Page 148 of Salt in the Seas
“I hated her when it was broken, but I also loved her.” Riveran frowned at the coastline, clearly seeing something else in his mind, tempting Gaeren to reach for his friend’s memory. “I thought maybe I could stick around and work in the stables or in the aviary with Gullet. I think your father even considered it because of how easily I calmed the animals. But when he had Enla bond with Croft, everything got mixed up again. It took time for things to settle. It still probably isn’t quite right.”
Sylmar and Velden approached, cutting off their conversation.
“The Sun’s rise will be coming soon,” Sylmar said. “We can’t remain on this beach. Are these western shores familiar to you?”
Gaeren and Riveran both nodded.
“We’re likely two or three days from where we left Bayla, Rox, and Breeve’s family,” Riveran said, and as he did, the familiar coastline fell into place in the map in Gaeren’s mind.
Sylmar’s irritated frown disappeared in his relief. “Good. We’ll find a place to rest for a spell, but we’ll aim to get at least half a day’s travel in. Any town nearby that might have supplies?”
Gaeren let Riveran and Sylmar hash out the details while Cyrus approached Velden and passed off the silver fish. It was fitting for the half-Sayhleen to be in charge of it, which made Gaeren wonder if he should pass the golden arrow off to Cyrus. But Orra had charged him with guarding it, and he’d promised the Recreants he’d use it to remove his family from the throne as a last resort. He’d hang on to it for now.
His mind and gaze still strayed to Aeliana and Lukai. Riveran’s words left him on edge, almost angry at the potential for their truth.
He’d thought love would be quick and obvious. Thallahan had described it as being like an Awakening. But understanding dawned as Gaeren realized that didn’t mean it had to happen in an instant.
That same triumphant fire that had woven through him as he’d first gripped his starlock now reared again in his belly, but it was muted by circumstance. The realization that he loved a woman he was supposed to have hated because of her bloodline—a woman who was not his bondmate—left him reeling. It almost made the idea of breaking his bond worse. Because that meant he was doing it for himself instead of to free Lenda, like Enla had suggested.
But it also filled him with a dangerous hope. And yet that hope was tempered by the fact that she was currently in another man’s arms.
Iris took first watch, claiming she couldn’t sleep anyway. The dark circles under her eyes made that feel like a lie, but no one argued.
Gaeren thought he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep either. But instead, the entire morning passed in a blink. He didn’t feel like he’drested, and all his effort went to putting one foot in front of the other while they headed north along the coast.
He couldn’t decide if Aeliana was avoiding him or if he was unusually in tune to her current connection to Lukai, but as they traveled, she stayed with Lukai, Cyrus, and Kendalyhn, and he fell back with Riveran.
They were all dragging when the Sun’s sleep came that night. They shared the meager supplies they’d acquired at a seaside village and set out some semblance of bedrolls, but strangely no one seemed eager to leave the fire and turn in for the night.
“What now?” Aeliana asked. Everyone’s stares were hollow as the fire’s light reflected in their eyes.
“We return to the Myndren Mountains,” Sylmar said.
“We have no more knowledge than before,” Aeliana argued.
“We have more than you think.” Sylmar balanced his staff across his knees. “We have proof that your mother is right, that their lives are bound. If one dies, so does the other. If one lives, so does the other.”
Aeliana’s gaze grew wary. “And what will you do with that information?”
“I’m not sure we should discuss it.” The abrupt dismissal brought everyone’s attention up from the flames. “After learning about Holm’s brand, should any of us trust the other?”
“Oh, stop.” Iris wiped her eyes, but her voice held a soft anger. “Holm wouldn’t want this. He wouldn’t want you breeding mistrust among our people. Check our hands.” She held hers out, and Gaeren winced at the fresh scar of her broken bond.
One by one the others held out their palms, some with bond marks, some without. Gaeren held out his, surprised at the way the scar from his brief brand of Aeliana brought him more joy than the bond mark that remained intact but faded. Aeliana’s hand held multiple scars, along with an intact brand mark and bond mark.
“I saw Holm’s hands too,” Sylmar said, “free of a brand mark. There was a week or two that he wore gloves after he found the cave. Claimed he burned himself. I didn’t think anything of it, especially since he eventually took the gloves off. But she masked it with an illusion.”
“How is that even possible?” Aeliana asked.
Sylmar’s gravelly voice took on even more of a growl. “Just because she brands people to steal their magic doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the option of pushing her magic back through to them. It’s just not something she’s ever wanted to do before. She’s always been one who takes, never one who gives, and yet she finally found an instance where giving magic was the way to take things away.”
They all grew silent around the fire, an uneasiness that pained Gaeren settling between them. He trusted these people with the same intensity he trusted his men aboard his ship, and yet he’d trusted Holm too. What were they supposed to do now?
“Would you like me to sift everyone’s soul again?” Kendalyhn offered.
Sylmar shrugged. “I’m not even sure I trust that anymore.”
Kendalyhn’s face pinched, but she said nothing.
