Dhuruhn turned his eyes upon Jahrra, and she nearly quailed beneath their intensity. At the last second, she firmed her jaw and tilted her chin upward, ignoring the slight rush of fear shivering down her spine.
“And pray, do tell me girl, who provided you with the garment to begin with?”
His voice was pitched low once again, and Jahrra faltered a little. She cast a quick glance at Jaax, but all he did was watch her with burning eyes. Was he angry? Did he want her to stop speaking? For a moment, Jahrra almost fell back, but that stubbornness she had never been able to shake clawed free and demanded she stand up for herself, and her guardian. She drew in a deep breath through her nose, then faced the intimidating Creecemind king once again.
“Jaax had my dresses commissioned back in Lidien. Yes, he instructed the seamstresses on what to make, but he only ever saw them when I wore them to Coalition meetings. This is the first time I’ve ever worn this particular dress, because this is the most formal event I’ve ever had the privilege to attend. Jaax was correct in what he said earlier. I hoped to extend my respect and courtesy of your court by dressing properly. I know very little of the royal family of Oescienne, so there was no way for me to consider this dress a reflection of that legacy.”
She took a deep breath, then continued on before anyone could interrupt her. “Our purpose tonight was not to insult you or try to manipulate your favor, but to speak to you on behalf of all those peaceful races living in Ethoes. I have seen how the Crimson King’s influence can affect those even far beyond his reach. His soldiers killed my guardian, the Korli dragon Hroombramantu, and they have destroyed the lives of so many people in villages and cities in these very mountains. You do not wish to enter this war, and I cannot blame you, but to claim the Tyrant in the east has not brought trouble upon your people would be an incorrect statement. Even as I speak, Cahrdyarein remains in the hands of the enemy, a city under your sovereignty.”
Another silence permeated the great chamber, but it didn’t last for long.
“Moving words from a young woman who has yet to face true fear,” the king said dryly.
Jaax opened his mouth to make an angry retort, but Dhuruhn held up a clawed hand.
“Peace, Raejaaxorix, peace. The girl makes some valid points, and is much more diplomatic about your cause than you have been. But, the evening grows late. I cannot decide for certain tonight. We will meet again, in my throne room, a week from tomorrow. Then, I will have an answer for you.”
Jaax gritted his teeth before snarling, “A week! You have had years to consider your answer, and you want another week?”
A low growl rumbled up from Dhuruhn’s chest, the force of it shaking the hall and causing the chandeliers above to swing. His reply came out with a cloud of frosty smoke.
“Yes, a week. You will take it or leave my domain at once. I am king here, and you have no authority. I must confer with the others of my race. Not all Creecemind dragons live within the city’s boundaries. Now, if you will excuse me, my family and I would like to seek out our rest.”
With that, he rose to his feet, making Jahrra feel like a mouse standing before a cat about to pounce. Without even casting her and Jaax one last look, the royal family exited the way they had entered, their long, sweeping forms moving over the ground with serpentine grace.
The doors shut behind them, and Jaax and Jahrra were left standing alone at the front of the room.
-Chapter Twenty-Seven-
A Fading Hope
With some amount of vitriol, Jaax let loose a curse. Jahrra turned and gave him a startled look.
“He has known about this for weeks now. I sent a missive before we left Lidien. He could have consulted his people then.” Jaax sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, a pained look pinching his face. “Let’s just hope he has an answer for us in a week. Come on, Jahrra. No point in lingering here.”
Having no reason to argue, Jahrra hurriedly followed after him. When they reached the main door leading from the dining hall, they found the others waiting for them. Jaax quickly relayed what they had learned.
“A week?” Ellyesce asked, his tone level.
Jaax jerked his head in the affirmative.
The elf furrowed his brow. “I do realize you wish to move on as soon as possible, Jaax. The longer we stay in one place, the easier it is for the Crimson King’s army to find us and trap us. However, resting for a week isn’t such a bad idea, especially for Jahrra’s sake.”
“Ellyesce is right, Jaax,” Jahrra said. “My knee is much better than it was, but it would do us all some good to just relax for a while.”
Jaax looked at her, then glanced up at Tollorias. “What news from the wilderness?”
“I conducted a flight check this morning. No movement to the east or west, and the road leading to Cahrdyarein is empty. The southern city itself appears to have been fully infiltrated by the enemy, but from what I’ve observed and from what the other dragons are telling me, the Red Flange will be staying put for a while.”
The Korli dragon took a breath as if to speak, then shut his mouth with a click. Jaax gave him a suspicious look, missing nothing.
“You don’t think they’ll stay idle for long, do you?”
Tollorias shook his head. “It is a feeling, more than anything. They suffered greatly from our attack on the bridge, and from what you did before leaving Cahrdyarein, but their leader is ambitious and eager to please his lord. If I were you, I would not stay past a week.”
Jaax drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Then, we will make ready to leave as soon as we get Dhuruhn’s answer,” he stated.
“And what will you do until then?” Sapheramin asked.
Jaax regarded Jahrra, Dervit and Ellyesce. The elf was doing an excellent job at appearing calm and unworried, but the dragon had known him for a very long time, and he discerned Ellyesce sensed something beyond their reach as well. Jahrra was a bit harder to read. She did not register as worried, but there was a pall of unease hanging about her, and the limbit as well. The last thing Jaax wanted was for them to spend the next seven days winding themselves even tighter.
“I think,” Jaax said with a small smile, “we ought to spend the next week resting, eating and enjoying what Nimbronia has to offer. It wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Jahrra to meet the other Coalition members, and I think tomorrow might be a good time for some of us to check on Pendric and his family.”
Jahrra lit up at that. “Oh, yes! I’ve been worried about them ever since waking up this morning! Perhaps Pendric will even be up to a few sword fighting lessons.”
Jaax actually laughed out loud, and Sapheramin gave him an amused look.
“I don’t know about that,” he offered. “He might still be recovering from his wounds.”
Jaax regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Jahrra’s joy seemed to dissipate as she recalled everything her friend had probably been through while trying to defend his city.
“Don’t worry, Jahrra,” Dervit announced. “I saw him yesterday afternoon. He said he was feeling a bit sore but nothing a good amount of rest wouldn’t cure.”
Jahrra smiled down at her friend, and Jaax’s heart eased.
“Well,” Sapheramin chirped, “that all sounds marvelous, but if you plan on keeping yourselves occupied for the next several days, you had best get some sleep now. I myself am feeling quite exhausted, so Tollorias and I will bid you goodnight.”
The female Korli ducked her head at them all, and then, she and Tollorias strode away down another hallway.