Page 197 of Salt in the Seas
Her words made the other men pause, and Gaeren stood straighter, grateful for her defense of his family even if they didn’t deserve it.
She didn’t wait to see if she’d convinced them. Instead, she grabbed Gaeren’s hand, and they ran for his carriage. Together they removed the harnesses so they could ride bareback, and Gaeren instructed the driver to find a safe place to hide.
After they mounted, Aeliana turned back to him, her face holding an apology. “I can’t go with you.”
Gaeren frowned, pulling back on the horse’s reins until it pranced in position beside Aeliana’s horse. “Why not?”
“I have to go to Durriken.”
Relief rushed through Gaeren. “He can help us.”
Aeliana winced. “It needs to be his choice.”
Memories of that night on the northern keep of the Myndren Mountains’ fortress swept over him, entirely too clear thanks to his noetic skills. “You’re not going to free him, are you? What if Mayvus brands him again?”
Aeliana closed her eyes. “I’ll leave the decision up to him. I don’t think he’ll want to be free unless Mayvus is truly powerless. Hopefully he’ll fight with us so he can be freed after. But I will not force him.” She opened her eyes and flinched when her gaze met Gaeren’s. “Either way, I know he’ll take me to meet you at the palace.”
Gaeren nodded but couldn’t quite say goodbye. “Now your mother needs your protection just as much as Enla needs mine.”
Aeliana shivered. “She’ll let the others kill her if her death can protect them from Mayvus. I’ll need to find another way—without the witches.”
They stared at each other as their horses pawed the ground in impatience. Gaeren knew they had to leave—that time was a commodity they couldn’t waste. But the unknowns of when they might see each other again felt even heavier than before.
The intensity on Aeliana’s face brought Gaeren back to the woods where they’d broken their bonds. “I’ll be there when you face her again,” he promised. “I won’t let you do it alone.”
The air between them felt just as charged as that night, the idea of a kiss even more appealing. He inwardly cursed the horses and distance between them.
“Just don’t brand me this time,” she said with a grin.
“Fine,” he said, grateful for the way she’d lightened the moment. “I’ll find some other way to save you.”
She cocked her head. “Maybe this time I’ll save you.”
He laughed, then nudged his horse’s side with his heel and took off toward the palace with a wave over his shoulder, all the while wondering if he raced to save the wrong woman.
CHAPTER 76
As hard asit was to leave Aeliana behind, the memory of the sprite’s warning for Enla kept repeating in Gaeren’s mind on a loop, driving him forward toward the palace. He rubbed a hand over his mare’s withers, silently apologizing for pushing her so hard.
As he approached the stables, he let her slow just enough for him to slide off her back and toss her reins toward a stable boy. He nearly tripped over his own feet when he saw it was Erech, and instead of running toward the palace, he hesitated, glancing between Erech and the harbor.
“Why aren’t you with Larkos at the ship? Or better yet, with your family?” His words came out panicked as visions of young Breeve’s battered body being pulled from the ruins of the northern tower in Myndren plagued him. He didn’t even let Erech answer. “Never mind. Just get the mare settled, but then get yourself home. Stay as far away from the palace as possible. Mayvus is coming.”
Erech’s face turned white, and flashes of images of Erech’s siblings were pushed into Gaeren’s mind, as if the boy’s fears shouted so loudly Gaeren’s noetic skills were forced to take them in. Erech froze, nearly losing the mare’s reins as she gave her own nervous whinny.
Gaeren grabbed Erech’s shoulders and shook him out of his shock. “Go on! Now!”
The boy rushed the mare into the stable, and Gaeren had to trust he’d remember the rest of his instructions.
He took off toward the palace even though it was the last place he wanted to be. His parents wouldn’t welcome his presence so soon after his demand that they step down. They couldn’t punish him for being within his rights, but would they listen to him?
He approached the front entrance at a run, making the guards break formation and draw their swords.
“Mayvus is in the harbor,” he announced, ignoring their weapons. “Get word to Danton and your commander. They’ll need to call in all the troops. Where are my parents and Enla?”
To the guards’ credit, they obeyed immediately, three taking off in different directions inside the palace, while two others remained behind.
“The king and queen are in the council room,” one said. “Danton should be there as well. And your sister should be resting in her quarters.”
