Page 116 of Salt in the Seas
Aeliana smiled up at him, a question in her eyes. “Gellen and Nori introduced me to a couple of the elders. It went well.”
He glanced at Gellen, and as much as he couldn’t stand the Sayhleen, he prayed to the Sun that Gellen would find a way to marry Nori and keep the second path in Aquana’s vision from ever happening.
“You just have my parents left to meet.” Gellen’s eyes drifted over Gaeren’s shoulder, and he called over a couple with a sleeping baby. Aeliana stood a little taller, receiving an almost imperceptible nod from Nori.
“Welcome to Tideholm,” the man said, nodding at both Gaeren and Aeliana.
She gave a slight bow, reminiscent of the submissive stance Nori often gave the elders. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”
Gaeren mumbled something he hoped was appropriate, but his gaze was on the baby. Was this the baby in Aquana’s vision? He glanced between the baby and Gellen and then the baby and Nori with a frown until Aeliana cleared her throat, shooting him a death glare.
“How old is your son?” Aeliana asked.
The woman’s face lit up. “Ten moons. We’re grateful the sprites blessed us with him.”
Gaeren’s jaw clenched, and Aeliana placed her hand on his arm. He knew it was meant to hold him back, but Aquana’s visions combined with his hatred for the sprites overrode her warning. He was proud ofthe controlled way his question came out. “Do you have any sprites on this side of the barrier?”
Elder Perla’s lips pursed, and his wife answered for him. “No. There haven’t been any sprites here for ages. Almost as long ago as when the Stars stopped communing.”
“So you worship them unseen?” he pressed.
She laughed lightly. “Just because they’re not visible doesn’t mean their presence can’t be felt. During the night, your Sun goes away. Does that mean it doesn’t exist in the night? It wouldn’t be faith if they were always seen.”
Aeliana smiled. “What an excellent way to describe it. You would enjoy talking to Cyrus. He’s a Lorvandan priest-in-training, and he’s eager to compare people’s experiences with their faith.”
The woman smiled, and her baby chose that moment to stir in her arms, his eyes opening to reveal a brilliant shade of blue that Aeliana leaned in closer to examine.
His mother noticed Aeliana’s interest. “Would you like to hold him?”
Nori nodded eagerly behind Elder Perla’s back, and Aeliana took the boy into her arms, tapping his nose with her finger, stroking his cheek, and then letting her finger rest under his chin, where she tickled him ever so slightly. Gaeren’s lingering frustration melted away as he watched Aeliana’s face light up.
The baby giggled, and blue scales popped up along his face and neck, startling both Aeliana and Gaeren. The parents merely smiled their approval.
“He’s beautiful,” Aeliana said.
“Perhaps the two of you will be just as blessed by the sprites,” the woman said as Aeliana handed him back.
“Oh, um.” Gaeren stumbled over his words. “We’re not…” Really? Twice in one night? He scratched at the bond mark on his palm and noticed Aeliana doing the same.
“Gaeren’s bondmate is back at his family’s palace, and mine is in the hut,” Aeliana clarified.
“Oh.” The woman looked horrified at her blunder. “The elders made it sound like the two of you are next in line to rule.”
Aeliana and Gaeren exchanged a glance. “It might be more accurate to say there are two different factions who each want one of our families to rule,” Aeliana said.
The woman looked uncomfortable as she settled her baby on her hip. “Well, then, I hope the sprites bring peace to your nation and between your factions.”
Gaeren gave a half snort before catching himself and turning it into a cough.
Aeliana shot him a dark look, but the damage was already done.
“Do you not think the sprites can grant such peace?” Elder Perla asked.
“It’s more that we think the factions don’t desire peace.” Aeliana tugged on Gaeren’s arm, clearly ready to make her escape. Even Nori and Gellen moved to leave, but then Gellen paused, his brow furrowed as he neared Gaeren.
“He disagrees,” Gellen mused. “He can’t imagine the sprites pursuing peace because the ones he’s met… he thinks they’re unkind.”
Gaeren’s starlock heated as his defenses rose. He let his mind go blank, then pictured a river running, the gentle hum of its power drowning out his background thoughts, leaving room only for the conversation at hand. “I think the one I met in Vendaras was unkind. But that’s why I wondered about the sprites on Sayhla Island. Maybe they’re much nicer.”
