“Torturingher,” Vorik interrupted.
Lesva shot him the cold look again. “When I was attempting to learn that which Vorik had failed to learn, the location of the Harvest Island shielder, I used my magic to try to lower her defenses and convince her to speak the answers you sought.” Lesva pointed at Jhiton as she said thatyou, as if everything she did was for him and the good of the stormers and the Sixteen Talons.
Yeah, right. Vorik knew she craved a promotion and power. If she got her way, she would lead her tribe one day, and she would do anything necessary to reach her goal.
“I believe I told you,” Jhiton said mildly, “that would prove ineffective. Moonmarks are notoriously resistant to mental attacks and interrogation. We’ve attempted to forcibly question members of the royal family before.”
Vorik also wanted to correct his brother, swapping intortureforforcibly question, but one didn’t correct one’s superior officer, especially not in front of witnesses.
“You did, sir,” Lesva said.
“And I told you not to attempt to capture and interrogate the princess,” Jhiton continued, his tone still mild, but his green eyes were hard. He’d stripped people of their rank before whenthey’d disobeyed his orders. When they’d disobeyed in a way that put the Talons at risk, he’d even killed them. With his own hands.
Vorik didn’t wish that fate on Lesva, but if she were demoted, he wouldn’t object. After the pain she’d inflicted on Syla,somepunishment should be in order. Unfortunately, Jhiton probably didn’t care much about Syla. She was a royal from the Garden Kingdom, after all, an obstacle in the flight path to achievinghisgoal.
“You did, sir,” Lesva repeated, and bowed her head, though such a gesture had to be difficult for one with such a stiff neck. “I thought you would forgive me my choice if I could destroy the shielder. But my choice resulted in the death of my lieutenant, and I regret it. Honestly, I thought the gardener girl looked so soft that there was no way that she could fight off my magic.” Lesva glanced at Vorik again.
He clenched his jaw, remembering Lesva’s unflattering description of Syla. She wasn’t rangy, lean, and muscular, like stormer women, but she wasn’tsoft. She had grit and determination. And power. More, if Devron’s accounting was correct, than any of them had realized.
Was it possible the dragonWreylithhad realized it? Maybe that was why she’d come when Syla touched the krendala.
Even though Vorik hadn’t intended to trick Syla into giving up information, he did wish he’d managed to find out how she’d finagled Wreylith’s help during that battle. That had been unexpected and almost disastrous.
“I believe the loss of your lieutenant is punishment enough,” Jhiton said, “so I will not demote you, but you willnotdisobey my orders again.”
Vorik told himself that he shouldn’t be disappointed that Lesva wasn’t being demoted, but he disagreed with the loss of one of her squadron as being sufficient punishment. Lesva,despite her aspirations to lead her tribe, didn’t have a lot of warmth and compassion for others, not that he’d noticed. He doubted she’d lost much sleep over her lieutenant’s death.
“I understand, General. But what is the mission going forward? Simply continue to demolish Harvest Island and take their food? Or do you have plans to gain access to more of the islands?” Lesva’s mouth twisted as she lifted her head and met Jhiton's gaze. “And get rid of that girl?”
That girl? Syla?
Vorik clenched his fist. Lesva had been the one to torture Syla. What grudge couldLesvahold?
“You know what my plans are,” Jhiton said quietly. “We will not only haveaccessto the other islands, but we willhavethem.”
“Excellent, sir. Is there anything I can do? I’ve recovered enough for duty.” Lesva leaned forward, eager for a mission.
Not wanting to appear anything but a loyal officer desiring the same, Vorik attempted to look alert, though he was far more eager for a night’s sleep.
“I want you to take two squadrons to Harvest Island to establish rule over the capital city while Captain Vorik makes sure a shielder is never returned to its shores to reinstate the sky shield. Not unlesswechoose to put one in place.”
Vorik raised his eyebrows and looked at the scrolls, guessing they tied in with his portion of the mission.
Lesva frowned, as if she wanted to object to such a simple task, and she also looked at the scrolls. Certain some great secrets that were key to their plans lay within? And that she should be involved?
“You’ll leave in the morning,” Jhiton told her, pointing toward the cave exit and out to sea in the direction of the Garden Kingdom islands.
“Yes, sir,” Lesva said but hesitated. “What about the girl? If Devron is right, she’s even more dangerous than I believed. And if she commands Wreylith?—”
“I am certain she doesn’tcommandWreylith,” Jhiton said, dry again.
“No, sir, that’s probably true, but I think we need to get rid of her.”
“That’s not necessary,” Vorik caught himself saying, though maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. Jhiton hadn’t indicated he would send Lesva off on an assassination mission. Further, if Vorik kept defending Syla to his people… they would grow suspicious about his loyalties.
The squint that Lesva sent him promised that she wasalreadysuspicious, at least when it came to his feelings for Syla.
Vorik folded his arms over his chest, refusing to take back his words. “She’s not a threat.”
