Just as he suspected, Jahrra climbed down from Phrym and in a fit of anger marched off towards the old stables several yards away. He asked the Resai siblings if she was always so ill-mannered, but when they looked at him as if he had suddenly grown another set of wings, he shook his head and mumbled something about forgetting the whole thing.
Jaax felt a small pang of guilt for the way he had spoken to Jahrra. He had been ready to ask all about her adventures and what she had learned in school and everything else he had missed out on her entire life. But that look of disgust and hatred in her eyes had forced him to throw up a wall, one that he had used frequently throughout his life when anyone ever tried to get close to him. Or whenever anyone tried to get close enough to injure him.
I just never thought I’d have to use it against you, he thought bitterly as he watched Jahrra traipse up the sloping field, kicking at clumps of grass along the way. He furrowed his brow, wondering what on Ethoes could have caused such anger against him. Whatever it is, I don’t know if I’ll have the time during this visit to get to the root of it. Until then, I’ll just offer her the same courtesy she offers me. Jaax’s lip curled in delightful challenge. Oh yes, this should be an interesting visit after all . . .
* * *
The loud chatter of arguing birds drew Jaax from his sleep the following morning. He groaned and reached up to rub his head, wondering why it ached so badly. Sighing, he blinked his eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar settings. He wasn’t in his own room in Lidien, but in a much smaller space with a large fireplace and a sizeable gap in one wall . . . Ah, the Castle Guard Ruin. That was when the memories of the day before came flooding back: his discussion about the Morli dragon with Hroombra, Jahrra’s cold greeting, and then what had happened after that . . .
Jaax grimaced as he recalled the memory. As Jahrra had been returning Phrym to his stable, Scede had let it slip that the three of them had been hunting unicorns earlier in the day. Jaax had snorted at first. How absurd. Unicorns hadn’t been seen in Oescienne since the fall of the humans five hundred years ago. But Hroombra had brightened at the boy’s claim.
When Jahrra eventually returned she had been very reluctant to give up any information. This, for some reason or another, rubbed Jaax the wrong way and when she was pressed, he suspected she hadn’t told them the whole truth. He just knew there was more to the story than what she had told them.
Which explains my foul mood this morning, he thought bitterly. The sun was still a long way off from rising, so Jaax decided on an early morning flight over the Wreing Florenn to help ease his nerves and maybe scout for evidence of Jahrra’s ridiculous claim. He didn’t believe her. Not only because what she had said was so unbelievable, but because he was certain she was being dishonest.
He gritted his teeth as he spread his wings and climbed into the dark sky. It was that dishonesty that ate at him the most. Had Hroombra raised her to be deceitful? In Jaax’s mind, that would be the worst possible thing he could have done for the girl.
During his hour-long flight, he spotted nothing stirring in the Wreing Florenn that he thought could be considered suspicious. But during his time away from the Ruin, he had come up with a solution to his problem with Jahrra. He and Hroombra had discussed it, late into the night, and had considered enrolling her in defense lessons with a pair of reclusive elves. Now Jaax was convinced that this would help give Jahrra some discipline in her life. And it wouldn’t hurt if she knew how to fight and defend herself, he thought as he touched down silently in the field beside the Ruin.
Before he took her there, however, he wanted to see what she knew on her own. And this way, he mused, I can thoroughly prove to her that she will need these lessons. Jahrra would hate him for it, but it was for her own good. Besides, she already hates me. Can’t get any worse.
As he anticipated, Jahrra was not happy about being dragged out of bed so early in the morning, but Jaax was determined so he didn’t once soften his treatment of her. He took her to an abandoned field farther down the road and then instructed her to try and get past his guard. Jahrra was appalled at this, but she did as she was told, charging at the looming dragon with nothing but a large branch to defend herself. Twice Jaax was able to overpower her, growling instructions on how to better make contact with her make-shift sword.
He dropped her after having grabbed the stick, but as she landed she was immediately charging him again. Jaax, caught off guard, moved to lift back up on his hind legs, but he wasn’t fast enough. Jahrra struck him with her branch, hard, directly on the knuckle of his newly healed broken finger.
He sucked in a sharp breath as a lancing pain shot through his finger. He cursed himself inwardly, believing that she had managed to break his finger again. Serves you right, he thought to himself, this is what you get for being so hard on her.
Jaax shook his hand out, and then reluctantly examined it, blinking in surprise. The scale that had been loose for weeks, causing him more annoyance than anyone deserved, was gone.
Barely, Jaax could hear Jahrra’s concerned voice.
“Oh, Jaax! I’m sorry!”
He looked up and saw genuine guilt there. Her eyes, which for the past day had held only cold rejection and loathing, now shone with sympathy.
Against his will, he gave her a small smile. “Don’t worry, that scale has been threatening to come off for weeks.”
Suddenly, all the tension and hard feelings that had existed between them seemed to fade a little, and as Jahrra searched out the wayward scale, Jaax felt his own worries ease.
Jahrra found the scale and returned it to Jaax, and he managed to hold onto it even as they made their journey towards the foothills behind town where Jahrra would meet her new trainers, the elves of Dhonoara.
* * *
The flight home to Lidien took Jaax a little over two days, but that gave him plenty of time to think about all he had learned on his short visit. He had left Jahrra in the capable hands of his elvin friends and had flown directly from their secluded cabin in order to make his way back to the City of Light.
Jaax grinned at the memory. Jahrra hadn’t liked his abrupt departure, and if he didn’t know any better, he would have said she was disappointed in the fact that he couldn’t stay and visit longer.
No, I won’t flatter myself, he mused, you were just angry that I left you with strangers.
Jaax now sat cozily in his great room, sipping Neira’s delicious tea and getting ready for another day in Emehriel Hall before leaving once again to scout the borders of Oescienne for the Tyrant’s minions and spies. At least Jahrra is safe for now, he thought.
He let his mind wander back to the short visit he had paid his distant ward and her guardian, Jahrra’s sharp eyes and strong spirit reminding him very much of fire and ice. Both of which can burn you in their own cruel way if you don’t treat them with the respect they deserve. Jaax let out a breath, one he hadn’t realized he had been holding. He knew that in the future he would have to find a way to show Jahrra the respect she deserved, without forfeiting the esteem he deserved as well. Someday in the distant future, he hoped the two of them would have to learn to work together, for it was clear the Crimson King had quite a menagerie of soldiers awaiting those who would dare challenge him. And we will challenge him Jahrra, Jaax thought morosely as he glanced out the window onto the rainy day, we must.
Shaking the wayward thoughts from his mind and gritting his teeth, Jaax turned his head to study the small wooden box that lay on the carpet between his feet. Inside was the scale Jahrra had managed to remove from his injured finger, the same scale that had bothered him since the incident in Ahseina over a month ago. Somehow, he had managed to hold onto it between Oescienne and Felldreim. It wasn’t one of his larger, more colorful scales, but it was just the right size to serve as a pendant for a necklace. And what a better way to reward her for besting a dragon?
The stormy day would be filled with the boring complaints of diplomats and simple shop owners as they came before the Coalition
to either offer help or make their grievances known. But before he went to work, Jaax had an errand to run, hopefully one that would bring him more enjoyment than the rest of the day offered.
Jaax grinned. Yes, a pendant on a silver chain would be very nice. And I know just the people who can do the job for me . . .
* * *
Jaax stared down the narrow alley way and frowned in disappointment. The people at the Academy of Medicine had gladly given him the address to the jeweler’s new shop, but they hadn’t informed him that a dragon could not fit between the tall buildings.
A merchant’s servant came strolling down the lane, whistling a happy tune, oblivious to his surroundings until he spotted the looming dragon standing in front of him.
“I wonder if I could ask you a favor,” he said to the young boy, hoping his smile translated as a friendly one.
The young Nesnan boy gaped, then swallowed, but nodded his head in agreement.
“I need to speak with the owner of the jewelry shop, and as you can see, I cannot go myself without knocking down these fine buildings.”
Jaax read the address to the jeweler’s out loud, and then watched as the boy disappeared down the alley. Less than five minutes later, the blond elf came bursting out of one of the doors towards the end of the row of buildings. His face was alit with a warm smile as he approached the dragon.
“Master Raejaaxorix! You have found our shop, I see.”
Jaax returned the greeting, and then became distracted when the jeweler’s wife and daughter joined his side. To the dragon’s great relief, Prenne looked whole once again. Terrible scars marred one side of her body, but she was smiling up at him and didn’t seem to be in pain.
“What brings you to our side of the city in this weather?” Rennor asked, gesturing towards the dark clouds.
The dragon smiled again. “I wish to commission you for a job.”
Jaax produced the box and described the necklace he wished for them to make.
The jeweler nodded, grinning from ear to ear. “It shall be an honor and a special challenge for us. We’ve never been asked to make a pendant out of a dragon’s scale! But I don’t see how it could be much different than creating a clasp for a crystal.”
He held the scale up to the dim light and pursed his mouth in thought, nodded once, then put the scale safely back in the box.
“It shall be complete by this afternoon. I’ll have a mail carrier drop it off at your residence this afternoon.”
Jaax raised his scaly brow, surprised that it would be ready so soon, then simply nodded his head and gave the jeweler the directions to his home.
“Do you have any ideas about how it should be set?” Rennor asked before he turned to return to his shop.
Jaax shook his head. “No, I think any design you come up with will suffice.”
Then he thought of Jahrra and how she seemed to be averse to anything overly feminine. He grinned. “Though she might appreciate something more on the simple side.”
“She?” the jeweler inquired.
“Yes,” Jaax answered, “it’s for a young girl, a few years younger than your daughter, perhaps. She is, she’s . . .”
Jaax fished for an answer, but was unable to come up with a good way to describe his relationship with Jahrra. A friend? Not quite. His ward? Sort-of. The human child he had been charged to find and protect? Yes, but he couldn’t say that.
“Someone special,” Gracelle answered with a warm smile, hugging her daughter close.
Jaax grinned. “Yes, someone special indeed.”
The Tanaan dragon nodded his head to each elf in turn, and then headed back into the heart of the city, where the various members of the Coalition of Ethoes waited his attendance.
The meeting was a long and dull one and by the time Jaax had returned home, it was long past sunset. Neira met him at the great door, grinning widely.
“A courier dropped off something for you. I put it on the desk in your study. I hope you don’t mind,” she said.
“Of course not,” Jaax answered tiredly.
He wished Neira a good night, and then headed into his own chambers at the opposite end of the large mansion. He carefully lit the candles and a fire in the hearth, then sat down and eyed the brown paper package dubiously. Very carefully, he unwrapped the delicate package to find an intricately carved box, not the one he had originally placed the scale in, and sighed. It was a beautiful piece and when he opened the lid, his wonder and admiration only grew.
Carefully, he lifted the delicate-looking chain and let it slip over two fingers, the pendent nestling carefully in the palm of his hand. The chain was a unique silvery gold metal that sparkled in the firelight, and the very top of the scale had been set in a clasp composed of the same metal. It was a very simple design, but very beautiful as well.
Jaax had thought of sending the pendent to Jahrra as soon as it was finished, but now he felt that he would save it for the next time he visited, to give it to her himself.
He moved to return the pendent safely to its box, but paused when he noticed the note tucked beneath it. All it said was: For your kindness and bravery in Ahseina, and for keeping our daughter with us.
Jaax frowned. He already had a small pouch full of coins ready to give to the jeweler and his family for their fine work, but they had not named a price.
Very well, he thought with a grin. I shall have Neira find someone to deliver it in the morning. By the time it reaches your shop, I’ll be long gone, gliding over the mountains of the east in search of more enemies to thwart.
As Jaax returned the necklace to its box, he felt his mouth quirk in a smile again, for a white-gold streak shimmered down the silver chain as it reflected the fire in the hearth. Fire and ice, he mused, just like the spirit of our young girl, Jahrra. And she would need that burning spirit of hers when fate finally called her, Jaax was certain of it.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Ahseina - AH-say-nuh
Denaeh - di-NAY-uh
Ethoes - ETH-oh-es
Faerra - FAIR-uh
Gieaun - JOON
Gracelle - gra-SELL
Hroombramantu -HROOM-bruh-mon-too
Jahrra - JAIR-uh
Lidien - LI-dee-en
Prenne - PREN
Raejaaxorix - RAY-jax-or-ix
Rennor - REN-or
Sapheramin - suh-FAIR-uh-min
Scede - SADE
Shiroxx - SHEE-rox
Tollorias - tole-OR-ee-as
Yddian - IH-dee-an
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson grew up and still resides on the Central Coast of California, a place she finds as magical and enchanting as the worlds she creates.
Jenna received a BA in Art Practice with a minor in Celtic Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. It was during her time in college that she decided to begin her first novel, The Legend of Oescienne - The Finding. Reading such works as Beowulf, The Mabinogi and The Second Battle of Maige Tuired in her Scandinavian and Celtic Studies courses finally inspired her to start writing down her own tales of adventure and fantasy.
Jenna also enjoys creating the maps and some of the artwork for her various worlds. Besides writing and drawing, she is often found reading, gardening, camping, hiking, bird watching, and practicing long sword fighting and archery using a long bow. She also loves getting feedback from readers, so feel free to send her a message any time.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson can be contacted at [email protected]
Other books by this author:
The Legend of Oescienne Series
The Finding (Book One)
The Beginning (Book Two)
The Awakening (Book Three)
Tales of Oescienne - A Short Story Collection
*Read excerpts of these books here*
The Otherworld Series
Faelorehn (Book One)
Dolmarehn (Book Two)
Luathara (Book Three)
The Otherworld Tr
ilogy - Omnibus Edition (Books One, Two and Three)
Ehriad - A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Four)
Ghalien – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Five)
Lorehnin – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Six)
Caelihn – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Seven)
Faeleahn – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Eight)
*Read excerpts of these books here*
Connect with Me Online:
Twitter: @AuthorJEJohnson
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A Sneak Peek at the first book in the Legend of Oescienne series:
THE FINDING
-Prologue-
Evasion
Morning’s first light poured into a cramped, dank cave casting strange shadows against its distorted walls. It was a very ordinary cave as caves go, and up until a few days ago it seemed things would remain that way. The cave had sat empty in a cliff above the western sea, left alone to inhale the ocean’s salty air and capture the sound of the waves crashing below. Hidden and unseen in a cove only a few knew about, the cave had remained empty for so many years. But that was all about to change.
A piercing beam of light fought its way through a narrow hole in the ceiling of the cavern, breaking into the empty chamber and making the sunlight flooding through its mouth seem dimmer. The ray came to rest upon the pale face of a figure bunched upon the cold, dirty floor like a pile of discarded rags. His eyes were closed in sleep, but the silent expression on his face was far from restful. His dark hair was unkempt and his face appeared almost bloodless. He was as still as death, but his tense features and the grim cut of his mouth confirmed the struggle that only the living possessed.
Tales of Oescienne - A Short Story Collection - Volume One Page 8