“I keep myself fit so that it comes naturally to me. Maybe after our vigorous hugging, there could be more sedate and cozy snuggling.”
“I’d like that.”
“I would ensure you did.”
“I believe you.”
Syla lay back beside him, the silver light still limning her, though it was faint. Just enough that he could see a hint of moisture in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Vorik said quietly, even though she hadn’t said anything to suggest she wanted an apology from him. It didn’t matter. He and his people were the reason for all the horrors in her life, past and ongoing. As much as he would have liked to pretend thathehadn’t done anything to her, that wasn’t true.
“I want to find a way ahead, Vorik,” she said, “that doesn’t pit our nations in eternal war or leave more of my people dead and our islands lost. Why do the stormers insist on this course of action? I know you need food, and, as I told your chiefs, I’d be willing to trade our surplus in exchange for goods that your people could provide from the world beyond our islands. I’d even be willing togiveour surplus to the stormers, though I doubt your proud people would accept charity, and after the invasion and murders of my family… I might struggle to convince my people to gift you anything but cannonballs and sword blades.” She lowered her voice and looked at him as she continued. “Doyoupersonally want our islands? How many of your people truly desire that? And how much of this is because of your leaders? You don’t elect them to serve the needs of the many, do you? It’s the strongest and fittest who win duels against the old leaders to take charge?”
Vorik shifted uneasily, wanting to speak with her about the future and to comfort her but also increasingly doubtful that he was dreaming. What he offered her here she might remember, and he couldn’t say anything treasonous or that would give away his people’s plans.
“It’s something like that,” he said. “The chiefs are there to serve us though. If the people aren’t satisfied with their leadership, someone new inevitably challenges them, and the duels, though they’resupposedto be fair, sometimes reflect the desires of more than the challenger.” That was a vague way to say they were sometimes rigged. “As to the rest… I don’t know.Ihave no desire for an island or even to be chained to one location, but the food you can grow in your protected environmentsisa draw. And not to have to constantly watch the sky for threats… That’s a dream that appeals to many of my people.”
“What if those who want to live in such a manner were allowed to return to the Kingdom?”
“And be forced to exist under your rules and laws and adopt your customs?”
Syla hesitated. “I… suppose they’d have to do that and integrate into the existing culture, yes.”
“That would notappeal to many of my people, though there would be some who would agree. Wouldn’t you always wonder about them though? If they were honest or if they were spies?”
“We alreadyhaveyour spies living among us, don’t we?” Syla asked.
“Hm.”
“You already knew I was the queen. And about this.” She lifted her dragon-tattooed hand.
“I’m perspicacious.”
She turned her face toward the roof of the cave. “Earlier, I discussed with Wreylith that I like that word.”
“How are you getting along with her?”
“Dragons are interesting. Her least favorite dish is intestines. She loves tongue.”
“Dragonsareinteresting.” This seemed a safer topic than discussing the future, one he, unfortunately, couldn’t help her with. He was destined to workagainsther, a thought that made him frown. “My brother said that if I have a problem with our leadership, I should challenge Chieftess Shi for her position.”
Syla looked at him. “Doyou have a problem with it?”
“I… have some concerns about the choices that are being made.” Vorik didn’t mention the hypothetical enslavement. What his people had done that Syla already knew about was bad enough. “I never envisioned myself as a chief though. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be promoted to captain. I think I’m doing all right as a leader of a squadron of riders, but leading an entire tribe…” Realizing she’d had the position of leading an entirekingdomthrustonto her, Vorik reconsidered how to end the thought. “It doesn’t seem in line with my natural aptitudes.”
“You don’t believe your people would appreciate your vigor?”
“Only the women.”
“There are a lot of our kind in the world.” She gazed toward the roof of the cave again.
“There are, and they control more than we men sometimes think.” Vorik lay back in a similar pose and rested his hand next to hers, wishing again that they could touch. “There are a lot of tribes, so leading one probably wouldn’t make a difference in our people’s overall plans, and I… even if I was interested in challenging Shi and succeeded in becoming chief, I don’t think I’d live long. My people have figured out that I have some… feelings and conflicts of interest when it comes to the Garden Kingdom queen.”
“You’re not so conflicted that you didn’t take the shielder components.”
“Technically, my lieutenant did that, but you’re right that I didn’t stop him. My duty compels me to obey orders. And my superiors and leaders.”
“I know.”
