Chapter 8
Morning found Vorik sitting against the wall, his chin to his chest as he dozed. Before going to sleep, he’d snapped the chain between his ankle irons, the same as the one between his wrist shackles. He hadn’t attempted to break the hinges or lock on the door to escape, but he’d contemplated it.
He sensed Wreylith on the ship and doubted he could swim away under her vigilant eye.
And he dared not call Agrevlari to try to collect him, not with the weapons platform on the deck.
Besides, Vorik wasn’t that eager to return empty-handed to his people.
He was supposed to be kidnapping Syla, not spending time as her captive.
Oh, he didn’t want to capture her at this point, but he felt bound to try.
It was the only reason Jhiton had allowed him to fly ahead and try to get to her.
Jhiton could have denied that request and helped Lesva kill Syla.
Their combined might would have been too much for Vorik to overcome.
He’d never even bested his brother in a one-on-one fight.
Jhiton had taught him everything he knew about combat.
And, though he was older, with grays creeping into his dark hair, Jhiton was very fit and capable.
Further, he derived as much power from Ozlemar as Vorik did from Agrevlari.
Maybe more. Ozlemar was equal in size, power, and prowess to Wreylith.
How is the kidnapping going? a dry voice spoke into his mind from the distance.
Jhiton. It was as if he’d known Vorik was contemplating him.
I’ve allowed myself to be captured and am lulling Syla and her troops into believing I’m a subdued prisoner.
Meanwhile, I’m planning a way to kidnap her, keep the weapons platform from being used again, and rejoin our troops with my prisoner slung triumphantly over my shoulder.
Vorik eyed his cell door while waiting for a sarcastic retort.
If you capture her, the weapons platform wouldn’t be able to be used, would it? Jhiton mused.
I don’t know. It’s possible anyone with a moon-mark can operate it. In fact, I would think that likely.
If that were true, someone else would have been sent along. Queens don’t lead fleets into battle.
Vorik scratched his cheek. She’s a willful and determined queen.
I gathered that when she was trying to kill me.
All three times?
It’s four times now. One of those glowing balls almost knocked me back to the mainland.
I’m sure you would have dodged it if it had gotten close.
Unlikely. Did you not notice that they adjust their flightpaths to track their targets? They’re far deadlier to dragons—to all of us—than cannonballs.
Yes, Vorik had noticed they had that ability. How did you avoid being hit?
I did nothing. A lightning bolt struck it before it reached me. It was great luck.
Either that, or you’re being protected by the gods.
Vorik thought of their musings that Syla was being protected by their deities.
Never before had he seen anything to suggest that Jhiton held divine favor.
Of course, Jhiton was still alive, despite countless battles with dangerous enemies.
One might argue that all stormers who survived for decades in their ruthless world had the favor of some god, but this was more of a sign than Vorik had ever experienced.
It would be nice if they supported me, Jhiton said, but I think it’s more likely the magical energy or something in the projectiles attracts lightning.
That’s possible. Vorik recalled that swords had first been crafted from gargoyle bone because his ancestors had learned the hard way that steel conducted lightning, and a man riding high in the sky on a dragon while holding a pointy metal object could attract a strike.
Let me know when you’re able to escape with the queen. I’ll order Agrevlari or another dragon to pick you up, and we will test my hypothesis.
That she’s the only one that can use the weapons platform?
Yes, Jhiton said. If she’s gone, and it cannot be operated, we will sink the ship on which it rides, destroy the rest of the fleet, and retake that half of Harvest Island.
You sound determined.
I am determined. We lost Cith and Tarvoran, and several dragons. Lesva lost Verikloth and is furious.
Vorik had seen the blue dragon go down and had been afraid of that.
Lesva had already hated Syla. Before, it had been unreasonable—as far as Vorik had been able to tell, Lesva had simply disliked Syla because she’d dared hold her tongue when Lesva had questioned her under magical duress. Under torture.
Now, she would have a more legitimate reason to loathe Syla. Not that hatred needed to be legitimate or reasonable. Sometimes, it just was.
Vorik rubbed his face, wondering if he would have to kill Lesva to keep Syla safe. The idea of doing so made him grimace, not only because they’d once been lovers but because she was on his side of this war. And Syla was...
“A problem,” Vorik said with a sigh.
Kidnap her, Vorik, Jhiton said firmly. I want her away from the weapons platform, and I want what you suggested yesterday, her drugged and questioned until she draws us a map to each shielder.
Does this mean you don’t need me to kidnap Lady Abrya anymore? Why did Vorik keep getting orders to capture women? He felt like the villain he so often teased his brother of being. Why couldn’t they come up with another more honorable way to win this war?
We yet have plans to take Bogberry Island while the majority of the Kingdom forces are occupied with Harvest.
Did that mean Jhiton had already sent troops in that direction? Would someone else kayak in and try to capture the lady?
If you’re not available to kidnap the lord’s wife, Jhiton added, I will.
Be careful. Between your nefariously flapping cloak and scarred face, you might not be able to win her favor. Vorik doubted his brother would try any such thing, but Jhiton had pointed out that the lady supposedly had a soft spot for stormers—or had before all this had begun.
The hydra-scale powder should ensure I don’t need her favor to get what I want, but if you retrieve the queen and join us at Bogberry Island, I’ll let you attempt to smile at Lady Abrya and charm her.
The way you entice me, General.
I’ll also give you whatever fruits and berries we’re able to find in the lord’s palace.
That’s more likely to tempt me.
I’m aware. Get the queen, Vorik. Jhiton’s telepathic voice sounded more distant, like he was flying away as they conversed.
Maybe he was already on his way to Bogberry Island, leaving behind only part of his forces to take back the harbor if Vorik succeeded in getting Syla away from the weapons platform.
I’ll capture her, but I need your word on something.
Vorik didn’t feel right extracting promises from his brother, but Lesva might now be flying at Jhiton’s side, maybe even astride Ozlemar with him, and able to influence him.
Against his wishes, the memory of Lesva resting her hand on Jhiton’s chest and flirting with him came to Vorik’s mind.
If I bring Syla to join you and the others…
She won’t be harmed.
Vorik trusted his brother would do what he said, but Jhiton wasn’t the only obstacle.
If you give that order, Vorik said, Lesva might disobey it.
I will see to it that she doesn’t. As long as the queen knows the locations of all the shielders, she has value to us.
She has value to me for more reasons than that.
I’m aware. As are others.
Like Chieftess Shi?
Yes.
Vorik bristled, but he had made choices that could call his loyalty into question.
After he’d openly defended Syla from Lesva on the deck of a Kingdom warship, even more people than the chieftess would question his motivations.
The riders in his own squadron, men and women he’d worked with for years, might doubt him.
The notion stung almost as much as the thought of losing his brother’s respect.
If you can also sabotage or destroy that weapons platform while you’re aboard their ship, Jhiton said, that might still some wagging tongues.
I sense Wreylith near the device, Vorik said, but if I get an opportunity to take a closer look, I will.
Take that look while holding explosives. Perhaps your queen can supply you with the ones they booby-trapped their shielder with during our last incursion.
Oh, yes. I believe captors regularly give explosives to captives. It’s sound war policy.
Use your smile on her. She likes you.
Not enough to give me explosives. She might bake me a blackberry cobbler. Vorik smiled wistfully.
Maybe you can stuff it in one of the column-barrels to gum up the works.
A solid military tactic. Vorik imagined blackberries flying out of the weapons platform instead of deadly projectiles. I’ll at least get Syla. As to the rest, I acknowledge that destroying that device would be a boon to our people, and if I get an opportunity, I will.
Destroying Syla’s means of defending the island in the absence of a shield struck him as terrible, but one wasn’t supposed to be nice during war. And the thing could kill dragons. At least the shielders only kept dragons out. That weapons platform was dreadful.
Bring her to our new camp, Jhiton said, and I’ll ensure she’s kept alive.
His back still to the wall, Vorik propped his arms on his knees and laced his fingers together to rest his chin on them.
He didn’t like the idea of taking Syla anywhere near Lesva.
But what was the alternative? To stay here in this cell?
To escape but not return to his people? To walk away from his tribe and his family and friends? All that he was?
Somewhere along the way, that thought had become less undesirable than the thought of hurting Syla. Or causing her to be hurt—or killed. But he couldn’t…
Clanks and voices sounded in the corridor.