“Sit down, everyone,” Ridge said, waving to the other chairs and couches. “Let’s try to keep our planning session brief.” He nodded toward the kitchen door. Fern hadn’t closed it entirely, so Sardelle nudged it gently with her mind so that it snicked shut. “As you heard, my mom doesn’t believe in dragons or magic.”
“Wish I still didn’t,” Kaika muttered, choosing a plush chair. She flopped back in it, dangling a long leg over the armrest. She had been the last of the group to learn of Sardelle’s abilities, but despite her comment, she hadn’t seemed fazed by it. Sardelle wished she could hope for such acceptance—or indifference—from all of Iskandia. Duck and especially Apex had been less comfortable with the notion, but after the deadly situations the group had escaped from, they seemed less disturbed by her. Apex still gave Tolemek a lot of guarded glances—one of his concoctions had been responsible for the death of everyone in the village where he had grown up—but he hadn’t said a rude word to Sardelle.
While the others settled in, Cas remained by the wall between the front door and a window and peeked outside. Duck and Apex took another small couch, which left a spot for Tolemek on the other side of Ridge. He looked distastefully at his only option for a moment before perching on the edge of the cushion.
“What’s the plan, sir?” Kaika asked. She may have appeared relaxed, but her eyes were sharp as they regarded Ridge. “I have some explosives in my pack, and I can get more.”
“How will blowing things up help us find the king?” Ridge asked.
“I don’t know, but it would make me feel better.”
Ridge leaned forward. “Here are our problems, in no particular order.” He lifted his fingers to count them off. “First, missing king. Second, that monkey’s ass Colonel Therrik in charge of the flier battalion.” He clenched his jaw. “Third, General Ort forced to step down by an unknown person. Lastly and worst, the country being vulnerable to attack if the Cofah or anyone else hears about the turmoil here, and I can only assume they’ll know soon if they don’t already. I want to find General Ort and get his report on what’s been happening.”
Sardelle didn’t mention that the wanted posters and people hunting for her were also a problem, since she knew he had to deal with military matters first, but she certainly intended to do something about that organization hunting her.
“Aren’t colonels supposed to report to generals and not the other way around, sir?” Duck asked.
“Probably, but I have an unorthodox method of dealing with the command structure.”
Every single one of his troops snorted.
“Finding Ort needs to be our first priority, and—” a slight, pleased smirk crept onto Ridge’s face, “—there’s someone else I’ve been thinking about visiting, someone who very likely has some intelligence, given his recent and unlikely promotion. An interrogation could be most rewarding.”
“You want to interrogate Colonel Therrik, sir?” Ahn asked, her voice laced with skepticism. “He almost broke your neck before we took off for Cofahre. And that was how he felt about you before you got him airsick in Crazy Canyon, knocked him unconscious, and abandoned him by the side of the road.”
“Yes, Ahn, thank you for the recap. Clearly, I wouldn’t be looking to apprehend him physically. At least not in a fair fight. I was thinking of an ambush, followed by him being tied to a chair and convinced to speak to us.”
“Convinced with fists?”
Ridge’s expression grew wishful.
“Perhaps Tolemek could make a truth serum so it’s not necessary to resort to fists,” Sardelle said. “I’ve heard that’s in his repertoire.”
“It is,” Cas said, her tone flat rather than encouraging. Tolemek shrugged apologetically at her.
“No fists?” Ridge laid a hand on Sardelle’s arm. “You’re ruining my daydream for me.”
“Sorry. You can still tie him to a chair, if you wish.”
“You don’t want to physically confront the colonel, anyway,” Kaika said. “I wouldn’t even try an ambush. He’s deadly in unarmed combat. Nowon was the only one I ever knew who could…” She scowled at the floor for a moment, then took a deep breath for her lost comrade before adding, “He could come out on top at least half of the time, but he was deadly too. Quick, agile, and crafty.”
“I’m going to try not to take that as a slight against my own combat skills,” Ridge said. “But I do concede your point. Tee, put a truth serum and a knockout potion on my shopping list, will you?”
“I’m not a pharmacy, Zirkander,” Tolemek growled. “There’s nothing in the contract I signed about rescuing rulers or picking fights with surly colonels.”
If Tolemek’s scowl bothered Ridge, he didn’t show it. He smiled and said, “Can you have something ready by morning?”
Tolemek’s eyes narrowed.
“Tomorrow night? And just to be clear, I’m not the surly colonel, right?”
“Fine,” Tolemek said, “but I’ll need access to my lab. I depleted my reserves in that jungle.”
Ridge looked down, seemed to realize he had been petting the cat, which had settled into his lap, and set his hands by his sides. “It might be dangerous for you to be seen in town.” He glanced at Sardelle, doubtlessly thinking it would be dangerous for her too. “Colonel Surly was picking the fight with you, not the other way around, as I recall. Maybe I can go with you before checking in on Ort.”
“I don’t need any help getting into my own lab.”
“Or maybe Ahn can go with you.”
Tolemek settled against the backrest. “Hm.”
Ridge turned toward Sardelle and murmured, “I didn’t want any competition for the pottery shed.”
Sardelle glanced toward the door to see what Cas thought of the assignment, but she had slipped outside. Sardelle hoped that didn’t mean trouble was coming to find them.
“Duck,” Ridge said, “I hate to give you the boring and uneventful duty, but someone needs to guard the fliers until we know if it’s safe to bring them to the hangar.”
It was probably safe now, Sardelle guessed, for someone who wouldn’t mind reporting in and being added back to the roster under Therrik’s command. She could see why skulking around without anybody knowing he was in town would appeal more to Ridge, but hoped he wasn’t sinking himself deeper into a tar pit.
“Oh?” Duck asked. “There’s decent hunting in Crazy Canyon. I won’t mind.”
“Good. Apex, I want you to find someone from Wolf Squadron. Don’t go into the fort, since we don’t want to reveal ourselves yet, but maybe you can catch someone at Wings and Swords. Find out if Therrik is treating them decently and if they know anything about the king or anything else that’s going on around here.”
“Yes, sir,” Apex said.
“Am I coming along to help with your nemesis?” Sardelle worried that he would get himself pummeled—or worse—if he tried to accost Therrik.
“Actually,” Ridge said, “with your unique skills, I thought you would be the perfect person to—”
The kitchen door swung open, and Fern walked out with a pitcher and a stack of cups. She set them down on a low table, said, “Please enjoy some mulled wine, my friends,” then returned to the kitchen. She managed to leave the door ajar again.
Sardelle waited until she had returned to the cutting block by the sink before easing it shut.
Ridge leaned close to Sardelle, his shoulder touching hers. “I know you have your own concerns and want to research that organization that was after you, but it might be a good idea to sneak someone into the castle to check on the queen.”
Kaika dropped her foot to the floor with a clomp and straightened up. “That’s my mission.”
“I thought it could be both of your missions.” Ridge smiled at Kaika and Sardelle, then walked to the table to pour drinks.
Kaika’s eyes closed partway as she scrutinized Sardelle. Since Kaika and Apex had returned to Iskandia instead of going to the jungle with the rest of the group, Sardelle
hadn’t yet had a chance to work with her. Apex may have explained some of her talents, but Kaika hadn’t seen many of them for herself. She probably wasn’t sure what to think of Sardelle. For that matter, Sardelle did not know what to think of her. She had heard that Kaika, after Nowon had been killed, had single-handedly taken out numerous Cofah soldiers in that volcano outpost and then planted the explosives that had blown it up. She was clearly an asset to a military team, but if she didn’t like Sardelle—or magic—then working with her would be difficult.
Kaika was still staring in Sardelle’s direction when Ridge returned to hand each of them cups. As he headed back to pour more wine, Sardelle thought about brushing across Kaika’s mind and trying to read a few surface thoughts, but she always questioned herself when she did that, especially with people who weren’t enemies. In her time, there had been laws against such intrusions. Just because there was nobody around to enforce those laws now did not make it right to poke around.
Sardelle sipped from the ceramic mug.
She doesn’t hate you, Jaxi said, but she’s under the impression that you’re a healer and wouldn’t be useful in a fight. She also wouldn’t mind if a rogue dragon ate you and she had to console your lover with vigorous sex.
Sardelle choked on her wine.
Perhaps I should have kept that information to myself. Jaxi’s contrite tone was not convincing.
Perhaps you should stay out of other people’s heads, especially the heads of allies. At least Sardelle thought she could consider Kaika an ally. Ridge could consider her one. That was a certainty.
I’d say so.
I thought she was attracted to Apex.
Oh, she wants to have vigorous sex with him too. She’s irritated that he’s either not attracted to her or is obtuse about reading her not-so-subtle signals.
Sardelle rubbed the back of her neck. Is there anyone she doesn’t want to have vigorous sex with?
She thinks Duck is homely and would only consider Tolemek if he got a haircut.
That didn’t entirely answer my question.
Jaxi grinned into her mind. No, I suppose it didn’t.
A warm hand touched the back of hers. Ridge had finished handing out drinks and stood behind her. He took over rubbing the back of her neck and bent low to whisper, “Are the spices in the wine too strong, or is Jaxi making inappropriate comments?”
Sardelle leaned back into his hand. “You’ve come to know me—us—well in such a short time.”
“It’s been an eventful couple of months.”
Kaika sank back into her chair, looked away from Sardelle—or perhaps the fact that Ridge was massaging her—and stared thoughtfully into her wine.
Even though she knew she should ignore the results of Jaxi’s spying, Sardelle couldn’t help but ask, She’s not thinking of blowing me up to get to him, is she?
I don’t believe so. She was somewhat mortified by the mother and the idea of making babies with him. I think she’s just curious as to how effectively he could make her bed bounce. Now she’s thinking about the king.
And making his bed bounce?
Rescuing him.
“You didn’t mention what you think of the idea of infiltrating the castle.” Ridge glanced at Kaika, then gazed down at Sardelle, a question in his eyes.
“If you think that’s a wise course of action, I can probably be of assistance there.” Hoping she wasn’t being presumptuous, Sardelle touched his mind lightly. Is there more?
He pulled a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. I’m not sure any of these actions are wise. Kaika is the one who wants to infiltrate the castle. She believes the queen will know something, or that she’ll be able to figure out who’s controlling her. She’s set on going, and no matter what I say, I can guarantee that she will be gone in the morning. She’s extremely capable—along with the words, Ridge thought of the Cofah volcano base that had blown up as they were drifting away from it in that hot air balloon—and I could let her go alone, but I’m worried explosives won’t be the answer to bringing the king back. With your talents—and Jaxi’s talents, of course—you might be able to see more in the castle than she could.
I don’t mind going. There are things to be said for the direct approach.
Good things or impulsive and dangerous things? Ridge asked.
I’ll have to let you know after we’ve stormed the castle.
“That’s creepy,” Duck announced.
Sardelle dropped her gaze and folded her hands in her lap, certain he had noticed that she and Ridge had been gazing oddly at each other and not speaking.
“When did Raptor add swordsmanship to her list of skills?” Duck added. He had drifted over to the front window with his mug in hand.
“She’s passable with a knife, but usually favors her rifle,” Apex said. “Or her flier’s guns.”
Ridge drew back from Sardelle. “I thought she was watching for trouble.” He walked toward the window. “She’s not cutting up any visitors, is she?”
“No, she’s doing practice forms,” Duck said. “With that glowy sword. I hope the neighbors aren’t looking.”
“It’s not the first time,” Tolemek said. “She said she doesn’t trust that dragon not to go back to my peo—the Cofah in some capacity, and that she intends to be ready if it ever shows up here.”
An irritated yowl sounded, and Ridge jerked his foot up.
The kitchen door opened, and Fern hustled out with a tray of food. “Did someone step on a cat? What happened?”
“Sorry, I didn’t see that one there,” Ridge said, frowning out the window.
Sardelle wondered if she should join him, but she only had power over one glowing sword, and the dragon slayer wasn’t it.
“That’s Mimi.” Fern pointed at the spotted cat skulking away.
“Of course it is. Mom, when I moved you out to the country, it wasn’t so you could collect more stray cats.”
“Oh? Was it so my humble cottage could be turned into your secret safe house in the event of an emergency?”
“Well, no.”
She shrugged. “Cats happen, dear. That’s just how it is.”
Cas opened the front door and stepped inside, sweat gleaming on her forehead. “Soldiers are coming.”
So much for a secret safe house, Jaxi said.
Chapter 2
Ridge stood in the dark with his back pressed against the cottage wall, his ear toward the window his mom had opened before shooing them outside. Sardelle stood in front of him, her back to his chest, and he resisted the urge to rest his hands on her shoulders. He was too tense. He would end up gripping her like a falcon with talons. He hated hiding from a bunch of soldiers he outranked, or hiding from Iskandian soldiers at all. He should be in there with them, seeing if the locals knew of a place to share a beer, but if he wanted a chance at surprising Colonel Therrik, it would be best if nobody knew Ridge was back on the continent. These troops might be out looking for information on the king, but he found it telling that they had driven straight up to his mother’s house.
“Shouldn’t we be hiding farther away, sir?” Duck asked. The entire team was lined up against the back of the house. Voices came from out front, where a steam wagon hissed and groaned as it idled. Someone had already knocked on the door. “What if they look back here?”
“I’m not going far while they’re talking to my mother.” Never before would Ridge have worried that his mom could be in trouble from soldiers, but someone had declared him AWOL, blown up his house, and had General Ort removed from duty. That same someone could have put out orders for soldiers to question people associated with Ridge, and who knew what methods would have been approved for that questioning?
His hand balled into a fist. If he heard so much as a raised voice inside, he would deal with these men, surprising Therrik be damned.
Sardelle found his hand and rested hers lightly on it. “Don’t say anything if they look out here,” she said softly. “I’ll make sure they don’t see us
.”
“I’m not sure if that’s comforting or not,” Apex murmured.
“It’ll be all right,” Duck said.
Ridge touched Sardelle’s waist. He was still too tense for handholding, but he wanted her to know he appreciated that she was there, looking out for them.
A thunk came from inside. Ridge shifted closer to the window.
“…haven’t seen him, ma’am?” someone was asking.
“I told you that he hasn’t been by since last fall. If not for his letters, I wouldn’t know if he was dead or alive.”
Ridge winced, in part because he hated asking his mother to lie on his behalf, and in part because she sounded more sad than indignant. He should have found time to visit this past winter. He hated to think that he had become his father’s son and was too self-absorbed in his work to make time for family. Maybe he shouldn’t have moved her so far away. But she had always said she hated the city, and she loved painting those rural landscapes.
I never saw my parents often enough, either, Sardelle spoke softly into his mind. I was always traveling to teach or work with the military. Her words were a little tentative. She probably wasn’t sure if he would want her in his head now, but he liked being able to have private conversations with her. And he didn’t have a lot to hide. For good or ill, he tended to say exactly what he thought most of the time.
This time, he did rest a hand on her shoulder. We always think there will be plenty of time later, but it never seems like there is.
“Here’s how it is, ma’am,” the soldier went on—it sounded like there were three or four in there, tramping around. Ridge was glad he had thought to hide all of the cups. There was no hiding the two pies his mother had already put in the oven. “We’re worried about the colonel, about the witch controlling him. They say he did some crazy things before disappearing with a handful of our fliers and their pilots.”
Disappearing? He’d been sent on a mission by the king himself. Granted, he hadn’t taken the commanding officer that he should have taken…