Jahrra breathed in a great breath of the fresh air, glad of its cold crispness. She walked around the carriage and made her way toward the shallow pool, sitting on the edge and trailing her fingers through the icy water. The fish noticed right away and came swarming over, nibbling at her fingers and splashing about, their brilliant colors flashing in the morning sun.
Jahrra laughed and was so distracted that she hadn’t noticed the sound of the great door behind her opening and closing. Jaax was practically upon her before she lifted her head to discern who was approaching. When she finally did notice she blinked up in surprise, forgetting the fish for a while.
Jaax smiled down at her and took a small breath. “They do that if you put your hand in the water. It’s how Neira lets them know it’s feeding time.”
“Neira?” Jahrra queried, pulling her hand from the water.
Jaax nodded. “My housekeeper.”
Jahrra blinked again, her mind foggy from her recent overdose of excitement. “Your housekeeper?”
She glanced around Jaax’s legs, catching sight of the carriage that was now leaving and focused on the grand house. She then looked back up at Jaax.
“Yours?”
The Tanaan dragon grinned smugly.
“Did you think we would be living in an inn while in Lidien? Or an old dilapidated structure in the woods perhaps?”
Jahrra bristled with anger and annoyance for a moment, until she noted the kind teasing in Jaax’s voice. He isn’t trying to be difficult or unkind, she reminded herself. Then she wondered what other shocking surprises this dragon had in store for her. It was as if he had lived an entirely different life outside of Oescienne.
Of course he has, she chided herself. You yourself often think about how much you don’t know him. Well, this is your proof. Jahrra cast her wayward thoughts aside and looked up at her guardian.
“I did expect an inn,” she admitted begrudgingly.
She turned and watched the carriage disappearing down the drive, Phrym reluctantly being pulled behind.
“Wait!” Jahrra gasped, snapping out of her daze and standing. “Where are they taking Phrym?”
“Relax, Jahrra,” Jaax said. “He’ll be staying at one of the cities finest stables, the one conveniently located at the base of this hill in fact. You’ll get to visit him later.”
Jahrra heaved a sigh of relief and plopped back down on the edge of the pond, her hand returning to the water where the fish continued their search for food. If she hadn’t been so tired she might have argued further on Phrym’s behalf. Surely he would be difficult for the strangers that would soon be settling him into his new, temporary home. Jahrra turned back to her idle ministrations. The coolness of the water was rather soothing, something her nerves were grateful for at present.
With a grunt to catch her attention, Jaax jerked his head towards the house. Jahrra rose from her stone seat once again, dusted off her pants, and started walking towards the small castle.
Jaax followed just behind her. “Neira is very eager to meet you.”
“Oh?” Jahrra responded, not knowing what else to say.
Jaax chuckled. “Yes. This is where I stay when in Lidien. In case you were wondering.”
Jahrra turned to face her guardian. She had been wondering.
“You stay here often?” She tried to keep the accusation out of her voice but she wasn’t sure if she was successful.
Jaax nodded again. “Most of my business outside of Oescienne directly concerned the Coalition and this house has been in my possession for years.”
Jahrra nodded. She didn’t know all of Jaax’s history. No, she didn’t know most of Jaax’s history but she knew enough from what Hroombra had told her to know that he had connections outside of Oescienne.
“Shall we proceed?” her guardian continued, dipping his head and giving Jahrra a grin.
Smiling in return, Jahrra climbed up the wide stairs, her attention lost once again on the great windows. About midway up a stained glass design of a green dragon sitting regally with spread wings, a blood rose suspended above its head, brought a shock of color to the otherwise clear, colorless glass. Jahrra glanced over her shoulder and lifted one eyebrow in the direction of her guardian.
Jaax shrugged. “We have no fear showing where our loyalties lie in Lidien.”
“Who is the dragon?” Jahrra wondered aloud.
“Traagien,” Jaax answered simply.
Nodding, Jahrra faced the great door at the top of the stairs. She could see it was very thick, probably crafted from oak, with huge iron rings meant for opening and closing it. The smaller door was a bit different. There was a knocker on this one that looked like the head of a draffyd and the door itself had an intricate rose pattern carved into its surface. Before she could figure out whether she should knock on the door or just walk right in, the decision was made for her. A woman who looked quite bedraggled jerked open the smaller door. At first she seemed bothered, as if she had been interrupted from a very important task, but as soon as she spotted Jahrra her entire expression changed.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, her hands flying to her face, “You must be Miss Jahrra. How I’ve been longing to meet you!”
She bustled forward, careful to keep her skirts from tangling in her feet, and stopped just short of the Tanaan dragon and his ward.
The woman looked questioningly up at Jaax but the dragon merely nodded, moving past the two women as he pushed open the larger door. Jahrra watched him disappear into the depths of the house, wondering why he had abandoned her here without introductions.
“Forgive Master Jaax his abruptness,” the woman continued in a pleasant voice. “He promised to let me show you the house.”
Jahrra smiled weakly. In all honesty she was dying to see the house but she was so tired. The journey and the commotion of arriving in Lidien had drained her completely. Nevertheless, she thought that perhaps she could stay awake a little longer if it meant giving a polite first impression.
“Thank you,” she paused and gave the woman a quizzical look.
“Oh dear, look at me!” she said, slapping a hand to her forehead. “All this excitement and I’ve forgotten to introduce myself. I’m Neira and I serve as Raejaax’s housekeeper and will also act as maid to you.”
The woman gave a neat curtsy, her dark brown curls bobbing with the action, then thrust out her hand.
Jahrra smiled, a little more relaxed now, and returned the handshake. “And I’m Jahrra.”
“Well, Miss Jahrra,” the housekeeper said, clasping her hands loosely in front of her, “what would you like to see first?”
Jahrra sighed. “Everything, but I’m so exhausted. Is there any way that I can get some sleep before you show me the entire residence, because I do want to see it all and I would like to have a clear head when I do.”
Neira nodded in understanding and answered, “Then I shall take you to your bedroom first thing.”
Jahrra’s eyes widened. She had her own bedroom here? She wondered about that, this being a dragon’s home, but Neira seemed to sense her curiosity.
“There are a few rooms upstairs that are suitable for anyone of an elvin size,” she said. “Dragons also often keep Nesnan or Resai servants in order to keep a house such as this clean. They may have many talents of their own but it is nearly impossible for a dragon to reach all the nooks and crannies when it comes to cleaning.”
Jahrra stifled a giggle as the woman beckoned her through the door and into a great room, easily the size of the entire Castle Guard Ruin back in Oescienne.