So be it.
Damn it, Jhiton.
Vorik, she’s declared herself our enemy. We have to?—
No, we declared ourselvesherenemies. She never wanted this. She’s a healer, damn it. We slew her entire family, and now we’re trying to take over her kingdom. None of this is her fault. She doesn’t deserve to bekilled.Vorik clenched his fist, fury flushing his face with heat. He couldn’t let more than a dozen dragons, not to mention the ones already protecting Harvest Island, descend on Syla. Even if she had Wreylith’s help and that weapons platform, she couldn’t survive against so many.
Break away, and go on your mission to Bogberry Island, Captain.Jhiton’s face remained cool, his telepathic tone unyielding as the dragons flew inexorably closer to the islands—and Syla’s fleet.We’ll handle this.
No,Vorik said.
Are you disobeying a direct order?
Vorik closed his eyes, torn. Was he? Even if he made the choice to do so, what could he do to stop this? Stand at Syla’s side and fight his own people while she used that weapons platform to kill his friends and the dragons allied with them? He’d known some of those riders all of his life and loved them like brothers.
Vorik cursed with frustration.I don’t want to disobey you, Jhiton, but let me help you find another way. We don’t need to kill Syla. We just need to remove her as a threat, right? What if we— Oh.Vorik sat straighter.Let me kidnapSylainstead of Lady What’s-it. We aren’t even certain that she or her husband knows the location of their shielder, are we? But Syla would.
It is believed that Lady Abrya does know its location. Besides, Syla did not give you that information the last time you tried to wheedle it from her.
We didn’t have that powder before.Vorik brightened with that realization. It was true—and a good argument.Syla knows the location ofallthe shielders. And now we have the means to coerce her to tell us.
Vorik didn’t like the idea of coercing Syla to do anything—orkidnappingher—but both were better than the only alternative Jhiton was offering. Her death.
Jhiton didn’t knock the idea down right away. Was he considering it?
I can get her,Vorik said.Unlike with the rest of our people and dragons, she won’t attack me if Agrevlari flies close.
Another truth. Vorik hated to use that against Syla, but to save her life, he would. He had to.
Jhiton looked toward the island again.Islands. Harvest was now visible on the horizon in the misty distance, and soon the Kingdom fleet would be too.
Very well. You may make an attempt to capture her, but if you aren’t able to get her quickly…Jhiton looked over again, his face chiseled from granite.If she succeeds in killing evenoneof our people or dragons with that thing, I will assassinate her myself.
I’ll get her,Vorik said.
He had to.
6
Nervous as theships sailed closer to Harvest Island, Syla wiped water droplets from her spectacles. Though the rain was picking up, she remained on deck, standing at the railing and watching the sky as the wind tugged at her cloak. Maybe she should have been chatting with the major who’d scowled at his captain throughout their conversation, but he’d disappeared belowdecks. It had crossed her mind to have him arrested, but the fleet commander might well be in on the specialorderstoo. If she locked up all the senior officers, who would lead the ships into battle? Thus far, no dragons had flown overhead, but they had to be aware of the fleet’s approach, and they might attack at any moment.
Tibby joined Syla at the railing, a book tucked under her arm, her cloak arranged to protect it from the elements. Her thick spectacles were also dotted with water droplets. She’d been determinedly sitting on the weapons platform and reading, trying to find a way to allow someone besides Syla to employ the device. But it hardly mattered. It would still take someone with a moon-mark, and she and Tibby were the only ones onboard. Syla wouldn’t let a relative risk herself while she hid belowdecks.
“I was close enough to catch the gist of your discussion with that captain,” Tibby said.
“Are you here to advise me on the situation?”
“You might want to fire the weapons platform at all the barracks around Castle Island and start over with the military.”
“That’s not an option,” Syla said.
“Maybe not, but you can’t have people who are supposed to defend you and the Kingdom more likely to spin toward you and plant a dagger in your back.”
“I know. When there’s time, I need to talk individually with all the senior officers and figure out who’s giving the orders to get rid of me.” But when would therebetime? As long as the stormers were threatening the Kingdom, Syla had to prioritize dealing with them.
“Only someone who stands to gain a lot would risk it.”
“The throne itself.”
