Kihrin stared. She didn’t seem to be joking. Not that he could think of any circumstances where bringing up Relos Var would be funny.

“You don’t know he did that,” Brother Qown said. “We have no evidence at all.”

“True,” Janel said. “And I hope I’m wrong. I suppose I’ll just have to ask him when next we meet. Shall I continue with the story?”

Kihrin exhaled. “Sure. We’re already at the party. Might as well sing along.”

Janel’s Turn. The ruins of an estava, Barsine Banner, Jorat, Quur.

By the time we reached the shelter, we desperately needed it. A light drizzle had begun to fall soon after the dragon’s passing, and it became a torrential downpour within minutes. Strong winds whipped icy rain, joined by hail, which fell with increasing frequency as time wore on. Fortunately, not much rain made its way past the tree canopy once we entered the forest proper, but what did fell hard and wet upon us. The wind strengthened; the trees creaked as they bent and sometimes cracked under the strain. Lightning lit the air in snapping flashes, some bolts so close the whole ground shook from the thundering boom which followed.

“It’s up ahead!” Ninavis yelled. “Just at the base of that hill!”

She pointed at the spot in question through a break in the trees, a green tree-lined hill decorated with old stone blocks and crumbling ruins. Halfway up, a rough stone ramp led to a yawning black opening. The cave mouth might have been taken as natural if the entrance hadn’t been so symmetrical. Relief washed over me as I realized what I saw.

“What is this place?” Brother Qown asked.

“An estava,” I answered. “Thank the Eight.”

“A what?” He looked bewildered.

“Shelters built by Khorsal and his centaurs.” Dorna scrunched up her face as if tasting something foul.

“Since it’s going to save our lives, I don’t give a pile of horse crap who built it,” Ninavis said. “Everyone inside, right now. Go, go, go!”

Sana the elephant minder shook her head. “Them places are cursed!”

I turned to the woman. “Mare, if by cursed you mean ‘a place where Ninavis and her people hid from Captain Dedreugh for months,’ then perhaps so, but we have no time to find anything better. So please, follow Ninavis inside.” I tried to make it clear from my tone I wasn’t making a request.

Sana wanted to argue, but Ninavis’s people were already moving. A lightning crack and thunder clap far too close at its heels decided the issue. She started leading the remaining elephants.

Brother Qown asked, “What does estava mean?”

Dorna answered first. “Storm shelter.” A nasty grin cracked her face. “You ain’t seen a Joratese tornado yet, have you, foal?”

His eyes widened.