Ellyesce shook his head. “Oh, he would never do such a thing, Jahrra. He means well, even in his harshness. It’s the only way he knows how to show his feelings.” Ellyesce grinned brightly, and Jahrra gave him a pained look from under her arm.
That’s easy for you to say, she thought. You’ve never been on the receiving end of one of Jaax’s foul moods.
“And we’ll find Keiron,” the elf continued. “We’ve already been looking for him. The captain of the guard and his men have been sweeping the city and the surrounding wilderness for any sign of the young man. I’ll be sure to inform them he’s been taken under duress and has not betrayed us after all. Jaax has also been flying the ranges morning, noon, and early evening, looking for the men who attacked you as well as watching for any changes concerning the army that stalks us. And you’ll be happy to learn that luck is on our side again. A massive landslide now blocks the road leading into Cahrdyarein.”
Jahrra came out of her sullen mood long enough to lift her eyebrows at Ellyesce.
He only nodded. “Might take the Tyrant’s army a week or two to clear it, so perhaps your knee will get some healing time in after all.”
Jahrra’s relief was short lived, however, despite the good news. Keiron’s disappearance still had her rattled, but soon anger sank its teeth in once again.
She let out a mild curse and Ellyesce eyed her with wary interest.
“I can’t believe all of them got away!” she snarled.
The details of the attack were still fuzzy, but she knew she’d put up a good fight. She had the injuries, and her life, to prove as much.
“They were highly trained assassins, Jahrra. And it was only the second true fight you’ve ever been in. And you were outnumbered,” Ellyesce said mildly, as if speaking to a small child who had failed at her first attempt to hit a target with an arrow.
“How do you know they were highly trained?” she grumbled.
Ellyesce only smiled, his face brightening for the first time since Jahrra accused him of being a slave trader. “I know because they got away, even with an enraged dragon closing in on them.”
She shot him a poisonous glare, but it lost its bitterness when she saw his face, the humor in his eyes barely checked. The ghost of a smile tugged on the corner of her mouth, and she relaxed. Perhaps he had a point, but she was still annoyed. If she hadn’t been so slow to react, maybe Keiron would have been able to help her defeat them, and they’d both be accounted for.
“Where is Jaax, anyway?” Jahrra asked, sucking in a breath as she tried to push herself farther up in bed. This time it was a gash in her arm that drew a complaint and not her leg.
Ellyesce winced. “I was supposed to send word to the regent’s residence as soon as you stirred.”
He twisted around in his chair so that he could peer out the window. It was late in the morning, but not quite noon, if Jahrra was reading the sunlight correctly.
With silent ease, the elf stood. “Do you mind if I leave you for a few moments to hunt down a courier?”
Jahrra nodded and watched as Ellyesce exited her cabin. While he was gone, she took advantage of the silence. The memories of the strange dream still haunted her, and although she felt Ellyesce had been truthful in his explanation, there was still something amiss. When she had first confronted him, he had locked down all emotion, making his face a blank canvas. But the moment he realized she was talking about his role in the slave trade, he had relaxed. It was as if he’d been expecting her to accuse him of something else. Something far worse. What other secrets did the elf keep hidden? Jahrra bit her lip and took in a deep breath. Probably as many as Jaax, if not more.
When will I stop accumulating friends and acquaintances with a long list of things to hide? she wondered to herself.
The door opened with a creak of the hinges and the sweep of worn wooden boards scraping across the floor. Jahrra snapped out of her internal musings and looked up in time to catch a glimpse of slushy, muddy streets over Ellyesce’s shoulder.
“I’ve sent a message off to the fortress on the hill. I imagine Jaax will leave as soon as he receives it.”
“Why are they in council instead of out looking for Keiron?” Jahrra asked.
Ellyesce heaved a great sigh, and with less grace than she’d seen in him before, fell into the chair he’d occupied only fifteen minutes before. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his thighs, and ran his fingers through his dark hair.
“They meet once a day, an hour before noon, to discuss any new leads in the hunt. Even if no one has found anything, they gather and go over new theories and ideas.”
Jahrra readjusted the pillows behind her and even managed to sit up a little straighter without hurting her leg.
“You said Morivan thinks his son is just playing a prank,” she said with some vitriol.
Ellyesce winced. “He’s convinced Keiron is off in a woodland cabin somewhere, laughing at all of us as we run around looking for him. Morivan believes his son is spoiled and ungrateful, and is doing this just to get attention.”
Jahrra bristled. “That swine!” she accused. “If he was here in this room right now, I’d leap out of bed and punch him!”
The elf blinked at her, then shook his head. “Then Jaax really would kill you. All these weeks your guardian has been checking his patience and remaining civil, despite the regent’s abominable behavior, and you’d go and ruin it with one outburst of temper? Now,” Ellyesce continued, holding up a hand to keep Jahrra from interjecting, “I’m not saying such an act would be undeserved. But it wouldn’t be very diplomatic.”
“Forget diplomatic!” Jahrra exploded. “Keiron is Morivan’s son! How can he not be concerned?”
Ellyesce leaned back against the chair and shrugged. “He’s a selfish person, Jahrra. He wasn’t there with you at the Round to see what really happened. And he views Keiron in a different light than you do.”
Jahrra snorted, then complained, “Everyone seems to view Keiron in a different light than me.”
When she looked back up at Ellyesce, she was surprised to find kindness in his eyes.
“We’ll find him, Jahrra,” he said in a tone completely free of mirth. “We must not lose hope.”
Jahrra gave him a nod, but said nothing more. For a few blessed moments, there was silence, then the door creaked open again and Dervit stepped in.
“Jahrra! You’re awake!” he piped, pushing the door closed behind him with much effort.
Jahrra smiled, glad to see her small friend.
“I’ve just come from the street market. I managed to find good potatoes, onions, carrots, and even some beef! The baker had just set out some fresh loaves of bread, and I talked one merchant into giving me butter at a discount.”
He finished his happy tirade and looked up at Jahrra. “I thought we should have a celebratory stew tonight. You know, since you are safe and healing.”
And just like that, the anger and anxiety lingering in Jahrra’s heart vanished. How could she let worry and sorrow overwhelm her when she had such wonderful friends?
“That sounds marvelous,” she said with a smile, determined to appreciate this bit of good tidings.
You can worry about Keiron and the Red Flange later, she mused, but for now, enjoy the company of those who care about you.
Jaax didn’t make an appearance until late in the day, and when he finally did manage to escape the regent’s ridiculous excuse for a council meeting regarding the whereabouts of his son, it was to find his ward and their two travel companions deep in a game of Astral cards. Before announcing his arrival, the dragon stood outside the cabin for a while, listening. First, he detected Dervit’s excited chatter, then Ellyesce’s careful, smooth manner of speech, and finally Jahrra’s familiar tone. His ward’s voice seemed heavier this evening, as if the thoughts weighing on her mind had doubled in size. Despite its lack of cheer, he was beyond relieved to hear it. For the pair of days following the attack, Jaax had fought the urge to raze the city in his anger. Let it burn to the ground and be nothing but a black pile of ash upon the mountaintop. He had almost lost Jahrra, and the very thought was eating away at him.