He had lowered his head to plant kisses against her neck, but stood straight again as he considered her question. “Hroombra gave me the name. It means ‘Dragon King’ in the old language of the Tanaan. He had grand plans for me, as you might have guessed. He also invented that convenient story about my birth.”
“The story Sapheramin told me in Nimbronia,” Jahrra supplied.
Jaax nodded, and he went to gather up the reins of his own semequin a few feet away. Before the two of them mounted, however, Jahrra paused, casting a glance over her shoulder. “Wait. There is one thing I’d like to do before we return to the castle.”
She took his hand in hers and led him to the oak tree, then, with fingers laced together, she lifted their joined hands.
“This is why I left so early this morning,” she whispered, her attention turned towards the tree. “Yesterday, I came here for some peace and quiet, and found this oak growing where I planted that acorn before we left Oescienne. I pressed my palms to the tree and felt Kehllor’s and Hroombra’s spirits.” She took a breath, then continued on. “I had hoped to reach your spirit there, too, but now, I know why I couldn’t find you.”
She turned to look at him, her eyes shining, and smiled. “Because you are right here.”
Jahrra leaned forward and pressed a kiss to their linked hands. “I want to see if maybe we can reach our friends again. Together.”
And with that last statement, she pressed their joined hands to the tree’s bark, and this time, she was rewarded. Two brilliant sparks of spirit came pouring forth: Hroombra and Kehllor. Light and sensation and something impossible to describe crackled down her nerves, coursing through her blood and filling her entire being. And she knew Jaax could feel it, too, by the way he went rigid beside her; evident in his gasp of wondrous surprise. A whirlwind of bright color, happy memories and pure joy in ethereal form, swirled around her mind until one overwhelming presence pushed that all aside, shining like one of the brilliant stars in the night sky. This presence did not take form, but Jahrra knew who it was immediately.
“Hroombra,” she cried, her heart overflowing with joy.
Hroombra’s spirit flashed bright, the color around him flaring for a moment before fading away. But what she felt then was happiness in its purest form. There was no sadness here, no regret.
It’s all over, Hroombra, she whispered in her mind. Look, the prince of the Tanaan has returned. But, you knew that all along, didn’t you? We are going to rule Oescienne together, in peace. We won’t let anyone as terrible as Cierryon ever rise to power again.
That brightness shimmered once more, flooding her heart and soul with gladness. Jahrra couldn’t even find it in her to be sad any longer. Hroombra was here with them. He knew they had broken the curse and saw that she and Jaax had finally found happiness, with one another.
Jahrra let out a small chuckle. And, you probably saw that coming, too, didn’t you? You knew we would fall in love, even before you were certain the curse would be broken.
This time, the pulse of light felt more like delighted laughter. And then Hroombra’s spirit floated away, not entirely, but just off to the side so another might come forth to greet his friends.
Kehllor! Jahrra cried out in her mind.
Another flare of pure, joyous light. The thoughts pouring forth from his spirit were similar to the ones from the day before, and he bestowed upon his two human friends peace, happiness, and the forgiveness they both needed to receive, even though his essence insisted they were not to blame for his fate.
Together, Jahrra and Jaax stood before the sapling of the Sacred Oak, sharing the happy memories with their friends, knowing they would watch over them in the days, months, and years to come.
And in those few moments, the prince of the Tanaan and the savior of Ethoes knew in the very depths of their hearts and souls that, despite the difficult days that might come, they would always have those memories, their friends, and each other to keep them strong, to keep them whole, to keep them full of hope … Until their very last breaths, and perhaps, even beyond the end of time.
-Epilogue-
A Most Certain Future
Denaeh glanced up from her mug of herbal tea and smiled as Jahrra shuffled out onto the second floor balcony. Spring was well underway, but the both of them were wrapped in cloaks and blankets to stave off the last hints of winter’s cold. The Mystic had conjured a fire in one of the circular stone basins bedecking the veranda just for that purpose, but it had yet to grow large enough to make extra layers unnecessary. Six months had passed since the downfall of the Crimson King, five months since the prince of the Tanaan returned to claim his throne, and his bride. Denaeh smiled again as she took another sip of tea, despite the pale tint to Jahrra’s skin.
“Ugh,” her young friend groaned, placing the back of her hand to her mouth. “Whatever ailment this is, I hope it passes soon. I had thought myself one of the lucky few to make it through the winter without falling victim to the winter fever.”
The winter fever had been mild this time around, Denaeh thought, but no less miserable. No one had died, thank Ethoes, but the castle staff had had their job cut out for them cleaning up after the mess. The Mystic shivered at the thought. She could never be a healer, and living among a collection of ill people had made her long for her cave. But Ellyesce was the Magehn once again, and was busy helping Jaax, and Jahrra, get used to their roles as king and queen of Oescienne.
Despite Jahrra’s state of discomfort, and the sudden memories of nurses rushing down the corridors with full bedpans, the Mystic was in a particularly pleasant mood. She’d had a new vision the night before, and she was just waiting for the right time to discuss it with Jahrra.
With a lack of grace that would have horrified the queens of Oescienne before her, Jahrra plopped into the chair adjacent to her Mystic friend, yards of quilts and all. Her hand immediately rushed to press up against her mouth again to hold back the surging contents of her stomach, and Denaeh let out a light chuckle.
Jahrra glared at her. “This isn’t funny, you know,” she managed, drawing in deep breaths to fight the nausea.
“Oh, I’m not laughing at you, my dear. I’m just particularly pleased this morning.”
She flashed Jahrra with her most brilliant smile yet, but the young Queen of Oescienne barely had time to register it. Without so much as a warning, she threw back her quilts and bolted indoors.
The sound of retching reached Denaeh’s ears but that only increased the size of her grin.
Groaning once again, Jahrra made a valiant effort to reclaim her spot in the open chair, one hand pressed to her abdomen. She was still wearing her sleeping robe and her hair was a mess, but considering she was in a miserable state, she probably didn’t care.
Lifting her tea mug to her lips, Denaeh took a delicate sip, then said rather nonchalantly, “It’s a shame you couldn’t join Jaax, Ellyesce, and Dervit this morning.”
Jahrra answered with a grunt, leaning forward and pressing her elbows to her knees so that she might support her head with her hands.
“Before they left, Ellyesce told me they were going to visit the herders and admire the newborn sheep, goats, and cattle after meeting with the merchants’ guild in Toria Town. He invited me to come along, but I said I’d stay behind and look after you.”
She arched a brow and curled her fingers around her tea mug. “In fact, he had a difficult time tearing Jaax away. Apparently, you woke him with your bout of sickness early this morning, and he didn’t want to leave your side. Ellyesce tells me he’s never seen a man so smitten.”
Denaeh bit her lip, her eyes twinkling to see some color come back into Jahrra’s cheeks. In fact, the Mystic had watched the couple closely these past several months. It was as if all the love they had kept hidden from one another, the love they had not realized had grown so strongly between them, had broken free that day Jaax finally told Jahrra who he was, and they just couldn’t find the energy to contain it. As they shouldn�
��t, Denaeh thought. She would walk down the hall of Oescienne Castle, late at night, to find the two of them in the library. Jaax would be sitting in one of the armchairs, Jahrra sprawled across his lap, fast asleep. And, the way he would hold her and caress her hair, as if she were the most precious thing in this world, made the Mystic’s heart tighten. And how could she, or anyone, blame them? They deserved this happiness more than anyone, even more than her. Though, she wouldn’t return the gift Ethoes had granted her – Ellyesce’s forgiveness and a second chance at the life they should have shared long ago – for anything in the world. No, she would cling to that as dearly as the King of Oescienne doted on his wife.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know.” Jahrra’s feeble voice drew Denaeh back to the present. “Pass on your chance to get out of the castle for a while,” she clarified, when the Mystic lifted a curious brow. “It’s just the winter fever. It was worse before Jaax bid me farewell. I think I might be as good as new this afternoon, actually. Maybe I’ll take Phrym out for a ride.”
“Oh, you most definitely will be better this afternoon, but you’ll be sick again tomorrow and probably the next several days after that.”
Jahrra shot her friend a perturbed look. “That doesn’t make sense! And why on Ethoes do you look so accursedly happy? Do you like to see me ill?”
Denaeh set her teacup down onto the side table and then straightened. She cast her friend a serious look even though she was bursting with eagerness to tell her of the future she foresaw.
“I had a vision last night,” she stated baldly. “After the castle settled down and all was quiet. I couldn’t sleep for some reason or another, so I decided to walk the halls. When that didn’t help with the unsettled feeling, I came out here and watched the stars for awhile. Just as I turned to head back inside, my eyes clouded and the patio became flooded with light and color. I stood still, waiting for the vision to play out. Two small children, a boy and a girl, came bursting through the doors chased by a young nursemaid trying to keep up with them. The scene made me smile, but my heart nearly stopped when the children came to a standstill and faced me. Their features became clear then. They were both blond, the girl with a little bit of red in her hair and blinking up at me with silvery green eyes. The boy’s hair was a darker gold, but his eyes were storm gray with flecks of blue.”
Denaeh stopped her story and glanced up at Jahrra. The green shades of sickness were gone, and now, she had gone pale.
“What are you telling me, Denaeh?” she rasped, her fingers curled around the armrests of her chair.
The Mystic laughed out loud. “You, my dear, are not suffering from the winter fever. You’re pregnant!”
Jahrra just stared at her, her jaw slack.
“What?” she breathed.
Denaeh stood up, no longer able to contain her joy. “The vision. It was of your children. A prince and a princess! Twins, Jahrra!”
When Jahrra still didn’t react, Denaeh stepped forward and felt her forehead. “Perhaps, you do have a bit of the winter fever. Did you not hear me? You and Jaax are going to be parents!”
“I-I heard you,” Jahrra said slowly, standing up on wobbly legs, her pallid face growing even more ashen, “I just don’t believe it.”
Denaeh crossed her arms and snorted, one dark red brow lifted, the side of her mouth quirked in a wry grin. “And is there any reason why you shouldn’t be pregnant?”
Jahrra’s white face flooded with color, and she dropped her eyes. The Mystic only laughed again, throwing her arms out and placing her hands on Jahrra’s shoulders.
“After five hundred years, there will be a royal human family living in Oescienne again. Oh, Jahrra, don’t you see? This is beyond what any of us ever hoped for. Are you not happy?”
When she glanced up again, Jahrra’s eyes were filled with tears.
“Of course I’m happy. But,” her own hands dropped to her lower abdomen, “I don’t know if I’m ready to be a mother, Denaeh. Or, if I’ll be any good at it.”
The Mystic snorted softly. “Of course you will be good at it! And, you won’t be alone. You’ll have Jaax, and me and Ellyesce. And Gieaun and Scede. And Dervit. Oh, can you just see Dervit chasing after a pair of toddlers, keeping them safe from anything superstitious that gets in their way? You’ll have all your other friends, too, and the entire kingdom of Oescienne to support you.”
Jahrra blinked up at her friend then, and for the first time that morning, a glorious smile spread over her face. As the morning sun burned away the fog, the two women laughed and cried as visions of a happy future unfolded before them.
* * *
Jahrra waited in the royal suite as Jaax made his way up from the first floor of the castle. She had seen his arrival from the balcony, and although she had planned out what to say, a wash of nerves overtook her suddenly and threatened to make her sick again.
“Keep it together, Jahrra,” she muttered to herself as she puttered around the room, straightening the pristine bed and re-organizing the books placed on the desk she shared with Jaax. “This is good news you’re sharing, not bad.”
A few minutes later, the door swung open and the King of Oescienne stepped inside. For the barest moment, Jahrra paused to study her husband, admiring his masculine beauty and taking note of all that remained of the dragon he’d once been. That overbearing aura, the strong angles of his shoulders and face. The way he walked with reassurance. How his silvery green eyes brightened with mischief and mirth when he glanced her way. But, it was the smirk that always brought the image of a green, copper, and turquoise dragon pouring forth. Jahrra missed that dragon, but all she had to do was close her eyes and listen to Jaax’s voice, and he was there with her again. He had never left, simply taken on a new form. And, as much as she missed her dragon, she would not trade the man for anything in the world.
“I have some news,” she blurted, then took a deep breath to steady her heartbeat. Why was this so difficult?
Jaax paused in his task of removing the extra cloak he’d worn against the morning chill. One dark blond eyebrow arched, and he stepped forward, almost tentatively. “Oh?”
Jahrra nodded, swallowing hard. “The healer visited me while you were out.”
Instantly, Jaax froze, his face going slack, his eyes losing that quiet joy. Worry and anxiety swirled around him as he moved in closer to Jahrra.
“Is it the winter fever? Has it grown worse? Tell me what I must do. I won’t let it harm you, Jahrra, not after what we endured–”
She stood, her nightgown flowing out behind her, and approached her husband, pressing her fingers to his lips and ceasing his barrage of words. Jahrra shook her head, still too nervous to give him so much as a smile. Somehow, though, she managed a tiny grin.
“It is not the winter fever, Jaax.”
With gentle fingers, she took his hand, rough and large and trembling a little, and drew it down the front of her gown only to press it against the lower part of her stomach. Confusion shone in his eyes, but she leaned up and kissed him, gently at first, then with more assurance. Jaax returned the gesture, his own careful caress proof that he was still worried.
Jahrra pulled away, but just enough to rock forward onto her toes and whisper against his ear, “I’m pregnant.”
Jaax let out a strangled sound and grasped her upper arms, just below the shoulders, to hold her in front of him. His eyes were no longer worried, but anxious, sparking with disbelief and a flicker of hope.
“Are you sure?” he asked roughly.
She nodded. “Denaeh told me this morning. She said she’d had a vision last night, an image of our children. Then, the healer confirmed it about an hour ago.”
“Children?” the King of Oescienne rasped.
“A boy and a girl. Twins, Jaax.”
Now, Jahrra was smiling. “Come autumn, it will no longer be just the two of us.”
Jaax let out a breathy laugh and placed one hand against his forehead. Now, he looked like the one about to be
sick. The effect didn’t last long. He dropped his hand, then turned his eyes on his wife. They were green and sliver and smoldering with something Jahrra could only describe as immeasurable happiness and contentment and deep, unshakable love. He stepped forward, his face entirely serious now, his strides strong and sure with purpose. Jahrra simply stood there, stunned by the intensity rolling off him. Before she could puzzle it out, he wrapped her up in his arms and pulled her against him, kissing her so deeply, so thoroughly, she was gasping for breath when he finally pulled back. He then lifted her up and strode toward their bed where he brought both of them down upon the thick mattress. Jahrra squeaked at the impact, though she wasn’t hurt.
They both rolled to their sides, facing one another, and Jaax continued to give her that intense look that only had her heart racing and her breath coming faster. He lifted a hand, using it to brush back her hair and caress her cheek, thumb tracing the small scar beneath her eye.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, leaning in to give her another kiss, this one more tender than the last. “So very beautiful.”
Jaax had said those words to her before, but there was something in the cadence of his voice, the heat in his eyes, that had her flushing. His attention was focused entirely on her, something that always terrified her a little when she was younger and he was a dragon. Now, it only thrilled her, knowing that she was his world, and he would do anything to make her happy. There was some divine power in that, knowing she could move him so, and he had the same effect on her. And, she also realized there was divine power in the trust they shared between one another. After all they had been through, she was certain nothing could ever break that trust. After all, it had taken so very long for them to build that faith. Like diamonds forged beneath the crust of the earth. Strong, brilliant, resilient. Impervious because it had taken so much time and heat and pressure to form them. Years of adversity to forge what bound them together. It had all been worth it. All the suffering, all the misunderstandings, all the sorrow, to get to this point. And, she would go through it all again if it meant ending up where they were now.
The Legend of Oescienne--The Reckoning (Book Five) Page 53