Page 203 of Salt in the Seas
“No,” Aeliana whispered, the words finally starting to click in her mind.
Everyone ignored her, writing off her words as grief.
“No.” She said it again, louder. “We can find a way to weaken Mayvus. If you’re weak, she’s weak.” She scanned the room, then stepped forward, tugging on Lukai’s arm. “Didn’t you tour the apothecary with the healers?”
“Yes.” His brow bunched in confusion. “Marnok and I both did. It’s in the west wing, on the third floor. They have hundreds of tonics, things I didn’t know existed that can be used with or without magic.Even the staff who aren’t progenies can heal most anything.” His voice held a bit of wonder.
“But aren’t there things that could harm as well?”
He nodded warily. “Most anything in the wrong dosage can be harmful.” His gaze flicked to Emeris. “Are you suggesting…”
“Yes.” She turned to her mother. “Instead of killing you, let’s just make you sick. Sick enough to weaken Mayvus and trap her, but not sick enough to kill either one of you. Then we heal you.”
The room went quiet as the idea was considered, and Aeliana knew she’d found the solution. It was one they couldn’t argue with, because trying anything was better than giving up and accepting Emeris’ death.
“Moon’s brew herb and valerian root could do the trick,” Marnok said quietly, bolstering Aeliana’s hope.
“Where would I find them? What do they look like?” she asked.
He described them both in detail, giving his best guess as to where they’d be in an apothecary, but the others started voicing their dissent.
“How will you get there?” Velden asked. “You may have walked in here free and clear, but they’re not going to let you walk out.”
She bit her lip, remembering the way the door had locked behind her, then glanced at the window where Iris still watched the skies.
“What do you see?” Aeliana asked.
Iris shook her head. “It’s more what I don’t see. The Stars— they’re not dancing.”
“The Stars?” Aeliana asked. “Orra thinks they’re with Mayvus. She’s going to look for them.”
“If the Stars are on Mayvus’ side, how can we possibly succeed?” Cyrus asked.
“Haven’t you been listening to Orra?” Aeliana asked. “We can still succeed, because the Sun is on our side.” She reached for her tether, finding it just beneath her consciousness—far easier to grasp than ever before. Without even closing her eyes, she was able to home in on Durriken’s senses, to feel the cool air rushing around leathery and scaly skin, powerful wings flapping, and a keen mind scanning the ground.
They’re much too close,Durriken told her.I didn’t have to go far.
She felt her own sorrow pass through him.Any sign of Felk?
His lack of answer only made her sorrow grow.
Come back to me. Pick me up on the eastern wing.They’ve locked us all in my mother’s room.She knew that just like she could see and feel through his eyes and body, he could do the same. And she trusted he would find her.I need you to take me to the apothecary in the western wing.She felt his assent more than she heard the rumble of his breath. Then she released the tether and bounced back to the room with a shudder.
“Are you all right?” Iris gripped Aeliana’s shoulders. “You were gone”—she glanced nervously at Emeris—“like your mother.”
“I was communicating with Durriken,” Aeliana admitted.
Sylmar grabbed her wrist and held it up, his eyes narrowed. “Where’s your brand?” Suspicion colored his tone, and Aeliana wondered if he would ever be able to trust anyone again.
“We’re tethered. Orra sealed it. We don’t need a brand.” Her chin rose as she internally dared him to find something wrong with what she’d done. It hadn’t been part of his plan, and that could be enough to make it wrong, but she would never regret this choice.
His eyes went wide, and another round of gasps spread through the room, but she didn’t have time to explain more than that or wait for their shock to fade. She flung open the balcony doors and stood on the edge, sensing Durriken’s nearness the same way she suspected Orra felt someone touching a starbridge. The internal awareness outmatched her other senses in a way that left her sight and hearing dulled.
“Don’t try to escape. Instead, bar the doors. Make sure no one can come in.”
She knew her actions would horrify everyone back in the room, but there was an absolute rightness to stepping on the edge of the balcony and leaping blindly.
CHAPTER 79
