Page 156 of Salt in the Seas
Orra tensed, but Emeris’ eyes clouded over.
Rildan wrapped an arm around Emeris’ shoulder, his efforts to direct the conversation away from his wife’s confusion also, thankfully, distracting everyone from Orra’s lack of an answer to the priestess’ question. “We’ll continue west as well. Even if we can’t catch up, we could reconsider our plan to warn the Elanesses. Maybe General Nels has already sent Gullet.”
They all exchanged weary glances, the reality of the fortress’s fate in the Myndren Mountains weighing heavily on them. Orra frowned, thinking of all the ships in the harbor and which ones might be faster than Larkos’ borrowed galleon. “If we could convince a navy ship to take us, we could possibly beat Larkos to Elanesse.”
“And pass by Aeliana and the others completely?” Marnok asked.
Orra nodded. “I suspect they would also stop in Elanesse for Gaeren’s sake, if not for supplies, on their return to the fortress. It might be better to get ahead of them rather than continuing to trail behind.”
“And how would we convince our enemy’s navy to take us?” Rildan asked.
Orra pressed her lips in a thin line. “By proving they are no longer your enemy. By giving them the knowledge we carry, the warning we held back in an effort to save face on General Nels’ recommendation. If we can assume General Nels has fallen, his advice no longer needs to be heeded.”
While the men considered the idea, Orra contemplated all the ways this plan could fail and succeed without actually searching through the future to see how it might turn out. With her own presence on boardthe naval ship, she couldn’t completely trust anything she saw to be true. It would be a waste of her magic anyway.
“It could work,” Marnok said.
“And if it doesn’t?” Rildan asked.
Orra sighed. “Then we could be chasing them as they head straight into Mayvus’ trap at Ahmranan’s Viewpoint.”
CHAPTER 60
Even though Aelianahad initially found it more than pleasant to help Gaeren break their bonds, now all she felt was sick over how they’d hurt Lukai. She lay alone in the tiny room that served as Rox’s nursery, but each time Iris opened the door, it set her on edge as she recalled memories of her former bondmate’s moans during that first night.
“He’s stopped crying out,” Aeliana said. “Does that mean he’s gotten better or worse?”
“Lukai’s fine, love,” Iris said dryly. “Better off than you and that whiny prince in the other room.”
Aeliana bit her lip, her gaze on the door even though her stomach growled over the meal Iris had brought in. “I need to apologize. I should have asked first. I didn’t think?—”
“It’s clear you and Lukai weren’t a good match,” Iris interrupted, passing her a slice of bread. “Ever since we reached the Myndren Mountains, we’ve been expecting this. No one’s surprised that you broke your bond. We’re just wondering why it took so long.” The small lift of her lips made Aeliana squirm.
Did they know she and Gaeren had kissed? Or did they think the bond marks had been cut out? What did it matter if they knew anyway? It was just a kiss. It wasn’t like anything else would come of it.
She slouched in the bed and took a bite of the bread, letting her gaze fall on Rox’s bassinet. She needed to recover and give him back his room. “Will Sylmar take me out to train today?”
Iris clucked her tongue. “Yes, but I think he’s planning to send Kendalyhn in to work with you a bit first.”
“Kendalyhn?” Aeliana turned, hoping to see the older woman’s teasing grin back in place.
“Sylmar’s got it in his head that we’re all suspect,” Iris huffed out as she stirred one of Velden’s seaweed concoctions with more force than necessary. “He’s been sending Kendalyhn to sift everyone’s souls. Thinks he’s being so secretive about it. But we all know what he’s doing.”
“I thought he didn’t even trust that,” Aeliana said.
“Doesn’t mean he won’t still do it. That man will never be able to trust another person again. It’s sad.” Iris’ eyes held a strange mix of empathy and hatred. “But it’s also extremely frustrating.”
As much as Aeliana trusted these people, even they had broken that at times in the past—always with the end goal of protecting her, but it had still left her wary. It made her understand Sylmar’s reasoning. And she didn’t like when her mind worked the same as his.
“Does she hate me?” Aeliana asked.
“Who?” Iris frowned. “Kendalyhn? Why would she hate you? Lukai might struggle to forgive you—that’s the nature of bonds. But Kendalyhn? You just gave her the greatest gift she could have received. I don’t even think she’ll use it as an opportunity to criticize you over your interest in Gaeren.” A sly smile spread on her face.
“Interest?” Aeliana’s face heated. “It was just a kiss. We agreed to do it to break each other’s bonds.”
“Ah, so it was a pragmatic choice?” Iris snorted, and while it was good to see a brief reprieve from her grief, being the brunt of her teasing stung.
“Yes. That’s all Jasperus said it would take. A kiss. We figured it would be less painful than cutting them.”
