Once Jahrra was done complaining, she began telling Denaeh about what she’d heard the night after the race, about the conversation between Jaax and Shiroxx. The Mystic listened patiently, one elbow tucked into her hand while her chin rested in the palm of the other. Jahrra looked up at her once she was through with her tale, and the woman, even in the younger guise of herself, reminded her of a great old tree, still and frozen in a century of thought. Jahrra could have sworn she saw something dark flicker behind Denaeh’s eyes, but before she could consider it, the woman spoke.
“I have no idea who this dragoness Shiroxx might be. Dragon’s aren’t very common, but there are larger numbers of them outside of Oescienne. Perhaps she is a childhood friend of your dragon Jaax.”
Jahrra wrinkled her nose at Denaeh’s claim of Jaax being ‘her dragon’, but nodded her head in calm acceptance. If Denaeh didn’t know who Shiroxx was, then she would just have to live with that, unless she wanted to ask Jaax herself and admit to him that she had been spying. Jahrra sighed. It was far too stressful to think about strangers and the odd things they said. She now wished she had never followed after them in the first place. This is what I get for being nosey, she thought ruefully. As much as Jahrra was dying to decipher every word that was exchanged between the two dragons, she knew that she’d just have to live in ignorance.
Denaeh and Jahrra shared a short silence while they got their own personal thoughts together, and then they discussed the Great Race of Oescienne as the crackling fire and two steaming mugs of tea warmed them. Denaeh was thrilled to hear that Jahrra had won, and Jahrra smiled proudly.
“Hroombra and Jaax may disapprove, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
“They’re proud of you,” Denaeh said, smiling. “They just worry about you.”
Jahrra shrugged and sipped her tea. She knew that Hroombra was proud of her, even though he had been angry. She had read it in his eyes; pride, hurt, anger and fear. All of those emotions had been there, but pride had shown the strongest. Jaax’s eyes, on the contrary, had remained as icy and dark as ever. She knew that he felt some concern, but was it for her own sake or was it somehow for himself? Was it something that her behavior affected that really had him distressed? Jahrra shut her eyes and let the spicy tea comfort her. She had enough to worry about without wondering why Jaax acted the way he did. You don’t even care what he thinks, remember? she reminded herself.
Jahrra breathed in the fog-tinged air and shivered despite the warmth of the small fire. She tried to relax, but there was simply too much on her mind. Later that afternoon, she rode Phrym over to see Gieaun and Scede only to find that they had gone into town with their parents.
“Well,” Jahrra said aloud, looking down at Phrym, “we’ll just have to wait and talk to them tomorrow at school.”
Jahrra groaned at the sudden thought of what tomorrow might bring. The simple act of going to school had become especially difficult after the race of Oescienne, what with the majority of her classmates doing everything short of murder to get revenge on the “Nasty Nesnan”, her new, awful nickname. Gieaun, Scede, Pahrdh, Rhudedth and a few of her other friends would angrily defend her, but they were only jeered at and reminded of Tarnik’s declaration from that day: If you know what’s good for you, you will cease from socializing with anyone of the Resai race. Luckily, these were only words, and the Resai children at school soon grew tired of repeating a command that Jahrra and her friends refused to follow anyway.
The weeks passed and Jahrra found herself struggling between the distractions at school and the demands at home. Winter exams were closing in, and now more than ever she needed to focus. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, however, now that there were two dragons breathing down her neck. Many times during the evening Jahrra simply gritted her teeth and pressed harder down on the parchment she was writing on, grateful that the shadows cast by the flames of the fire contorted her aggravated expression. She just had to make it through her exams, and once exams passed, she would have the relief of the winter break to ease her stress. There was only one problem: Jaax was still in Oescienne, and the Solstice would be miserable with him there.
Exams were grueling, but they came and went and Jahrra managed to survive them. Yaraa and Viornen also wanted to test her, and so during the last week of school, Jahrra was competing in her hardest defense tests yet. This time Jaax was there to watch her every move like a hawk. The elves of Dhonoara had been so delighted to see the dragon Raejaaxorix walking down the lane that first afternoon of testing that it made Jahrra’s stomach lurch. What if they judge me more harshly now that he’s here? she thought in horror. But she did well, despite her nervousness, and even Jaax, miraculously, had no complaints to offer her. Finally, after weeks of late nights and long days of practice, Jahrra found herself anticipating her time off for Solsticetide. Unfortunately, she would have to spend it with someone she hated just about as much as she hated Eydeth and Ellysian.
Solstice Eve was quiet, with only Hroombra, Jahrra and Jaax celebrating at the Castle Guard Ruin. Hroombra gave Jahrra more books in Kruelt and some blank scrolls to sketch on.
“Thank you, Master Hroombra.” Jahrra smiled, holding up the fine set of volumes. “I think I might be able to read these now.”
Jahrra also received some more arrows from Gieaun and Scede, fletched with the feathers of wild fowl, and all of her friends had saved their money together to get her a hand-crafted dagger from the Toria Town market.
“Wow! Look at this!” she exclaimed, pulling the knife out of its leather sheaf.
It was long, nearly as long as her forearm, and its hilt was intricately carved in a knot-work pattern. Jahrra admired its comfortable weight and polished blade, turning it in her hands.
“Do be careful with that young Jahrra,” Hroombra said, smiling quietly.
Jahrra grinned and put the dagger carefully away in its leather case. She yawned and stretched and began to gather her small pile of treasures, intending to head off to bed.
“Now, wait just a minute Jahrra. You’ve forgotten this,” Jaax said.
The Tanaan dragon had been relatively quiet the whole evening, so the sudden sound of his voice made her jump. She turned to see what he was talking about and was surprised to find him nudging a tiny silver box towards her. She set down her bundle and took the box carefully into her hands, opening it with a creak and a snap. Inside was a silver chain with what looked like a glittering stone pendant strung upon it. When Jahrra pulled it out and looked at it in the flickering firelight, she realized that the multicolored stone was actually a dragon scale. She gasped as she realized what it was.
“Is this . . .” she began quietly, her mouth suddenly going dry.
“So you do remember,” Jaax intoned slyly. “I had some acquaintances of mine in the north make it into a pendant for you.”
Jahrra couldn’t believe it. As much as she thought she disliked this awful dragon, she couldn’t help but be touched by the gift. The gold and green flecks in the scale glittered, and when she turned it in her hand, the fire in the hearth caused the many hues of blue and copper to spark across its surface. She smiled faintly as she remembered the day she had knocked this very scale off the dragon’s toe. It had seemed like a lifetime ago.