She had kept some secrets from Gieaun and Scede, but they were nothing compared to what the Mystic now asked her to do.
Denaeh, with her back still turned to Jahrra, closed her eyes and let out a quiet sigh as she smiled. The girl may be young and unaware of some things in the world, but she knew her limits. “Well then, invite them on a camping excursion for a few days. I’m sure they would love an adventure.”
“You mean, don’t tell them what my real reason for the camping trip is?” Jahrra asked warily with a tinge of aggravation. Who was Denaeh to ask her to lie to her friends, and more importantly, why?
“If you must.” The Mystic, with her many years of experience, knew how to sweet talk anyone into getting what she wanted. She also knew that simply asking Jahrra to do this for her might not be enough, so she added, “One of my first tasks on the road to becoming a Mystic was gathering specimens for my mentor. Think of all the wonderful things you’ll see on your way. I don’t believe you’ve been that far south before, have you? And besides, you really will be on a camping trip. You’ll just be collecting something for me while you’re out.”
Denaeh turned to face Jahrra, arms crossed in front of her. She looked at the girl, the struggle between wanting to please her Mystic friend and not wanting to disappoint her guardian and Gieaun and Scede, playing out on her face. Denaeh watched the struggle continue, nearly spilling over like a swollen river biting away at its levees.
Before she could feel worse about what she was doing, she threw in the final stone that set the surging waters free.
“Just think about what Ellysian and Eydeth will say when you return with stories and objects from the southland. I think that that, on top of the success with your lake creature, will finally be enough to show them how wrong they are about you once and for all.”
And with that final bit of encouragement, Jahrra promised the Mystic she would go. Anything that might prove the twins to be nothing more than a pair of puffed up peacocks was worth the risk, in Jahrra’s mind. Who else could be brave enough to travel so far away and to such a strange and unknown place? Certainly not Eydeth and Ellysian.
Although Jahrra knew that lying so blatantly to Gieaun, Scede and Hroombra was a bad idea, she couldn’t help it. She really was going on a camping trip after all. So what if she happened to be collecting something for Denaeh along the way, what was the big deal? She convinced herself that she probably would have gone camping to Ehnnit Canyon even if the Mystic hadn’t suggested it in the first place. Jahrra also ached for the opportunity to spend some quality time with her two best friends. Even though they’d been passing their summer in the company of other classmates out of sheer necessity, Jahrra couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that they’d found other friends while she was stuck learning Draggish and sword play all summer long. A camping trip is just what we need, Jahrra thought as she left the Belloughs that afternoon.
Denaeh sighed and watched Jahrra disappear over the low hills and into the forest, her arms still crossed as they were before. A shiver ran down the woman’s spine and she pulled her shawl tightly about her shoulders as if it were a cool day. She knew she was sending Jahrra off to an unknown and potentially dangerous destination, but she felt it was her only choice. The Mystic realized that the girl’s guardian would be livid if he knew, but she had a feeling Jahrra would never tell him. Denaeh just couldn’t help feeling irked that Jahrra knew nothing about who she was or how the prophecy affected all of their lives.
“For later times, when she is older, but not now, it is too soon.”
Denaeh knew this is what the old dragon would say if she ever worked up the gumption to approach him. But she had to help Jahrra know, she had always meant to give Jahrra pieces to the puzzle, even if they were very small ones. Telling Jahrra and her friends about the prophecy during the week before Sobledthe had been the first step in doing so. I must do what I can, and although this new venture might not be much, it is something I can give her.
The girl had plenty of questions, no doubt, but not about what she should be asking. The apples were not important to Denaeh; she could leave and collect them any time. It was something else in that canyon, something that Jahrra needed to see. Something she needed to encounter. Something she needed to feel.
Well, Denaeh decided, it is time she start learning. Learning about things she should have known about since she was born. The girl would be fifteen in four month’s time, and she was no longer a naïve little child. She was getting older and needed to know the truth, and Denaeh feared that the old dragon had waited too long.
But I must be very careful. I must only give her a fraction of what I know, the Mystic reminded herself.
She realized that if Hroombra had any idea of what she was planning, what she had already planned, she would never see Jahrra again. As far as the Mystic could tell, as far as she could project, the old dragon didn’t know about her presence in Oescienne, and she planned to keep it that way. She had made mistakes before, long ago, and she wasn’t about to make another one now, especially not with Jahrra.
-Chapter Six-
Denaeh’s Request
“Gieaun! Scede!” Jahrra shouted from atop Phrym, frightening a covey of quail that was foraging among the blackberry brambles lining the long drive of Wood’s End Ranch.
“What’s with all the excitement?” queried Scede as Jahrra slowed Phrym to a skidding stop, kicking dust and rocks up all around them. “Did you have another dream where Eydeth and Ellysian are forced to swim across Lake Ossar in the middle of the night?”
“No, no,” Jahrra breathed, waving her hand around in exasperation, “what are you two doing next week?”
“I don’t know,” Scede answered, slightly perplexed by Jahrra’s frantic behavior. “We’re all done with the summer shearing, and all the mares have had their foals, so mother and father won’t need us.”
He narrowed his eyes and added with a more suspicious tone, “Why?”
“Well,” said Jahrra as she climbed down from Phrym, “I asked Hroombra if I could take a few days off from chores and go on a camping trip, with the two of you of course. What do you think?”
The two siblings eyed each other suspiciously. Jahrra seemed far too excited for this to be a mere camping trip.
“I don’t know,” Gieaun said warily, “we’ll have to ask mother and father.”
Jahrra exhaled, trying to sound as patient as possible.
“Oh, they’ll let you go! We can use the time to practice our field skills. We’ll have to make a fire, gather food, fend off and hunt wildlife and navigate our own way. Besides, the mid-year exams are coming up in winter, and Tarnik said he’ll be testing us on wilderness survival this year, remember?” Jahrra prattled enthusiastically.
“Jahrra, school hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already worried about winter exams!?” Scede said in disbelief.
“Oh, Scede, when am I going to have another chance to go once school starts?” Jahrra groaned. “This is my only week off and once school begins, we’ll all be too busy to make such a trip!”
Jahrra paused for a moment, her heart racing as she watched the apprehension clouding her friends’ faces. They must agree to go! They must! It had taken her a few unbearable hours of careful coaxing and begging to convince Hroombra to let her go, and she wasn’t about to back down from her friends so soon.