Page 37 of Red Dragon
Syla noticed that her aunt kept sayingyouinstead ofweorus. It didn’t sound like she intended to go on another adventure with Syla and Fel. Perhaps understandable. She was resourceful, but it might be a good idea to have an ally back here, keeping an eye on the political situation. Inasmuch as an engineer would pay attention to that.
“Right now,” Syla said, “I think it would be easier for me to get the help of a dragon anyway.”
Tibby laughed, but Fel looked upward, as if Wreylith might land atop the castle.
“I believe that,” he said.
Tibby looked at him.
“You weren’t there when she waved the red dragon and her allies down to drive off the stormer riders andtheirdragons,” Fel told her.
“I did hear about it,” Tibby said.
“You also weren’t there when General Dolok threatened to throw her in the dungeon,” he added.
“Was that recently?” Tibby’s gaze shifted to Syla.
“Before dinner.”
“That’s recent.”
“Yes. He blames me for everything that happened with the stormers.”
“And gives her no credit for dealing with them and keeping the working and broken shielder out of their hands,” Fel said.
Syla appreciated that he was supporting her—the moon god knew she needed supporters—but she shrugged. “I lost the scrolls.”
“If you could arrange a dragon to transport a group, thatwouldmake collecting components from around the world easier.” Tibby pressed her lips together. “Assuming the dragon could keep from dumping you into the ocean a mile from shore.”
“That was as close as Wreylith could get because of the barrier.” Syla wondered if she should tell her aunt that it would be the same dragon that would help again. It wasn’t as if Syla knew others to call upon. She wasn’t even positive Wreylith would do it. It sounded like she wanted to hunt on the shielded islands, not search for magical engineering components on a continent that she could always access.
Tibby shuddered again. “Regardless, if you had a dragon, you’d have a chance of beating the stormers to the components. Going by ship and walking inland… It could be a journey ofmonthsto gather those components. If notyears. And the stormers could fly to them within days.”
“They may not go after them,” Syla pointed out.
“Right.” Teyla brightened. “What are the odds that they even have someone who can translate the temple language? Most of their people don’t learn to read.”
“Let’s hope,” Syla said.
“Even if they aren’t involved, gathering the components as quickly as possible would be ideal,” Tibby said. “Harvest Island can’t withstand years peeled open to the elements—and predators.”
“I agree,” Syla said.
“With the assistance of a dragon…Canyou get it?”
“I’ll try, though she may only be able to carry two, if she’s willing at all.” Syla looked at Teyla and admitted that having an archeologist along could be helpful, but, if she had to choose, she needed her bodyguard.
“Darn,” Tibby said, clearly not desiring to ride on a dragon’s back again.
Was it crazy that Syla did? Even the back of a dragon who had insulted her and described all the ways she was puny and inferior?
“We can go together. I’ll defend you.” Teyla rose from the table and made fencing motions over her empty plate.
“She needs abodyguard,” Fel said, “not a historian with delusions of combat experience.”
Syla feared that not even her bodyguard would be sufficient to deal with whatever security the storm god had set up to protect his laboratory from intruders. Again, she wished Vorik were an ally she could call upon.
“Actually,” Tibby said, raising a finger, “if Syla has a dragon to protect her, someone with archaeological and especially cartographical experience may be an ideal companion.”
