I do not have that information,Igliana said.We are only observing their movements from afar. Chieftess Atilya has lost the spies she had placed among the tribes.
Yes, I remember. That’s unfortunate for all.Syla unclenched her fists, recognizing that her indignation was more at the idea of Vorik spending time with another woman than because of a genuine belief that he had such a plan. Few of the island lords even knew the locations of their own shielders. The royal family had always guarded that information closely.
It is. If you wish, I can fly along your chain and see if I can spot the ships and dragons myself.
Would that endanger you?
No,Igliana said at the same time as Wreylith said,Yes.
I am young and fast. Even if they saw me, they would not catch me.
Even a fast dragon might be surprised and surrounded.Wreylith looked toward the sky above the eastern end of CastleIsland—the spot where the yellow and blue dragons had waylaid them.
Since they’d gotten away, and Wreylith hadn’t been that threatened, Syla didn’t blame her for the incident. If anything, she’d kept Syla alive with her rapid maneuvers.
I will go with you,Wreylith told Igliana, then swung her big head down to the deck to gaze into Syla’s eyes.Do not attack the island until we return. You will require the assistance of a powerful ally.
Probably true, but Syla intended to attack as soon as she arrived. With luck, she could catch the stormers before they had time to ponder the weapons platform, learn its limits and capabilities, and come up with a plan.
It’ll take us several hours to sail over there. You can probably scout the entire Garden Kingdom island chain in that time and be back.
The glow of Wreylith’s eyes intensified.A dragon cannot be rushed when it comes to scouting. There may be enemies to fly around.
And hunting to do?
Perhaps fishing. But we will not dally.
Thank you. I’m sure Iwillneed the assistance of a powerful ally. Many of them.
Wreylith sprang into the air, and Igliana followed her.
“Where are they going?” Fel asked.
Igliana must not have shared her words after the greeting. Syla summed up the conversation.
“Do you want to delay the attack on Harvest Island?” he asked.
“Not unless or until we know where the rest of the stormer forces are heading. And if they have a way to get through another island’s shield. They may simply seek to pull us away from this mission.”
“They shouldn’t yetknowabout this mission,” Fel said.
“They could easily guess that we would soon make an attempt to get Harvest Island back.” She pointed toward the distant shoreline that was visible whenever theStormslicercrested a wave.
The rain had stopped, but dark clouds on the northern horizon suggested more would come. A storm might rage as they were engaging in battle. Syla didn’t know if that would be more advantageous for their enemies or for them. Most likely, it would inconvenience both sides, but only she had to worry about waves capsizing ships.
Fel frowned at an officer walking up in a black Royal Fleet uniform. A fit woman of about thirty with keen brown eyes and raven-colored hair pulled back in a bun, she wore the insignia of a captain.
She dropped to one knee and bowed her head to Syla. “May I have permission to speak, Your Majesty?”
Fel lifted a hand, as if to shoo the officer away, or maybe tell her to go through her superiors if she wanted to get word to the queen.
But Syla hurried to say, “Of course,” before he could insist on proper protocol. Besides, the captain was being respectful. Few of the castle staff and none of the higher-ranking officers she’d interacted with since her coronation had been dropping to a knee, and she’d almost forgotten that was the proper etiquette and that her mother had insisted it be observed.
Still kneeling, the captain lifted her head. “Might it be in private, Your Majesty?”
“No,” Fel said promptly.
“Perhaps by the railing?” Syla offered, thoughts of assassins coming to her mind as readily as they doubtless came to Fel’s.
