understood.”
The tension controlling Jaax seemed to loosen its grip a little and Jahrra breathed a mental sigh of relief.
It was several minutes again before anyone said anything.
Eventually, Jaax said, “You should have told me of this before Jahrra so that I might know what to expect when you touched one of the Trees of Ethoes. Come, let’s head back into Crie before they start to worry about us.”
Jahrra gaped. That was it? All this effort aimed at getting information about her visit to Ehnnit Canyon and all he wanted to do in the end was scold her gently about not sharing her experience with the Apple Tree with him? Her instincts told her that wasn’t the case, that there was more, but unfortunately her brain felt too addled to puzzle it out. Besides, Jaax was the master at keeping information and secrets locked away where no one could reach them.
It was then that Jaax turned his full gaze on her, his green eyes penetrating. She forced herself not to turn away.
“How many more secrets, I wonder, do you keep from me, Jahrra?”
It was a question, she was sure of it, but it sounded more like a statement, especially in that quiet tone of voice he reserved for only the most serious of moments.
Jahrra raised her chin, perhaps no more than the width of a hair, never losing eye contact, as she answered, “Not nearly as many as you.”
Jaax’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t speak for quite a while.
“Oh, but the secrets I keep, Jahrra,” he breathed in that deadly calm voice again, “you don’t want to know.”
Ignoring the chill that coursed through her at those words, she nodded in defeat. She accepted Jaax’s help in standing, grasping the scaly forearm he offered and pulling herself up. Despite her still rattled nerves she also gave in to his insistence that she ride behind his neck.
“I’m fine,” she’d grumbled when he first offered.
“You’re not fine. You can hardly walk,” he’d answered roughly.
Against her will, Jahrra found herself sprawled across his back as opposed to sitting upright in a more dignified fashion. Perhaps he was correct in his assumption that she needed help. They made their way down the hill slowly, neither of them speaking to one another as they went. When they finally reached the base of the steep hill and found themselves among the elves of Crie once again, Jahrra secretly wished they had remained beneath the Oak.
“Jaax! What on Ethoes happened to her?!” Thenya fairly shrieked as she broke away from the murmuring crowd to come running towards the great dragon. “Aydehn told me she fell into a fit and you couldn’t get her to respond for a good five minutes!”
Five minutes! Jahrra thought. I was unconscious for that long?
Jahrra reluctantly accepted the help of the villagers as they gently lowered her from Jaax’s back and carried her into a nearby hut.
“Wh-where are you taking me?” she murmured, feeling suddenly light headed and weak once again.
“Hush now,” Thenya tutted. “After what happened up on the ridge, you can’t be sleeping out on the ground. You need a proper bed if you want to fully recover.”
They half carried, half led her to the nearest dwelling and proceeded to walk right through the front door. Jahrra didn’t know who lived in the small house but it boasted a freshly made bed, a cheery fire and a pot of stew simmering and releasing tantalizing aromas into the air. It was similar to Aydehn’s and Thenya’s abode but there were more windows in this one and the walls were of a different color.
“You’ll have Athon’s cabin for your final night in Crie,” Thenya whispered into Jahrra’s ear as she helped lay her upon the bed.
“No . . . would be an inconvenience . . . for Athon.”
Jahrra didn’t know why she felt so suddenly tired. She suspected that if she tried to stand up she just might collapse into an unconscious heap upon the floor.
“Nonsense! He and his wife insisted and luckily they are very tidy
The tension controlling Jaax seemed to loosen its grip a little and Jahrra breathed a mental sigh of relief.
It was several minutes again before anyone said anything.
Eventually, Jaax said, “You should have told me of this before Jahrra so that I might know what to expect when you touched one of the Trees of Ethoes. Come, let’s head back into Crie before they start to worry about us.”
Jahrra gaped. That was it? All this effort aimed at getting information about her visit to Ehnnit Canyon and all he wanted to do in the end was scold her gently about not sharing her experience with the Apple Tree with him? Her instincts told her that wasn’t the case, that there was more, but unfortunately her brain felt too addled to puzzle it out. Besides, Jaax was the master at keeping information and secrets locked away where no one could reach them.
It was then that Jaax turned his full gaze on her, his green eyes penetrating. She forced herself not to turn away.
“How many more secrets, I wonder, do you keep from me, Jahrra?”
It was a question, she was sure of it, but it sounded more like a statement, especially in that quiet tone of voice he reserved for only the most serious of moments.
Jahrra raised her chin, perhaps no more than the width of a hair, never losing eye contact, as she answered, “Not nearly as many as you.”
Jaax’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t speak for quite a while.
“Oh, but the secrets I keep, Jahrra,” he breathed in that deadly calm voice again, “you don’t want to know.”
Ignoring the chill that coursed through her at those words, she nodded in defeat. She accepted Jaax’s help in standing, grasping the scaly forearm he offered and pulling herself up. Despite her still rattled nerves she also gave in to his insistence that she ride behind his neck.
“I’m fine,” she’d grumbled when he first offered.
“You’re not fine. You can hardly walk,” he’d answered roughly.
Against her will, Jahrra found herself sprawled across his back as opposed to sitting upright in a more dignified fashion. Perhaps he was correct in his assumption that she needed help. They made their way down the hill slowly, neither of them speaking to one another as they went. When they finally reached the base of the steep hill and found themselves among the elves of Crie once again, Jahrra secretly wished they had remained beneath the Oak.
“Jaax! What on Ethoes happened to her?!” Thenya fairly shrieked as she broke away from the murmuring crowd to come running towards the great dragon. “Aydehn told me she fell into a fit and you couldn’t get her to respond for a good five minutes!”
Five minutes! Jahrra thought. I was unconscious for that long?
Jahrra reluctantly accepted the help of the villagers as they gently lowered her from Jaax’s back and carried her into a nearby hut.
“Wh-where are you taking me?” she murmured, feeling suddenly light headed and weak once again.
“Hush now,” Thenya tutted. “After what happened up on the ridge, you can’t be sleeping out on the ground. You need a proper bed if you want to fully recover.”
They half carried, half led her to the nearest dwelling and proceeded to walk right through the front door. Jahrra didn’t know who lived in the small house but it boasted a freshly made bed, a cheery fire and a pot of stew simmering and releasing tantalizing aromas into the air. It was similar to Aydehn’s and Thenya’s abode but there were more windows in this one and the walls were of a different color.
“You’ll have Athon’s cabin for your final night in Crie,” Thenya whispered into Jahrra’s ear as she helped lay her upon the bed.
“No . . . would be an inconvenience . . . for Athon.”
Jahrra didn’t know why she felt so suddenly tired. She suspected that if she tried to stand up she just might collapse into an unconscious heap upon the floor.
“Nonsense! He and his wife insisted and luckily they are very tidy
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