“Don’t forget those are my people. Please don’t light any more of their wagons on fire than necessary.”
Your people keep trying to slay you.
“I know. It’s complicated. At least the fishermen who gave you food aren’t against us.”
They were most pleased to learn that you lived. When I informed them thusly, that was when they brought out the sturgeon. And did I mention there was caviar too? Such small little eggs barely register to a dragon’s palette, but the nutty and briny tastedidcarry through as they used an oar to smear the eggs over my tongue. Most delectable.
Vorik wondered whose job it had been to smear fish eggs on a dragon’s tongue. Someone either very brave or… very low in rank.
“I don’t know if I talked her out of lighting wagons on fire or not,” Syla said over her shoulder.
“Dragons do what dragons wish to do. For that matter, queens should be able to as well.”
“If only.” She smiled wistfully. “May I speak with you, Vorik, of more than memories? Of the future? As a representative of my people talking to a representative of your people?”
“Can we do that? You’ve been ousted from your throne, and I… I’ll be placed in exile if not slain outright as soon as I show my face back at our camp.”
“You’d better make your challenge for the chief position quickly then. Before they can formalize your status.”
“All right. I’ll plan to blurt the words out as I’m jumping off Agrevlari’s back upon landing.” Vorik cocked his head. “What do you want to say? As a representative of your people?”
“Well, I’d like to give you… I’m not sure I can make a promise yet, but I’d like to make an offering or at least a suggestion that you can take back to your people, something that might help you convince them to make peace with the Kingdom.”
Vorik doubted he would end up in a position where he could convince them of anything but nodded for her to continue.
“I could write and sign something to send along,” Syla said, “but if your people don’t read, that might not be useful.”
“Some of them can read. Jhiton evenlikesit.Likedit. But, yes, we do consider oral oaths more binding than words on papers. Go ahead.” Vorik was curious about what she would propose.
But Wreylith had reached and was circling the farm, and Syla paused to look down. Though harvest season hadn’t ended, no workers were out in the fields. Vorik didn’t know if normal operations had resumed in the weeks since the invasion, but he would have guessed so. Did the stillness signify trouble?
Do you wish to land near the human abode?Wreylith asked.
“Take us down near the machine shop, please. If someonedoescome up the road, they’ll check on the farmhouse first, and, unless it’s Vonla’s team, we don’t want to be checked on.” Syla touched Wreylith on the back again. “After you let us off, will you fly around the island for a while again? If you appear all over the place, the reports that come in should confuse Fograth and the military leaders.”
I will scout along the eastern coast for caves. That is far from your castle and perhaps not ideal, but I do enjoy morning sun exposure and have not yet perused that area.
“Good idea,” Syla said as the dragon descended toward the road in front of the large barn-like structure she’d called the machine shop. The tractors that Fel and Agrevlari had damaged—in self-defense, of course—had been moved, sosomeonehad been working on the farm in the past weeks.
After Vorik and Syla slid to the ground and Wreylith took off, they pushed open the doors of the building so they could step out of the rain.
“What next?” Vorik asked. “I might think you wanted to get me alone for frisky adult activities, but you were speaking of formality and written documents, so I expect plotting and scheming are more on your mind.”
“Yes. Also, I’m wet from the rain and expecting Teyla before long. Friskiness isn’t in my thoughts.”
“A shame.”
“Is it onyourmind?” Syla plucked at his damp tunic.
“Usually. Especially when I’ve been riding on a dragon with you nestled just so.” He waved toward his inner thighs.
“Oh, Vorik.” She let out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a moan of distress and slumped against him.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Tell me about your scheme. We can get frisky later, when we’re dry and your possibly murdering cousin isn’t apt to walk in on us.”
Her second groan didn’t have any hint of laughter in it. “I don’tthinkshe murdered anyone.”
“Even though she casually spoke of lopping off the penis of your enemy?”
