Page 55 of Salt in the Seas
He let his starlock warm at his chest before sending its energy out to his wrist, singeing the ends together. The bond mark on his palm burned with it, the searing pain forcing him to close his eyes until he sensed the braid made a full circle.
The pain receded, but the bond mark had faded with it. The edges had grown thinner, the shape disfigured. He ran a finger over it, wondering if Lenda had felt it, wondering what exactly it meant. But then he ran his finger along the braid, grateful he once again had a token, like the dagger, to remind him of his purpose. It had grown much bigger than protecting just Aeliana. He needed to protect Enla from whatever the sprite had seen in her future. He needed to protect the Recreants from his father’s rule. He needed to protect all of Vendaras from Mayvus’ impending threats.
And yes, whether she wanted it or not, he still felt the need to protect Aeliana.
He pressed his nose to the soft hair, inhaling the earthy smell of daisies and a hint of salt, his mind rushing back through the memories of her as a toddler, the scent of the sea forever in her hair. Except this time the memories were faded, the current impression of her as a woman far more pressing in his mind.
He slipped his sleeve down over the braid before he was forced to acknowledge what that change might mean.
CHAPTER 22
Aeliana woveher way through the troops at the gate, unable to keep her hands from the strands of hair tickling her neck and cheeks. After talking to Gaeren, she’d thought it would be freeing, that it would make her feel ready to step into her identity as a Vendaran. Instead she felt naked and vulnerable, especially after Gaeren had turned it all into a joke.
Tears burned behind her eyes, and whatever sense of loss she’d felt shifted to frustration. It was only hair. It shouldn’t matter.
She made her way toward Iris and Holm’s room, avoiding eye contact with everyone she passed, unwilling to accept any more bows. When she reached their door, shouts came from within, and Aeliana’s hand froze where it hung, poised to knock. She couldn’t make out what they fought about, but she suspected it was the vote.
“What did you do?” Kendalyhn’s horrified whisper came from behind.
Aeliana whipped around, causing uneven strands to fling into her eyes and make her flinch.
Kendalyhn reached out to touch the edges of Aeliana’s hair where it brushed against her cheek. Down the hall, half a dozen soldiers stood in silence, their eyes holding a strange hope as they gave the bow Aeliana had been so desperate to avoid.
“Come here,” Kendalyhn hissed, dragging Aeliana by the elbowtoward her own room, beyond the prying eyes of the soldiers. Inside, she gestured for Aeliana to sit on a stool and folded her arms over her chest. “What made you finally do it?”
Aeliana swallowed hard, not wanting to explain Gaeren’s role in it. “You and Iris were right. I should have done it a long time ago.”
Kendalyhn’s eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking back to the door.
Aeliana twisted her hands together. The other half-light probably sensed Gaeren’s involvement with her pneumatic abilities.
“I’ll never understand you.” Kendalyhn huffed the words out before digging out a pair of shears from a drawer. She roughly spun Aeliana around and began snipping at the choppy ends. “Sylmar and Iris speak as if you’re here to change the world even though you know nothing about it. You’re like a child, too caught up in your own woes to recognize how much the people around you are hurting. And now, just before we leave the troops, you manage to do the one thing that might rally them to follow you to the ends of the earth. But you have no idea that you’ve done it. And now you’re leaving before you can follow through on it.” The longer Kendalyhn spoke, the more her words lost their hard edges. She kept snipping, making Aeliana wonder if she’d have any hair left by the time this was over.
“I didn’t come here to change the world. And I know the people around me are hurting. I know I caused a lot of it.” Aeliana’s words came out like a whine, further proving Kendalyhn’s assessment. “And I wasn’t trying to rally the troops. I’m stuck between two worlds, not fully Vendaran and not fully Lorvandan. I just wanted to show I’m here to stay. I’m willing to learn. If different clothes and hair are the way to communicate that, then fine. I give in.” Her conviction drained as she went on.
She’d been a fool.
Kendalyhn sighed but didn’t respond, continuing to clip the ends of Aeliana’s hair. As the silence grew between them, the sounds of the soldiers out in the bailey drifted up through the window, mixing with the crackle of the fire in Kendalyhn’s room. Aeliana closed her eyes, imagining they weren’t about to embark on a dangerous journey and there wasn’t hatred constantly brewing between her and Kendalyhn.
The shears went still, and Kendalyhn hummed. “That should do fornow.” She spun Aeliana back, turning a critical eye on the hair falling in her face. She snipped a few more pieces.
“I feel like short hair is going to get in my way just as much as long hair,” Aeliana mumbled. “At least I could tie my hair back before.”
“You get used to it. Sun’s fire, your head has to at least feel lighter.”
“True.” Aeliana gave the other woman a tentative smile. “Thank you.”
Kendalyhn looked down at the shears, her face a mask.
“Why does it matter so much that I cut my hair? Iris always pushed me to do it, but I thought it was more symbolic. You seem… angry. And the soldiers…” Aeliana glanced back toward the door even though it was closed to whatever soldiers remained in the hall. “They stared at me like they’d seen a ghost.”
“I’m not sure even Iris realized what it would do.” Kendalyhn reached out and tapped Aeliana’s chin right and left, studying her face. “But you look exactly like your mother. You’ve basically laid claim to your heritage. You haven’t just proven that you’re Vendaran and here to fight with the people. You’ve proven you’re a Wyndren.” Something close to admiration came through in Kendalyhn’s voice, but her words only made Aeliana anxious.
“I can’t ever live up to their expectations.”
Kendalyhn snorted. “I know. And I’m glad you know it.” Her gaze softened. “But those people don’t need to know it.” She gestured toward the door. “Let their ignorance build their confidence. When we leave in two days’ time, you’re going to wave goodbye with your head high, reassuring them that they’re staying behind to fight for a future out from under the rule of the Elanesses. A future filled with freedom.”
“Eventually they’ll discover I’m a failure.” Aeliana bit her lip.
