Page 134 of Red Dragon
“Are yousureyou’re not injured?” Fel said with a glower toward the dragon.
Wreylith bared her fangs at him.
Fel bared his teeth ather.
Unconcerned, Wreylith made a chuffing sound that might have been a laugh.You will ride back with Igliana, bodyguard. Her youth makes her more tolerant of your human quirks.
Feeling a warm desert breeze whispering through the canyon and across her chest, Syla looked down. She was nude. Wreylithhadincinerated her clothes.
“This must be why the stormers get naked for their ceremonies,” she murmured and lifted her hand.
The skin was warm and inflamed, as if she’d received a wound, but the pain had lessened with the disappearance of the flames. And a bright red dragon tattoo now marked the back of her hand. There was no mistaking that it was Wreylith.
“It’s beautiful,” Syla said.
Yes,Wreylith said.Are you ready to fly to your home? My stomach craves horn-hog meat.
Syla dreaded returning empty-handed to the mess on Castle Island, where the ambitious souls vying for the throne might already have established a hold, and she especially regretted not acquiring the shielder components. What would she tell her aunt? Or the lord of Harvest Island? She would have to find a way to get those components back from the stormers. One way or another.
You will not return empty-handed. Wreylith looked at the tattoo.You will have a dragon to help you.
Syla smiled. That would be exciting. “Can you incinerate my enemies for me?”
Certainly. Just point them out.
Syla doubted it would be that easy, but maybe…
“Are you counting Relvin as an enemy?” Teyla asked.
“It depends on how many gossipy and insulting newspaper articles he’s published in my absence.”
“Well, we’ve only been gone a few days, so probably not that many.”
It felt like it had been much longer.
“Let’s just see what’s happening when we return,” Syla asked. “I’m ready, Wreylith.”
Excellent. Fresh meat awaits.
29
They flew through mostof the night, stopping to sleep for a few hours along the coast before heading across the ocean. In the morning, a soft mist fell, the sky a hazy gray, but it wasn’t enough to truly dampen them or make the journey unpleasant. That was good since Syla was down to one set of clothing, due to the unexpected incineration of her other garments. She wished she had something luxurious and regal to arrive home in, not rumpled travel clothes that smelled of sweat, but at least she wasn’t naked. And she didn’t let her bedraggled state keep her from mulling while they flew. By the time Castle Island came into view on the horizon, Syla had a few dozen ideas about how to get the shielder components back. She would find a way.
As if he could guess her thoughts, Fel patted her on the shoulder. Despite Wreylith’s suggestion that he go with Igliana, he’d ridden back with Syla, saying he would be ready in case anyone presumed to attack when they arrived. When Syla recalled the events around her departure, she deemed that possible but thought her new dragon ally would deter overt attacks. More subtle ones… like assassins creeping into her bedroom in the night? She shivered at the thought. Threats likethat were more likely. And unless Wreylith slept on the roof of the castle, they weren’t something the dragon could help her with.
I will not be able to enter the barrier, Igliana pointed out.I am not bonded to my rider.
Maybe you should consider it.Across the way, Syla had learned that she could now speak telepathically with the dragons, whether they instigated the communication or not. She didn’t know how great of a distance she would be able to do it across, but it was easy to reach out to Igliana, who flew to the side of Wreylith.Teyla would be ecstatic.
That’s a big decision,the orange dragon said.I would have to ask my parents.
Teyla wore a wistful expression.
In the sea below, a familiar whaling ship as well as a couple of military ships were approaching Castle Island. The whaling ship wasn’t under attack, but it was sailing at a wary distance from the war vessels, even though they were both angling for Sky Torn Harbor.
Drop Teyla there, please, Igliana.Syla waved toward the whaling ship.We’ll find a way to get your portion of the livestock reward out to you.
A single sheep,Wreylith said.Asmallone.
