The Awakening (10 page)

“Experience, Jahrra,” he spoke on a sigh. “Experience.”

Jahrra contemplated that for a while but soon allowed herself to become distracted with the activity on board. She yawned once and curled up atop the tarps, intending to close her eyes just for a moment.

***

“Jahrra,” Jaax whispered harshly.

Jahrra started, blinking as if she were lost. She turned to look at her guardian, still tucked away beneath the storage room of their boat, and glanced in the direction he indicated. Jahrra spotted a carriage, covered with the curtains drawn, and groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was climb out of the bobbing vessel and into another that would be moving just as much. She was eager to stretch her legs or at least ride Phrym. Why did they need a carriage?

“Jahrra, it would be best if we got moving before the city is fully awake. Discretion is key at the moment at least until I can alert the Coalition to your presence.”

Mumbling, Jahrra stood from her small nest and stretched her arms.

“Coalition?” she managed to say around a yawn.

Jaax nodded as he carefully removed himself from the barge. Jahrra had to grab a nearby rope to keep from falling overboard. For some reason she hadn’t slept well at all the night before. That coupled with the excitement of arriving in Lidien had made it hard for her to keep her mind clear.

“The Coalition for Ethoes,” Jaax continued as Jahrra joined him on the dock.

“I should have told you before but I was too focused on getting us here that there never really was time to go into the details. Besides, the details regarding the Coalition are known only inside the borders of Lidien. The risk of anyone at all learning more than the basic knowledge of our group was not something I wished to test on our journey here.”

The Tanaan dragon released a massive sigh, as if he were about to divulge a great deal of information. Jahrra gratefully took Phrym’s reins from one of the crew as Jaax elaborated.

“You must know that Hroombra and I weren’t the only ones aware of your presence nor the only ones who had any concern for the future of our world.”

He glanced at Jahrra and when he noticed he had her full attention, he continued, “Over the past few centuries, those of us who wished for the eradication of the Crimson King have banded together and formed a faction. We call ourselves the Coalition for Ethoes, as I said. Not a very impressive title, I know, but our name isn’t what matters. The Coalition is made up of thousands of members, scattered all throughout the seven provinces, but our headquarters is located here, in Lidien.”

Jaax stopped talking yet Jahrra knew he had more to say.

“They know about you, Jahrra,” he finally said. “Hroombra insisted I tell them but I waited as long as I could. They found out about you only a few years ago.”

They had been walking towards the awaiting carriage but Jahrra stopped short. “Why did you wait so long?”

Jaax gave a dragonish shrug. “Fear. I knew some of our members weren’t as loyal as Hroombra believed and even now there are a few I don’t entirely trust. But in the end those who are loyal deserved to know.”

Jahrra nodded, waiting for him to continue.

When he didn’t, she asked, “So, every group needs a leader. Who heads this Coalition?”

It was a few moments before Jaax answered.

“Hroombra did, before . . .”

He didn’t have to finish. Jahrra took a breath and said, “So who is their leader now?”

This time Jahrra swore an entire minute passed before Jaax finally said, “I am.”

Of course. Jahrra wasn’t all that surprised. In fact, she was more surprised to realize that her guardian had been reluctant to admit such a thing. Funny, she had always thought him so arrogant and smug but in retrospect perhaps it had been her, in her blind youth, who had been so sure of things, so stubborn that she hadn’t taken the time to step beyond herself and take another look.

No, Jaax wasn’t really all that arrogant, just confidant and determined. She blinked back her weariness and a sudden revelation announced itself. It was no wonder he’d been gone all throughout her childhood. Hroombra obviously couldn’t be in Lidien so Jaax was acting as a representative for him.

“Shall we?” Jaax pressed, indicating the carriage.

Jahrra yawned and nodded. All around them the docks were busy with life. The waterfront was different here than it was in the coastal towns of Oescienne. Many of the buildings and streets ran right up to the water as if those who built them were determined to use every scrap of land possible.

Phrym shuffled his feet and blew out a gust of air, nibbling cheerfully at Jahrra’s sleeve. She smiled and pulled him along the heavy wood planks until they reached the coach that waited patiently for them.

With the help of some of the crewmen from their boat, Jaax managed to get their belongings, including Phrym’s tack, onto the top of the carriage while Jahrra and the footman secured Phrym to the back. Jaax directed her to the open carriage door then turned to murmur a few words to the driver. Once everything was settled, the driver called out to the horses and gave their reins a nice flick before the vehicle lurched forward.

Jahrra waved goodbye to their travel companions as the wooden wheels of the carriage tumbled over the uneven paving, a pang of sadness touching her heart. She would miss them. They had been wonderful traveling companions, teaching her card games and telling her about the nature of the river.

Sighing, Jahrra leaned against a soft cushion and turned her head to gaze out the window. She should sleep now that she was comfortable but there was no way she was going to miss the chance to see the city on their way to wherever it was they were going.

Jahrra assumed Jaax either flew ahead or followed them on foot but she was too weary to care much. He would keep them in sight and he had already told her that Lidien was the safest place on Ethoes for them to live. She wasn’t going to worry. Instead, she sat up straighter in the coach to keep herself from drifting off and gazed at the magnificent city that passed by.

The marine district wasn’t overly impressive, considering it was so close to the waterfront and housed the sailors, fishermen and what Jahrra could only assume was the lower class of this wondrous place. She frowned. For some reason she expected Lidien to be free of such hardships but she shrugged, guessing that every place on Ethoes, whether it be in Ghorium or here in Felldreim, had its share of citizens who had less or more than others.

Gradually, the coach made its way up through the clustered hills of the northeastern portion of Lidien Bay. The sun was peaking over the mountains in the distance by the time the carriage had climbed high enough for Jahrra to get a decent view. When the golden rays finally cast their light upon the water below, Jahrra sucked in a startled breath. The pale buildings brightened to golden fire when the early morning light hit them and the waters of the massive inlet glittered. Jahrra bit her lip in delight, only imagining what the sight would look like on the opposite end of the day when the sun was going down in the ocean on the other side of the western hills.

By now the streets had become busy with life; the patrons of Lidien making their way to and from work. About halfway up the hilly cityscape, the main road they took leveled out and widened and a broad stretch of tree-lined lawn split the avenue. Jahrra pressed her face against the window and gaped. The buildings grew in height and width and took on a more regal look. There were several, and between two particularly ornate structures Jahrra spotted a grand plaza that led deeper into the forest of crenellated and columned buildings.

Falling back into her seat, she resisted the temptation to ask the driver to stop so she could explore. The grand buildings tapered out but eventually gave way to other massive structures. Men and women, looking Nesnan, Resai, elvin and several other races Jahrra couldn’t quite name, poured in and out of the tall buildings. They were garbed in fancy robes or dresses, looking stern and busy as they bustled past the crowds of people, making their way to other locations or ornate carriages waiting for them on the pristine streets. Jahrra couldn’t get over the number of horses and carriages choking the crowded lanes. She wondered how anyone got anywhere on time.

While waiting for the traffic to start flowing again, Jahrra took the opportunity to lean out the window and shout back at the footman, “What were those buildings we passed? The tall ones with great steps and columns making up their facades?”

The footman tipped his hat and shouted back at Jahrra over the noise.

“That be the University, miss.”

Jahrra’s eyes widened. The University? The University she had refused to attend after Hroombra and Jaax had insisted? A slight pang bit at her stomach as she recalled her beloved mentor and the last argument she had had with him. After a moment or two she nodded, breathing deeply through her nose as she retreated back into the safety of the carriage.

The coach continued down the main avenue through the city before beginning to ascend the hilly landscape once again. Most of the buildings were several stories tall, built of the same pale gold and pink stones scattered throughout the city. This place reminded her very much of Kiniahn Kroi but instead of noticing the clear class distinction there, here in Lidien that didn’t seem to matter quite so much. Richly dressed patrons spoke openly to those who obviously held lesser positions in society. And, Jahrra observed with pure delight, it was clear dragons were extended respect here as well.

As they passed a particularly large structure, several dragons, Korli and Tanaan alike, mingled and chatted in the open foyer that acted as the building’s entrance. Jahrra leaned against the side of the carriage and studied them, wanting to find differences between them. She had only ever seen Hroombra and Jaax and wondered if all Korli and Tanaan looked like their counterparts. She was delighted to note that, although they were similar, there was still plenty to distinguish one dragon from the next. The Tanaan appeared to come in a wide range of colors and varied in size a little. The Korli kept their grey tones but their size varied even more.

Yawning and stretching against the plush velvet, Jahrra retreated back into her comfortable seat as the driver turned them up a wide side road. Blinking sleepily, she noticed they were climbing once again, taking a path that appeared to twist up and around a small mountain. About halfway up the large, wooded hill, the carriage turned down a drive. Jahrra peered out the window, noting the mixed conifer and broadleaf forest surrounding them. She smiled, hoping that wherever they ended up, these trees were nearby. It was a delight to find what seemed to be a small wilderness so close to the urban expanse they had just passed through. She reached for her left arm where her wooden bracelet rested. It felt warm and if she concentrated, she could feel the slightest of tingles.

A handful of minutes passed by and the carriage pulled to a slow stop. Curious, Jahrra threw open the window again and leaned out. She took a deep breath, pure delight coursing through her as the familiar scent of the ocean and the tang of pine and earth hit her senses. Gazing ahead, she spotted what had caused the delay. A great gate, ornate and impenetrable looking, blocked their progress. The footman hopped down from the back of the carriage and ran up to the hindrance, seeming to speak a few words before the gate creaked slowly open.

Jahrra blinked in surprise and tried to follow the tall stone wall in either direction, but found that the steep terrain and many trees prevented that. The carriage lurched forward and they continued up the smooth lane, all the while Jahrra having flashbacks of that caravan ride to the twins’ home in Kiniahn Kroi so many years ago.

The driveway turned and curved a few more times while it ascended the summit of the hill. As it came around the final bend Jahrra nearly fell to the floor in surprise. At the apex of the hill, rising above the tops of the highest trees, stood a grand mansion, far nicer than any she had ever seen, including Eydeth’s and Ellysian’s estate. Other than having pale gold stones as its main building material, this structure looked nothing like the twins’ home. A great sweeping, circular drive brushed right up against the façade of the place. A patch of well manicured lawn complete with a pool and fountain in the middle stood centrally in relation to the driveway. As her carriage pulled up, Jahrra gaped at the gold, black and white fish swimming lazily around the dormant leaves of water lilies just below the surface of the pool.

Finally, the coach came to a stop and Jahrra heard the footman leap down onto the gravel with a crunch and pull open her door. She was too stunned at first to exit, wondering exactly where they were. Was this the grand house of some king or wealthy friend of Jaax’s? With a thrill, Jahrra imagined that it belonged to an elf. But why would Jaax bring her here and not to an inn?

Stepping out of the carriage, Jahrra nodded and smiled at the footman who returned the gesture in kind. Her booted feet crunched loudly against the gravel but she was too charmed by the grand estate before her to notice the noise. There were a few wide, large steps set before a huge door, one large enough to accommodate dragons with a much smaller one fashioned within it.

A few great columns, two on each side of the giant door, rose from the ground and reached all the way to the roof some twenty feet or more high. But it was the windows that made Jahrra grin more than anything else. Between the two columns on either side, two glass apertures stood looking like great, gleaming eyes. They were tall, starting near the base of the building and rising practically to the roof. They were flat at the bottom but tapered towards the top into a point with several diamond-shaped panes. Jahrra was tempted to look into one of the panes but that would mean walking right up to it and pressing her face against the cool glass, something she thought would be considered rude to whoever owned the home.