Read Online 6.0 - Raptor by Lindsay Buroker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lindsay Buroker
Tags: General Fiction
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shouldn’t be allowed around that blade. The idea of someone using it as an excuse to get rid of what he considered unsavory people appalled her.
“She’ll be busy launching explosives at the dragon,” Angulus said, though he sounded a little uncertain.
“She can set up some bombs and hand them to someone else to launch,” Zirkander said. “Like Tolemek. Is he coming? We could use some of his concoctions too. Maybe he can fling a nice acid in the dragon’s eyes so it can’t fly. Or hand it a pill to swallow that will make it pass out. We could stick it in a piece of steak. That works with dogs, so why not dragons?”
“Why can’t I be in the same room as that man for more than ten minutes without him turning me into a walking pharmacy?” Tolemek muttered too quietly for anyone but Cas and Tylie to hear.
Tylie grinned up at him. “You’re good at making things, Tolie.”
Angulus sighed, ignoring Zirkander and facing Kaika. “Do you want to do it?”
“Not really, but I will if that’s what the mission calls for. I haven’t used swords often though. I’ve gone to all the knife classes, but that’s not really the same.”
“Perhaps we could recruit someone new from the elite forces,” Angulus said. “Someone who shares Therrik’s passion for old weapons but who doesn’t share his attitudes.”
“And someone who doesn’t get airsick,” Zirkander added. “That’s another reason Therrik couldn’t do it. He’d end up puking all over the dragon. Or more likely, his pilot.”
As the conversation continued around her, Cas’s thoughts turned inward. Earlier, she had cringed to think that she might be asked to wield Kasandral again, but as no superior candidates were nominated, she started to realize that she might be the logical choice, even if her soul quivered at the idea of volunteering. She was familiar with the sword and would know what to expect. This time, she might do better at controlling the feelings of annoyance it would inflict upon her in regard to Sardelle and Tolemek. And if they kept it in the box until the last moment, its effects might be minimal. Maybe. She remembered Sardelle theorizing that some of Therrik’s belligerence toward her and Tolemek might have been a result, at least in part, from sleeping with the sword under his bed.
Even if Cas couldn’t control her responses, wouldn’t she still be a logical choice? She might not be a blade master, but she already had a stain on her soul. If the sword forced its wielder to kill another ally, and that wielder was she… well, wouldn’t that be better than someone else having to carry that burden?
It took her a moment to answer that question and to accept the answer, but she finally took a breath and said, “I’ll do it.”
The arguing had continued while she’d been thinking, and at first, nobody heard her. She cleared her throat and raised her voice.
“I’ll do it,” she repeated.
This time, everyone stared at her.
Tolemek gripped her shoulder. “What are you doing?” he whispered harshly.
“If you’re taking the sword in the box, and General Zirkander is flying, you’ll need someone light,” Cas said. “And I have experience with the sword. Maybe that would help avoid further atrocities.” She closed her eyes, inhaling another deep breath, afraid—terrified—that she would regret this. “I’m the logical choice.”
Since Tolemek was behind her, Cas couldn’t see his face, but she could feel the tension in his fingers. And she could see the expressions of the others. Zirkander’s face crumpled with distress. Sardelle and Kaika looked shocked. Ort barely knew Cas, except by reputation, but he also appeared stunned. Angulus was frowning, though Cas couldn’t tell if it was a frown of rejection or just a continuation of the frown he had worn for most of this meeting. Tylie had left Tolemek’s side to peer into a lute in a corner. At least she wasn’t distressed.
“All right.” Angulus nodded
“She’ll be busy launching explosives at the dragon,” Angulus said, though he sounded a little uncertain.
“She can set up some bombs and hand them to someone else to launch,” Zirkander said. “Like Tolemek. Is he coming? We could use some of his concoctions too. Maybe he can fling a nice acid in the dragon’s eyes so it can’t fly. Or hand it a pill to swallow that will make it pass out. We could stick it in a piece of steak. That works with dogs, so why not dragons?”
“Why can’t I be in the same room as that man for more than ten minutes without him turning me into a walking pharmacy?” Tolemek muttered too quietly for anyone but Cas and Tylie to hear.
Tylie grinned up at him. “You’re good at making things, Tolie.”
Angulus sighed, ignoring Zirkander and facing Kaika. “Do you want to do it?”
“Not really, but I will if that’s what the mission calls for. I haven’t used swords often though. I’ve gone to all the knife classes, but that’s not really the same.”
“Perhaps we could recruit someone new from the elite forces,” Angulus said. “Someone who shares Therrik’s passion for old weapons but who doesn’t share his attitudes.”
“And someone who doesn’t get airsick,” Zirkander added. “That’s another reason Therrik couldn’t do it. He’d end up puking all over the dragon. Or more likely, his pilot.”
As the conversation continued around her, Cas’s thoughts turned inward. Earlier, she had cringed to think that she might be asked to wield Kasandral again, but as no superior candidates were nominated, she started to realize that she might be the logical choice, even if her soul quivered at the idea of volunteering. She was familiar with the sword and would know what to expect. This time, she might do better at controlling the feelings of annoyance it would inflict upon her in regard to Sardelle and Tolemek. And if they kept it in the box until the last moment, its effects might be minimal. Maybe. She remembered Sardelle theorizing that some of Therrik’s belligerence toward her and Tolemek might have been a result, at least in part, from sleeping with the sword under his bed.
Even if Cas couldn’t control her responses, wouldn’t she still be a logical choice? She might not be a blade master, but she already had a stain on her soul. If the sword forced its wielder to kill another ally, and that wielder was she… well, wouldn’t that be better than someone else having to carry that burden?
It took her a moment to answer that question and to accept the answer, but she finally took a breath and said, “I’ll do it.”
The arguing had continued while she’d been thinking, and at first, nobody heard her. She cleared her throat and raised her voice.
“I’ll do it,” she repeated.
This time, everyone stared at her.
Tolemek gripped her shoulder. “What are you doing?” he whispered harshly.
“If you’re taking the sword in the box, and General Zirkander is flying, you’ll need someone light,” Cas said. “And I have experience with the sword. Maybe that would help avoid further atrocities.” She closed her eyes, inhaling another deep breath, afraid—terrified—that she would regret this. “I’m the logical choice.”
Since Tolemek was behind her, Cas couldn’t see his face, but she could feel the tension in his fingers. And she could see the expressions of the others. Zirkander’s face crumpled with distress. Sardelle and Kaika looked shocked. Ort barely knew Cas, except by reputation, but he also appeared stunned. Angulus was frowning, though Cas couldn’t tell if it was a frown of rejection or just a continuation of the frown he had worn for most of this meeting. Tylie had left Tolemek’s side to peer into a lute in a corner. At least she wasn’t distressed.
“All right.” Angulus nodded
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