5.5 - Under the Ice Blades by Lindsay Buroker Read Free Book Online Page A

to the left of the lead aircraft. Ort had taken point, while Troskar and Braksonoth cruised off his other wing.
    Shortly after takeoff, it had occurred to Angulus that he should have chosen to fly with Colonel Troskar. Braksonoth’s second-hand report of the events in the research facility had been brief, and it would have been wise for Angulus to know about what awaited them. Instead, he had Zirkander to talk to, someone who knew even less than Angulus did. Thus far, neither of them had spoken a word, not that chatting was easy with the wind whipping past or the propeller buzzing the air. Still, Zirkander hadn’t so much as glanced back. His hands remained on the flight stick, his eyes toward the sky ahead. Maybe Angulus’s presence made him nervous, as hard to imagine as that was. The man never seemed nervous about anything.
    “Zirkander,” Angulus said, leaning forward to be heard. He had to come up with something to say, or the general would think it odd that they were flying together. “We’re heading to a top-secret facility, one I wish to remain top secret. Ort and Troskar have been there before, but they’re the only active-duty pilots who have. I’m trusting you to keep this secret.”
    For a long moment, Zirkander did not answer. He’d glanced back when Angulus had first said his name, so he must have heard. True, Angulus hadn’t asked a question, but he did expect an acknowledgment.
    “Sire,” Zirkander finally said, peering over his shoulder. “I wish you’d asked me before assuming... Well, I mean, I can’t keep this a secret from Sardelle.”
    Angulus tried to squash a flare of irritation. Was Zirkander truly saying he couldn’t keep any secrets from his girlfriend? “Why not?”
    The words may have come out harsher than he had intended, because Zirkander’s shoulders bunched up. Hells, maybe he was nervous about being out here with his king, and despite his flippant attitude, maybe he cared about not annoying Angulus.
    “I figured you knew, Sire,” he said, sounding like he was choosing his words carefully. “Though I suppose we haven’t had a frank discussion with you. But you seem to have a lot of intelligence on sorcerers and magic.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Sardelle is telepathic, Sire. And, ah, so is her sword. So there will automatically be two people who know about it besides me—if you can call Jaxi a people, which I believe is what she prefers.”
    Now Angulus was the one who couldn’t respond. Did Zirkander just call the sword a person? A telepathic person? Angulus had read a few old texts about magic and sorcerers, and he did recall telepathy being covered, but it hadn’t occurred to him that Sardelle—and her sword —would have this ability.
    “You, uhm, knew about Jaxi, right, Sire?” Zirkander asked.
    “Just that it’s the sword.”
    “It’s a she. If you ever talk with her, she’ll be quick to let you know.”
    “Talk with her?” Angulus had a hard time wrapping his head around the idea of a sentient sword. A female sentient sword. “In your head?”
    “She’ll be in your head. If you’re a mere mortal without dragon blood, there’s no way to learn telepathy, but those who have the skill can monitor our thoughts and have a conversation with us. If you’re open to that, that is. My understanding is that they don’t poke their noses into people’s minds as a rule. Unless it’s an emergency, such as when a Cofah soldier is thinking of shooting them.”
    Angulus stared over the side of the flier, watching the dark fields pass below as he considered this new information. The idea of someone sifting through his thoughts without him knowing it—or even with him knowing it—was disconcerting. And a threat to national security.
    “Does this mean Sardelle knows where you’re going right now?” Angulus wondered if she might already be aware of the secret facility. What if he had been thinking about it when she had been nearby? They hadn’t