She meant the words but wondered if there was any way to achieve the goal without drugging Vorik. She didn’t want tobetray him, nor did she want him to betray his people. Why was everything she wanted with him so difficult?
8
Morning foundVorik sitting against the wall, his chin to his chest as he dozed. Before going to sleep, he’d snapped the chain between his ankle irons, the same as the one between his wrist shackles. He hadn’t attempted to break the hinges or lock on the door to escape, but he’d contemplated it.
He sensed Wreylith on the ship and doubted he could swim away under her vigilant eye. And he dared not call Agrevlari to try to collect him, not with the weapons platform on the deck. Besides, Vorik wasn’t that eager to return empty-handed to his people. He wassupposedto be kidnapping Syla, not spending time as her captive.
Oh, he didn’t want to capture her at this point, but he felt bound to try. It was the only reason Jhiton had allowed him to fly ahead and try to get to her. Jhiton could have denied that request and helped Lesva kill Syla. Their combined might would have been too much for Vorik to overcome. He’d never even bested his brother in a one-on-one fight. Jhiton had taught him everything he knew about combat. And, though he was older, with grays creeping into his dark hair, Jhiton wasveryfit and capable. Further, he derived as much power from Ozlemar asVorik did from Agrevlari. Maybe more. Ozlemar was equal in size, power, and prowess to Wreylith.
How is the kidnapping going?a dry voice spoke into his mind from the distance.
Jhiton. It was as if he’d known Vorik was contemplating him.
I’ve allowed myself to be captured and am lulling Syla and her troops into believing I’m a subdued prisoner. Meanwhile, I’m planning a way to kidnap her, keep the weapons platform from being used again, and rejoin our troops with my prisoner slung triumphantly over my shoulder.Vorik eyed his cell door while waiting for a sarcastic retort.
If you capture her, the weapons platform wouldn’t beableto be used, would it?Jhiton mused.
I don’t know. It’s possible anyone with a moon-mark can operate it. In fact, I would think that likely.
If that were true, someone else would have been sent along.Queensdon’t lead fleets into battle.
Vorik scratched his cheek.She’s a willful and determined queen.
I gathered that when she was trying to kill me.
All three times?
It’sfourtimes now. One of those glowing balls almost knocked me back to the mainland.
I’m sure you would have dodged it if it had gotten close.
Unlikely. Did you not notice that they adjust their flightpaths to track their targets? They’re far deadlier to dragons—to all of us—than cannonballs.
Yes, Vorikhadnoticed they had that ability.How did you avoid being hit?
I did nothing. A lightning bolt struck it before it reached me. It was great luck.
Either that, or you’re being protected by the gods.Vorik thought of their musings thatSylawas being protected bytheir deities. Never before had he seen anything to suggest thatJhitonheld divine favor. Of course, Jhiton was still alive, despite countless battles with dangerous enemies. One might argue that all stormers who survived for decades in their ruthless world had the favor of some god, but this was more of a sign than Vorik had ever experienced.
It would be nice if they supported me,Jhiton said,but I think it’s more likely the magical energy or something in the projectiles attracts lightning.
That’s possible.Vorik recalled that swords had first been crafted from gargoyle bone because his ancestors had learned the hard way that steel conducted lightning, and a man riding high in the sky on a dragon while holding a pointy metal object could attract a strike.
Let me know when you’re able to escape with the queen. I’ll order Agrevlari or another dragon to pick you up, and we will test my hypothesis.
That she’s the only one that can use the weapons platform?
Yes,Jhiton said.If she’s gone, and it cannot be operated, we will sink the ship on which it rides, destroy the rest of the fleet, and retake that half of Harvest Island.
You sound determined.
I am determined. We lost Cith and Tarvoran, and several dragons. Lesva lost Verikloth and is furious.
Vorik had seen the blue dragon go down and had been afraid of that. Lesva had already hated Syla. Before, it had been unreasonable—as far as Vorik had been able to tell, Lesva had simply disliked Syla because she’d dared hold her tongue when Lesva had questioned her under magical duress. Undertorture.
Now, she would have a more legitimate reason to loathe Syla. Not that hatred needed to be legitimate or reasonable. Sometimes, it just was.
Vorik rubbed his face, wondering if he would have to kill Lesva to keep Syla safe. The idea of doing so made him grimace, not only because they’d once been lovers but because she was on his side of this war. And Syla was...
