Before mounting the horse, Whinsey turned to her husband. Jahrra watched as he gathered her up in his arms and kissed her as if the city was burning down around them. A small pang of remorse stabbed at her. Although she had never fully admitted it to herself, that was what she had wanted with Keiron, but now it all seemed rather ridiculous. There was something between Pendric and his wife that was never there with her and the regent’s son. True, she had been swept away by his attention and charms, but it had been nothing but whimsy. To love someone, you had to be willing to face not only your own demons, but your partner’s demons as well. Even when Jahrra had watched as Keiron got dragged away by the mercenaries, she hadn’t felt that desperate willingness to give over her life for his. She had been terrified and worried for him, and she still was, but she couldn’t feel it in the deepest recesses of her heart.
Pendric gave his wife one more gentle kiss, then bent to take his son in his arms. Jahrra bit her lip. She hated that he would be staying behind, hated that, should the Tyrant’s army breach the wall, the captain of the guard would be in the most danger.
Whinsey and Erron turned away and climbed back onto the horse. The massive gate before them creaked open, creating a narrow crevasse in the towering, black wall. Ellyesce, an arrow ready in his bow, led his semequin through, the pack horse trailing behind by the lead rope with Dervit nestled between the saddlebags, his red ears peaking above and swiveling, searching for stray sounds.
Jahrra let Whinsey and her son ride ahead of her, then she stiffened her spine and turned Phrym away to follow after her companions.
Before Phrym took two steps, Jaax said, “Jahrra, hold on.”
She turned her head, giving the dragon her full attention.
“I’ve asked Ellyesce to take you through the Serpent’s Tomb,” he spoke, his voice only loud enough for her to hear. “It is a series of caves that run up the western edge of the mountainside like a covered road. The passages are small and narrow, but wide enough for all of you to pass with the horses. The entrance to the caverns lies a few miles farther up the mountains, and it will take you within ten miles of Nimbronia. Ellyesce knows where to find it.”
He took a breath, closing his eyes as he did so. “I will stay behind and attempt to delay the commander and his army. You must promise me you will not turn back for any reason. Your safety means everything, and you must make it to Nimbronia, no matter what the cost.”
Jahrra’s grip tightened on Phrym’s reins, but she nodded. “And you’ll meet up with us as soon as you can, right?”
Jaax didn’t answer for a while, then, in order to avoid what she was truly asking him, he shook his head and said, “I cannot fit within the caves. I am too big. The plan was to take the easterly road up the mountainside, but circumstances have obviously changed. That path is far too exposed and will take much longer to travel.”
He didn’t look at Jahrra. He didn’t want to see the expression on her face when she finally understood what he wasn’t saying. What he himself didn’t want to consider.
“Jaax.”
It was a statement, not a question. Against his better judgment, he gave Jahrra his full attention. Her blue grey eyes were shining with unshed tears, but she held them back. He smiled. He couldn’t help it. His strong ward. Silly of him to think she would let anything defeat her. Had she not taken on a dragon before and removed one of his scales in the effort?
“I–” she began, but then paused and furrowed her brow before giving her head a small shake. Then, with a far steadier and much more determined voice, she said, “I’ll see you in Nimbronia.”
Jaax smiled, a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless.
Jahrra made to leave, but then lowered her voice one last time and whispered, “I need you to do something for me, if you can.”
Jaax glanced at her, his eyes clear. He nodded once. “Go ahead. What is it you ask of me?”
Jahrra bit the inside of her cheek and peered past her guardian. Pendric had turned around to give his men instructions. Good. He would be out of ear shot.
“Don’t let them take Pendric. Make sure he gets out, and bring him to Nimbronia with you.”
Jahrra hated the idea of any of the soldiers getting hurt, or worse, killed. She had practiced alongside them, had sparred with a few of them and they were all good people. They did not deserve to die. But the thought of Pendric dying was even worse. She could not imagine the pain his wife and son and unborn baby would have to bear if he fell defending the city so that she might escape to live another day.
She didn’t wait for Jaax’s answer because she feared it would be ‘no’. Instead, she stiffened her spine and encouraged Phrym to follow after the others.
“We will see you then, Pendric and I,” Jaax called after her, “when you exit the caves below Nimbronia.”
Jahrra turned her head and gave her guardian one last, brilliant smile, then tapped Phrym on the flanks. Jaax watched as she and the semequin disappeared into the darkness of night. He continued to gaze into the trees until he could no longer hear or smell them. As the captain of the guard readied his Resai soldiers for the impending battle at dawn, Jaax remained still and silent, his attention drawn northward, even when he knew he should take to the skies and head south to where the Tyrant’s army began to stir.
-Chapter Seventeen-
A Departure in the Dark
Jaax didn’t fly off to scorch the Crimson King’s army right away. Instead, he called Pendric back to speak with him. The captain of the guard looked like a different man in the orange glow of torchlight. His eyes shone darker, his face harder than usual. He held himself with a stiff resignation, yet he managed to remain steadfast on the outside as an example to his men. Jaax clenched his teeth. The regent’s captain was a good soul and did not deserve the wrath of the Red Flange because of a dragon’s whim to hide his ward within the city for a fortnight’s worth of rest. Jaax felt responsible, and more than ever, he hoped to keep that promise he’d made to Jahrra. Somehow, he would get Pendric out of the city before it succumbed to the enemy. For now, however, he needed to let the captain of the guard know every detail so that he might be prepared.
“You wished to speak with me?” Pendric asked, donning a cloak of patience as he stood alert before the dragon.
Jaax grimaced. What he was about to tell the young captain would bring him pain, but it had to be done.
“There is more to Dervit’s story than what he told you.”
Pendric nodded for Jaax to go on.
“The Crimson King’s men were not the only ones present at the meeting above the tavern this past night. And the attack on Jahrra the other day was orchestrated by citizens of Cahrdyarein.”
Pendric drew in a sharp hiss of breath, but managed to keep his composure. “Did the limbit catch their names by any chance?”
Jaax nodded grimly and closed his eyes, digging his talons into the muddy earth below his feet. “Keiron wasn’t kidnapped, Pendric. He arranged the entire thing, pretending to be a victim in case the plan backfired on him. While the commander of the Red Flange gathers his most elite fighters and sends word to his troops to start moving on the city, the regent’s son is to guard the southeastern section of the wall.”
“No!” Pendric gritted out through clenched teeth. “I have known the lad since he was my son’s age. He would not betray the people of Cahrdyarein!”
“Pendric,” Jaax began, but the Resai elf cut him off.
“You cannot tell me that a young man I’ve known for nearly twenty years has suddenly become a cold-blooded traitor!”