Page 144 of Salt in the Seas
“I might be able to hide the hole,” Sylmar said. “Melt together some of the thatch so it’s not so noticeable.”
“You think that would be best?” Riveran asked.
Aeliana wrung her hands, understanding his hesitation. It was his and Gaeren’s lives that were on the line, not the rest of theirs. “Nori will make sure she has the starbridges. She’ll make sure you’re able to cross with us.”
Riveran nodded but blinked rapidly and looked away.
“And if something goes wrong,” she added, “we’ll use our magic—resort to Sylmar’s original plan.”
“We should have gone with Sylmar’s plan when we first got here,” Kendalyhn mumbled.
Aeliana wanted to argue. If they’d escaped from the beginning, they never would have had the chance to see Lady Merinnia. But what had they really learned from her? And at what cost? She glanced at Iris, who’d hardly said a word since Holm’s death. Her physical sickness had mostly abated, but her soul still needed healing—healing that might not be possible in this life.
“I wish we had too,” Aeliana whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing we can do about it now.” Riveran stood, and his acceptance seemed to propel the others into action.
They all rushed back to the hut and filed through the same hole they’d escaped through. It felt backward to return to their prison, but Aeliana had to trust their plan would work. It was the only way to get close enough to the starbridges, whether to use them with Nori or to steal them from the elders and escape.
Sylmar and Velden did their best to hide the hole in the thatch, but with the hole facing the forest, they just had to hope no one would notice the seaweed broken on the exterior. They’d barely finished whenvoices could be heard in the distance, followed by light steps on the dirt.
Aeliana leaned against the thatch, trying to find a decent view of their visitors, and she sagged with relief at the sight of Nori and Gellen—even though they brought four more guards with them. They nudged the sleeping guards, then made fun of them, threatening to expose their laziness to the elders, but eventually they opened the prison door and beckoned the Vendarans out.
“There are more of you,” Velden quipped, drawing attention to himself to keep eyes off the strangely melted thatch behind them. “Have we gotten more dangerous as the days wore on?”
None of the guards responded, but they fell in line to escort them all right back to the same square Aeliana and Gaeren had just run from. Nori latched her arm through Aeliana’s.
“How are you going to get the starbridges from your father before they’re hanged?” Aeliana whispered.
Nori shook her head, the lack of an answer making Aeliana even more nervous when the gallows came into view. The crowd seemed to have multiplied since she last left; news about the hangings must have traveled fast.
At first, they put all the prisoners on the north side of the dais. Aeliana found herself gripping Gaeren’s hand as if holding on to him might physically keep him there. But then she realized they should all be holding hands just in case there ever was a chance to use the starbridge. She nudged Cyrus and grabbed his other hand, gesturing for others to do the same until suddenly they were a unified front before the Sayhleens, probably appearing more defiant than they intended.
Just when her confidence rose, two guards yanked Gaeren and Riveran from their line.
“No!” She tried grabbing Gaeren’s hand back, but a trident blocked her path, angled right at her neck.
“You can’t take them,” she shouted. “You’d be starting a war.”
This made the elders pause. “A war against whom?” Elder Algaen asked.
“The Vendarans.” She licked her lips, peering around the trident still a handsbreadth from her face. “What do you think will happenwhen we show up without their beloved prince?” She could practically hear Gaeren scoffing in her mind that he was no more beloved than Mayvus was.
The elders exchanged glances. Elder Perla cleared his throat. “Our ambassadors will bring back the starbridge. I don’t see how a war can be started if you don’t have access to our lands.”
“Please,” she said. “He’s done nothing wrong.” She didn’t even care that she sounded like a petulant child. At this point she was merely stalling, hoping one of the elders might reveal the starbridges. Maybe Velden would even be able to sift out their location. Once they had the starbridges, they could leave.
“She’s right,” Riveran called out. “I’m the one who killed the sprite.”
The people around the dais gasped, some stepping back as if his presence might taint them.
“Kill me, but let him live,” Riveran said.
“No.” Gaeren shook his head. “Neither one of us needs to die tonight.” But their words were cut off as they were manhandled into nooses before the crowd.
Aeliana sought out Nori, whose face had broken out into bluish-purple scales. Nori tugged on her father’s arm. “I don’t know if they’ll help me if it ends this way.”
“Then there’s no need for you to go.” He turned back to the audience and began reciting the judgment placed earlier on Riveran and Gaeren by the elders.
