Page 94 of Salt in the Seas
For the first time, Dreyfus looked uncomfortable. “I couldn’t very well stuff a woman’s body. People would be horrified to come look at that.” He shrugged. “Even though she had been beautiful.”
Aeliana stepped between the two men, and the shift in proximity brought her gaze to a second object on the wall, placed almost as an afterthought. She held her breath as she took in the silver fish that would fit in the palm of her hand, ancient symbols inscribed on its surface instead of eyes or scales. The smooth symmetry of its shape was otherworldly, like something no human, half-light, or other being could create.
“Oh, I see you found the Sayhleen’s treasure.” Dreyfus joined her by the fish. “Even in death she gripped that tight. I suspect it’s worth a lot to her people.”
“You didn’t once think”—Velden’s voice was gruff as it rose in volume behind them—“that stuffing the bottom half of a woman’s body was just as horrific as stuffing the top?”
The sailor’s eyes widened, and Aeliana turned to find Velden’s hat thrown off, his webbed hands splayed and filling the room with a hot steam reminiscent of his anger. Their time was up.
“You!” Dreyfus backed away until he hit the wall between the tail and silver fish, his gaze fixated on Velden’s webs.
“So you remember me? I’m her son. We went out to the deeper waters that day because there were things I wanted her to show me. Things she needed to tell me in case something happened to her. Except you got to her first.” Velden’s eyes narrowed, and the steam shifted to a spray.
Aeliana sucked in a breath. For some reason she’d always thought, or maybe hoped, that Velden’s knowledge of his mother’s death was something he’d received secondhand.
Dreyfus nervously batted the water away from his eyes. “I told you she was already injured. Some beast or other got to her before me.”
“I could’ve healed her,” Velden ground out. “It wasn’t a serious injury. We were far from land and supplies, but Sayhleens heal well in the water. She might have been fine without your harpoon going through her chest.”
Dreyfus went still, guilt flashing in his eyes, but then he schooled his features. “I caught her in my net and she was already dead.”
Had he told the lie for so long he believed it? Or did he think he could fool Velden into suspecting his own memory was flawed?
Aeliana bit her lip, tempted to reach out and grip the man’s arm, to try receiving his memory, but if he didn’t want to share it, it likely wouldn’t work. Not with how poorly her training had been going.
“Liar.” Velden cut off his spray and pulled out knives instead. “She could have at least finished telling me all the secrets she’d kept if you’d let her live. She could have said goodbye. She could have died in my arms instead of while being dragged aboard your ship.”
Footsteps rang above them.
“Velden,” Aeliana said. “I think it’s time we go.”
“I would listen to the little lady if I were you,” Dreyfus said. “There’s nothing more for you here. Your mother is still inspiring generations and will continue to do so. I’ve kept her alive in that way for you.”
Aeliana groaned inwardly. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to hold Velden back if it came to it, and not just because he was too strong forher. Dreyfus wasn’t doing or saying anything to make himself seem redeemable.
“I will be taking both my mother and the silver fish.”
Dreyfus frowned, pulling the hatchets from his belt. “I don’t think so. This is my livelihood. More than half my income comes from people wanting to see the treasures of the Sayhleen.”
“Then you’d better learn to live on half as much.” Velden shrugged. “Or if you’d rather, I can remove half your body like you did for my mother. Remove your need for any income at all.”
“Velden,” Aeliana hissed. “Murdering a man, even if it’s warranted, won’t make it easy for us to leave this ship.”
“Maybe I don’t need to leave.” His gaze hardened with resolve, the lines on his face showing his age for the first time. “It’s enough if you do.”
Dreyfus’ eyes darted around the room, leaving Aeliana unnerved.
“I’d much rather add your webbed hands to my collection.” Dreyfus spun the hatchets in his hand with a dexterity that gave her pause. Maybe the weapons hadn’t just been for show.
“Then you should know I also have webbed feet.” A wicked grin crossed Velden’s face, as if he relished the thought of tempting this man into attacking first.
Aeliana sighed. There was no way they were getting out of there alive unless they were willing to incapacitate Dreyfus in some way.
The sailor’s eyes gleamed.
Aeliana didn’t wait to find out why. Pulling energy from her starlock and into her hands, she let the energy out in a burst of light that formed a wall between them and Dreyfus. It flickered and faded, like starlight winking out behind clouds, inciting her panic. Why were her light shields so weak? Why hadn’t she demanded Sylmar focus on that instead of the new noetic skills?
The momentary fear on the sailor’s face gave way to dark humor. As he threw his first hatchet with practiced precision, Aeliana pulled on her starlock’s power, feeding it into the light shield until it shone bright once more. When the hatchet clinked off the shield, Dreyfus’ confidence waned. “Is this why you brought the girl? To fight your battle for you?”
