Page 155 of Salt in the Seas
Aeliana had wanted to break her bond, and she’d wanted to help him break his. But what had been her motivation? Was it really just to free Lukai and Kendalyhn? Or was it to free herself? Maybe so she could be more firmly attached to something or someone else? He tried to shake the thought away, hating how Sylmar’s suspicions could so easily be planted in his own mind.
“I still think her skills come from her brand on Durriken,” Gaeren said.
“Maybe,” Sylmar conceded. “But using magic through the connection of a brand can be just as addictive as blood magic. I never should have encouraged it, and now I fear it’s made her susceptible to far worse.”
His regretful tone sank deep in Gaeren’s chest, making thesuspicions hold more weight than if they’d been based in paranoia alone. “What do you want me to do?”
“Make sure she trusts you,” Sylmar said. “Then get her to cut out her brand on Durriken just like you got her to release her bond with Lukai. I thought her connection to the dragon was wise at the time, but now I think it should be removed. Except she’s grown close with him. I don’t think she’ll agree if I suggest it. Once it’s gone, find out where her magic is really coming from.”
“And I suppose I then report back to you?” Gaeren asked, bitterness coloring his words.
Sylmar frowned. “I know you don’t trust me. You don’t even like me. You’re probably the only one in this group who has remained reasonably cautious. And I applaud you for it.” He glanced at his arms as if seeing his own scars for the first time. “No one comes away from a connection with Mayvus like I had without scars that impact their thinking. My methods aren’t always good. I’m not even sure that one could say the end justifies my means.”
Gaeren snorted at the understatement, but Sylmar went on, ignoring the sleight.
“I hope that if you can remain wary of my decisions, you can also recognize the truth that someone who’s been kidnapped and tortured by Mayvus’ servants could be in a similar position. We all want to trust Aeliana, which makes her the easiest person for Mayvus to use to fool us all. The possibility has to at least be considered.”
Gaeren looked away, hating how Sylmar’s words stirred up an understanding he didn’t want to have.
“I broke my bond fourteen years ago,” Sylmar said. “It’s not quite as freeing as it seemed, is it?”
Gaeren went still. “What do you mean?”
“It sounded good. Severing ties to someone you no longer wanted to associate with. Freeing yourself to have the choice to remain alone or to bond with another. Giving yourself space to think freely without the influence of a bond—a magic we barely understand.” Sylmar’s eyebrows rose, twisting the scars on his face into an even more gruesome pattern. “But you’re not truly free. The weight of that decision to reject your bond will sit with you permanently.”
Gaeren swallowed hard. He already felt the weight of the decision, but he’d hoped it would fade with time like Riveran’s had. Except Riveran hadn’t made that decision. It had been forced on him. Gaeren clenched his jaw, not wanting to believe Sylmar but too aware of the fact that he and Sylmar now had this terrible thing in common.
“Let the pain keep you cautious. Love is its own kind of magic whether there’s a bond or not. You don’t want to spy on Aeliana for me? That’s fine.”
Gaeren winced at the harsh reality of Sylmar’s words, of what the man admitted he was asking Gaeren to do.
Sylmar grabbed his staff as if readying to leave. “But you should still seek out the truth behind her magic before you fall under her spell—before we all wind up right back under Mayvus’ thumb because we weren’t willing to ask the tough questions.” He stood, leaning heavily on his staff to bend closer to Gaeren. “And if you discover there’s a reason we can’t trust her, I hope you’ll come to me. Not because you trust me or like me, but because you know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect people from Mayvus. Because you value your duty over your feelings.”
Gaeren couldn’t hold Sylmar’s gaze, but he gave a short nod, more to get rid of the man than to truly agree with the request. He needed time to think about it, away from Sylmar’s overbearing presence.
Sylmar paused as he crossed the room, turning back toward Gaeren. “There might not always be a way to save Vendaras and Aeliana too. If that’s not a choice you can make, allow someone else to do it for you.”
CHAPTER 59
The crowded harborwas every bit as agitating as Orra remembered. Ever since her days sailing, she’d avoided Andel for that exact reason. One benefit of life as Pirate Redwood had been the open waters—distance from the distractions and chaos of the world. Sailing might have separated her from the earth that grounded her, but it had still felt freeing. Now she was reminded of all the reasons she’d kept a reclusive lifestyle with most of her personas.
Marnok and Rildan found an inn, and while the women cleaned up, the men went out to hunt down anyone who might have news of Larkos. With a city this size, Orra feared they could be there for several days, ruining their odds of catching up to Aeliana and the others. She’d used minimal bits of her energy to sense Aeliana growing closer, which most likely meant Aeliana’s group had stopped somewhere, and Orra and the others were the ones gaining ground.
A murmur of voices outside their shared room made it impossible for Orra to fall asleep, so she rose, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders in anticipation of the inn’s drafty hall.
“Eight days?” Emeris asked as the door creaked open. Marnok, Rildan, and Emeris turned Orra’s way, a small smile crossing Emeris’ face even though her brows still pinched with concern.
“I take it you’ve heard news of Larkos?” Orra asked.
Marnok grimaced. “He left harbor eight days ago, heading west.”
Orra nodded, unsurprised, but her chest tightened with the confirmation.
“Is Aeliana still on the west coast?” Rildan asked.
“I believe so,” Orra said slowly. “It will be easier to trace her when she’s closer, but Larkos will likely reach her soon. We could be chasing them all around the coast of the continent, wasting precious time.”
Emeris’ eyes narrowed. “Are you tracing Aeliana or the starbridge?”
