05 Dragon Blood: The Blade's Memory (21 page)

Ridge turned toward the telegraph machine. As he composed a hasty message to tap out, he ignored the puppet-like way Therrik was jerked and ambulated out the door. Ridge had to send his message to every hangar, in the hope that at least some people would come because he asked. Some of them would doubtlessly question why
he
was trying to send orders, when everybody knew he wasn’t high enough to order anyone except his own squadron around. He hoped that his reputation might convince some people to at least pass along his message. This was the only way he had to get in touch with Wolf and Tiger Squadrons and request that they come home.

Would you like the tram to be delayed indefinitely?
Jaxi asked.
They’re starting to get irritated, and the fellow down below is banging against his machine with a wrench.

Sardelle walked through the door as Ridge sent the last message. As much as he would have liked to keep the soldiers from coming up—especially if they were, as he suspected, military police—they would not be able to hide up here indefinitely. He could have taken the two-person flier and flown off to parts unknown, but he needed to be here in case any of his people
did
return. And he needed to find a way to get Kaika out of the dungeon. In short, he needed all of the doubt to be erased from his name. He just wasn’t sure how to make that happen.

Ridge picked up one of the bags of dragon blood, the vials inside clinking. He handed it to Sardelle. “Will you see to it that Tolemek gets this? Maybe he can create some weapons or defenses that we can use to protect the city. Whatever his morals will allow him to make. Since Iskandia is his home now, too, I’m hoping he’ll want to defend it.”

“I’ll give it to him.” Sardelle accepted the bag, then squeezed his arm. “As far as clearing your name, if you go through with my plan, that should be easier. I’ll disappear, so I’m not seen here with you. Jaxi is trying to adjust Therrik’s thoughts so that he doesn’t remember my role in subduing him.” She winced. “It’s not… morally acceptable, but I hope the gods will understand in this case.”

“I don’t intend to tell them you’re some megalomaniacal crazy woman who had control over me,” Ridge said.

The soldiers have reached the top and are getting out of the tram
, Jaxi informed them.

“Save your career, Ridge. You’ll only have the power to do what needs to be done if you’re trusted by your superiors. What these people think of me doesn’t matter. We can see each other in secret in the future if necessary.” She kissed him, then let go of his arm and backed away.

Secret? Ridge didn’t want her to have to spend her life in hiding, nor did he only want to see her in secret, damn it. “My mother would be devastated if she never saw you again,” he said, because it was the only thing that came to his mind.

As she smiled sadly back at him and disappeared through the door, he wished he had said something far more important. Like that he loved her.

I know you do. I love you too.

Boot steps rang against the cement floor in the hangar. With his shoulders slumped, Ridge walked toward the doorway. He didn’t want anyone to notice the telegraph machine or be there to read any return messages that would hint at what he had sent.

General Arstonhamer strode toward the office with six MPs marching at his side.

“A little more force than is necessary for just me, sir.” Ridge spread his arms.

“Is it?”

All of the men were stealing covert glances toward the unconscious figure slumped against the wall beside the office door. Even if Therrik did not bear any bruises, his shirt was untucked and his jacket rumpled. Ropes bound his hands behind his back, and a line of drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Ridge thought the men would assume that “his witch” had been responsible, but they kept glancing back and forth from Ridge to Therrik. Did they think he had knocked the brawny officer out? That would either be good for his reputation… or the final nail in his coffin.

“Cuff him,” Arstonhamer said.

Yup, the nail was looking more likely.

Ridge did not resist. He let them lead him toward the door, though he couldn’t help but cast his longing gaze back toward his flier as he went. He wasn’t sure if it was because he worried he would never be allowed to fly again or because he could have taken Sardelle and flown away, leaving this mess for someone else to handle. Wishful thinking there.

Say what you need to say, Ridge,
came Sardelle’s voice, seemingly softer and farther away than it had been before.
I’m going to find a way to get Kaika before it’s too late for her.

Ridge wished he could find those parting words encouraging, but all he could think was that Sardelle was going to go risk her life, and he had absolutely no way to help her.

Chapter 9

As night fell, Sardelle leaned against the wall of the last building on the block, watching the street that wound its way up the craggy slope toward the castle. The bag of dragon blood vials lay at her feet, humming with power. She wasn’t sure where to stash the valuable goods while she attempted to extricate Kaika. They needed a safe house closer to town. Of course, they would then risk having that safe house found and blown up.

She considered the castle and the promontory grounds around it, trying to gauge how many men were on duty up there and whether they were anticipating another infiltration. Though she could not see the spot from her position, she had already checked and knew that men were standing guard on the rocks behind the castle, their lanterns shedding too much light for her to think of sneaking in that way. Workers labored at collapsing the rest of that tunnel. The wall in the wine cellar had already been bricked closed again. Sardelle had a feeling a stealthy incursion would not work tonight. Even from far below the castle, she could tell that double the men walked the walls and stood watch from the towers.

What
are
you planning?
Jaxi asked as Sardelle observed an ornate wood-paneled steam carriage chugging up the slope. Would it be allowed entrance? It didn’t look like a delivery vehicle, nor was it a military truck. She brushed it with her senses and identified a male driver and two female occupants.
Maybe you can wait for the grocery wagon and hide among the cabbages
, Jaxi suggested.

Who delivers groceries at night?

People with worm-riddled cabbages they want to unload before the sun comes back to illuminate their flawed wares?

I don’t think anyone would dare send wormy vegetables to the queen at any time of day.

You’re probably right. I bet those go to the soldiers. Wasn’t Ridge complaining about army food?

Sardelle winced, immediately thinking of Ridge locked up in some dingy cell. If he’d had any notion in his mind of fleeing, she would have suggested that she could have held off those soldiers while he powered up his flier. But she had sensed his weariness, that he was tired of running and hiding and spying from outside of the organization he was supposed to be a part of. She didn’t know if he would follow her suggestion, but he wanted to clear his name and return to his unit, ideally taking Therrik’s place instead of serving under him, though he hadn’t had any idea how he could make that happen.

The castle,
Jaxi prompted.
You can ask him later if he received wormy cabbages.

Yes, that will be what I want to discuss when we’re reunited.
Sardelle adjusted her position. The cool dampness of the brick wall threatened to seep through her cloak.
I haven’t decided on a course of action yet, but was thinking about walking up to the gate, knocking it down, and stomping down to the dungeon to openly haul out Kaika.

That sounds like a good way to get shot.

I’d assumed you could keep me shielded while I was stomping and breaking down doors.

I could, but what about that instant where you need to transfer Kaika from outside of our barrier to inside of it? Not to mention that they could run ahead and shoot her if they see you coming. Or they could hold a knife to her throat. And what if they figure out how to delay us and if they throw such a barrage of bullets at my shield that I run out of the energy to sustain it?

You? Run out of energy? You melted a ten-foot stone wall.

If you want me to melt the castle, then I’m your sword. Defenses aren’t my specialty. It’s harder to keep something—or someone—alive than it is to utterly destroy it.

That almost sounded like praise for my role as a healer.

You’re a good healer
, Jaxi said.
Perhaps you can bribe your way in by assisting a guard with a problem. I think I noticed someone digging at a splinter during my initial survey.

Or give the soldiers rashes and then offer to heal them?
Sardelle watched as the carriage turned around in front of the castle gates and headed for a parking area outside of the walls. Two women had gotten out and were being let into the courtyard, two women in dark cloaks with their hoods pulled up.

I do think trickery would be better than the frontal assault you have in mind. Of course I will shield you, but I worry about this tactic, especially since you won’t want to hurt anyone. If you get Kaika but kill five other people, then is anything gained? They’ll hunt you more diligently than ever.

I know, Jaxi.
Sardelle had not seriously been contemplating an open assault. She was just frustrated, much as Ridge was, at having to skulk around among people who should be open to her help. If only she could make them understand that.
You think the queen is having a meeting with her Heartwood sisters tonight?

Even as she asked the question, another carriage trundled past. This one had a female driver and a female occupant.

If so, maybe we can get ourselves invited
, Sardelle mused.

Jaxi did not respond. Sardelle gave her a mental poke.

You’re not the only one out here watching the castle and contemplating ways in
, Jaxi informed her.

Oh?

An image entered her mind, one of Tolemek, Cas, and Duck standing on the last dock in the harbor, pretending to be fishing off the end. From their spot, they had a view up to the front of the castle.

Ridge didn’t lead me to believe they would be coming tonight.
In fact, Sardelle had been there when he said he would find a way to have Kaika released once he reported in.

And yet, there they are. With that sword.

Sardelle grimaced. After their chat earlier, she had believed Cas would leave the thing behind. She had definitely grasped that it was influencing her. So why was it here now?

I don’t know, but you could hand the dragon blood to Tolemek. He’s probably the only one in town who has an idea how to turn it into something useful.

Perhaps not a bad idea.
Right now, Sardelle was more concerned about the queen and the Heartwood Sisterhood—probably since they were targeting her—but Ridge had been agitated ever since learning that Wolf and Tiger Squadrons were out of the city. He would approve of Tolemek finding a lab somewhere and making some weapons to defend the capital.
Do you want to ask Tolemek to lead his team over here? I doubt that fishing ruse will fool anyone. Who fishes after dark?

Perhaps they intend to employ the wormy cabbage delivery plan. I’m already talking to Tolemek. He’s missed my presence in his head.

Oh, I’m sure.

While she waited for the others to join her, Sardelle watched the new carriage reach the gate. A guard came out, made the woman inside identify herself, then waved for her to get out and for the vehicle to park. Sardelle could not tell what the woman had said, but she had not lowered her hood or been questioned for long.

“Sardelle,” Tolemek said, leading the trio around the corner. “There’s no time to delay. They’re planning to hang Kaika at midnight. Actually, the official word is that they’re doing it at dawn, but they secretly plan to do it at midnight, so she’ll already be dead in case any of her nefarious allies attempt to rescue her.”

“Whose words were those?” Sardelle could not imagine the information had been printed in the newspaper.

“Apex was relaying the queen’s words from earlier today.”

“He’s seen her?”

“I can only assume. He didn’t deliver the message personally. He pinned it to the door with a dagger while Cas was practicing with the sword out back, then left before anyone knew he was there.” Tolemek spoke the words neutrally, but his thoughts roiled near the surface, and Sardelle was standing close enough to feel them. He was worried about Cas and tense—maybe they’d had an argument over the weapon.

“I knew he was there,” Cas said coolly, standing apart from Tolemek and Sardelle and watching the harbor and the street. “I thought he would come in, not run off after delivering his message.”

“He probably doesn’t feel welcome anymore,” Duck said glumly, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Under his signature he added that he would do what Zirkander asked,” Tolemek said, “find out where the king was, and that he wouldn’t come back until he had that intel.”

Sardelle wondered if they could trust Apex’s information. She wished she had been there, so she could have brushed his thoughts while he had been delivering the note. If he had made his peace with Tolemek—and the story Ridge had told of their sojourn through the volcano base suggested he might have—then he might regret planting that tracking device. But if in his heart, he still wished Tolemek dead… he might even now be spying for both sides. Or he might have deliberately delivered poor information. What if Kaika was already dead and this talk of a midnight hanging was an attempt to trap Sardelle and the others? What if he had written the message instead of delivering it in person because he had worried Sardelle would be there to read his thoughts and see the truth?

She rubbed her forehead, the beginnings of a headache blooming behind one eye.

“You’re planning to go in?” Tolemek nodded toward the castle.

“Yes.”