Jarryd: Chapter 2

They broke through the trees and saw the farmhouse for the first time. Jarryd stopped, struck by the memory of that awful night. The flames. The smoke.

And then finding his parents out back.

It washed over him, all of it so vivid. He could smell the smoke. He could see his father trying to speak past the pain. His mother’s wounds.

“It’s okay. I’m right here.”

Kath put her arm around him. Jarryd realized he was shaking.

“I knew. As soon as I saw the flames, I knew they were dead.”

He pulled away and kept walking. He didn’t go up to the house but around back. He went to his knees at their graves, by then barely able to see, he was crying so hard.

Kath knelt next to him and put her arms around him. He leaned into her, burying his face in her shoulder.

After some time, he didn’t really know how long, he pulled back and wiped his eyes. “Geez, I had no idea I had that many tears in me.”

“You’re probably not done, either. Grief takes time.”

He took a deep breath. “How long?”

“As long as it takes.”

He smiled. “That’s helpful.”

They stood up. “I’ll always miss them,” he said.

“I’m sure you will.”

“Mother wanted me to build my own house, up the hill near the edge of our property. She wanted me to get married and give her lots of grandchildren.” He gave Kath a sideways look. “She wanted me to court you. She couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t. She didn’t know how badly I wanted to.”

Now Kath smiled. “Why, Jarryd. Are you asking me out?”

He straightened. “Well, if you’d have me.”

“I’d love to.” She gave him a quick hug.

They went and sat in the sunshine. The leaves were coming in quickly, the grass turning green. Birds called from the treetops. The day was growing warmer.

“Are you ready for my story now?” Jarryd asked.

“If you’re ready to share it. You’ve been through a lot already today. If you want to wait for another day, that’s okay.”

“I think I am. I think sharing it will help.”

 

The story took most of the day. Kath listened closely, only interrupting Jarryd occasionally to ask for clarification of something that happened. He told her about Pythas, how he trained Jarryd, how he died. About the Nagyar and Gran. About rescuing Hamisi from execution and how Gredgin saved them from the white dragon. About his time in the gladiator pits and the death of Cratch. About meeting Kathor and their journey to his homeland. Traveling through the Wastes and finding the Thaumaturge Stone. About being taken by the Selaki and how Ficken saved them.

The battle at Galtry when he killed so many people, only to lose to the Emperor again. After telling her about that, he had to pause and get hold of himself before he could continue.

He told her about traveling through the borderlands using shadow doors. And then, the final battle in Mocte’el, when all three of his friends died. And then the final part, where Gredgin fixed the crystal.

To her credit, Kath did not show skepticism. At least, not until right down near the end.

“You turned into a gold dragon?”

“For a little while.”

“A dragon. But I thought the whole point was not to turn into a dragon.”

“It wasn’t something I was planning on doing.”

“Can you show me? Can you do it right now?”

“I don’t think so, but I can try.” Truthfully, Jarryd had wondered the same thing. Could he do it again?

He closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing. He opened his eyes. “Sorry. I can’t.”

She took his arm. “Look at that.”

On his forearm was a single, golden scale.

“Can I touch it?” Kath asked. “It feels warm.”

“That’s good. Because the black ones felt cold. I’ll never forget that.”

“Why did you turn into a gold dragon, when there aren’t any?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. Pythas hated talking about Knight history, but now and then when he was drunk, I’d be able to squeeze a little out of him.

“One time, he told me that in the beginning, before the stars were formed, the Lord of Order and the Dragon Queen of Chaos warred constantly, each striving for the upper hand. This went on for eons as the Universe slowly was born around them. Neither could win, so balance was maintained.

“But then, the Lord of Order went away. The Dragon Queen reigned supreme. All of existence was threatened.”

“And then what?” Kath asked.

“I don’t know. That’s all he told me.”

“Someone locked the Queen in the Abyss. If it wasn’t the Lord of Order, who was it?”

“I don’t know. Pythas didn’t either. He thought the whole story was a crock. But then, he thought most everything was a crock. He was kind of an old grouch.”

“You still didn’t explain about the gold dragon.”

“Pythas said the Lord of Order was a gold dragon.”

“And?”

“I think that all order, all life, comes from the Lord of Order. I think there is a tiny bit of gold dragon in all of us. When I absorbed that massive amount of kriyana that had been stolen from the people of Mocte’el, I think that part came to life inside me. Once I returned all the stolen kriyana, I could no longer sustain that form. Probably I’ll never be able to do it again.”

“It’s an interesting idea. It could explain it.” She looked at his arm. “The scale is gone.”

“That’s probably for the best. I don’t think I want anyone knowing about that.”

“Not planning on showing off your powers to the people around here, then?” she teased.

“Oh, gods no. I just want to go back to farming and be a normal person.”

“I’m not sure you’ll ever be normal, but I’m glad you’re not a dragon still. I don’t see how that would work out. What would my mother say?”

Jarryd looked up and saw that the sun was heading for the horizon. “I should get you back home.”

“That’s probably a good idea. The dinner crowd will be starting to file in. Father will need my help. My little brother isn’t much help yet, and Mother can only be out of bed for a little while.”

“What’s wrong with your mother?”

“She was injured when the dragon attacked. It’s taking her a long time to heal.”

 

Jarryd escorted Kath back to town, taking his leave of her outside the Red Eel Inn. He refused her offer to come in and have some food.

“I have some food the Nagyar gave me. And I’m ready to go home now. Thank you for coming with me. You helped a lot.”

“Thank you for sharing with me. That means a lot that you trust me with all that.” She started to go, then turned back, rose onto her tiptoes, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Swick came around the corner just then. He pulled up with a cry of dismay. “Already? It’s only been one day!”

For some reason Kath found that funny and started laughing. Jarryd joined in. Finally, even Swick started laughing, though he didn’t stop complaining.

“Can’t you see how this makes me look? People are going to be laughing at me now.”

“People already do,” Kath assured him. “But you’re used to it by now, aren’t you?”

“You’re so cruel. I’m glad Jarryd is stuck with you. I deserve someone nice.” So saying, he turned up his nose and went inside.

“You know, he’s really not so bad these days,” Kath told Jarryd. “He’s still an ass a lot of the time, but he’s no longer just a bully. He doesn’t run around with those other two anymore, Alferd and Chestar. I think you knocked something loose when you punched him after the Harvest Dance.”

Jarryd grinned. “Just let me know if you ever want me to punch him again. I’m happy to help.”