Page 16 of Salt in the Seas
Cyrus grinned. “One of the most powerful.”
Rildan’s face paled. “Which is why Mayvus wanted her. Even as a child. What happened?”
The others exchanged glances.
“You’ve missed a lot,” Gaeren said. “Why don’t you come inside, and we can tell you everything.”
After they got the horses settled back in the stable and dumped their sacks of letters back in the chancery, it took far longer than Gaeren wanted for Cyrus to catch Rildan up on Aeliana’s trek across Vendaras with Sylmar and the Recreants. Every bone in Gaeren’s body itched to use the golden arrow and return home, but he sensed the other man needed answers before he was willing to go with them.
“Do you want me to show you the rest?” Gaeren asked, holding out his hands.
Rildan raised his eyebrows. “You have Emeris’ gifting?”
“It’s my opposite spoke, so it won’t be like the memories you’ve gotten from her, but it’ll do the job.”
Rildan hesitated, but there was a gleam in his eye that made Gaeren think the older man missed this form of his wife’s magic.
“Yes.” Rildan placed his hands in Gaeren’s. “Show me.”
Gaeren closed his eyes, and instead of tuning in to Rildan’s memories, he picked through his own, starting with the memory of how they’d all met in the Islaran ruins, including how Aeliana had saved Durriken. He nudged them in Rildan’s direction, knowing they’d grow clouded and blurry with Gaeren’s unrefined skill. He rushed throughtheir journey toward the Myndren Mountains before tuning in to the details of Emeris’ rescue and their messy success in getting Aeliana’s blood back from Mayvus, knowing those elements were what would matter to Rildan the most.
When he pulled back from the memory, Rildan’s face seemed older, graver, but he nodded with satisfaction.
“And you’re certain Mayvus is dead?” Rildan dropped Gaeren’s hands but picked up the last of his bread, tearing off a small piece to nibble on.
Gaeren flinched. “I don’t see how anyone could’ve survived that.”
“What needs to be done here before we can leave?” Rildan asked.
Gaeren’s heart beat a little faster. “Nothing.”
“I’d like to wait to say goodbyeto Gamps,” Cyrus said. “The last time I left, I wasn’t able to, and then he watched Gams die. I can’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“Of course.” Gaeren was quick to agree. It was the least they could do after all the ways Bartholem had helped them.
“He won’t be up for a few hours.” Cyrus’ voice rang with an apology.
“That gives us time to plan,” Rildan said.
Gaeren nodded his assent with the others, but it was a half-truth. He’d already been planning their next move for the last two moons.
By the time Bartholem woke, Gaeren had equipped each of them with weapons he’d stashed in his rooms. They had sacks of food from the new priestess-in-training, who blushed as she handed Cyrus additional sweets. In order to avoid onlookers, Bartholem temporarily closed off the Stargazer, only allowing the priests and priestesses to remain to witness such a holy event.
Holy or not, Gaeren agreed it was an exciting thing to watch.
Tears filled Bartholem’s eyes as he hugged Cyrus goodbye. He spoke a blessing over the four of them, then sat back on one of the Stargazer’s benches, his eyes wide with wonder.
Gaeren handed the golden arrow to Cyrus. “I still don’t know how to say the words.”
Cyrus grinned. “It’s nice to finally be necessary to something all you magical people are doing.” He gripped the arrow in his right hand, then held Riveran’s hand in his left. The rest of them continued linking arms, and Gaeren braced himself for the disorienting experience of using a starbridge to travel across the barrier.
As Cyrus uttered the foreign words, the expected hum of the arrow intensified and passed through them all like a crack of thunder. The room filled with light, and Bartholem’s awed face faded from view. A weightlessness took over Gaeren’s body, and his anchor to the earth dissipated. He tried to blink away the brightness but only saw it more on the backs of his lids. When his feet once more hit dirt, he stumbled, catching himself on bamboo shoots dotting the soil. A salty sea scent met his nose, and thick air coated his skin. He sucked in a deep breath, relishing the way the salt always reminded him of Aeliana as a child—as Daisy.
A small sob escaped Rildan’s throat from beside him. “I’m back,” the older man whispered. He fell to his knees and dropped his face to the ground, inhaling deeply.
The heartfelt moment was broken by Riveran turning to the side and puking.
Gaeren laughed and patted him on the back a little too hard. “Never thought you would be one to get sick from travel. You always seemed hardy enough on the sea.” He’d teased his friend mercilessly after the last time they’d used the arrow and Riveran had thrown up all over the first group of people they’d found.
