I was hatched from an egg by my mother, but some do credit him with life.
How are we going to fight all that, Wreylith?
I am uncertain. Perhaps we shouldbothleave the area.
You know I can’t do that. Though… if you’re pregnant, maybe you should. I wouldn’t blame you. You don’t want to risk losing your eggs.
Wreylith didn’t answer right away. Maybe the thought had already occurred to her.
I will stay,she ultimately said and descended toward the castle.
“Your Majesty!” a guard blurted as soon as Wreylith landed in the courtyard, the dragon looking around with her glowing eyes, probably determining if anyone present would be a threat. Since Teyla, Tibby, and Fel should have already arrived, Syla hoped not. She should have been expected.
“Yes?” she asked after sliding off Wreylith’s back.
Oyenar landed with a grunt behind her and straightened his uniform.
The guard blinked at him, then saluted before turning back to Syla. “There’s been an incident, Your Majesty.”
“Another one?” Syla felt some of Dolok’s bleakness.
“Sergeant Fel said to get you when you arrived.”
She’d only taken a few steps across the courtyard when Fel appeared in the doorway of the barracks. Face grim, he lifted his arm toward her, then led the way inside.
“What incident has there been now?” she asked.
“Another murder. Itjusthappened.”
“Before you arrived?”
“After.”
“Who was killed?” Syla didn’t think it had been Tibby or Teyla, or Fel would have been more distraught, but she didn’t look forward to encountering another body.
He led her through a hallway to an office, the door already open. Captain Vonla and two of the Royal Protectors who’d come with them from the ship waited outside. A uniformed man lay on the floor inside, one with short gray hair. Syla stopped by a desk that had been knocked askew, a chair tipped over, and stared down at Colonel Mosworth’s body. As with the others, his throat had been slit.
“Who is doing this?” she whispered.
“It has to be someone who’s traveling with us,” Fel said quietly, keeping his voice low so that those in the hallway wouldn’t hear.
“That’s not that many people.” Syla looked at him. She didn’t want to make an accusation, buthewas the only person who’d been around her when all three bodies had been discovered. No, that wasn’t quite true. He’d been on Harvest Island when Ravoran had been killed. He couldn’t have been responsible. Her mind circled back to Teyla, but she’d also gone to Harvest Island with her. Admittedly, Ravoran could have been killed earlier, before Teyla and Syla had gone over to join Fel and Tibby. Was her cousin trying to end the threats to Syla? She rubbed her face. Even if Teyla prided herself on learning swordsmanship, it was hard to imagine the academic and cheerful womanmurderingpeople. “Where is Teyla now?”
“She said something about looking for her brother, Relvin.”
“Do you think it’s possible she had time to do this when you arrived?”
Even if Teylahadhad time, why would she have charged into the barracks and singled out Mosworth?
Syla thought of her conversation with General Dolok and the implication that the colonel had carried out the writing of the assassination orders, but wouldTeylahave known that? Maybe. She’d been in the capital while Syla had been at sea.
Fel shrugged. “Do you want me to go find her?”
Something in his neutral tone and the gesture made Syla hesitate to answer. He didn’t sound like hewantedto go find her.
“Whoever’s doing this is doing you a favor,” Fel added quietly.
“Murder isn’t a favor. It’s a crime.”
