Page 219 of Salt in the Seas
“Sacrifice?” Orra whispered. “You’re going to gift her with your power? With a Star’s death?” Orra’s calm nature gave way to a panic she hadn’t felt since the day she’d been grounded. “You said you weren’t truly working with her. Have you already done this?”
“Of course not,” Reyna said. “Have you seen us fast from the skies? Not that we would do that for the likes of you.”
Orra shuddered, her horror slightly tempered by this bit of relief. With Lucian’s death, they’d all remained grounded for a night, fasting from the Sun’s light as they mourned their fallen brother. “Why would you give her the power of a Star if you’re not working with her?”
“She’s uniting the people,” Reyna hissed. “We’re willing to do anything if it means we can return the world to its unified state.”
A moan rose from one of the Stars on Orra’s right, catching Reyna’s attention as well.
“Emeris,” the Star murmured, and Orra went still.
“What about her?” Orra strained to see the Star’s face, finally catching Excelsus’ wide eyes and slack jaw. “What happened?” A new sense of urgency bled through her tone.
“She’s dead.”
Another cry broke out from Telnar. “Mayvus is dead too.”
Every form on the balcony went still. Even the wind calmed beside them.
“No,” Orra murmured. But she knew they were right. The Stars who had gifted them with starlocks would have sensed it. It wasn’t like the starbridges being used. Orra was blind out here, but they were not.
“How?” she murmured, not really expecting an answer.
Reyna slapped her cheek. Orra’s head flew back with a sharp crack before snapping back, her hair still in Reyna’s grip.
“This was all a ruse just to distract us, to keep us from aiding her in her need,” Reyna said. “How could you? You’ve ruined everything.”
“The Ahmranans retreat,” another Star called out. “We must guide them.”
Several took to the skies while others made partial transfers to leap from the turret down to the courtyard. Orra closed her eyes, waiting to take whatever punishment Reyna offered. When the silence continued, Orra let her eyes flutter open.
Reyna dropped Orra’s hair, letting the grounded Star fall to her knees beside her.
“Now what?” Reyna murmured.
“Now we turn to the Sun,” Orra whispered. “Something I suspect you haven’t done for a while.”
Reyna snarled but backed away, letting her body burn brighter and brighter until she was like a flame burning Orra’s eyes. When she leaped to the skies, Orra watched the trail of her fire fade into the night before closing her eyes in defeat.
She knew she shouldn’t waste her power, but she used the dregs of her energy to reach out to Aeliana, to use the connection of their blood to sense the other woman’s well-being. And while she sensed life in Aeliana’s soul, it was full of grief and sorrow, and Orra fell down to cry with her.
CHAPTER 85
Gaeren pulledAeliana against his chest, turning her away from Mayvus. The battle that had raged around them halted as chaos replaced determination. Several men and women cried out and cradled their hands. Some broke down in relief amidst their pain, while others fled the room.
Durriken let out another howl that drew everyone’s attention to the dais.
Gaeren tensed, wondering if the sight of their dead leader would ignite the Ahmranans’ ire, but instead it seemed to make them panic. The room they’d used as a trap for the royal family quickly became their own prison.
“How could he?” Aeliana murmured. Then she pushed against Gaeren, making a rush for Sylmar and Marnok, who lowered Emeris to the ground.
Gaeren swore under his breath and jumped from the dais after her, dodging those still fighting and rushing through those who’d decided the fight was already over. Aeliana lunged for Sylmar, but instead of railing against him, she wrenched her mother from his arms.
Gaeren quickly untangled the starlocks, placing his own around his neck. Then he passed the rest over to Velden, keeping hold of Aeliana’s and Emeris’. “Can you make sure everyone gets theirs back?”
“That’s music to my ears,” Velden said, picking his fish hooks outfrom the pile. He held them up to the torn flesh of his lobes, then frowned. “Maybe Marnok can heal them.”
They both watched as Marnok struggled to keep his light shield intact around Aeliana and Emeris, his face red and blotchy as he allowed her this chance to grieve.
