“Are you going to throw your prisoner at them?” the major asked.
“With a sword and dagger in his hands, maybe,” she said.
“I would be happy to make myself useful,” Vorik said, “by challenging your usurper to a duel and slaying him.”
“Lord Fograth wouldn’t accept a challenge from anyone who could defeat him,” Fel said.
“Well, I’m less eager to participate in an assassination,” Vorik said. “I find them dishonorable, but, for Queen Syla, I might kidnap someone.”
“You’ve kidnappedme,” she said.
“Yes. I’m more practiced at such methods than my honor would like.” Vorik’s smile was rueful.
Syla returned his smile, equally ruefully, then looked to the south. “I wish my dragon hadn’t stormed off. It would be handy to have her check the freight harbor. How long do you think my ally is going to bemoody?”
“For dragons, the gestation period is about two months,” Vorik offered. “And then it takes another two to three months for the eggs to hatch.”
“Goodness, that’s not very long compared to humans.”
“They’re magical beings,” Vorik said. “The rules don’t apply. Though I understand many lizards have similar gestation and incubation lengths.”
Lizards!Agrevlari said.We’ve discussed before how dragons arenotlike lizards.
“I believe with chickens, the whole process only takes about three weeks,” Vorik said.
We are evenlesslike chickens!Agrevlari lowered his head to glare sufficiently at him.
“I hope I have time to resolve the monarchy problem,” Syla said, “and find a suitable cave—and a soon-to-be-built horn-hog farm—on Castle Island for Wreylith.”
“Please tell methat’snot the motivation for your actions,” Aunt Tibby murmured while turning a page. Apparently, she was paying more attention to the conversation than her immersion in the book had suggested.
“It’samotivation,” Syla said. “Wreylith is important, and her assistance has been a great boon. I want her to be happy.”
“It’s crucial that a dragon feel his or her bond to a human is reciprocally beneficial.” Vorik waved at Agrevlari, pointedly ignoring his glare. “We can scout that harbor for you.”
“The town of Lyvoran has a glassworks, doesn’t it?” Tibby looked up. “With one of our distant moon-marked relatives running it.”
“Is that the artisan Tabuvar?” Syla asked.
Tibby nodded. “He makes magical baubles from time to time as well as mundane glasswares. I wonder… He might have special tools that could help with our project.” She patted the shielder components.
“In case we can’t get to the tools in the castle?” Syla asked.
“I’m afraid neither of us would be welcome there at the moment.”
“Or even able to reach the front gate,” Syla said grimly.
“Ships ahead!” a crewman called from the crow’s nest.
Vorik spotted three Kingdom warships cruising around the point that Syla’s small fleet was heading toward.
The major swore.
“We outnumber them,” the captain said, “unless there are more coming after those three.”
“Yes, but we don’t want a fight,” Syla said firmly. “Turn us around and start toward the freight harbor, Major Hixun.”
“Turning tail andrunningwon’t help you get the throne back, Your Majesty,” the major said. “And they’ve already seen us.”
