Page 58 of Red Dragon
When he and Wise had left, she hadn’t yet departed, but shehadimplied she might attempt to eliminate Syla while she was engaged in her mission on Harvest Island. Was it possible herdragon had flown at top speed and gotten to the area before Agrevlari?
Vorik looked over at Wise again, but he continued to examine the scrolls that Jhiton had sent along. If he even realized they were flying over the sea instead of down the coast, Vorik would be surprised.
Yes,Agrevlari said after a pause—he’d probably been waiting for clarification from Wreylith.By other humans.
Not dragons?
Wreylith did not mention dragons, only that she is waiting to see if the princess can handle her predicament herself without intervention. Also, Wreylith is enjoying a freshly caught eliok, so she understandably does not wish to leave her meal prematurely.
Well,we’llbe premature.Vorik patted Agrevlari’s back.Pick up the pace, will you? Let’s find Syla’s ship.
Vorik hoped they wouldn’t be too late.
A moment ago, you did not approve of me flying in this direction,Agrevlari said.
That was before I knew Syla was in this direction. Go, go. I know you can flap those wings faster when you’re properly motivated.
Do you believe if you rescue the princess, she will engage in coitus with you again?
No, I just want to make sure she doesn’tdie.Vorik hesitated.After that’s assured, I wouldn’t turn down the other thing.
I thought not.
Don’t sound smug. You’re hoping for coitus with Wreylith too.
Agrevlari picked up his pace, probably more atthatthought than because Syla was in danger.Indeed, I am. Perhaps we shallbothemploy poetry to woo our females.
I’m not screeching at Syla about mangroves.
Perhaps you can sing a ballad. You’ve a decent knack for that.
Despite my lack of screeching?
Quite. It is because you appropriately note a dragon’s majesty in the lyrics you compose.
Something that’s sure to get a human woman in the mood.
I would think so.
Wise looked up, startled by Agrevlari surging ahead of his dragon. Maybe he was paying attention, after all.
Vorik waved for him to keep up. If only human enemies were attacking Syla, Vorik and Agrevlari might be able to deter them without much trouble, but if Lesva and her squadron werealsoin the area… Vorik would need help.
On the horizon, the dark green-and-brown outlines of two of the Kingdom islands came into view. Castle and Harvest. Far in the distance, a shadow on the horizon, lay the third island in the area—Bogberry Island. The others in the chain were much farther apart and to the south.
As Agrevlari continued closer and Vorik scanned the surface of the sea with his keen eyes, he spotted numerous ships navigating the waters between Castle and Harvest Islands. Several were military craft, and was that the boom of a cannon that floated to him over the whistling wind?
At first, Vorik thought the military fleet was escorting the ship slightly in the lead, but that was a whaling vessel rather than a transport ship. With a start, he recognized it. It was the same whaling vessel that had carried Syla weeks earlier, with what, at the time, he’d believed was a shielder on board. And was it carrying her again now?
Those ships harry the vessel with your princess aboard,Agrevlari said, perhaps plucking the question out of Vorik’s thoughts.
Another cannon boomed. Vorik was close enough now to see the puff of gray smoke as the weapon fired.
“They’re doing more thanharryingit. Why are her own people firing upon her?” The answer came to him as soon as he spoke the words. “It’s a coup. Or at least, that fleet was sent by the people whointenda coup. The bastards.” Vorik drew his sword.
A few weeks ago, he never would have believed he could have cared one way or another about who sat on the throne of the Garden Kingdom, but now he knew Princess Syla, and he’d met the stiff-necked General Dolok. He didn’t know who else might be involved in trying to kill Syla, but he had no trouble labeling them asbastardsas well.
“Are we going to attack those ships, sir?” came Lieutenant Wise’s call on the wind, his dragon flying behind and to the side of Agrevlari.
