Page 102 of Salt in the Seas
Riveran scoffed. “Their plan would have caught us all in Dreyfus’ trap. I was pulling us out of one fire, knowing we were likely jumping into another.”
They stared at each other, the tension between them familiar but unwanted. “I may not want the role of throne warden,” Gaeren said, “but I will still protect Enla to my death.”
Riveran sighed. “Maybe that’s what I’m afraid of.” His soft words knocked all the fight out of Gaeren.
“You know I have to go,” Gaeren said. “I will protect Enla, but I have to do this first.”
Riveran gave a short nod. “Which is why I’ll go with you.”
The undeserved loyalty left a lump in Gaeren’s throat, and all he could do was clap a hand on Riveran’s shoulder in thanks.
When they headed back to the main deck, Iris and Aeliana still hadn’t emerged from their quarters, but Sylmar and the others had gathered around Velden, demanding answers. Even some of the sailors listened in, their knowledge of the hunt for starbridgesalways dependent on what they could glean from eavesdropping and gossip.
The poor half-Sayhleen still hugged his mother’s tail to his chest, his lips pressed together in a grim line and his eyes haunted by memories Gaeren didn’t want to access.
“We can share the details of what happened later,” Gaeren called out, drawing everyone’s attention away from Velden and onto him. “The important thing is that we have the starbridge. Right now we need to figure out a plan moving forward.”
“You all deliberately went behind our backs,” Sylmar said. “The events that transpired over the last few days might very well inform us on how to move forward.”
“Fine,” Gaeren said flatly, and he began rushing through the events like he was reciting the contents of his desk drawer. “The plan to fool Dreyfus was terrible. He’s a black market trader, a conman, a swindler, and a murderer. Our efforts to fool him would have been seen through before we were able to act on them. Aeliana and I saw that, but we didn’t realize Velden concocted the plan in the first place as a distraction, both for you and Dreyfus.”
Sylmar stiffened a bit but let Gaeren continue.
“We figured if word got back to Dreyfus that a trap lay in wait in Andel, he wouldn’t be looking for one in Melford. So we caught him unaware, and we took the starbridge from him. Now we can use it to get answers, and…” He paused, abandoning his emotionless tirade so he could give proper respect to his final words. “And we’ll use it to take Velden’s mother home for a proper burial.”
Cyrus and Holm dropped their eyes, as if finally aware of how their curiosity might have been painful for Velden, but several sailors grew more excited, making Gaeren want to string them all up with the sails.
“That should sum it up,” he said even louder, “and now we can move forward.”
Thallahan took the hint and elbowed a few men before sending Erech off on an errand.
Velden shot Gaeren a grateful glance, but Sylmar’s frown didn’t fade. He leaned on his staff, glancing back and forth between Veldenand Gaeren. “Do we know where the starbridge will take us, or where it will return us?”
Gaeren shrugged. “I suppose we’re about to find out.”
Lukai and Kendalyhn bent their heads together, whispering, while Holm glanced back toward the women’s quarters, still waiting for Iris and Aeliana to come out. Thallahan frowned, rubbing at his eye patch.
Velden finally cleared his throat, his voice once again subdued, making Gaeren mourn the little progress they’d made with him during their escape. “I suspect it will bring us back somewhere in the southern waters, most likely on the western coast. My mother would return home sometimes, and when she would come back to Andel, she always came from the west.”
Sylmar nodded, then turned back to Gaeren. “Didn’t you say you left friends in Rykarn?”
Gaeren and Riveran exchanged glances. “Breeve’s mother and Riveran’s…” Gaeren hesitated, no longer sure if he should refer to her as Riveran’s wife.
“My sister and her son,” Riveran finished.
Gaeren couldn’t keep his eyebrows from shooting up.
Riveran leaned in to mumble, “We agreed there was no reason for the marriage charade. When we last spoke, I still wanted Rox to be family, and this seemed the easiest way.”
“Was that before or after you knew my sister got married?” Gaeren hissed.
Pain flashed across Riveran’s face, and Gaeren regretted the question, even though he still wanted to know the answer. Had Riveran made that decision because he thought there was hope for him and Enla?
Sylmar’s staff thumped on the deck, breaking up their awkward impasse. “I say those of us who came from the Myndren Mountains cross the barrier and meet with Gaeren and his men in Rykarn.”
“I’m crossing the barrier,” Gaeren corrected. “Riveran too.”
Sylmar’s lips pursed, making them disappear beneath his mustache and beard. But he didn’t argue.
