Defense practice with her friends, for instance, was proving to be a good distraction. The shorter days of the encroaching winter not only forced them to practice on the weekends but in the mornings sometimes as well. It took Jahrra a while to get used to rising so early but after a week at it she found the cool morning hours quite enjoyable as she worked out with Torrell, Dathian and Senton. Senton’s friend from the Sobledthe festival, Lohra, also joined them more often than not. To Jahrra’s great delight, he seemed to be sparing more of his attention on the red haired girl than herself.
“Hope your heart isn’t broken,” Torrell whispered as they watched Senton and Lohra battle one another with wooden swords.
Jahrra only grinned back at her friend. “Nope. It’s perfectly sound.”
And that was the truth. Jahrra loved Senton dearly, but like a cousin or a long lost brother. She was glad his attention had shifted elsewhere and they could go back to being the friends they had been when they first met.
Another side effect of the early morning practice schedule was that Jahrra often got to eat breakfast with her guardian more often. The first day she had stumbled out of bed before sunup, Jaax had greeted her in the great room, his brow arched and his face draped in curiosity. Jahrra had merely tried to smooth her ruffled hair as she yawned and squinted her eyes away from the fire.
“Morning practices,” she grumbled as she plopped down and accepted a bowl of oatmeal from a chipper Neira.
Jahrra had wondered why her housemates were so robust at such an early hour but as the days passed and she grew used to going to bed earlier and waking up sooner as well, her early morning grogginess disappeared.
The four friends kept to their afternoon classes as well, except now they were shorter, usually only lasting an hour at the most. The short days had managed to scare away most of those who would come and fight against Jahrra and her companions, but as true winter drew nearer their challengers crept back like a fox returning to a henhouse.
“They want to take up open challenges with us again,” Torrell said to Jahrra, Senton and Dathian after asking the small crowd watching them what they were doing hanging around the practice field with no obvious intent to practice.
Jahrra’s eyes widened and she looked up at Senton and Dathian. Senton shrugged, but Dathian, despite his calm demeanor, had a gleam in his eye.
Jahrra grinned wickedly. “Are they willing to place bets?”
Torrell returned her friend’s smile. “Yes, they are.”
Jahrra knew that it was potentially dangerous to take up her old habit of sparring for money but purchasing Jaax’s Solsticetide gift had drained her savings and although she knew her guardian would have no trouble providing for her from the mysterious cache of wealth he had hidden away somewhere, it felt good to provide for herself. Yet it was risky, because somehow she knew her guardian would not approve of her methods of making money.
“If Jaax ever found out about this,” she said one morning on their way from the practice fields to class, “he might start following me throughout the day to keep me from doing anything disapproving.”
Torrell snorted and Senton gave her an incredulous look. Dathian wisely strolled along with his hands clasped behind his back as usual.
“You think he would object to making wagers that strongly?” Senton asked seriously, wiping his forehead with a spare towel he had brought along.
Jahrra shrugged. “Let’s just say it wouldn’t surprise me. He has been very protective in the past.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Torrell said facetiously as she crossed her arms. “You are the only human in Ethoes you know.”
Jahrra opened her mouth to protest, but Senton beat her to it.
“I don’t see why he would be so upset about this though.” He waved a hand around, indicating the practice field. “We’re not doing anything illegal and it’s not like you’re wandering beyond the borders of Lidien alone, looking for the Crimson King’s minions to pick a fight with.”
Jahrra sighed. “He would find something unsavory about it, believe me. For now, let’s just not talk about it when he is around.”
The rest of that week went by rather quickly, despite Jahrra’s nerves about their exams. The Solsticetide break was nearly upon them and when Jahrra managed to resurface from her long study sessions, it dawned upon her that her birthday wasn’t far off either. Was she really eighteen already? Where had the last year gone? She snorted at her wayward thoughts. Somehow, the past year had become lost among the mess that had become her life since leaving Oescienne. What significance did time have? When it was competing against learning you were destined to save the world and then in the next breath, fleeing from your only home in order to escape an evil demon that had killed your long-time guardian?
Jahrra shivered and tried to focus on the descendants of the kings of the lands of Felldreim and the proper mathematical equation she would need in order to come up with the large number swimming on the page of her book. It was no longer a surprise as to why she had so thoroughly lost track of time.
On the morning of Solstice Eve, Jahrra woke up with a start. For a fleeting moment, she’d thought she’d been having another nightmare but a glance towards her window washed all thoughts from her mind. She was late. She quickly threw on some practice clothes then dashed downstairs, managing to grab a bite to eat in her haste. She waved a goodbye to Neira and Jaax but was in too much of a hurry to catch their responses.
The streets of Lidien were still relatively quiet and the few citizens who were about paid no attention to the girl and her semequin moving swiftly through the frost-laden city. Great garlands of pine and fir hung from eaves and lampposts, and the few horses and carriages that traversed the deserted streets on this fine morning jingled with silver bells while the breath of the horses puffed in the air like wisps of dragon smoke. Jahrra smiled as she turned Phrym down a familiar lane, for it was the Solstice after all. Her exams were over and she had nearly two more weeks to recuperate before starting her new classes for spring term.
By the time she reached the public park the sun was well over the hills. Torrell, Dathian and Senton were waiting for her, grinning from ear to ear as they stepped forward, their arms loaded down with boxes wrapped in colorful paper and ribbons. Returning their smiles, Jahrra removed the pack from her shoulder and started pulling out wrapped boxes of her own. They’d all decided to exchange gifts this morning since Dathian had plans that would keep him busy most of the break and Senton was traveling up north with his family later that day to spend the holidays with his cousins.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jahrra said, slightly out of breath.
“You’re not that late,” Senton insisted.
“Enough chit-chat! Happy Solsticetide everybody!” Torrell said as she went around, thrusting a gift into everyone’s hands.
Soon the four of them were sitting on the damp grass, exchanging thanks and grins as the paper was torn away and the boxes were pried open. Senton couldn’t believe Jahrra had bought him a dagger and Torrell happily clasped her bracelet around her wrist, examining it in the weak, early morning sun of winter and pretending like she hadn’t picked it out herself.
Dathian held the stone inkwell gingerly, giving Jahrra a look.
She smiled. “Found it in a trade shop. One of the store’s attendants said it came from some valley back east,” Jahrra paused and waved her hand around, feigning ignorance. “Dennor Valley or Nohra Valley, I can’t remember.”