Chapter 30
As twilight descended, Vorik crouched on a rock ledge. Boulders at his back kept his silhouette from being visible by those he watched. Oblivious to his presence, Syla’s allies, Fel and Tibby, climbed a scree-covered slope toward a gap in the rocks.
Was that a cave entrance? Anticipation thrummed within Vorik as they headed straight toward it.
While searching for Syla, he had chanced across the bodyguard and the aunt.
He’d expected her to show up, as well. He’d wanted her to show up.
Not only because he had a perhaps misguided notion of continuing the sexual encounter they’d begun in the temple but for the sake of his mission.
Wasn’t she the one who knew the location of the shielders?
Had she given Fel and Tibby a map? They hadn’t yet pulled anything out to look at, but, with the aunt in the lead, they climbed without hesitation.
Vorik had contemplated leaping into their path and questioning them, but it would be better if they unwittingly led him to the shielder. And past the protections that would guard it. Then he could confront them.
But where was Syla?
As the gloom deepened, Vorik gazed around the rocky slopes and broken top of a volcano that had erupted intermittently over the centuries.
He could also hear the roar of the sea and knew they were close to the cliff-filled northwestern shoreline.
Once, the island had reputedly extended much farther in that direction, with the volcano that had formed it closer to the middle, but time and rising seas had sunk what had been lower land.
With dozens of square miles around the volcano, Syla could be anywhere out there, but why would she have parted from her allies? To run off and lead someone else astray while they went for the shielder? Could another rider be out here? Sent to capture her and get the location of the shielder?
Vorik recalled that Captain Lesva had been after Syla—and had also fallen into the waters around the island—and he shifted uneasily on his perch. As powerful as he, Lesva might well have made it to shore.
Lost in his thoughts and scouring the terrain, longing to spot Syla, Vorik almost missed the pair entering the cave.
He returned his focus to them as they disappeared inside and waited to make sure they wouldn’t come back out.
When a lantern flared to life, then dimmed as they carried it deeper into the cave, he knew they were descending into the earth.
He hopped down from his perch and jogged toward the cave.
We may be close to finding the shielder, he spoke telepathically to Agrevlari.
Good. I grow weary of sitting out here on this perch. The fishing is not that wondrous.
I wish you could fly over here and look for Syla while I follow these two. Vorik shared an image of Fel and Tibby with the dragon.
She is not with them?
No. I’m worried… She may be in danger. The next image he shared was of Lesva. I have a hunch.
Her danger will matter little if you’re able to obtain or destroy this island’s shielder without her. Then I and other dragons will be able to hunt the delicious elioks.
I see where your priorities are.
Dragons have not held any secrets from their human riders about what they want from this alliance.
Oh, I know. But Syla does matter. She… Vorik sought a way to explain without admitting that he cared… more than he was supposed to.
You still seek to mate with her.
Well, yes, but that’s not why she matters.
Not only why, anyway.
As the daughter of the deceased monarch, she should know where the shielders are located on all the islands, Vorik continued. Remember, that’s what General Jhiton wants. And I’m sure you and your dragon kin would also enjoy the prey on those other islands.
Oh, yes. A great many soft and succulent animals that are extinct in other parts of the world may be found in the kingdom. Some were gone long before my time, and I yet crave them, longing to experience their fine flesh on my tongue.
You’re making me hungry, Agrevlari. Vorik crept into the cave, not lighting a lantern for himself.
Since he’d fled with nothing but his sword, trousers, and boots—not even his shirt—he didn’t have that option, but with his dragon-magic-enhanced vision, he could see in all but the darkest of environments.
Reminded of the keenness of dragon vision, he added, Can you use your magic and fine eyes to try to spot Syla from out there while I follow these two?
Certainly. It would be much easier if I could fly over that area, but I will let you know if I detect anything from this distant perch.
Thanks. You’re a good dragon.
One deserving of many elioks.
Clearly.
Vorik padded silently around jumbled boulders, the cave floor angling downward, then turning into a rockfall that sloped to a lower level. At that point, the passageway appeared to end at a stone wall with no side tunnels one might take. But Fel, Tibby, and their light had disappeared.
Vorik, sensing a hint of magic, patted around the area, certain they’d gone through a hidden entrance.
Yes, his hand swept through air that only looked like rock.
He stepped into a lava tube more than twice his height.
It was largely straight, and, right away, he spotted the backs of Fel and Tibby about thirty yards ahead.
He pressed himself against a lumpy section of the side of the lava tube, willing himself to blend in in case they sensed a threat and looked back.
And Fel did. More than once. But he was a mundane human, lacking enhanced night vision, and he gave no sign that he spotted Vorik. He and the aunt continued on.
Slight magic emanated from the stone behind Vorik’s back, left by the gods to protect this area, perhaps, in case the volcano erupted again. Letting his fingers trail along it, he followed the others.
After perhaps a quarter of a mile, the ancient lava tube appeared to dead-end at another rockfall. But the wall to the left of it was unnaturally smooth, as if someone had carved it with tools.
“In Syla’s mind, I saw a rune glowing here.” Tibby pointed to the smooth section.
“Maybe it only glows for the royal family,” Fel said.
“It should glow for me too.” Tibby waved the back of her hand at the wall.
Nothing happened.
Vorik crept closer. Was this the spot? Might the shielder lie right behind that rock wall in a hidden chamber like the one under the castle?
Your suspicion was correct, Agrevlari spoke into his mind, the telepathic voice muffled. By the rock? Or perhaps the magic protecting this place.
What? Vorik stopped his advance.
Captain Lesva has captured the princess and is, judging by the screams drifting all the way to sea to reach my ears, torturing her.
Dread slammed down like a lead weight in Vorik’s belly.
Lesva had wanted to capture and torture Syla all along. Damn it, he’d failed her by not finding her earlier.
Fury replaced his dread, and his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Storm god curse the captain, this wasn’t what Jhiton had ordered. He’d specifically told Lesva not to go after Syla.
And Syla didn’t deserve this. She was innocent. A healer. She helped people. She wasn’t a soldier or an enemy of any kind, other than that she’d been born in the kingdom instead of into one of the tribes.
The sounds of humans aren’t easy for a dragon to understand, Agrevlari added, but I believe she is experiencing great pain.
Vorik clenched his jaw, torn between wanting to sprint out and locate Syla and knowing the pair ahead was close to finding a way into the shielder chamber.
With a few swift thrusts from his magical sword, he might be able to destroy the artifact, but he couldn’t gain access without a moon-mark.
He had to wait for Tibby to figure out how to get inside.
In the meantime, Syla was in pain. Pain she didn’t deserve. Vorik closed his eyes but didn’t wrestle with the decision for long. He had to help her.
I’ll come back for the shielder, he told Agrevlari, spinning and running back toward the tunnel entrance. Guide me to Syla.
What will you do? Lesva is your fellow officer.
Kill her, Vorik thought, furious that Lesva was disobeying orders—that she was hurting Syla.
But Agrevlari also followed the ways and mandates of the Sixteen Talons.
Indeed, Jhiton’s dragon was his superior officer.
Not wanting to risk his intentions being reported back, Vorik said, Stop her.
There’s no need for torture when I now know the way to the shielder.
Excellent. I believe Wreylith might not wish her dead. Because she carries the krendala.
Yeah, your sexy red dragon is my primary concern here too. As Vorik climbed the rockfall upward, he glanced back, worried he was going too quickly and making noise as stones shifted underneath him.
Yes, Fel was peering in his direction. He must have heard or instinctually sensed a threat.
There was nothing to be done. Tibby hadn’t found a way in yet.
Vorik would help Syla, and then he would come back. He wasn’t abandoning his mission. This was logical.
Even if it wasn’t… he decided he didn’t care.