Page 141 of Salt in the Seas
“Why would you help them?” Gellen asked.
“Because they’re innocent,” Nori said.
“They killed a sprite,” he hissed.
“If a sprite threatened me, what would you do?” she asked.
His face crumpled. “That’s not a fair question, and you know it.”
Her tone came out fiercely protective. “And yet that’s the position they were in. It wasn’t fair. Who’s to say what they did was right or wrong? We weren’t there.” Her voice softened. “They just want to go home. Just let them go home.”
His gaze snapped to Aeliana and Gaeren, the indecision on his face giving Gaeren hope.
“We don’t want to hurt anyone,” Gaeren said. “We really do just want to go home.”
But as he said the words, Gellen stepped back, his face slack with horror as he turned to Nori. “Why would you go with them?”
Nori stiffened. “You promised to never read my thoughts.”
“I never thought you would betray your people,” he threw back at her.
“I’m not betraying my people. I’m protecting a different set of people who wish no harm on our people.”
“But you want to go with them? That’s not possible. That would ruin everything.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What does that even mean? Your plans for us?”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said.
The entire situation suddenly shifted as Gaeren felt a surge of empathy for this man trying to protect the woman he loved. “I think he’s right, Nori. You should stay.”
This time three pairs of eyes stared at him in surprise, then Noristepped back, eyes wide. “For all the sprites,” she muttered. “You know too, don’t you?”
Gaeren’s face heated.
“Did you see it from this?” She held up the pink shell. “Did you see the same two paths as my mother?”
Gaeren’s mouth swung open, but he had no idea what to say.
“He did,” Gellen said. “And I’ve seen it too. Or at least your mother told me what she saw. Please, Nori.” He tucked his trident away, his pleading eyes like those of a child. “Please let me protect you.” He reached a hand for her, but she slapped it away.
“That’s all it’s ever been to you,” she hissed. “Protecting me for my father, offering to marry me for the sake of the people. I would have gone with you willingly if you had just—” She cut off, and suddenly the space they occupied felt small even though they were outside.
“Let’s go.” Gaeren tugged on Aeliana’s arm.
“Go where?” she whispered. “We have no idea where the starbridges are.”
“Anywhere but here,” he hissed back.
“It’s fine,” Nori said. “We can talk about this later.”
“What if you don’t have a ‘later’?” Gellen’s voice broke. “I saw you.”
“I saw my future too,” she said, “and I know which path is right. It’s my choice.”
She ran around the side of the house, and Gaeren and Aeliana followed. “Which one is it?” Gellen yelled after them.
Nori didn’t answer. She led them through a maze of streets, hugging the shadows along the walls as they got closer to the center of the village. When they were near enough to catch voices on the wind, she pulled them aside.
