Jovari the Blue

Chapter 11: A Witch's Cottage

Esterpine

Koldis stayed close to Taylynn, despite knowing the forest wouldn't swallow him whole. He'd sensed the difference when they had arrived. The usual foreboding magic wasn't there. Normally, the forest would warn travelers away. If they still ventured into its depths, it would rearrange around them to trap them, confuse them, and even drive them insane. It was a protective mechanism to keep people from finding the spriten cities, particularly Esterpine.

Without the magic, their journey through the trees took days. Far longer than it would have, had the trees swept them straight to their destination. The magic, when it worked, folded space and time, drawing two places together and eliminating the path between. He'd experienced it multiple times with Claire.

"Finally," Taylynn breathed, as their path widened and the city loomed before them. Her relief at the sight of Esterpine's gate unraveled the knots in his shoulders.

"Not used to finding things the old fashioned way, huh?"

She threw him a glare that said, very funny, clearly uninterested in his teasing. This was a serious matter, not one to be made light of. Except, she'd been in a serious mood for days. He longed to lighten her burden.

He inhaled, breathing in the pine and floral scent of the city. They began passing glass houses tucked beneath the roots of giant trees. Everything looked so familiar, as if he'd been here just yesterday. He'd never admit that it calmed him, seeing this place again. His mate's home. The place he'd discovered their bond. It held a special home in his heart because of that.

Sprites went about their daily lives, pausing to bow when they spotted Taylynn. They paid him curious looks. They didn't know about the bond, but they'd learn of it soon enough. He hoped there'd come a day when his presence would be as accepted as hers.

"Ayas Loaya," a guard greeted as they approached the palace. "Aahm tir nin outah barihon?"

Koldis frowned. Once they were mated, he'd understand the language perfectly. Until then, he was forced to pick out various words. He recognized barihon. They were asking about his queen—their queen.

Taylynn gave an answer that made the guard nod grimly. She ascended the stairs, not bothering to wait for him. He trailed after her, feeling a little forgotten, though he didn't take it personally. He'd grown used to her ways. It was best to let her be when she was in this state. The state of carrying the weight her people on her shoulders.

The queen's advisors were waiting for her. They held hushed conversations in a language he could not understand. The sprites knew something was amiss. They'd been the first to inform her of the changes within the forest. She'd been honest with them about the nature of the situation. They looked to her in the queen's absence.

"Come along," she said nearly an hour later, once she was finished. He could have wept with relief. He'd never liked the crystal palace all that much.

"Where are we going?" he asked as she led him through the city.

"My home."

He faltered, then quickened his stride to walk beside her. "You don't live in the palace?"

She huffed. "Not for a long time. I prefer to make my own way. While I have accommodations there, my true home is hidden in the forest. Though..." She frowned. "We'll have to find it the old fashioned way." A smile tugged at her lips, the first he'd seen in days, as she threw his words back at him.

Unable to stop himself, he reached for her hand, twining their fingers together. Her lips parted, like she might protest. He gave her a challenging lift of his brow, silencing anything she might have said.