Page 139 of Red Dragon
“Speaking of kingdoms and rulers,” Jhiton said, ignoring the rest of Vorik’s chatter, “our spies say it’s all but assured that Syla Moonmark will be crowned queen. It seems you were correct about her.”
“Oh? The last I spoke with her, it sounded like a lot of other people were vying for that position. There were, in fact, assassins after her when she departed on her quest.”
“Yes, I heard about how you delayed the mission I assigned you to detour hours across the ocean to help her.” There was that sidelong look again.
“That was Agrevlari’s fault. He’d composed a ballad for Wreylith and wanted to croon it at her.”
“Dragons.” Jhiton shook his head.
“Ever whimsical. It’s good that we caught up with Syla though. We needed her moon-mark to get into the storm god’s laboratory, just as the scroll promised.” Vorik looked in the direction of Castle Island, though it lay far too many miles across the sea for even keen eyes to see.
He wished he could speak with Syla, though she wouldn’t want to see him again, not after he and Wise had taken the components. Still, he couldn’t help that his feelings for her remained and likely would for a long time. He was curious about how she’d gotten her people to agree to crown her. Would Jhiton know?
“I figured she could find a way to take the crown if she was determined to do so,” Vorik said, “but I don’t think she fullybelieved she was the right person for the job. Did our spies say how she wrested control?”
“She flew into the harbor and right up to the castle on a red dragon who apparently breathed fire to incinerate snipers, then arranged the delivery of an ancient tool of the gods capable of slaying dragons.”
Vorik laughed. “How’d she get that thing there?”
“It was delivered by dragons.”
“They delivered a weapon capable of slaying their kind?”
“Apparently.”
“Impressive.” Vorik couldn’t help but smile.
His brother’s expression was more sour. Since he’d seen that weapon in action, he would think twice about ordering another attack on the Kingdom capital.
“Wait, the Castle Island barrier is still up, isn’t it?” Vorik asked. “You said Wreylith flewthroughit with Syla?”
“According to multiple spies who witnessed it, yes.”
“That could only happen if… They’re notbondednow, are they?”
Jhiton looked at him through narrowed eyes. “You tell me.”
“I didn’t see anything like that happen. Not while I was there. And with Wreylith being a wild dragon to the core, I’m surprised. I couldn’t believe she was even carrying Syla about. From what I gathered, there was a promise of livestock. Alotof livestock.”
Jhiton clasped his hands behind his back and gazed out to sea again. “Originally, I underestimated the princess. I won’t do so again.”
“No, she’s got a lot of determination.”
“And power.”
Vorik remembered Syla, wreathed in magical silver moonlight as she used the weapons platform. He also remembered that she could kill a man by touching him.
“She does,” Vorik said.
“I’m fortunate that she didn’t succeed in killing me.” Jhiton gripped Vorik’s shoulder to acknowledge the role he’d played in keeping that from happening.
Glad his brother was aware of that, Vorik nodded. “Youarefortunate. She thinks you’re loathsome.”
“Really,” Jhiton said dryly. “We’ve never even spoken.”
“She’s seen your villainous cloak.” Vorik smiled, making it a joke, but it saddened him that Syla felt so strongly that Jhiton should be killed. He understood perfectly—as he’d acknowledged before, the general had been behind the invasion and assassinations of her family members—but Vorik wished things could be different. Helikedher, damn it. Maybe he even loved her.
Uncharacteristic tears moistened his eyes. He blinked them away, not wanting his brother to see him be anything but strong, physicallyandemotionally.
