The Awakening (43 page)

Jaax gave the elf a surprised look and Dathian could only roll his shoulders apologetically.

“I don’t disagree with you,” Jaax replied, “but until I find a way to dismantle the magic that is driving these lies then that is all that can be done at the moment.”

The silence returned, that is until Torrell slapped her hands against her thighs and stood. “Well, I guess there is nothing more we can do. Perhaps we should be on our way?”

Jahrra crossed the room to get the smaller door for them, thanking them on their way out.

“Hang in there, Jahrra,” Senton said, squeezing Jahrra’s arm on his way out, his blue eyes lighting up with his smile.

Jahrra smiled back, though it was only half-heartedly. Her life had finally been running smoothly without any major obstacles, and now this.
At least I have friends
, she told herself as she watched Torrell, Dathian and Senton gather their horses and lead them down the drive.

When she could no longer see them, Jahrra gently closed the door and heaved a great breath. She leaned her back against the sturdy wood and pressed her hand to her forehead, closing her eyes.

“This is bad, isn’t it?” she asked aloud.

She felt Jaax approach more than heard him, so she wasn’t surprised when his voice was nearby. “It is.”

Jahrra shoved her hands in her pockets and opened her eyes again. Jaax sat several feet away, his look suddenly one of guilt. Jahrra’s relaxed posture melted away in an instant and she became suddenly tense.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Jaax lifted an inquiring eyebrow, but Jahrra pushed away from the door and walked up to him.

“Something is off. You have that look about you, as if you are on the threshold of telling me some bad news.”

Jaax tried to laugh. “You have always had quite the imagination, Jahrra.”

Jahrra wasn’t having any of it. She crossed her arms and glared at her guardian. “Don’t patronize me. I know every one of your looks and what they mean. This one,” her gesture included all of him, “means you are harboring some uncomfortable information you’ll eventually have to share with me. So, might as well get it out while the mood is grim.”

The Tanaan dragon gave her a look of surprise, but shook his head and sighed deeply. “Very well,” he said, sobering up rather quickly. “Now is as good a time as any, especially with these recent, shocking circumstances.”

Jaax took on a more serious face and looked directly at Jahrra. “My visit with the king of the Creecemind dragons in Nimbronia proved more informative than I had anticipated. He’s explained to me that he is ready to receive my presence at his court and that I should bring you, the human child, with me.”

Jahrra flinched and felt herself go numb. “Your trip to Nimbronia a few weeks ago?”

He nodded. “A private meeting with his majesty, discussing when he might expect us. But there’s more,” he paused and looked back towards the fire. After a moment, he turned and gave her a dark look. “Cierryon’s men have found a way into Felldreim.”

Jahrra felt the air leave her lungs and she thought her knees were going to give out.

When the roaring in her head ceased and her vision cleared, she found her voice. “But, they can’t penetrate the outer borders of Felldreim, can they? I thought that was impossible, that the magic contained in this province is so strong those, those,” Jahrra was ranting, panic laced her voice and she started to pace to keep from collapsing, “those,
butchers
, could never get in!”

“No, they shouldn’t have,” Jaax said, his voice hard, “but they did, and I have no idea how long it will take them to reach Lidien.”

Jahrra stopped her pacing and threw him a look of shock.

“And you’ve known this for two weeks?!” She sat down in the chair closest to her, her eyes wide and her face paling.

“You’ve known the Tyrant’s soldiers are headed this way, and you didn’t tell me?”

The hurt and disbelief in Jahrra’s voice cut at Jaax. “I wanted to tell you earlier,” he said quietly, “right after I returned from Nimbronia; after I had a chance to scour the edges of Felldreim’s wilderness to see for myself if the information was legitimate.”

Jahrra had her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands. It was too much, just too much. The ousting of Shiroxx, the threats from Rohdann, the sudden appearance of Denaeh and the rumors that threatened to turn them into a pair of monsters. And now Jaax was telling her that the king of the Creecemind, an ally they desperately needed, was calling her to come pay a visit in Nimbronia and that the Crimson King’s soldiers, those who were out to destroy her, had invaded a province they should never have been able to enter in the first place. Jahrra’s head was spinning and she had no idea how to make it stop.

“I’ve failed again, haven’t I?”

Jaax’s voice was so soft, so pained, that Jahrra woke up from her stupor to look at him.

Finally, the tension she saw around his eyes and his out-of-character frustration made sense. He’d been trying to find the best time to tell her all of this, but one thing had happened after another and he’d had to put it off.

“Failed?” Jahrra asked, her throat raw with confusion and barely checked emotion.

Jaax nodded. “Failed to include you, failed to trust you,” he breathed deeply, “failed to break bad news to you gently.”

Jahrra cringed at that but forced the terrible memories to the back of her mind before they could surface. She would not let her memories wander back to the afternoon Hroombra had died; how Jaax had been the one to tell her.

“No,” she said hoarsely, shaking her head, “no.”

“Jahrra,” Jaax started to say.

“No,” she answered more forcefully, sitting up straight in the chair. “I’m not angry, at least not with you. You’ve had enough on your mind as well.”

She sighed and looked down at her hands, her fingers gently laced. “You had much on your mind then also,” she said quietly, almost as an afterthought, referring to that year-old memory they both had no wish to revisit.

A long silence spread before them, one that could have lasted forever. Jahrra finally understood why Jaax had kept all those secrets from her as she grew up and although he was doing nearly the same now, she was older and a bit wiser. She now understood how circumstances could force a person to hold off on telling their secrets in order to protect those they cared about.

Finally, Jahrra looked up at Jaax. He was tense again, as if he was worried about what she might say next. Jahrra heaved one more sigh and returned her gaze to the carpet.

“So, what do we do now?”

Jaax’s voice was steely, his emotions held entirely at bay. “We make ready to leave.”

-
Chapter Twenty-Five
-

A Visitor in the Night

The pale light of a waning crescent moon flooded through the tall windows of Jahrra’s bedroom, pooling on the floor like cool silk. Lying perfectly still in her four poster bed and staring up at the canopy above, Jahrra took a deep breath and tried to decide what had woken her. It hadn’t been a bad dream, for her heartbeat was normal and she didn’t feel clammy or terrified, nor was it a good dream; she couldn’t remember anything at all. Instead, she felt strangely restless and alert, as if her conscience knew of some approaching event but didn’t know how to tell her. Perhaps it was merely her overwhelmed emotional state from everything that had happened in the past two weeks.

Sighing and realizing she wasn’t about to go back to sleep any time soon, Jahrra threw the covers aside and dropped down to the floor. It was a cool night, what with the last chill of winter still hanging in the air, so she picked up her cloak and crept towards her door. Pulling it open with barely a sound and blessing Neira for keeping the hinges well oiled, she stuck her head out into the hallway, looking first towards the stairs leading down into the main hall of the house then in the opposite direction towards Neira’s quarters and the bathing room.

Finding the coast clear, Jahrra stepped out into the hallway and headed towards the window that she always used to access the roof terrace. From the position of the moon she could tell that dawn wasn’t too far off and since she wasn’t going to be able to sleep the rest of the night anyway, she might as well sit out on the patio and enjoy the view of the early morning constellations.

This side of the house didn’t face the bay but Jahrra wasn’t seeking the moon’s reflection off of the water, nor the scattered candle-lit windows of Lidien that would blink back at her like faded, yellow stars. She simply wanted to breathe some fresh air and let her mind be at ease; perhaps give her nerves a chance to recompose themselves. She padded across the cool surface of the patio, her bare feet finding some comfort on the rough stones below them. She chose to sit on the bench closest to the kitchen chimney and outdoor fire pit where once, months ago, she and her friends had enjoyed an evening together.

Taking a seat and leaning against the wall, Jahrra sighed deeply and drew her cloak around her. Perhaps the still night was a bit colder than she had anticipated. She scoured the silver lit terrace, smiling at the silhouettes of her apple trees, their leaves just starting to come in. The thought of the sweet tang of apples in the fall danced across her mind before the sudden disappointment of yesterday’s conversation trilled through her memory. She and Jaax would not be in Lidien when her apples would be ready to eat. They would be leaving soon, perhaps in a few days’ time, abandoning friends and a feeling of belonging once again.

Jahrra bit her cheek. It was amazing to her that she could learn to love a new home so much, especially after vowing never to love any place as dearly as she loved Oescienne. But that had been before everything . . . Jahrra shook her head, grinning despite the reminded sorrow. Hroombra had once told her that perspective changes as one grows older. He had been right.

Yawning hugely, Jahrra stood up and decided to walk around, hoping the easy exercise could help bring her thoughts to a less depressing subject; to veer them away from the thought of leaving and what she would have to face outside of Lidien once they were gone.

She made her way to the stone balustrade and peeked over. The grand circular driveway was pale below, the gray crushed granite looking almost white. The fountain and small garden stood like an island in the middle, the round leaves of the water lilies still dormant beneath the water. Jahrra folded her arms and bent to lean against the stone railing. She widened her gaze and stared out into the trees blanketing their hill.

Normally, she could hear owls and other denizens of the night calling from the many branches, but tonight they were oddly silent. That prickling feeling of unease crept over her skin once again and just as Jahrra felt she should go inside and try to get back to sleep after all, something at the forest’s edge caught her eye. What appeared to be a cloaked figure rose up out of the trees, just to the left of the long drive that twined and disappeared down the hill.

Jahrra froze, her heart in her throat. She blinked hard, wondering if she was imagining things, but when she opened her eyes again the figure was still there, leaning against the nearest tree as if trying to gain support.

She straightened slowly, digging her fingers into the rough, hard granite of the terrace railing. She didn’t dare move. What if this person saw her? For a fleeting moment, Jahrra thought she might be dreaming.
I never woke up at all
, she told herself.
I’ve been sleeping this whole time.
But the prickling of her skin and the burning of her shallow breath was too real for it to be any dream.

Jahrra continued to stare at the dark figure, the lighting not clear enough to give her any idea of what color his cloak was.
If it were only green, then I just might know you
, she thought to herself. But that particular dream hadn’t visited her in months. Perhaps it was one of Shiroxx’s spies.

Finally the figure moved, gracefully yet almost pained, as if he or she were injured or overly fatigued. Feeling she couldn’t just stand in plain sight on the edge of the terrace any longer, Jahrra pulled back and plastered herself against the closest wall, the one just above the kitchen and the estate’s front door. She peeked around the corner and with a gasp of utter amazement and fear, she noticed the figure had stepped upon the circular drive and was now moving quickly towards the fountain. Knowing she should probably run back inside and wake Jaax and Neira, but too frightened to so much as blink, Jahrra bit her lip and flattened herself against the cold stone wall even more.

Upon reaching the fountain the figure slowed and hid among the shadows cast by the fountain’s tapered center and the well-pruned bushes that accompanied it. After some time, the stranger slipped back onto the drive, continuing towards the house, his feet barely making a sound against the crushed gravel.

Jahrra crouched down as far as she could go. She let out a silent curse, angry that she’d positioned herself between the balustrade and the edge of the kitchen chimney instead of heading closer to the window she had come through in the first place.
If he tries to climb the wall to get to me
. . . she thought with a shiver. But Jahrra shook her head. The stranger, whoever they might be, had been entirely fixated on the house itself; not once had he inclined his head to study the roof.

Jahrra thought she sat there for hours and when the sound of someone knocking for entrance chimed below, she nearly screamed. They pounded on the door again and again. There was a pause between each knock but the nighttime visitor never ceased repeating it. Finally, the unmistakable flicker of a candle appeared at the end of the hallway. Jahrra noted its progress as its yellow center moved down the hall, the glimmer scattered and fractured by the glass of the windows. Eventually, it disappeared down the stairs and Jahrra strained her ears for the sound of the small door window opening and for Neira’s voice to tell the stranger to kindly leave until a more decent hour of the day arrived.

The sound of sliding wood and Neira’s faint voice told Jahrra that it was safe for her to slip back into her room. The last thing she needed was for someone to find her out on the terrace at this hour and as soon as Neira told the stranger to be gone, she would be back up the stairs, grumbling about people calling early in the morning. More than likely, the housekeeper would look in on Jahrra to make sure she hadn’t been woken. If she didn’t want to be found missing, Jahrra had to move quickly.

Gathering herself up and getting ready to rush towards the window, Jahrra paused only long enough to hear Neira say, “I shall get him straight away.”

Relaxing, Jahrra stood back against the wall. The reasonable part of her conscience told her to get back inside and go to bed, but her inner voice insisted she stay and see what would come of this strange visit. Biting her lip as she warred with herself, Jahrra decided to wait a few moments more. Finally, the sound of the great door opening made her freeze. She scooted towards the edge of the terrace and put her hands against the railing. Carefully, she angled her head so that she might catch a glimpse of the scene below and perhaps hear what was happening as well.

The golden light from within the main room of the house poured out onto the gravel drive, flooding the stranger with yellow. He looked smaller somehow in the brilliant light, but he stood his ground as Jaax’s large and ominous form stood over him. Jahrra knew the dragon was glaring at the hooded stranger even though she couldn’t see her guardian’s face. It was apparent in the stance of the visitor.

“Who are you and what is it you want?” Jaax growled. “Why have you crept up my hillside and disturbed my household in the hours before dawn? Well, explain yourself!”

Jaax sounded grouchy and Jahrra didn’t blame him, but why even bother with the stranger? What had he said to Neira to make her fetch Jaax? Besides, her guardian had a point; why come at such an early hour when no one else would be around? Jahrra got the sudden, disturbing feeling that this visitor was either dangerous or carried dangerous information. With her heart in her throat, she leaned forward to listen even more closely.

“My old friend,” a calm voice responded, “surely I need not explain to you why I have arrived in stealth?”

The hooded figure reached up and pulled back his cowl. Jaax drew in a sharp breath, his reaction obviously one of great shock. Jahrra tried desperately to catch a glimpse of their visitor but all she could see was the top of a dark head.

Jaax made a choking sound, as if he had swallowed when he meant to breathe instead.

“Impossible!” he rasped, his voice a hoarse whisper that Jahrra only caught because of the peculiar silence of the night. “It cannot be, but–
Ellyesce
?!”

The dragon stepped forward, his head swinging back and forth as he scanned the drive for what Jahrra could only imagine were eavesdroppers. She bit her lip. She didn’t blame him; perhaps he sensed her spying on them.

As if to answer her question, her guardian slipped into Kruelt. At least, it sounded like Kruelt. Jahrra grinned smugly as she tried to follow what was said but after a few words she realized with severe disappointment that she recognized nothing Jaax was saying. What language was
this
? Frustrated, she stopped trying to follow the conversation and instead focused on the tone of voice used by both her guardian and his visitor.

The dragon’s words were harsh and held a tone of bewilderment, as if he were trying very hard to hold back some long forgotten emotion or memory. Or as if he was doing his best to converse with the ghost of a long lost friend. The stranger, on the other hand, sounded weary and penitent.

Neira returned a moment later, informing Jaax and his guest that there were refreshments in the main room. Jahrra took that announcement as a cue to return to her own bed. As much as she wished to stay and catch hold of what information she could she knew that eventually Neira would be checking in on her. Besides, if the two she was spying on were to take their mysterious encounter inside she had nothing to overhear anyway.

Padding quietly back the way she had come in the first place, she wormed her way to the window, swinging it soundlessly open as she stepped into the wide hall. The voices from outside had moved indoors and were now floating up the staircase to meet her ears. Still they spoke in that strange language that sounded so similar to the dragons’ tongue.

The soft glow of a candle flame emerged below and started moving up the stairs. Her heart in her throat, Jahrra sped the few steps to her room and pulled the door open soundlessly, closing it as quickly as she dared. She threw off her cloak and ran to her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin a moment before she saw a sliver of golden light pour in through her cracked door.

The candlelight increased and a timid voice whispered, “Jahrra?”

Turning under the sheets and murmuring, Jahrra lifted her head slightly, pretending to block out the light with her hand.

“What is it, Neira?” She hoped her voice sounded sleep-strained.

“Master Jaax has received a most surprising visitor,” the housekeeper said as she stepped fully into the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Jahrra sat up, glad that her hair was still mussed. “What time is it?” she queried, pressing the heel of her hand against one eye.

“About an hour before dawn,” Neira answered. “A very strange time to receive visitors, if you ask me, but his lordship insisted once he saw who it was.”

In the dim light of the candle, Jahrra noticed Neira biting her lip and averting her eyes. The hairs on the back of Jahrra’s neck rose slightly. Did Neira suspect something?

Jahrra cleared her throat. “Who is it, Neira?”

The maid blinked up at Jahrra, her brown eyes looking dark against the weak light.

“I’ve never seen him before, but he looks something frightful. Tall with dark hair, and his eyes,” Neira swallowed hard. “He looks like he’s seen the evil god’s horrible thoughts and has been chased by his minions all the way from Ghorium.”

Jahrra shivered, despite the warmth of her blankets. “Could he mean harm, do you think?” she whispered, finally climbing out of bed.