Trip wiped his eyes and looked at Zirkander, trying to puzzle through what he was talking about. He didn’t mean to read his commanding officer’s mind, but Zirkander was smirking and thinking about Kaika and Angulus holding hands, then kissing in front of a crowd.
“He got a yes… to a proposal?” Trip hadn’t known Angulus and Kaika were that committed. Though he’d seen one of their reunion kisses and heard rumors that they’d been seeing each other for years, so maybe he shouldn’t have been surprised.
“He did.”
“She’s not noble, right?”
Zirkander laughed. “About as far from it as you can get. A lot like me. Though I don’t think her family tree has as much dead wood on it as mine.”
“Huh.” Trip wondered if it was selfish of him to promptly think of himself. If the non-noble Major Kaika could marry the king, wasn’t it possible that the non-noble Captain Trip could marry a certain Lieutenant-Lady Ravenwood?
“Don’t worry too much about tomorrow, Trip,” Zirkander said. “It’s sure to be interesting, but if you’re lucky, it will not be because of you.”
“I would love for my life to be un-interesting, sir. Aside from slaying dragons and defending Iskandia.”
“A good goal to strive for.” Zirkander placed the jug on the stairs at Trip’s feet, then stood up. “I better get home to Sardelle and the children. Just wanted to make sure you had the means to get hammered if you so wish. And that you’ll be all right. Will you be?”
Trip also rose to his feet, feeling he shouldn’t sit while a general stood. “I think so, sir. Thanks for coming out here.”
“I’ll be at the inquest tomorrow too. Several of us will be. Just in case someone needs to glare daggers at this Lord Lockvale. You know Wolf Squadron isn’t afraid of any nobles.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
Zirkander gave him another pat on the shoulder and turned to leave.
“Sir?” Trip asked, glad for the support but also wondering if… Was Wolf Squadron protecting their own just because the pilots always would? Or did they believe he was innocent? “You know I didn’t do it, right? Hurt him or even threaten him?”
“Of course,” Zirkander said simply, tilting his head.
Trip brushed his mind, checking to see if he was telling the truth. And… he was. Trip had to blink away tears again. He hadn’t been here in the capital, working with Wolf Squadron and under General Zirkander for that long, so it touched him that his commander believed him and knew he wasn’t the kind of person who would use his power in a vile way.
“Thank you, sir.”
Zirkander gave him a lazy salute and headed off into the night.
22
Full darkness fell as Shulina Arya sailed farther south, away from the city and toward the oceanfront property Aunt Tadelay had described as the Lockvale estate. Rysha had known vaguely where it was, but she’d never had a reason to visit it since the Lockvales hadn’t had any children her age when she’d been growing up. If not for the dragon’s keen eyes, she never would have located the castle-like manor perched on and blending into a rocky bluff overlooking the ocean. Few gas lamps burned in or around the structure, and smoke only wafted from one of the many chimneys.
Rysha imagined the view was magnificent during the day and was surprised the Lockvales were dealing with financial difficulties.
There are no sheep, no cows, no chickens, and no farmlands down there, Shulina Arya observed. Nothing but rocks.
I’m sorry I was ready to go before you found a succulent sheep to sink fang and talon into, Rysha thought, believing the dragon was upset that she hadn’t gotten her dinner.
No, Storyteller, I am merely observing that the land where this castle exists has few of the things humans covet to sustain them. Dragons would also find it unappealing.
Ah, I see now. Yes, if the Lockvales weren’t able to derive much income from their land, that could explain some of the financial problems. Let’s go to the front door, please.
Shall I remain in my dragon form? I very much like your aunt’s idea of intimidating this man, and perhaps incinerating him, thus protecting your mate.
We should try to avoid incinerating Iskandian subjects. Not that the thought didn’t have a slight appeal to Rysha. If a dragon incinerated a man when nobody was around to see it, who would even know who had been responsible? Evidence would be at a minimum. Also, it looks like you’re too large to fit through the front door in your current form.
Yes, this is true. Human doors are so miniscule.
Actually, the large carved-oak doors at the front of the manor towered impressively to Rysha’s eye, and perhaps Shulina Arya could make it through them, but she imagined the rooms inside would prove a tight fit.
They landed on the front walkway, and Rysha slid off the dragon’s back. Can you tell if he’s inside, by chance?
She didn’t know if Shulina Arya had taken note of Lockvale the night they’d flown over the highway where he and his cronies had been watching the fire. Rysha hadn’t noticed them until Trip said something.
There are two men inside, Shulina Arya said.
Rysha tapped her fingers on her thigh. It would be more convenient if nobody but Lockvale was home to witness her pressuring him. Admittedly, she didn’t know if he was one of the two men inside. It was possible she was too late, that Lockvale had gone up to the city a day early to avoid having to get up early to travel for the inquest.
One man is up a set of stairs in a small room reading a book. The second is downstairs, not far from this door, in a much larger room with many seats. He is eating and has many newspapers spread around him.
Does he seem smug as he gloats over articles about Trip?
Rysha didn’t truly expect the dragon to be able to discover that, but Shulina Arya said, He does seem smug. And most contented. The way Bhrava Saruth acts when he’s getting belly rubs.
Let’s hope that’s him. Rysha strode toward the door. And that the other man is far enough away that he doesn’t hear us talking to Lockvale. It’s probably a butler or other servant who’s retired for the night.
Except Rysha expected to have to do more than talk. She touched the hilt of Dorfindral, glad she had the sword along. When soldiers weren’t on missions, their weapons were usually checked into the armory, as Rysha’s pistols and rifle currently were, but she’d argued that the chapaharii blades were too valuable to keep in there. It had helped that the armory sergeant had possessed a smidgen of dragon blood, and Dorfindral had flared threateningly at him at the suggestion of being placed inside.
Rysha tried to open the front door, deciding that sneaking up on the man so he didn’t have time to think, would be preferable to knocking and waiting. Lockvale might not even answer the door at night, assuming that nothing but trouble came visiting after dark, especially these days.
“He would be right,” she murmured and stepped back. The door hadn’t budged. “Shulina Arya?”