Page 77 of Salt in the Seas
She shrugged off his irritation. “She might be gone, but whatever army she’s building will have to wait for her return.”
General Nels’ lips thinned into a grim line. “We can see how big of an army she’s bringing back.”
Orra nodded, a headache forming between her eyes. “I have no idea how many she can bring at a time. But at some point, she’ll stop finding recruits to bring back, and she’ll start marching south. If we can see where her numbers are at now, it will give us an idea of how likely we are to maintain a defense with our soldiers.”
The three men exchanged glances, and General Nels stood. “Thank youfor the update.”
Orra adopted a serene smile, ignoring the way he struggled to acknowledge the full value of the information she’d brought.
“We’ll keep you posted on what our scouts find.”
“Should we send Gullet after Riveran with a note?” Emeris asked, brow pinched.
The men all frowned in hesitation, but General Nels eventually shook his head. “Let’s see what the scouts have to say first.”
“I wish there were a way to let my husband know,” Emeris said.
General Nels and Orra exchanged a glance, only this time it was a shared concern.
“Rildan is in the fortress,” Orra said gently. “We can go see him now and let him know.”
Emeris’ gaze clouded over. “That’s right. So much has changed…”
As her words faded, the generals left with respectful bows and purposeful steps, but the uneasy sensation lingered in the room.
“I found more of Mayvus’ research,” Emeris added, and Orra couldn’t help noting the other woman waited to share this after the generals had left. For all their loyalty as Recreant soldiers, she seemed to trust them even less than Orra did.
“What else was she up to?”
Emeris sighed. “It seems she wasn’t content with just the stone either.”
Orra went still, her hands itching to hold the arrow once more, her heart regretting her decision to let Gaeren leave with it in his possession. “Did she have any of the others?”
“I’m not sure, but she seemed to know the silver fish was in Andel. She may have already gotten it.”
“Making our mission failed before it had even begun,” Orra mused. “She always seems to be five steps ahead.”
Emeris nodded. “She also believed combining the starbridges would give her immortality.”
Orra flinched. “How so?”
“She didn’t say. But it not only confirms Aeliana and Sylmar’s theory that immortality has been her ultimate goal—it proves she had multiple methods in the works.”
An uneasiness settled over Orra. Did Mayvus know what would happen when the starbridges were united? The Sun’s prophecy had told Orra she’d receive help combining them, but it hadn’t said anything about the half-light’s motivation. What if it wasn’t Aeliana or Gaeren who was meant to help her? What if it was Mayvus, except she had far darker purposes in mind?
“I’m grateful Aeliana won’t be here when she comes,” Emeris said.
Orra pulled herself from her thoughts, from the temptation to reach for Mayvus’ future. It wouldn’t show her what she wanted. Magic didn’t work on Stars, not even their own magic, which meant Orra could never see anything perfectly if she was involved. It would be a waste.
Instead, she tried focusing on the half-light here with her, in the present. “What did you say?”
“I think we got a bit lucky last time,” Emeris said. “I don’t want Aeliana to be here when Mayvus returns.” She studied her hands, letting them twist together in her lap.
“Hmm.” Orra sensed something deeper behind the other woman’s words. “But aren’t there things you didn’t have a chance to tell her?”
The high priestess’ gaze shot to Orra’s. “The timing wasn’t right. The Sun hadn’t sanctioned it.”
Orra nodded slowly. “And now you’re worried you won’t have any time at all.”
