Two guards remained after the pair ran off to relay Oyenar’s orders.
As Abrya eased her legs out of bed and looked around for clothes, Oyenar considered Syla.
“Do you know what the stormers want? When they came last night, they didn’t make any requests or take anything. They seemed happy just to destroy things.” Frowning, Oyenar looked toward Abrya. “Including ourroof.”
“I believe it was ananyonethey were trying to take.” Syla extended a hand toward his wife. “You may have thwarted their plans by being buried under the roof.”
“How fortunate for us,” Abrya murmured, her hand straying to her leg.
“The invaders in the city disappeared when your ships were sighted and started shooting silver balls at their dragons.” Oyenar pointed toward the sea.
“Unfortunately, the weapon isn’t ideal for attacking people, and it would have done damage if I’d tried to send rounds into the city,” Syla said. “More damage than the stormers had already done.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect you’d turn it toward us, any more than you would a cannon, but I was glad you came and used it on the stormers. Any blows we can strike to those bastards…” Oyenar nodded firmly at her.
“Yes.” Syla found herself liking the man—and that he’d sounded disapproving when he’d spoken of minor lord Axton mentioning the possibility of other candidates for the throne.
A boom came from the courtyard. Fel came to stand beside Syla, his mace in hand as he placed himself where he could monitor the doorway and the windows.
“If any of your men need healing, Lord Oyenar,” Syla said, “bring them in here. I’m not a combatant, but I’ll do my best to help.”
He nodded at her.
Syla debated what she would do if Lesva charged in to kill her. She didn’t know, but she grabbed her medical kit and pulled out a scalpel and a couple of vials of astringent substances that she could throw in a person’s eyes. She would at least try to dosomethingto the rider captain.
Fel watched her but didn’t tease her about the tiny weapons. He nodded, as if he agreed with the sentiment, then rotated his shoulder and lifted his leg to stretch his quadriceps. One never wanted to go into battle stiff, after all.
Another boom sounded, this time from the grounds at the back of the palace. Syla had a feeling the supposedly strong and locked storm grates were no longer secured.
“Brace yourself,” she murmured to Fel.
Fel lowered his leg. “Always.”
16
Vorik,with almost two dozen trained warriors crouched around him, stood in the shadows of a house upriver from the docks and most of the city. In addition to theStormslicerand a few other Kingdom ships tied up along the dock, four were anchored out at sea near the remains of the stormer vessels. His people’s already-destroyed ships looked like they’d received a few more cannonballs to the hulls since Vorik had seen them last, and he doubted anyone remained aboard. The men and women with him would have to figure out another way home, but if Jhiton was successful and lowered the shield and claimed the island, it would be easy for dragons to pick up people—or assist them in gathering more winter provisions from the bogs and fields.
“What’s the plan, sir?” Yevlor crouched beside him, a makeshift bandage around his shoulder and the crossbow quarrel removed.
Another man pointed at a corner of the weapons platform visible from their vantage point.
Vorik nodded. “We’re going to sink that ship and that thing with it.”
“Isn’t there a way to destroy it?”
“I dropped an explosive on it earlier, and it didn’t even nick it, but if it’s on the bottom of the river, the Kingdom won’t be able to use it.”
Probably. Vorik envisioned the determined Syla swimming down to plant her hands on the posts and fire at enemies while holding her breath. He probably shouldn’t have smiled at the notion.
“What a weapon,” Yevlor said. “Too badwedon’t have one.”
“We have dragons,” Vorik said.
“Not in here.” Yevlor waved toward the sky above, though they couldn’t see the translucent barrier.
“We’ll get them here eventually.” Vorik eyed a couple of kayaks on a gravel beach in front of the house. He’d chosen to reconnoiter from the spot because there’d been no sign of anyone home, but now he wondered if he might borrow one of those craft. “In the meantime, I want that ship sunk. In fact, let’s attack all the ships docked there. Take brands and set them aflame. I want there to be a lot of smoke.”
Yevlor looked curiously at him.
