Whatever his reason for not firing at her, Syla took advantage of it. Fighting the waves, she kept swimming toward her ship.
Bogberry Island didn’t have a protected harbor created by natural terrain, only a couple of rock jetties that extendedoutward near the mouth of the river, and swimming wasn’t easy. Fortunately, when Major Hixun spotted Syla fighting the currents, water splashing her face and threatening to rip her spectacles free, he sent a dinghy toward her. Every time a wave lifted her high enough to see to shore and all around, Syla looked for Vorik, refusing to believe that he’d died. He was so strong and resilient that he could have survived even adeath launchercrafted by the gods. She was sure of it.
Besides, with water clinging to her lenses, it wasn’t as if she could see well. He might have been swimming along twenty yards to her right, and she wouldn’t have known him from a dolphin.
I am being threatened by these domesticated dragons who are made brave by their numbers,Wreylith said.I will go perch on the Island of Eliok and contemplate my memories. I amcertainthat our bond should allow me access to the protected islands as long as you are on my back.
Or dangling from your talons?
That should suffice.
I hope you can remember. I would appreciate having you here with me.
Naturally. A dragon is a powerful ally.
Undoubtedly. Thank you for plucking me up before Jhiton got me.
I will expect horn hogs and other delicacies in exchange for my assistance this morning.
As soon as I get back to Castle Island, I’ll arrange it.
I am also interested in acquiring the rights to create a suitable cave.
A cave? On Castle Island?
Yes. It is not comfortable to perch for long periods of time on the roof of a castle, and it rains frequently on your island.
It’s good for the crops.
My scales are moldering.
That’s dreadful. When we get back, I’ll get out a map and figure out what land that belongs to the royal family has caves.
My cave should have a view of the sea but be protected from the elements. North-facing isn’t ideal. Too many storms roll in from that direction. I do enjoy an east-facing cave so that I might bask in the early-morning sunlight when it’s not hidden behind the clouds. As I grow older, I find a sunbeam quite delicious when it seeps through my scales to warm my bones.
A wave splashed Syla in the face, and she tried to swipe water out of her eyes without knocking off her spectacles.You’ve been contemplating this a while.
It’s important to look toward one’s future.
Of course. I’ll help you find a good home.
Syla owed Wreylith whatever she wished. The dragon may have saved her life.Vorikmight want to kidnap Syla, but his brother clearly wanted her dead. Had Jhiton been angling for that all along? Merely humoring Vorik by suggesting a kidnapping would be acceptable? Or had something changed recently? Maybe Captain Lesva had been whining to Jhiton about how odious Syla was. She had no idea if they had any kind of relationship beyond junior officer to superior officer, and she didn’t care. She hoped she never came face to face with either of them again.
“Wishful thinking,” she muttered as the dinghy reached her.
Two pairs of strong arms reached down, lifting her out of the water and onto a wooden bench.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Your Majesty,” both soldiers said.
A young one added, “We won the battle. Did you see? That was brilliant. Ilovethat weapons platform.”
“I’ve grown quite fond of it too.” Syla slumped down on a wooden bench.
As the dinghy approached theStormslicer, Aunt Tibby and Fel watched from the railing. Fel held a torn piece of cloth to his head and needed a healer’s attention. Tibby was watching Syla warily. Because she had fired the round that might have killed— that had goneafterVorik? Syla wouldn’t believe him dead until she saw a body.
She stirred at the realization that, yes, sheshouldhave seen his body if he’d been struck. He wouldn’t have sunk, right? He was lean and muscular so probably didn’t floateasily, but salt water was so buoyant. She’d seenotherbodies, after all, including those of dragons. Albeit, dragons, she was fairly certain, had some attributes of birds, such as hollow bones to make them lighter for flying. They might naturally float.
