“Is that so? Where could he possibly have gone to be away for so many days?”
The question sounded innocent but Jahrra knew better. Besides, she promised herself she would keep Jaax’s confidences, not telling a single soul what he told her unless he specifically asked her to. Besides that, she didn’t trust Shiroxx, not one bit.
Jahrra simply shrugged. “I don’t know, he doesn’t really tell me much.”
Shiroxx, looking slightly put out, frowned a little.
After a moment she regained her composure and said, “That’s quite alright. We don’t need Jaax in order to have a proper visit, now do we?”
Jahrra tensed. The last thing she wanted to do was to visit with Shiroxx, but she couldn’t be rude.
“No, we don’t,” she said carefully.
“So tell me, young Jahrra, how do your studies go?”
And so the two of them began a clipped conversation consisting entirely of small talk. Fortunately, this only lasted for five minutes and when Jahrra thought Shiroxx was preparing to leave, she breathed a mental sigh of relief.
“You know,” the dragon crooned as she made her way towards the door, “it really is a shame that Raejaax doesn’t trust you more. As much as you are expected to accomplish someday you would think he’d let you in on more of exactly what your purpose is in all of this. And his.”
Jahrra felt her face begin to flush. What Shiroxx insinuated was insulting both to Jahrra and Jaax.
“And considering all the time you spend together one would think you would have earned his trust. Makes one wonder what he intends to do with you after all.”
The ‘one’ in question being Shiroxx. Jahrra gritted her teeth. That had been the final straw.
“Thank you, Shiroxx, for visiting me. I will tell Jaax you came by.”
Jahrra emphasized her last sentence, her tone of voice making it clear that Jaax would hear about every aspect of this visit.
Shiroxx had the nerve to laugh. “Oh, dearest girl, do not presume to threaten me. Why would Jaax believe you when he can’t even find a good reason to tell you of his whereabouts?”
Jahrra wanted to tell Shiroxx that she did indeed know where Jaax was but that would be futile and she had a nagging feeling that this was just another method of the female dragon’s attempts at dragging information out of her. No, she would not betray her guardian to this sorry excuse of a Tanaan dragon. Besides, she knew Jaax kept much from her, but he had his reasons.
As the red dragoness stepped out into the now lightly falling rain, Jahrra said, “Jaax tells me what I need to know and my acceptance of that is proof enough of my trust.”
Shiroxx narrowed her pale brown eyes and turned to face Jahrra, standing in the open space of the dragon’s door.
“Don’t you want to know Jaax’s secrets, Jahrra, hmm?” she crooned in a deadly quiet voice. “I could tell you a few. I know so many of them.”
That claim sprinkled her skin with goose bumps. A year ago she would have leapt at the chance. But she wasn’t that girl anymore and she hoped she never would be again.
“No, I don’t,” she replied, her voice just as low and dangerous, “and they are not your secrets to share. Good day to you.”
Jahrra pushed the large door shut and bolted it, not waiting for a response. She turned on her heel and stormed back towards the stairs that led up to her room. There was no way she would be able to focus on her essay now and the rain was letting up. She really needed to go for a long ride on Phrym. But the muddy roads would be treacherous; perhaps she could just visit him.
Jahrra nearly slammed into Neira as she rounded the corner to head up the stairs.
“I’m sorry!” she said, stopping herself just in time.
“Don’t be,” Neira answered with some spirit. “I heard what that dragon said and I’m proud of your response to her. You handled yourself very well. Your guardian would be very pleased.”
Jahrra sighed. “I wanted to say so many more things, but I bit my tongue.”
“I know, I know, and that’s a hard thing to do with one such as her.”
Neira smiled and Jahrra suddenly felt better. She grinned and continued up the stairs, a spring in her step despite her shaky nerves from the uncomfortable encounter with Shiroxx.
Jaax was gone nearly a week, giving Jahrra plenty of time to recover from her visit with Shiroxx. With classes and school work to keep her busy, and with the break in the rain giving her many opportunities to take Phrym out, Jahrra found herself thinking about the red dragon’s forward behavior and how she might approach Jaax about it.
In the end, she thought it would be best not to mention it at all. After all, more likely than not, Shiroxx would make light of what she’d said and insinuated, and Jaax would surely accuse Jahrra of being overly sensitive. No, the red dragon was merely trying to bully her way into business not her own, as usual. Hopefully she’d learned that Jahrra wasn’t as easy to bend to her will as she might think.
Jaax arrived home with another bout of rain and Jahrra almost believed he had brought the gloomy weather with him. He did look tired, practically curling up beside the fire on the rather stormy afternoon on the day of his return. Jahrra had come home from school, properly drenched despite the cloak she’d held over herself and her school bag, to find him dozing like a great dog. Upon seeing him Jahrra tiptoed across the stone floor and hung her dripping cloak on the other side of the fire place, then turned to head upstairs.
“Any news I should be aware of?” Jaax’s worn voice said from just behind her.
Jahrra started then turned around. He still looked exhausted but his eyes were fixed on her at the moment. Other than the impromptu visit from Shiroxx, nothing exciting or noteworthy had occurred that week.
Jahrra shook her head. “No, nothing worth repeating.”
Jaax simply nodded, then rested his head on his forelegs. Jahrra didn’t need him to tell her he wished to rest so she turned and bounded up the stairs, hoping to get some studying done before supper.
An hour or so after sunset, Jahrra set aside her quill and books and stretched, cracking her back in the process. She released a great yawn and rubbed her eyes. At least she had made a decent dent in her astronomy and history classes. Pulling on her night slippers, she made her way down the hall and to the stairs, the dim firelight from the candles lining the walls aiding her as she went. As she descended the stairs, the smell of winter stew and freshly baked biscuits wafted her way. Jahrra grinned even as her mouth watered at the enticing scent.
She pushed the swinging door open and stepped into the kitchen, the heat of the oven and the light of several candles and lamps making the room look as if it were on fire.
“How do you always manage to have dinner ready just as my stomach starts growling?” Jahrra asked lightly.
Neira, her brown hair tied back with a scarf and her apron dusted with flower, turned and gave Jahrra a slightly cross look.
“Because it knows it will only get fed when I feel like cooking.”
Jahrra let out a laugh and Neira couldn’t help but join her. She picked up a wooden bowl and walked over to the cauldron hanging over the fire, helping herself to the stew.
She carried her bowl across the kitchen, grabbed a spoon and shoved a buttered biscuit into her mouth before heading through the door that led into the great room.
“Very ladylike, Miss Jahrra,” Neira scolded.
Jahrra was saved from coming up with a good retort, seeing as her mouth was full. The fire in the great room was crackling joyfully and the lamps and candles were lit as well. The light reflected off of the glass of the tall windows, the streaks of rain barely visible against the blackness of evening.