patrols, including Nysad’s, left yesterday afternoon, and one more this morning. The rest are leaving as we speak. All preparing to return to the palace as soon as soon as the sun sets.”
Ryneq rubbed the back of his head. He could feel an ache starting up just behind his ear and pressed at it for a moment, hoping to prevent it from getting worse. “Glaevahl, how long will it take to put the protection in place?”
“Two hours at the very least. It’s a complicated spell and will take great concentration.”
Ryneq glanced out the wide glass doors at the sun shining high in the sky. It was only an hour or so past midday, and the sun would be up for a good few hours yet. “We believe it safe to assume Seran has men watching the border and beyond. Maybe he can see even farther into our lands with the aid of the witch, I don’t know.” He hated the thought of leaving his people so vulnerable while they hurried to get back behind the relative safety of Torsere’s walls. The small patrols would provide little defense if Seran chose to investigate.
“Eldin, I realize it’s dangerous for you and your riders to fly too close to the witch, but I’d like you to provide cover for the soldiers and villagers. You will be under the protection of darkness, but even so, there will still be an element of risk. I want to give the patrols as much support as we can while still trying to go unnoticed.”
“Of course, Sire.” Eldin then turned to address Glaevahl. “Does she need to see us to cast her spells?”
Glaevahl pondered the question, a slightly pained expression on his face. It was the first time Ryneq had seen him look anything other than composed, and it did nothing to calm his nerves. “I’m afraid I can’t be sure.” He clasped his hands and set them carefully on them table. “Ordinarily I would say that she would have to have line of sight to cast her spells, but either she or the other one managed to cause the storm at sea from miles away. I suspect she can somehow sense the dragons as they can sense her, but I have no idea if that would be enough to use her magic against them. She hasn’t tried anything yet, after all, but that may be because they aren’t ready for an all-out attack yet.”
Ryneq clenched his fists in frustration. They had no way of knowing when that might change, and his men and the villagers would be easy targets until they were behind the palace walls. But he also didn’t relish bringing his dragon riders in range of the witch. The other witch had mentioned dragon’s blood, and this one with Seran probably wanted it too. If she got her hands on a dragon….
“I’d like to volunteer.” It was the first time Nykin had spoken up during the meeting, and the look of open challenge on his face made Ryneq wince. “Fimor and I will protect them.”
Again Ryneq wished he’d thought before he’d spoken the day before. As far as Nykin was concerned, he’d as good as implied that the dragon riders weren’t a valuable part of the Torserian Army, and this was obviously Nykin’s way of proving they were. Ryneq wanted to shake him and tell him he had nothing to prove—this mission would be risky enough without that. He struggled to think of a way to answer without making things worse, but Eldin beat him to it.
“Nykin.” Eldin shot Nykin a dark look, making Nykin hunch back in his seat a little. “Unless I am misinformed, I believe I’m still the lead dragon rider. You would do well to remember that once in a while.” His words were harsh, but he had a sparkle in his eye that Ryneq didn’t miss, and Ryneq’s stomach sank as he realized what Eldin was going to say. “However, in this instance you are correct. Sire, we would all be honored to provide protection for our people. No matter the risk.”
Ryneq bit back his protests. No matter how much he hated the thought of Nykin being near the witch, and despite what Nykin may think, the riders were part of his army, and risk was
Ryneq rubbed the back of his head. He could feel an ache starting up just behind his ear and pressed at it for a moment, hoping to prevent it from getting worse. “Glaevahl, how long will it take to put the protection in place?”
“Two hours at the very least. It’s a complicated spell and will take great concentration.”
Ryneq glanced out the wide glass doors at the sun shining high in the sky. It was only an hour or so past midday, and the sun would be up for a good few hours yet. “We believe it safe to assume Seran has men watching the border and beyond. Maybe he can see even farther into our lands with the aid of the witch, I don’t know.” He hated the thought of leaving his people so vulnerable while they hurried to get back behind the relative safety of Torsere’s walls. The small patrols would provide little defense if Seran chose to investigate.
“Eldin, I realize it’s dangerous for you and your riders to fly too close to the witch, but I’d like you to provide cover for the soldiers and villagers. You will be under the protection of darkness, but even so, there will still be an element of risk. I want to give the patrols as much support as we can while still trying to go unnoticed.”
“Of course, Sire.” Eldin then turned to address Glaevahl. “Does she need to see us to cast her spells?”
Glaevahl pondered the question, a slightly pained expression on his face. It was the first time Ryneq had seen him look anything other than composed, and it did nothing to calm his nerves. “I’m afraid I can’t be sure.” He clasped his hands and set them carefully on them table. “Ordinarily I would say that she would have to have line of sight to cast her spells, but either she or the other one managed to cause the storm at sea from miles away. I suspect she can somehow sense the dragons as they can sense her, but I have no idea if that would be enough to use her magic against them. She hasn’t tried anything yet, after all, but that may be because they aren’t ready for an all-out attack yet.”
Ryneq clenched his fists in frustration. They had no way of knowing when that might change, and his men and the villagers would be easy targets until they were behind the palace walls. But he also didn’t relish bringing his dragon riders in range of the witch. The other witch had mentioned dragon’s blood, and this one with Seran probably wanted it too. If she got her hands on a dragon….
“I’d like to volunteer.” It was the first time Nykin had spoken up during the meeting, and the look of open challenge on his face made Ryneq wince. “Fimor and I will protect them.”
Again Ryneq wished he’d thought before he’d spoken the day before. As far as Nykin was concerned, he’d as good as implied that the dragon riders weren’t a valuable part of the Torserian Army, and this was obviously Nykin’s way of proving they were. Ryneq wanted to shake him and tell him he had nothing to prove—this mission would be risky enough without that. He struggled to think of a way to answer without making things worse, but Eldin beat him to it.
“Nykin.” Eldin shot Nykin a dark look, making Nykin hunch back in his seat a little. “Unless I am misinformed, I believe I’m still the lead dragon rider. You would do well to remember that once in a while.” His words were harsh, but he had a sparkle in his eye that Ryneq didn’t miss, and Ryneq’s stomach sank as he realized what Eldin was going to say. “However, in this instance you are correct. Sire, we would all be honored to provide protection for our people. No matter the risk.”
Ryneq bit back his protests. No matter how much he hated the thought of Nykin being near the witch, and despite what Nykin may think, the riders were part of his army, and risk was
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