I was not convinced Ang knew how to frown, but his look gave that impression.
“And Seven Rise Island?”
It was a small island, maybe a legion wide and long, that had, as the name suggested, seven rises. And all of them so jagged that it was a nightmare to land on.
“Empty, sir,” I said. “I managed to get Dora to land and scouted the interior as best I could while Jimny and Evanov flew the shores. None of us saw any signs of habitation, recent habitation, or even possible destruction thereof.”
“And you are certain of this?”
I nodded. “I trust Jimny completely, and though I wouldn’t trust Evanov with a sack of heavy rain—” – otherwise known as dragon waste – “—I do not believe he would lie to a superior officer.” Mostly I didn’t believe that because a couple of months after his son’s indiscretion, he had himself been punished for lying to Ang. He had come to me for healing, but I’d made sure to leave the scars.
Ang nodded. “Thank you, Flight Sergeant, that will be all.”
“Sir?” I paused to ask. “What’s going on?”
Ang glanced around. The dragons were back in their nests, Fenwick was in his office, and the others had gone up to the fortress. “I cannot tell you. Because I do not know myself. But I am glad to know the truth is as I suspected. Thank you, Flight Sergeant.”
Chapter Sixteen
3954, New Translaw Calendar
“Please.”
Ang Shi looked at me. We were in his office even though we had both finished our official hours for the day. He shifted in his chair. His discomfort was clear, and I understood why.
“Look, I know I’ve been …” This wasn’t as easy to say as I needed it to be. “Less than grateful.”
His eyebrows went up. He stood and padded across to the window over the inner courtyard, and the pigs that had made a lasting change to life here on the island. His back was to me. Though with the way he didn’t emote, it made no difference to my understanding of his reactions.
“Ang, please. I’ve tried my best to do the right thing, but I fail at every turn. It’s not a skill of mine. I barely made it through the course in college and that was with a lot of assistance. Please, I need your help now.”
His shoulders expanded as he drew in a breath. I listened to the slow expiration, but he didn’t speak. I moved over to him and went down on my knees. “If you want me to beg, I will.”
He turned only his head to look at me, my head at his hip. I put my hands up in supplication.
“Please, Ang. I need you.”
He blinked. Licked his lips. Gods, that was … What was that? The shift of his jacket had to be the interplay with the windowsill. He dragged another breath in. “Stand up, Flight Sergeant.”
I did. We were closer than I’d intended, but I wouldn’t move away. Almost eye to eye but he was a little taller than I.
“There is no need to beg anything from me,” he said. “If you are sure that it is what you want?”
“I am.” I nodded.
“And you won’t complain I am pushing too hard?”
I swallowed and shook my head.
“Then I will be happy to help.”
* * *
Fin and I sat down to a private dinner. It was the first time in ages that we’d had the chance to eat together just the two of us. But that wasn’t my sole purpose in spending the evening with him. We had just finished eating when the knock at the door surprised Fin. I answered and let our visitor in.
“Flight Captain Shi,” Fin said, getting to his feet.
Ang Shi looked at me. “The boy seems surprised by my presence. Have you not spoken with him?”
