Page 65 of Sky Shielder
Belatedly, it occurred to Syla that Tibby’s idea that they poison it might have worked. He’d not only eaten it, but he’d not hesitated to do so, at least not that she’d seen. Did hetrusther? Or simply not think she was the kind of person who might poison someone?
“I’ll take you to Harvest Island if you wish.” Vorik pointed at her and waved at Agrevlari. He didn’t look at Fel or Tibby. Nothing had changed. He couldn’t—orwouldn’t—take them.
As much as Syla wanted to hurry up and find a shielder toprotect her people, she couldn’t go without her aunt, and she didn’t want to go without Fel either.
“And once we’re there, I’ll protect you from whatever threats may await,” Vorik added.
“It’smyjob to protect her,” Fel said. “We’re finding a ship.”
Vorik’s gaze remained on Syla, intent. He wanted badly to take her away from her aunt and bodyguard. She had no doubt. Whatever the reason—maybe it was exactly what Tibby suspected—that alone ensured she couldn’t go off with him by herself.
“Would you take me to see the leaders of your faction?” Syla asked.
His eyebrows rose. “What?”
“I think I’m going to need more allies for my quest.” Earlier she hadn’t had any interest in being flown off to meet any stormers, and she still didn’t want to go, at least not until she had the shielder installed under the castle, but she asked it as a test. If Vorikwasworking with them, he wouldn’t object to taking her to see them, right?
He scratched his jaw. “They do want to see you alive and even wanted me to bring you.”
Oh, right, he had mentioned that before.
“But I thought you were set on visiting Harvest Island.”
“I am, but perhaps we should see your people.” She’d hoped to catch him in a lie, but, so far, he hadn’t reacted as she’d thought he might. Was it possible that, despite what Tibby believed, Vorikwasworking with that faction?
“That’s fine. Agrevlari and I will be happy to take you to see them. But?—”
Wreylith returns, Agrevlari said to all of them.
The red dragon was flying back in from the sea, zigzagging through the sky and even rolling and diving, like a dolphin frolicking in the waves.
And is playful,Agrevlari’s telepathic voice came across as shocked.
Syla had a feelingplayfulwasn’t an adjective often attributed to the red dragon.
And beautiful,he added wistfully.
“My dragon is pining,” Vorik noted.
“Will that affect his ability to fly?” Syla asked.
“I don’t think so.”
She didn’t get to find out. Wreylith arrowed down and caught Syla in her jaws, just as she’d done back at the castle. Syla gritted her teeth at the pressure from those fangs, but they didn’t pierce her skin. To her surprise, Wreylith tossed her into the air.
Utter fear clenched her for a moment, and she flailed, spectacles sliding down her nose despite the twine, until the dragon’s broad scaled back came into view. More through luck than adroitness, Syla managed to land stomach-first atop it, arms and legs splayed for balance.
Wreylith banked and came around again, this time plucking up Aunt Tibby.
Tibby yelled in alarm as she, too, was tossed into the air. She managed to twist and come down astride Wreylith, her backpack still on her shoulders. Terror widened her eyes, however, and she sent a few quick prayers to the sun god.
Without waiting for them to settle themselves, Wreylith took off to the south, in the direction of Harvest Island.
On the ground, Vorik and Fel gaped after them. It didn’t take Vorik long to recover. He sprang atop Agrevlari’s back. Fel shouted something. An entreaty to take him along?
After the cross words—and crossed weapons—they’d shared, Syla expected Vorik to embrace an opportunity to abandon Fel. To her surprise, his dragon banked and came back, plucking up Fel, much as Wreylith had plucked up Syla. A moment later, he rodebehind Vorik on Agrevlari’s back, and the green dragon flapped after the red dragon.
After adjusting her spectacles—thank the gods she’d thought to secure them with twine—Syla met and held Vorik’s gaze.
