“Jahrra,” Jaax’s strong voice finally broke the tension created by their silent face-off, “I would like you to meet an old friend of mine.”
He had paused just before choosing the word ‘friend’ to describe the red Tanaan dragon standing just beside him, and Jahrra detected a tiny hint of displeasure in the female dragon’s composure; something about the narrowing of her eyes.
“This is Shiroxx.”
No titles, no short list of attributes. Unlike the few other dignitaries and friends Jaax had paraded Jahrra in front of.
“Shiroxx, this is Jahrraneh Drisihn, but you may address her as Jahrra.”
Jahrra flinched when Jaax gave Shiroxx her elvin name. Clearly he trusted this dragon. A lot. The red Tanaan smiled liquidly but Jahrra knew that type of smile very well. It was the one Jaax often gave her and the one she had grown to know so well among her classmates back in Oescienne. It was a smile that said: ‘I shall be polite to you on the outside, but in my thoughts I will tear you down and expose every weakness you have and hide it away for safekeeping’.
Jahrra shivered but managed a polite smile herself.
“Little Jahrra, I have heard so much about you,” Shiroxx finally spoke, her voice cool and beautiful.
A gentler version of the whiny one she’d used that night in Oescienne when Jahrra had spied on the two great reptiles standing in front of her.
She laughed then, melodious but forced, and turned her angular head towards Jaax. “You did not tell me she was so, ordinary, Raejaax. I would have thought the goddess would have produced a more appealing creature since it was only one she was making. But you do speak so highly of her attributes.”
Jahrra didn’t even try to quail her bristling this time. She hissed in a breath and felt her face flush in anger.
Senton cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Um, we’ll see you tomorrow Jahrra. Come on, Torrell.”
She watched them leave, Senton dragging on Torrell’s sleeve. The dark haired girl looked like she wanted to find a sword and stab Shiroxx’s eyes out but she kept casting a cautious glance in Jaax’s direction, as if expecting him to attack should she act on that temptation. Although she regretted their departure, Jahrra figured it was probably for the best.
She shot Jaax an angry glare but he hardened his own gaze and shook his head once, ever so slightly. Let her have her petty insults, Jahrra. It isn’t worth getting into a confrontation over, the look in his eyes told her. But there was something fierce lingering beneath them, as if the silver was trying to burn through the green.
Jahrra didn’t care. She was through with taking insults, especially ones that were cast and then drawn back like the crack of a whip, only to be smoothed over with a shallow compliment. Time to let this dragon know she wasn’t a pushover and to show her guardian she had a voice and a mind of her own.
Jahrra loosened her tightly wound body, letting her crossed arms sag a little and her weight to rest on one leg. She looked at Jaax again and smiled as sweetly as she could in her current mood. His eyes turned to solid granite and he suddenly seemed to take up the entire hall.
Jahrra ignored him and drew a breath to speak. “Well that’s interesting,” she mused. “Jaax hasn’t said a word about you.”
Shiroxx’s mouth twitched, transforming her polite grin into a tight curve of sharp teeth. Jahrra smirked, quite pleased with herself. Two can play at this game, she thought at the female dragon.
Beneath all of her instinctual need to defend herself, Jahrra wondered what this particular Tanaan’s problem was. This was the first time she had ever met Jahrra but what puzzled her was that she had always seemed to dislike her. It was obvious when she’d overheard Jaax’s conversation with Shiroxx those many nights ago that the dragoness had an aversion to her. Jahrra understood Eydeth’s and Ellysian’s indignation back at home; they’d seen her as an abomination, someone not worthy to be in their presence. But why would the dragon Shiroxx dislike her so much?
If everything worked out, if she somehow managed to defeat the Crimson King and return order to the world of Ethoes, shouldn’t she be welcomed with open arms, not icy stares and bared teeth? They were on the same side in a war that could very well mean the destruction of their world and she wanted to treat Jahrra like some young schoolmate who was trying to steal her glory? Please! There were more important and more dangerous things to worry about than a popularity contest. Jahrra’s mouth twitched at the thought. Me, at the center of a popularity contest with a dragon. How absurd!
Jahrra shook off her slight irritation and decided to look at her guardian then. He’d had a good minute or so to let her snappish remark to his friend sink in so his glower shouldn’t be so damaging. Yet he still glared at her, the silver in his eyes even brighter now. Jahrra merely arched an eyebrow and, unsmiling, lifted her chin. What did you expect? she projected mentally at him. I’m not good at taking insults lying down, remember?
“Now, don’t we have a bold mouth on us,” Shiroxx finally said, her tone laced in ice. Gone was the fake friendliness and in its place was the predator within.
Jahrra didn’t even flinch. She’d had good practice staring down dragons, for nobody was more formidable than Jaax.
Jaax choked in the back of his throat and although Jahrra was really tempted to reply to Shiroxx (something along the lines of ‘Oh yes, and the goddess gave it to me for a reason, one being to defend myself against overbearing, snooty reptiles’), she opted to remain silent. She would only receive a tongue lashing from Jaax later and she really didn’t want the headache.
“I think we’ve had enough, acquainting, for one day,” Jaax broke in. “Perhaps we can meet again later this week. Jahrra has not yet been to the upper gardens overlooking the bay and that would be a good place for a walk, and,” he shot another piercing glare down at Jahrra, “civilized conversation.”
Jahrra wanted to gape in outrage at him but she caught herself just in time. She was no longer a child. It was time to do away with childish reactions. Nevertheless, she stared straight ahead, aiming all of her ire directly at him. Shiroxx was the one practicing ‘uncivilized conversation’, not her.
Shiroxx released a bored sigh. “That’s very well. I have another engagement I must be off to anyways. Would you be so kind as to escort me to the plaza my dear Raejaaxorix?”
Jahrra felt like throwing a chair at the red dragon but quickly reminded herself: no more childish reactions.
Jaax complied and nodded, turning towards the great columns outlining the building’s entrance, then waited for Shiroxx to join his side.
Before moving to leave, Shiroxx turned her gaze towards Jahrra once again and plastered that sickly sweet smile on her face. “It was nice to meet you, Jahrra. I shall look forward to our walk. I hope our conversation will be more pleasant on our second meeting.”
The remark was polite enough but once again that chord of distaste reverberated ever so softly beneath the sincerity.
Jahrra nodded in return. “Until next time, Shiroxx.”
The female dragon turned to leave, smiling radiantly at a rather grumpy looking Jaax. Jahrra watched them the entire time as they headed towards the busy plaza outside the great library. What was it that made Shiroxx so cold towards her? Even though she couldn’t see their faces she noticed both reptiles’ every movement. Jaax seemed his normal, intense self, listening politely as the female beside him prattled on once again. Jahrra wondered what she was saying, for Jaax nodded and even laughed every now and again but didn’t seem otherwise engaged in the conversation.