Free The Awakening by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

scarf and her hazel eyes sparked with vigor. She cast her husband an exasperated look as she bustled over to a great stone basin acting as a sink.
    “She has just awoken my dear and you were out tending the chickens,” Aydehn answered matter-of-factly.
    His wife muttered something unintelligible as she unloaded the eggs carefully into the sink. When she finished, she wiped her hands and turned to face Jahrra.
    “Oh, I still cannot believe you are here! The way Raejaax carried you off last time I was sure I would never see you again.”
    Jahrra thought she saw tears in the woman’s eyes but figured she had too much self control to let them spill free.
    “We were very sorry to hear about Hroombramantu,” she murmured as she returned to her eggs, cracking them one at a time in a clay bowl. “He was a good friend to us.”
    Jahrra ducked her head in acknowledgment.
    “Thank you,” she said, trying to keep the emotion out of her own voice. She felt slightly awkward sitting here among strangers, strangers who had worried after her since birth.
    Eventually Aydehn cleared his throat then leaned forward on the table and said, “So, why don’t you tell us about your life? It will help us to get to know the person we let go of so long ago.”
    He grinned, a twinkle in his eye. Jaax had explained why he’d taken her to Hroombra but Jahrra was wondering if Aydehn and Thenya knew the reason.
    Shrugging slightly and pushing those thoughts from her mind, Jahrra began her tale, doing her best to relay the past seventeen years of her life to her hosts. She didn’t focus on the sad memories but she did mention her parents’ deaths, then gave them a quick summary of her time at school and her summers spent making mischief with her two best friends.
    “You must miss them dearly,” Thenya said as she carried the scrambled eggs and trout to the table.
    Jahrra was encouraged to help herself and as they began to eat she shrugged, dismissing the bubble of sadness that welled up in her throat.
    “I do miss them. But I couldn’t stay, not after what happened, and we couldn’t risk letting them know too much. Still, I wish I could talk to them again, at least once.”
    Thenya placed a warm hand on Jahrra’s. “I hope someday you’ll be able to, dear.”
    After breakfast Jahrra was given a tour of the town. As soon as they stepped out of Aydehn’s hut a small girl with wild hair ran towards her, her dark brown eyes alit with joy and wonder.
    “Pa says you have a semkin,” she squeaked.
    Jahrra looked to Aydehn for help. He only smiled, something he did often if she judged by the wrinkles gathered around his mouth and eyes.
    “This is Little Phaea,” he said, “and I believe she is inquiring after Phrym.”
    The child clung to Jahrra’s leg, waiting for a reply. Jahrra grinned down at her.
    “Hello, Little Phaea. I do have a semequin, his name is Phrym.”
    Her eyes grew wider. “You’re very tall.”
    That wasn’t the response Jahrra had expected but she laughed and patted the girl on the head. “Yes, I believe I am.”
    “Can I see Phrym?” she asked.
    “When he comes home from the fields with the other horses, I’ll go visit him. And you can come with me.”
    The girl’s eyes, if at all possible, grew even wider.
    Aydehn was laughing. “You’ve earned yourself a new shadow, Jahrra. I don’t think Phaea is going to let you leave her sight from now on.”
    They spent the remainder of the day strolling through the small village, stopping every now and again to talk with those who were taking a break from their chores. Jahrra learned much about the Resai of Crie in those few hours. She discovered that they depended upon the land around them to supply food and shelter and that they were very loyal to Ethoes. Aydehn reminded her they lived a plain but honest life. She couldn’t argue with that.
    They ate lunch around noon, sharing the meat of a young deer that had been brought in early that morning. Jahrra was