Page 23 of Salt in the Seas
Riveran greeted the other men with slaps and punches, and Gullet squawked from his shoulder, flapping his wings now and then. It was anyone’s guess if he was happy to see the sailors or irritated at all the commotion. Gaeren introduced Cyrus and Rildan, and before long they were all squished aboard the tiny rowboat.
“We weren’t expecting so many,” Larkos said.
“Why not?” Gaeren asked. “You knew we went looking for Rildan.”
Larkos gave a sheepish shrug, his tattoos rolling as his muscles bunched with each row. “No one seemed confident you’d be successful. And we thought the other Lorvandan would stay behind.”
Rildan grimaced. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Larkos’ chuckle came from deep in his belly.
“How’s Fay like the eye patch?” Gaeren nudged Thallahan, who sat in front of him, as he picked up an oar to aid in the rowing. Riveran grabbed a second, and they each matched the strokes of the sailor in front of them.
“She likes it more than I do.” Thallahan turned back with a sly grin. “Says she only has to work to look half as beautiful.” He’d lost his eye in their battle with Mayvus, when they’d been trapped in the northern keep with dozens of soldiers, but at least that was all he’d lost. Breeve had lost his life.
“Did you bring her with you?” Taking a woman on board was never any sailor’s first choice, but they’d discussed the option, knowing Thallahan’s connection to Gaeren might put Fay in danger.
Thallahan shook his head. “But we picked up Breeve’s ma and siblings, plus Erech.”
The pain from the loss of Breeve warred with Gaeren’s eagerness to see Erech. Eventually he grinned when the thought of the stableboy back on his ship won out. The boy was a hard worker, eager to please.
“Oh.” Thallahan turned to Riveran. “We picked up your wife and boy, too.”
Riveran’s hand slipped and he missed a stroke. “How’s Bayla?”
The familiar twinge of anger stirred in Gaeren’s chest, but it was a remembered response. Now that he knew Riveran hadn’t really left his sister for the other woman, that the marriage had been a lie, it hurtless. If anything, a new sense of righteous anger replaced the old ignorant frustration. His parents had forced Riveran to fake a loveless arrangement just to hide the fact that the future queen had been bonded to a man with no magic.
“She’s doing well,” Thallahan said. “And Rox was starting to walk a bit last I saw. We left them with Breeve’s ma in a town just north of Rykarn. Far enough away from the seedier parts, but close enough for the amenities. The women are all set to start over and take care of each other.”
Riveran’s shoulders relaxed, and he resumed rowing.
Thallahan used his good eye to study Riveran. “That baby isn’t yours, is he?”
Riveran glanced at Gaeren as though asking permission for the admission. “Not by blood.”
“And Bayla?” Thallahan pressed.
“She’s more like a sister,” Riveran admitted.
“Why didn’t you bring Fay?” Gaeren asked Thallahan, taking the attention off his friend’s discomfort.
“With our wedding planned for Winter Solstice, her parents felt it best to continue preparations.”
Gaeren let his oar rest on his knees. “They had no problem with you sailing off on a ship bound for the Recreants?”
Larkos glanced back from his place at the bow, his scowl far too serious. “We have a lot to catch you up on.”
By the time they got settled aboardTo the Deep and Back, Gaeren was anxious for Larkos to explain himself. The two of them settled in Gaeren’s old quarters, which, thankfully, remained the way he’d left them.
“It appears you’re welcome back in Elanesse.” Larkos leaned back in his chair and let his boots rest up on Gaeren’s desk.
Gaeren grimaced. The older man had gotten far too comfortable in the captain’s quarters while Gaeren had been gone. He shoved the sailor’s boots off the desk and half sat, half leaned there instead. “Howis that possible? When I left, they knew it would be to aid the Recreants. They had just given Mayvus a crown, and I went up against her. My actions were clearly treasonous.”
“It’s not like I get to talk to the king and queen or get regular updates from your sister.”
“Then how do you know I’m welcome back?”
Larkos grinned. “Your sister sent letters to Bayla for you and Riveran. She must have sifted your future and seen you’d be coming this way.”
