Page 202 of Salt in the Seas
His rumble of assent held concern.
“Can you do a sweep and see where Mayvus and her soldiers are? Maybe see how much time we have or what exactly we’re up against?”
He rumbled again, then nudged her gently, still nearly knocking her over, before turning around and taking a running leap. She watched in awe as his wings beat the air, undisturbed by how it knocked her to her backside once more. He was her dragon, and she was his half-light. She felt it in her bones the same way she felt the magic coursing through her blood.
Even Sylmar couldn’t have anticipated this. He probably wouldn’t even know how to use it to their advantage, and Aeliana decided she liked that. She didn’t want anyone using Durriken. She wanted his choices to be his own. Now, they finally were.
His freedom gave her a sense of power that left her fueled for what she had to do next. She cut away the remaining rags of her green skirt as she raced toward the palace doors. The lack of soldiers at its entrance left her disturbed. Where had they all gone?
“Mother?” she shouted through the halls. “Sylmar? Iris? Where is everyone?” Concerned maids peered out of the rooms they cleaned,probably never having heard anything shouted in these formal quarters.
“They should be in their rooms, miss,” one of the women said.
“Where are all the soldiers?” Aeliana asked.
The women frowned and glanced down the halls, surprise flitting across their features.
“They wouldn’t be able to help, anyway,” Aeliana muttered. “Never mind. Thank you.” She took off down the hall and up the stairs, counting off the rooms until she came to her mother’s quarters. This time, soldiers stood at the door, the sight strange after all the empty halls. She hesitated, wondering why, out of all the places the soldiers should be, they happened to be here.
But they’d seen her, so they ushered her through, and she found most everyone gathered together. Despite her relief over finding her mother, the soft click of a lock behind her felt ominous.
Emeris ran over and cupped Aeliana’s cheeks between her hands. “You’re all right. I was so worried.”
“Then you know about Mayvus?” Aeliana asked.
“What about Mayvus?” Sylmar stood, thumping his staff against the floor to make his way over to Aeliana with a speed she hadn’t seen in months.
“She’s here—in the harbor,” Aeliana said. “Maybe even closer now.”
Gasps spread through the room.
“If you didn’t know she was here, then why were you worried?” Aeliana scanned everyone in the room, counting them off.
Lukai and Kendalyhn sat on the bed, arms wrapped around each other in a way that would have made her bond mark twinge if she still had it. Her father and Iris stood at the window where her mother had originally been, and Iris searched the night sky.
Velden and Marnok played a game of cards at a table, their relaxed stance almost offensive in light of everything happening. Cyrus and Brogdon sat together, the sight of Mayvus’ former soldier making Aeliana unfairly uncertain. He’d stayed on the ship when they’d crossed the barrier, and she hadn’t seen him leave it before now. He’dwanted nothing more to do with being a soldier after his experiences, so why was he here tonight? Could Mayvus have branded him again?
“They gathered us all together and said our status as guests of the royal family was under review.” Sylmar scowled. “We think something’s happened with the king and queen.”
Aeliana’s concern heightened, and she checked the group once more. “Where are Gaeren and Enla? And Riveran?”
“We haven’t seen them,” her mother said.
“If Mayvus is here,” Sylmar said, “we’re out of time.”
Everyone in the room dropped their gazes, unwilling to look at Aeliana or her mother.
“The trick will be getting the sisters in the same room to make it happen when they’ve locked us up in here.”
“No,” Aeliana growled out.
“It’s the only way, dear,” her mother said. “You’ve heard the curse. Mayvus is too powerful with me alive.”
“Then we find a way to weaken her.” Aeliana’s voice rose with her desperation.
“As long as I’m strong, she will be too.” Her mother gave an apologetic smile and held out her arms.
Aeliana accepted the embrace, but her mother’s words echoed in her mind, as though they held a different meaning than she’d intended. The others formed some sort of line behind Aeliana in their acceptance, giving Emeris hugs and offering Rildan murmured condolences.
