Page 213 of Salt in the Seas
Her father wrapped an arm around her mother, unwilling to leave her side through this trial. Cyrus kneeled in the corner, fighting their battle the best way he knew how. Even Brogdon’s lips moved with silent prayer along with him while Iris and Kendalyhn stood behind Marnok and Lukai, hovering as if desperate to help.
Marnok crushed the dried herbs and placed them in a pouch, his hands steady. Lukai mashed the valerian root until a pus-like substance oozed from it, which he then mixed with a paste.
“She has to eat that?” Aeliana asked.
“The moon’s brew infusion she can drink,” Marnok explained while he worked. “That’s what will make her feel sick and reduce her focus and strength, counteracting her magic as well. The valerian root can be dried and made into a powder to add to food and drink, but if she ingests both, the combination could be lethal. Smearing the paste on her skin will allow her body to absorb it in a different way.”
“A paste sounds too slow,” Aeliana said.
Marnok shrugged. “That’s why we’re tripling the concentration.”
Unlike Marnok, Lukai’s hands shook as he measured more of the valerian root and combined it with the paste.
“And it won’t kill her?” Aeliana asked.
“One dollop on her wrist will make her sleepy,” Marnok said. “Two will make her unconscious. A hair more will slow her heart enough to appear dead. But three full dollops will kill her.”
Pounding came from the hallway door, and the crack of wood splintered the air.
Everyone’s eyes widened, and Sylmar and Velden rushed to check on the security of the furniture blocking the door, fortifying it with their starlocks’ strength as well.
“Hurry, Marnok,” Aeliana murmured.
“If I don’t steep the moon’s brew long enough,” he said, “it won’t be strong enough to make her sick. Or if I put too much in to compensate for the lost time, it could be too strong.”
She bit her lip. Too strong and not strong enough both meant too deadly. She tried to rein in her impatience, but the pounding picked up again, and this time the shouts sounded louder.
“Marnok?” Sylmar drew out his name in warning.
“I can’t make it go any faster.” The strain in Marnok’s voice matched Sylmar’s.
Aeliana’s gaze volleyed between the steeping tea and the doorway, where she could only make out Velden’s and Sylmar’s cloaks as they strengthened the barricade of the door. Another crack splintered the air.
“There,” Marnok said, pouring the tea into a cup and blowing on it.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Emeris grabbed the cup from his hand. “A burnt tongue is the least of my concerns right now.” She chugged it without hesitation. Her eyes watered as she set the cup down, and she beckoned for the water pitcher before drinking directly out of it in an undignified manner.
“Not too much,” Marnok said. “You don’t want to dilute the effects.”
She slowed her swallows and set the pitcher back, pressing her hands against her red cheeks.
“What about the paste?” Aeliana asked.
Marnok frowned. “We take it with us and hope we don’t have to use it. Incapacitating Mayvus with the moon’s brew might be enough.”
Lukai scooped the paste into a small container, careful not to let it touch his skin. After securing the lid, he passed it over to Aeliana. She hesitated, then shoved it in her trouser pocket with a shiver.
“I don’t feel well,” Emeris said, her eyes glazing over.
“That’s good, love,” Iris said while Rildan stroked Emeris’ brow.
Then a final crack rent the air, and Velden and Sylmar were thrown back in a cloud of dust.
CHAPTER 82
Gaeren triedto blink past the bright spots in his vision left by Riveran’s use of the golden arrow. But they were merely replaced by dozens of Ahmranans marching into the council room. The ease with which Mayvus took over the room left Gaeren baffled. Thanks to his parents’ orders while branded, their soldiers hadn’t put up a fight. Now, as they were ushered in as prisoners along with the king and queen, their training kicked in to defend the royal family, but it was too little, too late.
As if sensing her own role in Mayvus’ success, his mother whimpered, and his father held her tighter, whispering words of comfort. In that moment, they looked weak and tired, and all of Gaeren’s frustrations with them fled. They’d done terrible things. His father especially hadn’t done right by him as a child.
