A thought crossed her mind, one she didn’t like but had to consider anyway. During the battle ahead, there would likely be injured soldiers. If they allowed it, she could use her healingpower and possibly gain at least temporary allies among troops who felt obliged as a side effect of her applying her magic to them. That hadn’t worked on General Dolok, but it had on many others over the years, and she could use a few soldiers who felt compelled to report schemes to her.
“I just need to stay alive and uninjured myself,” she murmured.
Since she would be on the open deck, firing the weapon that the dragons would target as soon as they realized its power… that would be far easier said than done.
Wind gusted, bringing the first raindrops of a storm, and ominous gray clouds darkened the northern horizon.
“Lovely day to kayak through roiling waves to reach an unwelcoming island,” Vorik said, though the storm would ensure few people were out on the coastline to notice his approach.
You could swim,came his brother’s dry telepathic commentary.
Vorik flew on Agrevlari beside General Jhiton, who rode on his great black dragon, Ozlemar. More than a dozen dragons and riders were strung out in the sky behind them. Once the squadron reached the Kingdom, it would head off on its own mission, leaving Vorik to breach Bogberry Island solo.
Are you monitoring my thoughts, Jhiton? I didn’t know your ability to speak telepathically with others gave you that gift.
Agrevlari has been sharing your mutterings with me.
Has he? One would expect one’s bonded dragon to hold his rider’s mutterings in confidence.Vorik made sure to direct the words to Agrevlari as well as Jhiton.
I was merely observing to your general,Agrevlari said,that the midst of a storm might not be the ideal time to engage with the enemy—or attempt to infiltrate a protected island, leaving one’s fine and most agreeable dragon ally outside of its barrier, forced to fly about in pelting rain and wind. There aren’t rock formations around The Island of Bogs on which a dragon might perch and relax.
Those sound likeyourmutterings,Vorik said,not mine.
He shared yours to add weight to his argument that we should return to the mainland and wait for a sunny day for this endeavor,Jhiton said.You have a hedonistic dragon, Vorik.
You’re not giving me new information.
Wanting to fly in less treacherous conditions isn’thedonistic.Agrevlari flapped his wings harder, melodramatically harder, a couple of times to send rain droplets flying.It’s practical. You should be pleased I did not tell the general that earlier you were composing a ballad about Queen Syla.
I am pleased. And hush.Vorik swatted the dragon’s scaled back. That was not information he needed shared with his brother.
Perhaps, as a learned and experienced general, he can come up with a rhyme for spectacles.
I told you I’m going to use sentinels,Vorik said.
Is that a full rhyme?
It’s close enough.
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 Islandyesterday 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 ithadbeen 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 probablyshouldhave 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.