The Awakening (29 page)

The other girl mimicked the act of seeking out the heart speck and Jahrra smiled. She was still amazed at how much she had to learn about this magical world she lived in.

“Very well,” Jahrra sighed as she turned back to the jeweler. “You and your family are very gifted. I hope Jaax appreciates this gift as much as I do.”

“Oh, no doubt he will,” the elf assured her.

Jahrra screwed up her nose. “He can be hard to please sometimes.”

“Ah, but this manner of gift coming from you, the human destined to save Ethoes? He will cherish it.”

Jahrra grimaced at the mention of her humanness, but wondered what the shop owner meant by his comment. She shrugged. Just a business man flattering a buyer with kind words.

The jeweler’s wife emerged from the back of the store with a beautifully embroidered bag for Jahrra to carry the box in. She counted out the amount they had agreed upon, and once again feeling as if she were getting something for free, Jahrra insisted in giving them a little more for the bag and the extra attention to detail they spent on the dragons on the ring.

Stepping from the store, Jahrra and Torrell shivered, pulling their coats a little tighter. It was still late autumn, what with Sobledthe having passed just last weekend, but winter was upon them and the air was beginning to chill, especially just around sundown.

“I think we should pay the extra coin and hail a carriage once we get out of this alley,” Torrell suggested as they made their way down the narrow lane back onto the larger street.

Their boot heels clicked loudly against the cobbles and the gentle tinkle of the fountain played in their ears as they quickened their pace into a brisk walk. The busy streets had emptied but still contained a good number of people out for some last minute shopping or visiting the local restaurants for dinner. Once free of the enchanted alley and its unusual stores, the girls managed to hire a driver who would take them home.

Jahrra clutched the embroidered bag close, the box inside large enough to hold some of the silk slippers she had back at home. She wondered how she would get this inside without Jaax noticing and thus questioning her about it. He was surely to be home by now. She pulled open her bag and tried to shove the box in. It barely fit, making her pack look squarish and awkward, but Jahrra breathed a sigh of relief regardless. If Jaax asked her about it she would be able to claim it was only a Solsticetide gift without worrying about further inquiry.

As the small carriage made its way through the wide streets of Lidien, Jahrra gazed out over the bay. The far hills that acted as a sort of sentry gate at the entrance of the great inlet stood dark against the crimson sky.

All around them small groups of people mingled and chatted, still speaking about the splendid Sobledthe festival or discussing their plans for Solsticetide, their words lost as the carriage clattered past. Several young boys moved around on stilts, lighting the lamps along the streets and bringing the city back to life as the light of the sun waned. Jahrra leaned back into the carriage and smiled. No one seemed frightened or unhappy in this city.

The carriage began its ascent into the hills and Jahrra turned to glance back over the scene below her. It looked like a display of magic, all gold and cream and glittering with small lights. She had fought coming here, she remembered bitterly; fought against Jaax and even Hroombra. The buried memory stung sharply like the prick of a nettle. She pushed it aside. She would not think of the final hateful words she had spoken to her beloved mentor just before he died. She hadn’t thought of them in months and she wouldn’t start up again now. But the memory still lingered, and Jahrra had to turn around to keep the tears from forming and falling down her cheeks.

Instead, she turned to Torrell. “Will you be going away for Solsticetide?”

Torrell flinched, as if she had been drifting off to sleep, then nodded. “We always stay in the city for Solsticetide. My sister would never allow us to leave; we would miss all the fun activities.”

The carriage clattered down the cobbled streets, the din of their passage nearly covering their laughter. Jahrra felt herself turning giddy, for it was nearly the Solstice, only a month or so away, and nearly her birthday. She would be eighteen years old, a grown woman. She could hardly believe it. She didn’t feel like an adult at the moment, laughing and acting childish with Torrell, but then again some days she felt more grown up than anyone else in the world.

The sun disappeared over the bay as Jahrra waved goodbye to her friend from the front of her home. She glanced up at the sky, its inky blue color growing deeper, and acknowledged the few stars that had already come out. The box she had hidden in her pack suddenly felt heavy in her hands and when she was sure Jaax wasn’t about to burst out of the door, demanding why she was standing about in the cold, she pulled it out and opened the lid to admire the spirit stone once again. It was harder to see in the dark but the firelight coming from the tall windows behind her leant her some assistance. She couldn’t seem to stop staring at it, the blue-green gem with the deep red speck lodged within and just off center. The etched metal caught the light and cast it back at her, highlighting the detailed craftsmanship.

Jahrra grinned broadly. Jaax would love the ring, he had to for she didn’t know how she would feel if he didn’t. Severe disappointment, she imagined. Before she could worry any more about how her guardian would receive this gift, the small door swung open and a great shard of light interrupted her.

“Jahrra! What on Ethoes are you doing standing out here in the dark?”

Quickly, Jahrra snapped the lid of the box shut and hurriedly shoved it back into her bag as Neira stepped forward, wrapped in a shawl. She glimpsed her bandaged finger in her haste to hide the ring, something she had managed to forget about between the shock of finding a Mystic and seeing the spirit stone completed, and quickly shoved it in her coat pocket before Neira could see it.

“Just watching the stars come out,” she answered.

The young woman eyed her suspiciously but didn’t inquire any further.

“Well, your supper is getting cold,” she sniffed, “and Master Jaax has been called off to another meeting.”

Jahrra sighed with relief. At least he wasn’t home to eye her square-shaped bag with suspicion.

She half expected Neira to go off on a tirade about Jaax working too hard and neglecting his ward but she only busied herself with chasing Jahrra inside where it was warm. The maid allowed her to go upstairs and change into something more comfortable before coming down for dinner. While in her room, Jahrra found a nice dark corner in her closet to hide Jaax’s Solsticetide gift, along with the others she had purchased.

“There,” she whispered, tucking it away beneath a pile of spare blankets, “now let’s hope I don’t forget about it.”

Feeling smugly pleased with herself, Jahrra joined Neira downstairs and the two of them ate in the great room before a roaring fire. She knew she needed to study for her upcoming exams, but she had a few more weeks and all of tomorrow to do so. Today’s journey through Lidien had worn her out, both physically and mentally. She needed a break.

As she climbed the stairs, waving a lazy good night to Neira, Jahrra turned over in her mind the events of that day. Taking part in the creation of the spirit stone had been a fascinating experience, as well as a curious one. Not for the first time that day she wondered what Jaax might have done for the shop owners to impel them to give her such a discount. Was the scar on the neck of the jeweler’s daughter a clue? Had Jaax rescued her from a fire? Jahrra imagined that fire would have little effect on a dragon so he would be the perfect creature to pull someone from a deadly inferno.

But that was not the most nagging thought in her mind as she pulled on her night clothes. Jahrra was most curious about the other Mystic she and Torrell had stumbled upon. She had managed to push the unpleasant experience from her mind for the remainder of her shopping venture with Torrell, but now that her mind had a chance to be still, it demanded answers.

Jahrra never could shake off the desire to know the answer to a good mystery when it presented itself, and this time was no different. In fact, it almost seemed worse. The encounter with the Mystic now drew her thoughts towards Denaeh and not for the first time since arriving in Lidien, she wondered what had become of her old friend after she and Jaax left Oescienne.

Most likely, the strange woman was still settled in the Belloughs, tending her odd garden and watching Milihn plant his seeds and seedlings. Jahrra grinned at the memory, her face reflecting back at her in the glass of her window. She wanted to believe the picture her mind now presented her: that Denaeh had gone on with her life within the relative safety of the Black Swamp, but something told Jahrra that just wasn’t so.

Maybe it was her knowing the Mystic so well, or knowing the nature of Denaeh’s
actions
so well. She was probably more involved in the great scheme of things than Jahrra had previously thought. This realization hit her like a sudden drop from a high place. Could Denaeh be taking on a greater role in all of this than Jahrra had previously thought? Could that be the reason for the other Mystic’s fear?

Shivering from a sudden chill, Jahrra wrapped her arms more tightly about herself and moved away from her window. The fire had died down to glowing embers so she grabbed a few pieces of firewood and added them to the coals. Once the hearth was glowing with a healthy fire again, Jahrra crawled up into her bed and tried to rest her mind.

If Denaeh planned on involving herself further with the human child sent by Ethoes then Jahrra could only look forward to seeing her again.
But
, she thought as she finally started drifting towards sleep, and after thoroughly considering her encounter today,
does that bode good or ill will towards me and Jaax?

-
Chapter Sixteen
-

A Gift from the Heart

The weeks following the trip into the more remote corners of Lidien eked by slowly. Jahrra wondered about this, for usually the days leading up to the Solstice moved by quickly, especially since she was so busy studying for exams and getting ready for the holiday.

In the end, she decided the sudden sluggishness of time must be attributed to her strange encounter with the Mystic on the day she and Torrell went shopping. In fact, the oddness and mystery of it all often distracted her from everyday activities. More than once Neira or Jaax had to remind her that her dinner was getting cold, or Senton had to prod her in the ribs during their history course if the professor seemed to be asking them a question.

Despite much sighing and wracking of her brain, she couldn’t come up with any answers or theories to her questions. She couldn’t figure out why the Mystic was tucked away in a hidden corner of Lidien, why she had denied that she was, indeed, a Mystic, or why she had reacted so violently to the mention of Denaeh’s name. Eventually, however, the gnawing curiosity that always seemed to get the better of Jahrra tapered off and she became distracted with the activities of her everyday life once again.

Defense practice with her friends, for instance, was proving to be a good distraction. The shorter days of the encroaching winter not only forced them to practice on the weekends but in the mornings sometimes as well. It took Jahrra a while to get used to rising so early but after a week at it she found the cool morning hours quite enjoyable as she worked out with Torrell, Dathian and Senton. Senton’s friend from the Sobledthe festival, Lohra, also joined them more often than not. To Jahrra’s great delight, he seemed to be sparing more of his attention on the red haired girl than herself.

“Hope your heart isn’t broken,” Torrell whispered as they watched Senton and Lohra battle one another with wooden swords.

Jahrra only grinned back at her friend. “Nope. It’s perfectly sound.”

And that was the truth. Jahrra loved Senton dearly, but like a cousin or a long lost brother. She was glad his attention had shifted elsewhere and they could go back to being the friends they had been when they first met.

Another side effect of the early morning practice schedule was that Jahrra often got to eat breakfast with her guardian more often. The first day she had stumbled out of bed before sunup, Jaax had greeted her in the great room, his brow arched and his face draped in curiosity. Jahrra had merely tried to smooth her ruffled hair as she yawned and squinted her eyes away from the fire.

“Morning practices,” she grumbled as she plopped down and accepted a bowl of oatmeal from a chipper Neira.

Jahrra had wondered why her housemates were so robust at such an early hour but as the days passed and she grew used to going to bed earlier and waking up sooner as well, her early morning grogginess disappeared.

The four friends kept to their afternoon classes as well, except now they were shorter, usually only lasting an hour at the most. The short days had managed to scare away most of those who would come and fight against Jahrra and her companions, but as true winter drew nearer their challengers crept back like a fox returning to a henhouse.

“They want to take up open challenges with us again,” Torrell said to Jahrra, Senton and Dathian after asking the small crowd watching them what they were doing hanging around the practice field with no obvious intent to practice.

Jahrra’s eyes widened and she looked up at Senton and Dathian. Senton shrugged, but Dathian, despite his calm demeanor, had a gleam in his eye.

Jahrra grinned wickedly. “Are they willing to place bets?”

Torrell returned her friend’s smile. “Yes, they are.”

Jahrra knew that it was potentially dangerous to take up her old habit of sparring for money but purchasing Jaax’s Solsticetide gift had drained her savings and although she knew her guardian would have no trouble providing for her from the mysterious cache of wealth he had hidden away somewhere, it felt good to provide for herself. Yet it was risky, because somehow she knew her guardian would not approve of her methods of making money.

“If Jaax ever found out about this,” she said one morning on their way from the practice fields to class, “he might start following me throughout the day to keep me from doing anything disapproving.”

Torrell snorted and Senton gave her an incredulous look. Dathian wisely strolled along with his hands clasped behind his back as usual.

“You think he would object to making wagers that strongly?” Senton asked seriously, wiping his forehead with a spare towel he had brought along.

Jahrra shrugged. “Let’s just say it wouldn’t surprise me. He has been very protective in the past.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Torrell said facetiously as she crossed her arms. “You are the only human in Ethoes you know.”

Jahrra opened her mouth to protest, but Senton beat her to it.

“I don’t see why he would be so upset about this though.” He waved a hand around, indicating the practice field. “We’re not doing anything illegal and it’s not like you’re wandering beyond the borders of Lidien alone, looking for the Crimson King’s minions to pick a fight with.”

Jahrra sighed. “He would find something unsavory about it, believe me. For now, let’s just not talk about it when he is around.”

The rest of that week went by rather quickly, despite Jahrra’s nerves about their exams. The Solsticetide break was nearly upon them and when Jahrra managed to resurface from her long study sessions, it dawned upon her that her birthday wasn’t far off either. Was she really eighteen already? Where had the last year gone? She snorted at her wayward thoughts. Somehow, the past year had become lost among the mess that had become her life since leaving Oescienne. What significance did time have? When it was competing against learning you were destined to save the world and then in the next breath, fleeing from your only home in order to escape an evil demon that had killed your long-time guardian?

Jahrra shivered and tried to focus on the descendants of the kings of the lands of Felldreim and the proper mathematical equation she would need in order to come up with the large number swimming on the page of her book. It was no longer a surprise as to why she had so thoroughly lost track of time.

***

On the morning of Solstice Eve, Jahrra woke up with a start. For a fleeting moment, she’d thought she’d been having another nightmare but a glance towards her window washed all thoughts from her mind. She was late. She quickly threw on some practice clothes then dashed downstairs, managing to grab a bite to eat in her haste. She waved a goodbye to Neira and Jaax but was in too much of a hurry to catch their responses.

The streets of Lidien were still relatively quiet and the few citizens who were about paid no attention to the girl and her semequin moving swiftly through the frost-laden city. Great garlands of pine and fir hung from eaves and lampposts, and the few horses and carriages that traversed the deserted streets on this fine morning jingled with silver bells while the breath of the horses puffed in the air like wisps of dragon smoke. Jahrra smiled as she turned Phrym down a familiar lane, for it was the Solstice after all. Her exams were over and she had nearly two more weeks to recuperate before starting her new classes for spring term.

By the time she reached the public park the sun was well over the hills. Torrell, Dathian and Senton were waiting for her, grinning from ear to ear as they stepped forward, their arms loaded down with boxes wrapped in colorful paper and ribbons. Returning their smiles, Jahrra removed the pack from her shoulder and started pulling out wrapped boxes of her own. They’d all decided to exchange gifts this morning since Dathian had plans that would keep him busy most of the break and Senton was traveling up north with his family later that day to spend the holidays with his cousins.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jahrra said, slightly out of breath.

“You’re not that late,” Senton insisted.

“Enough chit-chat! Happy Solsticetide everybody!” Torrell said as she went around, thrusting a gift into everyone’s hands.

Soon the four of them were sitting on the damp grass, exchanging thanks and grins as the paper was torn away and the boxes were pried open. Senton couldn’t believe Jahrra had bought him a dagger and Torrell happily clasped her bracelet around her wrist, examining it in the weak, early morning sun of winter and pretending like she hadn’t picked it out herself.

Dathian held the stone inkwell gingerly, giving Jahrra a look.

She smiled. “Found it in a trade shop. One of the store’s attendants said it came from some valley back east,” Jahrra paused and waved her hand around, feigning ignorance. “Dennor Valley or Nohra Valley, I can’t remember.”

She grinned, giving Dathian a knowing glance. His look of slight bafflement melted away and a mask of awe and pure delight came over his face as his fingers curled protectively around the beautiful piece of carved stone. It nearly brought her to tears but she shrugged them away and turned back to her other two oblivious friends.

Jahrra sighed and looked down at her own gifts. A small stone statue of a dragon from Senton, a copy of
The History of Dhonoara Valley
from Dathian, carefully hidden in a leather book cover that claimed it to be a book on local wildlife, and a quill from Torrell, complete with an exotic bird’s feather. However, when Jahrra glanced to the side to pick up her quill she quirked her mouth in a frown.

“Torrell, where did the quill go? The one you gave me?” She looked around, thinking maybe it got knocked to the side.

“Mine’s gone too,” Senton complained, mimicking Jahrra as he searched.

The sound of contained laughter bursting free brought Jahrra’s eyes up to Torrell. “They’re right in front of you!” she barked. “You just have to look very carefully.”

Jahrra furrowed her brow in puzzlement but focused her eyes on where she had last seen the missing item. And there it was: the shape of a feather against the green lawn. Jahrra gasped and snatched up the nearly invisible plume. Slowly, the green of the grass faded away and a brilliant blend of teal and gold took its place.

“A cape bird feather quill!” Jahrra cried out, finally realizing what it was. She beamed at Torrell. “I love it!”

Torrell shrugged and tried to hide her joy at pleasing her friend. “I thought you might like one after our conversation in Tynne Alley.”

Jahrra couldn’t stop smiling, especially when the portion of the quill she held started paling and taking on the color of her hand.

“We’ll have to store these in the same place after every use,” Dathian said, eying his own quill in bemusement.

After their gifts were stored safely in their own packs, the four of them got to business and spent a good two hours in the crisp dawn morning, clacking wooden swords together and lodging arrows into hay bales before bidding each other a final holiday farewell.

Once home, Jahrra gathered some clean clothes and a towel and headed into the small stone wash room with the copper bathtub. A nice long hot bath would help ease her tired muscles and once she was done, she could spend the day on her patio or helping Neira with the holiday cooking. Near sunset, the housemaid shooed her away from the kitchens, insisting that she put on something a little nicer for dinner. Grumbling, Jahrra looked down at her flour stained shirt and smiled. Perhaps Neira was right.

A half hour later Jahrra was dressed in one of her nicer tunics and pants and was sitting in her usual stuffed chair in the great room, sipping honeyed tea and staring at the dancing flames in the huge fireplace. She glanced around the room, her heart thrumming in contentment as she admired the evergreen garlands and silver and gold ribbons Neira had put up to give the room a more Solsticetide feel.

Jaax was late, as usual, and as the minutes ticked away Jahrra grew more and more fidgety. The carved wooden box containing his ring sat upon the table in the middle of the room next to Neira’s wrapped bonnet. If Jahrra didn’t know any better she would have sworn the box was slowly growing in size, like some mushroom attached to the stump of an old tree.

Another half hour passed and the large handle on the door clicked. Jahrra tensed, the nearly empty tea cup in her hand threatening to break. Jaax stepped in through the great door, every scale on his body looking weary and ready to collapse from fatigue. Jahrra forgot her tension for a moment. What had him so worried that it would make him look several hundred years older than he was? For weeks he’d been looking worse for the wear and Jahrra was wondering if perhaps it was time she talked to him about it.

When the Tanaan dragon spotted Jahrra sitting in her chair and watching him, he stiffened and forced his weariness back into hiding.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long?” he asked, his eyes sharp and the tone of his voice guarded.

“No,” Jahrra lied, setting her tea cup down.

“Ah, right on time!” Neira proclaimed, bursting out of the small kitchen door, pulling a large cart behind her.

An entire roast pig, complete with a red apple in its mouth, sat upon the rolling table. Several onions, carrots and potatoes were scattered about it in the large pot.

“Now Jaax, I know you’ve eaten already this week, but surely you have some room to at least taste the Solstice roast pig?”