“Well, that could be the case soon. We struggled to beat some pirates and a sorceress. There could be all manner of dragons loitering near that portal.”
“I know my experience has been brief, but it’s been vivid. And scary. I think we should only have one sword out and that you should wield it. You know the words to control it, and you’ve had experience with the other one.”
Kaika pursed her lips. “I’m willing to take it—I’ve almost been stuck with Kasandral a handful of times—but, Lieutenant—Rysha… are you sure you want to give up an extremely powerful tool because of a boy?” She didn’t look toward Trip, didn’t need to, and it bothered Rysha that she saw so clearly what Rysha had only recently been growing aware of. “A boy you haven’t even slept with? Have you even kissed him?”
Rysha blushed, shaking her head slightly.
“Have you kissed any boys?”
“Of course I have, Captain. And I don’t think the regulations permit you to ask me about my personal life.”
Kaika’s concerned expression turned into a smirk. “Have you kissed more than one?”
“Three. I’m not a child. And I’ve had sex too.” Admittedly, Rysha felt like a child for blurting that out as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Kaika.
Her smirk wasn’t going anywhere. “More than once?”
“Captain.”
“Just wondering which package we should sign you up for at the Sensual Sage. You know, for stress relief.”
Rysha dropped her head to her knees. To think, she’d come over here to have a serious conversation.
At least the silly conversation was driving the vestiges of her nightmare from her mind. It helped that it was getting lighter out too. Soon, everyone would be awake, and they would head off to complete their mission. And Dreyak would likely be flying behind Trip instead of her, the two dragon-blooded souls together. Would Trip find him a better conversationalist than she had? Or would they simply fly in silence?
That thought saddened her. Trip struck her as someone who could use more friends, more people to talk to. Especially since Leftie might distance himself from him if he learned about Trip’s blood. Or worse, if Leftie had to wield one of the chapaharii swords.
Seven gods, she would fight that. Better Duck or Blazer than Leftie. Given the way Leftie felt about magic, he probably wouldn’t even try to sublimate the sword’s urges. He would just drive it through the chest of the nearest dragon-blooded soul, friend or foe.
Kaika draped an arm around her shoulders. “Rysha, I know you don’t want to hurt Trip, and I promise I’ll do my damnedest to help you control that sword, if you choose to wield it, but I need you to consider that with your scholarly expertise on these weapons, it probably makes the most sense for you to have one. If we need to pull out one of the others, I’ll take it, and I’m sure Blazer would grab the third, but at least for the duration of this mission, I need you to put logic ahead of feelings.”
Rysha didn’t raise her face from her knees. This wasn’t the hug she had envisioned. Nor did she appreciate that the first time Kaika had ever spoken to her without sarcasm or without making jokes was about this.
“Once the mission is over, and we’re back in the capital, it’s very likely we can find someone else appropriate to wield the sword.” Kaika patted her shoulder and withdrew her arm. “I won’t make this an order. It’s your decision.”
She just expected Rysha to make the right decision. Great.
Rysha lifted her head and gazed toward Trip again. It wasn’t so much about her burgeoning feelings. It was that she didn’t want to hurt him, emotionally or physically. He didn’t deserve that from her. But she feared the sword would make her do both.
Then she looked at Kaika, the woman whose career she’d held up as a model to be emulated, the woman she’d wanted to emulate. Her expression was difficult to read in the predawn light. For now. What would it look like if Rysha said she couldn’t do it?
“Would you be… disappointed?” Rysha whispered, gazing toward Trip again.
“My only disappointment is that you’re in your twenties and you’ve apparently only had sex with one person. You’re shyer than I realized.”
“Captain.” Rysha shoved her.
Kaika grinned but soon sobered and lifted her eyebrows, waiting for a decision.
Rysha folded her hands in her lap and stared down at them. “I’ll do it. For the duration of the mission.”
“Good.” Kaika patted her on the shoulder. “I was worried I’d have to give it to Leftie.”
Rysha snorted, though her fear of exactly that scenario was very real.
“I think you’re strong enough to control it,” Kaika said, “and brainy enough to outsmart it.”
“My professors would be disappointed if I couldn’t outsmart a hunk of metal.”
“All the more reason for you to succeed at handling it with aplomb.”
“Just promise me one thing, ma’am?”
“That wielders of dragon-slaying swords don’t have to make breakfast for the team?”
Rysha hesitated. That hadn’t been her question, but it was a task she wouldn’t mind escaping. “No, that you won’t really drag me off to that sex place you keep mentioning.”
“The Sensual Sage? That’s a reward, not a punishment.”
“I don’t think so, ma’am.”
Kaika shook her head. “Young lieutenants these days are utterly perplexing.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
THE END
The adventure continues in Book 2: Revelations. You can order your copy now.
Lindsay Buroker, Dragon Storm
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