The soft glow of a candle flame emerged below and started moving up the stairs. Her heart in her throat, Jahrra sped the few steps to her room and pulled the door open soundlessly, closing it as quickly as she dared. She threw off her cloak and ran to her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin a moment before she saw a sliver of golden light pour in through her cracked door.
The candlelight increased and a timid voice whispered, “Jahrra?”
Turning under the sheets and murmuring, Jahrra lifted her head slightly, pretending to block out the light with her hand.
“What is it, Neira?” She hoped her voice sounded sleep-strained.
“Master Jaax has received a most surprising visitor,” the housekeeper said as she stepped fully into the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
Jahrra sat up, glad that her hair was still mussed. “What time is it?” she queried, pressing the heel of her hand against one eye.
“About an hour before dawn,” Neira answered. “A very strange time to receive visitors, if you ask me, but his lordship insisted once he saw who it was.”
In the dim light of the candle, Jahrra noticed Neira biting her lip and averting her eyes. The hairs on the back of Jahrra’s neck rose slightly. Did Neira suspect something?
Jahrra cleared her throat. “Who is it, Neira?”
The maid blinked up at Jahrra, her brown eyes looking dark against the weak light.
“I’ve never seen him before, but he looks something frightful. Tall with dark hair, and his eyes,” Neira swallowed hard. “He looks like he’s seen the evil god’s horrible thoughts and has been chased by his minions all the way from Ghorium.”
Jahrra shivered, despite the warmth of her blankets. “Could he mean harm, do you think?” she whispered, finally climbing out of bed.
Neira shrugged. “He didn’t seem hostile, it’s just, those eyes.”
Jahrra walked over and placed a hand on Neira’s shoulder. “I understand,” she said, nodding.
Hadn’t she herself experienced a strange feeling when she’d spotted this person on the edge of the woods scant minutes ago? Then again, at the time she thought him to be a thief or a murderer. Or one of Shiroxx’s minions.
“So,” Jahrra breathed, shaking off her feeling of dread, “I’m guessing Jaax wishes me to present myself in a decent manner downstairs?”
Neira nodded, smiling a little. Jahrra took another breath, holding her hand to her stomach.
“Very well. If Jaax trusts him, so will I, at least for now.”
Jahrra had wanted something to draw her thoughts away from leaving Lidien and the nasty rumors that had been spread about her and her guardian. This, however, was not what she’d had in mind. If anything, she thought ruefully, this is just one more rotten blueberry to spoil the pie.
By the time Neira finished helping Jahrra dress, the first light of the morning sun was spilling over the hills. The housekeeper insisted on Jahrra wearing one of her dresses.
“It’s not your finest, I know, but this is a casual meeting, not an official visit among the nobles and notables. And we don’t know who this person is. Best to look dignified for now.”
Jahrra grinned and bore it but at least this dress was comfortable, what with it being a single long, cream-colored garment with a simple plum and gold bodice to go over the top. Jahrra was especially grateful that the sleeves were short, falling to her elbows where a set of ties kept them in place. The split overskirt was the same color as the bodice.
Neira helped brush out and braid her hair, and after stepping into a pair of matching slippers, they were finally on their way down the stairs. Jahrra felt a bit ridiculous in her outfit, considering the time of day, but she didn’t let it show on her face.
Sighing heavily as she stepped into the hallway, Jahrra felt her stomach lurch with apprehension. Forget what you saw and heard upstairs, she told herself. No one can know that you were spying.
Just before reaching the gaping arch that would take them into the great room, Neira marched ahead of her, throwing an encouraging smile over her shoulder. Jahrra breathed deeply through her nose, pressing a hand to her fluttering stomach. Would there ever come a day where she wouldn’t be burdened with worrisome surprises?
“Master Raejaax, Jahrra awaits your invitation to join you and your guest.”
Jahrra bit back a snort. It sounded as if Neira were announcing a royal princess. You are many things, Jahrra, she thought to herself with a grin, but a princess you most definitely are not.
Smoothing her skirts and taking a deep breath, Jahrra stepped through the arch and into the great room. She caught Neira’s eye first. The housekeeper was standing off to the side, her gaze intent and her jaw tight as she watched Jahrra approach. Several lamps and candles were lit, casting few shadows across the room. Jaax was perched in his corner atop the wide dais, his watchful eyes locked on Jahrra’s face. Waiting for some tell-tale reaction? she mused. But why? Her guardian’s face was well composed but the harshness of his eyes and the tightness of his jaw line only confirmed Jahrra’s earlier theory that whoever this visitor was, he had been the last being in Ethoes the Tanaan dragon had expected to see.
Breathing deeply through her nose once again, Jahrra tore her eyes from the brooding dragon and turned them onto their guest instead. She stopped short when she finally took him in. Neira had described him accurately; he was tall, at least a head taller than her if not more. He had removed his cloak but his clothing was dark and simple. His near-black hair was unkempt and trimmed shorter than what was fashionable in Lidien.
Jahrra studied his face carefully, as if waiting for a list of words explaining his intentions to arise upon his skin like sentences in a book for her to read. To her disappointment, no such thing happened to help ease her curiosity. His age was hard to place for the lines around his eyes and mouth weren’t too deep, and there was no gray in his hair, but his eyes, the most striking feature on his face, said differently.
Slightly slanted and the palest shade of green Jahrra had ever seen, yet there was something oddly familiar about them. Jahrra narrowed her own eyes in scrutiny. A memory, she thought, flashed across her mind but it was too fleeting to grasp. Before she could think on it any further, the stranger stepped forward, his quick grace making her start a little.
Despite his obvious fatigue, he gave a light smile. The act changed his unkempt appearance, peeling away the layers of grime to reveal features that were much more attractive than the haunting figure she had first observed. If Jahrra didn’t know any better she would have guessed he was quite charming as well. With his closely trimmed beard and mustache, and with a little care given to his hair and clothing, Jahrra could picture him as a fine dignitary among all the socialites of Lidien.
Realizing that Jahrra would spend all day studying him if she could, their visitor cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Forgive my early arrival. I hope I have not disturbed your rest. The famous Jahrra, if I’m not mistaken?”
He sketched a fluid bow and Jahrra caught a glimpse of his ears. An elf. Of course. Only an elf could sneak up on them in the middle of the night and still manage to look handsome despite his bedraggled appearance.