Page 57 of Salt in the Seas
Cyrus tried guiding his horse to the quiet half-light’s place in the line, his failed efforts making Aeliana laugh harder. She suspected he’d gladly ride backward the entire way to the ship if it meant he could go on this adventure. She’d wanted him to stay back in Lorvandas for hissafety, but it would have been selfish to make him. He deserved to be here as much as anyone else.
“Orra!” The sound of Gaeren calling out the Star’s name spread a warmth through Aeliana that finally gave her a small sense of peace. Despite his teasing the other night, he’d come through for her in her moment of need. Having him on this journey made it feel slightly more possible.
She craned her neck to find him at the head of the line, standing in his stirrups and hailing Orra with an obnoxious wave. “How many Stars are there?”
Several onlookers turned toward Orra to see if she would bother responding. Her chin rose, and for a moment it looked like she would rebuke him for even asking. “There were one hundred.” Her voice rang out clear and loud. “After Lucian’s death, there were ninety-nine, and only ninety-seven can currently take to the skies.”
Gaeren grinned. “Thank you!” He blew her a kiss that made something in Aeliana’s stomach twist, then sat back in his saddle and led the way out the gates. Riveran and Thallahan followed, along with Brogdon. Riveran’s shoulder was unusually bare, as Gullet remained behind in case the others needed to quickly send a message.
“What was that all about?” Aeliana asked.
Orra shrugged. “I believe it’s something he needs to prove to his sister, but you’ll have to ask him.” She gave a regal nod, and Aeliana took that as her cue to lead her horse to join the pack. She gave one last wave to her parents, then held her breath as a handful of soldiers placed their fingers to their foreheads before bowing their heads, not to her mother, but to her. The motion was picked up by others and became a wave that rode through the crowd.
Aeliana’s face heated as her mother and father made the same motion.
“When used in a procession or send-off,” Sylmar said from beside her, “it’s appropriate to return the signal, as though accepting the respect they offer.”
Aeliana’s fingers shook as she copied the gesture, but it was better than her awkward nods in the hall where she was unsure how to respond.
His horse whinnied its approval, but Sylmar gave her a strange look. “Did Kendalyhn not teach you anything in your lessons?” He and Velden fell in line with Aeliana for the ride to the ship.
“She taught me to do a crown braid,” she mumbled. Which was pointless now that her hair tickled her neck and cheeks, driving her mad with its constant movement. “And she yelled at me for pulling at my pants too much.” Aeliana pulled at them now, hating the way her position on the horse made them tighten around her legs and waist. She felt both claustrophobic and naked.
“Pants are easier for riding,” Velden pointed out.
Eager to change the topic, Aeliana turned the tables on Sylmar. “You looked concerned when talking with General Nels. Is everything all right?”
Sylmar frowned. “It seems some men have gone missing in the last two nights. We suspect they might have been among the branded, but we don’t know if they’re headed for the starbridge’s drop-off point to join her or if they’re out sabotaging our efforts to secure the fortress. Either way, it seems to confirm that it was Mayvus who used the stone. Not that any of us had any real doubt.”
Aeliana wrapped her cloak tighter around her, wondering if they would ever know who was loyal to Mayvus or whom they could trust. At least when it came to people outside those she’d traveled with from her initial arrival on Bamboo Island.
“Have you checked in with Durriken?” Sylmar asked. “Maybe he could help watch over the fortress.”
Aeliana cringed. “Just because I have a brand on him doesn’t mean he’s mine to control.”
“I never said you had to command him.” For once Sylmar seemed more offended than irritated. “Now that you know he can understand you across the brand, you can use the connection to communicate what we’ve learned. Tell him our vulnerabilities, and then ask if he’s willing to help. I never said command.”
Aeliana bit her lip. It still felt like it was asking too much of the dragon who’d been enslaved by Mayvus, but she supposed she needed to at least tell him what they knew of Mayvus. “I’ll try reaching out to him soon.”
Sylmar grunted his approval. “I haven’t forgotten that you had something to tell me the other night. Orra’s news took precedence, but it’s important that we address any issues with your magic—especially if you feel like you haven’t been properly weaned.”
Her questions felt silly in light of everything else going on. “I think it was just Gaeren giving me memories. It seemed… different from when he had in the past. I thought maybe my magic was somehow changing his. I don’t know.”
“The Wheel of Magic is as unchanging as the Sun.” Sylmar’s words came out stern, like he’d told Aeliana that a dozen times in lessons before. He probably had.
“It’s meant to be a reassuring thing,” Velden added, “even if Sylmar makes it sound ominous.”
“But an individual’s magic can change,” she pressed. “You said I could grow to develop rim magic.”
“Grow, yes,” Sylmar admitted. “But never change. Gaeren will always have noetic magic. You will always have somatic magic. But magic can also wither if it’s not cared for.”
“Here we go,” Velden muttered.
“I’ve noticed your light shields have been dimming,” Sylmar said.
Aeliana winced. His words felt like a rebuke, even though he was merely voicing some of her own concerns.
“It’s expected now that you’re fully weaned,” Velden said. “Your magic was never going to stay that strong.”
