camp just along the edge of the village.”
“Are you sure?” Aydehn asked, eying Jahrra to try and gauge her opinion.
Jahrra would have liked having a roof over her head but when she glanced at Jaax, the hard look in his eyes warned her not to argue. Releasing an infinitesimal sigh she smiled weakly and nodded.
“Very well, if that is what you wish. There is a nice little alcove tucked into the hillside just to the south of my own home with several trees surrounding it. I think it’s big enough to accommodate you Jaax and there is even a small ring of stones set up for a fire.”
He grinned mischievously and lowered his voice, addressing Jahrra, “It’s where the young men like to camp out after a great hunt so they can boast freely about their exploits without annoying the young women with their foolishness. I’m sure the exaggerated tales would be enough to make the youngest of our girls roll their eyes.”
Jaax cocked a brow. “Speaking from experience, Aydehn?”
The Resai elf barked out a hearty laugh and slapped Jaax just below the shoulder. It was a friendly gesture but Jahrra half expected her guardian to growl, or at least scowl, but all he did was smile.
“Absolutely!” Aydehn declared. “What is the point in retelling hunting tales if one cannot make them as outrageous as possible?”
Jahrra smiled and felt her tense muscles loosen a little. Aydehn wasn’t so bad and she was sure the rest of the Resai in Crie were just as friendly and accommodating. Think about it Jahrra , she told herself, if you were in their place, wouldn’t you gawk if the human found abandoned in your village returned out of the blue after seventeen years?
With that thought to ease her mind, she followed Aydehn and Jaax back through the village, a weary Phrym following faithfully behind.
***
The night they arrived in Crie Jaax and Jahrra decided to decline Aydehn’s invitation to join the villagers around the communal fire.
“We’re quite weary and I think everyone has had enough excitement for the day,” Jaax told him as Jahrra sought out a soft patch of earth to lay her bedroll.
At the elf’s dismayed cry Jaax continued, “That being said, we would be more than happy to join you tomorrow night if it is your wish.”
“Very well,” Aydehn conceded, “though I’m sure Thenya will hound me through the rest of the night.”
“Surely she will,” Jaax answered in good humor.
Aydehn mumbled something else as he traipsed off down the narrow trail they had followed to reach this secluded, yet nearby spot.
Jahrra sighed and threw her head back to look up into the trees. She could see now why the young men would want to camp here after a hunt. It was just far enough away from the village to offer some privacy but close enough in case those camping here needed help for any reason. The rocky hillside curved gently, offering a shelter from the wind, and the interlaced branches above would keep them dry should it rain.
A whooshing sound and the familiar crackle and scent of a fire drew Jahrra’s attention away from her thoughts. As she had been daydreaming Jaax had gathered up a sizeable pile of wood and had started a fire within the small ring of rocks.
Jahrra finished with her bedroll, shot a glance at Phrym to make sure he was content, then plopped onto her blankets, crossing her legs and resting her elbows on her knees. She tilted her head and glanced up at Jaax. He was watching her, just as she’d presumed. She set her jaw and refused to be the first one to look away, or to speak. After a whole minute she gave up, sighing and resting her eyes on the fire instead.
Eventually she heard her guardian release a sigh. “What have I done now?”
She barely kept herself from grinning. Instead she shrugged and, still watching the fire, she said, “You could have warned me.”
When she looked at Jaax he was frowning in confusion.
“Warned you?”
Jahrra spread her right arm, gesturing in the direction of
“Are you sure?” Aydehn asked, eying Jahrra to try and gauge her opinion.
Jahrra would have liked having a roof over her head but when she glanced at Jaax, the hard look in his eyes warned her not to argue. Releasing an infinitesimal sigh she smiled weakly and nodded.
“Very well, if that is what you wish. There is a nice little alcove tucked into the hillside just to the south of my own home with several trees surrounding it. I think it’s big enough to accommodate you Jaax and there is even a small ring of stones set up for a fire.”
He grinned mischievously and lowered his voice, addressing Jahrra, “It’s where the young men like to camp out after a great hunt so they can boast freely about their exploits without annoying the young women with their foolishness. I’m sure the exaggerated tales would be enough to make the youngest of our girls roll their eyes.”
Jaax cocked a brow. “Speaking from experience, Aydehn?”
The Resai elf barked out a hearty laugh and slapped Jaax just below the shoulder. It was a friendly gesture but Jahrra half expected her guardian to growl, or at least scowl, but all he did was smile.
“Absolutely!” Aydehn declared. “What is the point in retelling hunting tales if one cannot make them as outrageous as possible?”
Jahrra smiled and felt her tense muscles loosen a little. Aydehn wasn’t so bad and she was sure the rest of the Resai in Crie were just as friendly and accommodating. Think about it Jahrra , she told herself, if you were in their place, wouldn’t you gawk if the human found abandoned in your village returned out of the blue after seventeen years?
With that thought to ease her mind, she followed Aydehn and Jaax back through the village, a weary Phrym following faithfully behind.
***
The night they arrived in Crie Jaax and Jahrra decided to decline Aydehn’s invitation to join the villagers around the communal fire.
“We’re quite weary and I think everyone has had enough excitement for the day,” Jaax told him as Jahrra sought out a soft patch of earth to lay her bedroll.
At the elf’s dismayed cry Jaax continued, “That being said, we would be more than happy to join you tomorrow night if it is your wish.”
“Very well,” Aydehn conceded, “though I’m sure Thenya will hound me through the rest of the night.”
“Surely she will,” Jaax answered in good humor.
Aydehn mumbled something else as he traipsed off down the narrow trail they had followed to reach this secluded, yet nearby spot.
Jahrra sighed and threw her head back to look up into the trees. She could see now why the young men would want to camp here after a hunt. It was just far enough away from the village to offer some privacy but close enough in case those camping here needed help for any reason. The rocky hillside curved gently, offering a shelter from the wind, and the interlaced branches above would keep them dry should it rain.
A whooshing sound and the familiar crackle and scent of a fire drew Jahrra’s attention away from her thoughts. As she had been daydreaming Jaax had gathered up a sizeable pile of wood and had started a fire within the small ring of rocks.
Jahrra finished with her bedroll, shot a glance at Phrym to make sure he was content, then plopped onto her blankets, crossing her legs and resting her elbows on her knees. She tilted her head and glanced up at Jaax. He was watching her, just as she’d presumed. She set her jaw and refused to be the first one to look away, or to speak. After a whole minute she gave up, sighing and resting her eyes on the fire instead.
Eventually she heard her guardian release a sigh. “What have I done now?”
She barely kept herself from grinning. Instead she shrugged and, still watching the fire, she said, “You could have warned me.”
When she looked at Jaax he was frowning in confusion.
“Warned you?”
Jahrra spread her right arm, gesturing in the direction of
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