Syla hesitated. Not from fear, Vorik knew—if anything, she was far too willing to risk her life for the good of her kingdom. But when it came to battles with her own ships—her ownpeople—even if she won, she would lose.
“They’ve sailed outside of the shield.” Vorik pointed to the trio of vessels. “Agrevlari and I will scare them off.”
“By streaming gouts of incendiary flames at them?” Syla shook her head.
“Lighting people on fire is an excellent way to scare them off.”
Her face turned pale.
Vorik lifted an apologetic hand. The joke had been in poor taste, especially when he remembered the explosives that her team had thrown in the mine—and what they’d done to people. Syla probably didn’t have the stomach for more carnage.
“We’ll gently light portions of their ships on fire that aren’t currently occupied,” Vorik said.
Dragons do not know how to gently light things on fire,Agrevlari said.
It’s time to learn. Precision is valuable.
“Look.” At Syla’s skeptical expression, Vorik pointed toward the lead vessel. “That one has a figurehead that thrusts far out, practically inviting a lightning strike. Or a gout of dragon fire.”
“That’s a depiction of the sun god spreading his brilliant rays from a precipice,” Syla said. “You can’t light it on fire. That’s blasphemous.”
“Those ships will be within firing range soon,” the captain said—the major had jogged off and was ordering the cannon crews to make ready.
“Cannonballs knocking it off wouldn’t be less blasphemous. Or if you have to jump ontothatthing.” Vorik couldn’t keep the distaste from his voice as he pointed at the weapons platform. The memories of how many dragons had died to it—some taking their riders to the depths of the sea with them—would haunt him for the rest of his life.
“I know. You’re right.” Syla nodded at him. “Scare them away if you can, Vorik. Even if we run… we’ll have to do something to keep them from following. If theyseeus sailing into the freight harbor, the fleet will sail down the coastline to deal with us there. And we don’t want a battle in those waters. Destroying the harvest as well as our ships…” She shook her head again. “This is all loathsome.”
“Yes.” Vorik stepped toward Agrevlari as the dragon hopped down to the deck, causing the crew to scatter. “Do you want to come with me, Syla? We can scout your harbor afterward.”
“No,” Fel said as the captain rocked back.
Major Hixun had been jogging about, giving orders, but he must have caught that because he stopped so fast that he almost tipped over. “You can’t fly off alone with ourprisoner, Your Majesty.”
“I can if his dragon plucks me up,” Syla said. “Iwillgo with you, Vorik, to guide the gentleness of Agrevlari’s fire.”
How does she intend to do that?Agrevlari wondered.
I don’t know, but her having a dragon bond in addition to her gods-mark gives her some interesting power.
I might call it alarming, rather than interesting. And if you attempt to engage in a mating session while on my back?—
We won’t. I know your feelings on that.
Which doesn’t keep you from?—
Please don’t say anything about sex orifices.
Agrevlari issued a noise between a growl and aharrumph.
Syla arched her eyebrows.
“He’s eager to be guided by your divinely blessed touch,” Vorik translated, then hopped onto the dragon’s back and offered her a hand.
“Your Majesty.” Fel stepped forward to stop her.
But Syla moved quickly these days, a byproduct of her bond with Wreylith, and slipped away from his reach and grasped Vorik’s hand.
“This won’t take long,” she said as he pulled her onto Agrevlari’s back behind him.
