Jovari the Blue

Chapter 39: Fort Kastali

Fort Kastali

Leah took in Fort Kastali through wide eyes. It was just nearing dawn, the first vestiges of light spilling over the horizon. They entered through a portcullis beneath a thick stone wall. She'd never been inside a castle, though they frequented books she read. This one smelled like rock and musk, and it was more a fortress than anything. The cobbles beneath her feet were a better alternative to mud.

She'd caught a glimpse of the vast city of Kastali Dun a mile or so away, looming. It sent a shiver of excitement racing down her spine. None of this felt real.

The fort was already filled with activity, people rushing to and from their duties. Servants, she supposed? Never mind the number of dragons she'd seen coming and going. It looked like the kind of place that stories were written about.

She kept to the back of the group, not wanting to get in the way. It allowed her to observe everything silently. Claire walked up front with Prince Feowen and the spriten spy they'd met, Tasar. They'd been talking nonstop. She'd listened out of curiosity, tucking every bit of of knowledge away. She wanted to learn as much as possible about this new life she was close to beginning.

Jovari dogged her steps. Were it not for Saffra's presence by her side, which was both a blessing and a curse, she might have said something to him. As it was, there hadn't been a moment alone to discuss the elephant in the room. Four days of flying with him, four torturous days alone with her thoughts, trying desperately to avoid touching him. He never transformed, choosing to stay a dragon because, conveniently, dragons couldn't talk. She wanted to say it was on purpose, but the others hadn't either. Still, it felt a little like he was avoiding her.

Were they going to continue ignoring it?

As they strode through the fort's massive courtyard, they caught the attention of passersby who stopped to study them. Dressed as they were, no one seemed to recognize the king and queen. That was fortunate. According to Tasar, Kane had spies in all the forts to ensure the drengr behaved.

They continued through a maze of corridors lined with torches before reaching a set of double doors. Talon knocked and they were immediately ushered into a large receiving room.

"Thank the gods!" someone cried. A female. She must have been a rider. A male appeared beside her, greeting Talon warmly. They looked to be in their fifties, at most. The others gathered around them while she hung back.

"That's Karanth and Eva." She jumped at the sound of Jovari's voice, so close to her ear. She could smell the smokey scent of him and tried to ignore what it did to her. "They're Fort Kastali's leaders."

"Oh," she managed, swallowing. A quick glance showed the two of them were relatively alone. Her heart kicked up a notch. "Are we going to talk about us?"

"Do you really think now is the time?"

His words made her muscles tighten. She didn't turn to look at him. Hopefully he couldn't see the heat flushing her cheeks. "Right. Well, you've obviously been avoiding me."

"I'm not—"

The doors behind them flew open and she whirled. Jovari's expression softened and he strode forward. "Mother, Father."

Her lips parted. His parents?! Jovari hugged them in turn.

He'd mentioned parents, that he had a good relationship with them, but she'd never expected to meet them. Before she could process, he reached for her, taking hold of her wrist and pulling her forward. She sputtered in surprise. "We picked up an outsider on our trip through the gate, would you like to meet her?"