Page 35 of Salt in the Seas
Fernandus smiled again, then placed all his weight on Gaeren’s shoulders as he groaned and stood. “And yet you’re leaving. It was only a matter of time. I’ve heard of all that took place in the Myndren Mountains, and I understand your desire to see all that through. I think even Enla understands it, though she may not like it. Returning to those you fought beside might be one of the first times I see you do what’s truly right for you. Remember what I said about choices?”
Gaeren hesitated, still not sure he understood even though he could recall the words. “I should strive to reflect the Sun instead of focusing on which choice has the better outcome?”
Fernandus beamed. “Exactly. Staying here as throne warden is good, but fighting alongside those who need someone to fight for them is also good. Which one will allow you to reflect the Sun’s glory more?”
The priest gave him one last farewell blessing before tottering back to the Sungazer’s entrance, leaving Gaeren with far more questions than answers.
Later that morning, Gaeren stood outside the council room, hesitating long enough that the guards eyed each other. He could have gone to see his parents in their rooms last night. It probably would have been the appropriate thing for a son to do. But after their last encounter, after they’d told him they supported Mayvus, he no longer felt like their son. Meeting them in the council room for this tea appointment with Enla felt far more appropriate.
He tried to remember that they’d been branded, but that still didn’t excuse the way they’d manipulated him during his childhood. Enla would always be their favorite, and he would always be the wayward prince who couldn’t settle down long enough to obey their commands. At least now he was old enough to fight back if his father used his destructive somatic skills to “teach him a lesson.”
Not that the guards would let him defend himself.
It might have been a childish rebellion at one time, but now he came to their door understanding the Recreants and their desire for democracy or, at the very least, a just and kind ruler. Things his parents could never be. Maybe there was hope for Enla, but he doubted the Recreants would wait long enough to find out.
The door swung inward, revealing Enla in a flowing blue gown that matched the shade of her eyes. She cocked her head and gave him a knowing smile. “There wasn’t a single path in which you opened the door. I hope I gave you long enough to think through what you wanted to say.”
Gaeren elbowed past her and rolled his eyes.
He’d feared the council room might be full, but thankfully his parents had cleared the room. Outside of the few guards at the door, only Tobias and Gaeren’s uncle Danton remained. Tobias kept a watchful eye on the queen, reminding Gaeren of Enla’s words from the night before about their mother’s anxiety. As the king’s throne warden, Danton stood off to the side, aware of everything transpiring without participating in it. It was a stark reminder of what Gaeren’s future was meant to be and how he wanted no part of it.
Instead of sitting at the head of the council’s table, his parents wereseated in a corner settee with tea and cookies already on the small table. It would be easier to face them this way—without an audience. He didn’t expect their reaction to be any better in private. In fact, it would probably be worse, but at least he could say what he needed without far-reaching repercussions.
He strode forward, and his parents stood to greet him. He bent low to kiss his mother’s hand, then allowed her to pull him in for a stiff hug. “Forgive me, Gaeren,” she murmured in his ear. Her voice broke enough that he reconsidered his resolve to hold them at a distance, but then his father’s scowl reminded him there was still too much history to forgive and forget.
He shook hands with the king, bracing himself for whatever judgment was coming.
“You couldn’t come home in time for your sister’s wedding, could you?”
And there it was.
“I was in Lorvandas. I had no way of knowing she was getting married.” He turned back to Enla, who smiled sweetly.
“It’s all right, Father. When people heard he was across the barrier, that left a far better impression on them than his surly presence would have.”
His father grunted but didn’t disagree, something that maybe should have bothered Gaeren far more than it did. They all sat, backs straight, waiting for someone else to speak. Enla poured tea in all their cups, and the silence stretched to an uncomfortable length.
When his mother reached for her cup, Gaeren saw the stark white of the scar on her palm, and he winced. His mother quickly hid it behind her cup, then took a sip and glanced at the king.
“We were fools to trust her,” his father said.
“Does that mean you gave her your blood?” Gaeren asked.
“Gaeren!” Enla admonished. “Of course they wouldn’t do that.”
Gaeren could have disagreed but opted to keep the peace.
After a heavy sigh, his father responded, “We suspect she took it a few years back when she came to visit and your mother was ill. Mayvus brought healers from the eastern province, and they bled your mother, supposedly purging her of the foul elements that were leavingher ill. They convinced us that having the blood of her bondmate would make her better, so I gave mine as well.”
For the first time, Gaeren noticed a softness to his father’s face as he reached for the queen’s hand. Regardless of the things he’d done, he truly did care about her. At leastthataction had been motivated by love, even if it had resulted in the horrors that had come with them being branded by Mayvus.
“Because your mother grew better after their care, we thought nothing more of it. It was about six moons ago that we started wearing gloves to hide our brand marks, and that’s when our memories get fuzzy, so we suspect she hung on to it all that time.”
Gaeren frowned, stirring his tea with a spoon. After watching Aeliana be forced to do Mayvus’ bidding under her brand, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for anyone who had been under that woman’s control. It didn’t make up for everything, but it made it harder to hate his parents.
“We’ve asked Enla to step into her role,” his mother said. “It’s time we retired, considering our poor judgment has left people in a state of mistrust of the crown.”
“But she needs her throne warden,” his father added.
