Not before Wreylith catches you and crushes you between her jaws.
That’s disappointing.
Another roar sounded. By the gods, the red dragon was scant yards behind them. Syla’s presence had to be the only reason Wreylith hadn’t spewed flames and roasted him. But she wouldn’t have any trouble snapping him up in her jaws.
He kept paddling but lowered himself and scooted closer to Syla, hoping Wreylith would have to be careful and that would make her slower. A hot wind blew across the back of his neck. Or was thatdragon breath?
He’d almost reached Agrevlari, but they weren’t going to make it. He could tell.
He was on the verge of lifting the paddle and his hands to give up, but a screech of anger and frustration erupted right behind them.
Startled, Vorik looked back in time to see Wreylith fly backward, as if she’d hit a wall at top speed. No, he realized. She’d hit thebarrier.
Syla gaped as Wreylith splashed down into the water, her expression promising that she hadn’t expected that any more than Vorik had. Though confused—the barrier had let the dragonin,after all—Vorik reacted quickly, balancing on his feet on the kayak as Agrevlari soared overhead. He leaped up, catching Agrevlari’s leg, then swinging himself onto the dragon’s back.
Syla shifted to lunge out of the kayak, but she’d waited too long. Agrevlari snapped her up in his jaws and tossed her into the air. She cursed and flailed, but Vorik leaned out and caught her, pulling her onto Agrevlari’s back with him.
Wreylith screeched again, but she was trapped inside the barrier as Agrevlari flew away.
18
For the firstcouple of hours of their journey, Syla didn’t speak, and Vorik didn’t try to draw her into a conversation, certain she was fuming as she thought about how he’d masterminded the destruction of her ship and the sinking of the weapons platform. As they flew over the Sea of Storms and away from the Garden Kingdom islands, she didn’t look back at him, merely sitting tensely astride Agrevlari in front of him.
The wind whipped at their clothes and hair, drying them, and she’d shifted her medical kit to rest in her lap, as if she worried he would take it from her. Or maybe she was contemplating pulling out a sharp surgical tool with which to stab him. He would deserve it.
This is harder than I expected it to be, Agrevlari,Vorik said.
It’s beeneasierthan I expected since Wreylith has not been able to follow.
I know, but I have to take Syla to Jhiton, and he’s going to question her on the location of the shielders.
That was your goal all along, wasn’t it?
I’ve just been trying to save her life. This feels like a betrayal. Is it?
Certainly not,Agrevlari said.She will reveal the location of the shielder for the Island of Bogs, and dragons will soon be able to hunt there.
So, it’s not a betrayal to dragons.
It is not.
Vorik sighed, doubting Agrevlari would understand. He was probably distracted by fantasizing about whatever delicious prey lived among the bogs on that island.
Syla looked back, not at Vorik but to peer past him in the direction of her islands. By now, they were no longer in sight, but her expression suggested she hoped Wreylith had found a way through the barrier and would catch up and save her. And maybe the dragon would eviscerate Vorik in the process.
After the wonderful night they’d spent together, it disturbed him to have Syla feel sheneededsaving from him.
“I’m sorry,” he said over the wind. “I wish there had been another way.”
Syla eyed him over her shoulder. “I’m glad Aunt Tibby is alive, but I’m distressed that Wreylith is trapped.”
Vorik wasrelievedthat the dragon was. As Agrevlari had mentioned, he hadn’t expected that, and it was making their getaway a simple matter. How helpful that Syla and Wreylith were still figuring out what their bond did and did not allow when it came to the islands’ shields.
“That’s what’s disturbing you?” Vorik asked lightly, encouraged that she’d spoken to him. “Not my kidnapping you?”
“That was loathsome. So was sinking my weapons platform.” She scowled at him and faced forward again.
“I know,” he said without argument.
