Page 58 of Salt in the Seas
Sylmar grunted. “It’s also a sign that you could be training more to bring it back to the strength you’d reached.”
“He would have said the same thing if your light shields were stronger,” Velden whispered. “Would have made it into a challenge to reach your rim magic younger than any other progeny.”
“I’m sure you’re both right,” Aeliana said slowly. “I haven’t put as much time into my training because we all had a false sense of security. But there’s more to it than that.”
Sylmar’s brows rose, and as his interest piqued, she felt that same hesitation from her early days in Vendaras rise.
“The memories I saw weren’t Gaeren’s. They were from Cyrus’perspective. I’m wondering if my somatic skills somehow temporarily transferred his magic to Cyrus.”
Sylmar and Velden exchanged a look that made Aeliana regret asking her question.
“If the memories were Cyrus’, that wasn’t Gaeren’s magic,” Velden said softly. “It was yours.”
“My magic?” Aeliana frowned as their horses fell a bit behind the others. “But I’m a somatic progeny. Are you saying I’m developing a second spoke?”
“Maybe.” The way Sylmar studied her left her uneasy.
“Maybe she’s still not fully weaned,” Velden suggested, “and she’s tapping into some of that extra magic? Could it be temporary as it works itself out of her system?”
“Or maybe we never got her spoke right in the first place,” Sylmar murmured.
The thought left Aeliana exhausted. Would that mean starting over with testing and training? Their horses caught up to the wagons and the mix of sailors and soldiers, and Aeliana sensed Sylmar’s wariness grow alongside her own.
“We’ll continue this conversation after we’ve gotten settled on Gaeren’s ship,” he said. “In the privacy of the captain’s quarters.”
Sylmar nudged his horse ahead, and Velden grinned while leaning toward Aeliana. “I can’t wait to see how Gaeren reacts to Sylmar commandeering his quarters.”
CHAPTER 23
AsTo theDeep and Backcame into view, Aeliana couldn’t help the thrill that ran through her. Something about the salty scent of the sea and the wind in her hair felt like home. She supposed it was because she’d grown up in the Sungazer by the sea with her parents, but she’d been taken from them at too young of an age to hold on to any of those memories.
She would just have to make new ones.
Thallahan and Riveran helped get Aeliana and the other newcomers settled aboard the ship. Gaeren directed his sailors in their final preparations, and Aeliana couldn’t help admiring this new glimpse of him. She’d sensed his strong leadership skills in their time together, but because he’d always been under Sylmar’s watchful eye, he’d never had a need or opportunity to display it.
A few of the men grumbled and made comments about the women on board as Aeliana, Iris, and Kendalyhn were given Gaeren’s cabin. But Thallahan was quick to remind them that Orra had brought them luck. And then they kept their mouths shut.
“What luck did Orra bring?” Aeliana asked.
Thallahan chuckled. “I don’t know if it’s actually luck, but everyone loved her all the same. It doesn’t hurt that Gaeren landed squarely on the side of the Recreants after her influence.”
“I heard he was back in his parents’ favor,” she said, unsure if she should mention his parents had been branded.
Thallahan bobbed his head back and forth with a roguish grin that fit perfectly with his eye patch. “Yes, but then he had the nerve to tell them they were horrible rulers and they should step down. So it’s anyone’s guess if he can return without fear for his life. You’ll have to ask him for more details. That’s all I’ve got.”
A young boy on the crest of adolescence ran up to Thallahan. “Master Gaeren needs you at the helm. He’s asked me to see to the ladies’ needs.” His face took on a pink hue, whether because the idea gave him pride or embarrassment, Aeliana wasn’t sure.
“Aeliana, meet Erech,” Thallahan said. “Erech, this is Aeliana.”
She held out a hand. “It would be an honor to have your help. I’ve never sailed on a ship before, and I need someone with your experience to make sure I don’t make a fool of myself.”
Erech took her hand and ducked his head. “This is only my third voyage, but I might have some tips, especially if you get seasick or homesick.” When he finally looked up at her, his eager grin made her think of Felk, even though this boy had half as many teeth and no feral instincts.
It wasn’t long before the motion of the ship shifted and they headed out to open waters. Aeliana left the cabin to take in the coastline, marveling at the speed with which they would be able to make it to Andel.
“We should have sailed here from Bamboo Island in the first place,” she muttered as she leaned over to let the sea spray her face.
Sylmar’s unexpected response startled her more than the water. “Even if we’d had a ship, it would have been much harder to arrive undetected, and we would have beaten the army by moons.”
