Page 128 of Salt in the Seas
As Velden’s breathing shifted, Aeliana tried to fall asleep too, but the things he’d said swirled in her mind, mixing with her fears and doubts over their plans to see Lady Merinnia. Orra had said she didn’t have to ask Lady Merinnia a question, that she could choose to remain ignorant.
Now it was less a matter of whether or not she’d ask the Seer a question and more a matter of which question she’d ask.
CHAPTER 48
Most everyonein the fortress was asleep, but Orra sat out on the northern keep’s balcony, her eyes to the Stars. Her habits were almost as nocturnal as the winex, which was why she’d waited until this evening to approach them. Their numbers had dwindled this cycle. Even though they’d mated and buried their eggs in the eastern garden, several had left. More chose to return to their natural, nomadic ways than maintain the domesticated farce in the fortress.
But Felk, Lilik, and their small faithful clan remained.
Orra suspected this final bit of rejection might be too much for them, and her heart ached over what that might mean for Felk and Aeliana and the bridges they’d crossed between two seemingly rival species.
She folded up the letter she’d written, unsure in its wisdom, then made her way down the steep tower steps and through the halls to the eastern garden. When she first arrived, the winex were out, likely hunting for their evening meal. The guards were always more than eager to let them go, but they were more hesitant to let them back in.
She waited near the eggs they’d recently laid, placing a hand on the smooth surface and imagining the tiny creature growing inside. It was a wonder how the winex were designed. She wasn’t surprised that Mayvus had been intrigued by their rebirth process. She would love tounderstand it as well. But not because she wanted to use it like Mayvus did.
“What are you doing?” Lilik’s voice came out sharp and wary.
Orra turned slowly with a smile, not wanting to distress the winex further. “I’m simply marveling at your species. It’s a blessing from the Sun to be born again the way you are.”
Lilik’s eyes narrowed, and the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease until Orra removed her hand from the egg. “Why are you here?”
“I’ve come to see Felk,” Orra said. “But I admit my news affects you all.”
Lilik dropped to all fours and slunk across the room toward the eggs. Her eyes hardly blinked as she assessed Orra. “What sort of news?” Once she reached the eggs, she stood, placing her palms on the eggs as if testing all of them for the life inside.
“I would prefer to share the news with Felk, but I don’t mind if you all listen together.”
“All six of us?” Lilik muttered.
Orra faltered. “There are only six of you now?”
“The others all left. Said they felt stifled by this confined space.”
“But you stayed…” Orra let the words hang.
Lilik sighed. “I stayed for Felk. But I want to leave. In my next life, I might not be able to stay. It makes me sad for him.”
“The connection you have across lives is beautiful,” Orra said.
Lilik eyed her strangely as if questioning whether or not it was truly a compliment. “He’ll come soon. The smallest in our group hadn’t made a catch yet.” She turned back to the eggs. “I was worried about the eggs. He let me return alone.”
Orra smiled in an effort to hide her pain for this creature who seemed to know the eggs had been in danger in the past, even though that had been a previous lifetime, something Emeris hadn’t bothered sharing with them. It reminded her of Marnok and the way his memories seemed to be in there somewhere, just inaccessible.
She and Lilik awkwardly shared the space in silence until the light gallop of the other winex was heard. Sure enough, only five entered the room, including Felk.
For the first time, Orra suspected her news might be better received than she’d anticipated.
“Orra?” Felk asked. “You’re awake late.” He glanced up at the moon, barely visible through the garden’s open roof.
“I’m leaving in the morning.” Orra adopted their preferred direct approach.
A few of them stood a little taller, raising their noses as if sniffing out the danger in her words.
“Why?” Felk cocked his head.
“We’ve learned that Mayvus is bringing people from Ahmranas. She’s building another army.”
A few of the winex snarled, dropping to all fours.
