Jahrra released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. His secrecy and strange behavior made perfect sense now. Of course he wished anonymity. Had she not complained of her treatment in Crie, and had she not wanted her true identity to remain unknown for as long as possible? Jahrra smiled and crossed her arms.
“Well, that explains a lot. You feared I would find your name listed somewhere in that book of yours, or research another until I did.”
Dathian grinned back, looking very much at ease now that Jahrra seemed to be in sympathy with him.
“The members of the Coalition know, of course, but so far they have given me their word of not informing anyone outside our group exactly how high up in the royal family I sit. If anyone sees me in my fine clothes, I admit to being a duke’s second cousin, nothing more.”
Jahrra laughed. She was so relieved he didn’t dislike her, and she told him as much. “I thought you were angry at me for some reason.”
Dathian cringed. “I was afraid of that, but I couldn’t divulge my identity. And I had no idea who you were at the time. Shall we keep our confidences to ourselves then? I won’t tell anyone who you are and you won’t tell them who I am?”
Jahrra nodded and held her hand up as if to pledge a vow. “Your secret is safe with me. But I’m afraid my identity has already been noticed. Many people already know and there is no keeping it from the entire population of Lidien.”
Dathian nodded then sighed. “It’s hard to make any lasting friends when you have such secrets to keep.”
“Then you shall be my friend. And I have a feeling you are a fair hand at swordplay.”
Dathian grinned wickedly. “How did you know?”
“Your highness, your costumes are superb but your acting skills? Atrocious.”
Dathian lifted a brow.
“You may have fooled our classmates on our hike but I knew you weren’t struggling. Sword fighting keeps you fit and if I am correct in my assumptions, then your royal upbringing would have demanded it.”
Dathian barked out a laugh. “You are far sharper than I originally thought. It seems I had good reason to fear your interest in my book. But please don’t call me ‘your highness’. Dathian will do just fine. And may I call you Jahrra?”
“Absolutely,” Jahrra said with a grin, thrusting a hand in his direction.
Dathian took it and shook it firmly.
“So, are you up for a little sport after class next week?”
Dathian nodded and sketched a quick bow. “I would be delighted.”
-Chapter Twelve-
Rescuing Dragons and Playing Hostess
The weeks following Jahrra’s first introduction to the Coalition flew by faster than she could take count of them. Summer was in full swing now and she found herself out on the deck above the kitchen more often than not, watching the bees buzz busily among the flowers she had planted in the empty flowerboxes. She was still angry at Jaax for his underhanded way of signing her up for her classes and she’d approached him about it the moment they got back from their meeting with the Coalition. Jahrra had stood in the center of the great room, her arms crossed with the dim light of the lanterns and candles casting her dark shadow across the spacious floor.
Jaax had merely shrugged nonchalantly and said, before disappearing down the hall to seek his own chambers for the night, “Although we are in Lidien I’ll not risk leaving you unguarded. At least I know that each time you step out of this house there will be others to keep their eyes on you just in case someone decides to cause you harm.”
Jahrra had gritted her teeth, a horrible habit she was beginning to develop, and tromped up the stairs to change into her night clothes. She would just have to put up with Jaax’s unpleasant ways of controlling her. Despite her irritation, she did wonder who might mean her harm in this city that held Ethoes and her more pleasant offspring in such high regard. Then again, she also knew from past experience that not everyone was going to like her, try as she might to please those she met. For now, she would cast aside her exasperation at her guardian and try to enjoy the fact that she was at last happy with very few bad memories or dreams creeping into her current life. She would enjoy what remained of the summer and try to look on the bright side of things.
The warm season was beautiful in Lidien. The flower pots and small gardens were overflowing with blossoms and vegetables, the trees that shaded the many streets showing their best in greenery and the soft pastels of their blossoms. The air was rich with floral scents and the citizens of Lidien seemed more cheerful as the warm weather continued and the days grew longer. The flower shops were busy with young men seeking a favor for the girls they wished to court and the young ladies were dressed in their best summer gowns. Jahrra merely grinned at all the merriment, glad to share in their lightness of heart.
As the season dragged on Jahrra found herself practicing longer and more often with Torrell and Senton, and now Dathian. When the royal elf first showed up the week after the Coalition meeting, Torrell had asked, in her usual blatant way, what he was doing there. When Dathian explained he’d been invited by Jahrra, two pairs of surprised eyes had fallen upon her.
Jahrra had merely shrugged. “I ran into him last weekend and he explained that the book had belonged to a cherished grandmother. It was all a misunderstanding and I invited him to join us.”
“Could have been a little more straightforward with the reason for your rudeness,” Torrell had muttered, not quite under her breath.
Senton seemed pleased to have another male around, so he didn’t complain at all.
It turned out, to Jahrra’s great delight and slight surprise, that Dathian was even more skilled than either her or Torrell.
“Where on Ethoes did you learn that?” Torrell had breathed after being soundly beaten by the elf.
Dathian rolled his shoulder in response. “My parents are highly skilled and I learned from them.”
Of course he gave up no more information and Torrell had to force herself to be satisfied with that much.
At the start of autumn the University closed for a few weeks, giving the professors and the students a break to rest their minds. Jahrra spent much of this time practicing with her friends and anyone who would challenge them, riding Phrym through the parks or (when Jaax was unaware of it) in the woods surrounding the boundaries of the city.
She also became quite a regular attendant at the Coalition meetings. After all, she wouldn’t be back in school for two weeks so she figured sitting in and listening to Jaax and his colleagues was a good way to spend her extra time. Especially since now she was very much entangled with the fate of all those involved. She often sat next to Dathian when she could and soon became familiar with the many players, so to say.
Dathian whispered the names, titles and opinions of those who stood to speak at any time during the lengthy meetings. Most of those who had been seated on the stage that first night were important leaders in their part of the world, but at least half of them thought only of their own region and not the world as a whole.
“That could pose a problem in the future,” Dathian murmured during one of the more subdued meetings. “If everyone is only thinking of themselves no one will consider what we can accomplish together.”
Jahrra nodded her agreement but then scowled as she caught sight of Shiroxx watching her from her place among the crowd. Her eyes were narrowed and she tilted her head just so, so that Jahrra might think she placed her attention elsewhere.