So, we are going to a play? Jahrra wondered. Perhaps they were meeting this important dignitary for an evening performance by way of introduction. Jahrra set the note and pamphlet aside, reaching for the second item in the box. It was a fine dagger, about as long as her forearm, complete with a sheath and buckled straps. The sheath was composed of finely etched leather with an image of the Baherhb and the dragons’ code written in Kruelt. The dagger itself was a little more affluent. The pommel fit well in Jahrra’s hand as she drew it from its sheath. Deep blue sapphires were spangled along the cross guard in an intricate pattern.
Jahrra examined the straps and sheath of the dagger and realized that it was meant to be strapped to her lower leg. Setting the pamphlet aside, she slipped off one of her boots and secured the sheath in place, grinning when she pulled her boot back on. There was plenty of room for the dagger. Sighing and trying not to allow herself to become spoiled with her guardian’s immense generosity, she turned her head to look out at the encroaching night.
The carriage felt like it was moving northward and when she noticed the ocean spreading like a dark plain to their left, it only confirmed her suspicions. Fifteen minutes later they crested the top of a hill and several blazing torches suddenly lit up the sky. Not able to help herself, Jahrra threw open the glass window of the carriage and stuck her head out. She gaped in surprise. A great stone façade rose in front of her, flanked by several young men in formal wear attending a large torch. Carriages and carts of every variety were pulling up and unloading people dressed in their finest. A cheerful melody was rising up from somewhere beyond the fancy archway and the light chatter and laughter of the crowd stirred the night air. The scent of burning tar, with the undertone of something mustier, like sheets or clothes that had been in storage too long, dusted the air.
“I see you made it in one piece,” Jaax’s voice broke into Jahrra’s daydreaming. “Shall we proceed?”
She blinked up at him. He looked almost regal, standing with the bright fires blazing just behind him. Jahrra was suddenly apprehensive again, remembering they must be meeting someone very important for Jaax to go to so much trouble.
The Tanaan dragon thanked the driver and asked them to return in a couple of hours. The driver and footman bowed formally and pulled the carriage off of the main path to make room for others.
“I hope you like this play, Jahrra,” Jaax said as they made their way past the torch-bearers.
Jahrra only swallowed and tried to keep up with the dragon’s longer strides. There were a few other dragons attending; a few Tanaan, a Korli or two and one other that didn’t look like any she had ever seen. Jahrra asked Jaax about it and he told her that sometimes dragons mixed with kruels different from their own. Jahrra nodded in understanding, wondering which two races had produced the unique dragon she admired from a distance.
The two of them made short work of the steps and as they moved through the arch of the façade, Jahrra gasped in surprise. Below them a great theater curved down from the top of the hill several feet to meet with a huge, circular stage. Torches, their fiery tops dancing in the gentle ocean breeze, lined the aisles. Ushers, dressed in the same fancy clothes as the torch-bearers outside, escorted people to their seats.
Jahrra was suddenly overwhelmed with the vastness of this place and found herself leaning against Jaax’s foreleg for support.
“Well, do you like it?” the dragon inquired quietly, his head dropped low so that only Jahrra could hear.
“It’s, it’s amazing,” she breathed, her eyes still wide with wonder as she continued to take it all in.
Behind the stage there stood another wall, painted and adorned to look like a castle. Colorful fabric, flowing easily in the light wind, drifted in front of the torches, catching the light of the flames and turning it crimson, gold and azure. To her surprise, Jahrra heard the voices of the people sitting several seats below them, drifting up to her and sounding as if they were standing just beside her.
Jahrra cleared her throat. “So, who is it we are meeting tonight?” she braved. “Must be someone important for you to go to all this trouble.”
She stepped away from Jaax and nodded her head towards the stage far below, then gestured to her own dress.
Jaax gave her one of his looks. Jahrra knew this look very well; it was the look that had just enough question in it to make the overbearing condescension seem almost obsolete.
Before Jaax could say something cutting, she continued on, “You only ever take me out dressed up if you wish to introduce me to some diplomat or relative of some royal somewhere, so I was wondering who we were meeting tonight, that’s all.”
Jaax straightened and returned his gaze to the scene in front of him. His eyes had grown hard again and Jahrra bit her cheek.
“I mean, we’ve been in Lidien for several months, and I figured I had met all the Coalition members by now, but then again most of you keep busy with affairs outside of Felldreim, so it’s possible there are still people I haven’t met–”
“Jahrra,” he said softly, forcing her to stop her babbling, “have I ever taken you to meet anyone of any importance without first telling you who it was we were going to see?”
Jahrra felt herself deflate. He was right; he had always prepared her for those meetings.
“No,” she said, then added tentatively, “so, we’re not meeting anyone then?”
“No.”
“Then why the dress? Why the play and the fancy dagger?”
Jaax turned then and gave her a sharp glance, his emerald eyes looking on the verge of anger. “Jahrra, what day is it?”
She actually had to think about it, then she felt her face flush and then burn as she slumped with sudden realization. It was her birthday. Jaax had done all of this for her birthday? If she hadn’t felt awkward before she sure felt so now.
Jaax tilted his head so that she would know he was talking to her. Not that he needed to.
“Despite what you think, I am very much capable of kindness Jahrra. Kindness for the sake of kindness and not for the sake of gaining anything because of it.”
His voice was rough again and Jahrra cringed. She braved a look at his face, expecting to find anger. She found some anger in his eyes, yes, but there was more hurt there than anything else.
Jahrra sighed, feeling unbearably ashamed of herself and pained that she had taken Jaax’s gift as something other than what it was.
“I’m sorry,” she said in complete sincerity. “I love the dagger and I can’t wait to see the play. I even like the dress, and you know how I feel about dresses. I really, truly do.”
“May I help you to your seats?”
Jahrra was interrupted as an energetic attendant appeared before them.
“Yes, that would be most helpful. Thank you,” Jaax responded with pure politeness.
As they made their way across the top of the theater, Jahrra tried to reconcile herself with her reaction to Jaax’s generous birthday gift. She was angry with herself for making assumptions and promised herself she would never do it again. The theater attendant, a young man with auburn hair, led them to one of the upper corners of the theater. Jahrra wondered why they were seated so far from the stage but when she spotted the other dragons perched along the ridge from one end to the next, she realized that this was the only place that she and Jaax could sit without disturbing the other patrons.
Jaax thanked the young man again and in the next moment he was off to find more lost theater goers. Jahrra sat down upon the great stone steps, mimicking those around her. Jaax, being the great Tanaan dragon that he was, settled down on the flat earth just behind her. Jahrra felt unease creep up on her again and she wondered if Jaax had accepted her haphazard apology. At the moment he was being typically quiet. How he could sit among others and remain so silent was beyond her, but she was determined to remain so if her guardian did.