They reached the columns and Jaax bid his companion a final farewell. She smiled again, her eyes fixed on him as he turned to walk back towards his ward. He had a look of slight annoyance on his face, annoyance aimed at the young human woman standing in the middle of the large library hall. But Jahrra wasn’t focused on Jaax. She was still looking at Shiroxx’s face. But she didn’t have to worry if the red Tanaan dragon noticed her scrutiny; her reptilian gaze was locked entirely on Jaax. She was at the entrance, the sunshine beckoning and a prior engagement to get to, but she was focused on Jaax.
Even from this distance Jahrra could just make out the expression on her face, the look in her brown eyes. Regret, sorrow, longing, desire. Jahrra gasped inwardly. Desire? Was Shiroxx in love with Jaax? She had expressed similar feelings that night outside the Castle Guard Ruin but Jahrra had been a little too naive then to understand the subtle undertones of such a private conversation. But now, now that she really thought about it and dug down to the emotional level, she could almost see it. It was an astonishing, and rather disturbing, thought. A dragon, in love with another dragon? What an odd concept.
Jahrra mentally kicked herself. She knew better than to think that way. She actually felt a little ashamed. After all, she had been raised by a dragon and she had been around them long enough to know that they had emotions just like she did, just like every being she had ever met. Why couldn’t they feel love as well?
Hroombra had loved her, loved her very much. But Shiroxx and, and Jaax? Mind boggling. Perhaps it was the clash of such a pure emotion with the negative emotions Shiroxx seemed to let rule her life that was throwing Jahrra off. That and her own mostly negative experience with her guardian. Although she had grown to trust him and rely on him, he wasn’t all that loveable.
And then another more shocking thought occurred to her. All of the derision, the cold eyes and forced smiles, the insults dipped in the honey of kind words at the end of a sentence. Jahrra knew what it was, how could she have missed it? Perhaps because it was such a ludicrous idea in the first place. Shiroxx’s behavior, her words, her anger towards Jahrra; all one emotion with many different facets, like a deep green emerald cut to reflect the most light. It had a name, a cruel, selfish and bitter name: jealousy.
Shiroxx was jealous of her. Jahrra nearly dropped to the floor and stopped breathing. Why on earth would such a creature, powerful, intelligent, beautiful even, be jealous of her? Jahrra was a weak human and one of plain appearance according to the female dragon, so why should she have such a strong negative feeling towards her? Was it because she was the supposed savior of the world? The one getting all the attention of those around her?
Jahrra had let her gaze falter as she puzzled this all out in her mind but now she decided to look back at where Shiroxx had been standing. She was still there, still staring after Jaax as he slowly made his way back through the crowd. Goddess above, Jahrra thought with disturbed wonder, she’s jealous because of the attention Jaax gives me?!
Her laugh was one of utter disbelief, not one of mirth. It couldn’t be! Did Shiroxx realize what kind of attention Jaax gave his ward? Oh, if she could ever get the female dragon alone and work up the gumption to discuss this with her, she would assure Shiroxx that Jaax disliked spending time with Jahrra as much as she disliked spending time with him. True, he had been a little less gruff of late, but the only reason he kept Jahrra so close was to protect her from the Crimson King and his minions. It was all so absurd but then again, jealousy had a bad habit of twisting even the most obvious of truths.
Jaax stopped his advance when he heard Jahrra’s laugh. He was only fifteen feet away now and he gave her a dark look.
“Is something funny, Jahrra?”
His words were clipped. He was still irritated. Big surprise.
Jahrra sobered up right away. “No,” she said.
Jaax narrowed his eyes and looked back at Shiroxx. Gratefully, she had finally gone to meet whoever it was she was to meet. Jaax turned his head back around and nailed Jahrra with another one of his domineering stares. “Next time I bring Shiroxx to meet with you, you’ll leave your impudence at home.”
Jahrra simply sniffed. “Forgive me. My impudence only comes out to play when invited by its friend, malice.”
“Don’t get smart with me!” he hissed, smoke escaping between his teeth. “Those who I introduce to you aren’t just people gathered off the streets. Everyone plays a part in this Jahrra, and everyone is to be treated with respect.”
“Perhaps you should be having this conversation with your friend,” Jahrra retorted, her arms no longer crossed but instead thrust down by her sides in anger.
How had this happened? How had they reverted back to the attitudes they’d embodied before leaving Oescienne? True, Jaax still held onto his old habits but Jahrra had thought they had come to understand each other better. She pushed past him and started heading towards the entrance herself. She wanted to get back to their shared dwelling and make some tea before starting on her homework. Then maybe lock herself in her room for a few hours where he couldn’t get to her.
Jaax stopped her with his tail. Jahrra froze. He rarely stopped her using force.
He spoke to her back. “Jahrra,” he began, his voice hard and angry before he sighed heavily. “I understand Shiroxx isn’t the most pleasant of company and I know she insulted you. I am sorry for that, it was out of place and sorely immature of her.”
Jahrra was frozen in slight disbelief. Was Jaax truly apologizing for his rude companion?
“But she is a key participant in this game, and has been an advocate for our cause for a very long time. I’ll speak to her later about how she should be treating the most important player we have but from now on I want you to practice a little patience and remember that you are the one everyone will be looking up to.”
Jahrra blanched. Her part in all of this was a big responsibility and she detested it when Jaax reminded her of it. But he was right, as much as she hated to admit it.
She sighed, her back still facing the dragon. “Very well. I’ll try harder next time. May I go? I have a lot of homework and an exam to study for.”
Jaax moved his tail so that Jahrra could continue her escape. She didn’t once turn around as she walked briskly through the crowd, everyone stepping aside to allow her passage. That was another thing that bothered her. She was a normal student, just like them. But perhaps they moved out of her way because of the confrontation she had just had with the leader of the Coalition. She guessed not many people stood up to the dragon Raejaaxorix.
Jaax watched Jahrra as she passed between the columns and stepped into the bright daylight. He didn’t break his gaze until she disappeared into the distance, mingling with the crowd as she headed home for the day.
The next morning Jahrra woke to find Jaax in the common room reclining by the empty fireplace. Summer was in full swing now, so a fire was no longer necessary. She sighed as she took the last few steps from the staircase in the hall before stepping through the entry into the great common room. Neira met her halfway, handing her a bowl of thick oatmeal with wild berry preserves. The maid grinned and Jahrra couldn’t help returning her smile.
“Make no plans for the weekend,” Jaax said plainly as he flipped through one of the city’s periodical papers.