Page 67 of Lake of Sorrow
A long silence followed, making Kaylina wonder if they’d stepped out of the office to finish the conversation.
Then the spymaster snorted. “Does it go both ways? Is that why the beast has been seen so much lately?”
“He’s only been seen in the dungeon. Whatever is happening to dead Virts that the newspapers are reporting on doesn’t have anything to do with Vlerion.”
“Are you sure? Have you seen the bodies? They’re not that dissimilarly mauled to the ones in the dungeon.”
“Lots of big animals with claws could have been responsible. The Virts threw a yekizar at us a few weeks ago.”
Yes, Kaylina had witnessed that battle. Vlerion had prevailed, but it had been a ferocious creature. Few other lone humans would have come out on top in a fight with it.
“I understand that he’s your subordinate and probably your friend, Targon, but defending him if he’s been killing citizens…”
“He hasn’t been. Had the beast come out in the city, it wouldn’t be a single body found here or there. When he changes… You know what happens when he changes.”
“I’ve not seen what Vlerion has done, other than in that dungeon—I’ll admit that was terrifying in and of itself—but I remember the aftermath of some of his father’s meltdowns. It’s a shame we can’t harness that power, call on it to defend the kingdom while ensuring Vlerion doesn’t hurt anyone on his own side.”
“That’s not how the druids wanted the curse to work. They wanted the kingdom punished.”
“I’m aware of the lore.” Sabor paused, rapping his knuckles thoughtfully against something wooden. “Do you think she can control him?”
“Korbian?” Targon grunted. “So far, she mostly pisses him off when she isn’t getting him hard.”
Kaylina’s fingers fisted at the crude words used to describe her relationship with Vlerion.
“That answers my question less than you’d think,” Sabor said dryly.
“She’s not controlling him in any way. Trust me. Vlerion isn’t dumb or easily manipulated.”
“Ah, but it’s not Vlerion that I meant. Can the girl control the beast?”
Targon hesitated, not as quick to dismiss that thought.
Kaylina shook her head again, memories of crawling under those rocks to escape the beast springing to mind. There was no way she controlled Vlerion in that form. In any form. So far, all she’d managed was to keep him from killing her. Or… mating with her. She admitted that seemed more where the beast’s interests lay when it came to her.
“You mean because she’s an anrokk,” Targon said.
“That’s exactly what I mean. She may be the only one who has a shot at controlling him.”
“Don’t forget my ranger, Jastadar.”
“Your bald sergeant? I doubt he’s going to win the beast’s loyalty.”
“If it’s about drawing the affection of animals, he might.”
“Uh-huh. I want the girl, Targon.”
“A lot of people do.”
“Send her my way. Send Vlerion too. We’ll do some experiments.”
“People do love being experimented on.”
“For the good of the kingdom, Targon. I know that matters to you, the same as me. Good night.”
18
On a frosty morn, a track without ice crystals is freshly made.