“Enemy,” Syla interrupted, glancing at Emmie. She had few delusions about her relationship with Vorik remaining a secret from her allies, but she would prefer if the entire Kingdom didn’t learn about it.
“The enemy you have sex with,” Fel grumbled, less concerned about her secret getting out.
Syla’s cheeks warmed, especially when Emmie’s eyebrows flew up.
“I gain intelligence from him when we’re together,” Syla said.
Fel made a sour face. “That’snotwhy you do it.”
“No. I… like his vigor.”
Fel groaned. “I should have accepted Dolok’s offer to retire.”
“Probably.”
“If your dragon were more reliably around, I might have been tempted.”
“As I mentioned, she needs to hunt frequently,” Syla said. “Due to their size and the effort required to fly, dragons need a lot of food.”
“Someone might assassinate you while she’s pilfering goats from pastures.”
“Why would the gods have sent you to see Vorik?” Tibby asked.
“I doubttheydid.” Syla couldn’t imagine that scenario. As far as she knew, the gods weren’t present in their world and hadn’t been for centuries. Though she did wonder about the voice she’d heard in the storm god’s laboratory. “I must have inadvertently activated another defensive power this has.” She waved to indicate the weapons platform. “It was helping me gather intelligence. It was probably my desire to find the shielder components that guided the, er, vision, not that I wanted to chat with my… enemy.”
Fel grunted but didn’t contradict her classification of Vorik again.
“I would like to have those components,” Tibby said. “I’ve done a lot of reading and am itching to apply my engineering skills to making a new shielder with them.”
“And Harvest Island is itching to be protected by that shielder,” Syla said.
“I have no doubt.”
“Did you learn where the components are?” Fel asked. “Or where the new camp will be?”
“No, but Iwilllearn where they are.” Remembering her vow to capture and question a stormer at Harvest Island, Syla nodded to herself. This convinced her more than ever that she couldn’t hesitate to put her plan into action. She slid off the platform, momentarily dizzy when she stood, but she used the post for support. “I have another duty for you, Sergeant.”
“What?” Did Fel sound wary?
Syla hated to rely upon him for so much, but until she could gather more loyal men, she had little choice. “I need you to arrange for the weapons platform to be carried down to the sturdiest and most weapon-filled warship in the harbor and, as I was talking about earlier, for an entourage of other warships to accompany it. Tonight. We’ll leave at dawn to attack the stormers and take back Harvest Island.”
“Dawn?” Fel mouthed.
“We have to act quickly. Vorik has a new mission.”
“Does that mean there’s going to be another attack on the Kingdom?”
“I’m afraid it does.”
5
Rain fellas the warshipStormslicersailed out of Sky Torn Harbor, accompanied by eight more warships and loaded with the weapons platform. The marble structure was strapped down so that it wouldn’t slide across the deck.
It was three hours past dawn, but Syla didn’t complain about the late start. The ships had needed to be loaded with weapons, supplies, and dozens and dozens of uniformed men to crew the cannons and harpoon launchers. It must have taken a great feat of organization to get everything together so quickly. But would it be enough?
Before the stormer invasion had delivered so much destruction, Castle Island could have sent thirty warships on a mission. Syla worried this wouldn’t be enough firepower, not to battle dragons. She was counting on the weapons platform to tilt the odds in their favor, but since it had a limited range, she had doubts. She had also ordered small fast-sailing ships to head to Bogberry, Frost, Orchard, and Vineyard Islands to request the governing lords send ships to help.
Fortunately, Wreylith was in the area, and whenever she flew past, her presence bolstered Syla. She would be an invaluable ally during this endeavor.
