Page 224 of Salt in the Seas
Velden glanced up, his eyes haunted. “Rildan and Marnok carried Emeris’ body to one of the towers. I think she and Iris followed.”
“Where did they take Mayvus’ body?”
“Who cares?” Velden muttered, turning back to his patient and slathering his seaweed mixture on the man’s leg. The soldier’s moan turned into a pained sigh.
“I care to verify that she’s really dead this time.”
Velden glanced up at Gaeren’s sharp tone, his irritation softening. “I think they took her to the same tower. Someone blocked off the closest one, so they’ve all had to go to the turret in the western wing.”
Gaeren didn’t bother admitting it was he who’d blocked it off. He clapped Velden on the shoulder as he stood. “Thank you for giving the same care to the Loyalists as the Recreants.”
The ghost of a grin fluttered on Velden’s face. “I don’t fault them for their loyalty, just who they choose to be loyal to.”
“And if they choose to be loyal to Enla?” Gaeren murmured, posing the question more for himself. Riveran would bring her back, and then everything would change. But for the better or worse? How would it affect the Recreants? And how would it affect Aeliana?
If Velden answered, Gaeren didn’t hear it as he stormed off to the western wing and the stairs leading to its tower. This turret was typically used by one or two soldiers as a lookout for ships, so when Gaeren stepped out on the balcony, it felt overcrowded.
Several bodies were laid out alongside Emeris’. Some he recognized as his parents’ men; others were less familiar in their humble Recreant clothing. Even a few winex had been given the honor of being burned up by the Stars despite the fact they held no starblood. He suspected that had been Aeliana’s doing, but as he scanned the terrace, he didn’t see her.
“Iris?” He bent over the woman grieving alongside Rildan and Marnok.
She turned with a sniffle, confusion in her eyes.
“Do you know where Aeliana is?”
She shook her head. “She said she’d come when she was ready.” She turned back to the woman she’d served most of her life.
Her answer made Gaeren uneasy, and he weaved his way through the mourners, asking again if anyone knew where she might be. Before he found a definitive answer, a woman came through the door from the palace, her white dressed singed and covered in black ashes.
“Orra?” Gaeren rushed to her side, checking her over for burns or cuts. Was it possible for the Stars to burn her even though she was one of them? Despite the state of her clothing, her body seemed unharmed. “What happened?”
“Where’s Sylmar?” she rasped out.
He shook his head. “They’re taking him to the prisons, but they won’t let you in. Aeliana and I gave strict instructions that he shouldn’t be seen.”
She tightened a hand around his arm. “Please, Gaeren. He knows where the onyx stone is.”
Gaeren hesitated. “It’s too soon, Orra. He just killed Emeris. Can we even trust anything he says?”
She huffed in frustration, then closed her eyes. “When the timing is right…” she mumbled.
Before he could ask what she meant, a rumble carried across the skies as if an unseen storm rolled in. Everyone glanced up, fear in their eyes. Gaeren turned to take in the sight of Durriken soaring across his view of the moon.
Another eerie cry escaped the beast, followed by a blast of flame that lit up the sky, revealing a lone figure on his back, sitting tall and proud. Gaeren held his breath, the moment bringing him back to the first time he’d seen her all grown up, reaching out to touch a deadly dragon with her hair billowing in the wind. He brought his wrist to his lips, letting them graze the soft hairs of her braid.
She’d always been fierce. Even in her toddler days when she’d demanded he catch tadpoles or string together daisy chains. Thepeople around him all stood, placing three fingers to their foreheads before inclining their heads in a bow.
She may not have been eager to take on a leadership role, but he suspected her current show of power and authority meant she’d come to terms with it. A smile slowly spread on his face, even though she’d further established herself as an enemy to his family’s throne.
Now everyone could see her the way he always had.
He placed three fingers to his forehead and bowed his head.
CHAPTER 89
The following day,the Sun rose like usual, mocking Aeliana with its bright glow. Her mother was dead. And all she’d been working toward for the last several months had been wiped away in one night—by Sylmar of all people.
She worked alongside the Loyalists and Recreants to care for the injured and prepare the dead for burial, then helped clean up all the mess left behind from the brief battle. Kendalyhn stood by her side as faithfully as Iris had stood by her mother’s, her presence surprisingly comforting in the wake of all Aeliana had lost. She’d known she’d accepted her role as a Wyndren the night before, but it surprised her when others seemed to realize it too, bringing questions and information her way that normally would have gone to Sylmar and her mother.
