Page 162 of Salt in the Seas
“Why have you never told me this?” he asked, even though he knew it wouldn’t have made a difference. Enla’s choices were her own, and he couldn’t stop her from this path. Not if it was one she wanted to take.
“Because I still have hope for her.” Larkos’ smile held a strange sorrow. “Even Calia still has hope for her. Enla has something Calia’s mother didn’t. She has you.”
CHAPTER 62
“You’re goingto stay in Elanesse?” Aeliana tried to hide her shock. It felt petty after the last several weeks. But it also felt warranted after she’d all but told Gaeren she loved him. They’d set sail two days ago, and now they finally had a chance to talk alone again, only this was his news.
He tugged on her hand and led her to the stern of the ship where words carried on the wind would get tossed to the sea instead of into sailors’ ears. “It’s not an easy decision, but I have to see things through with my sister. Then I’ll rejoin you in your hunt for the curse and the starbridges.”
He made it sound like each activity would take a month or two at most. “You’re offering to take on your role as throne warden,” she said. “Isn’t that a lifelong commitment?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, but the wind just flung it right back in his face. “Larkos and I are working with the Recreants. Not just these Recreants”—he gestured at their friends on the ship—“but the ones who want to take down the throne for a democracy.”
“My mother wants a democracy too,” Aeliana pointed out. “Some of the Recreants may want her to lead, but it would be more of a figurehead as a high priestess. The power would remain with the people.”
He considered her words. “That might actually be a good way toexplain it to the southern Recreants. It would help unify them.” He shook his head. “The point is, I’ll be working from the inside to help take down the throne. The idea is that there won’t be a need for a throne warden in the near future.”
Aeliana gnawed on her lip before answering. “That sounds dangerous. How do you know they won’t take you down along with your role?”
“It’s far less dangerous than you all taking on the icebergs in the Northern Sea this time of year. I can’t believe Larkos even agreed to it.” He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in a hug. “You’re risking getting there just to have to turn around and take the Southern Horn.”
“I’ll ask Durriken to check on the icebergs if it makes you feel better.” She leaned into him, relishing the way she felt no guilt or twinge on her palm. “But you’re avoiding my question.”
“I guess my safety isn’t a guarantee,” he admitted. “But I can’t just let them kill my family. I’ll protect my sister the same way you want to protect your mother.”
She nodded against his chest, mostly because she didn’t want to pull away to say anything more. He was right even if she didn’t want to admit it. Finding Mayvus and figuring out how to destroy her power while protecting Emeris was her priority. Everything else was trivial. Most especially any feelings she’d developed for a prince who was supposed to be some sworn enemy.
“Sylmar doesn’t trust you,” he added, finally making her pull away to squint at him.
“What do you mean?”
He glanced back at the others. “When we were still sick, Sylmar asked me to gain your trust—to figure out your real motives. He’s worried you’re branded.”
She laughed. “I’m not—” She held up her hands, studying all the scars. “Would I know if I was branded and she’d disguised it?”
“Probably. But I don’t think you’d tell me.” He took her hands in his. “My point is that he’s watching you—he might even ask someone else to spy on you once he hears I’m staying in Elanesse. I admire his diligence, but…”
Aeliana tried to smile, but she couldn’t help thinking about the way her scars seemed to form new cuts. “What if he’s right, except I don’t know it? I’ve had cuts I can’t explain, all the way back since I came to Vendaras. What if she’s doing blood magic through me?”
Gaeren hesitated, running his fingers along her scars. “I don’t see how that’s possible. The blood she had that night was her only vial. I’m more worried my parents could be branded again than you. Maybe the cuts are something you’ve done in your sleep, or maybe they come back because they’re infected. Or just accidents. You’re not the most graceful woman?—”
His words cut off with a grunt as she jabbed him in the stomach. “I’ll have Lukai take a look at my hands, I guess.”
“Trying to drum up jealousy?” He grinned at her. “It won’t work when he’s smitten with Kendalyhn.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around Gaeren once more.
“Gaeren Elanesse!” Larkos’ voice carried on the wind. “This ship won’t sail itself and my shift is over!”
Over the next several days, Aeliana threw herself into training with Sylmar and Lukai, striving to get her constructive somatic skills back while neglecting the noetic skills she’d gained from Durriken. The harder she worked, the more progress she made, but deep down she knew it was nothing like she’d been able to do before they’d reached the Myndren Mountains.
Durriken reported that the Myndren Mountains seemed undisturbed, with soldiers still fortifying walls and additional ramparts being built. She was tempted to ask him to get close enough to check on her mother, but even if the soldiers let him, she didn’t want to put him in that dangerous position—especially since he’d expressed interest in tearing the place down.
Before she knew it, the week it took to sail to Elanesse had passed. Saying goodbye to Gaeren was as hard as Aeliana had expected, and watching him voluntarily walk away and weave through the ranks for final farewells was even harder.
Across the ship, Gaeren ruffled Erech’s hair, then gave Larkos a light punch, pointing at the wheel with a stern glance and probably a warning for the ship’s safety. Then he hopped from the ship’s plank to the dock with Thallahan and Riveran in tow.
Several of the sailors’ demeanors shifted as Larkos gave the orders to set sail again. For some of them, it was a stop at home. One they weren’t allowed to disembark for since no one was entirely certain how well this group of Recreants would be received regardless of the prince’s presence aboard their ship. For others, it was enemy territory, and tension seemed to rise equally across the board.
