Chapter 10 #3
“Just focus on securing Harvest Island,” Jhiton told her. “Send a report back to me when their capital is ours.”
Lesva looked like she wanted to object further, but she managed a respectful, “Yes, sir,” and bowed and walked away.
“You’re also dismissed, Devron,” Jhiton said.
“Yes, sir.” Rubbing his throat again, Devron headed for the fire where his wife and children camped.
“What mission do you have for me involving the scrolls, General?” Vorik pointed at them, hoping Jhiton would explain their significance—and forget all about this new determination that Syla was some kind of threat.
“You’re going to gather the components that are apparently necessary for repairing a sky shielder.
” Jhiton opened a scroll filled with writing.
“This is in an older tongue, and Devron and I can’t translate everything, but the first component is believed to be found in the rainforests of Froha and Droha, the second in the mountains of Droha, and the third in its great Dire Desert.
Lieutenant Wise might be able to ascertain more details.
He can take a look while you’re flying down the coast to the rainforest on Droha. ”
“I… All right. Will you humor me and tell me why you want to repair a shielder? We don’t even have a broken one.”
“No, but the gardeners do.”
“I’m assuming you don’t want me to gather the components and give them to the Kingdom.”
“I do not. From what this says, the components are rare, one specifically appearing only once every ten years. If we collect the items, they won’t be available for the gardeners.” Jhiton handed the scroll to Vorik. “Take Wise, find the components, and bring them to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I trust you’ll know what to do if you cross paths with Princess Syla.”
Vorik started to say that was unlikely—it wasn’t as if she would be sent to collect components from around the world—but hadn’t she been the one to go to Harvest Island? With only her aged bodyguard for protection? What if she went on this quest too?
“Invite her to my furs in the hope that she’ll divulge kingdom secrets while in the throes of passion?
” Vorik didn’t grin, though the idea pleased him.
More the part where they would share his furs than the divulging of secrets.
He thought they’d both enjoyed themselves more when they’d been discussing safe topics.
“Do you think it likely that will work at this point?” Jhiton raised a skeptical eyebrow.
Vorik wanted to say absolutely and that he would do his best. A stirring in his groin suggested his penis wanted that too, and he almost rolled his eyes at himself. Letting his lower extremities in on decision making was never a good plan.
“Probably not,” he admitted. “I don’t think I ever fooled her by claiming to be a part of the Freeborn Faction.”
“I’m also skeptical of that.”
“I did try.”
“I have no doubt.” Jhiton glanced down.
Heat seared Vorik’s cheeks before he realized the general was eyeing the scroll, not giving a significant look to Vorik’s crotch. Jhiton, after all, was never one to be crude.
“If you encounter people she’s sent for the components,” Jhiton said, “kill them. If you encounter her...”
“I’m not killing her.”
“I assumed not.” Jhiton looked in the direction that Captain Lesva had gone. He wasn’t reconsidering her assassination offer, was he?
“But I’ll deter her,” Vorik hurried to promise. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t get the components back to her people.”
He hated the idea of sabotaging Syla, but it was better than the general deciding she was too dangerous and sending someone to kill her.
Jhiton's gaze grew thoughtful again. Bloody daggers, what was he scheming now? Vorik didn’t think Jhiton was looking at Lesva but out the cave into the dark of night.
“You care about her,” Jhiton stated.
“I… Yes.” Vorik doubted he should admit that, but it was probably clear to everyone concerned by now anyway.
“Does she care about you?”
“What woman wouldn’t care about me? I’m delightful and charming, not to mention sexy, with the devastating smile we discussed previously.
” Vorik offered that smile as he touched his chest, but this line of questioning worried him.
Jhiton was scheming up something new, something that wouldn’t be in Syla’s best interest.
Jhiton gave him a can’t-you-give-me-a-serious-answer look.
“She could have killed me the night we, uh.” Vorik waved vaguely.
He hadn’t explained to his brother what exactly had happened in that cave, but he had mentioned those candles.
More because he’d been certain Lesva would talk about them than that he’d wanted to admit Syla had gotten the best of him.
“Another time, she could have let me drown in the sea when I was unconscious. I believe she’s quite fond of me. ”
“Or she has the heart of a healer and doesn’t wantonly kill people, even enemies.”
“I don’t know if Devron would agree with that,” Vorik said though he believed it to be true.
“No.” Jhiton's eyelids drooped.
Maybe Vorik shouldn’t have reminded him of Devron’s encounter with Syla.
“What I’m asking is if she would come back here with you.” Jhiton pointed at the cave floor.
“Like… for negotiations or something?”
“To be your mate.”
Vorik rocked back. “You think she’d give up being a princess—no, a queen—to the entire Garden Kingdom where she lives in a luxurious castle and has servants to bring her food and clean up after her? So she could come live in a cave with me?”
“That castle isn’t luxurious anymore.”
“They’re rebuilding it.”
“As to the rest,” Jhiton said, “women do such things for men they love, don’t they?”
“I don’t think women who feel a duty to protect their people do.”
“Will they even allow her to be coronated and rule the Kingdom?” Jhiton asked. “I would have expected it to happen by now if she wished it—and they wished it. That general thought he was in charge.”
“That general was a gargoyle’s cock. As to the rest, she didn’t mention her status as queen-to-be or queen-not-to-be when we spoke.”
“What did she mention? Did you get anything useful out of her. Like how she convinced Wreylith to show up?”
“No. I did ask. She was oddly reticent to divulge important information to me.”
“You’re not a very good spy, Vorik.”
“Tell me about it. I do think that if she wants to be queen, she will be.”
Maybe she would then invite him to live with her?
Would he ever consider that? A life of ease and comfort in a castle where the sky was protected from predators and men didn’t have to constantly carry their weapons around?
It was hard to imagine such an existence.
But there would be fruit aplenty. Desserts. And… Syla.
But they hadn’t known each other that long, and half the things they’d spoken to each other had been lies.
Jumping to the notion of being mates and living together was ludicrous.
He’d enjoyed their interactions—especially their interaction in the cave—but all that he truly wanted was for her to be safe and for them to be…
Oh, he didn’t know. For them to be able to spend time together without it being part of a spy mission.
“Here. Leave in the morning, and bring back the components.” Jhiton, probably tired of watching Vorik’s face as he fantasized about Syla, handed him the scrolls.
“If you see her and she’s willing to become your mate—one of our people—I wouldn’t object to it, and I can speak with our Chieftess Shi about inviting her into the tribe.
A healer with a gods-gift and the power to do more than bandage and prescribe tinctures…
I don’t have to tell you that our people could use that. ”
“Ah,” was all Vorik said as he realized why Jhiton was entertaining this idea. He wanted Syla’s power.
Meanwhile, all Vorik wanted was…
The memory of his night with Syla sprang into his mind, of her standing between those two candles and removing her robe to show him all her beautiful curves, her full lips parted and her eyes hot with passion as she invited him to take her.
His groin tightened again, and he envisioned bringing her back here to join with her every night.
But she would never agree to that. She was as devoted to her people as he was to his. And they were so different.
Still… if he saw her again, he might mention Jhiton’s offer.
Just to see if she had any interest in escaping her responsibilities—no, the machinations and assassins of those who wanted to take the throne for themselves—and living a simpler life.
One where they could spend time together.
And regularly have sex. And feed each other desserts.
Hell, maybe he did want a mate. Unfortunately, he doubted Princess Syla would be interested in the position.