For a silly moment, she thought Wreylith had sensed her peril and was coming to help, but the dragon’s route would take her past the battle, miles to the east. Of course. She had to have heard the barrier around the island was down and that she could hunt prey. The elioks. Maybe those other wild dragons had even told her.
Syla grimaced at the thought of poor Harvest Island being inundated with dragons, but, if they primarily wanted to hunt, maybe they would leave the towns and croplands alone. The elioks were in the forested wilds to the southwest, an area only lightly populated by humans, mostly nomadic hunters and foragers.
You’re welcome,Syla thought, attempting to send the words through the link that existed between Wreylith and the figurine.
Puny human, you dare interrupt me during this important time!came Wreylith’s booming response.
A blue dragon dove low over the whaling ship, talons angling for the canvas-covered decoy as its rider fired arrows at the crew. Syla held her breath, forgetting to reply. All it would take was one dragon lifting that tarp, and the riders would realize the trick, that the shielder was on another ship.
From the deck, numerous archers loosed arrows upon the dragon and its rider, and a swift-thinking gunman swiveled a cannon on a rotating mount to fire at the dragon. The weapon boomed, its projectile shooting straight for the aerial assailant.
The dragon spun in the air, defying gravity as it dodged the cannonball. Though it succeeded, the maneuver altered the dragon’s route. Its talons clipped the railing of the ship instead of wrapping around the decoy. Its wings splashed water before the creature gained altitude again, unhurt. No doubt, it would fly up, bank, and dive again. Or another would. Thus far, none of the cannonballs had struck the agile dragons.
I thought you were dead,Wreylith added when Syla didn’t respond.
No, not yet. My death may be imminent though. Before these dragons kill me, I wanted to let you know that I’ve removed the shielder from Harvest Island. You and your kind may hunt the elioks.
You!
Yes, I.
Why would you remove the barrier that keeps dragons from these islands?
Castle Island is more populous, so we need the shielder over there. We do plan to repair ours and replace the one on this island, so I suggest you hunt your fill soon.
Wreylith didn’t answer. Was she even now hunting?
Crouched in the doorway of the wheelhouse, fingers clenched around the jamb, Syla spotted the black dragon circling high above. Was the general watching and commanding his troops from afar, or would he be the next to try for the decoy?
Agrevlari left the black dragon’s side and dove for the ships.
Vorik glanced down at Syla, but Agrevlari angled for one of the guard ships. Dare she believe he was choosing another target because he didn’t want to hurt her? To sinkhership?
I will inform the others that the abeyance may be brief,Wreylith said.
Do you know where to find elioks?Syla asked, inspiration finally coming to her.
Vorik raised his sword, and Agrevlari dodged cannonballs as he plummeted toward the crew.
I could tell you,Syla added.Thanks to my herbalism knowledge—and being aware that the foragers who sell to my vendors compete with the elioks—I know where they spend most of their time.
A dragon may find prey without a human!Wreylith boomed in indignation.
Are you sure? You’re not familiar with our islands, right? Elioks are never out in the open. Flying over their territory won’t allow you to see them.
Their appealing scent will guide me!
Or I could tell you where they live. Then you could swoop down and catch many before the barrier returns.Syla expected Wreylith to tell her that the plan to repair the shielder would come to naught and the islands would be laid bare to dragons for all eternity. It wasn’t a bad bet.
What Wreylith asked was,Is your death truly imminent? Must I make this decision immediately?
Through the figurine, Syla sensed that the red dragon had reached land and was flying past the volcano, joining a couple other dragons—the ones Syla had seen soaring overhead earlier—in the area.
Cries of alarm came from the guard ship as Agrevlari blasted it with fire. Crew members jumped overboard to escape the inferno. Vorik threw something that exploded when it struck one of the cannons—and a keg of powder near it. Flames roared into the air, mingling with the dragon fire, and soon the ship was engulfed.
Agrevlari flew away, unscathed. Vorik’s face was grim and determined, giving no sign that he or his general would demand or accept surrender.
My death is very imminent.Syla tried not to sound desperate, but if she couldn’t make a deal with Wreylith soon, the stormers would not only sink all the ships, but they would learn about thedecoy and soon find the other ship. They would destroy the shielder, kill Aunt Tibby, and be one step closer to the utter destruction of the entire kingdom.You saw when you brought me here that stormers and their dragons are determined to kill me.
