Page 105 of Red Dragon
“Right now, I’m on a mission to help my people by returning protection to the Kingdom—toallof our islands. After that, I’ll deal with those at home who seek to usurp the throne for themselves. I’ve had to prioritize this mission.” Syla winced, expecting Atilya to point out that this had been a bad time to leave, that it would be hard to wrest power back from someone who’d already claimed it.
“Understandable,” Atilya said. “One stands a much better chance of surviving the winter if the entire tribe is kept fed and healthy, not only an individual.”
“Yes. I do hope to return as soon as possible so that I can put an end to the scheming and plotting and…” And what? Had she decided that shewantedthe throne? All along, she hadn’t thought herself capable, but she’d already admitted that she also didn’t want a power-hungry person taking over the Kingdom, someone who might care less about the welfare of the people and more about him or herself. “I’ll ensure someone capable and good for the Kingdom is on the throne in the end.”
Surprise flickered in Atilya’s eyes. “Not you?”
“As I said, I trained to be a healer. And as my parents’ youngest, I wasn’t educated and groomed for a life in government.” The words felt dishonest when they came out, and she made herself adjust them. “I chose not to be educated and groomed for a life in politics, and, because I was the youngest, my parents allowed that.”
“You’re still young now. Plenty of time to learn. If youwantto learn.”
“I…” Syla did not but caught herself finishing with, “I’m going to have to consider it. The other options may force me to.”
“I didn’t even care for thepreviousoption. Your queen had no interest in working with our people—or allowing any stormers at all to come ashore, whether we had a link to dragons or not. Those who tried were rounded up and kicked out.” Atilya’s voice chilled. “Or killed.”
Syla wanted to balk at the idea. She’d never heard of stormers being killed unless they’d been there as spies or saboteurs. But she’d skipped as many family dinners as possible and had never asked about Kingdom relations with their people or anything else going on around the islands that hadn’t been related to the temples or herbalism.
“King Blaylok was better,” Atilya added. “He’d listen to us and wasn’t opposed to trade with our people.”
“I’m not opposed to that either. I tried to send a message to you to invite you to come for negotiations, but… I don’t think my messenger knew where to find you.”
“We don’t publicize our camps. We don’t trust that the tribes wouldn’t destroy us if they could.” Atilya looked toward the hide flaps forming rooms, acting as walls to hide the contents. “If youwereto become queen, we would be open to negotiations.”
“I don’t suppose I could imply I have an alliance with you to assist me in solidifying my place on the throne.”
Syla didn’t expect Atilya to promise real assistance, but if she wouldn’t mind Syla insinuating a link, it could help her. And if the woman truly wanted someone amenable to her cause to lead the Kingdom, maybe she would agree.
But Atilya’s eyes narrowed again. “To be worthy of ruling your people, you should be able to claim your throne on your own.Ourpeople don’t grant leadership by birth. It must be taken through strength and cunning. That is what we respect.”
Syla was tempted to point out that the Kingdom had hundreds of thousands of people in it and wasn’t a small tribe where everyone knew everyone else’s name. It took more than winning a duel to lead—and be allowed to lead. As Fel had pointed out, she needed allies. Cunning would only get her so far, and she didn’t evenhavestrength.
“I understand your position,” she made herself say.
“Should you become the queen on your own, we would negotiate with you. We might even support you in keeping the tribes from hostile actions.”
“That would be valuable.”
“Yes.”
Syla told herself that was at least something. She hadn’t expected the faction to help, regardless. Though… “Will you allow me to mine some of your ore for my mission?”
“We have no claim on the ore. You are welcome to it, if you can convince one of the dragons to dismount.” Atilya smirked and gestured toward the back of the cavern.
“Why are they roosting on it?”
“I understand it’s warm and tingles pleasantly through their scales.” Atilya shrugged. “When I put my hand on it, the buzz of magic is almost painful, but skin is thinner and more fragile than scales. It must take firmness to make a dragon tingle.”
I am growing curious to sit on that ore,Wreylith said.
She wasn’t the only curious one in their party. Teyla had left Fel’s side to wander the cavern with a journal and pencil as she alternately looked at the stone walls and scribbled on the pages. Some of those walls had faded paintings from a long-past era.
More interested in theorefrom a long-past era, Syla said silently to Wreylith,Why don’t you see if you can bump one of those males aside, claim a spot, and let me carve out a chunk while you’re enjoying the tingle?
I will consider that.
“Thank you for allowing us to mine some.” Reminded of her competition, Syla said, “Someone else may arrive looking for ore. Captain Vorik.” She was surprised he hadn’t found the cavern first, but his dragon presumably wasn’t related to any of the dragons here. “I would consider it a great favor if youdidn’tallow him to mine any.”
“He’s already been here.” Atilya smiled tightly. “And he willremainhere.”
