Jahree made his way to the dining hall for dinner, still adjusting to the new routines. The last post had been in a bustling city down south, with multiple squads, proper barracks, and a mess hall. There had been enough people that Jahree could fade into the background, but here, in this remote town, remaining anonymous would be a challenge. They were too far from Menthanla for that kind of luxury. Jahree and Tellic kept an eye on Marn, the unpredictable element in their squad. The others might not like Tellic because he was a troll, but they respected him. Trolls were taller, stronger, and faster than most races, and Tellic was a superb fighter. More than that, he demanded that women be treated with respect. He didn’t expect celibacy, but anything that happened had to be consensual, respectful, and certainly not on duty. Odd behavior for a troll, but no one would challenge him on it. Not even Captain Trema, who had his own strict codes, though they aligned with army policy. Sifa, the other cook, and her husband, Lamin, joined Jahree and Tellic for the meal. Jahree noticed with some disappointment that Lanni wasn’t there. He didn’t understand why it bothered him—pursuing her would likely get him in trouble. Sifa explained that she and Lanni took turns unless there were extra people. Once dinner was done, Jahree took up his patrol. Tellic was posted outside, and Jahree took the first floor. He reached the main entrance where Shan, another soldier, waited to be relieved. "Anything of note?" Jahree asked, starting their nightly handoff. Shan shook his head. "The youngest keeps sneaking out of the nursery. She's supposedly not contagious anymore, but I think she just likes testing boundaries. You're immune to Treba, right?" Jahree nodded. "I am." "Good. Call Marn if she gets out again, though. He'll take her back." Jahree raised an eyebrow. "We're babysitting now?" "I hope not. Captain Trema said he'd talk to Lord Rantar in the morning. The healer says the kid's getting better, just restless. It’ll pass." Jahree nodded, though he found it hard to believe. "Good. Last thing we need is more distractions." Shan smirked. "It's a small place, doubt we’ll see much action. Good luck, though." As Shan left, Jahree started his rounds. The estate was large, but not as extravagant as some he’d guarded before. By the time morning came, he'd have the layout of the first floor memorized. On one of his passes after midnight, Jahree noticed something unusual. A soft light was coming from the kitchen, where it was always dark at this time. Lady Barta, the lady of the house, didn’t stay up late or like things out of place. Jahree thought maybe the youngest kid in the house was causing trouble again. Not long ago, he’d found her wandering around with Marn chasing after her, muttering under his breath. Jahree quietly pushed open the kitchen door and saw something unexpected. There was Lanni, tucked in a cozy corner, absorbed in a book. Upon noticing Jahree, the corners of Lanni’s mouth quirked upwards in greeting. “Hungry? Can I get you something?” she inquired, her voice a harmonious blend of hospitality and surprise. Shaking his head, Jahree reassured her, “I’m good. My concern was with the light still on.” He glanced around the kitchen and then back at her. “You don’t sleep in here, do you?” A sheepish grin flashed across Lanni’s face. “Oh, no,” she responded quickly, the notion almost comical. “Lady Barta wouldn’t dream of such a thing; she doesn’t even approve of me reading in here. Sometimes I can’t sleep so I come in here to read.” Her admission was soft, almost as if she was sharing a secret with the night itself. “There is a library,” Jahree mentioned matter-of-factly, having stumbled upon it during his rounds. He had a hunch that Tellic would inevitably inquire about such a trove of information. “I can’t take my tea in there,” She gestured to the steaming mug beside her. She had draped a blanket over her lap, but Jahree noticed she was still in her nightdress—sleeveless, loose, and low cut. He quickly diverted his eyes, noticing instead a striking tattoo on her arm: a blue dragon, clinging to her pale skin as if it had taken refuge there. Its head rested on her shoulder, the color stark against her complexion. The tattoo, a majestic blue dragon, coiled along her arm, its head resting contemplatively on her shoulder as though keeping watch over her. Its sapphire scales shimmered against the pallor of her skin in a way that was almost mesmerizing. The image reminded him of some of the ones Papa Tey had hanging his study. But those had been done by Tey’s grandfather, who had died over five hundred years ago. For this woman to have such artwork, she would either have to be immortal or a dragon. What, then, was someone with such a possible history doing hidden away in the guise of a cook, in the remote reaches of northern Yarba? With his curiosity piqued yet his duties calling, Jahree prepared to dismiss himself. “If you need anything, yell,” he instructed Lanni, ready to resume his rounds, his sense of responsibility unwavering. She acknowledged his offer with a simple nod, then added, “If you get hungry, come back and see me.” Jahree hesitated. “Won’t you be in a sleep?” It was a natural question, considering her attire and the time of day. Lanni responded with a nonchalant shrug, a small but eloquent gesture that hinted at the complexities of her routine. “I may try laying back down. But I don’t sleep much,” she confessed. Jahree understood that. He rarely slept if Tellic wasn’t in the room but he doubted her sleep trouble was the same as his. He continued on his rounds. He’d made another two loops when Shri, the escape artist came down. “Ah, Sai, what brings you out of bed at this time?” Jahree questioned, a playful smirk on his face as he deliberately used the wrong name to tease her. With a chortle clear and light, she responded, “I’m Shri, not Sai!” Feigning confusion, Jahree persisted, “No, no, you’re Sai.” Her laughter was the only silver lining of the night as she corrected him once more, “I’m Shri!” “Last time, you were insisting you were Sai,” he countered with mock sternness. But Shri was adamant. “I’ve always been Shri,” she laughed, correcting him yet again. Deciding to shift the conversation, Jahree asked, “What are you doing up?” “I’m hungry,” Shri admitted, her giggles subsiding into a more serious tone. Jahree’s mind turned to the caregiver responsible for the children. “Where’s Marn?” he inquired, expecting to find the nighttime guardian fulfilling their duty. Shri’s expression dimmed as she frowned and shrugged, a silent testament to Marn’s ineptitude with children. With an understanding sigh, Jahree made his way up the stairs, calling out softly but firmly, “Marn! Marn!” He tried not to raise his voice too much for fear of disturbing the quiet slumber of others nearby. But there was no response. Marn was nowhere to be found, leaving Jahree to handle the situation at hand on his own. “I’m hungry,” Shri repeated, her voice laced with the telltale grumble of an empty stomach. “Okay, let’s raid the kitchen. Then you go back to bed,” Jahree decided, taking charge of the situation with a playful yet determined tone. “Okay,” Shri agreed without any protest, the promise of food enough motivation to follow Jahree’s lead. Lanni was still in the kitchen, or perhaps she had returned; it was hard to tell. Now she was fully dressed, the sleep seemingly washed from her appearance, and the cushion she had used earlier was neatly put away. Upon noticing their entrance, she turned, her eyes full of motherly concern. “Shri, what are you doing up at this hour?” “I’m hungry,” Shri repeated, her simple, honest declaration outstretching any excuses. “You must be feeling better then,” Lanni noted, her smile warm and comforting. It was the smile of someone who found joy in the recovery of a loved one. “Give me a moment, and I’ll prepare something for you.” In the meantime, Shri’s attention turned to Jahree, a quizzical look etching her youthful features. “What’s your name again?” she asked as if trying to grasp at the frayed edges of a half-remembered dream. “Jahree,” he responded, patiently reintroducing himself. She scrunched her face, puzzling over the sound of it. “You were named after a jar?” she inquired, the innocence in her query bordering on humorous. “Shri! Watch your manners,” Lanni chastised gently yet firmly, her tone as corrective as it was informative. “Jahree is a foreign name, just like Shri is.” “Sorry.” Shri’s apology came quickly, sincerity laced with a twinge of embarrassment. “He called me Sai before,” she added, a faint hint of defensiveness underlying her words. “I was playing around,” Jahree explained, clarifying the situation. His voice was soft with understanding. “Sai is a Baj-tisk name,” Lanni explained, sensing the confusion in Shri’s expression. “Baj-tisk? Dragons?” Shri’s eyes widened in a mix of awe and uncertainty. “Are you a dragon? Is Jahree a Baj-tisk name too?” Lanni spared a glance at Jahree before responding. “He’s human.” Shri looked relieved. “Good, because Mommy said she only wants people here.” Lanni frowned slightly. “Dragons are people too,” Jahree interjected, trying to expand Shri’s understanding. Shri, however, was unconvinced. “No, they’re animals. They have scales and claws, and they can fly with their wings.” “Appearance doesn’t define whether someone is a person,” Lanni explained patiently. “Consider Captain Ter and myself as examples. We both have lighter skin tones compared to most around here. Additionally, he’s one of the tallest men you’ll meet, whereas I am shorter most.” “But you’re taller than me,” Shri pointed out, looking up at Lanni. “I’m speaking in terms of grown-ups,” Lanni clarified with a gentle smile. “And let’s not forget about elves. Their eyes and ears are distinct from ours, and they can’t eat what we do. Despite all these differences, we’re all still all people, right?” Lanni looked at Shri, hoping to see a spark of understanding in the young girl’s eyes. Shri nodded. “But dragons are more different than the other creatures, aren’t they?” “They are,” Lanni concurred, her voice carrying an echo of mystique fit for the topic at hand. “Dragons are truly unique beings, and there are certainly others who share that distinctiveness, creatures such as merfolk, unicorns.” “But mommy said that dragons are…” Shri’s voice trailed off. “I know,” Lanni replied with a patient sigh. “Yarbs and dragons have had a long history of discord. They’ve harbored grudges for so long that mean-spirited names and insults have become a regrettable part of their interactions.” Jahree felt a flush of discomfort at the mention. His parents, Papa Tey and Mama Sai, had always instilled in him the virtue of respecting every living thing, Yarbs very much included. However, Jahree’s own interactions with dragons were limited and possibly not reflective of the broader truth. Perhaps the dragons he had met were outliers, gentler, and more civil than the norm. As these thoughts lingered in Jahree’s mind, Lanni stooped gracefully to remove a tray from the oven, bringing Jahree’s attention unintentionally to her form momentarily before he scolded himself for the distraction. “Cookies!” Shri’s exclamation pulled Jahree’s gaze to the object of her delight, a pan filled with freshly baked treats. “Give them a moment to cool, and then you can try one,” Lanni said with a nurturing tone as she moved the hot tray to the counter, releasing a warm, buttery scent into the room. “Can I have three?” Shri bargained with an innocent glint in her eyes, yet her hand showed four fingers, betraying her hopeful bid. “Two,” corrected Lanni firmly but gently, showing the accurate number with her own fingers. Shri, with a melodramatic sigh, accepted the compromise. After a brief wait, Lanni presented the girl with two golden-brown cookies. She then extended the same kindness toward Jahree, offering him some of the freshly baked delights. “Oh, no thank you,” Jahree declined politely, albeit surprised by the offer. “Go ahead,” Lanni encouraged, her tone insistent yet warm. “I made them for you.” “For me?” Jahree echoed, his question tinged with a blend of honor and astonishment that someone would prepare something so thoughtful solely for his benefit. “The soldiers. You’re on duty for a long time, so I made something you can eat while you walk. Take these and give them to whoever is outside. I’m still learning the schedules,” Lanni explained, holding out a bundle of homemade cookies. “That would be Tell. Marn’s upstairs,” Jarhee responded, providing guidance to whom the snacks should be delivered. “The one I, um, met earlier?” Lanni asked, she glanced at Shri, not wanting to discuss Marn’s behavior at lunch in front of the girl. “Him, but if you have food and a child with you, you should be okay,” Jahree advised, indicating that provisions and the company of a child were sufficient to keep Marn in line. He wouldn’t act inappropriately in front of a child. “Good to know. I’d hate to have to embarrass him twice in one day,” Lanni said with a wry smile. Lanni picked up some cookies, Shri in tow, and proceeded upstairs to find Marn while Jahree continued his rounds. The sustenance was much appreciated, especially since a twelve-hour shift was a long time to go without a meal. As he moved through his duties, Jahree maintained a vigilant watch out of the windows for Tellic. Spotting him, Jahree gestured towards the nearest door to gain his attention. “What’s wrong?” Tellic inquired with a hint of concern the moment they were reunited indoors. “I think I’m in love,” Jahree declared with a playful grin, unable to contain his glee. “She made us cookies,” he said, extending part of the snack bounty to Tellic. “Who?” Tellic asked, his curiosity piqued by Jahree’s evident enthusiasm. “Lanni, the cook,” Jahree revealed with a fondness in his voice. “That little girl who’s paler than I am?” Tellic asked, his expression one of disbelief, unable to reconcile the image of a child with Jahree’s affection. “She’s not a little girl. She was in the kitchen in her nightdress. Trust me, she’s an adult,” Jahree clarified, dispelling Tellic’s misconception and emphasizing that Lanni was indeed of age, belying her youthful appearance. “Having big breasts does not indicate age,” Tellic reminded him. “No, but she and her uncle said so. However, I’ll make certain before I make any advances toward her,” Jahree said with a sense of due diligence in matters of the heart. “If she’s even interested in sleeping with you,” Tellic remarked with a teasing nudge. Jahree chuckled, acknowledging the possibility. “Right. But there’s no harm in simply appreciating her presence and savoring her exceptional culinary skills.” He flashed a grin, showcasing his approval as he polished off the last of his cookies. “These are indeed excellent,” Tellic responded with satisfaction after tasting the cookies himself. “What brings her out of bed at this hour, though? Her shift hasn’t started yet, has it?” Tellic’s query was not just casual conversation. A key reason for their presence was to ensure that the servants within the noble household were treated fairly and given proper rest. “No, she mentioned that she’s been having trouble sleeping and that it’s common for her to be up at odd hours,” Jahree relayed what he had learned. “That situation sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Do you suppose she might be for similar reasons?” Tellic glanced at Jahree knowing why Jarhee struggled to sleep. “I certainly hope not,” Jahree replied with a frown. Concern for her well-being was evident in his tone. Changing the subject, he asked, “Have you got a handle on the off-duty rotation schedule?” “Day shift first, then Marn, you, and me.” Tellic laid out their shift pattern, ensuring each guard had some time for personal reprieve. Jahree nodded in understanding, “That arrangement should work well. I should return to my patrol, though. I’ll see you in the morning.” With their conversation concluded, Jahree signaled his intention to leave. After a mutual nod, Tellic returned to his own rounds. Jahree continued his rounds with the precision and attentiveness required until Shan, his relief, arrived. Other than the brief interruptions from Shri, the night passed uneventfully. His shift over, Jahree made his way to have breakfast, ready to report that all was secure and tranquil within the noble household. #fantasy, #magic, #dragons, #hiddenlands