“Yes,” Vorik said quietly, all humor gone from his face. “I regret that I didn’t find you in time to keep that from passing.”
“I’m happy that you came at all when you had… another mission. Your captain was frustrated. I think she might have killed me eventually.”
“She would have passed out from your odious candles before then, I’m certain.” His eyebrows twitched, the only indication that he might resent the tiniest bit that she’d causedhimto pass out.
“Candles of Serenity aren’t odious. They’re magnificent.”
Vorik snorted. “How didyourefrain from losing consciousness as well?”
“We use them in the temples often to sedate patients undergoing surgery. Most healers build up an immunity to the vapors over time.”
“Ah. It was clever of you, then, to bring them.”
Syla didn’t think her impulsive decision to stuff them in her backpack had been brilliant, but she didn’t wave away the compliment. If he thought her clever, maybe he would be less inclined to try to trick her again. Though it was likely he was doing that right now. He must have been sent over here by his people to extract information from her.
“How did you convince Wreylith to come to your aid for a third time?” Vorik asked. “She couldn’t have needed more healing salve.”
Speaking of extracting information…
“I’ll answer that question for you if you tell me why your chiefs accepted my invitation when they have no plans to negotiate.” Syla crossed her arms over her chest and waited to see if he would deny that.
Vorik’s face turned wry. “I wasn’t told.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d expected. “You weren’t told why you were coming?”
“General Jhiton ordered me and the others along to guard our leaders.”
“I thought… Well, you’re reputed to be your general’s trusted right-hand man.”
“I hope that’s still true. You may have noticed that our plan to get the Harvest Island shielder didn’t turn out that well, and my dragon had something to do with that.”
“Because of his love for Wreylith?”
“It moved him to make an inappropriate choice.”
“Love can do that.”
“Indeed.” His eyebrows twitched again. Why was that expression so appealing?
Syla had the urge to step closer to him, to rest a hand on his chest, to gaze up into his eyes, and to part her lips for a kiss. But even if they had been alone in the throne room, she couldn’t have. He was the enemy.
“For my curiosity only, you’ll not tell me how you lured Wreylith into helping you?” Vorik asked. “She was pivotal.”
“If I answer, will you tell your people?”
He started to shake his head.
She added, “What if your brother asks?”
Vorik paused and looked out the window thoughtfully. Then he sighed. “If he asked, I would tell him. And hedidask after the battle. He wanted to know why, by all the cursed minions of the storm god, the wild red dragon involved herself. Not only that, but she calledotherdragons to help.”
“Yes, she did. It was glorious.”
“Foryou.”
“Yes. It was even more glorious when your dragon bit your general’s dragon in the ass.”
“It was the left flank, and I should glower at you for delighting in what was quite embarrassing to me.”
