I will descend shortly,Wreylith repeated, more tersely this time.
“Moodiness,” Vorik mouthed.
Syla nodded.
Fortunately, it didn’t take Wreylith long to investigate the caves. She declared themtoo smallwithinsufficient access to morning sunlight.
Vorik suspected there were better caves along the coastal cliffs but didn’t bring it up, not wanting to distract the dragon further. Wreylith soared over the lake toward the manor. A road meandered away from the main keep, passing the outbuildings and a guard tower before eventually meeting up with the main highway that ran through the center of the island.
Dogs barked as Wreylith approached, her wings spread wide. The formerly placid-looking horses showed impressive spirit as they galloped into their stable. A woman hanging laundry on a line rushed indoors almost as quickly.
Wreylith landed atop the guard tower, lowering her head on her long neck to peer into one of four narrow windows overlooking the lake and countryside. A man inside cursed.
“Don’t attack anyone, please,” Syla hurried to say.
Wreylith’s head was too large to fit through any of the windows, but whoever had cursed must have leaned out to fire, because the dragon plucked out a crossbow and flung it into the lake fifty yards away.
If a human presumes to shoot at me,she said tartly,I will defend myself.
“Just disarm them. That’s fine, yes.” Syla gazed toward the crossbow sinking under the surface. “This estate belongs to my relatives, andmostof the people living here are probably not our enemies.”
“You don’t think that lady hanging laundry is involved with nefariously keeping your cousin captive?” Vorik asked.
“No, she’s probably washing Teyla’s underwear and has nothing to do with restraining people.”
“Strange, nobody who’s captured me has ever laundered my undergarments.”
“When you were my captive, you didn’t ask for that service.”
“I assumed it wasn’t an option.”
“Next time, I’ll send a bag for you to fill for the laundry steward.”
“You’re a thoughtful captor.”
I do not believe anybody is imprisoned in this guard tower.Wreylith lifted her head.Do you wish for me to capture a human to forcibly question about the location of the captive? Does the stone abode have a dungeon?
“I don’t think so,” Syla said. “We’ll knock on the front door and ask first before interrogating people. I think this might be the kind of captivity where you’re simply confined to your room with the door locked. Maybe a guard outside. If the rumors aretrue and Fograth is thinking of arranging a wedding with Teyla, he wouldn’t want her treated too badly. Will you put us down on the lawn, please, Wreylith?”
With a single hop, the dragon descended, landing before glass windows at the front of the manor. A door thudded shut somewhere inside, and someone shouted, “Dragon!”
“I guess we’re not sneaking in.” Vorik slid to the ground and lifted a hand to help Syla down, but she also slid off easily, with agility she hadn’t always possessed.
“I gave up on the notion ofsneakingwhen Wreylith became my ally.”
“I occasionally sneak with Agrevlari.”
“Effectively? Even the unobservant tend to notice a giant fire-breathing dragon approaching.” Syla started for the front door but noticed several books in the damp grass under a window at the end of the keep.
“The sneaking is helped along if people are sleeping.” Vorik watched as Syla—was that a horrorstruck expression on her face?—ran toward the books. “Are you going to rescue those as well?”
The wet grass was an unusual resting place for paper-based items. Had someone thrown the books out a window?
With his hand on his sword hilt, Vorik walked after Syla, eyeing the various places around the manor where one might lean out with a weapon. Probably deterred by having a dragon rip his crossbow out of his hands, the tower guard hadn’t made an appearance.
Syla gathered the damp books, straightened crinkled pages, and looked at the titles. “Proper Etiquette for Court.A Guide to Manners, Courtesy, and Polite Behavior.How a Lady Can Please Her New Husband.” She looked up at a second-story window. “I’m beginning to see why these might have been cast out.”
“Not typical books in your cousin’s library?” Vorik hadn’t spoken much to Teyla, since they’d been on opposing teams on the quest to find the shielder components, but she’d wielded a sword and joined in with Sergeant Fel against the gargoyles. She hadn’t struck him as the type to care about etiquette—or pleasing a husband.
