While Jahrra tried to think of a way to sneak back to the canyon entrance without her friends finding out, she heard Gieaun pressing Cahrume about small details of the story that he couldn’t possibly answer, such as: “What did humans look like? Did they look a lot like elves?” and, “Were you with the Tanaan race when they arrived here?” and “How exactly was Ciarrohn defeated the first time?” Cahrume patiently answered all of her questions until it was time for them to eat.
The excitement gradually died down, but only after everyone was fed and lazing in the soft firelight. A chorus of crickets boldly began their evening song and the cry of a coyote sent shivers down Jahrra’s spine. Despite the morose sound, Jahrra leaned back with ease and looked up at the stars. Before she could get too comfortable however, she suddenly remembered a question she’d meant to ask Cahrume. She quickly sat up, causing the crickets to stop dead in their melody.
“Cahrume, the blue-green rock found throughout the canyon, what’s it called?”
Cahrume lifted his head from his meal and looked at the girl in puzzlement. After a few moments, he answered, “It is called saerpint, and it is found only in this place. Beautiful, is it not? You may take some with you if you wish. You and your friends have proved to be true of heart, and you deserve something to remember your trip by.”
Cahrume curled his mouth, pleased to have peaceful visitors for once. Jahrra grinned and settled back down, feeling slightly bashful for already possessing a piece of the extraordinary stone.
The low flames of the fire shrank down into brilliant coals and Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede got ready for bed. Once they were all tucked under their blankets, Cahrume stood up and stretched his great wings.
“I will sleep above the falls at the foot of the Great Apple Tree where I always perch. If anything dangerous should approach, I will let you know. In the morning we will pay homage to the Great Tree and to Ethoes, and then I will show you to the road that only the wild beasts of the wilderness know. It will take you home around the Southern Cohn Forest and through the Easterly Longuinn Hills. It should be a much safer route then the one through the canyon, for the sehnnas do not wander past Ttuhrmet Falls.”
The draffyd took a deep breath and continued, “Good night young ones, I shall see you in the morning.”
With a great beat of his wings, the dragon-beast lifted above the campsite, causing the tired coals to glow angrily one last time. Jahrra and her friends quietly watched his dark shadow, barely distinguishable against the night sky, blend in with the black arms of the apple tree.
“I would say this day turned out quite well, considering how it started,” Jahrra said light-heartedly.
Both of her friends were silent long enough to allow the crickets another chance to begin their chorus once again.
“Don’t push your luck, Jahrra,” Scede added cautiously after several moments. “We still have to survive the night.”
Jahrra knew that her friend was only being half serious. He’s still a little upset about everything that happened today, and I don’t blame him, Jahrra told herself, beginning to feel guilty once again. She took one more deep breath, whispered, “Well, good night,” and turned over to fall fast asleep.
-Chapter Eight-
The Apple Tree
The twitter of a small bird woke Jahrra the next morning, but she continued to lie still, forgetting everything that had happened the day before. She imagined herself lying in her own bed back at the Castle Guard Ruin, listening to the happy rustlings of the animals feeding on the seeds of her garden. She smiled to herself, eyes still shut, as she let the pleasant sound fill her groggy head.
As more movement and birdsong filled the air, Jahrra continued to doze with absolutely no intention of getting up anytime soon. But the bright morning light filtering past her eyelids unexpectedly turned black, and something soft and warm touched her cheek. Jahrra jumped awake, immediately realizing where she was now that her eyes were open. Phrym, who had worked his way loose from the branch he’d been tethered to, faltered backwards in alarm.
“I’m sorry Phrym!” The semequin looked very perturbed at his young master’s rejection, and Jahrra bashfully held out a hand to greet him. “I forgot where we were.”
Scede and Gieaun slowly sat up, their eyes searching credulously for what had caused the commotion.
“What’s going on?” Gieaun yawned.
“I just forgot we weren’t at home and I startled Phrym. Nothing to worry about,” Jahrra answered, drawing Phrym’s head to her and patting his cheek.
“How could you forget where we were?” Scede asked, looking slightly dazed and bewildered as he removed grit from his eye with the heel of his hand.
Before Jahrra could answer her friend’s question, the morning air was churned by a pair of great wings. Cahrume came to a shaky rest on the other side of the creek bed and shook himself like a wet dog.
“I hope you have not forgotten me, young Nesnan,” he rasped cheerfully.
“I very well remember everything now!” Jahrra retorted. “I only forgot for a moment, until I woke up!”
She crossed her arms while she sat tangled in her bedroll and blanket, her hair looking like a perturbed tumbleweed.
Cahrume smiled even more broadly, and this time it actually looked like a true grin. “Come now, you must eat and see the Apple Tree, and then you must be on your way. The longer you stay here the more dangerous it will be for you to get out safely.”
Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede ate some of their bread and cheese as quickly as possible, then hurriedly dressed and packed up their belongings. By the time the sun was just beginning to touch the very top of the canyon wall, Cahrume was leading them up a narrow and steep trail that climbed the north end of the gully. The trail looked like it was frequented by wild game, and as they climbed, the riders and their horses were scraped and smacked by the thick brush growing on both sides. Luckily, it was a short trail and ten minutes later they were all at the top of the canyon looking down.
Jahrra quietly admired the wide ravine. In her opinion, it resembled a terra-cotta gash in the dry earth with hints of aqua blue spread throughout. The beauty of the canyon couldn’t compare, however, to what Jahrra saw when she turned around. There, where the small creek poured over the cliff’s side, stood a massive tree full of huge, ripe apples. The bewildered girl slowly climbed down from Phrym and walked up to Cahrume, who was presently gazing dreamily up into the tree’s great branches. He turned and looked down at Jahrra, and in his shining eyes she could see the respect and love he held for this tree. Cahrume nodded, encouraging her to move closer. Jahrra took a deep breath and cautiously approached the sacred Apple Tree of Ethoes, fearing that by just touching it she might bring down some horrible disease upon it.
The Apple’s gnarled roots coiled and tumbled and bore into the earth, as if they were clinging to the ground for dear life. Its branches did the same, stretching their many twisted arms and fingers into the sky. The bark was smooth and dark, and much of the roots and lower trunk was carpeted in a beautiful green moss covered in tiny lavender flowers shaped like stars. The air was cool and silent, and all of the other trees and ferns surrounding the Apple seemed to be standing back in admiration and humility.
Jahrra wrinkled her nose at the lovely, tangy-sweet smell of ripe apples and cool freshness that hung all around her. She tilted her head up toward the fruit-laden branches and breathed in the fragrant air. The fruit itself was enormous, three times larger than any normal apple she had ever seen, and even more beautiful. The apples were glossy green mottled with red and pink, and the leaves of the tree were a crisp green and gold. Jahrra stared wide-eyed at Ethoes’ magnificent creation, following it from root to canopy, realizing that it was easily the largest tree she had ever seen.