The Awakening Read Online Free PDF
Author: Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
wished to move on, she had to push the sorrow away, or at least learn to live around it. After a heartbeat she continued.
“If the people who killed Hroombra came looking for me, I asked him to act as if he never saw me.”
Jaax took a breath to say something, changed his mind, and simply nodded. “Very well. We had better keep moving then, before the road becomes crowded.”
He peered up the side of the hill and sighed. “We’ll stick to the hills and the back country, keeping the Raenyan River in sight. Perhaps your sudden luck will follow us.”
They traveled until late afternoon, moving farther and farther north and deeper into the foothills and mountains of eastern Oescienne. Before nightfall they made camp in a high, secluded clearing. Jaax felt it safe to risk a fire, so Jahrra was able to enjoy roasted meat for the first time in several days.
The next morning was clogged with low clouds and a deep chill. Jahrra arose early and made her way to a tiny spring they had passed the day before. While she was gone, Jaax closed his eyes and mapped out the next leg of their journey in his mind. They would continue moving east, following the river into the Elornn Mountains, passing through the treacherous Raenyan Canyon.
This was where he planned on losing any of the Tyrant’s men, should they discover their trail and follow them. Few who had traveled along the steep, rocky cliffs above the turgid river had ever come out of that wilderness to tell their accounts. Jaax hoped that this would deter anyone who might be after them, or that the canyon’s reputation would cause them to believe it not an option for the dragon and his ward. Jaax knew it was risky but he had been through the canyon before and there were just some things dragons were better at than the other creatures of Ethoes. Making it through the dreaded Raenyan Canyon unscathed being one of them.
The crunch of underbrush told him that Jahrra had returned and he left his contemplating for later. She had braided her hair and changed into a fresh set of clothes but the dark circles under her eyes and her slight limp told him that she wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as he was to get moving.
“Will you be able to keep awake today?” he asked delicately.
Jahrra simply glared at him and gave a sharp nod. “How is today any different than all the other days?”
Jaax grimaced then gazed through the tree branches once again, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to see something far off in the distance. He took a deep breath, then looked back at Jahrra.
“We’ll be entering the Raenyan Canyon.”
Jahrra crossed her arms and shifted her weight to her good ankle. “So?”
Jaax didn’t fight the grin that graced his mouth. He wondered what could have put her into such a foul mood this morning but it had been so long since Jahrra had behaved as her usual, stubborn self that seeing this small ray of light was a blessing. Even if that ray of light was more of a harsh glare than a warm sunbeam.
“The canyon is notorious for its dangers. I simply want to make sure you are at your best before we start edging along its sheer cliffs while trying to dodge boarlaques, dremmen wolves and sehnnas.”
Jahrra started and cast Jaax a fearful glance.
“Are you serious?” she breathed.
The Tanaan dragon merely nodded, his face grim.
“There is no other way?”
“There are several other ways, but taking this route is the best chance we have at shaking the Crimson King’s men.”
Jahrra’s shoulders drooped and she cast a glance at Phrym. The semequin stood in the fogginess of early morning, his mottled gray coloring making him seem like a natural part of the landscape.
Sensing her thoughts, Jaax took a weary breath and said, “Don’t worry. Phrym is a semequin. He has a far greater amount of sense and intelligence than any common horse.”
Jahrra still looked worried but then she thought of what Jaax had told her. It made sense to take the unpopular
“If the people who killed Hroombra came looking for me, I asked him to act as if he never saw me.”
Jaax took a breath to say something, changed his mind, and simply nodded. “Very well. We had better keep moving then, before the road becomes crowded.”
He peered up the side of the hill and sighed. “We’ll stick to the hills and the back country, keeping the Raenyan River in sight. Perhaps your sudden luck will follow us.”
They traveled until late afternoon, moving farther and farther north and deeper into the foothills and mountains of eastern Oescienne. Before nightfall they made camp in a high, secluded clearing. Jaax felt it safe to risk a fire, so Jahrra was able to enjoy roasted meat for the first time in several days.
The next morning was clogged with low clouds and a deep chill. Jahrra arose early and made her way to a tiny spring they had passed the day before. While she was gone, Jaax closed his eyes and mapped out the next leg of their journey in his mind. They would continue moving east, following the river into the Elornn Mountains, passing through the treacherous Raenyan Canyon.
This was where he planned on losing any of the Tyrant’s men, should they discover their trail and follow them. Few who had traveled along the steep, rocky cliffs above the turgid river had ever come out of that wilderness to tell their accounts. Jaax hoped that this would deter anyone who might be after them, or that the canyon’s reputation would cause them to believe it not an option for the dragon and his ward. Jaax knew it was risky but he had been through the canyon before and there were just some things dragons were better at than the other creatures of Ethoes. Making it through the dreaded Raenyan Canyon unscathed being one of them.
The crunch of underbrush told him that Jahrra had returned and he left his contemplating for later. She had braided her hair and changed into a fresh set of clothes but the dark circles under her eyes and her slight limp told him that she wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as he was to get moving.
“Will you be able to keep awake today?” he asked delicately.
Jahrra simply glared at him and gave a sharp nod. “How is today any different than all the other days?”
Jaax grimaced then gazed through the tree branches once again, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to see something far off in the distance. He took a deep breath, then looked back at Jahrra.
“We’ll be entering the Raenyan Canyon.”
Jahrra crossed her arms and shifted her weight to her good ankle. “So?”
Jaax didn’t fight the grin that graced his mouth. He wondered what could have put her into such a foul mood this morning but it had been so long since Jahrra had behaved as her usual, stubborn self that seeing this small ray of light was a blessing. Even if that ray of light was more of a harsh glare than a warm sunbeam.
“The canyon is notorious for its dangers. I simply want to make sure you are at your best before we start edging along its sheer cliffs while trying to dodge boarlaques, dremmen wolves and sehnnas.”
Jahrra started and cast Jaax a fearful glance.
“Are you serious?” she breathed.
The Tanaan dragon merely nodded, his face grim.
“There is no other way?”
“There are several other ways, but taking this route is the best chance we have at shaking the Crimson King’s men.”
Jahrra’s shoulders drooped and she cast a glance at Phrym. The semequin stood in the fogginess of early morning, his mottled gray coloring making him seem like a natural part of the landscape.
Sensing her thoughts, Jaax took a weary breath and said, “Don’t worry. Phrym is a semequin. He has a far greater amount of sense and intelligence than any common horse.”
Jahrra still looked worried but then she thought of what Jaax had told her. It made sense to take the unpopular