Jhiton surprised Vorik by gripping his arm.I know you care about her, and I’ve been lenient about that, but you can’t let your feelings for her be a distraction. Our victory is within reach. We must focus on getting the shielder and nothing more.
Forgetting the powder, Vorik scowled at Jhiton.Does that mean Shihasn’tpromised that Syla would be safe here as a captive? Without me to keep an eye on things?
She did not threaten the queen in any way.
So, no promise.Vorik extricated his arm from Jhiton’s grip.Let’s take her with us. We can get the shielder and then drop her off with her people.
You think she’s going to let usget the shielderwhile she’s with us? With her dragon back in reach and our dragons stuck beyond the barrier?
Our dragons will only be stuck until we accomplish our mission.
That’ll take time, Vorik. And she has power beyond what the dragon lends her. As you pointed out, I felt it myself.
Vorik took a step back.I’m not leaving her here.
Youwillleave her here, and you will obey your orders, or you can walk out of this camp and not return.Back stiff, Jhiton strode toward the cave exit.
Jhiton… don’t make me choose between you and her.
This is not aboutme. You are choosing between her and your loyalty to our people.Jhiton disappeared into the storm.
Vorik glanced at Syla, but her eyes were closed, her hand on Fria’s leg, her chin drooped to her chest, as she’d been before. He almost wondered if he’d imagined her opening a sack. There was no sign of it.
He thought about confronting her and checking her pockets to see if the sack was in one—in one and empty. But he didn’t want to pick another fight. And if she was effecting an escape… he wasn’t that sure he wanted to stop her.
22
Syla layon her back on a fur near the rear of the camp and stared at the stalactites hanging down from the ceiling. With the fires burning low, the shadows were deep between the rock features.
She’d removed her spectacles to sleep but doubted that would happen. Her mind was busy mulling over what she would do if she couldn’t escape. She’d poured the sedative into the soup, but the communal meal she’d expected hadn’t happened. Maybe it would have if the creatures hadn’t attacked, but people had been coming by the shells of simmering liquid a couple at a time, and some had chosen the roasted meat as well or instead. Even among those who’d consumed the soup, they might not have received enough of the sedative to make a difference.
Vorik hadn’t taken any soup, and Jhiton hadn’t even returned to the cave. He was out there in the storm, sulking or doing whatever his tiff with Vorik had inspired. She hadn’t heard their telepathic words, but their body language had made it clear they’d been arguing. About her, she knew.
Outside, the storm continued to rail, branches—if not entire trunks—snapping under the gales. Maybe she would get lucky,and a tree would fall on Jhiton. If not… she would encounter him if she tried to escape. An unpleasant thought. Without Vorik’s watchful eye on him, Jhiton might take the opportunity to remove the source of the conflict between him and his brother.
No, not might. He absolutelywoulddo that. It would be logical, and he seemed the logical sort.
Syla grimaced and looked toward Vorik. He lay nearby, ostensibly sleeping, but he shifted now and then, so she doubted he was doing more than dozing intermittently. He probably felt he had to keep an eye on her so nobody would bother her—and she wouldn’t bother anyone. Earlier, he’d tried to keep her from dropping the powdered dayvak buds into the soup, but he’d also shifted Jhiton’s attention when she’d been doing exactly that. He was as conflicted about their relationship as she.
After revealing the location of the Bogberry Island shielder, she should have hated Vorik for capturing her and restraining her so the hydra-scale concoction could be administered, but… hadn’t she done this to herself? She could have tried harder to escape his kidnapping attempt. But she’d wanted this opportunity.
And she had to use it. She had to gainsomethingfrom this misadventure.
Syla put her spectacles on, sat up, and looked toward the back of the cave. In the depths of night, it was hard to see much, but a couple of lanterns continued to burn in that tunnel, and she didn’t see anyone standing guard in front of the nook she’d noted earlier, the nook she believed held the shielder components.
The camp was quiet, with nobody moving about, but dawn probably wasn’t far off. She would have to make her attempt now… or never.
Fortunately, the stormers hadn’t tied her up before she’d lain down to rest. Chieftess Shi had come over, demanding it, butVorik had said he would watch her. He’d also pointed out that Syla had healed their people and that she should be treated well. They’d gotten what they’d wanted from her.
Shi had argued that Syla had only helped people to soften their attitude toward her and had reminded Vorik that there would be further interrogations in the morning, that the tribal leaders wanted the locations ofallthe shielders. Syla shuddered at the idea of divulging more Kingdom secrets. She couldn’t stick around for that.
Wreylith? she called telepathically, hoping the dragon wasn’t deep in slumber and would hear her.
She had to touch the krendala and reach out twice more before she received a response.
Is there not a storm there?Wreylith asked, not sounding appreciative of being woken.The type of storm that prompts wise creatures to den up and sleep through? From what I’ve heard, it stretches across the entire Sea of Storms right now.
There is a storm, but I need to escape. I…Syla hated to admit that she’d failed to keep her secrets.The stormers will be a threat again as soon as the weather clears. I need to get away from them and beat them back to Bogberry Island.
