“As do I.”
Since she’d promised Vorik food, Syla wandered around until she found a small kitchen near the bedrooms in the back. Tabuvar’s door was shut, so he was presumably still sleeping, but she opened an ice box and found salted meat, cheese, and apples. Sadly no tarts, cobblers, or other baked goods that she could have delighted Vorik with, but Tabuvar had probably been too busy dodging enforcers rounding up the moon-marked to visit a bakery.
Not certain how ravenous dragon riders were when they woke, Syla grabbed a knife and a log of salami, a brick of cheese, and four apples while making a mental note to send payment for groceries to Tabuvar when she was back in power and had access to the Kingdom coffers. Right now, she didn’t have any coin at all. If she needed some along the way, she would have to put an offering urn out with a sign saying she could heal people for donations.
When she reached the door to the spare room, a few faint grunts sounded from within. Was Vorik performing morning exercises? She lifted a hand to knock but sensed Wreylith departing and paused.
Are you going to hunt, or is a threat approaching?
You are preparing to journey across the island while leaving your kin here. I will scout around this small population center to look for trouble before we depart.
Thank you. That’s thoughtful, especially since Tibby will be back here with Fel.
Yes. I will also visit the fishing boat that just sailed into the harbor. I smell stormy sea turtle eggs—I’d forgotten that they lay their clutches this time of year. Do you believe the fishermen will make an appropriate offering to a dragon?
Syla wondered how much of her dragon’s thoughtfulness was motivated by food.I think if you land on their boat in all your large magnificence, they’ll offer you anything you like.
Excellent. That is the appropriate response when a dragon comes near.
The wise response, certainly.
Yes.
The noises inside had subsided, but Syla knocked anyway before entering.
“Syla?” came Vorik’s voice.
“Yes.”
“Come on in.”
She entered with the food in her arms and found Vorik shirtless, barefoot, and upside-down on his hands with his heels against the wall. His tousled hair hung to the floor like a thatch broom.
“Handstand pushups,” he explained to her puzzled expression. “I usually start the day with exercises. Do you think Fel would spar with me?”
“I don’t know. Would it be upside-down sparring?” With daylight flowing through the window and highlighting his physique, Syla paused to admire him.
“Not necessarily, though the riders do sometimes have handstand races through the woods. It’s good for keeping your balance, something that comes in handy while on a dragon.”
“Dragons do like to tilt and roll and dive, don’t they?”
“Often. And those who aren’t bonded have to figure out how to stay on without magic.” He pushed off his hands and landed on his feet.
“They’re brave souls. Apple?”
Vorik accepted all four and, as she sliced pieces of cheese and salami, he juggled them. First, he tossed and caught two in each hand at the same time, and then he shifted the pattern so that all four flowed through his hands in a large circle. With his shirt off, the interplay of his relaxed muscles as he practiced was mesmerizing.
“I do enjoy a show while I’m dining,” Syla murmured, starting to wish she’d ignored the dragon tail against the window to stay in bed with Vorik longer.
“I would offer to give you your first lesson, but it sounded like you’ve another quest for us to go on.”
Not surprised that a closed door hadn’t kept him from hearing her conversation, Syla nodded. “I could use some help rescuing Teyla from her family before… while you’re still here.”
Vorik caught the apples and set three on the table before sitting on the bed to look at her. “I haven’t yet decided if I’ll go back to the tribes and put my life in danger in an attempt to lead them to a better future by assuming a position I don’t wish to have.”
Syla smiled sadly as she nibbled at a slice of cheese. “Yeah, you have.”
Vorik opened his mouth, as if he might protest, but then closed it again.
