It sounded like a serious question. Vorik didn’t want to give an honest answer and opted for a playful one.
“I hope not. You stabbed me in the leg.”
“You held your own.” Jhiton touched his hip. “You’ve grown into a good fighter.”
Was there some pride mixed in with Jhiton’s ongoing exasperation? Since he’d been responsible for most of Vorik’s training, it might make sense.
“Yes, you’d better watch out,” Vorik said. “I’ll have my eye on your other hip next time.”
Jhiton didn’t answer the quip, and Vorik hoped he knew he was joking.
“It’s natural for the son to one day surpass the father,” Jhiton eventually said. “Father told me that when he was training me, and I was doing my best to be as good as he—and mostly being frustrated because I wasn’t. He said it would be abittersweet moment when it finally happened but that he would be disappointed if itdidn’thappen.”
“Is that true for older and younger brothers too? Am I destined to surpass you?”
“No.”
Vorik laughed.
“Not when the younger brother is fattening himself with berry desserts every chance he gets.”
“Sadly, I haven’t had the opportunity to get enough of those for that to happen. I wouldn’t mind having a little fat though.”
“General Jhiton!” came a woman’s voice from the direction of the cave.
Jhiton sighed and pushed himself to his feet. “Chieftess Shi must not have eaten much of the soup.”
“Are you going to get in trouble over this?” Vorik asked.
“She’ll be irked with me, but I’m not worried about any consequences she or the other chiefs might dole out.”
No, he had as much sway among the tribes and the elders and soldiers as any of them did. Maybe more. If only Jhiton would push for leadership of the tribe. But that wouldn’t change anything, would it? He wanted to conquer the Kingdom and take their islands as much as the chiefs did.
“That said, you need to figure this out, Vorik.” Jhiton frowned down at him. “You can’t be at odds with the tribe and the Sixteen Talons and remain with us. If you love her, go join her in the Kingdom.”
“And turn against you and all our people?” Vorik grimaced. As he’d been contemplating earlier, he would choose exile over that.
“I wouldn’t care to fight against you in a real battle, but…” Jhiton spread a hand. His head tilted before he finished the thought. He gazed to the north. “Ozlemar has received a message.”
“From whom?”
“Something is going our way, at least.”
Vorik, who thought quite a bit was going Jhiton’s way, raised his eyebrows.
His brother clasped him on the shoulder. “Lesva got Lady Abrya.”
“Ah.” Vorik couldn’t feel triumphant.
Shi called again, and Jhiton released him, buckled on his sword belt, and strode back toward their people, toward his duty. As he always had and always would. If one of them was going to change, it would have to be Vorik.
23
Full daylight came,and the wind abated as Igliana flew Syla across the Sea of Storms. As the gray clouds grew less dense, a few beams of sunlight crept through, sending down rays from the heavens. It should have been a scene of promise and hope, but Syla, wet and shivering and clutching the amphora in her lap, kept looking back, expecting to spot a black dragon in the sky. Jhiton’s black dragon. If he caught up, he would keep Syla from returning to Bogberry Island to warn her people of the new threat.
I do not sense dragons behind us,Igliana said telepathically.
How far do dragon senses extend?
