to do this, rich-brats or not.
He smiled at the thought.
Besides, it'll piss Kialandi off no-end to see me there, and he wouldn't want to let his hatred of me ruin his chances. Thought Jesse, imagining just how pissed off the little elven prick would be to have to just tolerate his presence without hitting him. Who says us underclass kids are stupid? Asked Jesse, congratulating himself, as he stood, and headed towards the citadel, where in an hour's time, those with the nerve to, could take the Rider's test, and attempt to become a Rider.

Jesse strode purposefully down the street, towards the citadel, but as he got closer to the citadel, he took to the rooftops.
It was just as well, because on the ground, Jesse recognised one of Kialandi's cronies.
As Jesse watched, a boy from the old district, which was the poorest part of the city, walked by Kialandi's stooge, and the stooge grabbed him.

'Where do you think your going?' The boy snarled at the younger boy, who shrank back, not because of fear,-heaven knew to grow up in the old district, and have the guts to try and become a Rider, you beat fear pretty quickly.
It was more the cane that the stooge was waving threateningly.

Oh, that is just not playing fair… Thought Jesse as he realised what Kialandi had done: He'd told his mates to terrorise anyone from the poorer parts of town into not going to the citadel.
Jesse glanced around and noticed a convenient loose brick on the roof.
Gods, I love lazy builders. Thought Jesse as he hefted the brick, took aim, and threw it.

The stooge was about to lay into the boy he'd baled up, when Jesse's brick shattered his cane, then landed broadside on the top of his head, knocking him out cold.
The boy looked up in surprise, and threw a parodied salute to Jesse, who returned it with a bow, then both of them continued on their way.

When Jesse reached the street nearest the citadel gate, he wasn't surprised to find it packed, nor was he surprised to see many of Kialandi's friends trying to rough up some of the poorer populace that were after a better life.
It was a pretty even shoving match, so Jesse didn't concern himself.

Instead, he worked his way across the roof, to just outside the gate, where he slid down a drainpipe, and landed behind his least favourite elf: Kialandi Aldemar.
And he was in full strutting mode.

Jesse payed the elven idiot no heed, and went to join the line of hopefuls outside the gate, but Kialandi noticed him mid-strut and froze.
Jesse didn't notice, and was waiting patiently in line when there came a tap on his shoulder.

Jesse knew without turning that it was Kialandi.
It'd have to be, anyone else would've called his name.
Kialandi liked too disguise the fact he tormented those who were less fortunate than himself.
The tap came again, only this time it was more like a consecutive pair of shoves.
'Go to hell Kialandi, or bugger off, whichever takes the least amount of effort.' Said Jesse without turning.

Kialandi made a point of not hitting people in the back, unless they were running away.
Jesse was well aware of this, so delighted in keeping his back to Kialandi when he needled him.

Kialandi pulled Jesse around and smiled evilly.
'I don't know how you got here, as both the guards, and my friends have decided your lot aren't worthy of the honour of showing up, but I do know that now that you are here, I'll enjoy shaming you when you fail the test.' Said Kialandi nastily.
His beady brown eyes were alive with malice.
'That's provided I fail and you succeed, any other way, and you look like a complete idiot.' Replied Jesse evenly.
'You talk tough for a little boy with a girl's name.' Said Kialandi evilly, knowing that it really pissed Jesse off.
'Smarten up or go home, I'm not ruining my chances over a useless sack of manure like you.' Replied Jesse, he was purposefully remaining passive, hoping one of the Riders was watching, so Kialandi would get thrown out on his over-pampered rump.

A bang captured both rivals' attentions, and Kialandi quickly released Jesse, before pushing ahead of him in the line, as a handsome elf stood aside from the gate, and gestured for the those at the gate to enter.

As they filed in, a crowd of well-wishers parted, many wishing the aspirants luck, although a few scowled in disapproval at Jesse, mainly due to his threadbare clothes, his dirty, overlong hair, and his appearance in general.
Those few who met his gaze, saw his grey-blue eyes burning with a desperate determination, and more than a few smiled sympathetically.
Jesse just gazed ahead, acutely aware that his fate hung in the balance, and the knowledge was like a miniature sun polarized above the gate.

As he passed through into the citadel's courtyard, he was greeted by the site of an honour guard for the group: Two lines of knights in full parade ground regalia.
As the gates closed behind the last of the aspirants,-a human girl with beautiful green eyes and brown hair,- the knights in the honour guard formed an escort, making sure that the aspirants didn't stray.
After five minutes walking at ceremonial march pace, they entered the citadel's great hall.

It was a awe-inspiring sight: Along each wall, six dragons and their riders stood and watched on, completely motionless.
And at the far end of the hall stood Master Dorian Staves, and his Dragon partner Seithrena.
In all, thirteen dragons and thirteen riders stood around the hall, all watching impassively from around the hall.

The knights of the citadel stopped at the door and formed a human wall behind the aspirants, forbidden as they were from entering the hall during the ceremony.
The doors boomed shut.
Jesse fancied that he heard voices whispering in surprise to each other, but put it down to his imagination.

The aspirants stood at the door nervously, unsure of themselves.

All except Jesse, who knew perfectly well that nobody wanted him there, so was on his best behaviour, standing tall and strong, meeting the impassive stares of the assembled riders and dragons, with a determined gaze.
Kialandi was at ease, confidant in his own superiority.
Almost all the other aspirants were shifting around nervously, waiting for someone to ask or outline the test they were supposed to do.

The only exceptions were the girl who'd been the last in line, and a young man from the middle-class of Tierm, who was nervous, but fighting it.
The girl was standing at the back of the group, behind Jesse, and waiting patiently.
Kialandi sighed impatiently.
Jesse heard more whispering, then it became more substantial.

WHY DID YOU COME HERE, IF YOU KNEW YOU WEREN'T WANTED? A group of voices demanded of Jesse loudly, yet no sound was made.
Jesse reeled mentally in shock, his thoughts scattered to the winds.
As Jesse went to answer, he was stunned to see he couldn't do anything, and that his mind was being ransacked by the crowd of strangers.
All this, while his senses told Jesse that everything was still peaceful and calm in the hall.

Jesse tried to fight back, and drive the interlopers out, but the sheer multitude of them forced him to his knees.
He saw Kialandi look at him with contempt, and a spark of vicious pleasure appeared in his eyes.
That was when Jesse got angry.

He struck out at his mental assailants and temporarily broke their grip on his mind, and forced himself upright, then lurched at Kialandi, with a look of madness in his eyes.
Kialandi's eyes widened in surprise, then Jesse's mental assailants returned in force, and immobilised him, and grudgingly, and unwillingly, Jesse's arm fell to his side.

After what seemed like hours of the strange contact, an argument appeared to break out among the voices.
Underclass scum like this are not the sort that the riders need, we need noble warriors, not underhanded vagabonds! One voice appeared to be shouting at the others, and many others agreed.
And it is unfair on those who are disadvantaged to judge them on the misdeeds they committed to survive. Retorted another voice in Jesse's head, and other's chorused their approval and support for the second speaker.
He defied those who were rightly his superiors, and struck out at them! said one of the voices that had supported the first speaker.
He did what was morally right, and didn't care about the cost to himself, even though there was no possible way he could succeed, and how many aspirants do we come across that already know of the ancient language, outside of nobility? "Du Ilumëo Ko Du Sùndavar Freohr," "The Truth Is The Death Of The Shadows". You saw as well as the rest of us Dorian, that this boy knew the meaning of the phrase as well as you or I. Replied another voice, but it was the voice of a woman this time.
And you'll take him as a student if one of the eggs hatches for him, eh? You'll see what I mean soon enough if that's the case. The voice of Dorian shot back.

Jesse felt his anger rise at the prejudiced words of the Master of the Citadel's words, and he again cast off the mental confinement of the group and drew himself up in front of all the assembled riders and dragons, and made no attempt to hide his scowl, or who he was directing it at.

When the attack came again, Jesse was ready for it.
Who are you to judge me on what I had to do to support myself, to survive, without reducing myself to grovelling before the likes of the pampered idiot standing next too me? Demanded Jesse of the riders an instant before they subjugated his mind once more.
You see? He has no respect those who are his betters, even those who hold his very fate in their hands. Said Dorian triumphantly, obviously thinking that the other riders would side with him after Jesse's protest.
Instead, many of his former supporters sided with the second speaker, and the woman who'd vouched for Jesse.

An eternity of silence later, an actual, audible sigh came from Dorian.
Fine, let the urchin try, but as he is here without invitation, I have one request: he only have one chance.
Outrage broke out, and many of the riders and dragons stiffened as if they'd been struck.
Dorian, you're a prejudiced ass, but, as you have the ear of Vrael, we shall concur.

Well, I've finally got around to doing that long-anticipated edit.

Nothing too major, just correcting spelling mistakes and tightening up grammar, as well as altering some scenes, etc. to bring them in line with some of the revelations about Vroengard, the fall and some other facets of pre-fall Alagaësia.

Most notably, changing my description of Dorú Araeba to more closely match Inheritance.

(After all, you can hardly expect to fit a dragon as big as Belgabad on a one-mile-wide stalactite, as well as Paolini-only-knows how many other dragons).

And I might add a scene involving the Snalglí and Aragon and Thelduin's first encounter with them, just for laughs.

This edit might take a while, so I'll put a note at the end of each chapter saying so.

As always, reviews and constructive criticism is welcome.

No One-liners!