Page 89 of Sky Shielder
Since the attack, she’d been so busy that she’d denied herselftime to mourn, though she’d felt on the ragged edge of collapse all along. Now, in this quieter moment, she and Tibby slumped against each other, tears falling, smudging the lenses of their spectacles. Syla struggled to keep utter despair from creeping in. Her aunt was right. This was so very, very hard.
She’d thought her years in the temple had taught her to deal with death and loss, but it was different when it was one’s own family. Even if she’d never been as close to her siblings as they had been to each other, losing so many of them at once… and Mother too. It was too much. Far too much.
Why had the gods let the stormers assassinate her entire family? It wasn’t fair.
While they cried, the carriage trundled on. Syla was glad for Fel looking over them. Maybe he was often surly, but he was indomitable and dependable too.
After a time, Syla wiped her face and returned to the opposite bench so she could more easily check the road behind them. Mourning was a luxury, and she didn’t know if it was one they could afford right now.
Tibby sighed, closed her book, and leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. Lowering her voice—as if there was anyone out here to overhear—she said, “I did arrange sea transportation for the shielder, assuming we canfind a way to get it to the coast.”
“Oh?” Syla brightened with hope. “Through your engineer friend?”
“Yes. Sherrik.”
“Will fermentation equipment be involved?”
“No, but since he worked around the ports as a marine engineer, he has a number of acquaintances. He was confident he could get a ship for us. I did have to confide in him about our plan, but we can trust him. I didn’t think we could trust the temple leaders.”
“No. I didn’t tell them exactly what we plan, but they guessed it anyway. They’re not on our side.”
“That’s what I worried about,” Tibby said. “Even if you’re the rightful ruler of the kingdom now, I doubt you’ll be able to wave your hand, especially here, and get what you need. Even back home, I’m not certain. As I’m sure you’ve figured out, there are people who might prefer thatyoudisappear along with all your siblings, thus opening up opportunities for someone else to claim the throne.”
“If we can’t get a shielder over to Castle Island, there won’t be a throne toclaim.” Syla hadn’t checked on that room in the castle and had no idea if the royal throne, which was rarely used in this modern era, had survived or if it was buried under rubble.
“I agree, but you’ll need to watch your back. As soon as we’re able to return, you should set about gathering trusted troops who will support you—and protect you from those who won’t. One surly retiree isn’t going to be sufficient.”
Syla smiled through the carriage wall in Fel’s direction. “He’s not always surly. Just when something hurts.”
That was admittedlymostof the time. Poor guy. He deserved retirement.
Tibby issued a skeptical grunt, then fished in a new pack that she’d borrowed from someone at the temple.
“Sherrik gave me this.” Tibby held up a cylindrical rod with a pointed tip and a fuse.
Some kind of firework? Syla had seen similar devices around the Summer Solstice Celebration when they were lit off from the castle towers for all in the surrounding city to enjoy. When theyhadbeen lit off. Would she be able to restore order—and safety—to the kingdom by the following summer so that the tradition could continue?
Her aunt’s words of people trying to get rid of her made hershoulders slump with weariness. Unless one counted the various souls she’d healed in her life and who were grateful—whether magically induced or not—Syla hadn’t spent much time trying to win allies or create powerful relationships in the capital. As her parents’ fifth child, she’d never guessed there would be a need.
“To signal someone?” Syla asked.
“Yes. Sherrik is going to attempt to get a transport vessel and some guard ships and have them waiting in one of the calmer coves along the north shore. He did mention that it would cost money, and we’d need to be able to pay the captains when we reach Castle Island.”
“I’ll sell my collection of medical antiques if need be,” Syla said before remembering that they were under rubble, likely destroyed along with Moon Watch Temple. Maybe something would be salvageable.
“You’ll have the right to draw upon the kingdom coffers.”
“Oh.” Syla knew vaguely where the vault in the castle was and that it took a moon-mark to access it, but she had no idea about the amount of funds within. Her mother and the royal accountant had handled payroll and everything else financial related to running a kingdom. With all the rebuilding that needed to be done, Syla doubted there would be a lot extra, but for this… “I’ll find a way to pay.”
They had to.
“That’s what I told him.” Tibby nodded. “We’ll have to get the shielder close enough to shore so that it can be loaded on a ship.”
“We’ll figure out something. A travois made from driftwood and kelp, if nothing else.”
“We’ll—you’ll—have to figure out Captain Vorik as well. Ihopethe enforcers already caught him and dealt with him, but I fear he’ll show up again.”
Syla couldn’t push aside her aunt’s concern. She well remembered the look they’d shared before Vorik had gone over the edgeand the promise he’d made, that he would return. Tohaveher, he’d said, but that wasn’t all he had in mind.
