Page 91 of Red Dragon
“I feel compelled to tell you something this morning,” Teyla said quietly with a glance toward Fel, who remained asleep in the doorway. “Is it a magical compulsion created by a bond from your healing?” Teyla sounded more curious than distressed or disturbed by the notion. Whatever secret she wanted to blurt must not have been that condemning.
“It could be,” Syla said, “but I healed you back in the castle too. Maybe you just woke up with a need to divulge deep dark truths as a result of your near-death experience last night.”
“That’s possible. The gargoyledidalmost take me out.”
“Arethere deep dark truths?” Syla wondered.
“Nothing you couldn’t have guessed at, but my father… Well, he did say to keep my mouth shut around you. My beak, as he calls it.” Teyla smiled, but her eyes were concerned.
Eyes of the moon, maybe thereweresecrets.
“I wasn’t supposed to overhear their conversation,” Teyla added.
“Between your father and… Relvin?” Syla guessed.
“Yes. It was after your message arrived and before we left. I got a little distracted by everything that happened after that and forgot about it for a time.” Teyla frowned toward the doorway, some animal skittering through the leaf litter in the ancient courtyard.
“I didn’t heal you so that you would tell me secrets. You don’t have to say anything.” Syla walked over to the krendala. When she’d gone to sleep, she’d left it on the floor, not wanting to risk annoying Wreylith further, but she had to find out if the dragon would return.
“I know you didn’t. You wouldn’t. I actually wanted to tell you from the beginning, just to spite Relvin and Father. I just wasn’t sure if there would be… consequences if they found out, but I decided I don’t care.” Teyla brushed off her hands. “Father said that he would back Relvin financially and work on getting some of the minor lords and ladies on his side if Relvin attempts to acquire the throne.”
“Ah.” Syla wasn’t surprised. Their father, minor lord Abbingdar, didn’t have a moon-mark or a claim to great familial power of his own, except through his deceased wife. He was someone else who would doubtless love to have a relative on the throne.
“Like I said, you could have guessed that Relvin wasn’t acting alone. But in that conversation, I also heard Father suggest that Relvin would have to hurry because others were already putting plans in motion.”
“Like General Dolok?”
“Father doesn’t speak often with military officers. I’d guess he was thinking of other minor lords or ladies. And then he implied that some of the island lords might lay claims too. Sorry, I should have told you everything I knew before we left.”
“There wasn’t time before we left.”
There wasn’t time now either, but until Wreylith came, they were stuck. Syla gingerly picked up the figurine. It warmed her palm but didn’t feel hot or dangerous, as it had the night before. She risked calling softly in her mind to the dragon.
“Probably not, but I’m not sure what it says about me that I didn’t confess all this until after…” Teyla waved at her left shoulder, which had been dislocated the night before, one of several injuries that Syla had tended. “I didn’t feel as compelled to spill everything to you when you healed the bump on my head. Does a greater healing instill greater feelings of loyalty?”
“It can, yes. You also might have secretly disapproved of me since Idon’tsend letters listing historical errors to the authors of published texts.”
Teyla managed a smile. “I can’t believe you don’t do that.”
“My work has kept me busy.”
“Everyone needs a hobby, Syla.”
You are not on the high bank by the river,Wreylith boomed into Syla’s mind, the thunderous telepathic voice promising she was not only nearby but annoyed to be kept waiting.
Sorry, we had to camp inland where the insects weren’t as bad. We’ll be there as soon as possible. Thank you for coming.
If you are not here by the time Igliana finishes preening her wing-pit, we will depart.
Your patience and continued support mean the world to me.
Are you being snarky with a dragon?Wreylith asked.That is unwise.
I would never do anything unwise.Syla patted Teyla on the shoulder. “Grab your gear. Two grumpy dragons are waiting.” She strode over to wake Fel.
“Igliana isgrumpy?”
“Well, probably not. She’s tending her armpit. Herwing-pit.”
