Page 90 of Salt in the Seas
“Exactly,” Riveran agreed.
Gaeren mulled it over in his mind. It would take five or six days to reach Melford withoutTo the Deep and Back. Dreyfus would probably reach it in six or seven, maybe stay a day or three for his “show.” They could go on board, show interest in the Sayhleen tail. Gaeren grimaced at the thought, but it would also allow them to see the starbridge, Dreyfus’ methods for protecting it, and all the entrances and exits to the place they’d need to perform their heist.
Worst-case scenario they could stow away in the hull of the ship and steal it while Dreyfus was sailing back.
“It might work,” he said.
“Only if it’s kept quiet. And only if you take just one or two others.”
“Are you volunteering?”
Riveran’s laugh was short, and he rubbed the X on his forehead. “Not with this.”
Gaeren frowned, his thoughts taking a new direction. Once again this was an instance in which he could do more good back with Enla. “My parents were willing to remove it for you. If I got back in their good graces?—”
“Nah. I’d rather have this brand for everyone to see than owe your parents something in secret.”
Gaeren flinched even though Riveran had said the words without malice. It almost made it worse that his response didn’t come as an emotional deflection but more of a statement of fact. That was just how terrible Gaeren’s parents were, and everyone knew it.
“What about Enla?” Gaeren asked.
“What about her?” Riveran frowned, turning to take in what little he could see of Gaeren’s face in the moonlight through the porthole.
Gaeren tried to keep his face passive. “Would you be all right if you owed Enla something in secret?” It was a poor way to ask what he really wondered, and Riveran’s confused face proved it. “Do you still love her?”
A mix of emotions crossed Riveran’s face before he schooled his features too.
“She’s bonded.” The words came out flat as he lay back on his bedroll.
“Bonds can be broken,” Gaeren whispered, surprised at his own words.
“Well, she also got married.” The pain in Riveran’s voice confirmed what Gaeren already knew. “She should have at least told me in her letter,” he muttered.
“I’m sorry.” Gaeren was still sorry for all the ways their friendship had soured over misunderstandings. But he also felt sorry for Enla and Riveran. They’d lost even more.
“Whoever you choose to take,” Riveran said, forcing Gaeren back to the plan, “it should be someone you trust with your life.”
Gaeren nodded, and several of the sailors’ faces passed through Gaeren’s mind.
But they were all overshadowed by a woman with green eyes and daisies at her fingertips.
Convincing Aeliana wasn’t the difficult part. It was getting her alone to ask. Sylmar and Velden kept everyone busy with redecorating Gaeren’s ship, the tasks more suited to Enla’s event planning than a group on a mission to find a starbridge.
Eventually he grew impatient, and as Aeliana organized jars of random sea creatures on a table, he placed a hand on her shoulder, drawing energy from his starlock and doing his best to pass her the memory of his conversation with Riveran.
She stilled, her hand going to her own starlock, which lay hidden under her shirt, then glanced up at him, a slow smile spreading on her face. “Absolutely.”
He smiled back, then glanced around, knowing the look on his face would make anyone suspicious, but everyone seemed too preoccupied with Sylmar’s and Velden’s orders.
“Will you be ready at the moon’s reign?” he asked.
Her brow furrowed. “Is that midnight for Vendarans?”
He grinned, remembering she’d been raised in a different culture. “You got it.”
“But you don’t even worship the moon.”
“It’s more of an expression. At its peak, the moon is reigning over all of Rhystahn.”
