Jahrra felt the flush slowly leave her face. So, Jaax had been right. The words were hexed.
She looked then at her other two friends. “Dathian? Senton?”
Both young men glanced away, unable to meet her eyes.
“I’d grown angrier and angrier all day Jahrra,” Senton admitted. “I thought it was because of what people were saying about you and Jaax but later I realized I was becoming angry with you, for lying to us for so long. It was only when I got to the base of the hill that I began to think about why I was angry.”
Dathian nodded in agreement then grinned sheepishly and shrugged, “I don’t even remember riding here.”
Jahrra suddenly felt a flash of relief, followed closely by fear. These rumors could be a lot worse than she and Jaax had originally thought. Could they have the power to compel people to act out violently?
She shot up out of her chair, taking her friends by surprise.
“Where are you going?” Torrell called.
“I have to tell Jaax!” Jahrra threw over her shoulder as she turned down the hall.
The Tanaan dragon was still at his desk, toiling over a few more letters when Jahrra came charging through the entry.
Jaax looked up in surprise.
“Senton, Torrell and Dathian are here,” she breathed, “and I think you should come out and hear what they have to say.”
The dragon’s look hardened but he nodded once and rose from behind the desk.
Upon reentering the great room Jahrra noted her three friends sitting or leaning against the couch, all of them trying and failing to adopt a relaxed posture. They looked up at Jahrra, then beyond her towards Jaax. No one ever looked away once they laid eyes on the dragon; that was just something Jahrra had grown used to.
Jaax stepped through the opening and narrowed his eyes. When he spoke it was in Kruelt, “Keiht ist aebiy drothe?” Why are they here?
Jahrra blinked and had to think for a moment. Jaax hadn’t used Kruelt with her since they’d left the Hrunahn Wilders behind.
“Apparently you were correct on your theory about the rumors,” she eventually answered in the same language. “All three of them told me they became angry at us after hearing the gossip, but it faded as they made their way here to confront us.”
Jaax stiffened and his jaw tightened. “I didn’t think it would be as bad as this,” he continued in the dragons’ tongue. “Now I’m not sure if it’s safe for us to leave the house.”
A sudden thought hit Jahrra. “How did you find out about it in the first place then?”
Jaax grinned down at her. “Kehllor.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m just wondering if you could please speak in the common language. I’m not sure if you’re planning to set us on fire or welcome our presence.”
Of course it was Torrell speaking, though her voice didn’t carry her usual confidence. Her arms were still loosely crossed, one leg draped over the arm of the couch where she sat, but there was a tension about her as if she were preparing to flee.
Dathian and Senton merely sat still, staring up at Jaax and nodding when Torrell was finished.
Jahrra smiled. “Sorry. Old habit of ours.”
Although she trusted her friends, Jaax would never openly discuss anything he considered to be sensitive material pertaining to himself and his ward in the presence of others.
“It appears a previous member of the Coalition has been trying to soil mine and Jahrra’s names,” Jaax said coolly.
“Previous member?” Senton spoke up, shifting so he was facing Jahrra and Jaax.
Jahrra gave her guardian a look and Jaax returned it with that short nod of his that told her to go ahead.
Jahrra took a breath. “Jaax had to, uh, let go of a member the other night. This particular individual was becoming a bit too,” Jahrra struggled with the right words, “self-involved for the health of the organization.”
Sketching a quick glance at Jaax to see how she handled that, Jahrra caught a slight grin of approval. She breathed a sigh of relief but only on the inside.
“So this person has decided to seek revenge,” Senton pronounced, nodding his head in understanding.
“Most likely,” Jaax growled. “But I fear the damage may be greater and more widely spread than we had thought.”
Everyone was quiet for a moment, watching the afternoon sun trace long shadows across the stone floor.
“What can we do?” Torrell asked quietly.
Jahrra snapped out of her train of thought.
Jaax cleared his throat. “Ignore the rumors as best you can and try to deter people from believing them.”
Dathian actually snorted. “That might prove to be a little difficult. We ourselves believed them as far as your front door.”
Jaax gave the elf a surprised look and Dathian could only roll his shoulders apologetically.
“I don’t disagree with you,” Jaax replied, “but until I find a way to dismantle the magic that is driving these lies then that is all that can be done at the moment.”
The silence returned, that is until Torrell slapped her hands against her thighs and stood. “Well, I guess there is nothing more we can do. Perhaps we should be on our way?”
Jahrra crossed the room to get the smaller door for them, thanking them on their way out.
“Hang in there, Jahrra,” Senton said, squeezing Jahrra’s arm on his way out, his blue eyes lighting up with his smile.
Jahrra smiled back, though it was only half-heartedly. Her life had finally been running smoothly without any major obstacles, and now this. At least I have friends, she told herself as she watched Torrell, Dathian and Senton gather their horses and lead them down the drive.
When she could no longer see them, Jahrra gently closed the door and heaved a great breath. She leaned her back against the sturdy wood and pressed her hand to her forehead, closing her eyes.
“This is bad, isn’t it?” she asked aloud.
She felt Jaax approach more than heard him, so she wasn’t surprised when his voice was nearby. “It is.”
Jahrra shoved her hands in her pockets and opened her eyes again. Jaax sat several feet away, his look suddenly one of guilt. Jahrra’s relaxed posture melted away in an instant and she became suddenly tense.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Jaax lifted an inquiring eyebrow, but Jahrra pushed away from the door and walked up to him.
“Something is off. You have that look about you, as if you are on the threshold of telling me some bad news.”
Jaax tried to laugh. “You have always had quite the imagination, Jahrra.”
Jahrra wasn’t having any of it. She crossed her arms and glared at her guardian. “Don’t patronize me. I know every one of your looks and what they mean. This one,” her gesture included all of him, “means you are harboring some uncomfortable information you’ll eventually have to share with me. So, might as well get it out while the mood is grim.”
The Tanaan dragon gave her a look of surprise, but shook his head and sighed deeply. “Very well,” he said, sobering up rather quickly. “Now is as good a time as any, especially with these recent, shocking circumstances.”
Jaax took on a more serious face and looked directly at Jahrra. “My visit with the king of the Creecemind dragons in Nimbronia proved more informative than I had anticipated. He’s explained to me that he is ready to receive my presence at his court and that I should bring you, the human child, with me.”
Jahrra flinched and felt herself go numb. “Your trip to Nimbronia a few weeks ago?”