“That is why it’s a shared position. He’ll have help from Dathian and Anthar, as well as several others. It’s only temporary, until the Coalition can vote on a new, permanent leader.”
Jahrra had cringed at her guardian’s words. She didn’t think anyone could truly replace him as head of the Coalition, but seeing that he wouldn’t be around to make those tough decisions and keep everyone in order, it was best he left others in charge. At least for now.
“It’s simply in their nature to be suspicious and to ask all the questions that need to be asked of those they suspect,” Kehllor continued with his earlier assessment. “Most of them still believe the truth Jahrra, that you are who Jaax says you are.”
“And what is that exactly?” Jahrra turned to look at him. She really didn’t need the answer but she wanted to hear it from this new found friend of hers.
He gave her a troubled look but sighed and answered her question anyway, “That you are the human child Ethoes promised in the prophecy so many centuries ago. That Jaax never tried to deceive anyone.”
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “Oh Kehllor,” she said, “I wish you were going with us. We could use another dragon in our party.”
Kehllor nodded, moving in closer but not too close to shove Phrym out of the way. He gritted his teeth and whispered, “I wish I could go too. But perhaps once everything blows over and someone much more competent is leading this Coalition of ours, I can find you in Nimbronia.”
Jahrra wiped her eyes and smiled. “If that is the case, then this journey doesn’t look so bad after all.”
“Besides,” Kehllor added as an afterthought, his mouth lifting in a small grin, “someone must stay behind and look after Jaax’s estate.”
Jahrra flashed him a grin. Despite her reluctance to leave her new home behind, she was glad that Kehllor would be living there in her and Jaax’s absence. He would keep Neira company; make sure her apple trees were cared for.
The loud crunch of feet upon the crushed granite once again drew Jahrra’s attention away from Kehllor. Several of the hired men from before were carrying Jahrra’s bags out to an extra horse Jaax had purchased for their journey.
In those bags were all the sets of clothing she might need as they made their way up the Great Hrunahn Mountains, including the dresses that would be required for the court at Nimbronia. The idea of meeting the Creecemind king terrified her but she would worry about that much later.
Checking Phrym one last time to make sure her sword and bow were stowed along with her other items, she nodded to Kehllor and made her way back through the great doorway of the house, sidestepping those who were assisting in their departure. She wanted to view the vaulted ceiling and enormous fireplace one more time before leaving, and she was hoping to find Neira as well. What she did find, however, was an unfamiliar pair of pants, a warm jacket and a hooded, fleece-lined cloak draped over the couch. The jacket and pants were of a pale doe skin and were very soft to the touch and lined with wool. The cloak was crafted of fine wool as well, its color a pale blue.
“Master Jaax had those made for you,” Neira said from the kitchen door.
Jahrra jumped and looked up, snatching her hand away guiltily. Neira merely smiled.
“You’ll be meeting up with cold weather in the mountains by the time you reach Nimbronia and I’ve heard that winter never leaves that great city. Raejaax wanted to make sure you were prepared.”
The housemaid walked towards her and stroked the blue cloak as if it were an injured child. “Water resistant as well. It will do you good when the weather turns nasty.”
Jahrra tilted her head to the side to get a better look at Neira. The woman was holding back tears, Jahrra could tell. A sudden pang hit her and all of the thoughts she’d been harboring earlier came flooding back. She didn’t want to feel the anguish of tearing herself away again, but Neira did her in.
Tears spilled from Jahrra’s eyes as she hugged the woman close, taking her by surprise.
“I don’t want to leave!” she whispered harshly; fearfully.
Neira merely cooed and patted Jahrra’s back, shushing her.
“I am so afraid,” Jahrra finally admitted. “I’m so terribly afraid, Neira.”
“I know dearest,” the woman said in a thick voice.
She drew Jahrra away and held her at arm’s length. “But you have Jaax, and that elf is going along with you.”
She glanced over Jahrra’s shoulder and pointed. “Something tells me he is more than skilled in defense. I think he and Jaax were discussing magic late last night, after everyone else had left.”
Jahrra turned and looked at where the housemaid was pointing. Through the door she saw her guardian and his elvin acquaintance talking near the edge of the trees, far away from the bustle of the packers.
“Now,” Neira said, handing Jahrra a handkerchief, “it’s natural for us to be afraid and you have every right to be, but you are also one of the bravest young women I know. If anyone can come to the end of this journey successfully, it is you.”
Jahrra smiled half-heartedly and took the cloth offered to her. She felt slightly ashamed at her weakness but she also felt relieved to get her misgivings out in the open.
A shadow fell across the open doorway and Jahrra looked up. Jaax stood there, looking grim.
“It’s time we get going,” he said quietly.
Jahrra nodded, gave Neira one last, fierce hug and headed for the door. A footman followed behind, carrying a leather bag he had just filled with the cold-weather clothes she and Neira had been discussing.
Climbing atop Phrym, Jahrra spun and surveyed the great house one last time, its great columns and tall windows watching her as she fought her emotions. Somewhere behind her she heard Ellyesce mount his own semequin, a fine, white stallion that seemed to know the elf’s every thought.
Jahrra released one last sigh and looked at everyone standing around, her eyes lingering on Neira and Kehllor the longest. She grinned, hoping that it looked at least somewhat cheerful, and waved as she kicked Phrym closer to her guardian.
“Do you have the extra horse?” he asked Ellyesce as the elf moved his semequin close as well.
Ellyesce nodded, then looked in the direction of the tall draft horse, its back loaded down with leather bags and a few small trunks. The horse, who’d been distracted by a patch of grass, twitched and came alert, jerking forward to join the small traveling party. He was a beautiful bay and made his heavy load look light as a feather. By the way he was following after them without a lead, Jahrra came to the conclusion that Neira was right; Ellyesce did know magic. Something to delve into as we make our long journey north, she mused.
“Wait!”
Jahrra turned abruptly in her saddle to see three familiar figures hurrying up through the trees closest to the drive. It was Torrell, Dathian and Senton, looking ragged and out of breath. Jahrra felt her last defenses crumble and she didn’t even try to keep hold of the sob that escaped her throat. She hurriedly slid off of Phrym and ran to them, Jaax, Kehllor, Neira, Ellyesce and everyone else gathered watching her in silence.
Her three friends came to a stop, all of them clearly winded. Senton finally straightened and lifted a velvet bag in front of him as if it weighed several pounds.
“We couldn’t,” he gasped, “let you leave . . . without . . . getting this made for you.”
Jahrra wiped away her tears and took the bag, looking first at Senton, then Torrell, then Dathian. They all looked so depressed and Jahrra could have sworn Torrell had tears in her eyes. It just made her own tears flow even faster.
With trembling fingers, she opened the bag and upended it in her palm. An etched silver bangle as wide as her thumb but thin as a blade, became a cool presence in her hand. She blinked several times, her teary eyes making it hard to see all the details. It wasn’t exactly silver, but more of a silvery-gold, and embedded in its surface were six gemstones. No, not gemstones . . .