“I am, yes.”
“Once we find the Bogberry Island shielder, we won’t destroy it. As you, I believe, pointed out, leaving the islands undefended isn’t ideal, as part of the reason they’re bountiful is that aerial predators can’t harass the livestock and wild animals there, and we’ll only be able to protect limited land area with our dragon allies. Instead of destroying further shielders, we’ll aim to take control of them. For that, we’ll need someone with a moon-mark on our side.”
Vorik stepped back. “Isthatwhy you suggested I bring Syla here and convince her to become my mate?”
“It is one of the reasons. She would, as I said, birth strong children with you, and a healer with the gods-gift would be an asset to our people.”
“Her coming here and staying isn’t going to happen.”
“I agree that’s unlikely now that she’s queen.”
“It was unlikely before.”
“I thought your smile ensured the adoration of women.”
“Oh, she might adore me, but she’s not leaving her people.”
Unfortunately, Vorik didn’t know if even the first part of that sentence was likely. He hadn’t been there when Syla had woken from her daze after using the weapons platform, but he suspected she’d cursed his name after he and Wise had absconded with the shielder components. For all he knew, she’d drawn a picture of him and was having her troops use it for axe-throwing practice in her castle courtyard.
“She’s loyal to them and bound by her duty,” Vorik added softly, respecting her for that even as he lamented those traits.
“I know,” Jhiton said, and maybe he did. Syla had been willing to give up her life to protect the shielder, and he’d witnessed that. “After all, she tried to blow me up twice.”
“Yeah, but any woman with sense would do that.” Vorik smiled though he wasn’t in a mood for humor.
“Perhaps so.” Jhiton briefly returned the smile. “Retrieve the island lord’s wife, Vorik. Since she also has a moon-mark, we can use her while we have her to access the island’s shielder. If you don’t want to question her under the influence of the hydra-scale powder, I will.”
Such determination filled his eyes, that Vorik didn’t dare argue further.
Jhiton shifted his cloak aside to withdraw a folded piece of paper from his pocket, then handed it to Vorik. “A portrait of the husband and wife to help you identify them.”
As Vorik considered the bespectacled woman in the ink sketch, his stomach sank. Many people in the Kingdom wore spectacles, so it didn’t mean there was a link to Syla, but…
“She looks like a cross between Syla and her aunt Tibby,” Vorik said. “Is she related to them?”
“All of those with a moon-mark are related, if distantly after so many generations since the gods first branded their ancestors. I believe Lady Abrya is one of the queen’s aunt’s cousins.”
Vorik sighed. He hadn’t liked the kidnapping plan before, but now it felt like it would be a direct betrayal to Syla.Anotherone.
“You leave in the morning to retrieve the lady,” Jhiton stated, then clasped his hands behind his back and started to walk away.
“Is this really the path forward that you want to take, Jhiton?”
“No,” came his brother’s soft reply over his shoulder.
“But orders?”
“Orders.” Jhiton walked away without looking back.
Vorik wished he hadn’t argued to have this mission. The chiefs were turning noble riders into brigands. But what choice did he have but to obey?
3
Lanterns burnedall along the walls of the courtyard when Wreylith landed near the weapons platform and Syla slid off her back. Among the usual soldiers that guarded the castle from the towers, gatehouse, and walls, Sergeant Fel stood in the area, and he strode toward her with a scowl that could have withered the wings off a wyvern. Given his six-and-a-half-feet in height, broad shoulders, scars, and muscles that men half his age would have envied, he was an intimidating figure.
“Good evening, Sergeant,” Syla hurried to say before he could lecture her on departing without a bodyguard—and the entourage of troops he’d said a queen should have to defend her. “Is Aunt Tibby around? Have she and my cousin Teyla made any progress in figuring out how to make the weapons platform operable to more people than me? One would think that anyone with a moon-mark should be able to use it to defend the castle.”
Since Syla had only been gone an hour, she doubted her aunt and cousin had figured out anything, but she’d learned long ago that tirades could sometimes be diverted by a tangent or three.Usually,she’d employed that tactic in the temple, hoping to distract patients from their discomfort until she could fully healthem, but she’d also had opportunities of late to practice on the military officers who hadn’t wanted to see her return from her last mission. She still didn’t know if General Dolok had been the one to send the Royal Fleet—and handpicked assassins—after her or if that had been someone else’s scheme. He, of course, denied it, and, without proof, she hadn’t attempted to remove him from his position. Notyet. Once she got a shield back in place around Harvest Island, she would deal with internal affairs—like ferreting out all the people who wanted her dead so they could have the throne.
