Page 18 of Salt in the Seas
Aeliana’s mind raced. Sylmar had told her Kendalyhn’s parents were killed by Mayvus, but he hadn’t explained all this.
“We should take this one out and have you do it again,” Kendalyhn said. “I’m not about to act like your maidservant and come to your room each morning to do your hair.”
Aeliana hesitated. “I don’t mind learning braids, but something tells me that’s not all Sylmar wanted you teaching me.”
Kendalyhn crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you think I should be teaching you?”
“You’ve only been talking about clothing and hair and how mine’s a disaster. He wants me to know how to present myself as a Vendaran. As the daughter of a respected priestess. Something you have experience with.”
“Fine.” Kendalyhn huffed as she sat in the chair next to Aeliana, her crossed leg swinging impatiently. “Where should we start? Do I need to help you unlearn your ridiculous notion that the Stars are our creators instead of the Sun? Or can we skip to blessing rituals and prayers?”
Aeliana fought to keep her voice even. “Maybe you can explain the priesthood hierarchy. In Vendaras, there are priests and priestesses at every Stargazer. All have autonomy to run their Stargazers how they choose, so long as they abide by scripture. They’re held accountable by the Council of Priests, which is essentially the seventeen most experienced priests and priestesses in the country, who vote on how to handle religious affairs.”
Kendalyhn’s frown smoothed out and her foot stilled as she listened. “There’s no one who has final say over them all?”
Aeliana shook her head. “I suspect that’s why they don’t have people like Mayvus working their way to the top, but maybe I misunderstood.”
Kendalyhn sighed. “Before Mayvus kidnapped your mother, the two of them were the two highest priestesses, each having spiritual authority over half the nation alongside the Elanesse’s monarchy. Mayvus tore down half the Sungazers in the eastern province to secure her place.” Her jaw tightened.
“And they intentionally gained that power because they felt they were rightful heirs to the throne instead of the Elanesse?” Aeliana tried piecing their history together, remembering the story Orra had shared about the Wyndren sisters being descendants of one side of the Elanesse and Gaeren and Enla being descendants of another.
“I suspect that was Mayvus’ motivation, but your mother just wanted to lead the people to worship the Sun. It was what made my parents—” Kendalyhn cut off, then busied herself gathering up Aeliana’s brush and pins just to lay them back out in a more organized fashion.
“It’s what made your parents sacrifice themselves for her?” Aeliana finished softly.
Kendalyhn’s hands stilled. “Who told you that?”
“Sylmar gave me the basics.”
Kendalyhn’s eyes narrowed, but, apparently unable to find a way to make that Aeliana’s fault, she continued talking. “According to the official records, my parents desecrated their Sungazer. If by ‘desecrating it’ Mayvus meant they used it to actually worship the Sun instead of a woman rising to power, then yes, they were guilty.” Her lips pursed, but her eyes held a vulnerable hint of pain that Aeliana had rarely ever seen on the other woman’s features. “Their convictions were strong because they’d been inspired by your mother.”
“So you blame her for their deaths,” Aeliana murmured, “which is why you hate me.”
Kendalyhn stepped behind Aeliana and began ripping pins from Aeliana’s hair. “I don’t hate you because of my parents.”
Aeliana raised her eyebrows, watching Kendalyhn through the mirror. “But you do hate me?”
Kendalyhn frowned, her fingers taking on a new urgency to pull Aeliana’s hair from the braid. “It seems like you understand thehierarchy of the priesthood well enough. Should we move on to the blessings and rituals?”
“Why can’t you just answer my question? You get along well enough with Lukai and the others, but you have some sort of secret grudge against me. It makes no sense.”
Kendalyhn’s face reddened, and she backed away, her hands on her hips. “Secrets? You’re the one who’s been avoiding our lessons and giving evasive answers. You hardly even look at Lukai, and now he’s worried you’re going to break your bond?—”
“Our bond? What does Lukai and our bond have to do with anything?”
“I’ve followed you.” Kendalyhn jabbed a finger in Aeliana’s shoulder. “Watched you sneak off with soldiers.”
This time it was Aeliana’s face that heated. “I’m questioning them,” she blurted out, then immediately regretted it. “But you can’t tell Sylmar.”
Kendalyhn snorted, then wrapped her fingers around Aeliana’s shoulders, her eyes glazing over as she attempted to sift Aeliana’s soul.
Aeliana wrenched away with a snarl. Her starlock heated in automatic self-defense and light sparked from her hands, but it sputtered out before it could form a functional light shield.
Kendalyhn’s eyebrows rose. “Does Sylmar know you’re losing your touch because you’re out of practice?”
Aeliana scowled, then held out her hand. “Go ahead; sift my soul. I’m telling the truth. I’m questioning the soldiers for information about Mayvus.”
Kendalyhn grasped her hand, and her eyes went blank once more before the tension in her shoulders dissipated. “You’re asking them about her research on the winex?”
