“Citizens of Ethoes!” Jaax shouted above the clamor, “Hold your opinions until you hear the length of it.”
Reluctantly, the many facets of conversation ceased.
Jaax opened his mouth to continue, but was interrupted.
“And who are you to have made such a major decision without consulting the board?”
Jahrra felt her stomach flip over. It was Rohdann who spoke, of course. She took a deep, ragged breath. So it begins.
Jaax shot his attention towards Rohdann’s pale blue glare and his jaw tightened.
“You’ll give me the courtesy of waiting until I am through,” he growled.
“And why should I?” the black Tanaan sneered. “You didn’t give us the courtesy of coming to a joint decision about Shiroxx.”
Jaax actually snarled but luckily it was low enough not to carry beyond the stage. Kehllor shifted and Jahrra could feel the tension rolling off of him.
Jahrra was beginning to worry. She hoped this wouldn’t turn into another argument over who really should be the leader of the Coalition. The last time Rohdann was given leave to speak his mind he outright challenged Jaax, accusing him of being an incompetent leader and demanded his colleagues seriously reconsider a replacement. Jahrra had later learned from Dathian and a handful of other Coalition members that Rohdann had a few loose supporters, but she’d been assured that their bark was worse than their bite.
The thought of someone else replacing Jaax, especially if that someone else was Rohdann, made Jahrra shudder. Suddenly, most of the boiling anger she’d felt against her guardian evaporated. She didn’t always agree with Jaax’s decisions, his most recent one a good example, but she would always stand beside him and support him. It had taken quite a while for her to see it but Jahrra knew without a doubt that no one else could have kept the Coalition together as well as Jaax had in Hroombra’s wake.
“Oh, do shut your mouth before any more untrained thoughts escape,” Anthar said, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his tail flicking his sides in irritation.
Rohdann shot the centaur a poisonous glance but those around him were snickering and tried to hide their smiles. Jahrra grinned in Anthar’s direction and he winked at her. She hadn’t seen him when she’d entered, but then again, she hadn’t seen much save for the two dragons and one elf standing beside her now.
“As I was saying,” Jaax continued, his tone holding a threat, “I will gladly explain my decision to all of you and hopefully then you’ll see why my choice was immediate, and necessary.”
Jahrra felt the bottom of her stomach drop out. Here it comes.
“It came to my knowledge that during my absence a few weeks ago Shiroxx paid Jahrra a visit. She inquired after me and when Jahrra informed her of my trip, Shiroxx became overly curious. When my ward would not reveal the details of my journey, Shiroxx grew hostile and accused her of disloyalty to myself, and in essence, disloyalty to the Coalition. Furthermore,”
Jaax paused and took a breath, casting a worried glance in Jahrra’s direction. She gulped down her nerves. She could tell by that look that whatever he was about to say wouldn’t be pleasing.
“I have been informed that Shiroxx has also employed spies to keep an eye on Jahrra and to report back everything they learned.”
An audible gasp permeated the crowd so Jahrra couldn’t say whether or not she made any noise herself. She suddenly felt as if she were made of jelly. She looked at Jaax and the answer in his eyes was pure apology. He had known, but hadn’t told her. Why? More protection? Yet, for once Jahrra was glad he hadn’t. Such knowledge would have only made her paranoid.
When the crowd eventually recovered from their surprise Jaax continued on, his voice sounding slightly hoarse, “We cannot afford to have her harassing Jahrra and distracting me from my duties and all of you from yours.”
The Coalition’s leader took a deep breath and blinked at the stage floor, studying the grooves his claws had created. He looked up after a moment and continued, “Jahrra is the reason we exist. Our pledge to Ethoes is to protect the human child and keep her safe from harm; to aid her in the fight against the Tyrant and his god.”
Jahrra resented being called a child but now was not the time to complain. She had never seen Jaax so serious, except for the time just after Hroombra’s death.
As if he could hear her thoughts, Jaax turned his gaze onto her, his mouth grim and his eyes troubled, almost as if they were beseeching her.
“And I assume you got both sides of the story?” Rohdann’s remark was snide but lacked much of its earlier bite. “And how can you be so sure Shiroxx sent out spies? Who informed you of this absurdity?”
Jahrra could have sworn the dragon’s gaze landed on Kehllor but it was a quick thing and she was more distracted by the falter in his tone. She suspected that perhaps the black dragon saw reason in Jaax’s decision, now that he knew why it had been made. Still, Rohdann wouldn’t roll over that easily.
Jaax’s softened gaze hardened again and he shot his head towards his challenger.
“Of course I did!” he hissed, answering Rohdann’s first question. “Despite your extreme dislike for me Rohdann, do you think I would make such a significant decision without a thorough investigation?”
A light murmur began once again and those standing closest to Rohdann started to move away.
The black dragon snorted. “For all I know you’re merely trying to remove a distraction of a whole other sort.”
Now that comment garnered a reaction. Jahrra gasped, Dathian made a strangled sound, Kehllor took a step back, and the entire Coalition started whispering harshly to their neighbors once again.
Jahrra dared to look at Jaax and she was almost sorry she did. He was angry, very angry, but he held onto his temper, better than he did whenever he was annoyed with her. But something about his stance rankled Jahrra. She looked over the crowd and most everyone seemed to be eying Jaax with suspicion now, hiding their quiet words behind hands, yet letting their intentions be shown on their faces; in their looks.
A slow, deep burning anger grew in the pit of Jahrra’s stomach. How dare they? How dare Rohdann make such a vicious, suggestive comment? And for most of their friends and colleagues to consider it? Jahrra threw aside her fears of being here, of her cloaked concern for Shiroxx and what removing her from the Coalition might do.
She had tried to harm me, Jahrra finally admitted fully to herself. She had tried to drive a spike between Jaax and I and Jaax had stood up for me and banished the one creature who could make me reconsider my decision to help fight for Ethoes, the one creature who could make me feel as bad as Eydeth and Ellysian had. Jaax took a great risk by dealing with that poisonous red dragon on his own, and now he was suffering for it. Well, not if I can help it.
Jahrra stood up and shoved past Dathian, forcing him to stumble back in surprise. She would have apologized, for her friend looked quite harassed, but she was far too angry and far too determined.
She approached the podium and stepped upon the stool resting behind it, bringing her to a point almost level with Jaax’s head. The Tanaan dragon eyed her in surprise, his silver green eyes narrowing when she cupped her hands and shouted out at the crowd, “Silence! All of you!”
They didn’t hear her at first for they were too busy speculating about Rohdann’s words and the idea of Jaax letting Shiroxx distract him from his duties. Jahrra grasped the edges of the podium and raked the crowd with her eyes until they landed upon Rohdann. The dark dragon smirked, his blue eyes containing the same malice she’d seen so many times in Shiroxx’s.