Page 32 of Red Dragon
“General Dolok, I agree that the night did not go well, but we still have the shielders, both the existing one and the one myaunt has been researching how to repair.” Syla didn’t mention the stolen scrolls. “She needs my help to return a working shielder to Harvest Island. TheKingdomneeds my help.”
“You’renot the engineer. What canyoudo to help the Kingdom? Except send letters through which our enemies will exploit us?”
“I can help in many ways. By healing your troops, to start with. Bring all who are injured to me.” Doubt creeping into Syla kept her retort from being as strong and certain as she wished. “As to the stormers, that may have been a mistake. I agree. But I felt I had to reach out to them because… I’ve seen them in action, General. Our troops aren’t a match for their riders.”
“Only because they commanddragons.”
No, not only that. But Syla, not wanting to further offend the general, didn’t argue that the stormers were better—faster and more agile and deadly—warriors even without the dragons. “I need you and the military to focus on defending the islands.”
“We can’t do that when you’reinvitingour enemies inside the barrier.”
“I won’t do so again.”
“I wouldhopenot.” Dolok shoved a hand through his short hair. “What Venia did has nearly destroyed us, and you— you want to help things along by letting that Captain Vorik into your bed, or whatever under the moon you have in mind there.”
“Not that. Focus on defending the Kingdom, General, and I’ll find a way to repair the Harvest Island shielder and get it back into place.”
“It’s not a kid with a bruise. You can’thealit.”
“No, but we are researching what can be done.”
“We.” Dolok scoffed. “Your aunt is anagriculturalengineer. And your only use is here, using your magic to heal people whodohave the power to keep the Kingdom safe. If not for that, I would have already had you thrown in the dungeon. I may yet.”
Dolok spun to storm out the door, but a boy of thirteen or fourteen wearing the whites of the kitchen staff had arrived. He clutched a silver platter with a haunch of meat resting on it.
“Uhm, Your Highness?” He peered past the general to look at Syla. “I stood in the courtyard, as directed, and a huge red dragon dropped this from the sky. What… should I do with it?”
“Adragon?” Dolok stared at the meat.
“I heard… I mean, we think it’s eliok, Your Highness.” The kid looked reverently at the meat. “It’s supposed to be really good when it’s all seasoned and prepared properly.”
“Cook it for dinner,” Syla said. “The meat is indeed eliok, and it’s… a gift.”
“From a dragon?” Dolok demanded. “It must be poisoned. You should throw it in the ocean.”
“The military is not to be consulted on kitchen matters,” Syla told the boy. “Season it as you deem proper, and cook it up.”
The kid eyed the fuming general, the red tint to his face reminding Syla uncomfortably of the stormer whose airway she’d temporarily cut off. Next, the kid considered the meat, eyeing it with more pleasure than Dolok.
“I’ll give your order to the kitchen staff, Your Highness,” the boy said, then darted away. “Eliok,” he could be heard calling. “We’re going to have eliok for dinner. A gift from adragon!”
“You may be too stupid to even be allowed to walk freely to heal people,” Dolok told Syla and fondled the sword hilt at his belt.
Fel watched his movement through slitted eyes.
“Just handle the military, General,” Syla said. “Let me get the shielder repaired and back up on Harvest Island. After that… if you want to stage a coup and lock me up, we can discuss it. With shackles around my wrists if you want.”
Teyla’s eyebrows flew up. Maybe Syla shouldn’t have gone that far.
“AfterI ensure the shielder is repaired,” Syla said again.
Dolok growled and stalked out, deliberately knocking his shoulder against Fel’s as he left. A testament to his size and fitness, the big bodyguard didn’t budge.
“I may have been mistaken when I told you to heal him,” Fel said to Syla. “I’d hoped he would feel magically bound to you.”
“That doesn’t always happen.”
Fel grunted, saying, “Too bad,” as he returned to standing guard in the hallway.
