Chapter 5 #3
We don’t have the luxury of waiting, Jhiton said, ignoring and interrupting the banter.
Captain Lesva sent back word that the Garden Kingdom queen was spying on Harvest Island yesterday and that their people might intend to attack soon.
Jhiton gave Vorik a long look across the wings of their dragons.
Vorik hadn’t mentioned his dream from the night before.
No, he didn’t think it had been a dream.
If it had been, he wouldn’t have contemplated telling his brother or anyone else about it.
But the gods-created weapons platform might truly have the ability to send an incorporeal form of Syla across the sea to spy.
Whether she’d commanded it to do so or the deities themselves had played a role, Vorik didn’t know, but he probably should have told his brother that she’d gained that ability.
Such power was disturbing. If she could draw upon it repeatedly, she might be able to learn the location of their next camp and many more things.
But, even if Jhiton had known about the new ability, their people couldn’t defend against it. Other than the power that bonded riders received from their dragons—largely gifts of strength, agility, fast healing, and stamina—the stormers didn’t have a way to combat divine magic.
At least Vorik hadn’t shared much information with Syla.
Oh, he’d said more than he should have, but she’d lain next to him and chatted instead of poking all around the cave, trying to find advantages.
If they’d been able to touch, he might have distracted her from asking questions, and they could have instead enjoyed themselves in his furs.
It’s inconvenient that she’s acquired a dragon, Jhiton said, still looking at Vorik.
Had he expected a response to his other comment? Or had he asked something else while Vorik had been daydreaming? Fantasizing…
Yes, Vorik said, it’s tedious when one’s enemies gather allies and weapons so they can put up a real fight.
Is that snark, Captain?
Of course not. My respect for you is so vast that I haven’t made a comment about how the wind is making your cloak flap with villainous flair behind you.
I shouldn’t have given you a collapsible kayak for your penetration of Bogberry Island, Jhiton said. You should swim.
As much as I enjoy stroking miles through storm-driven waves, swimming back with a sixty-five-year-old lady in tow might have been challenging.
You like challenges.
I do. And you should too. It should tickle your honor that the Garden Kingdom is making itself a more challenging opponent.
When we defeat them, the victory will be sweeter.
Vorik tried not to think about his doubts about the future and their chiefs’ plans.
Instead, he smiled and kept his words light.
The strawberries will be sweeter, he added.
Too bad the season for such had passed, but Vorik knew they would be able to find apples and pears yet, and wouldn’t all those fascinating gourds and winter squashes be ready soon? He’d once had a treat called pumpkin bread and had found it delectable.
I don’t mind challenges, Jhiton said. You know I never have. But it’s only your queen who’s making herself a more challenging opponent.
That’s why I adore her. Maybe Vorik shouldn’t have admitted that, but it wasn’t as if his brother hadn’t figured it out. You have to admit that she’s a worthy opponent.
If only she could be worthy on their side.
She is a vexing opponent.
You’re only saying that because she tried to kill you.
Twice. No, three times. Jhiton’s expression grew exasperated. Twice with explosives and once with that gods-crafted marble device.
I didn’t know you were keeping track.
There are things that stick in a man’s mind. I almost agreed to Captain Lesva’s third request for permission to sneak onto Castle Island and assassinate the queen.
A chill went through Vorik that had nothing to do with the northern wind whipping at his clothing. When did Lesva make that?
Just last night, with the report that the queen was spying on them. She reiterated how dangerous the woman is.
Syla. Her name is Syla.
Jhiton’s eyes narrowed. She also reiterated that your feelings for Syla could be problematic going forward.
I had no idea Lesva sent back such detailed and chatty reports. Isn’t she busy defending that island and rounding up all the high-ranking military officers and lords and ladies there who might cause trouble?
Those are her orders, yes. Jhiton turned his gaze forward.
The approaching storm had dropped visibility, but they could make out Castle Island on the horizon.
I told her to leave the queen alone for now, but we may have to deal with her one day, Vorik.
As I’ve heard from others and seen with my own eyes, she’s quickly becoming far more than a healer.
That cold chill lingered, and Vorik wanted to argue that they could achieve their goals without killing or dealing with Syla in any way.
But was that true? He didn’t know. Since Jhiton had said he hadn’t agreed to an assassination attempt, Vorik kept his telepathic tongue from flapping further on the matter.
Veer off, and head to Bogberry Island for your mission, Vorik.
I’ll be in the area with the rest of our dragons and riders.
Jhiton tilted his thumb over his shoulder toward the squadron stretched out behind them.
While we’re waiting for you to kidnap the lady so we can question her under the influence of the hydra-scale powder, we’ll check on Harvest Island.
We’ll also fly over the rest of the Garden Kingdom chain to make sure Freeborn Faction dragons aren’t lurking.
Lesva’s report mentioned that one of their young dragons had been spotted in the area.
If Queen Syla lures them over as allies…
Vorik didn’t like the significant look that Jhiton sent him. Think of the challenge, Jhiton. The sweetness of the strawberries!
Just get Lady Abrya, and— Jhiton broke off and frowned toward Castle Island. Or was he looking at the back of Ozlemar’s horned head?
The Garden Kingdom is sending a fleet toward Harvest Island, Agrevlari told Vorik. We’re close enough that our kin there can report to us.
Their fleet is going to attack dragons with their warships? Vorik asked. That’ll be a quick victory unless they’ve gained a new advantage.
Agrevlari shudder-flapped his wings again to send water flying. The queen sails on one of the ships, and it is loaded with the weapons platform of the gods.
Vorik leaned back and groaned. When Jhiton’s spies had reported that the massive marble thing had been delivered to the Castle Island courtyard, he hadn’t imagined the Kingdom moving it anywhere. He certainly hadn’t envisioned it on the deck of a ship.
Jhiton, who had to be getting the same report through Ozlemar, looked over at Vorik, his expression cool. Change of plans.
Vorik groaned again, dread creeping into him. What would he do if his brother ordered everyone to attack that ship? To attack Syla?
We’re all flying to Harvest Island to ensure that fleet fails to drive our forces away, Jhiton said. And we’re going to sink that ship—and the weapons platform.
Syla will be on the weapons platform, Vorik replied with far more distress than he should have shown.
So be it.
Damn it, Jhiton.
Vorik, she’s declared herself our enemy. We have to—
No, we declared ourselves her enemies. She never wanted this.
She’s a healer, damn it. We slew her entire family, and now we’re trying to take over her kingdom.
None of this is her fault. She doesn’t deserve to be killed.
Vorik clenched his fist, fury flushing his face with heat.
He couldn’t let more than a dozen dragons, not to mention the ones already protecting Harvest Island, descend on Syla.
Even if she had Wreylith’s help and that weapons platform, she couldn’t survive against so many.
Break away, and go on your mission to Bogberry Island, Captain. Jhiton’s face remained cool, his telepathic tone unyielding as the dragons flew inexorably closer to the islands—and Syla’s fleet. We’ll handle this.
No, Vorik said.
Are you disobeying a direct order?
Vorik closed his eyes, torn. Was he? Even if he made the choice to do so, what could he do to stop this?
Stand at Syla’s side and fight his own people while she used that weapons platform to kill his friends and the dragons allied with them?
He’d known some of those riders all of his life and loved them like brothers.
Vorik cursed with frustration. I don’t want to disobey you, Jhiton, but let me help you find another way.
We don’t need to kill Syla. We just need to remove her as a threat, right?
What if we— Oh. Vorik sat straighter. Let me kidnap Syla instead of Lady What’s-it.
We aren’t even certain that she or her husband knows the location of their shielder, are we? But Syla would.
It is believed that Lady Abrya does know its location. Besides, Syla did not give you that information the last time you tried to wheedle it from her.
We didn’t have that powder before. Vorik brightened with that realization. It was true—and a good argument. Syla knows the location of all the shielders. And now we have the means to coerce her to tell us.
Vorik didn’t like the idea of coercing Syla to do anything—or kidnapping her—but both were better than the only alternative Jhiton was offering. Her death.
Jhiton didn’t knock the idea down right away. Was he considering it?
I can get her, Vorik said. Unlike with the rest of our people and dragons, she won’t attack me if Agrevlari flies close.
Another truth. Vorik hated to use that against Syla, but to save her life, he would. He had to.
Jhiton looked toward the island again. Islands. Harvest was now visible on the horizon in the misty distance, and soon the Kingdom fleet would be too.
Very well. You may make an attempt to capture her, but if you aren’t able to get her quickly… Jhiton looked over again, his face chiseled from granite. If she succeeds in killing even one of our people or dragons with that thing, I will assassinate her myself.
I’ll get her, Vorik said.
He had to.