“I’ll be right back!” she shouted to Senton over the din, then pushed her way back through the crowd.
The dragon didn’t notice her until she was right beneath him.
“Hello, Kehllor!” she said, whipping her mask off.
The Tanaan dragon looked confused for just a moment but then his face lit in recognition.
He shed some of his customary tension when he said, “Ah, Miss Jahrra. How are you this Sobledthe Eve?”
“Good,” she answered with a grin. “I’m about to enter the sparring competition. Where are you off to?”
His scaly brow rose at that and Jahrra got the impression she had his full attention now.
“Are you? I was on my way to a party at Shiroxx’s residence, but it’s supposed to last all night and she only required that her guests make an appearance . . .” His voice trailed off as he seemed to struggle against something.
“Oh, do stick around and watch the competition. I mean, not that I expect to win or anything, but afterwards you’re more than welcome to join my friends and I for a while.” She took a breath. “But I don’t want to keep you too long from Shiroxx. I’ve met her before. I know how, um, insistent she can be.”
Kehllor seemed to bristle at that and his jaw firmed, but Jahrra didn’t think it was because of her.
“Yes, I think I’ll stick around and join you after the festivities. Thank you.”
He gave a slight bow of his head and found a relatively open place to watch from where he wouldn’t block anyone else’s view.
Jahrra beamed; thrilled she had managed to break the ice with this young dragon. She made her way back to where her friends had moved up in line. Torrell and Senton gave her a curious glance and she shrugged saying she would explain later. Dathian, on the other hand, gave her a more questioning look.
Since he was standing closer to her she was able to whisper, “I just invited Kehllor to join us after we’re done here.”
The elf lifted a dark brow and looked up to find Kehllor sitting near the base of the stadium seats. He gave a slight bow, and Jahrra could only guess the dragon returned it.
“Making progress on your scheme I take it?” he asked, quietly enough that Senton and Torrell didn’t hear.
Jahrra shrugged again. After her blotchy introduction to the golden dragon those weeks ago, she had informed Dathian of her plans to extricate him from Shiroxx’s talons.
He had snorted and shaken his head. “Oh, I don’t doubt that is exactly the situation, but that seems like a lost cause there. Shiroxx, once she catches hold of something or sets her mind to having things a certain way, it’s nearly impossible to interfere.”
Jahrra had screwed up her face and felt her blood rush with the promise of a challenge. That settled it. If Dathian was so sure the red Tanaan always got what she desired and no one ever stood in her way, then Jahrra was going to be the one to do it. And furthermore, she was going to help someone in the process. After several arguments with the elf, she’d finally convinced Dathian to help her in her endeavors, but only from the sidelines and only by offering a cheer of encouragement from time to time.
“I have no desire to get on Shiroxx’s bad side and I highly recommend you stay out of her sights as well. Rumor has it she’s already taken a disliking to you. You don’t want to anger her Jahrra, believe me.”
She had wanted to ask what Dathian had meant by that, but some outside force had put an end to their conversation. Jahrra let it slide, remembering to be grateful for any support Dathian was willing to offer.
“Jahrra! The judges need your name and entrance fee,” Torrell hissed.
Jahrra blinked in surprise, momentarily having forgotten where she was. “Oh, right.”
She paid the fee and all four of them took up an opponent in one of the several rings. Jahrra let her thoughts of Shiroxx and Kehllor drop away as the thrill of the fight took over. The Resai man she was paired up against was taller and older than her and his skills were well honed. He managed to cut her arm with his sword before she returned the favor, dispatching his weapon with a flourish. The fight lasted no more than ten minutes but Jahrra was out of breath from the effort. She shook hands with her opponent and they moved on to the next challenger. The crowd was roaring and cheering and chanting the names of those they knew.
Jahrra took on four more challengers, all ranging in age and size. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that Torrell grunted with effort as she fought against a man twice her size with skin even darker than her own. Jahrra wondered if she would be able to defeat him. He was very quick and seemed to have a few tricks up his sleeve. Dathian was easily dodging the attempts of his challenger and Jahrra was sure he was drawing the battle out in order to keep the poor man’s pride intact. Senton, to Jahrra’s great delight, seemed to be holding out rather well against a pretty girl with dark red hair.
Finally, Jahrra moved on to the archery portion of the competition in which she managed to defeat all but five people, one of them being the girl who had been paired up against Senton. An hour after entering the competition, the four friends wandered back to the entrance gate to collect their winnings. Dathian, not surprisingly, won the most. He pocketed the gold coins with a grin.
As they staggered back to the stadium, the red haired girl brushed past them, glancing over her shoulder and giving Senton a demure smile. Senton, to Jahrra’s astonishment, actually blushed.
“Who’s that?” Torrell asked, crossing her arms and moving very close to Senton.
“Um, Lohra,” he said, ruffling his hair as if to remove dirt. “She was my last sparring partner, during the swordsmanship portion of the challenge.”
Torrell gave Jahrra a wicked look and Jahrra had to hide a laugh.
“Looks like she wants to do more than spar,” Torrell drawled.
That time Jahrra couldn’t hide her laugh and even Dathian chuckled and clapped Senton on the back. He seemed rather flustered but grinned sheepishly, regardless.
Jahrra took advantage of the situation and said, “She’s a really good archer. Does she go to the University?”
Senton simply nodded.
“Well, why don’t you go find her and ask her to practice with us?!” she cried, smacking him on the shoulder.
Blinking in surprise, Senton looked at each of his friends in turn.
Torrell shrugged. “Wouldn’t hurt to have one more girl hanging around.”
Dathian gave one of his characteristic bows. “As long as she doesn’t distract you into losing your head.”
Grumbling, but hiding a tiny grin, Senton chased after the redhead.
“I think your romantic woes are over, Jahrra,” Torrell mumbled to her as they moved on.
Jahrra nodded and took a deep breath. She hoped Torrell was correct.
“So, where to next?” Torrell wondered as they waited for Senton.
“Actually,” Jahrra said after clearing her throat, “I have someone to introduce you to.”
Torrell looked utterly surprised and even more so when Jahrra presented her and Dathian to Kehllor.
“Torrell, Dathian,” she said, looking between the two and the Tanaan dragon, “this is Kehllor. He’s a member of the Coalition with me. When I saw him tonight I thought it would be a good idea to ask him to come along with us since he’s here alone. Kehllor,” she paused, “these are my friends Torrell and Dathian.”
They both acknowledged the dragon and Dathian, ever worried about his true identity, pretended to never have seen him before. Senton returned a few moments later, out of breath and wearing a big grin on his face.