“That’snotgoing to happen.” Fel stepped forward to stand beside Oyenar and create a front the enforcers wouldn’t be able to pass.
“You will speak respectfully of and to Queen Syla,” Oyenar said.
The enforcers eyed each other, some reaching for their weapons while others considered all the Royal Protectors and soldiers gathered behind Syla. The enforcers didn’tlooklike they wanted to start a confrontation. No doubt some nebulousordershad sent them on this mission.
“You can escort us to see Fograth,” Syla offered, rising on her tiptoes to look over the shoulders of the taller men.
“We don’t know where he is, ma’am.”
Oyenar scowled and drew his sword.
“Your Majesty,” the enforcer blurted.
“Is he perhaps in thecastle?” Oyenar asked. “Where a pompous lord would normally reside after attempting to usurp the crown?”
“He hasn’t been living in the castle. We don’t know where he is today.”
“What about General Dolok?” Oyenar asked.
“He’s not in town. He and Colonel Mosworth went to the lighthouse to use the telescope to look at Harvest Island. People are saying there’s a chaotic vortex of evil that spawned from the volcano.”
Syla wished she could refute that, but all she could say was, “It’s more like roiling clouds than a vortex.”
“Whoisin the castle and claiming to rule the Kingdom today?” Oyenar sounded disgusted.
Syla imagined storming up there with her allies only to find the throne room, the royal suite, and all the offices empty save for signs that readout to lunch. Or maybeout to see the chaotic vortex.
“Lord Relvin was there two days ago,” one of the enforcers in the back offered.
“That little twerp can’t be in charge of anything,” Oyenar said.
“I didn’t know your family had visited Oyenar on Bogberry Island before,” Syla murmured to Teyla.
“We’ve been and stayed in the palace there, but it wasn’t recent,” she said. “Relvin may have gone on a personal recruiting mission at some point during these past weeks.”
Remembering the lords he’d gathered for his dice game, Syla could envision that.
Your method of storming into your city and reclaiming your throne is far too filled with nattering chitchat,Wreylith observed from the wheelhouse.
Humans like to talk. We’re a garrulous species.
It’s a flaw. And boring to observe.
If a fight breaks out, will that be more interesting?Syla hoped that one wouldn’t. So far, the enforcers hadn’t tried to get past Fel and Oyenar. They kept eyeing the lord’s uniform—that was a general’s rank insignia on his collar—and giving each other significant looks.
Probably not. Aside from the dragon riders, who are somewhat more capable due to the magic they receive from their bonds to my kind, witnessing humans fight is like watching ants scrabble over discarded pieces of meat.
You’re in a persnickety mood today. We’re forced to act politically and diplomatically since we’re dealing with our own people. I can’t order my troops to slay these enforcers to move things along more quickly.Given how many crewmen wereobserving, both from the decks of the warships that had been in the harbor all along and those that had accompanied her to Harvest Island, Syla especially felt that was true. She couldn’t risk killing Kingdom enforcers.
“We’ll see General Dolok first,” Oyenar decided, then looked over his shoulder at Syla to add quietly, “I’ll have the most sway with him.”
“Oh?” She looked hopefully at Oyenar. Since Dolok commanded all the armed forces, he’d been one of her largest obstacles, even when he hadn’t outright opposed her. “Did you serve together?”
Oyenar smiled tightly. “He servedunderme.” He faced the enforcers again. “Step aside. We’re going to see General Dolok.”
“I’m… afraid we can’t do that, my lord. We need to arrest… anyone with a moon-mark.”
“You’re not arresting the queen,” Fel growled.
