“You two almost beat us!” she laughed, knowing it wasn’t true.
“Yeah, right!” said Gieaun. “You were so far ahead we never would’ve caught you!”
Jahrra smiled. “Sure you would’ve!”
Jahrra was so intent on convincing her friends she hadn’t left them in the dust that she didn’t notice the shadow of the Castle Guard Ruin suddenly growing larger behind her. Nor did she see the look of sudden disquiet crossing both her friends’ faces or the sudden unease of Bhun and Aimhe.
“No, they wouldn’t have,” said an overbearing, stony voice above her shoulder. “You were much too far ahead.”
Jahrra’s smile instantly faded and her blood turned to ice water. She knew that voice, that cool, calculating, dominating voice. It had been a long time since she’d last heard it, but it wasn’t a voice she could easily forget.
She turned her head, hoping that it wasn’t who she thought it was, that her hearing had been affected by the magic in the meadow. She slowly looked up at the dominating figure standing just behind her and almost melted when she saw the large, unyielding Tanaan dragon smirking down at her. She closed her eyes and slowly realized that her perfect day had just come to an end.
-Chapter Seventeen-
Dueling with Dragons
It took a few minutes for Jahrra to realize why the sight of Jaax made her uneasy, and how long it had been since she’d seen him. Four years ago, she thought, when he brought her Phrym. Then it struck her; why she received a stabbing pang of distaste when she’d heard the dragon’s voice. For three years now she’d subconsciously been blaming him for the death of her parents. She’d forgotten her anger in time, just as she’d learned to deal with her sorrow, but seeing the dragon now had the same effect as throwing stones at a hornet’s nest.
Jahrra took a deep breath and forced herself to look Jaax in the eye. Cold, granite eyes, she thought with a shiver. “What are you doing here?” she finally said, her throat feeling constricted and her mouth feeling dry.
“I’m here on business,” the dragon said simply, his voice holding a hint of amusement.
Jahrra still found Jaax imposing, despite the fact she was sitting high atop Phrym, and she wondered how she hadn’t spotted him when they first approached. He must have been waiting for me inside the Ruin, spying, she decided with distaste.
She released a short breath and asked as pleasantly as she could, “Where’s Master Hroombra?”
“He’ll be out shortly. I couldn’t help but overhear you shouting so loudly at your friends, so I came out to greet you all.” He paused and then cocked his head to the side, eyeing her like a bug he was considering squashing. “Do you always take pleasure in deceiving your friends, Jahrra?”
The question took Jahrra by surprise, like a punch in the stomach. She glared up at Jaax, but he just kept looking at her as if she were insignificant. Jahrra turned her eyes away and suddenly felt the way she did when Eydeth or Ellysian looked at her. Who is he to judge me? she thought furiously. I don’t deceive my friends!
Gieaun and Scede shifted on their horses somewhere behind her. She moved slowly to look at them, reluctant to turn her back on her enemy. They’d noticed Jaax before she did and had wisely stayed put where they were. Now they were giving her a fragile look as she sought them out with desperate eyes.
“Hello,” Jaax said cheerily over Jahrra’s head. “You are Gieaun and Scede if I’m not mistaken? I remember you two from last time I was here. You’ve grown quite a bit.”
He smiled freely at them and they seemed to relax a little, both grinning sheepishly.
What?! Jahrra thought with her mouth hanging open. How can he be so nice to them and treat me like dirt?!
“Can you breathe fire like Master Hroombra?” Scede blurted, interrupting Jahrra’s thoughts and taking everyone by surprise.
The boy blushed slightly at his own outburst; clearly he hadn’t meant to be so forward. Jaax looked down at Scede and grinned, then took a deep breath and let out a huge burst of flame, blue in the center and green around the edges. Aimhe, Bhun and Phrym all backed up and pulled at their bits nervously, but Gieaun and Scede were ecstatic with joy.
“Whoa! How can you do that?” Gieaun remarked, not noticing the look of irritation on Jahrra’s face.
“I’m not quite sure Gieaun, but all dragons have the ability to breathe fire, steam or ice,” Jaax answered, as if discussing the weather. “I happen to be a fire-breather.”
He then began to blow smoke rings, which only encouraged Gieaun and Scede to jump from their horses in delight. The next minute they were laughing and coughing as they tried to leap through the giant loops of misty smoke.
Jahrra remained seated on Phrym, infuriated that the dragon should put on such a show for her friends while treating her with such disdain. It was almost as if Jaax had charmed them with magic. Why is he so rude to me but nice to them? she wondered miserably. Then she remembered that she hated him, so it really didn’t matter in the end.
“Gieaun, Scede, do you want to put the horses away now?” Jahrra said quite rudely as she finally climbed down from Phrym’s back.
“Oh, yeah, in just a minute,” Scede said shortly without stopping his game of dodging the smoke rings. “You go ahead, we’ll catch up to you.”
Jahrra shot one more angry look at Jaax before leading Phrym away.
“Is she always so bad-tempered?” he asked the siblings once Jahrra had turned away.
“What are you talking about?” Gieaun asked, allowing a stray smoke ring to pass through her.
“Never mind, it’s not important,” Jaax sniffed.
The Tanaan dragon narrowed his emerald eyes as he watched Jahrra march away across the pasture. So, he thought with a scowl, that’s how it’s going to be, is it? He’d been testing the girl, searching for weakness, knowing now she wasn’t going to accept him back so easily after his long absence. What had happened to the young girl he met four years ago? She’d been impressed and eager to make friends then, now she seemed guarded and distant, a slow anger burning inside of her.
What’s causing this anger? Jaax wondered, absentmindedly blowing another dozen smoke rings in Gieaun and Scede’s direction as he watched Jahrra lead Phrym away. He wondered if it might still be the effect of Abdhe’s and Lynhi’s deaths. After all, it really wasn’t that long ago . . . His brow furrowed and his mood darkened for a moment. That could be it, but not all of it. She was cheerful until she saw me.
He sighed and realized that he would have to figure this out in due time, but for now he was going to make good use of this opportunity to check in on Jahrra’s progress. The business of the outside world had kept him away from this task for far too long, and though his time here would once again be short, he was going to make good use of it.
Jaax smiled wryly as he continued to watch the fuming girl kick irritably at stones and swat at the swaying grasses as she moved closer to the stables. Yes, this will be interesting indeed . . . he mused.
“Ugh!” Jahrra puffed angrily as she pulled Phrym up the sloping field alone. “He thinks he’s so clever! They only like him because he can breathe fire!”
Phrym whinnied softly, as if voicing his agreement.
“I’m glad you’re on my side Phrym,” Jahrra said dejectedly, reaching over and pulling his head into an appreciative hug. Phrym just nickered cheerfully and shoved Jahrra softly forward with his nose.