Page 19 of Lake of Sorrow
Kaylina resisted the urge to roll her eyes at an aristocrat saying that. Besides, she reminded herself that Targon was a bastard and probably hadn’t grown up in the same world as most of the pampered nobles.
“I’m positive the Virts are responsible for the newspaper,” Vlerion said.
“It’s being printed outside the city. I don’t know if a press would be in the preserve, but…” Kaylina explained the wagon—and the guard who’d lied to the ranger and helped the incendiary cargo through the gate.
“Interesting,” Vlerion said.
“And irritating,” Targon said. “I’ll go talk with that guard myself. Middle east gate, you said?”
Kaylina nodded.
“You’re pretty useful, girl. I’m glad I saw your worth and decided to support you.” The smugness had returned to Targon’s tone, and he wore a self-congratulatory expression.
Again, Kaylina struggled to restrain an eye roll. She didn’t want Targon to suggest flogging her again.
“Escort her out there to look,” he told Vlerion, “but make sure to take a couple of other rangers with you.”
“Because I can’t be alone with her without a chaperone?” Vlerion asked.
“Because you don’t want to be alone with only her sling for backup if you run into a pack of Kar’ruk. Then, after you’ve verified whether or not they’re there, I want you to stow Korbian somewhere. Not your barracks room.” Targon’s expression turned sour as he eyed Kaylina. “Until we figure out where these clawed-up bodies are coming from, we don’t need more beast sightings taking place.”
Vlerion’s jaw tightened, and he looked like he might object. Kaylina wanted to object to being stowed. But Vlerion ended up sighing and looking sadly at Kaylina before saying, “Agreed,” to Targon.
“What will happen if the rebels figure out…” Kaylina extended a hand toward Vlerion and then Targon to indicate their link—the secret the ranger captain knew.
Vlerion had already said it would be problematic if his enemies learned about his curse, implying the Virts would demand he be killed for the crimes the beast had committed over the years—maybe the crimes all the beasts in his lineage had committed—but if people learned the rangers had been protecting his secret, the ramifications could be even greater. Not that Kaylina cared that much about the rangers. She cared about Vlerion. Still, she didn’t want to see utter chaos sweep over the capital, especially if the Kar’ruk were plotting to take advantage of it. If the city and the royal castle fell, what would happen to the rest of the kingdom? Even her family far to the south could be negatively impacted.
Targon was the one to answer. “Nothing good, so keep your mouth shut about it, girl.”
Kaylina bristled.
Vlerion frowned at him.
Maybe Targon decided he shouldn’t be obnoxious to his anrokk protégé, because he softened his voice to say, “If you keep his secret, I’ll make sure Levitke becomes your taybarri when your training has progressed far enough to earn a mount.”
Kaylina almost snorted at the blatant manipulation, but she couldn’t help but feel wistful as well. She was starting to love the taybarri, and riding Levitke into battle had been amazing.
“Levitke is the one who can make sure of that,” Vlerion said. “Kaylina could have any mount she wants.”
Targon flicked his fingers at him. “You’re interfering with my bribe, a bribe I’m making for your sake.”
“Our sakes, perhaps,” Vlerion murmured.
That prompted another finger flick.
“You don’t have to bribe me,” Kaylina said. “I have no intention of spreading his secret around.”
“Good,” Targon said, as Vlerion nodded, as if he’d already known. Maybe he had. Maybe he was starting to trust her. “But you’ll take a taybarri mount anyway, right?”
“Gladly,” Kaylina said.
“I thought so.” Targon nodded as he walked out, smug again.
“I’m sad I’ve never had the opportunity to hit him in the head with a sling round,” Kaylina said.
“He has mentioned wanting to witness your skill with that weapon.” Vlerion’s eyes gleamed with rare humor as his hand drifted to the back of his head where she’d once struck him.
“He wouldn’t mind if I targeted him?”