Page 37 of Salt in the Seas
This timehefelt the sting, and he knew it was time for him to go. He never should have come in the first place. He should have ignored Enla’s letter and let everyone assume he was irresponsible rather than reveal the truth that he really was the traitor they’d called him the last time he’d left. He stood, brushing off the crumbs that had fallen on his lap.
Danton’s hand drifted to the pommel of his sword, his wary eyes watching Gaeren’s every move. Gaeren ignored the implied threat.
“I don’t expect to be welcome here again, but if the Recreants do bring war to your door, know that I will welcome you aboard my ship or wherever my home ends up being. I will still call you family.” He looked at his parents’ stricken faces and realized he meant the words. “Even you, Father.” He turned on his heel and walked out of the council room with a lump in his throat.
He hadn’t meant to burn bridges. How could he protect Enla now?
Even so, he couldn’t regret any of his words.
Maybe Larkos could be ready to sail tonight.
CHAPTER 15
Aeliana reachedout to steady her mother’s elbow as they climbed over another large rock. “Are you all right?”
Emeris nodded with a faint smile, but her face grew pale and her breathing remained labored.
Aeliana glanced around at the others who’d volunteered to check Durriken’s cave with them. Only two remained behind them—Iris, because she’d never leave Emeris’ side, and Brogdon, because he’d only come at Sylmar’s insistence in the first place.
It had been a week since Velden had cut out Brogdon’s brand mark. Aeliana could still picture the way Sylmar’s face had paled as Brogdon spilled the little information he’d retained without his brand: Mayvus had survived. She’d been growing stronger in the cave where Durriken had left her by reaching out to her brands and finding the stragglers who still supported her. She’d used them to get a sense of what the Recreants were up to and how she might once again gain the upper hand.
Brogdon hadn’t been sure what had allowed her to survive in the first place.
Sylmar had shifted all their efforts to reinforcing the outer walls and building up their defenses, but now it was time to chase Mayvus down while she was still potentially incapacitated. Or, at the very least, get a clue to her whereabouts and plans.
“I think we’re almost there.” Aeliana left her hand at Emeris’ elbow to guide her, wishing her mother, in her weakened state, had stayed behind. Felk and his clan of nearly full-grown winex ran ahead, loping back and forth to check and make sure everyone was accounted for. Holm corrected their course now and then since he was the only one in their party who had been to the cave. His pace gave Aeliana the impression he was desperate for proof one way or another since he’d been the one to previously see Mayvus’ remains.
Kendalyhn and Lukai followed, easily keeping up while half-heartedly arguing over whether his somatic magic was more powerful than her pneumatic skills. He’d likely come out of a need to protect Aeliana, and Kendalyhn wouldn’t miss the chance for a fight. Occasionally he glanced back at Aeliana, his smile fading to a pinched frown, but she didn’t care if he spent his time with Kendalyhn. She still needed space after the way he’d stolen her blood under the guise of protecting her.
Orra, Velden, and Sylmar fell in the middle of the line, each wanting to see the cave for themselves for their own mysterious reasons.
Emeris tripped, nearly taking Aeliana down with her.
“If Mayvus is there, you’re in no condition to fight her,” Aeliana pointed out.
“She won’t be there.” Emeris huffed out.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I know the way her mind works. If she lost Sylmar as a brand, she wouldn’t stick around to be found.”
Aeliana tensed. “You mean Brogdon?”
Her mother’s eyes clouded over. “She lost Sylmar as a bondmate, didn’t she?”
“Yes, but that was years ago, and you said?—”
Her mother’s face grew more vacant.
“Never mind.” Aeliana patted her mother’s arm. “I still think she could be there if she’s too weak to move.”
“She’s as strong as I am.” Emeris smiled wryly. Even though her physical strength had been slow to return, her confidence had increased. Proof that Mayvus was alive equated to proof that her talk of curses wasn’t completely ridiculous.
Sylmar grunted, showing he was listening from several paces ahead. He’d still shown disdain for Emeris’ curse theory, latching on instead to what he already felt certain of: Mayvus was after immortality. It was the next level of power she had to reach since she’d mastered the entire Wheel of Magic through her brands. Although hopefully she’d been set back with the brands they’d cut out and the blood they’d destroyed. He still felt confident she hadn’t found what she needed. Not if she’d been studying the winex when they’d arrived.
As the path all but disappeared, they had to rely on Holm’s memory and instructions, along with the winex’s instincts. A howl erupted from ahead, followed by several others in response. Aeliana and her mother exchanged a glance, and several others drew weapons.
Felk came running back to Aeliana, his excitement palpable. “We found it. No one’s there, but they used to be.”
