Relief flooded into Syla when two projectiles zipped away. Their dragon target tried to veer off but wasn’t fast enough to dodge the gods-gifted magic. Both projectiles struck, knocking it back dozens of yards. It splashed into the water and didn’t move again.
“We’re almost to the barrier!” Hixun called. “Keep firing, everyone. We’ll pummel those dragons from behind its protection!”
“Look out!” Vorik yelled.
Syla reacted, ducking low with speed that startled her, almost making her tumble off the platform, but she managed to pull Tibby down with her. Another arrow zipped between the posts, another projectile that had been meant to slay Syla. Tibby stumbled against her, and this time Syla couldn’t keep her balance. She fell off the platform and hit the deck, glimpsing the black dragon flying low overhead as she did. Jhiton looked down at her without expression.
That bastard wanted herdead, not kidnapped. As clangs and booms and roars filled the air all around, Syla pushed herself to her feet, almost as afraid of being trampled as shot.
“Get under the platform!” Tibby yelled to her. Wisely, she’d already done so.
Syla shook her head, intending to climb back on to keep launching weapons, but she hesitated. Vorik had fought aside several men and faced Fel now.
She yelled an inarticulate garble, half-warning, half threat. If Vorik killed her bodyguard…
But he was forced to spin and duck as an archer standing on top of the wheelhouse almost took him out. The arrow sped over his head, and Fel jerked his mace up ashehad to dodge. The projectile grazed his shoulder, then clipped a marble post and sped away.
Brace yourself,Wreylith warned as Syla started to climb back onto the platform.
Guilt blasted her because she’d forgotten that her dragon ally had been under attack. A shadow crossed the sun, and Syla looked up. With blood dripping from gouges in her flank and teeth marks in her tail, Wreylith plucked up Syla, sweeping her from the ship and into the air.
“Wait, I have to—” Syla started, but fire blasted the spot where she’d been.
Two dragons had dived down from the opposite side of the ship, and one poured flames onto the weapons platform.
“Aunt Tibby!” Syla cried as Wreylith carried her away from the ship.
Vorik and the men defending the platform scattered. One Royal Protector dropped to the deck, rolling to put out fire burning the back of his uniform. Vorik gaped at Syla being carried away.
The pair of dragons wheeled to attack again—though fire burned on the ship, the marble weapons platform stood unscathed—but they pulled up abruptly. Sparks lit the air allaround one of them as it bounced off something. The barrier. TheStormslicerhad sailed through it.
“Get him!” Hixun called.
Vorik was still fighting, defending himself from the men all about him, but he’d lost the determined set of his jaw. The weapons platform still stood. In the air, dangling from Wreylith’s talons, Syla could see the top of it and didn’t think the explosion had damaged it. Further,shewas out of Vorik’s reach.
Probably seeing no reason to stay, Vorik parried a few more attacks as he backed toward the railing, then spun and leaped over it and into the sea.
“What happened to Agrevlari and the other dragons after you? And where are you taking me?” Syla saw Jhiton’s black dragon still flying, dodging cannonballs as its rider tracked her.
I do not have a destination in mind. I sought only to retrieve you from incineration.
“That’s always appreciated. Thank you.”
Because he had many allies, I did not get a chance to de-horn Agrevlari. Ididbite him on the back of the neck.
I can’t believe he attacked you.
He was faster and stronger than I expected based on his singing and overall goofiness. I evaded two of his allies, but he was the one who raked my side with his talons.
Was her telepathic tone the slightest bitadmiring? Maybe that was Syla’s imagination, but Wreylith didn’t sound as angry as Syla would have expected after having a dragon she’d mated with turn on her. Admittedly, that had been magical-cactus-flower-induced mating, but still. Agrevlari sang to her regularly.
His superiors must have given him orders to attack you,Syla said.
Possibly.I believe he felt the pressure of his peers. Also, I did bite him on the neck first.
I suppose that’ll get a rise out of even a goofy dragon.
Quite.
