Page 149 of Salt in the Seas
“What else did you see, Sylmar?” Aeliana asked.
The others seemed just as confused as Gaeren, but Aeliana’s gaze remained locked on Sylmar.
“Maybe it’s time we all come clean with what we saw at the Seer’s Sanctuary,” she added.
Sylmar’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t answer her question.
“We need more information,” Aeliana continued. “Why not return to Andel and seek out Pacran? Go to Dehvlon. The Seer told me the curse was written down by their Oracles.”
“I’m not sure we’re ready to pay the price for more information.” Sylmar’s gaze flicked to Iris, and indecision warred on Aeliana’s face. “This venture was as disastrous as seeking out the sprites.”
“But we’re missing something.” Aeliana’s final argument came out weakly, making Gaeren want to defend her. But he suspected Sylmar was right. At the very least, they needed a break before hunting down another starbridge. They needed to warn Emeris that she was right, perhaps bring her with them for her safety. Surely she’d fully recovered by now.
Heading to the Myndren Mountains would likely include a stop in Elanesse, something Gaeren wasn’t quite prepared for. He’d put off his debate over aiding Enla or Aeliana and which could do more for thepeople, knowing that for the time being, Aeliana needed him more. But would it always be that way? The visions of Enla and Aeliana swam in his memory, blocking out Aeliana’s crestfallen face.
He had to do what was right for the people, not just what felt right in his heart. But the two were becoming inexplicably tied together, and he was no longer sure he could objectively differentiate. Especially now that Riveran had gotten him thinking about breaking his bond again. Could he really return to Elanesse without having done the one thing Enla asked? But how could he return to Elanesse and Lenda if hehadbroken it?
Sylmar stood, leaning heavily on his staff and interrupting Gaeren’s brooding. “We have another long day of travel in the morning. Time we all got some rest.”
CHAPTER 57
Instead of falling asleep,Aeliana’s agitation grew. It wasn’t so much that she thought they shouldn’t be returning to the Myndren Mountains. She wanted to check on her mother, and in some ways, she wanted to ensure that Sylmar didn’t do anything rash.
But it was hard to ignore the feeling that she should be doing something more. They needed to break the curse. Instead of pursuing the one guaranteed answer with the Dehvlonian Oracles, they were stuck looking for Larkos and waiting for Marnok to return and answer their questions. She pulled out the clamshell and studied the gemstone in the moonlight, wishing it offered more answers than questions. Instead, it filled her mind with memories of Nori’s still face and empty eyes. The little sleep she got came filled with nightmares of Nori and Holm.
The following morning found her even more exhausted, and the travel to Bayla’s home left her feet dragging. Introductions were made all around, but outside of noting Riveran doting on the toddler Rox and hearing that Larkos hadn’t arrived yet, little of the exchange stuck in her mind.
But when she lay down, it was like a switch turned on, some internal drive for answers that tapped at her mind and refused to let her sleep. The living space in Bayla’s home was too small to house them all, so while a few had been given beds inside,most of them, including Aeliana, remained on their bedrolls, back under the Stars around a dying fire.
Aeliana rolled over, hating the silence around her and wishing for Holm’s soft snores to lull her to sleep. She couldn’t imagine how much worse it must be for Iris. She scratched at the brand mark on her palm, then frowned at it, wondering why it was irritating her so much when usually it was her bond mark that itched.
Her eyes widened. Therewassomething she could do, something that might have even more impact than she’d realized before. Now that she was back in Vendaras, she could reach out to Durriken again, and not just to see how he fared.
He was an ancient beast with the wisdom of lifetimes—an untapped resource.
Unable to lie still any longer, she wrapped an extra blanket around her to ward off the early winter chill and stepped away from the circle of those sleeping. They were still far enough south that the temperatures hadn’t dropped below freezing at night, but they would soon.
Her agitation brought her out to the forest’s edge, where she settled on a stump and closed her eyes, reaching out for the string connecting her to Durriken, the one he called a tether. It came much easier this time, like a ship reeling in a tiny lifeboat. A strange sense of relief pervaded her entire being.
Where have you been?Durriken’s panicked voice hit her before she even sensed his surroundings.
We crossed the barrier.Her answer felt both obvious and inadequate. Had he been… worried?
The forest surrounding him came into focus, his eyes more accustomed to the dark than her own, allowing her a unique perspective of the surrounding nightlife. Collections of critters ran along the forest floor and through the trees, and dozens of gleaming eyes met Durriken’s gaze from within the tree branches.
You should have warned me.The admonition made Aeliana’s conscience prickle.
I’m sorry.I didn’t know we would lose our connection. I didn’t think it would upset you.
Then you don’t understand tethers.A hiss of steam escaped his mouthas the words crossed between them, and he curled up tighter, tucking his nose under his paw as though trying to shut her out by cutting off what she could sense through him.
You can’t be angry with me for that. I didn’t even know what they were until after you claimed we had one. I still don’t really know what they are. Velden said they haven’t been done since before the Great Divide.
Durriken snorted, and the heat of it reverberated through her own body.Perhaps it should stay that way.
Her hold on him receded, and the vision of his surrounding forest grew dim. The pain of all she’d lost in the last several days swept through her like a thick poison, bleeding into her response.I’m sorry you don’t find me worthy of a tether.
At first, she thought he was pushing her away. But then she sensed a tug holding her in place, a tautness to the tether that bound them, and she realized it was she who was leaving.
