05 Dragon Blood: The Blade's Memory

  “I don’t care if anyone knows. I don’t want a prize.”

  Sardelle groped for something else to say, but she did not have any words that would take the blood from his hands. Maybe he wanted nothing more than to be left alone.

  “I chose to study the field I did,” Tolemek said. “I don’t need sympathy—I don’t deserve it. You pick a path where you don’t know what lies at the end, then that’s your fault for not checking a map. I’m just… in an uncomfortable position now. Your king wants more weapons, more defenses, and I know exactly who they’ll be used on.”

  Sardelle turned her palm upward and spread her fingers. “So what if you pick a new path?”

  Tolemek frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

  “Not every scientist makes weapons. There are other ways to be useful, perhaps ways that would help humankind. All of humankind, not just Iskandians.”

  Tolemek grunted noncommittally, but the faintest hint of speculation entered his eyes.

  She would not press him. She wasn’t even sure if she should, since she did not know what deal he had made with the king for his lab.

  “Have you been able to talk with Cas at all?” Sardelle hadn’t seen much of her since the air battle. She knew Cas wasn’t staying on base, though, and she knew Ridge was worried about her. Everyone in her squadron was, especially since the true story hadn’t come out, so they didn’t understand her absence.

  “Some, but she’s mostly avoiding me. I don’t know why. It’s not as if I would judge her.” Tolemek took a deep swallow from his mug.

  “I’m afraid it’s about her judging herself.” Sardelle had thought about seeking her out a couple of times, but suspected she was one of the last people that Cas wanted to see right now. “She probably needs some time, so the edge dulls somewhat.”

  “I know. I’m not pushing her to talk. But I wish she would let me—” Tolemek glanced around, then lowered his voice. “I wish she would let me take care of her. And that she would stop trying to resign.”

  “Ridge is doing his best to thwart that.” Sardelle smiled faintly. “Apparently, she’s left three resignation letters on General Ort’s desk this week, which have all accidentally flown out the window, become illegible due to ink spills, or burst into flames. I suspect Jaxi of colluding with him to make these accidents happen.”

  I know nothing of these letters of which you speak.

  You’re a worse liar than I am, Jaxi.

  That can’t be possible.

  “I heard she saved Zirkander’s ass up there.” Tolemek looked pleased, either at the idea of Ridge needing his lower cheeks saved or out of pride that Cas had performed well. Maybe both.

  “There’s a reason he doesn’t want her to resign.”

  More servants were coming in with drinks, and a set of six guards filed into the sunroom. Assuming Angulus would join them soon, Sardelle left Tolemek to his drink and returned to Ridge’s side.

  “Any news about Ahn?” Ridge asked as she sat down.

  “How do you know that was the subject of our conversation?”

  “For a second there, Tolemek looked wistful instead of brooding.”

  “No news.”

  “Ah. Too bad,” Ridge said. “I’d thought she might come out of hiding for this. If only to ask about that sword and make sure it had been stuck somewhere safe.”

  “Has it?” Sardelle had seen evidence of construction crews when they had entered the castle, but she did not know if the sword had been uncovered yet.

  Oh, yes. He throbbed and glowed so fiercely that the construction workers nearly wet themselves. Such an uncouth monster.

  I’m trying to refrain from mentioning that you caused something similar to happen.

  Yes, but I did it cunningly, not uncouthly, Jaxi assured her.

  Odd, that’s not how I remember it.

  No? Perhaps you were hit in the head by rubble during that explosion. As for where he’s located now, the king ordered Kasandral locked back in his box and returned to Therrik’s family crypt.

  Sardelle grimaced. So, Therrik can get at the sword any time he likes?

  No, the king had a lock installed, and he has the key.

  I’m surprised he didn’t have the sword destroyed.

  Are you? I don’t think kings are in the habit of destroying powerful weapons. I’m sure he got the full report on that other sorceress and knows Kasandral might be the best bet for killing her if she shows up again.

  Sardelle supposed that made sense—it wasn’t as if she and Jaxi had been able to hurt the Cofah sorceress—but Sardelle shuddered at the idea of the hateful blade being wielded anywhere near her again.

  Better that than being killed by Eversong, Jaxi said. Given how few people were found during that witch-hunt, I doubt there are a lot of undiscovered powerful sorceresses in Iskandia who could stand against her. We may be it.

  Even if Sardelle longed to have colleagues again, she was glad the witch-hunt hadn’t turned up many people, since that would have resulted in those people being killed. Unfortunately, that did not mean that nobody had died. Ridge had reported the truth to her as soon as he had learned it. His pilots hadn’t fired any guns, but they had flown the infantry soldiers around who had done so. They had also helped with the “testing.” She had yet to see this device that could supposedly detect the presence of dragon blood and couldn’t guess if it was accurate or who had designed it. Though she wanted to know more about it—or perhaps arrange for it to fall off a cliff—she hadn’t been able to bring herself to ask any of the pilots who had gone along for details. It was bad enough that they avoided her eyes whenever she crossed their paths.

  Kaika strolled over, a frothy mug of beer in hand, and Sardelle tried to put the grim thoughts out of her mind, at least for tonight. Tonight, she would celebrate being alive and having Ridge alive at her side. He hadn’t shared the details of the air battle with her, but she had healed those ribs, and she had also heard enough from Duck to know Ridge had nearly gotten himself killed multiple times. Even if she had assured his mother that she did not object to Ridge’s career, she could understand why it might have driven other women away.

  Kaika plopped into the empty chair next to Sardelle. Like Ridge and the other officers, she wore her dress uniform, wool slacks, a button-down shirt with a collar, and a fitted jacket full of medals, pins, and ribbons. With her height, she would be stunning in a dress, but Sardelle wasn’t sure she could imagine Kaika in one.

  “Didn’t get to say it,” Kaika said, “but I appreciate you keeping that witch busy while I planted explosives.”

  “I didn’t do much.” Sardelle certainly hadn’t wounded Eversong in any way. The only victory she could claim had been leaving a dent in that armor, and Jaxi had done that.

  Yes, I did. It was all I could manage. I couldn’t convince her to pee on herself.

  Sardelle had been sipping from her glass and snorted, inhaling a few drops of wine. How ladylike. She made a note to avoid drinking anything when the king was around.

  Wise. He might not be impressed by involuntary nostril spasms.

  Kaika lifted her eyebrows and glanced at the glass.

  “Jaxi agrees that I didn’t do much,” Sardelle said.

  “Hm, well, you were making a nice target and keeping her busy. That let me skulk around in the shadows and set my explosives. I took out eight of the engines in there. I figure the fortress would have gone down even if the blood hadn’t been destroyed. But I’m glad that happened too.” She waved across the table toward Tolemek. “That witch woman felt me, too, I’m sure of it. I got this real creepy sense of her noticing me and checking me out, like ants were crawling all over my skin.”

  “We’re lucky she didn’t read your intentions in your mind then,” Sardelle said. “Some sorceresses are telepaths.”

  “That is creepy. Yup, good thing you were keeping her busy then.”

  “It’s possible she didn’t realize what the ramifications were of the bombs you were se
tting. I exchanged a few words with her and believe she’s from fifteen hundred years in the past. I don’t think we even had fireworks yet back then. She seemed confused by the machinery down there.” Sardelle still wished she had found a way to use that to her advantage. While Iskandia may have won the day, she regretted that Eversong had survived and that she would likely return.

  Her and her snooty sword.

  You found him snooty? He didn’t speak to me. He actually sounded kind of noble from the way you described him, eagerly looking forward to engaging in battle with you.

  Please, he wanted to forsooth me out of existence. That’s not noble. Can you imagine a world without me?

  Forsooth, I cannot.

  Don’t start.

  “Did you say fifteen hundred years?” Kaika asked. “How is that possible?”

  “I was busy dodging her attacks and didn’t get all of the details, but the dragons had stasis technology millennia ago. I don’t know why she would have been put to sleep in the prime of her life, but I will definitely see if I can find a historical record of her.”

  “Stasis, what?” Kaika frowned over at Ridge, who had turned to listen to the conversation. “Sir, did you know your woman talks about confusing and unsettling things that don’t make sense?”

  The corners of Ridge’s eyes crinkled. “I know my world has become much more interesting since she came into it.”

  Thank you for that heartfelt defense, Sardelle thought into his mind.

  His eye crinkles deepened.

  “So long as she isn’t doing that creepy telepathing stuff.”

  Sardelle blushed and glanced at Ridge.

  He slid his arm around her back. You can be creepy with me anytime.

  “Mind reading.” Kaika shuddered. “That is not something I want my enemies to be able to do. Although…” She ticked a fingernail against the side of her mug. “I can see where it could have some interesting bedroom applications.”

  Sardelle blushed harder, sank back into her seat, and avoided Ridge’s eyes. They had explored a few interesting methods of motivation the night after the battle, and the memory could have made her blush even without Kaika’s comment.

  “If you had power like that, you could tell exactly what your partner enjoyed,” Kaika went on. “Groaning is all right as a guide, but this would be even better. Of course, then you’d have to listen to all the dirty sick thoughts men usually have romping around in their heads during sex. Some of them let those thoughts out, and it’s bad enough having to hear that. The idiots ought to just be happy enough that you’re with them and keep their lurid fantasies to themselves.”

  “Really,” came a dry voice from the head of the table.

  Sardelle had been too busy feeling mortified to notice the king’s entrance. Pimples, Solk, and the pilots on the other side of the table from Kaika all snickered.

  “Evening, Sire,” Kaika said, as if she had been discussing nothing more contentious than the weather.

  Sardelle almost snorted her wine again when Kaika gave Angulus a wink and a look that bordered on brazen. Since she tended to look at any man she found attractive like that, she probably wasn’t truly thinking of wooing the recently widowed king. Though Angulus did look quite handsome tonight, especially in comparison to the rumpled, unshaven man that Ridge had first brought to the house. His clothing was simple, trousers and a velvet tunic, but there was also a fur-trimmed cloak held back from his shoulders with a golden chain and clasp that looked like it might be part of some official royal attire. The garb fit him well.

  He did not return Kaika’s wink as he slid into the chair at the head of the table, but he did offer a cordial nod to the men and women seated around him.

  Ridge still had his arm around Sardelle’s waist, and he squeezed her. You don’t find my fantasies lurid, right?

  It depends. The ones about me, or the ones where you’re thinking of your flier and slaying enemies?

  A faintly concerned crease furrowed his brow. Uhm, the ones about you.

  Then not at all. They’ve been quite flattering. Sardelle dropped her hand and threaded her fingers through his, letting him know she was teasing about the rest. He did think about flying a lot, but she knew it was the chance to pit himself against another man in battle that appealed to him, not the killing itself.

  His concerned expression shifted to a roguish smile, and he shared a lurid thought, one of making an excuse to leave the table and take her off behind some of the potted trees for a tryst.

  I’m not sure you should be dreaming of any naughty actions in the solarium, especially not ones that could endanger the foliage, Sardelle told him. I understand you already destroyed one of the king’s vining plants.

  I—what?

  Jaxi finally shared the story.

  I don’t know if it’s fair that you brought an omniscient sword into our relationship. Unless she’s going to share the embarrassing things that you do with me.

  A tickled cackle emanated inside Sardelle’s head.

  Didn’t we discuss how alarming it is when you cackle like that, Jaxi? Sardelle must have made an odd face, because Ridge asked, “What?”

  “I think you just opened yourself up to receiving frequent updates from Jaxi.”

  “Oh.” He scratched his jaw, probably not certain if he had won a victory there or not.

  “Thank you all for joining me tonight,” Angulus said as a server walked around, refilling wine glasses and replacing empty beer mugs with new ones.

  Sardelle shifted her attention toward him, though she kept her fingers twined with Ridge’s and listened for any thoughts he wanted to share. Knowing him, he would add some irreverent mental commentary.

  “I want to thank you for keeping the Cofah out of our city,” Angulus said. “You’ll all receive awards.”

  “My first award?” Pimples blurted, then clasped a hand over his mouth. The pilots on either side of him elbowed him in the ribs.

  Sardelle marveled that Cas was the youngest of the pilots. Surely, Pimples and Duck both acted younger. Once again, she wished Cas had come tonight, that she had allowed herself to be acknowledged for risking her life.

  “Everyone will receive one,” Angulus said, “even Zirkander, despite the fact that he lost his perfectly good Iskandian flier and came back with a feeble Cofah imitation, one that doesn’t even include a crystal.”

  “Ah.” Ridge usually would have waved away any criticism—or found an equally critical retort for it—but he didn’t look like he was quite sure where he stood with the king. Unlike with most of the senior officers in his life, he did care what the king thought. “Did I mention that Sardelle may be able to make crystals, Sire?”

  Sure, deflect his attention toward me. Sardelle looked down at the table, aware that she had everybody’s attention now.

  You’re much more attractive than I and worthy of his attention.

  I think I prefer your lurid thoughts to your flattery.

  I’ll keep that in mind for later.

  “Oh?” Angulus asked. “Then I hope she will indeed stay in the city and work with us. My offer of a room at the castle is still open. I’ve already seen to it that Deathmaker has his lab back, with a lock on it that only he will have the key to.”

  “Mrs. Zirkander will be relieved to have the spiders and snakes moved out of her house,” Tolemek said.

  You’re getting a room at the castle? Ridge asked. Am I invited? I’ve never done lurid things in a castle before.

  We’ll see.

  “I’ve talked with General Ort,” Angulus said. “I asked him if there was any way his star pilot would accept a promotion, since he’s received enough awards in his career that he’s probably started stuffing them into a box in the attic.”

  Ridge’s eyebrows rose and that concerned look returned to his face, almost a panicked how-do-I-escape-this-horrible-fate look.

  “Your methodology is somewhat questionable at times, Zirkander—” Angulus’s eyes narrowed as he pinned Ridg
e with a stare, “—but there’s no doubting your loyalty to Iskandia and your officers. I understand you’ve turned down a few offers of promotions in the past.”

  “Yes, Sire,” Ridge said firmly, hope entering his eyes that he might be able to turn down this one too.

  “Ort said that we’d have to give you command of the flier battalion, along with the training program to make sure we get more quality recruits in the air. And that I would have to promise that you would still fly, and that we would find you an extremely capable assistant who would handle all of the paperwork that crossed your desk.”

  Sardelle thought these suggestions sounded quite reasonable—who else would receive such a hand-tailored promotion?—but Ridge still appeared faintly panicked.

  “Desk, Sire?”

  “Yes,” Angulus said dryly. “It’s like a cockpit, but without wings.”

  “Do it, sir,” Duck whispered. “You’d be a great general. Much more fun than General Ort.”

  Sardelle was not sure generals were supposed to be fun, but she kept her mouth shut.

  “I—what about General Ort, Sire? You’re basically describing his job.”

  “I thought I would recommend his promotion to brigade commander. You would still report to him, and he could still come with you on any trips to the castle, so someone is there to kick you under the table and remind you of proper protocol.” Angulus’s eyelids drooped even lower.

  “Er.”

  Snickers came from the opposite side of the table.

  Kaika nudged Sardelle. “Remind him that he would outrank Therrik. That ought to seal the wax on the scroll.”

  Ridge snorted, though his eyes did grow speculative.

  “Colonel Therrik shouldn’t cross your path for a while,” Angulus said. “Even though I understand that he did not lift his own hand to betray me, his silence was unacceptable. He’ll be contemplating his mistakes from his new command station, the Magroth Crystal Mines.”

  Ridge grinned, far more excited by this pronouncement than he had been at the promise—or threat—of a promotion. “I’m sure he’ll enjoy his time there immensely, Sire.”

  “I have no doubt.”