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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