Page 192 of Salt in the Seas
“She’s losing her mind,” Kendalyhn said. “We can’t trust anything she says to make sense.
Aeliana swallowed hard, letting her silence confirm Kendalyhn’s words. She hadn’t told anyone else about her plans to seek out the curse from its source. She wasn’t sure anyone would let her go, and she wasn’t looking for permission.
“Yesterday she told Lukai to study the herbs in the apothecary in case he had need of them soon,” Kendalyhn went on. “He wasn’t complaining about the tour—it’s probably his new favorite place. But why would she say something so bizarre?”
A knock sounded on the door, and two of the guards answered it before announcing Gaeren’s presence. Aeliana rubbed her sweaty palms on the green silk skirt, leaving damp marks that made Kendalyhn frown.
It was going to get tossed later anyway. She had leathers on underneath, because she couldn’t exactly ride a dragon wearing layers of silk.
As the soldiers parted for her to leave the room, she caught sight of Gaeren standing in the hall, nervously tugging on the buttons of his jacket. Her jaw dropped as she took in his formal fitted attire and his stiffly styled hair.
Then she bit her lip to hold back a laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“You look very handsome,” she said.
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t lie. Enla would never let me attend a wedding in anything less than this ridiculous costume. And I figured I ought to butter her up.”
“Why?” Kendalyhn stood at Aeliana’s side, arms folded over her chest.
He grinned. “It never hurts to butter up a sibling. Especially when they have the power to do things for you.”
Kendalyhn made a face. “You have the most dysfunctional family I’ve ever met.”
“I don’t disagree.” He held out a hand to Aeliana.
She stared at it just long enough for it to be awkward, then looped her arm through his.
As he led her down the hallway, she glanced back at the ever-present guards. “I don’t know how you stand all the formalities and constantly being followed and watched.”
“Why do you think I escape so much?” he asked. “Speaking of escape…”
She sighed. “You have to stay.”
“I was going to ask if everything is good for tonight.” His eyebrows rose, and she grinned.
“What about the meeting tomorrow?”
“Uncle Danton has it under control. And Enla approved the trip… to Rykarn”—he added with a sly grin—“before Father gave the deadline. Riveran’s promised to look after her since Croft’s never around.”
“I haven’t met him yet,” Aeliana admitted as they stepped out a side door and into the chilly breeze.
“He’s too busy with the navy men,” he said, then snorted. “Maybe they’re converting him to a Recreant.”
The carriage ride into town felt long with several people pointing them out, whether because they were surprised to see her or Gaeren, she didn’t know.
“I wish I had Lukai’s illusion skills,” she admitted.
Gaeren chuckled. “It would be convenient at a time like this.”
“Where’s the princely gift you promised Thallahan?”
His grin turned sheepish. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to find one.”
“You didn’t bring one?”
“No, I did,” he rushed to say, then dug into his pocket.
