Ridge finally said, “Due to his extreme illness, Colonel Therrik has been replaced with a civilian expert.” He didn’t mention what she was an expert in.
“Funny how ill people get when they’re taken through Crazy Canyon at top speed,” Duck said. His words were followed by a muffled chortle, doubtlessly covered with his scarf. At least one of the pilots didn’t seem that concerned with the switch.
Sardelle stretched her senses toward the three other fliers, trying to get a feel for how everyone else felt. Since she already knew Ahn and Tolemek, they were easy to identify and read: apparently Tolemek had known this was coming for he was neither surprised, nor alarmed. Ahn was concerned that Ridge had done something that could end his career, but she wouldn’t say anything, not when he had once stepped in to protect her and risked his career doing so. Sardelle picked up on the bubbly personality of Lieutenant Duck in the next flier over, and even if it wasn’t respectful, immediately thought of him as a cheerful young dog, happy to have been taken along on an adventure and not overly worried about where they were going or what was happening along the way. A woman sat behind him—this had to be one of the elite troops Ridge had mentioned—wearing numerous weapons with a duffel full of more weapons, tools, and incendiary devices strapped down at her feet. She had a book clenched in her lap, the wind whipping at the pages, but she was gazing into the sky, which had grown a few shades lighter. She seemed to be considering the situation before coming to a judgment. The last flier held Lieutenant Apex and another man, the other elite soldier presumably. He was guarded, his personality difficult to decipher without digging deeper, and she wouldn’t intrude by attempting to do so. The lieutenant was another matter. When Sardelle brushed against his aura, she drew back at the hatred roiling off him. That couldn’t be for Ridge, could it? His pilots all seemed to love him.
Look closer, Jaxi suggested. His family is from Tanglewood.
Ah. Yes, Apex wasn’t glaring at Ridge but looking toward the back of Ahn’s flier now and then, toward Tolemek. He was keeping his face neutral, but murderous thoughts of revenge seeped from his aura.
He wants to find a way to ensure Tolemek doesn’t return from this mission.
Yes, I see that now. Sardelle plucked away a strand of hair that the wind had whipped into her eyes, glad she had guessed right and pulled most of it into a tight braid. Ridge doesn’t know, does he?
He knows. Apex is a dragon expert.
Sardelle slumped back into her seat. All the trouble Ridge was choosing for himself for this mission. And would the king even appreciate his efforts? Or had he condemned himself by getting rid of that colonel? And by choosing to bring her?
“Are you now placing yourself in command of the ground incursion, Colonel?” the woman asked, her voice distant and raised to be heard over the wind since the only communications crystals were in front of the pilots’ seats.
“No, Kaika,” Ridge said. “It’s your and Nowon’s mission. If you need more manpower, someone to replace Therrik in a combat situation, I’ve chosen people whose talents may be useful and who are, pardon my bias, probably more versatile than your colonel. And Tolemek could be invaluable to you if there’s anything tricky in that lab.”
A moment passed before anyone responded, but the two elite officers gave each other long looks from the back seats of their respective fliers.
“I believe Kaika and I would prefer to pursue this mission on our own,” the male passenger—that must be Nowon—said, his voice equally distorted by the wind. “We’ve worked together often, and incorporating another person could create more complications than solutions. We will discuss it further when we arrive at our destination.”
“Understood,” Ridge said. “When we land, we can let you know everyone’s specialties in case you change your mind. I’m probably the only one here who’s only good at flying and shooting things.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
Now it was Tolemek’s turn to give Ridge a long look, though Ridge wasn’t looking back in his direction. Tolemek doubtlessly wanted to go look for his sister, and if the special unit didn’t want him, it might be the perfect opportunity for him to slip away.
It sounded like the unit didn’t want her, either, not that they knew about her abilities. Sardelle wondered whether Ridge had been including her in that line about sharing everyone’s specialties. She wouldn’t be averse to helping the Iskandian military, as she once had, but it would mean revealing what she could do. It might not matter at this point, given that quite a few people had somehow figured it out—including those women spying on her and attempting to bury her in caved-in basements. Still, she wanted to discuss it with Ridge before revealing her talents and being sent off with two strangers. Fulfilling her promise to Tolemek was her priority here.
Perhaps you could have discussed it last night if you hadn’t been bouncing around in bed like rutting bonobos in the treetops.
Sardelle had thought she was past the point of being embarrassed by any of Jaxi’s commentary, but she found herself blushing and sinking lower in the seat. Probably because she was right.
Of course I’m right. I’m always right. I’ve been in this sword for a long time. It’s made me venerable and wise.
You sound like a dragon. Or someone who thinks she’s a dragon.
I always wanted to meet a dragon. They were long gone even when I was alive.
Maybe not all of them. If the Cofah truly have dragon blood, it came from somewhere. Sardelle smiled, remembering the time Jaxi had admitted she had read oodles and oodles of romance stories involving humans falling in love with dragons, and vice versa, as a girl. That would have been before the printing press was invented, but the Referatu had used magic to make copies, and fiction as well as non-fiction had always been well-represented in the libraries in Galmok Mountain. Perhaps that infatuation was part of the reason she hadn’t found a human boy to have a relationship with before it was too late.
No… I was pimple-faced, pig-tailed, and precocious. The human boys wanted nothing to do with me. Also, I could fry their balls off with a thought. I think that intimidated some of them.
Perhaps it was more the fact that you made that known… frequently. Sardelle hadn’t been there, but she knew Jaxi well enough to believe her guess accurate. The haughty sniff she got by way of a response confirmed it.
Ridge looked back at her, a challenge since she was positioned directly behind him. “Are you doing all right back there?” he called.
Only a couple of feet separated them, but the propeller’s constant drone made it difficult to converse, and the wind rushing past would have stolen his words if he had spoken any more softly. The wind was trying to steal his scarf, too, or at least its end—it had a tendency to escape his coat and whip free behind him. She had almost taken a fringe in the eye a couple of times. It wasn’t the ideal spot for a heart-to-heart discussion, but she had the feeling the mission would start as soon as they landed, and she had questions that she hadn’t, for reasons Jaxi had noted, asked the night before.
“Yes,” she said.
Ridge touched his ear, and she leaned forward and repeated herself.
“Do you want a scarf or goggles?” he asked. “I brought extras.”
“I’m fine.” By slumping in the seat, keeping her cloak wrapped around her body, and using him as a wind block, she found the ever-present gale tolerable. It was amazing how much colder it was up there, partially from the wind they created and partially from the altitude. The breadth of the ocean made it hard to tell how far up they were, but they definitely weren’t in danger of being shot at from below if they should pass an enemy warship. She wondered if the Iskandians had considered enclosing their cockpits with glass—perhaps it would be too fragile for the pressures of flying and combat. “How far until we reach Cofahre?”
“Not until after dark.”
Considering it would take a sailing ship weeks, that was impressive speed, but she did find herself curious about what happene
d when the inevitable occurred and she had to use the latrine. An image of herself perched on the side with her rear end hanging over the edge of the flier came to mind. She couldn’t imagine that not being messy. “What happens when the need to engage in bodily functions makes itself known?”
Ridge glanced back, touching his ear again.
Sardelle sighed and leaned forward. “Where do you pee?” This was a frustrating way to talk, especially when she had an alternative. Could she convince him to give it a try?
This time he grinned when he glanced back. “There’s a tube under the seat. Most of us just don’t drink or eat much when we’re up here.”
A tube? That didn’t sound female friendly. Of all the problems she had used magic to solve, she had never thought that would be one.
“Ridge?” Sardelle checked to make sure the communication crystal wasn’t transmitting, then laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know talk of magic makes you uneasy, but would you consider…” Hm, how to phrase this? He would understand the term telepathy, she was certain, but might object to it on principle. “You know how I talk to Jaxi? In my mind? Is that something you would be comfortable with? Or could become comfortable with? In situations such as this, it would be convenient. Also when we wish to converse with each other in private and there are other people around.” She bit her lip to keep from going on with her list of benefits.
He hadn’t looked back at her again, and there was nothing exciting ahead of the flier that would require his attention, so he was either thinking about it, searching for a way to reject it, or hadn’t heard her that clearly. No, he would have touched his ear if that had been the case. He must have gotten the gist.
“What would I have to do?” he finally asked over his shoulder.
“Nothing. Just… don’t get startled and let your flier drop out of the sky.”
He gave her a circle hand sign and said something that sounded like, “I don’t even do that when people are shooting at me.”
Sardelle waited a few seconds, letting him grow more accustomed to the idea, and left her hand on his shoulder. Thank you. It’s quieter in here.
Ridge glanced back, like he might be about to answer out loud, but he closed his mouth, giving her a thoughtful look instead. You haven’t been in here long, if you think that. He raised his eyebrows. Did you hear that?
She squeezed his shoulder. Yes.
Huh.
I’ll have to be monitoring you—know you want to speak—for me to ‘hear’ you, but all you have to do is think the words to respond to me. I know you’re not comfortable with magic or anything associated with sorcerers, so we can reserve this for emergencies, or flying, if you like.
It’s all right. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. But then he added, I want to be comfortable with you—what you can do. I just have to get used to things. Sometimes that takes a while. I’m not as young as I act, you know.
Perhaps not, but I’ve noticed your commanding officers are all the ones with the gray hair.
Someday, I’ll have to command someone as obnoxious as I am, and my hair will turn white overnight.
You’ll still be handsome.
Ugh, Jaxi thought. This is so cloyingly sweet, I may gag.
At first, Sardelle assumed the interjection was for her mind alone, but Ridge’s shoulders stiffened. Jaxi! She groaned.
What?
If you start talking to him about bonobos, I’m going to drop you into the ocean.
Highly doubtful.
That’s… the sword, right? You, ah, didn’t mention that it would be speaking to me too. Fortunately, Ridge only sounded mildly alarmed. Or maybe mildly affronted.
I didn’t invite her to do so, but she’s rude.
Jaxi made a rude noise in her mind. If you don’t correct him on calling me an it, I’m going to make bonobo noises in his mind all night long the next time you two are rutting.
Sardelle stared at the back of Ridge’s head, afraid Jaxi had shared that bit of disrespect with him as well, but he didn’t turn around and gape at her in disbelief.
I’m not that tactless. Not on first contact anyway. Although technically I spoke to him before, to warn him people were trying to blow you up.
For future reference, Ridge, Jaxi is a she, and has threatened to show you her truly tactless side if you call her an it. Also, I apologize for the interruption. I’m used to her waltzing about in my head, but I know it can be startling to others. You can compare notes with Tolemek if you wish.
A couple of moments passed without a response from Ridge. Sardelle flexed her fingers in her gloves, hoping this wasn’t too much for him. She would have preferred to wait to bring in Jaxi. Or perhaps never to have brought in Jaxi.
Oh, sure, keep him for yourself. Do you have any idea how few people I dare communicate with? It’s a lonely existence these days.
You can talk to some of our Cofah enemies when we arrive, ideally while they’re thinking about shooting at us.
I guess if Tolemek can handle a talking sword, I can too, Ridge thought. But it’s a little… daunting to realize she’s like a real person and that she knows what I’m thinking and saying to you when I’ve never really met her.
Thinking and saying? Tell him it doesn’t stop there. I even know about that thing he does with his tongue that you like.
Sardelle dropped her chin to her chest with a groan. To think, when she had been staying up all night with Ridge, then riding out on the horse, she had thought she could nap during this flight. I’m not telling him that, and you better not, either.
Fine. You can tell him that I appreciate him already elevating me to “like a real person.” That’s quick progress considering I was an “it” thirty seconds ago.
I’d actually like to finish this conversation with him in private, if you don’t mind. And not discuss you with him at this time. Someday, when you find your dragon lover, I’ll stay out of your relationship.
A hollow promise, given the odds of finding a dragon.
Well, maybe you’ll find another soulblade who adores your scintillating personality. There must be some of those still around. Sardelle had no idea how they might actually have a relationship that had anything to do with tongues, but with two powerful souls, who knew what was possible? Dragons had been known for shape-shifting, and she remembered a few legends about early soulblades having the power to do the same, though she had never seen that happen in her own lifetime. Maybe legend was all it was.
I’d have to do some research. It’s not anything I studied or read much about as a kid. Jaxi sounded vaguely intrigued.
Good, she had something to think about while Sardelle finished her original conversation.
Ridge looked over his shoulder. “Did you hear that last one?”
Yes, sorry, I was trying to arrange for a more private conversation for us. Sardelle groped for a politic way to say that Jaxi came with her and that was just how it was. But she hadn’t told him that up front, and it seemed unfair to foist it on him now. Besides, she didn’t want to risk it being too much for him to handle. With time, he ought to be able to get used to the idea, but maybe this had been a mistake. Maybe this would all be too weird for him.
You’re not giving him enough credit, Jaxi suggested.
I can understand your discomfort, Sardelle told Ridge. Even having known about soulblades for my whole life, it took me a long time to get used to having someone practically living in my head when Jaxi and I first bonded. She comments on everything from my sex life to my dietary choices to my latrine experiences.
Yeah? What’s she think of the tube?
Though she was truly worried about what Ridge would think of this new experience, she couldn’t help but laugh at his question. She hoped the appearance of his humor meant he wasn’t too disturbed by any of this. Oddly, she didn’t comment on that one. She’s probably holding back until I make a mess attempting to use it.
Yes, Jaxi thought.
Maybe the experience will inspire you to inv
ent some more ancient archaeological devices for my squadron. Your people used to ride dragons in the old days, didn’t they? Maybe they had something more sophisticated than a tube.
I believe their flights were short. Sardelle lifted her hand from Ridge’s shoulder to a tentative touch of his cheek. She was wearing gloves, so it probably wasn’t that endearing of a gesture, but she wanted to let him know… she didn’t know what, really. That she cared. That she understood this was strange for him. Does this latrine banter mean you’ve gotten past the oddness of telepathy and sentient swords, or that you’re focusing on a lighter subject to avoid dealing with it?
He chewed on her question before answering it. Can it be some of both?
Yes.
He clasped her hand in his and held it for a moment before letting go.
Sardelle leaned back in her seat. The reason I wanted to talk like this is I was wondering if you were planning to use me on your mission here.
He glanced back at her, and she sensed his confusion.
When you explain to those two captains what your people can do and ask them if they want to take any of us along with them on the infiltration, are you thinking they should know about me and what I can do?
No. Of course not. I’m not telling anyone your secrets, not when it could get you killed.
I thought you might have decided that since I’m being targeted already… the secret was already out.
If it is, it’s not widely out. But no, none of that. You wanted to fulfill your promise to Tolemek, right? Find his sister? That’s why I’m bringing you. And him too. Oh, sure, I’m hoping your memories and knowledge might be useful if our elite troops bring back something kooky and inexplicable—or something that would be too dangerous to fly home with—but as soon as we land, I was planning to send you two off to find that sanitarium. You should have time while Nowon and Kaika are infiltrating that lab.