Swallowing and pushing her luck, Jahrra whispered, “Why?”
It bothered her as well and she wondered if it was for the same reasons it bothered Jaax.
The Tanaan dragon took a deep breath and answered, “Because I don’t like to be reminded of what my ancestors suffered.”
So he has the same opinion as me, Jahrra thought.
“And because it reminds me that Ciarrohn’s curse is still holding strong onto so many of us. And because it means you are alone in this world.”
She almost didn’t hear those last few words but luckily there were no other sounds to block them out. Jahrra stiffened. Yes, she was the only human being in this world but Jaax was wrong.
“I’m not alone,” she whispered as her eyes drifted shut. “I had my mother and father and Hroombra. I still have Gieaun and Scede and Phrym. I have Torrell, Senton, Dathian and Neira. And I have you. Not human but still my friends. My family.”
She understood what her guardian had been trying to say, but despite the fact that there was no one else on Ethoes like her, she was not without loved ones. She sighed and drew herself closer to Jaax, grateful that he was so warm. The music from the performance was far enough away that it wasn’t overbearing but she could still hear it. The dark, dramatic tones of earlier had stopped and what sounded like a hopeful song began to play, its sweet notes dancing through the night. An owl hooted somewhere nearby and Jahrra let her eyes drift shut.
She was only going to doze, she told herself, but before she fell asleep she yawned one last time and mumbled, “Thank you Jaax. I think this is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“You’re welcome, Jahrra.”
And then she was asleep.
-Chapter Eighteen-
An Unexpected Caller
Jahrra couldn’t remember how she got home the night of her birthday but she was sure Jaax hadn’t managed it on his own. She could vaguely recall stumbling half-asleep to the carriage and then later Neira helping her inside and up the stairs. Other than that, it was all a blur. Except for the play itself, of course. That particular experience would be burned into her memory for all eternity. The splendid light show combined with the realistic and ornate costumes would forever leave an impression in her mind.
Jahrra sighed heavily and glanced out her bedroom window as she recalled the weeks-old memory. It had been over a month since the new school term had started and she was stuck inside because of the constant rain. She loved the rain but it had been coming down for several days now and she was desperate to take Phrym out for a ride. Instead, she sat at her desk working on an essay that was due mid-way through the week.
A knock at the door brought Jahrra’s pen to a stop.
“Jahrra?” Neira’s voice sounded muffled through the wooden door. “You have a visitor down in the great room.”
Jahrra drew her eyebrows together. Torrell and Senton should be locked away writing their own essays and Dathian had a meeting with someone from the Coalition, so who else could be out to visit her on such a dismal morning?
Setting her quill down beside her pile of parchment, Jahrra pushed the chair away and stood. She was wearing her typical loose pants and an old tunic, what she always wore while at home. What if this visitor was one of Jaax’s political friends? Would what she was wearing be considered an insult? A few of his associates had met him at home before but Jahrra had been warned beforehand that they were coming. She shook her head as she moved towards the door. If someone was going to come calling on a stormy morning without sending a message ahead, they shouldn’t expect someone to be dressed in their best when they arrived.
Jahrra pulled the door open only to find Neira’s narrow face.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
Neira shook her head. “That dragoness, the one who’s acquainted with Master Jaax.”
Jahrra felt an icicle form in her throat. She swallowed, the imaginary icicle traveling down to settle in the pit of her stomach. The last time she had seen Shiroxx was at the play on her birthday, nearly two months ago. She hadn’t shown up to the last few Coalition meetings, the only ones Jahrra had managed to attend what with her busy school schedule, but then again neither had Kehllor.
“Oh,” was all she said, bringing herself back to the present. “I’ll be down in just a moment.”
Without waiting for a reply Jahrra shut the door and nearly ran to her wardrobe. Jaax had made it clear before that she was to treat Shiroxx with respect and as much as Jahrra disliked the other dragon, she felt it wisest if she listened to her guardian in this manner, especially in his own home. She knew Shiroxx to be cunning and manipulative and she didn’t want anything she did or said (or didn’t do or didn’t say) to be ‘misinterpreted’ by the red Tanaan dragon and reported back to Jaax.
Picking her most casual dress, Jahrra set about changing. Luckily, this garment didn’t require Neira’s help getting into. As she tied the strings down the front of the bodice Jahrra secretly cursed Shiroxx. Ugh, forcing me to get into a dress! And on a morning like this. What could she possibly want?
Jahrra pulled the tie out of her hair and ran her brush through it several times. Satisfied that the knots were gone, she threw the brush back onto her vanity and grabbed a pair of slippers to match the dress. She hurried down the stairs, only to slow her pace as she approached the hallway leading into the great room. Taking a deep breath, Jahrra stood tall and proud and stepped through the arched entryway.
Shiroxx was sitting in front of the fire, as languid as a contemplative cat. Although not quite as big as Jaax, she was still an imposing figure. Jahrra told herself it was the female dragon’s personality that made her seem so overwhelming. The crackle of the fire and the light tapping of her shoes accompanied her across the room. Shiroxx only sat twenty feet or so from the hallway but to Jahrra it felt like a hundred yards.
“Good morning, Shiroxx,” Jahrra said, clearing her throat.
The dragon lifted a delicate brow and smiled, a smile not so unlike the ones Jaax gave her on those rare occasions when she was being particularly ornery.
When the female dragon said nothing Jahrra continued, her voice wavering slightly, “What brings you out and about so early, and on such a day?”
“Oh, it isn’t all that early,” she replied in that voice of hers, “and the weather rarely affects us dragons.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Jahrra responded, biting her cheek in slight annoyance. I will not let her get to me, I will not let her get to me, I will not let her get to me . . .
“As to why I’m here,” she continued, “well, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by to pay a visit to Jaax and his ward.”
Jahrra blinked stupidly but pounced on the opportunity to get rid of the tiresome dragon. “Oh, well, Jaax isn’t in. He left early this morning and won’t be back for a few more days.”
Jahrra’s guardian had flown to Nimbronia to speak with the king of the Creecemind dragons two days ago. He’d surprised her by telling her this, for usually Jaax withheld any and all details. When she asked what he would be discussing with the king he had surprised her further by admitting his business had to do with her and when the people of Nimbronia should expect a visit.
“You’re no longer a child, Jahrra, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t know,” he’d said.
Jahrra had rejoiced in secret. It felt nice to be trusted, even if that particular bit of information wasn’t top-secret.
Shiroxx’s head perked up and she looked at Jahrra with a renewed spark in her eye. After years of interpreting Jaax’s responses, Jahrra picked up on the change right away despite the female dragon’s relaxed stance.