Syla nodded. The captain was more than capable.
Fel considered her, then also nodded. “Let her handle Fograth then. I’ll protect you, Your Majesty. The dragons will target you. The storm god might too.”
“Lucky me,” Syla murmured, then gave Vonla orders to gather trusted men and look for Fograth and whoever else might be skulking in the tunnels with him. It was possiblenobodywas down there, but it seemed a more likely spot than others.
In the courtyard, Wreylith plucked up Syla and Fel. The sun had disappeared behind dark clouds that now covered the island. Syla peered at the sky in all directions as they flew toward the harbor. The north remained clear but little else did. Like a tarp being unrolled outward from Harvest Island, the ominous clouds now stretched for miles.
Lightning flashed in the sky near the lighthouse. Syla hoped General Dolok hadn’t stayed out on that platform.
I can see Agrevlari,Wreylith said.I will place you on the ship, then meet him at the barrier.
For smooches and proclamations of love?
Dragons do not smooch.
But they proclaim, certainly.
When a dragon is teased, she is less likely to lower her ridergentlyto the deck of her ship.
Don’t forget you need me for the delivery of your eggs.
A dragon does notneeda human for a natural act.
But you want me there. Presumably alive.
Wreylith descended, alighting on the wheelhouse long enough for Syla and Fel to slide off. On the deck, Major Hixun waved with relief.
As Wreylith took off to pick up Vorik, Hixun jogged up to Syla. She hoped nobody else had been killed.
He pointed at the sky. “Your Majesty, is the barrier going to protect us? Lightning is starting to strike down in the sea along the coastline.”
“I…” Syla tried to remember if lightning had hit the ground after they’d raised the Harvest Island barrier. Probably. “I wouldn’t assume we’re safe.”
“I was afraid of that.”
Fel also pointed upward at dragons coming into view against the dark sky.
“Those must be the ones Wreylith warned me about.” Syla removed her spectacles, wiped them, and put them back on to try to determine if she recognized any of them. Some had riders; some did not. A large black one…did. Was that Ozlemar and General Jhiton? A vibrant yellow dragon flew next to him, also with a rider, one with silver hair. “By the gods, will nothing kill that woman?”
Since she’d seen Lesva swim away from them in the mine, Syla wasn’t surprised that she’d turned up again. Disgruntled and frustrated, maybe, but not surprised.
“I thought you didn’t want people killed,” Fel said.
“As a healer, I shouldn’t, but I might be less distraught than I should be if we stumbled acrossherwith a cut throat.”
“I would happily do it myself.”
Syla looked at him.
“I’m not a healer,” Fel said simply.
“You’d better drive the dragons off with the platform, Your Majesty.” Hixun pointed at it.
“I did come to use it, but I’m hoping we’ll be safe from the dragons as long as the shield is up.” She didn’t mention the nearly depleted reservoir and how she worried there weren’t many shots left.
“Can you shoot through the barrier?” Hixun asked. “It would be best to take the dragons out if at all possible. They can’t be up to anything good.”
“No, but they may not yet know the Harvest Island barrier is back up. If there’s no place for them to land, they won’t linger in the area.” Syla jogged to the weapons platform and climbed on, resting her palms against the marks on the posts. An image came to her immediately of the reservoir, again showing how little magical energy remained within. “I’m just here to pray,” she murmured.
