“But she removed the arrowhead in my hip and healed the puncture.” The corporal touched his side. “Even my groin pull feels better.”
“That may be because a pretty girl fell asleep sprawled across your lap.” A soldier who’d been pretending not to listen in from a nearby bunk couldn’t resist making that comment.
The corporal rolled his eyes. “She was sleeping on mylegs, Froggie. Not my, you know.”
“Whatever makes you warm and tingly.”
Hixun cleared his throat. “The prisoner, Your Majesty. I’m hoping to get a little clarity. Captain Vorik is very dangerous, and I’d rather have him dead than in a cell and wearing shackles that can’t hold him. At the least, I would prefer he be sedated if you’re keeping him alive for some future plan. Are there Candles of Serenity in here?” Hixun looked toward cabinets along one wall. “I’ll have one of the medics look for some.”
“Ah, yes.” Syla didn’t want to sedate Vorik, but she also didn’t want her military officers to execute him while she was busy healing people. “That’s a practical suggestion, Major, but I… want to question him.” Yes, she remembered that had been what she’d told Fel to keep Vorik alive, and it was a practical thing to do with a prisoner. “He’s high-ranking enough that he should know all about the stormers’ plans.”
It occurred to her that this could also be an opportunity to learn where the shielder components had been taken. Vorik wouldn’t voluntarily answer questions related to that, and he would be upset if he betrayed his people, but she might have to coerce him, regardless. For the moment, her fleet had Hazel Harbor and this part of Harvest Island, but until she found the missing components and Aunt Tibby made a working shielder, the Kingdom would be vulnerable to more attacks by the stormers. Didn’t she owe it to her people to get what information she could out of Vorik? Even if it meant manipulating him?
The thought held no appeal, and he would resent her for it, but she had to consider it.
“We have someone who specializes in interrogation, Your Majesty,” Hixun said. “There’s no need for you to bother yourself with him.”
But shelikedbothering herself with Vorik. Words she did not voice to the officer.
“I have some tinctures and powders that I can apply to make him more amenable to questioning.” As soon as the words came out, she realized they were truer than she’d intended. In her trunks, she’d brought along Teyla’s finds from the storm god’s laboratory, including the hydra-scale powder. If the medical history texts were accurate, it could be quite effective at lowering a prisoner’s mental guards. “Have him taken from his cell and up to my cabin, please.”
“Your… what?” Hixun stared at her.
“My potions will work better to convince him to answer honestly if he’s in a relaxed environment and doesn’t feel threatened.”
“A relaxed environment? Your Majesty, we’re not in the habit of giving dangerous prisoners pillows and blankets and apple cotlets.”
“No? I think apple cotlets would help loosen his tongue. Vorik likes sweets.”
Hixun’s mouth opened, but he didn’t seem to know what to say. He looked stunned. She herself had been bemused to learn that the fearsome and deadly Captain Vorik had a sweet tooth. Afruittooth, as she’d called it before.
“Put him in my cabin,” Syla said again. “As you suggested, I’ll prepare Candles of Serenity.”
“Your cabin isn’tsecure, Your Majesty,” Hixun protested. “It hasportholes.”
“Yes, they’re delightful. Put him in there with shackles and guards, please. Remember, I’ve also got Wreylith onboard to help me. She’ll pluck open the portlight and snatch Vorik up inher talons if he tries to do anything to me or jump overboard and escape.” Syla pointed upward.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.” Hixun rubbed the back of his neck.
Agrevlari is attempting to seduce me by promising to retrieve horn hogs or offering to show me an excellent hunting spot on this island that he’s discovered,Wreylith said, as if she’d been listening in on the conversation from her position perched above decks. Maybe she had been.
Are his seduction attempts likely to work?
No, I told him that if he comes close, I’d bite his tail off while you pummel him with the death launcher.
Is that… what you’re calling the weapons platform?
It is what he is calling it now. It is an appropriate name.
I suppose it is. Syla regretted that she’d used it to kill. With every death, human and dragon, it seemed her people were driven further and further away from a potential future treaty with the stormers, but maybe she was foolish to have ever believed one might be possible. When they’d first invaded, murdering her siblings and mother, hadn’t that turned what had been a rift into an uncrossable chasm? If not for Vorik, she might not have an iota of sympathy for any of them.
They will seek to destroy it,Wreylith said.
Good luck to them. When your allies delivered it, they dropped it a thousand feet, and it didn’t so much as chip a corner.
It is sturdy, but nothing is indestructible. They will seek a method to render it inoperable.
After we restore the shielder to this island, we’ll return the weapons platform to the protection of Castle Island. We just need to find those components. And I intend to do so. Soon.
