Denaeh took a deep breath to clear her mind, secretly waiting for Jaax to protest or simply walk away.
When the dragon made no attempt to leave or interrupt, she forged on. “Part of your problem with Jahrra is that she is still very much a child. She is young, although she doesn’t think so. You have forgotten what it’s like to be that young, a very long time has gone by since you were anywhere near that age. Both humans and dragons, and all other creatures for that matter, need time and life experiences to mature. Given time, she’ll grow out of her childish ways, but you must give her patience as well.
“Another part of the problem is that Jahrra is female and that she stands up to you. Don’t get me wrong Jaax, you have always respected females, whether they be dragon, Nesnan, Resai or what have you. You have always treated the female gender very well, but you are not used to the idea of females standing up to you.
“Your whole life you’ve been admired and praised by them. Now, don’t give me that look,” Denaeh grew stern as the young dragon shot her a perturbed, unconvinced glance, “you know as well as I do that this is true. You can’t help it anymore than I can help being born with the abilities that I have. You have dealt with Jahrra poorly, and it’s partly due to the fact that you don’t know how to deal with a strong woman who thinks for herself. And Jahrra is definitely a strong woman.
“Lastly, like I’ve mentioned before, it’s about time you tell Jahrra the truth, not the entire truth mind you, but the truth pertaining to her. She’s just over seventeen years old, and she is about to have the world thrown up in front of her. She is more than entitled to know what her part in all of this is.”
The Mystic took a deep, soothing breath. “Now, that’s all I have to say. Just remember, you must play by her rules this time if you wish to get her on your side. Make it a challenge, an adventure moving onto this next big step in her life, and she’ll go to Lidien. But if you try to force her to go, she’ll defy you until you are driven mad. You two must find a way to coexist. It won’t be easy, but it is necessary in order for her to be the person she needs to be.”
Denaeh ended her speech with a rather dramatic huff and crossed her arms once more, waiting for Jaax’s reply. The young dragon stood silent for a long time. Whether he was absorbing everything Denaeh had just said or whether he was considering a witty response, for once she couldn’t tell. His thoughts were too jumbled for even a Mystic of her distinction to read clearly. He simply gave a short nod after the space of time and turned to leave.
“I will consider your thoughts,” he spoke over his shoulder, his voice calmer this time, “but I make you no promises. As much as you think you know me, there is still much you don’t know.”
Denaeh nodded in response to Jaax’s statement and waited for him to say more.
“Jahrra left on Phrym this morning after our argument about Lidien,” he finally said. “She was quite angry, but I suppose I had better go and find her. You wouldn’t happen to have any clue as to where she might have gone?”
“I would try the shore, or the lakes,” Denaeh answered, her arms still crossed, her chin set almost stubbornly. “She goes there often. But you should give her a little more time. She’s very angry with you at the moment, and trailing after her so soon might end in disaster.”
“Very well, though I think nothing could be more disastrous than what has already occurred,” Jaax responded acidly.
He turned and lifted his head, looking to the northwest. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air again, catching an old familiar scent drifting on the damp wind.
“And what shall you do until then?” the Mystic murmured. “Shall we chat some more until Jahrra has a chance to cool down?”
Denaeh gave an impish grin, and Jaax just looked back at her, his face expressionless. “I’ll go to the Castle Ruin. I haven’t been there in a very long time. Perhaps I can think clearly there, perhaps I can find some answers.”
Jaax began to walk away, but then paused for a moment. He turned his head to look back at Denaeh one last time. She discovered a hint of kindness deep in those clear eyes of his, buried somewhere beneath the anger, sorrow and disappointment. The Mystic did her best to return the look, a mixture of remorse, longing and compassion swimming in her own eyes.
The dragon turned his head once more and headed up out of the Belloughs and into the northern boundary of the Black Swamp. Denaeh let out a long, sorrowful sigh. She knew what was coming that day; she had foreseen it for quite some time now, but today it burned more brightly than ever in her mind. She knew that both dragon and girl faced hardship and struggle, and sooner than they could possibly accept it, loss.
Denaeh shivered in the cold winter air and clasped her faded shawl around her shoulders. She looked up at the cloud-mottled sky, the late morning sun hidden by the thunderheads, and closed her eyes for only a moment. She tried with all her might to imagine a clear blue sky with golden green sunlight filtering through the forest canopy. She wished with all of her heart to see such a scene, but all she saw was blackness and fire and ruin. Denaeh opened her eyes, wondering if what she felt on her face was the first drop of rain from the swollen storm clouds or the grief that was finally breaking free. Quietly, she walked back to her cave entrance and disappeared within, her heart heavy with sorrow.
-Chapter Nineteen-
Terror
Jahrra breathed in the salty air, hoping that it would somehow soothe her chaotic mind as she gazed out over the expansive ocean. The scene was just as breathtaking as ever: the water stretching on for eternity, shaded by the charcoal-hued storm clouds dropping threads of silvery rain. The mountains were more blue than violet, and the low valleys and rolling hills wore the frigid green of late winter. The running climb up Demon’s Slide had helped to release some of Jahrra’s anger, but she could still feel the sting of Hroombra’s words from earlier that day.
How could he agree to send her away? She had once thought about going away to Lidien, about seeing the entire world, but not now, not when Jaax said that she must. She loved it here, and she would never leave. At least not until the summer, she thought miserably, remembering what the Tanaan dragon had said.
Jahrra sighed loudly, casting her worries out into the icy wind that was biting away at the side of the mountain. Perhaps I can run away and live with Denaeh, she thought hopefully. But what if Denaeh had no place for her? The Mystic had always welcomed her into the Belloughs, but Jahrra could tell that the woman valued her solitude. I know! I’ll steal that book back and take Gieaun and Scede on a wild treasure hunt! No, that wouldn’t work either. Jaax would find us.
Jahrra huffed angrily, knowing all too well that she had no choice in the matter. She could never run away from Hroombra, not without telling him where she was going. It would hurt him too much. Jahrra grimaced at that thought, for she had already hurt him. She had said horrible things to him; told him she hated him. She pushed away this feeling of guilt, her injured pride firing up once again. Why must he send me away? Why does he have to listen to Jaax! Who gave Jaax all the power over everybody?!
Jahrra was slowly growing angry again. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head slowly, trying to think about all of this without becoming frustrated. Master Hroombra wouldn’t let Jaax tell him what to do unless it was something he wished to do himself. He must have some reason for agreeing to send me away so soon. Perhaps I can persuade them to change their minds, at least Master Hroombra’s. Jahrra shivered, the chill gusts finally reaching to her bones.