“You needn’t be, but thank you.”
“Have you lost, uhm. Were you ever married?” Syla blinked when she realized he could be married now, and she wouldn’t know it. The stormers didn’t wear rings or outward symbols to indicate they were wed. “Orareyou married?”
“I’m not, no. My brother wouldn’t ask me to seduce a woman on a mission if that would require me being unfaithful to a wife.Our people aren’t always monogamous, but that’s something couples figure out, and he’s always been, or, ah,wasa believer of that.” Vorik waved, as if to dismiss a topic he hadn’t meant to bring up.
It occurred to Syla that getting information about General Jhiton and what motivated him might be more useful than asking Vorik about himself.
“Didhelose a wife?” she asked.
Vorik grimaced and glanced back. Not comfortable sharing anything about his brother without permission?
The officers had left the table, however, and Syla didn’t see Jhiton. Actually, she didn’t seeanyonein that area and looked around in surprise. Sergeant Fel remained, watching her back as always, but the officers and all their military men had departed. A couple of castle staff and a single soldier in a Royal Protector uniform stood near a door, keeping an eye on Vorik. As ifthatwould be a sufficient enough force to handle a dragon rider if he attacked her. Did General Dolokhopethat would happen and that he could be rid of the last Moonmark child? And what were his men doing? Were all the stormers being escorted back to their ship? The negotiations, such as they’d been, considered complete?
Syla looked at Fel, wondering if he thought it odd that they’d essentially been left alone. He widened his eyes toward Vorik.
What, did he want her to ask more prying questions—more militarilypertinentquestions? She thought inquiring about what motivated the general in charge of the Sixteen Talons was pertinent.
“His wife lives.” Vorik’s tone was a little puzzled. As attentive as he was, he must have noticed his people leaving, but maybe he hadn’t expected to find so few ofhersremaining. His gaze was curious when he looked thoughtfully back to her, but hecontinued to answer her question. “They are no longer together, however.”
“They divorced?”
“Perhaps not formally, as that’s not a common practice among our people. For that matter, we don’t have marriages that are as elaborate and full of ceremony as yours. A couple merely bonds in their own way and then informs the tribe. But they… after their only living son passed, it was difficult for both of them. His wife returned to the tribe into which she was born, and Jhiton threw himself into his duties.”
“Like planning a war?”
Vorik spread his hand, as if to say that was information he couldn’t divulge. Of course not.
“What can we talk about that’s safe?” Syla whispered, not wanting him to go but wondering if he would stay if there was no chance of gaining intelligence.
She removed her spectacles and rubbed at her temple, a headache creeping into her. Her neck and shoulder muscles were tense, as well, but she could hardly complain if those were the worst of her maladies, not when so many had lost so much more. Some had lost everything.
She swallowed and looked away, wishing she weren’t always on the verge of tears, but in the aftermath of all the atrocities, it had to be normal.
“You could give me the ingredients for making one of your cobblers,” Vorik offered. “Or is that a matter of kingdom security?”
“I don’t know. Would having that information encourage your people to attack more of our islands to gain greater access to berries?” She wished it were a joke.
A troubled expression in Vorik’s eyes suggested he did too. “You look like you could use a neck rub.”
“Are you offering?”
“I would, but…” He gazed at the castle staff, any of whom might spread gossip if they touched.
Normally,gossipwouldn’t trouble Syla, but these were different times. Everyone from generals to relatives to lords and ladies she’d never met were scrutinizing her.
“Your people might object,” Vorik finished.
“Yes.”
He cocked his head. “Wouldyouobject?”
“I should.” But she wouldn’t. She was relieved he was speaking with her after she’d tricked him. Many men, she believed, would not want to spend time with a woman who’d gotten the best of them. Had their situations been reversed, she didn’t know if she could have forgiven him. “But I’m so often tense that I’d be foolish to reject neck rubs from anyone. If a cane with a capable bent offered one, I would have to take it.”
“That’s an interesting image.”
As she lifted her spectacles to return them to her face, Vorik raised a hand.
“May I hold those for a moment?”
