Page 206 of Salt in the Seas
The king’s confidence faded. “Too long ago. Our troops won’t resist her people. They consider them allies at this point.”
As if to prove his words, Gaeren heard shouts from beyond the council room, and he rushed to the nearest window, angling his head to see beyond the courtyard to the palace walls. Their home wasn’t as secure as the fortress in the Myndren Mountains, and it wasn’t the first time he’d wished they had enough humility to heighten their security. But their rule had remained uncontested for nearly a thousand years, outside of the rogue Wyndrens attempting to take what they thought was their rightful place.
Even the Recreants hadn’t been enough of a threat for his parents to prioritize a stronger perimeter.
Hordes of Ahmranans approached, like a sea of half-lights riding a wave to the shore. Even if their father had attempted to defend the palace, it would have been futile against so many soldiers.
Had Mayvus brought all of the Ahmranans over?
He ran back to Enla, slapping her cheeks despite Riveran’s protests. “Please, Enla, I need you awake. I need you to tell me what to do.”
A soft moan escaped her lips, bringing him hope that maybe she could still hear him.
“Enla, how many Stars are there? Count them with me.”
Her eyelids flickered, like when someone transitioned out of a deep sleep.
“I told you fifty-two, but I was wrong. Did you ever think I would admit that?” He chuckled even though he grew more tense as the outside crowd’s murmur grew louder and the Ahmranans drew closer. “There were a hundred, Enla. Can you believe it? Orra—no, Sheen—told me herself. Did you know I’ve been spending time with a Star? One of the most important in history.”
Her eyelids ceased their rapid movement, forming a slit as her weary gaze seemed to settle on him.
“Now only ninety-seven can take to the skies. That means I missed forty-five every time I counted.”
Her lips moved slightly, and he had to bend his ear toward her mouth to catch the question she gasped out. “What about…the other three?”
Relief at her words and focus made him giddy, and a grin split his face. “Lucien was killed, and Orra—or Sheen—was grounded…” He trailed off, distracted as he pulled her to a sitting position to test her strength, which was utterly lacking. The answer he’d just discovered had actually been there all along if he’d bother to do the math. “The third one is Bryton, Orra’s other half—someone who’d been more than a bondmate.”
“What happened?” She fought to stand, but he shook his head.
“It sounds like Bryton… well, I think he’ll take to the skies again when Orra reunites the starbridges.”
The clink of gates rising outside brought a new sense of panic that overrode Gaeren’s curiosity. Enla couldn’t be moved, even if they had time to escape. His parents could never make it to the secret pass, and Mayvus would have no qualms about killing them all, considering they’d evaded her brands twice now.
“The starbridges,” he murmured, reaching into his pocket to feel the warm, vibrating metal of the golden arrow. He’d promised to protect it for Orra, but he hadn’t promised he’d never use it again. And he hadn’t promised that he wouldn’t give that task to someone else. He couldn’t have promised that. Not when he’d known his time was likely limited.
Instead, he could make good on his promise to the Recreants. He could send his family to a place where they couldn’t return to the throne.
Saving Enla with the starbridge could very well get him killed. But hadn’t he always known that was the likeliest outcome? He laid her back down on the table, then leaned over the tug Riveran closer.
“I need you to promise me something.” He pressed the arrow into his friend’s palm, wrapping Riveran’s fingers around its shaft. “When you come back, you need to give this arrow to Orra.”
“When he comes back?” Enla’s voice came out groggy, and her gaze clouded over once more. “There’s only one path…in the future. So…much…death. It’s the only path that takes us through.”
The eerie finality of her voice sent a shiver down Gaeren’s spine. He returned his focus to Riveran. “Can you take them?”
He fed the memory of Cyrus reciting the words through to Riveran, who scowled. “What about you?”
“I have to find Aeliana,” he said. “I can’t let her face Mayvus alone.”
“And what if she’s already gone? Then you’ll face Mayvus alone.”
Gaeren shook his head. “She wouldn’t leave her mother, and her mother will gladly prepare to sacrifice herself for the Vendaran people. They’re still here.”
Riveran hesitated.
“We’ve always known this was in my future,” Gaeren whispered. He didn’t need to feed the memory to Riveran for the other man to know he spoke of the sprite’s prediction.
“I promised her I wouldn’t let it happen,” Riveran admitted, his gaze falling back on Enla, who once again seemed lost in time. “I promised to let her take the fall.” The love in his eyes was painful to see, compounded by the realization that the two of them had been conspiring against Gaeren. Maybe for his good, but still behind his back.
