35
Areyou going to snore the whole day away, Vorik?Agrevlari’s telepathic voice floated into his sleep-heavy mind.
Vorik groped for the wherewithal to respond—and to open his eyes. A deep, foggy blanket enshrouded him, and he struggled to wake up.
Are you unaware that the barrier around this island has dropped?Agrevlari added.I assumed you had been responsible until I found you slumbering in this cave.
Mouth and nostrils oddly dry—no,parched—Vorik finally managed to open his eyes. He patted around, remembering that Syla had been with him. Yes,withhim. In every sense of the word. The memory made him smile, recalling that they’d had wondrous sex, and then he’d dozed off fantasizing about apple desserts she’d mentioned. But his smile vanished when he realized she wasn’t there. He lay naked in the back of the cave. Alone.
You’ve been out for hours,Agrevlari said from somewhere nearby. Was he perched right on top of the cave?And unresponsive to my attempts to wake you, though it was only in the last hour that the barrier created by the shielder disappeared and I was able to fly close toyou. I considered going to hunt on the island, as I’ve already seen a couple of my kind arrowing in to take advantage of the now-exposed succulent prey, but there are enemies about, and I figured I should protect you. You are most welcome, by the way.
Thank you.Vorik sat up, trying to figure out what had happened.
His trousers, boots, and sword remained where he’d dropped them, but all trace of Syla was gone. All trace except…
His gaze fell on one of the candles that had been burning when she’d enticed him into the back of the cave. The wicks had been fully consumed, only tiny amounts of wax remaining.
He grabbed a nub and lifted it to his nose. That scent they’d emitted. He remembered it well, though he’d thought little of it the night before. Many candles smelled, after all. His own people often put citronella oil in theirs to keep away mosquitoes carrying disease. But this… Something told him this was different. He never slept so heavily. Like the rest of his people, he never relaxed fully and was always on the edge of awareness, alert to the many dangers that lurked in the world. Had his slumber been normal, he would have heard Syla dressing and leaving.
“She drugged me,” Vorik said, his emotions a jumble.
He felt more chagrined that he’d fallen for it than that she’d done it. He didn’t blame her for that. They were enemies, after all, and he’d been lying to her and trying to trick her all along. Because of his orders. His mission.
Reminded of that mission, Vorik lurched to his feet and grabbed his trousers. Only now did the ramifications of Agrevlari’s words sink in.
“The barrier is down?” He sensed the dragon right above him.
It is indeed.
“That means she got the shielder and deactivated it. She must right now be toting it toward the harbor so it can be taken on a ship to their island.” Vorik paused, one foot in a boot. “But do theyhave a carriage? Or did they walk all the way from the temple on foot?”
When he’d come across Fel and Tibby, he hadn’t seen any signs of horses or a means of transporting a large artifact.
You walked to this locale on foot.
“Yeah, but I didn’t plan to carry a huge artifact back across the island with me.” All he’d meant to do wasdestroythe thing. “Those things must weigh hundreds of pounds.”
A small load for one of my kind.
“I’m positive Syla doesn’t intend to give it to adragon.”
No, her plan was to take it back to Castle Island. She needed to find a ship.
After dressing, Vorik jogged for the entrance.
“If they’re trekking all the way to the harbor, we can easily catch them.” Outside, he turned, looking above the cave toward the green dragon perched on the rocks, using a talon to pick something out of his fangs. The remains of his breakfast? Maybe Agrevlari hadn’t been as assiduous about standing guard as he’d implied. “Especiallyif I’m riding you.”
A dragon most certainly makes a journey easier.
“Especially one with clean teeth.”
It’s important to care for your gums, lest you get fang rot.
“I’ve heard that.” Vorik climbed the rocks and onto Agrevlari’s back. He patted the dragon, relieved to be reunited with him. “Did you see if Lesva made it?”
She was grievously injured during your battle, but she managed to swim beyond the barrier, and Verikloth plucked her up.
“I see.” Vorik didn’t want Lesva dead, but he also winced at the thought of having to speak with and work with her after their duel.
