The Awakening (13 page)

Up until a few months ago she had been a simple Nesnan of no consequence and despite the fact that Jaax had informed her she was the only human in Ethoes, one that many had been waiting for for a very long time, it didn’t magically change the way she had grown up. Hroombra and her foster parents had had a bigger impression on her than anything Jaax could do now. It would take her a long while to get used to the attention, praise and even hatred she would receive now that everyone knew who and what she really was.

Jaax stood, stretching his wings in the wide open space of the great room and said, “I’ll send Neira to wake you in the morning. We’ll stop by the seamstress’s first thing; she is open before most businesses. Then we’ll make our way to the heart of the city where we’ll meet those select Coalition members who are not previously engaged in meetings and appointments for the day.”

Jahrra looked up from her plate. “Select members?”

Jaax grinned as he stepped down from his shelf by the window. “You won’t be meeting the entire Coalition here in Lidien for quite a while yet.”

Jahrra cleared her throat. “Just how many members of the Coalition are there exactly?”

“Throughout Ethoes or here in the city?”

“Here in the city.”

Jahrra had a bad feeling she didn’t want to know the number of members throughout the world.

Jaax seemed to think for a moment, tallying the number up in his head. “When we are in full session, when most members are required to attend a meeting,” he answered, “I’d say one hundred fifty to two hundred. If you count the unofficial members, ten times as many as that. But they won’t be attending any of the meetings.”

Jahrra made a sound of fear and surprise.
That many? Really?
She wanted to go back upstairs, sit in a corner and melt away.

“Don’t worry,” Jaax said, seeing her face, “we’ll only be meeting five or six tomorrow.”

The sigh of relief coming from Jahrra could have blown down a tree.

“Now, it’s been at least a week since I’ve slept soundly, so I’ll bid you goodnight.”

Jahrra nodded, still trying to wrap the idea of two hundred nobles and delegates around her head. Would she have to meet all of them and learn all of their names and titles? What about all those unofficial members? And just how many members of the Coalition existed outside of Felldreim? The thought gave her a headache.

“You should get some rest, too,” Jaax said, his voice closer this time.

Jahrra had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed him step closer.

“I know you slept the day away but our trip here wasn’t the easiest of journeys.”

Jahrra nodded and stood. “What about my dishes?” she asked, eyeing the nearly empty bowl and cup in front of her.

“Neira will tend to it,” Jaax shot over his shoulder before disappearing through the great arch to the left.

Jahrra sighed. Someone to clean up after her? That was an odd and somewhat uncomfortable notion.
Well
, she thought,
I’m beginning to think there will be a lot to get used to in this new city; in this new life.

***

The morning after arriving in Lidien, Jahrra rose early and joined her guardian on the promised trip into the city. Jaax had reminded her on their way out that he would be introducing her to a select number of Coalition members, but those members she did meet weren’t even close to what she’d expected. It turned out that the seamstress they visited first, Mistress Bearra, was a minor member of the Coalition, as was the cobbler they visited next and their waiter for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Once Jahrra figured out she wouldn’t be meeting any high lords or ladies that day she relaxed.

“You think I would throw you in with the sharks on your very first day?” Jaax had asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Jahrra answered with feeling as they made their way back to the estate on the hill, a small donkey-drawn cart carrying Jahrra’s purchases behind them. “That’s what you did before taking me to meet Yaraa and Viornen.”

Jaax winced and braved a glance at his ward. She was fingering the scale on the silver chain she usually kept out of sight. Jaax couldn’t decide if she had reached for it on purpose or if it was done completely out of habit.

“Ah, well, that was different,” he said eventually. “You needed a little rough handling in your life then.”

Jahrra looked at him but didn’t argue. He was right after all, but she wasn’t about to tell him so. Instead she released a sigh as she led Phrym up the drive. She smiled and gave him a pat on the neck, pleased to know he was to be kept nearby. He seemed happy enough living with the other semequins and horses in the fine city stable. And the best part about it was its location. Like Jaax had said, it was situated just at the base of their hill and could be accessed from a trail that started behind the house.

“The walk is no more than fifteen minutes,” Jaax had assured her that morning, “but I don’t want you taking it at night. If you find yourself coming in after dark, take a carriage from the stable up the main drive. Lidien is a very safe city but there are still those out there who might entertain their own ideas on how to welcome you.”

Jahrra shivered a little. She didn’t need to ask Jaax to elaborate.

As the weeks passed Jahrra found herself settling into her new life in Lidien. A good amount of that time had consisted of Jaax leading her around like a puppy, showing her the University and getting her familiar with the route to and from their house. He took her to fine mansions perched upon the hills surrounding the city, or to fancy inns where he would introduce her to other members of the Coalition or high ranking dignitaries. Jahrra would bow politely as one titled lord or lady was introduced after the other. She felt rather odd when they returned the gesture but she managed to keep a polite smile on her face without collapsing into a heap on the ground.

When she was at home she insisted on helping Neira with tending the garden and even preparing the meals. At first the housemaid refused, declaring it was not Jahrra’s place, but in her usual fashion Jahrra was able to coerce her into allowing her to help.

“Please, Neira. I enjoy working in the garden,” she would say. “And I’d like to learn to cook, too.”

On the days Neira didn’t need any help at home, and when Jaax was off on some important task or another, she would ride Phrym through the city just for the sake of riding and getting to know her way around a little better. Since her guardian hadn’t yet formally introduced her to every single member of the Coalition, she could still remain somewhat anonymous among the people of Lidien. She wondered when she would be invited to attend one of the several Coalition meetings that kept Jaax away most of the day and sometimes well into the night, but he had only sighed and told her soon.

Her guardian went to at least three meetings a week and sometimes she wouldn’t see him for two days straight. Jahrra wondered what they discussed to make them last so long and although she longed to find out, she dreaded it as well. She knew she would be a major topic of discussion when she finally showed her face and that thought alone frightened her.

To help rid her mind of troublesome thoughts, Jahrra decided to focus most of her attention on her new home. Things were different in Lidien. No one seemed to mind Jaax’s presence and on many occasions she spotted other dragons like the ones she had seen when they first arrived in the city. There were other races besides dragons here: centaurs and cenikets and many other creatures and beings she didn’t recognize, some tall with the features of both elves and animals, some short, looking more like dwarves.

The city itself had a very urgent pulse to it though on many of her outings with Phrym she had discovered nooks and corners where the people had slowed down to take a break, where the pleasant clamor of the streets didn’t quite reach. Small outdoor shops selling tea and cakes, bookstores and tiny gardens tucked away every now and again gave Lidien just a hint of small town charm.

Jahrra often smiled as she and Phrym (and sometimes Jaax or Neira) enjoyed their long walks. This city loved its gardens. It seemed that every business, house or building had at least a tiny patch of earth or a window box to grow flowers and vegetables. By the end of the first week in her new home, Jahrra felt as if she’d been in Lidien her entire life.

The week before the next session at the University was to start, Jahrra and Jaax settled down in the great common room in front of a fire and poured over several pamphlets advertising the many courses the school had to offer. Jaax thought it would be most useful for Jahrra to take a variety of classes and to her great surprise, he allowed her to pick most of her own lessons with very few protests.

Jahrra chose a general class on the history of Ethoes, a mathematics course (that she agreed only to take because Jaax allowed her to pick the rest), a class that compared and discussed the myths and legends of the world and finally, the most appealing, a course that focused on the wildlife of Felldreim, both plant and animal alike.

“There is also a practice field nearby that you can utilize to keep up on the lessons you were taking with Yaraa and Viornen,” Jaax added.

Jahrra grimaced. It had been nearly three months since she’d last practiced with the elves and she knew she was falling out of shape.

“I’m sure you’ll meet a few people in your classes who would be interested in sparring with you.”

Jahrra gave Jaax an inquisitive look, not sure if that last comment was supposed to be a compliment or a jibe. Nevertheless, Jahrra hoped he was right. She could move through the exercises on her own but it wasn’t the same as having another person to practice with.

In the evenings when her guardian was home, Jahrra reviewed her basic lessons from Hroombra and the schoolhouse in Aldehren with Jaax. The night before she was to start her first day she was so nervous she couldn’t imagine ever falling asleep. Eventually, however, Jaax insisted she get to bed so that she could have a fresh start. Sighing, she reluctantly obeyed. She had no idea what to expect from the University. Would it be anything like her school in Aldehren? Surely not, for she wasn’t a naïve little girl anymore, was she?

Screwing her face up in determination, she climbed the stairs, entered her room and set her mind on slumber. She would face the morning with a renewed sense of strength.
You have been through more than what most people have been through and you’ve survived
, she told herself.
You will not be afraid of a classroom full of strangers.

Despite Jahrra’s resolve, it took her ages to fall asleep, her nerves still a shambles when she finally did.

-
Chapter Eight
-

Friendly Strangers and Stranger Friends

The building seemed to go on forever, its massive columns looking like the bleached white skeletons of some ancient forest. People of various ages and descriptions pushed past her, adding to the buzz of busy chatter. Jahrra swallowed hard, her right hand clutching the strap of her bag, the other hand busy holding her schedule and campus map while trying not to shake. There were only fifteen more steps or so until she met the entrance of Emehriel Hall, the massive University building towering before her.

All of the buildings, Jaax had told her on their way to the University that morning, were named after a star or constellation.

When she had asked him why, he merely smiled and said, “The stars are our grandest symbols of enlightenment. Besides, it’s a wonderful way to help us remember our astronomy lore, don’t you think?”

Jahrra turned and looked down at Jaax now. He stood in the main plaza which was equally crowded with students, professors and people who were just passing through. He looked ridiculously small to her, despite the fact that he couldn’t be more than a hundred feet away from where she stood. Jaax nodded but Jahrra noticed his tense stature. Was he nervous too? Worried about leaving her alone in her first class? Jahrra felt like bursting into hysterics. She was a grown woman, well, nearly a grown woman, and she was only going off to class for goodness sake.

Taking another deep breath, she pushed aside her anxiety and climbed the remaining stairs. The crowd seemed smaller once she reached the top and she found the shade cast by the great columns soothing.

Brushing back a loose strand of hair, Jahrra entered one of the many doors that stood wide open and found herself in a great foyer. Posters and schedules hung along the walls and two hallways split and trailed off in opposite directions along the far wall. The chatter of people echoed strangely in the place, making it seem much bigger than it was.

Jahrra glanced down at her schedule, trying to discern the number of the room for her history class. The boom of footsteps and loud snap and slam of doors being opened and closed added to the noisy atmosphere while the brilliant colors of a stained glass window somewhere far above painted the sheet of paper she held with blue, gold and red.

Jahrra found the room number then consulted her map. She looked up and began walking forward. Her classroom was down the right hand hallway but as she began to turn she caught a glimpse through the door just in front of her. Jahrra stopped in her tracks and stared. The room was huge with seats cascading down towards a large stage set below. She glanced up at the sign hanging above the four massive doors that led into the room:
Essyel Auditorium
.

“Essyel,” a voice said behind her, “the Torch-bearer that lights our way at night.”

Jahrra jumped and looked up. She had to work hard to keep her mouth from falling open. She had read about centaurs and Hroombra had told her stories about them, but she had never actually seen one before.

The centaur crossed his arms over his chest and continued on as if he hadn’t noticed her reaction.

“This auditorium is mostly used for meetings of groups and organizations that wish to promote peace or change. Every so often a class will be held here, but only if it’s an immensely popular one.”

The creature smiled and Jahrra felt some of her apprehension melt away. He had dark hair, long enough to brush his shoulders, and hazel eyes that reflected his smile. He seemed nice enough but Jahrra wasn’t sure what to say. Luckily, she didn’t have to say anything.

“Well,” he said as casually as before, “I had better be off. I don’t want to keep you from your class.”

Jahrra nodded numbly and watched as he made his way in the opposite direction, his hoof beats sounding louder than the other footsteps.

Shaking her head, Jahrra continued on down the hall, finding her class a few minutes before the professor arrived. A few students were already present and a few more arrived after her. Everyone chose to spread out in the smallish room, each taking a seat as far away from the next person as possible. Their instructor was an older man who seemed well dressed and well mannered.

Jahrra took out a piece of parchment from her bag and started taking notes as he jumped right into their history lesson. About halfway through the class Jahrra realized that she already knew everything he was telling them. Apparently Hroombra had been a much better teacher than she had ever thought. She set her quill beside her notes and sat back, deciding to only jot down what sounded like new information.

Towards the end of the class she noticed that the young man sitting behind and to the side of her was giving her a quizzical look. He looked about her own age and had sandy hair and a roguish grin. Jahrra turned her attention back towards the front of the classroom, gritting her teeth and crossing her arms. She hated being the object of anyone’s attention and something about her classmate made her uncomfortable.

A few minutes more and class was over. Jahrra grabbed her bag and tried to leave the room as quickly as possible but as she made her way back up the hall the young man from her history class caught up to her.

“Hey, wait!” he called, running up beside her. “I noticed you stopped taking notes halfway through class, do you want to borrow mine?”

Jahrra stopped abruptly and the young man had to catch himself. The other students walking through the hall gave them perturbed looks, muttering complaints about rudeness and people blocking the flow of traffic as they continued on.

Jahrra eyed him warily but found only an innocent smile on his face. He was taller than her and had clear grey eyes. She tried to find deceit there but his friendliness seemed genuine.

“Um, no thanks,” Jahrra answered shakily. “I realized that I already knew what he was telling us.”

She hiked her bag farther up her shoulder and pressed on. She had a half hour before her next class, mathematics, so she wasn’t worried about being late but for some reason she wanted to get away from her overly pleasant classmate.

“Wait, maybe you can give me some pointers.”

The young man came running up again, pulling his own bag close as it jostled around, bumping into people.

They had passed through the great foyer and were now at the top of the steps, the bright mid-morning sun glaring down on them. Jahrra kept moving, pretending like she hadn’t heard him. She raced down the stairs, trying not to run into anyone else while staying on her feet.

Halfway down she made the mistake of looking up. She stopped and gritted her teeth. Jaax stood beside a great oak tree, half of its canopy spreading over the plaza, the other half reaching over the lawn and a section of the steps in front of Emehriel Hall. Had he waited for her? She would have been touched if she hadn’t been so eager to get away from the boy that was now standing behind her.

Before he could say anything else, Jahrra hurried down to stand in front of Jaax.

“Did you wait this whole time for me?” she demanded, dropping her bag onto a patch of shady grass.

Jaax merely grinned and shrugged. “I wanted to make sure everything went well. So, did it?”

Jahrra groaned. He was the only dragon standing in the plaza at the moment and more than several people were giving him a curious look.

The young man from her history class stepped up behind her. “You know a dragon? I’ve seen many here in Lidien but I’ve never actually worked up the courage to talk to one.”

Jaax arched a scaly brow and spoke, his voice a little harder this time, “So you’ve made a friend already, Jahrra. Are you going to introduce us?”

Jahrra groaned and buried her face in her hands. She wanted to die of embarrassment but unfortunately, Ethoes wasn’t that kind.

“I, I don’t really know him,” she finally mumbled. “He’s in my history class and we haven’t exchanged names yet.”

She turned to the young man, the situation now making it necessary to acknowledge him. He already had his hand thrust out, a huge grin on his face.

“Senton,” he said, “and you are Jahrra, right?”

Jahrra took the offered hand, wincing at the strength and fierceness of his handshake.

“Yes, pleased to meet you. And this is Jaax.”

She pointed over her shoulder, not wanting to look at her guardian.

“Jaax?” Senton dropped her hand as if it were an adder he had accidentally picked up. “As in, Raejaaxorix?”

The boy seemed to pale and loose a bit of the enthusiasm he’d had before. Jahrra didn’t know whether to smirk or cringe again. Was Jaax known throughout the whole of Ethoes? She tossed that thought around and came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t be surprised if he were.

“The very same,” Jaax said.

Senton took a step back and bent in a small bow. “An honor to meet you, sir. My father, he’s, well, he’s a member of the Coalition. Only a minor member, of course, but he speaks well of you.”

Jahrra could only stand back and watch this conversation unfold. What would her new ‘friend’ do when he found out who she was? Jahrra braced herself. She only hoped it wasn’t a repeat of what had happened in Crie.

“What is your father’s name?” Jaax asked, his head cocked at an angle as he scrutinized Senton.

“Loress, originally of Noehtsedth in Cunnan Crei. We moved to Lidien after my mother died.”

Senton paused for a moment, his rigid stance tightening a bit, his eyes glancing to the side.

Jahrra frowned. She imagined the loss was fairly recent, perhaps within the year. A small part of her defenses dropped. Perhaps this young man wasn’t as different from her as she thought.

Senton seemed to find his voice again. “We moved here half a year ago and, luckily, my father has found work managing a trade shop.”

Jaax dropped his chin. “I am sorry for your loss.”

There was a moment where none of them said anything, as if to think over what they had all just learned.

After some time Jaax spoke again, “Your father, Senton, do you have the look of him?”

Senton nodded, his smile and charm seeming to return. “Yes, all us boys do. My sister though, she looks like my mother.”

The sadness wasn’t so apparent that time and Jahrra was glad. It hadn’t looked good on him.

“I believe I’ve seen your father before. I’ll be sure to speak with him at our next meeting.”

Senton looked as if someone had just handed him a year’s worth of gold. Jahrra had to stifle a grin and the feeling of absurdity that overcame her. She found it strange how people reacted to Jaax, and now herself. Perhaps she would someday become accustomed to it but she imagined that day was far off.

“I had best leave you two to your classes then,” Jaax said, looking about his surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. “I have a busy schedule today so if I’m not back before dark Jahrra, don’t wait up for me.”

Jahrra nodded as her guardian turned to walk away. She pulled out her map to locate her next class, the one that was now to start in ten minutes. Luckily, it was only a few buildings away in Fehryan Hall. As she walked, Senton joined her.

“You
live
with him?!”

Jahrra bit her lip. Yes, how to explain
that
without telling him who she was. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, or was afraid to, it just seemed so ridiculous to her.
Hello, I’m Jahrra, and I’m the human girl the Oracles prophesied would come and save the world.
No, that didn’t sound stupid at all.

Shrugging, Jahrra said, “Yes.”

And that was all she was going to say, for the moment at least. Luckily, Senton seemed distracted enough by the simple fact that she lived with the famous Tanaan dragon Raejaaxorix that he didn’t put the rest together. Jahrra secretly thanked Ethoes for the small grace period she had granted her. There was no way she was going to be able to keep her identity secret forever. Best enjoy the anonymity while it lasted.

Senton walked with her to her next class since he didn’t have class again until the afternoon, the wildlife course that she just so happened to be enrolled in as well. The young man was ecstatic to learn this and had no qualms in letting her know.

As he waved goodbye, Jahrra contemplated him for a moment before stepping into her mathematics building. Maybe he was just one of those people who enjoyed the company of others. Why he sought out her company in particular, Jahrra wasn’t sure. She shrugged. It would be nice having friends here in Lidien but she knew it would be a bittersweet experience. She and Jaax would eventually be leaving and it would only hurt when they had to leave their friends behind. Again.

Jahrra shook this feeling off and tried to focus on her math lesson. It was as brutal as she had feared and she hoped that Senton knew more about math than she did or else she was going to be in a lot of trouble without someone to help her along.

At midday she ate her packed lunch in one of the small parks that dotted the University campus. She watched students and professors alike, scurrying to class or strolling along leisurely. One older man in particular, an instructor for sure, walked briskly by, muttering under his breath and keeping a hand on his odd hat as his deep blue robes fluttered with his steps. A group of people her age were playing some game several feet away, their laughter drifting on the gentle breeze as it rustled through the fresh leaves and older blossoms of the trees. The University campus had a cheerful, eager feel to it, like a young child leaning forward to hear the ending of an exciting story.