Jahrra nodded in acceptance. She knew that he had every right to be angry, and she knew that from now on she would obey him. She was through with dangerous and reckless behavior.
Jaax, who had remained surprisingly silent this entire time, kept the same distant and demeaning presence he always reserved for her. His face was set in stone, the spikes garnishing his triangular head like a crown, his bronze-green scales taking on a more azure shade to match the sea. Jahrra hadn’t seen Jaax for several years, but he looked exactly as she remembered him.
“I see you’re still up to your usual antics, Jahrra,” he finally said, his voice sounding like rocks grating together in a landslide. “Nothing changes much does it?”
He ended with a slight grin, one that Jahrra knew was not out of kindness.
“Oh, and what concern is it of yours?” she braved haughtily.
He merely stared back down at her, unaffected by her brusque tone.
After he refused to answer her, she spoke again with some sarcasm, “How long do you plan to stay this time, five minutes?”
She straightened her back and sat as tall in the saddle as she could. Jahrra knew she should be thanking Jaax for saving Phrym from Eydeth, but she was too proud to do anything of the sort. She sighed and slid down from Phrym, jarring her weak legs when she touched down. She stretched out her abused muscles and turned to face the now dispersing crowd behind her. Jahrra only stopped scowling when she recognized several familiar faces waiting patiently for her to notice them. She let Phrym lower his head to inspect some beach grass and took several sore steps to reach her friends.
“We arrived at the Ruin this morning to see if you wanted to come watch the race with us,” Scede said in a low tone, keeping a nervous eye on Jaax.
He would display the full magnitude of his glee later, but not in front of the dragon that always put Jahrra in a bad temper.
“Jaax was already there, and when he went to wake you, he said you weren’t in your room,” Gieaun added anxiously.
“We figured you were out for an early morning ride, but Jaax guessed where you really were,” Scede added. “We didn’t believe it at first, but he insisted.”
Jahrra nodded and gave them a half grin. She looked up at Hroombra and then took Scede’s and Rhudedth’s arms and led them away. The deep sand made it feel like she was walking against the current of a strong river.
“I can’t believe you just did that!” Rhudedth piped up once they had moved far enough away from the dragons. “That was amazing! The look on Eydeth’s face was ten times better than his reaction to the lake monster!”
“Jahrra, who is that other dragon?” Mahryn asked nervously, eyeing the stern and watchful Jaax.
He had met Hroombra once before, but had never before seen another dragon in his life, especially not one with a look of savage fury surrounding him.
“Oh, that’s just Jaax,” Jahrra said rather boorishly. “Sometimes I think Ethoes carved him from stone and forgot to add all the pleasant emotions. He is the dullest and most ill-mannered creature I know.”
Mahryn’s eyes widened with surprise. He could never imagine anybody speaking that way about such a dangerous looking creature.
“Jahrra.”
Jaax’s stern voice cut into the children’s conversation and Jahrra turned. Both dragons gazed at her with well-reined patience and she knew it was time to head home.
“I have to go face my punishment now,” she said tiredly to her friends. “I’ll see you all later.”
Before they could protest, Jahrra collected Phrym and headed back towards Jaax and Hroombra. She tried very hard to calm her mind and sooth her spirit as she placed herself between the two brooding reptiles.
“So, do you have anything else to add to what my dear old school teacher just said?” Jahrra stated as she trudged through the loose sand. “Perhaps he forgot something, let’s see: disappointment to my own kind, a disgrace, eternal banishment,” Jahrra listed off the insults on her fingertips, “What did he forget? Oh yes, friend of dragons and semequin thief.” she finished rather dramatically.
“What did you expect Jahrra? To be hailed and carried away on their shoulders?” Jaax remarked. “Don’t let anger guide your thoughts, and watch the attitude you now display. You are lucky Hroombramantu isn’t allowing me to deal directly with you in this matter.”
“What exactly are you doing here, anyhow?” Jahrra snapped, angry at Jaax’s patronizing tone. “Don’t you have something better to do? You can’t honestly have a good reason to be here.”
Jahrra regretted the harsh words the moment they were out. She secretly cursed herself for letting everybody’s disdain get under her skin.
“Jahrra, Raejaax, that is quite enough. Let us walk in peace the rest of the way back to the Ruin. It’s a long journey and I wish to think, something I cannot do over raised voices.”
Hroombra was the only being that could get an obedient response from Jahrra. She immediately focused her attention on leading Phrym and occupied herself with greeting the many Nesnan onlookers still gaping at the unlikely champion. The path they took back home was the one that led past the lakes. Jahrra grinned inwardly as the group approached the head of the trail, secretly recalling all of the fond memories she’d had traveling this exact route.
Before long the two dragons, Jahrra and Phrym were heading down the road that led through Willowsflorn and along the Danu Creek. Jahrra had given up walking several miles back and was once again atop Phrym, very much aware of Jaax’s eyes boring into her back.
A soft breeze picked up and shuffled the leaves of the willows, stirring the stagnant silence. Jahrra knew she should’ve been enjoying the walk on this wonderful day, but she also knew that it was only a matter of time before they got back to the Castle Guard Ruin, where the dragons would really let her know how they felt about the race. She sighed and tried hard not to think these unpleasant thoughts. When they finally reached the top of the Sloping Hill, Jahrra was surprised to see Scede and Gieaun waiting patiently for them. They must have raced Bhun and Aimhe here, she thought complacently. The warm greeting by both her friends caused Jahrra’s tension and anger to wane, and for the first time since leaving the beach, she smiled.
Scede and Gieaun regarded the two dragons as they usually did, grinning cautiously for fear they might get caught up in Jahrra’s punishment, whatever that might be.
Jahrra was surprised, however, when Jaax addressed her friends, “Now Scede, Gieaun, don’t look so nervous, you’re not at fault here.”
The siblings nodded and Jaax flashed them a genuine smile. “It is very good to see you both. You have grown into such fine young adults.”
What’s he doing? Why is he being so pleasant?! Jahrra fumed. Jaax was never agreeable with her, even when she wasn’t in trouble.
Gieaun grinned weakly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other while she eyed the ground shyly. “Thank you,” she answered timidly.
“I guess we had better get going, it’s growing late,” Scede said cautiously. “We just wanted to say congratulations again without everyone else around. We’ll see you tomorrow, right Jahrra?”
The siblings gave her an inquiring glance, but when they saw the sour look on Jahrra’s face they turned to leave with no further argument. They had known Jahrra long enough to know that whenever Jaax was around it was best just to leave and wait for her to come find them.
Hroombra took a great breath, released it and proclaimed, “That is enough excitement for one day. I think I’ll head off to bed early. Jahrra, don’t stay up too late tonight, we’ll need to discuss several things in the morning.”