Dhuruhn sat up straighter at this, his massive claws gouging deep furrows into the icy surface of his dais. “Jahrraneh Drisihn? So, you’re finally ready to present this so claimed human child of the prophecy then?”
Jaax’s dragon rage boiled just below the surface of his scales, but he refused to let it get the better of him this time. Besides, he knew most of his anger was a direct result of his fatigue. Exhaustion from the long fight in Cahrdyarein, and then the confrontation on the bridge not two hours ago, nipped at his patience like a swarm of fire ants declaring war. He had been fighting one foe or the other for over a week now with little or no rest between battles. It was a wonder he was still standing on all four feet.
As if sensing his very thoughts, or more likely, taking note of the fatigue taking hold, Queen Beihryhn cut in, “Perhaps, then, we should postpone our formal meeting of the girl until tomorrow evening?”
She looked to her husband for approval. Dhuruhn closed his eyes and nodded once, returning to his languid pose.
“My informants have assured me the threat has been dealt with, so no action is needed at this point. I was also told your companions have been given lodging, on the top floor of the northeast wing. Most of those rooms are empty, and I am assuming your young human is up there now, resting.”
Jaax nodded, too drained to take offense at the king’s boorish tone.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing once again before turning to leave the hall.
Sapheramin and Tollorias stepped aside to let him pass.
“We will catch up with you in the morning,” Sapheramin whispered to her Tanaan friend. “His majesty will want a report from us as well.”
Jaax ducked his head in acknowledgment of her statement, but said nothing as he pressed onward. His feet seemed to drag as he left the king’s hall behind, his weariness no longer something he was able to fight. He wanted to analyze the conversation he’d just had with the royal couple, to pick through every word and every nuance to see if he could uncover some hidden agenda, but he just didn’t possess the energy at the moment.
What Sapheramin had told him about Kehllor also weighed heavily on his mind, but his thoughts in that quarter would also have to wait. Perhaps, once he smoothed things over with Jahrra and made sure all those he was responsible for were settled and accounted for, and once he’d caught up on his own missed sleep, he could take a few hours for himself and reevaluate where all the pieces currently stood on this intricate game board he maneuvered. Jaax exited the throne room, his mood dark, and turned left to seek out the hallway that would eventually take him to the top floor of the northeastern wing.
As he traversed the mostly empty halls and pathways, Jaax wondered if Ellyesce had found the stables Phrym and the other horses would call home during their stay in Nimbronia. He had lost complete track of the time, and for all he knew, the elf was probably tucked away in one of those empty rooms, catching up on some much needed rest. The idea of sleeping without worrying about Jahrra’s whereabouts and safety, and without the fear of being attacked in the night, gave Jaax a reason to relax for the first time in so many days.
By the time he made it to the uppermost level of the royal palace, the Tanaan dragon was all but crawling and eager to find his own quarters so that he might curl up and sleep for a week. Before he could do that, however, he needed to check in on Jahrra. With the help of some castle staff, he was directed to her suite. The young maid who offered to show him the way cracked one of the tall doors open, and Jaax stuck his head inside. The room was cloaked in shadow, save for the low orange glow radiating from the fireplace and the muted, luminescent blue light phosphorescing down from the enchanted stalactites above. Across the vast space he spotted the terrace where he had landed earlier that day. The sky was a deep blue now, and the stars stood out like flame-hearted diamonds. They were brighter here than anywhere else in Ethoes, and the dragon found some comfort in that fact, as if their closer proximity gave those who gazed upon them extra strength.
Jaax drew in a breath and let it out on a soft sigh. Despite the fact a sizeable part of the wall was missing and left open to the frigid mountain air, the room wasn’t cold.
“She’s been sleeping since this afternoon,” the maid said quietly, indicating a long couch standing before the fireplace.
When he took the time to look, Jaax noticed a pile of blankets taking up most of the couch. He narrowed his eyes and watched it for a while. Only when he could discern the slight rise and fall of the mound of quilts did he relax. Good. Jahrra needed sleep, probably more than he did. Although he was relieved to see her resting and safe, he had wished she’d be awake. He needed to speak with her, about what Dhuruhn and his queen had said, about what she should expect from the royal court of Nimbronia, about everything that had gone wrong since they first arrived at Cahrdyarein, but also, what had gone right.
Jaax squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to let his frustration rise. He had expected her to learn of Keiron’s deceit on her journey up the mountain, but no, she had found out from the traitorous pig himself. And then, her guardian had unleashed a portion of his wrath upon her before returning to the skirmish on the bridge, leaving her alone in a strange castle to deal with the truth and horror of Keiron’s betrayal all on her own. Gods and goddesses of Ethoes. Jahrra deserved better than him for a guardian. He should have stayed with her. Knowing his ward, she would take the burden of all that had happened upon herself. She would blame herself for the fall of Cahrdyarein. More than anything, Jaax wanted to reassure her none of the tragedies of the past few weeks were her fault, that she still had friends, those who would never betray her even when faced with death. But, he didn’t have the heart to wake her. It could wait until morning.
“I am sorry, Jahrra,” he murmured, his voice too quiet for anyone but himself to hear. “I should have been there for you. You should not have had to deal with the aftermath of Keiron’s sedition on your own, and if I could take this all upon myself and free you from this burden, I would.”
Jaax drew in a long, weary breath, held it in his lungs for a few brief seconds, then let it out just as slowly. Beneath the pungent aroma of lavender soap and wood smoke, and the lingering odor of roast meat and fresh bread, he picked up the faint, familiar scent of his ward. Immediately, what little tension remained in his body melted away. There was no fear or sorrow, regret or anger this time. Only peace and tranquility underlain by the distant memory of apple blossoms in spring and gentle rain-soaked fields in late winter. That knowledge alone gave Jaax great comfort.
“Thank you,” he said softly to the young maid as he backed out of the room. “I will speak with her in the morning.”
The maid nodded and carefully shut the door behind her. “There is an empty room down the hall best suited for dragons. I can show you if you’d like.”
Jaax nodded and the young woman led the way. Before bidding him a goodnight, the maid informed Jaax that Ellyesce was in one of the rooms closer to Jahrra, and the limbit had taken up a small chamber just beside hers. Jaax grinned at that. Dervit would wish to be close to Jahrra. They had an unshakable bond, those two.
Without even taking full stock of his own quarters, Jaax settled down on a large rug spread before a low burning fire and, for the first time in weeks, let his mind slip into sleep without a fight.