Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Dragon Blood, Book 1)

by Lindsay Buroker

  Chapter 11

  Sardelle kept her hands clasped behind her back and stared steadily at the snow in front of her. Ridge had warned her, and she had warned herself, yet when she had chanced upon that crowd, seen the books, and heard that vile proclamation from the general…

  To destroy what little remained of her people, it was unthinkable. And yet, she had brought this about herself. If she hadn’t been so eager to help Ridge find some crystals, the miners might never have delved into that half of the mountain. Now they might destroy every remaining piece of her culture.

  That’s not fair. You sent them that way to recover me. If anything, this is my fault.

  That doesn’t make the situation any better, Jaxi. I—we—miscalculated.

  We couldn’t have foreseen Slug Breath taking command.

  “Her record says Sardelle Sordenta,” Captain Heriton was informing the general. Ridge stood a few feet back, his arms folded over his chest, his face flinty. Not at her, she knew, but at the situation. Heriton, of course, was smiling cheerfully. “A record that didn’t appear until she had been in the fort for two or three days. When it appeared, it was in a spot I had already checked. It hadn’t been there the day before. And then there’s the fact that she was originally found wandering in the mines by a… ”

  Sardelle had heard the accusations before and listened in silence, watching as the books were unloaded from the cart and carried to an empty area in the center of the courtyard. Someone set a can of kerosene next to them.

  If you don’t do something, I will. Jaxi sounded as irritated by the situation as Sardelle.

  I’m already on the verge of being accused of witchcraft here. What can I do? After I get you, it doesn’t matter— Sardelle glanced at Ridge and admitted it would still matter, —but until then, I can’t let them…

  Kill you?

  Yes.

  That would be inconvenient. I’ve grown attached to you and missed you when you were sleeping for three centuries.

  I’m glad to know you care. If you do something… don’t hurt anyone, please.

  The grumbles that sounded in Sardelle’s head weren’t encouraging, but she knew Jaxi wouldn’t physically harm anyone unless it was to defend her. They had both taken oaths long ago to protect, not to hurt.

  “You have anything to say, woman?” General Nax asked.

  Sardelle shook her head.

  “You knew about this spy, Colonel Zirkander?” Nax’s voice grew soft, dangerous.

  For a moment, Ridge looked like he might go with a mute answer as well, but his lips thinned, and he chose to say, “I don’t know what she is, but if she’s a spy, she’s a considerate one. She’s the one who pointed out the locations of the new crystals.”

  Sardelle didn’t want him to get in trouble for defending her, but with so many eyes upon her, she didn’t know how to signal him.

  You don’t think he’s ready for telepathy?

  Remembering the way he had lost his composure when she had teased him about being a telepath… she didn’t think so, no. He had run afoul of sorcerers before, he had admitted as much. The moment she allowed him to find out she was one was the moment she lost… the only thing she had here. In the world.

  The last of the books had been piled up, and a soldier uncapped the kerosene can.

  “And how did she know the location of the crystals?” General Nax regarded her through slitted eyes.

  “Is she the one who knew this was a Referatu stronghold?” the general’s daughter asked, stepping forward and speaking for the first time.

  Sardelle kept herself from frowning at Ridge, but it hurt a little to realize he must have been talking about her to this woman. Trying to defend her, she sensed, but she still wished he had said nothing. She could get herself into enough trouble without anyone else’s help.

  The soldier lit his match. Sardelle made a point of not looking in his direction as she snuffed it out. Nobody except the soldier noticed. Good. He had a whole box full of matches. Not good. Oops, it seemed the heads had grown damp in the snow at some point. The soldier tried to light several more before grumbling to himself and heading for one of the buildings.

  “I will have answers to these questions,” General Nax said. “If not nicely here, then in an interrogation room.”

  Ridge dropped his arms. “That’s not called for, sir. She’s been helping us.”

  “No doubt so she can steal the crystals once we’ve pulled them all out. And take them back to wherever she’s from. Did the Cofah plant you, girl?”

  “I am Iskandian, through and through,” Sardelle said. “I grew up in these mountains. I would not betray them to invaders.”

  The soldier returned, a fresh box of matches in his hand. She dampened them before he reached the pile of books.

  “We’ll see if you have the same answer when a little pressure is applied,” the general said.

  “Sir.” Ridge stepped forward. “Are we really going to start torturing women, here?”

  “You wouldn’t object if she were a man. Spies can come in either sex, Colonel. Don’t be naive.”

  “I haven’t yet seen a reason to torture anyone. She’s helping us. Don’t you want to see how many crystals she can direct us to? If we can’t keep a hold of them after that, that’s our problem, isn’t it?”

  Nax scowled at him. “Isn’t it, sir.”

  A muscle ticked in Ridge’s cheek. Sardelle realized she hadn’t seen him angry yet, not truly. He wouldn’t do something to ruin his career on her behalf, would he? She couldn’t let that happen.

  “Sir,” Ridge amended.

  “I also think we should wait, sir,” Captain Heriton said. “If she’s truly the one who has been locating the crystals, we should use her as long as she’s willing to help.”

  At first, Sardelle thought Heriton had changed his allegiance, deciding he liked Ridge more than the general, or at least that he liked the crystals more than he disliked her, but there was nothing friendly in his eyes as he regarded her. Even without brushing his mind, she could sense the suspicion there. More than that, she sensed he was perhaps the only one to have a true idea of what she was. Oh, he wouldn’t think her a three-hundred-year-old sorcerer, but someone with a few mental tricks? Yes, that was exactly what he thought. Maybe he was waiting to say something until he had some evidence.

  The soldier by the books cursed loudly enough to draw the general’s attention. “What’s your malfunction, private?”

  “Sorry, sir. Can’t find any matches that will light. Everything’s damp.”

  “Odd,” Heriton said, staring at Sardelle.

  I think I’m going to have to come down to find you tonight, Jaxi. Whether the tunnels have been bored close enough or not.

  I am more than ready to assist you in my un-burial.

  “Damp,” General Nax said. “Private, I don’t want excuses. I want burned books. Throw them in a furnace if you have to.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Airship spotted,” came a cry from atop the wall.

  Sardelle had never been so pleased to see the enemy on the horizon.

  The general cursed and jogged for the ramparts. His daughter, the captain, and most of the men gathered to watch the book burning did the same.

  Ridge must have been itching to run up there, too, but he stepped up to her side. His gaze was on the sky, on the gold and wooden ship that had appeared over the western peak again. “I won’t let him torture you, though it will mean my career, if not my life. I understand this sword is worth a lot to you… ” He didn’t say, but is it worth my life? He must have been thinking it, but instead he sighed and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “So you might want to disappear until you have the opportunity to retrieve it.”

  Sardelle looked toward Tram Three, the shaft that led down to the room where the books had been found, the shaft that would get her as close to Jaxi as was possible. Ridge glanced over, following her gaze. He didn’t say anything else, merely walk
ed toward the stairs, very deliberately not turning to look back at her.

  Watch the books, Jaxi. I’m going down.

  It’s about time.