Page 26 of Salt in the Seas
“So the Vendarans are right? The Sun is our maker and source of power?”
Orra smiled and let her hands drop. “They’re right about some things. I suspect no one has it exactly right. But my point is that the beings I’m describing have power beyond this world. I may have more power than you, but is my power limitless?”
Aeliana hesitated. “If a Star chose to abandon the sky, then its power would no longer be limitless. It could only absorb more from the Sun during the day, like half-lights.”
Orra grew still as Aeliana nearly touched on the truth. They would realize it soon enough. Better that they hear it from Orra than someone else.
“No Star would choose to be grounded,” Orra said softly. “I was grounded as a consequence of my actions. And I’ll remain grounded until I reverse what I’ve done.”
Aeliana’s breath hitched. “But you are a Star?”
“I was at one time. I’m not sure that’s what I could be called now.” Orra briefly closed her eyes, all her regrets weighing her down with shame. She pushed them aside, bringing the topic back to Aeliana and the things she needed to hear. “We’re all products of our life experiences. Your blood may say that you’re a half-light, and Cyrus’ might say he’s a human, but the two of you have more in common than you have with many of these Vendarans.”
Aeliana smiled ruefully.
“And after all this, you’ll both have even less in common with the Lorvandans back across the barrier. You’re not Vendaran or Lorvandan. Just like you, I’m not any one thing. All of us need to take the time to figure out who we are.”
Aeliana’s brow furrowed. “Sylmar wants me to be more Vendaran. They all do.”
Orra hummed her understanding but said nothing more. That was for Aeliana to figure out on her own.
They rounded a corner, and the clink of dishes and murmur of chatter drifted into the hall.
“Still no sign of the starbridge?” Aeliana asked.
Orra shook her head. “No. And I hear Sylmar no longer wants you digging through Mayvus’ research.”
“He has me training with Kendalyhn.” Aeliana made a face. “Even if he thinks my mother’s wrong about a curse, he has to see we’re missing something. Mayvus had stores of blood hidden away, and she was researching winex blood and the fluid in their eggs. There’s something here we need to find. Something other than an onyx stone or Mayvus’ body.”
Orra reined in the fragments of power attempting to slither out to test the future. She couldn’t search for every little answer. Not when her power was so limited. “Your mother’s mind might be broken in some ways, but don’t forget that she is a gifted progeny. Her spoke’s strength lies in her memory. She may not be able to communicate it to you perfectly, but the answers you’re looking for could be locked up in there somewhere. And she’s not the only one with secrets to unlock. When everyone holds back part of the riddle, it’s impossible to see the solution.”
Aeliana stopped outside the kitchen door, giving distracted waves and hugs to the young winex filing past her. It still left Orra in awe that Aeliana had managed to befriend creatures long overlooked as unintelligent enemies. How had she been grounded for a thousand years without ever considering such a thing?
“What do you mean?” Aeliana asked.
“Hmm?” Orra pulled her gaze from the line of the winex.
“Who else has secrets they’re holding back?”
Orra’s focus blurred as dozens of faces passed through her mind. “Who isn’t holding back secrets?”
She pursed her lips as the blurred faces converged, leaving the image of an onyx stone. One she’d last seen in the palm of an Ahmranan pirate. No, a thief. A murderer. He’d been too terrible to be given the docile label of a pirate.
“Those who are hiding secrets are usually trying to get to the bottom of everyone else’s,” Orra murmured as an afterthought. She turned on her heel and strode toward the main hall. She’d spend another day searching the grounds, sensing for the place she’d last felt the stone’s power. It was all she could do at this point.
“Orra?” Aeliana’s words met Orra’s ears as if muffled by water. “Won’t you at least eat breakfast first?”
“No, thank you. The winex need it more than I do. Besides, Holm appreciates Iris’ cooking enough for the both of us.” Orra rounded the corner, ignoring Aeliana’s protests.
She’d meant what she’d told Aeliana. She could no longer consider herself a Star after being grounded for so many years. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t act like one. She could still reflect the Sun.
She ran a finger over the braid on her wrist then pressed it to her lips. “Perhaps today will be the day,” she whispered. “Don’t give up on me yet.”
CHAPTER 12
Aeliana frowned after Orra,trying to decide if it was the most she’d learned from Orra at one time or the most Orra had confused her. She wasn’t exactly surprised the woman was a grounded Star, but the confirmation only brought out dozens more questions, questions Orra would likely never answer.
And the secrets Orra spoke of…
