“Tell me about it.” Teyla smoothed her hair where the wound had been.
“While I wouldn’t normally discourage you from your studies and adventures—maybe from wanting to travel to a continent full of gargoyles and wyverns—I need you here in the capital, Teyla.”
“You’re not going to try to put me down as an heir to the throne, are you? After you, it should be your father’s brother, though his brain is going early, speaking of kookiness, but what about his nieces and nephews?”
“None of them are moon-marked.” Syla waved her hand, reminding her cousin that the gods-gift only sporadically appeared on offspring born to relatives who weren’t directly in line for the throne. Beyond that, it was less predictable, usually requiring only that one parent had a mark, but it had been known to skip a generation too.
Scientists had studied the phenomenon, inasmuch as the royal family had allowed, but results hadn’t been definitive. Those who believed the gods hadn’t abandoned mankind, as so many thought, attributed the appearance of the gifts to their ongoing intervention.
“I still can’t believe Relvin got a moon-mark,” Teyla said. “And me, for that matter. Mother had one but not Father. Relvin is a brat and doesn’t deserve one.” Teyla looked frankly at Syla. “You need to watch out for him.”
“Relvin?”
“Yes. He craves… I wouldn’t say power, exactly, but to be important. To matter. He’s been snubbed a lot for his work with the newspaper, as if that’s terribly pedestrian and only for those who want to read Garden Kingdom gossip, and it galls him. He wants to rule over all those who wouldn’t talk to him for a story or suggested he wasn’t doing noble work. He’s hoping you’ll namehimas your heir, though he’s also campaigning, I guess you’d call it. Working with all those he’s managed to make friends with, usually those who share his vices, and hoping hecan convince enough of the right people to insist that you’re not qualified to run the Kingdom—andheis.”
“I did get that gist.”
“I don’t know if you’re qualified, Syla, but he surely isn’t. And he wants it too much. He wouldn’t be good for our people.”
“I agree. And I will watch out for him, though I’m more concerned about those lurking out there who are less vocal and will enact their schemes in silence.”
“I’d worry about that too.” Teyla met her eyes again. “Doyou want the throne? I never thought you had any interest in that.”
“I didn’t, and no. I’d prefer to continue to work in the temple and do what comes naturally to me, but I worry about stepping aside and losing all say in who does end up in charge and how the Kingdom is run. We have external threats we need to worry about right now. Chaos and in-fighting wouldn’t be good for us.”
“Agreed. The stormers have been scheming for generations, but now…” Teyla again touched the spot where her wound had been. “They’re serious now.”
Syla thought of Vorik’s statements about how the climate had changed and how hard it was getting for his people to survive out there. “Yes.”
A knock sounded but was cut off, and the door banged open.
In the hallway, Fel glowered as the white-haired General Dolok strode in. His dark eyes burned with accusation as his gaze landed on Syla.
She stood and mentally braced herself. Earlier, she’d been annoyed that he and so many of his troops had allowed themselves to be lured off, chasing the dragon ship and its fireworks display, but she could tell he was annoyed withheras well.
“Are you in need of healing, General?” she asked, partially to be polite, in case hewasinterested, but mostly in the hope of derailing what looked to be a tirade poised to erupt.
“I’ve more than a dozen men dead and another dozen injured,” Dolok said.
“Please bring the wounded here, and I will tend them.”
“You’d better tend them. And what about the dead? How will you healthem? This is your fault. Youinvitedthose people here.” Dolok thrust a finger in the direction of the harbor.
Syla exhaled, willing her body to remain calm at the accusation. But there was an unsettling truth in it that put her on edge. He wasn’t wrong.
“I invited them to bring diplomats in the hope of negotiating for peace, yes.”
“There can be no peace with the people whojustinvaded our capital—our entire island—and killedthousandswhile destroying centuries of history, our buildings, our culture, ourcity. And they’re still in the Kingdom, stealing all the crops from Harvest Island while theirdragonsdenude the wilds of animals. And they’re angling to get the rest of our islands. Youheardthem. That’s thenegotiatingthey were interested in. I can’t believe you brought them and gave them the opportunity to try again for our shielder… I relieve you from serving in any capacity to make decisions for the Kingdom.”
“I’m not an officer, General. You can’t relieve me of duty.”
“I can have you forcibly removed and thrown in the dungeon.”
From the doorway, Fel growled like a guard dog.
“Yoursinglebodyguard isn’t going to stop me.” Dolok didn’t even bother glancing at Fel.
Syla took a moment to collect her thoughts before responding. Dolok might already have gathered troops and be able to call people in to grab her and restrict her freedom. She couldn’t let herself be chained. There was too much to do.
