Page 111 of Salt in the Seas
Nori, Gellen, and Gaeren’s guard all made their shift from scales to skin, retaining minimal modesty. Aeliana’s face heated, and she looked away, wishing they’d kept more scales in place until they’d pulled on the clothes they’d left on shore.
Gellen chuckled, making Aeliana’s cheeks grow even warmer.
She turned the shell over in her hand, wondering if it was finally safe to open. Gellen snatched it from her grip and tucked it into his belt pouch.
“That was a gift,” Nori protested.
“She can have it back if she’s released.”
The two Sayhleens glared at each other, making Aeliana wonder what other disagreements lay between them. She had no use for a gemstone anyway. She’d trade it for the chance to talk to Lady Merinnia.
Gellen’s glare was replaced by confusion as he turned to study Aeliana. She ignored his perusal, not wanting to care what he might be pulling from her mind.
“Thank you for showing us Coral Cove.” Aeliana’s words for Nori were true, even though she now knew the real reason they’d been brought on this tour in the first place was for Gellen to access their minds. Had they passed whatever test they’d been given? She supposed he would report back to the elders tonight.
“You did well enough,” Gellen grudgingly admitted.
Nori’s eyes narrowed, and her hands went to her hips. “Got enough information? Maybe now you can stop telling my father to?—”
“Nori!” the other guard hissed.
She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. “Let’s take them back,” she muttered.
No more words were exchanged before they reached the hut, where Velden greeted them like a hospitable host instead of a co-prisoner.
“Come in, come in! What took you so long?” He grinned and winked at them, gesturing for them to enter. “I was beginning to think we’d never see your sorry hides again.”
“We couldn’t have beaten you even if we’d sprouted wings,” Gaeren said.
His words made Aeliana think of Durriken and how long it had been since she’d been able to reach the dragon. She hadn’t thought to tell him goodbye before leaving Vendaras, hadn’t considered she might not be able to access him after crossing the barrier. But ever since arriving on Sayhla Island, she’d felt like the brand connecting them had been temporarily severed even though it still looked solid on her palm.
The inability to sense his presence was uncomfortable, like when her bond mark would twinge if she sensed Lukai in danger. But this was more like the phantom pain of a lost limb, and her efforts to reach him had become more of a desperate habit than true attempts. She supposed that meant her noetic magic would be dulled. Would her somatic skills automatically be strengthened? Or was it a muscle she had to retrain first? There was no way for her to test it with the Sayhleens guarding them anyway.
Before Aeliana could follow Gaeren into the hut, Gellen’s hand shot out to grab her wrist.
She stiffened, but then his question reverberated in her mind.
Who’s Durriken?
Her brows rose in surprise, but instead of answering, she let the image of Durriken fill her mind—not the docile creature in the woods playing hide-and-seek with a little boy, but the terrifying beast who’d annihilated thousands of soldiers in the Valley of Krahn.
Gellen stepped back and dropped her wrist, his face pale. “You’re trying to frighten me.”
She’d simply wanted to shock him, but frightening him felt equally rewarding. “Is it working?”
His brow furrowed and his color returned, along with a few sapphire scales. “Or you’re trying to make a fool of me.”
She sighed. “What would I gain from that? What is it you think we’ve come for? If not for the reason we’ve stated—to gain an audience with Lady Merinnia—then why?”
He pressed his lips together in a thin line, then stepped back just enough to slam the hut door in her face.
CHAPTER 42
Velden,Gaeren, and Aeliana spent the evening rehashing their excursion, but Sylmar and the others couldn’t make sense of it either. Which made Aeliana even more confused when Nori showed up again the next afternoon, informing them that Velden, Gaeren, and Aeliana were all invited to her friend Ailah’s Awakening celebration.
This time they were led away from the hut, which sat on the far eastern edge of the village, toward the center of town. Their procession drew attention from children and even adults who stopped to stare, making Aeliana relieved when Nori led them to a large gated home, away from onlookers.
They were offered the chance to freshen up, and two of the soldiers followed Gaeren and Velden into private rooms, but to Aeliana’s relief, it was Nori who led her to an already steaming bath. After pointing out soap and towels, the young woman turned her back but kept up a steady stream of chatter, telling Aeliana about the people she’d meet and the meal they’d be serving, all while giving little tips to ensure she didn’t offend anyone.
