Page 36 of Of Scale and Blood

Not for Mom, though, obviously. She was nothing if not practical and would know that had either survived, they’d have found a way into the caverns or at least found a means of contacting Esan. “The evacuation continues unhindered, though?”

Rion nodded. “We’ve now sent several squadrons over to both Jakarra and Zergon to help protect the caverns and those who refuse to leave.”

Katter Reed, Garran’s uncle on his father’s side and the acting administrator, would undoubtedly be one of them. “What of Kinara? Have Hopetown’s ships made it ashore there with supplies?”

“Aye. A message came in from Jacklyn just before I left the war room. They’re fifty strong in the caverns, with two mages and enough weaponry to last several assaults—which, aside from the first and most destructive one, have not been forthcoming.”

“Which is rather an odd way of going about business, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Not really.” He shrugged. “There are few other cultures so bloody-minded and determined to win no matter what the cost as the Mareritt. It makes more sense militarily to hit an enemy hard, force the survivors into a confined and difficult position, and then simply place a minor watch and pick them off as necessary while the main army moves on.”

“Yeah, but the gilded riders don’t appear to be picking anyone off. They surely must know about the evacuation boats given they’ve established a number of watch platforms along the Black Glass Mountains and the island, and would have to see the boats come and go even if the daylight restrictions keep them from doing anything.”

“Presuming the restrictions are a truth rather than a deception,” Mom said. “Given how little we know about them, anything is possible.”

“Then maybe we need to capture one of the riders alive and interrogate them.”

Rion’s eyebrow’s rose. “I’m thinking the drakkons would not be fond of such a quest.”

Wouldn’t, came Kaia’s thought.But do if helps.

Are you always going to be in my thoughts like this?

Thoughts and talk interesting.

What on earth did you do before I came along to amuse you?

Got bored.

“She’s talking to Kaia,” Mom was saying. “The queen likes to know what is happening at all times.”

Not when mating, came her response.That boring.

I grinned.Sex is a participation sport rather than a spectator one. For most, anyway.

What sport?

A game. Like when you chase longhorns but don’t capture or kill.

Is fun.

I returned my full attention to my parents. “Kaia says she’s willing to help us capture a rider alive if it would help uncover who they truly are.”

“And if youaresuccessful, then we can employ Fergus’s skills.”

Fergus was a witch whose mind-speaking specialty was humans rather than animals, and he generally worked in the healing wards helping those with various forms of memory loss to remap and recover them.

“He’ll definitely be needed,” I commented. “The few times I’ve heard them talk, it’s not been in any recognizable language. Have you sent messages to all our allies?”

Rion nodded. “None so far have had much to say in regard to who we might be dealing with.”

“So far?” I said. “Who hasn’t replied?”

“Kaligorn and the Green Islands.”

Both were smaller nations situated at the far edges of the known world, and getting to them involved many months at sea—at least two for Kaligorn and three to reach the first of the Green Islands—even with the help of air mages. Many traders thought the risk of so much time at sea worth it, though, because the two nations were rich in spices, silks, and raw cotton, and there was money to be made if they returned safely to Arleeon.

“I’ve heard the ambassadors from both places speak, and the gilded riders use a completely different dialect.” I paused to sip my shamoke. “Is it possible the reason we haven’t had a reply from one or both of them is because they’ve also been attacked?”

---