“Oh, I’m aware.”
“You will not assassinate the elven queen,” he said, making it an order rather than a request.
Sylin was even less likely to appreciate and obey orders than Rylana. Back in their mercenary unit, she’d often quipped that assassins worked independently and weren’t officially in the chain of command. Maverick had never agreed to that statement, but hehadgiven her more leeway than the rank-and-file types.
“I wasn’t planning to, but I thank you deeply for the career advice,” Sylin said.
Jildarin might not have caught the sarcasm in her deadpan voice, because he nodded an acknowledgment.
“The stockpot survived the dragon encounter.” Rylana pointed to the rowboat, but Jildarin was gazing skyward, toward the wetlands where a black dragon still perched in the distance. “We’re not done with them, are we?” she asked.
Jildarin sighed. “I was indignant that my aunt took advantage of my mother calling me aside for a conversation to attack you. I let her know. Further, I told her that I would defend you even more ferociously next time if she took such action again.”
“I don’t suppose she bowed to your fighting superiority and agreed that she would be unwise to piss you off further?”
“She said that my eagerness to defend you ensured what she had only suspected before.”
“That we’re…” Rylana waved in the air, gesturing toward him and then herself.
“Doing more than sleeping adjacent to each other in his lair?” Sylin asked with a smirk.
Jildarin gave her a sour look. “My relatives do not understand that I value Rylana as a business partner.”
“A good business partnerishard to come by, I hear,” Sylin said.
“Who else would get a quality pergola made for him?” Rylana asked.
Jildarin took a step toward the rowboat, as if to grab the stockpot, but he paused and looked toward the center of the island. His head cocked, reminding Rylana of the log-inspector dogs when they heard pixies flitting around in the parks.
“We are not alone,” he said.
“No, there’s a dragon spying on us.” Sylin pointed toward his mother still perched in the trees, though she appeared to be gazing toward Tranquility now. The pillar on Lucky Island had stopped alarming, but several continued to go off along the shoreline on the way toward the city. It might have had to do with the curse rather than the dragon skirmish.
“We are not alone on thisisland,” Jildarin said.
“It’s a public spot.” Rylana wrapped her arms around herself for warmth and wished Jildarin hadn’t taken his hand away. She wished he’d offered a hug. If Sylin hadn’t been there, might he have? For the logical purpose of keeping his business partner from freezing, of course. “Anyone can come out here to observe the stars or make out.”
“Make out?”
“Kiss and grope.” Rylana lowered her arms.
“A prelude to recreational mating,” Jildarin said but didn’t sound certain.
“Yeah, and there could be some of that going on out here too, though that’s more common in the summer. It’s chilly for rollingaround in the dewy ferns. For two-legged species without fur or magic to keep them warm anyway.” Rylana looked toward Sylin.
“Elves enjoy fern frolicking during most times of the year.”
“Fern frolicking,” Jildarin mouthed, then shook his head. “I sense only one person out here on the island. And I believe there is also magic.”
“One hopes that fern frolicking will result in a magical experience,” Rylana said.
Not appearing amused, Jildarin said, “The person iscarryingsomething magical.”
He squinted at Rylana, then walked up the beach, not heading toward the road that led from the boardwalk across to the island but toward the evergreens and deciduous trees that covered much of the center. She recalled that the pillar, wedding pavilion, and observatory were on the far side of the island, placed to offer views toward the lake. And wasn’t there a small temple for the new god over there too?
Not sure what to make of Jildarin’s squint, Rylana started after him.
A tremor coursed through the ground, and she paused. The quaking went on for several long seconds, tree branches rattling, and she was on the verge of seeking cover when it subsided.
