Page 41 of Salt in the Seas
“Both took tonics from the stores of winex fluid once a week for nearly a month, so they survived longer than any of the others she experimented on. Maybe they’re both still alive?”
He hummed noncommittally and continued studying the papers, his brow furrowed.
“I don’t suppose anyone’s returned from the mountains yet for the day?” For a moment she let hope build within her. If Sylmar sought her out now, maybe someone had returned early because they’d found something.
“No sign of the stone.” He set the papers down. “Or Mayvus. We did find another secret stash of blood near the eastern garden. We destroyed them and cross-checked them with her map of the Wheel of Magic. I’d like to add the names to your master list, too. It’s time we made the list more public.”
“Why?”
“If you were on that list, wouldn’t you want to know?” Sylmar asked.
Aeliana winced. “Honestly, I’m not sure I would.”
Sylmar shrugged. “At the very least, we should let the people decide if they want to know. They could come and ask if their name was on the list if they’d like. If she has their blood here, she probably has it somewhere else too.”
Aeliana grimaced. “Hopefully not.” She passed over the map of Mayvus’ brands, but Sylmar hardly glanced at it.
“You can hope all you want, but Brogdon’s blood was in this room, and it was also in one of the first stores you found. She’s ruthless and bordering on insanity, but she’s also cautious and calculating. The blood we’ve found is evidence of her meticulous preparation.”
Aeliana frowned. She hadn’t reached out to Durriken since she’d last seen him playing with the little boy. She hadn’t felt right bothering him since he’d clearly disliked her meddling in the past. But maybe he would want this information.
Or…maybe he would return with vengeance and destroy the entire fortress to ensure no more of his blood was available, especially now that Mayvus was alive.
She supposed she should tell him that bit of news too. Her frown deepened as she ran her finger along the groove at the table’s edge.
Sylmar held Aeliana’s list up to Mayvus’ diagram for comparison. “Have you found anything about a connection between her and your mother? Or maybe her research on immortality?”
Aeliana shook her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know why I thought we’d suddenly come across something. Why would she lay out her weaknesses for someone to find? Knowing she had some sort of secret she guarded doesn’t make it magically appear.”
Sylmar grunted, but he squinted at the two papers, leaving Aeliana unsure if he’d even heard her.
“Do you think she created some sort of connection after you left her? Could she have branded my mother twice? Or bonded her on top of branding her?”
Sylmar’s eyes never left the lists. “I suppose anything is possible. She always wanted more magic. No matter the cost.” Regret passed over his features before his face settled back into his customary grim scowl. “But that still doesn’t explain the connection they had whenthey were younger.” He set her papers on the desk before tucking his own back in his tunic pocket.
Aeliana’s eyes narrowed. Had he just taken some of the papers detailing the experiments on Anara and Ermen? “I think you took the wrong?—”
“I didn’t just come here for an update,” he interrupted. “A ship’s been spotted.”
Aeliana sat up straighter, her gaze flicking to the open window showing blue skies beyond. “Gaeren? Why didn’t you lead with that?”
Sylmar studied her too closely. “We’re not sure if it’s him. None of us have seen his ship, but this one is black as night. It doesn’t seem like something he would sail. And Gullet hasn’t shown up.”
His pessimism didn’t deter her hope. “They planned to disguise his ship, so I don’t think its color should indicate anything.”
“Which is why I came to tell you. I figured you would want to go check for yourself.” He scratched his beard, and the lines and scars on his face seemed less harsh as he angled his head toward the doorway. “Go on. I’ll clean up this mess.”
It was an uncharacteristic offer. Too often, he was her mentor, her teacher, her judge. He seemed determined to train her to be just like him one moment, then determined for her to rise above his failings the next. Sometimes she saw it as overbearing, but in moments like this, she suspected deep down he cared a little too much, except he didn’t know how to show it.
“Thank you, Sylmar.” She stood, then on a whim she bent and kissed the thinning hair on the crown of his head. She ignored his grumbling as she ran from the room.
The windows on this side of the fortress wouldn’t give her a view of the water, so she didn’t bother stopping to look for the ship. Instead, she ran for the east wing, calling out for Felk.
It was the last two days of his cycle, so he was slow to respond. “Mama?” The silver gleam of his hairless head poked out from the doorway of his quarters.
“Gaeren’s back,” she said breathlessly, tugging on his elbow as she ran past.
He let out a whoop that echoed through the hall and loped after her, not as quick to overtake her as he’d been in his younger days.
