Shiroxx, who had been gazing at him through half-lidded eyes, a serene smile plastered on her face, suddenly became frozen. Jaax was sure she would have turned white if her scales would allow it.
“Visit? Conversation? Jaax, I make many visits and have many conversations on a daily basis, you know this. Am I to recall a single one and this one being as old as a week? And when most of these callings consist of frivolous talk and inconsequential gossip? Am I to believe you, of all dragons in Ethoes, consider one of my social callings to be important enough to drag yourself, and myself I might add, from our much needed sleep?”
“The visit and conversation of which I speak is neither frivolous nor inconsequential,” Jaax snapped, baring his teeth in a half-snarl.
Shiroxx curled her own lip in defense. “Oh, pray, do tell me what some sniveling little whelp of a noble lord’s making came whining to you about. If one cannot handle the pressures of court and politics one should stay at home, locked away in their manor house where no one has to suffer their intolerable presence.”
Shiroxx had apparently dropped her act of the innocent damsel and was returning to her normal self. Good, Jaax thought, let her dig herself deeper.
“I am not speaking of some rude passing comment you made at a social dinner or luncheon, I am here because of something far worse.”
Shiroxx arched a brow and glared at him, demanding with a look and her body language that he get on with it and tell her why he had dragged her away from sleep so early.
“Last week, while I was away on business, you paid a visit to my ward.”
Jaax thought it best to refer to Jahrra as such. Keep this a business matter. Don’t make it personal, that is what Shiroxx wants, he reminded himself, hoping he could stick to that advice.
Jaax saw the fire in Shiroxx’s eyes flare for a moment, but she quickly composed herself.
“And is it a crime then, to call on the chosen child of Ethoes and see how she fares without her doting guardian at her beck and call?”
Jaax ignored the insult and pressed on, “It is a crime when the one visiting is there to pry into matters that are not her affair and to stir trouble where it is not needed.”
Shiroxx was silent for a moment and for once Jaax was unable to discern what she was thinking.
“And what is it that you think I said or did to her?” The female dragon’s voice was soft, almost alarmingly so.
“That you inquired after my whereabouts in a conniving way,” Jaax said simply.
Shiroxx laughed, an almost genuine one this time. “Oh, is that all? I simply inquired as to where you might be! I came calling to visit with both of you and asked only to discern whether or not I should come back some other time.”
“And yet you decided to stay, despite my absence.”
Shiroxx snorted and rolled her eyes. “And your point being? I had a visit with the girl without you hovering for once. Is that so bad?”
Jaax glared at her. He was tired of her excuses. “It is when you question her loyalty to me and give her false ideas about my loyalty to her.”
Jaax was practically growling. He was standing now and had moved across the cushion-strewn floor, forcing Shiroxx to rise as well and take a defensive position. If he had been a cat, his hackles would have been raised and his tail a bottlebrush. Instead, an aggressive growl escaped his throat and his reptilian tail twitched in irritation.
“We have worked very hard to come to an understanding and respect between us, Jahrra and I, and I will not sit back and allow you to pull that apart, thread by thread, with your selfish, self-indulgent trickery.”
Shiroxx, seemingly fresh out of denial and excuses, shot back, “The little chit has not a care for what you do or where you are, no matter how much you’ve deluded yourself to think so! You should have heard her. Her lame excuse for not knowing your whereabouts was that you give information only when it needs to be given. She could care less! What sort of trust and respect is that? How can you defend someone without even the slightest inkling of loyalty?”
“Then she knows me far better than you do,” he hissed in return, “and that, my dear dragoness, is the purest example of loyalty.”
Shiroxx was speechless and not because she chose to be, but because Jaax had driven her to it. That fact gave him great satisfaction.
Before she could revive herself from that blow, he drew breath and continued on, driving the nail farther in, “I have also received word from several of my associates that you have enlisted a spy to help you with your hunger for information.”
Shiroxx blanched, then hissed, “Who accuses me!”
Jaax smirked, but it held no humor. “And you wish me to tell you names so that you can go and teach them a lesson? I think not. You are far out of line Shiroxx and your behavior will no longer be tolerated.”
Shiroxx opened her mouth to argue, but Jaax beat her to it, “In light of recent events that were fully and purposefully under your own control and execution, I, Raejaaxorix, Head of the Coalition for Ethoes, hereby discharge you and excuse you from all duties pertaining to the cause we so seek to bring about. Your services are no longer needed nor desired.”
The words had been memorized long ago to be used in just this kind of situation and despite their overindulgent nature, it was necessary for him to use them today. He, nor any other member of the Coalition, could continue to accept Shiroxx’s erratic behavior. She acted purely on emotion and although one’s feelings were intrinsic to their group’s purpose in this world, it was extremely dangerous to operate on emotions alone. Besides, she posed a danger to Jahrra and Jaax would not allow that. Her actions before had been questionable but this time Shiroxx had clearly crossed a line.
The red dragon stood in her ornate sitting room, a mix of emotions playing over her face: shock, irritation, longing and most significantly, anger. There may have been some regret and sorrow lingering beneath the surface but Jaax knew it would only be for selfish purposes. Shiroxx rarely felt guilt or empathy towards others.
Finally, she found her voice.
“How dare you! You cannot cast me aside like some used up resource, after all I’ve done for–”
Jaax’s sneer was apparent in his voice as he cut her off, “You have done nothing for the Coalition worth noting. Don’t presume to tell me I am being unfair.”
Shiroxx bristled but quickly regained her composure. She softened her stance and took on the air she often wore when about to apply some sweetly delivered insult. Jaax blew a snort of smoky air through his nostrils and turned to leave. Shiroxx’s servants, nervous from the tense atmosphere their master and Jaax had stirred, pulled on the large sliding door to let the other dragon out.
As Jaax stepped out into the cool winter air, wishing to put as much space between himself and Shiroxx, the female dragon purred after him, “I hope this little misunderstanding hasn’t damaged our friendship, dearest Raejaax.”
Without turning around, Jaax shot over his shoulder, “Oh no, Shiroxx, our acquaintanceship is over. Friendship requires trust and sacrifice, two things you are incapable of giving freely.”
Jaax didn’t wait for a reply, he simply faced the street and pressed on, hoping with a cold dread in his stomach that Shiroxx would not somehow take her revenge out on Jahrra.
His ward was gone when he returned so he went directly to his study, informing Neira that he expected another Tanaan dragon in an hour or so.
“Not Shiroxx,” he said when he saw the look on her face.
The maid released a sigh and said, “Thank goodness.”