The Awakening (33 page)

All of the tales she had known growing up were coming to life down on that stage, coming to life in a way Jahrra had never imagined. The performers were now acting out the great epic of Traagien and Ciarrohn’s first defeat. Both the dragon and the evil god were immense; great puppets controlled by several of the performers backstage. Ciarrohn looked as terrifying as anyone could create him and Jahrra was vaguely reminded of the dark presence that had, at one time, haunted her dreams. When the great green and gold dragon that was Traagien cast his foe to the ground, she released a small triumphant cry of victory with everyone else.

The play continued on like this, a brilliant blend of all the ancient tales of Ethoes unfolding like a three dimensional story book. Jahrra was enraptured by it all; completely unable to keep her eyes off the stage for fear that she might miss something. When a young usher approached her, inquiring whether she would like to purchase some spiced nuts, it took him three attempts before he finally got her attention.

When the performers took on the guise of soldiers and began a march across the stage towards the dark figure of Ciarrohn once again, Jahrra turned to ask Jaax a question. She thought that they were now going to reenact the fall of the Tanaan, for the green-clad warriors were led by a fair-haired young man wearing the armor of a prince. Only, when Jahrra glanced up she realized that the great dragon was gone.

Blinking in surprise, she looked around but all she saw was the occasional usher helping a patron to their seat. Jahrra stood and gazed into the darkness behind her and there, just on the outer edges of the furthest reach of the torchlight, she saw the distinct shape of a dragon moving away from the theater.

Jahrra turned back to the stage, a fully fledged battle ensuing between the men of Oescienne and the Morli dragons of Ciarrohn. She wanted to see the rest of the play, for it had been the best performance she had ever seen in her life, but this scene in particular sat poorly in her stomach for some reason or another.

She sighed, definitely torn. She probably shouldn’t go chasing after Jaax; surely there was a reason why he’d crept away without her knowledge. Yet she had detected something in his stance, despite the night’s best efforts to hide him in its shadows. She reached down and clasped the scale hanging from the chain around her neck. Or maybe the spirit stone he wore had somehow told her of her guardian’s morose mood. The elves had used magic to create it, after all. Who was she to think she knew exactly how they worked?

Taking a breath and making up her mind, Jahrra turned her back to the stage, a scene of men now being transformed into Tanaan dragons with the help of some clever shadows cast against the back wall, and climbed the few steps to the very top of the theater.

The cold air stung her throat as she breathed and as she made her way to where she saw Jaax heading, she pulled her cloak fast around her. One of the young men holding a torch asked if Jahrra would like some company to provide light. She politely turned him down. The moon had been full just before Solsticetide and it still gave off quite a bit of brightness.

Despite the aid of the moon, if she hadn’t known in which direction Jaax had headed Jahrra never would have found him. She came over a small rise on the top of the hill and glanced around below her. Most of the hillside was composed of scattered pine but to her right there was a break in the trees and what looked like a large outcropping of stone. Jahrra knew better. She made her way down the gentle slope, careful not to snag her skirts or get her boots too dirty.

“So,” she breathed, her breath coming faster because of the cold and the effort to get there, “thought you could leave me stranded, did you?”

The pile of stones that was Jaax started and swiveled his head in Jahrra’s direction. His eyes, shining strangely in the moonlight, looked genuinely surprised. Jahrra grinned. That was a rare expression on this dragon’s face, a very rare expression indeed.

“Why aren’t you back watching the end of the play?” he asked.

Jahrra shrugged and sat down upon a protruding stone.

“I know that part of the story better than most and I wanted to stretch my legs.”

It was only partly a lie
, Jahrra told herself. She didn’t want to admit that for some reason the defeat of the Tanaan affected her more than the other stories of Ciarrohn’s cruelty. After all, they had been human once; her people.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” she asked by way of filling the silence.

Jaax gave a quick shake of his head and Jahrra settled in more comfortably. For several minutes they just stared at the moon-bleached stars in silence, Jahrra wondering what Jaax was thinking and wondering why he’d come out here to sit by himself. But she knew better than to ask.

“You don’t have to sit so far away, Jahrra,” Jaax said, not taking his eyes off of the sky.

“Huh?” she said, pulling her cloak tight again.

“You’re shivering. I don’t want you to freeze to death.”

Jahrra rolled her eyes. It seemed her guardian was back to his usual patronizing self but at least she caught a little hint of amusement in his voice. Maybe he had forgiven her earlier rudeness and assumptions after all.

Grumbling about bossy dragons and the cold, she scooted closer to him, leaning her back against the side of his shoulder. His natural warmth immediately took effect and Jahrra started to relax. After several minutes more, she worked up the gumption to ask him the question that had been the reason for her coming out here to begin with.

“Jaax,” she said tentatively, her voice holding the weariness that was now causing her eyes to drift closed, “why did you leave the play?”

Jahrra tried to gauge his reaction to her question, but as always the dragon remained still.

Finally, he sighed and answered, “I do not like to be reminded of the fall of the Tanaan.”

She was surprised at his response. Coming fully awake, but continuing to lean against him, she considered this. She had suspected that was why he’d left, but she had never expected him to be completely honest about it. She imagined he would make some excuse, like he couldn’t sit that long without getting up to move around or that the music and lights of the performance had taken a toll and he needed to get away from it for a bit.

Swallowing and pushing her luck, Jahrra whispered, “Why?”

It bothered her as well and she wondered if it was for the same reasons it bothered Jaax.

The Tanaan dragon took a deep breath and answered, “Because I don’t like to be reminded of what my ancestors suffered.”

So he has the same opinion as me
, Jahrra thought.

“And because it reminds me that Ciarrohn’s curse is still holding strong onto so many of us. And because it means you are alone in this world.”

She almost didn’t hear those last few words but luckily there were no other sounds to block them out. Jahrra stiffened. Yes, she was the only human being in this world but Jaax was wrong.

“I’m not alone,” she whispered as her eyes drifted shut. “I had my mother and father and Hroombra. I still have Gieaun and Scede and Phrym. I have Torrell, Senton, Dathian and Neira. And I have you. Not human but still my friends. My family.”

She understood what her guardian had been trying to say, but despite the fact that there was no one else on Ethoes like her, she was not without loved ones. She sighed and drew herself closer to Jaax, grateful that he was so warm. The music from the performance was far enough away that it wasn’t overbearing but she could still hear it. The dark, dramatic tones of earlier had stopped and what sounded like a hopeful song began to play, its sweet notes dancing through the night. An owl hooted somewhere nearby and Jahrra let her eyes drift shut.

She was only going to doze, she told herself, but before she fell asleep she yawned one last time and mumbled, “Thank you Jaax. I think this is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

“You’re welcome, Jahrra.”

And then she was asleep.

-
Chapter Eighteen
-

An Unexpected Caller

Jahrra couldn’t remember how she got home the night of her birthday but she was sure Jaax hadn’t managed it on his own. She could vaguely recall stumbling half-asleep to the carriage and then later Neira helping her inside and up the stairs. Other than that, it was all a blur. Except for the play itself, of course. That particular experience would be burned into her memory for all eternity. The splendid light show combined with the realistic and ornate costumes would forever leave an impression in her mind.

Jahrra sighed heavily and glanced out her bedroom window as she recalled the weeks-old memory. It had been over a month since the new school term had started and she was stuck inside because of the constant rain. She loved the rain but it had been coming down for several days now and she was desperate to take Phrym out for a ride. Instead, she sat at her desk working on an essay that was due mid-way through the week.

A knock at the door brought Jahrra’s pen to a stop.

“Jahrra?” Neira’s voice sounded muffled through the wooden door. “You have a visitor down in the great room.”

Jahrra drew her eyebrows together. Torrell and Senton should be locked away writing their own essays and Dathian had a meeting with someone from the Coalition, so who else could be out to visit her on such a dismal morning?

Setting her quill down beside her pile of parchment, Jahrra pushed the chair away and stood. She was wearing her typical loose pants and an old tunic, what she always wore while at home. What if this visitor was one of Jaax’s political friends? Would what she was wearing be considered an insult? A few of his associates had met him at home before but Jahrra had been warned beforehand that they were coming. She shook her head as she moved towards the door. If someone was going to come calling on a stormy morning without sending a message ahead, they shouldn’t expect someone to be dressed in their best when they arrived.

Jahrra pulled the door open only to find Neira’s narrow face.

“Who is it?” she whispered.

Neira shook her head. “That dragoness, the one who’s acquainted with Master Jaax.”

Jahrra felt an icicle form in her throat. She swallowed, the imaginary icicle traveling down to settle in the pit of her stomach. The last time she had seen Shiroxx was at the play on her birthday, nearly two months ago. She hadn’t shown up to the last few Coalition meetings, the only ones Jahrra had managed to attend what with her busy school schedule, but then again neither had Kehllor.

“Oh,” was all she said, bringing herself back to the present. “I’ll be down in just a moment.”

Without waiting for a reply Jahrra shut the door and nearly ran to her wardrobe. Jaax had made it clear before that she was to treat Shiroxx with respect and as much as Jahrra disliked the other dragon, she felt it wisest if she listened to her guardian in this manner, especially in his own home. She knew Shiroxx to be cunning and manipulative and she didn’t want anything she did or said (or didn’t do or didn’t say) to be ‘misinterpreted’ by the red Tanaan dragon and reported back to Jaax.

Picking her most casual dress, Jahrra set about changing. Luckily, this garment didn’t require Neira’s help getting into. As she tied the strings down the front of the bodice Jahrra secretly cursed Shiroxx.
Ugh, forcing me to get into a dress! And on a morning like this. What could she possibly want?

Jahrra pulled the tie out of her hair and ran her brush through it several times. Satisfied that the knots were gone, she threw the brush back onto her vanity and grabbed a pair of slippers to match the dress. She hurried down the stairs, only to slow her pace as she approached the hallway leading into the great room. Taking a deep breath, Jahrra stood tall and proud and stepped through the arched entryway.

Shiroxx was sitting in front of the fire, as languid as a contemplative cat. Although not quite as big as Jaax, she was still an imposing figure. Jahrra told herself it was the female dragon’s personality that made her seem so overwhelming. The crackle of the fire and the light tapping of her shoes accompanied her across the room. Shiroxx only sat twenty feet or so from the hallway but to Jahrra it felt like a hundred yards.

“Good morning, Shiroxx,” Jahrra said, clearing her throat.

The dragon lifted a delicate brow and smiled, a smile not so unlike the ones Jaax gave her on those rare occasions when she was being particularly ornery.

When the female dragon said nothing Jahrra continued, her voice wavering slightly, “What brings you out and about so early, and on such a day?”

“Oh, it isn’t all that early,” she replied in that voice of hers, “and the weather rarely affects us dragons.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Jahrra responded, biting her cheek in slight annoyance.
I will not let her get to me, I will not let her get to me, I will not let her get to me . . .

“As to why I’m here,” she continued, “well, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by to pay a visit to Jaax and his ward.”

Jahrra blinked stupidly but pounced on the opportunity to get rid of the tiresome dragon. “Oh, well, Jaax isn’t in. He left early this morning and won’t be back for a few more days.”

Jahrra’s guardian had flown to Nimbronia to speak with the king of the Creecemind dragons two days ago. He’d surprised her by telling her this, for usually Jaax withheld any and all details. When she asked what he would be discussing with the king he had surprised her further by admitting his business had to do with her and when the people of Nimbronia should expect a visit.

“You’re no longer a child, Jahrra, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t know,” he’d said.

Jahrra had rejoiced in secret. It felt nice to be trusted, even if that particular bit of information wasn’t top-secret.

Shiroxx’s head perked up and she looked at Jahrra with a renewed spark in her eye. After years of interpreting Jaax’s responses, Jahrra picked up on the change right away despite the female dragon’s relaxed stance.

“Is that so? Where could he possibly have gone to be away for so many days?”

The question sounded innocent but Jahrra knew better. Besides, she promised herself she would keep Jaax’s confidences, not telling a single soul what he told her unless he specifically asked her to. Besides that, she didn’t trust Shiroxx, not one bit.

Jahrra simply shrugged. “I don’t know, he doesn’t really tell me much.”

Shiroxx, looking slightly put out, frowned a little.

After a moment she regained her composure and said, “That’s quite alright. We don’t need Jaax in order to have a proper visit, now do we?”

Jahrra tensed. The last thing she wanted to do was to visit with Shiroxx, but she couldn’t be rude.

“No, we don’t,” she said carefully.

“So tell me, young Jahrra, how do your studies go?”

And so the two of them began a clipped conversation consisting entirely of small talk. Fortunately, this only lasted for five minutes and when Jahrra thought Shiroxx was preparing to leave, she breathed a mental sigh of relief.

“You know,” the dragon crooned as she made her way towards the door, “it really is a shame that Raejaax doesn’t trust you more. As much as you are expected to accomplish someday you would think he’d let you in on more of exactly what your purpose is in all of this. And his.”

Jahrra felt her face begin to flush. What Shiroxx insinuated was insulting both to Jahrra and Jaax.

“And considering all the time you spend together one would think you would have earned his trust. Makes one wonder what he intends to do with you after all.”

The ‘one’ in question being Shiroxx. Jahrra gritted her teeth. That had been the final straw.

“Thank you, Shiroxx, for visiting me. I will tell Jaax you came by.”

Jahrra emphasized her last sentence, her tone of voice making it clear that Jaax would hear about every aspect of this visit.

Shiroxx had the nerve to laugh. “Oh, dearest girl, do not presume to threaten me. Why would Jaax believe you when he can’t even find a good reason to tell you of his whereabouts?”

Jahrra wanted to tell Shiroxx that she did indeed know where Jaax was but that would be futile and she had a nagging feeling that this was just another method of the female dragon’s attempts at dragging information out of her. No, she would not betray her guardian to this sorry excuse of a Tanaan dragon. Besides, she knew Jaax kept much from her, but he had his reasons.

As the red dragoness stepped out into the now lightly falling rain, Jahrra said, “Jaax tells me what I need to know and my acceptance of that is proof enough of my trust.”

Shiroxx narrowed her pale brown eyes and turned to face Jahrra, standing in the open space of the dragon’s door.

“Don’t you want to know Jaax’s secrets, Jahrra, hmm?” she crooned in a deadly quiet voice. “I could tell you a few. I know so many of them.”

That claim sprinkled her skin with goose bumps. A year ago she would have leapt at the chance. But she wasn’t that girl anymore and she hoped she never would be again.

“No, I don’t,” she replied, her voice just as low and dangerous, “and they are not your secrets to share. Good day to you.”

Jahrra pushed the large door shut and bolted it, not waiting for a response. She turned on her heel and stormed back towards the stairs that led up to her room. There was no way she would be able to focus on her essay now and the rain was letting up. She really needed to go for a long ride on Phrym. But the muddy roads would be treacherous; perhaps she could just visit him.

Jahrra nearly slammed into Neira as she rounded the corner to head up the stairs.

“I’m sorry!” she said, stopping herself just in time.

“Don’t be,” Neira answered with some spirit. “I heard what that dragon said and I’m proud of your response to her. You handled yourself very well. Your guardian would be very pleased.”

Jahrra sighed. “I wanted to say so many more things, but I bit my tongue.”

“I know, I know, and that’s a hard thing to do with one such as her.”

Neira smiled and Jahrra suddenly felt better. She grinned and continued up the stairs, a spring in her step despite her shaky nerves from the uncomfortable encounter with Shiroxx.

***

Jaax was gone nearly a week, giving Jahrra plenty of time to recover from her visit with Shiroxx. With classes and school work to keep her busy, and with the break in the rain giving her many opportunities to take Phrym out, Jahrra found herself thinking about the red dragon’s forward behavior and how she might approach Jaax about it.

In the end, she thought it would be best not to mention it at all. After all, more likely than not, Shiroxx would make light of what she’d said and insinuated, and Jaax would surely accuse Jahrra of being overly sensitive. No, the red dragon was merely trying to bully her way into business not her own, as usual. Hopefully she’d learned that Jahrra wasn’t as easy to bend to her will as she might think.

Jaax arrived home with another bout of rain and Jahrra almost believed he had brought the gloomy weather with him. He did look tired, practically curling up beside the fire on the rather stormy afternoon on the day of his return. Jahrra had come home from school, properly drenched despite the cloak she’d held over herself and her school bag, to find him dozing like a great dog. Upon seeing him Jahrra tiptoed across the stone floor and hung her dripping cloak on the other side of the fire place, then turned to head upstairs.

“Any news I should be aware of?” Jaax’s worn voice said from just behind her.

Jahrra started then turned around. He still looked exhausted but his eyes were fixed on her at the moment. Other than the impromptu visit from Shiroxx, nothing exciting or noteworthy had occurred that week.

Jahrra shook her head. “No, nothing worth repeating.”

Jaax simply nodded, then rested his head on his forelegs. Jahrra didn’t need him to tell her he wished to rest so she turned and bounded up the stairs, hoping to get some studying done before supper.

An hour or so after sunset, Jahrra set aside her quill and books and stretched, cracking her back in the process. She released a great yawn and rubbed her eyes. At least she had made a decent dent in her astronomy and history classes. Pulling on her night slippers, she made her way down the hall and to the stairs, the dim firelight from the candles lining the walls aiding her as she went. As she descended the stairs, the smell of winter stew and freshly baked biscuits wafted her way. Jahrra grinned even as her mouth watered at the enticing scent.

She pushed the swinging door open and stepped into the kitchen, the heat of the oven and the light of several candles and lamps making the room look as if it were on fire.

“How do you always manage to have dinner ready just as my stomach starts growling?” Jahrra asked lightly.

Neira, her brown hair tied back with a scarf and her apron dusted with flower, turned and gave Jahrra a slightly cross look.

“Because it knows it will only get fed when I feel like cooking.”

Jahrra let out a laugh and Neira couldn’t help but join her. She picked up a wooden bowl and walked over to the cauldron hanging over the fire, helping herself to the stew.

She carried her bowl across the kitchen, grabbed a spoon and shoved a buttered biscuit into her mouth before heading through the door that led into the great room.