He smiled, and the icy silence surrounding the three friends melted away.
“Did you see the look on Eydeth’s and Ellysian’s faces when you yelled at them? It looked like they’d seen a ghost!” Jahrra said, relieved Scede wasn’t going to erupt again.
“I know. I was so afraid of you Scede! I’ve never seen you so mad, even after the time I kicked apart the sand castle you made at the beach,” added Gieaun, stifling a giggle.
By the time they reached the crest of the Sloping Hill an hour later, they were their normal selves again. Dharedth pulled the cart to a groaning stop and the three of them jumped out, waving goodbye as they began walking towards the Castle Guard Ruin. The school week was over and Jahrra had invited Scede and Gieaun to stay over for the weekend. But before they went home for the night, Hroombra had asked Jahrra to stop by after school on her way home.
They trekked down the narrow dirt path leading from the main road to the Ruin, engrossed in a discussion about what had happened at school that day. Jahrra looked up and saw Hroombra standing beside the crumbled building and her heart leapt. She was hoping that the old dragon had a special story to tell them today, for why else would he ask them to stop by after school? She waved vigorously at her mentor’s figure and got back to her friends’ conversation. What Jahrra hadn’t noticed, however, was the other dragon waiting patiently just inside the Ruin and out of view, his eyes fixed entirely on her.
-Chapter Six-
Phrym
Jaax wasn’t surprised the children hadn’t spotted him; he was standing behind the great wall, his head barely stretching through the large side entrance of the Ruin. His blue-green scales, like chips of aquamarine granite, blended seamlessly with the lichen plastered stone, his eyes standing out like pale emeralds set in a statue. The children were much too far away to notice that particular detail, however, but the young dragon’s silvery-green gaze remained unfalteringly focused on the little girl walking between the two dark haired Resai children.
Jaax smiled, grateful for his keen eyesight. It gave him a chance to sum up Jahrra from afar, to get a sense of what she was made of before meeting her. He’d heard much praise from Hroombra already, but he had to make this judgment for himself.
More than seven years had passed since he’d left her in this land and he watched now in amused amazement as she approached. She still had the same golden hair that he remembered but she looked much different from the infant he’d left behind. She was tall for her age and from this distance he could see that she was going to be strong and sturdy, not petit and delicate like the races of elves. Strong and sturdy, just like a human, he thought. He narrowed his intense eyes, pulling the young girl’s face closer into his vision. Her eyes were still blue, but now they were the blue of rainclouds retreating over the ocean after a storm, a blue that was only a shade or two away from gray.
Jaax took a breath and focused his attention on her face. It was a determined face, slightly rounded with high cheekbones. He noticed a few freckles and a dimple when she made a comical face at what her friends were saying. She pulled at her collar unconsciously and he couldn’t blame her. The uniforms the children were wearing looked absolutely uncomfortable.
As the companions drew closer to the Ruin, Jahrra shot Hroombra a cheerful look, but beneath the look of happiness Jaax detected something more. Fear, sorrow, anticipation, all of these emotions fought behind her eyes like swarming fish in a clouded pool. He cast these aside as simple childhood whims: a stubbed toe, a lost game, a beloved pet gone missing. What captured most of the dragon’s attention, however, was the fire and spirit he saw residing there.
When the children were about a hundred yards from the Ruin, Jaax decided to leave behind his safe hiding place and face the child he had come to see. He felt a little guilty, for he only planned to meet Jahrra and then be on his way. For the past several years he’d been trying to find time to check in on Jahrra and Hroombra, but something had always delayed or thwarted these plans. Hroombra had been ecstatic when he’d received word of Jaax’s planned visit and the younger dragon now wondered if maybe he should’ve told Hroombra this stay would be an extremely short one.
Jaax took a deep breath, set his thoughts aside for later, and stepped out from behind the stone wall. He moved gracefully for such a large and powerful creature and was so silent that the children didn’t hear him at first. To his great delight, however, Jahrra was the first to look up and see what had moved in the corner of her eye. She gasped, and stopped dead in her tracks.
Jaax merely gazed down at her with a look of interest. Her blue eyes changed in an instant, moving closer to that shade of gray he’d noticed earlier. Jahrra was frozen in place and the two other children walked right into her, knocking her slightly off balance. When they looked up to see why she’d stopped they also caught sight of the Tanaan dragon that had appeared out of nowhere.
“Whoa!!” yelped Scede, unable to stop himself. He quickly clasped his hands over his mouth and ogled up at the strange dragon towering above him. Gieaun stood rigid, mouth hanging open, looking very much like she did earlier in the schoolyard. The children were used to Hroombra’s calm presence but they could all tell right away that this younger dragon was nothing like Hroombra.
Although slightly smaller than the Korli dragon, Jaax moved with the fluidity of a warrior, all well-controlled strength and raw power. It was clear that this dragon was a determined, dominant and clever creature with shrewd eyes that did not easily betray what he was thinking. Next to the placid and gentle soul that was Hroombra, Jaax was a lion poised for battle.
“Hello children,” Hroombra’s greeting rolled through the awkward silence like distant thunder. He turned and acknowledged behind him. “I’d like you all to meet Raejaaxorix. He was once a student of mine.”
Jaax kept his gaze locked on Jahrra’s face the entire time Hroombra spoke, making her feel uncomfortable. When she heard her mentor speak his name, however, she miraculously found her voice.
“Raejaaxorix?” she repeated almost indecipherably, gaping up at Hroombra. “Like the Raejaaxorix in the stories you told me?”
“Yes, the very same,” Hroombra said cheerily with a wide smile to match.
Jahrra returned her gaze to the Tanaan dragon, but instead of remaining dark with veiled unease her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she beamed brightly. He was younger than she imagined him, since the stories Hroombra told her were from hundreds of years ago. Then she remembered how long dragons actually lived and regained some of her composure.
“Stories?” Jaax found his voice as well, taking his stony gaze off of Jahrra.
His eyes now landed on Hroombra and his mood went from interested observance to inquisitive suspicion.
Jahrra jumped slightly when she heard the dragon speak for the first time. He had a strong, authoritative voice. It wasn’t as deep as Hroombra’s but it was much more intimidating. Where Hroombra’s voice earned trust and respect, this one demanded it.
“Yes Jaax, I’ve told Jahrra many tales of the past, those of when you were still a very young dragon. When so many followed you.”
Hroombra’s smile began to fade as his speech trailed off.
Jahrra could tell that Jaax had somehow upset him and a tiny feeling of dislike began in the pit of her stomach.
Jaax blew hot air from his nostrils, almost releasing out a snort as he did so. He turned his gaze to the distant Wreing Florenn before answering shortly, “I’m no hero Hroombra, you know that.”