It took them several more days of rough travel through finicky, late winter weather in order to reach the Cornaith River, a wide, turbulent rush of water that, according to Jaax, split the Thorbet Range on its race to the great southern ocean. A few days after that the river, if possible, became swifter. Jahrra didn’t notice the sound of booming water until the falls were nearly upon them. When she did, however, she gasped, jerking back on Phrym’s reins. The semequin whickered in surprise but made no other sound of protest.
The falls weren’t tall but they were wide, a great white ribbon pouring from a natural rock dam. Jaax nodded towards what appeared to be an old, narrow trail leading up the side of the small cliff.
“At the top the river smoothes out and widens again, and beyond that, Lake Runess spreads on forever.”
Jahrra nodded, not really listening to Jaax’s words, but when they reached the top of the trail she gasped. The Tanaan dragon had not been exaggerating. The land was flat for a while, pocked with small pools and marshes where the broad Cornaith River didn’t cut a wide course. But a mile or so off she noticed the great expanse of water Jaax had been speaking of. She couldn’t even see the other side of it and doubted she would be able to once they moved closer.
Jaax uncovered an old road that followed what Jahrra could only assume was the point of land highest above the lake when it was at its fullest. Overgrown and seldom used like the other trails they had followed, the road hugged the curves of the small hills that rose above the water, twining in and out of shallow canyons lined with old trees.
That night they camped in one of those small canyons tucked into the hillside. Jaax grunted approvingly at the large rocks scattered about, clearly pleased with their position in regards to the road. They built up a small fire and Jahrra ate wild rabbit, easily caught and roasted by Jaax an hour before. As she settled down for bed the dragon cast her a querulous look and lifted one wing. He had settled closer against the hillside furthest from the road. Jahrra stared at him for a moment and then it dawned upon her.
“Oh, no, it’s alright Jaax. It feels warmer tonight.”
He huffed a breath of smoky air through his nose in reply.
“That is not the reason I want you close to me,” he said.
Jahrra grimaced. Was this his attempt at forcing their friendship? She thought they had been getting along quite well, despite the circumstances. Was he angry with her because she had been a bit aloof as they traversed the Raenyan Canyon? She glared at him. If he was going to revert to his demanding ways then she was going to revert to her stubbornness.
The Tanaan dragon frowned for a moment longer then his features melted into a smile. Not a mocking one, but one that held humor.
“I merely wish to ensure your safety. We may be out of the treacherous canyon but this is still the wilderness.”
When Jahrra only blinked up at him, he sighed and let his wing droop a bit. “It’s possible we’ve shaken those who were following us in Oescienne, but now that we’re through the mountains and out of the protection of Raenyan Canyon, we may very well encounter the Tyrant’s men on this side of the province. That and the continued presence of wild animals make me insist you sleep by my side until we reach Lidien.”
And with that he flourished his wing once again.
Jahrra grumbled but obeyed. Jaax was right; they weren’t yet safe. And since she’d been wrong about his intentions she couldn’t very well hold it against him. With a final sigh, she curled up into a disgruntled lump and fell asleep to the rhythm of his breathing and the trickle of ever-present water.
The time spent following the shore of Lake Runess took far longer than Jaax had anticipated, what with the saturated trail and the occasional late snow flurry to slow them. The lake itself was like a great sea, vast and curving in the distance, reminding her of the shore of the western ocean in Oescienne. Jahrra passed the time in a mixed state of excitement, fear and loss. During their journey through the great Raenyan Canyon, she had been so preoccupied with surviving the steep, rocky mountainsides and avoiding the dangerous wildlife that she hadn’t had room in her harried mind for reflection on anything else. Jahrra wondered, now that she had the time, if perhaps this was part of Jaax’s plan all along.
Taking a short breath, she cast her gaze forward where the great dragon ambled along smoothly, his head swiveling on his strong neck, surveying every tree and every rock as if he expected an adversary to jump out and accost them at any moment. Phrym nickered tiredly and shook out his mane. They had been traveling since before sunup and it was nearing sunset. They would have to camp soon.
“Jaax,” Jahrra said wearily.
“Aye, I know. Soon,” he replied, sounding just as worn through.
Jahrra nodded, even though he hadn’t turned to see her. She found it strange, strange and somewhat comforting, that they had slipped so easily into their understanding of one another. She reached under her coat collar and pulled the dragon scale that hung from the fine chain out to view. She wondered if this token had somehow worked to connect their spirits more closely together for more often than not, they were able to finish one another’s thoughts.
She had spent so many years fighting against Jaax and his personality flaws but in the past month that had all changed. True, the desperation for escape and tragic circumstances hadn’t given them any other choice but to get along, yet Jahrra hoped there was more to it than that. Perhaps Jaax had finally come to terms with having her around for the long run, forcing him to reflect on how he should treat her.
Despite her fanciful musings, Jahrra was still more willing to accept that it was more likely the need for their close companionship during their flight from Oescienne that caused this familiarity; their lives depended on anticipating what the other thought. She dropped the trinket back inside her shirt and allowed herself a small grin. It was too soon for true laughter, but she was amused by the idea of how well she was now getting along with her new guardian. If Gieaun and Scede could see them now. Jahrra shook her head. Her two best friends would never believe it and it pained her to think of what she had left behind.
Several minutes later Jaax finally stopped walking. Ahead was a clearing nestled amidst a ring of large boulders and tall pines. A narrow creek wound and trickled down the slope on one side, gleaming over polished stones as it crept towards the lakeshore. Jahrra sighed as she slid from Phrym, her sore legs and backside protesting as she stood leaning against his flanks.
A gentle tug at her hair brought her back from the weariness that threatened to take over.
“I know, Phrym, I know.”
Reluctantly, Jahrra began removing his saddle and tack, taking out a curry brush to attend to him before finding a place to tie him for the night. Once her semequin was cared for and happily munching on sweet grass, Jahrra moved over to the center of the clearing where Jaax had gathered several logs and started a fire. He sat facing the lake, acting as a living gate to the opening in the stone ring that led back out onto the path they had been following.
Jahrra plopped down upon a blanket and for a moment almost let her mind sink back to the dark thoughts she’d been chasing away for the past month. If she wasn’t careful the memories of Hroombra’s death forced their way through the barriers she had built only to strangle the breath from her. No, she wouldn’t let them out of that place she kept them, locked away in her mind, at least not while it was still daylight. She was now far away from that tragic place and she wasn’t going to let it haunt her forever. It was bad enough they invaded her sleep, a place where she had no defenses.