Page 96 of Salt in the Seas
New.
A year ago she would have known exactly which starbridge and where it was held. While the weakness concerned her, it also gave her hope that her search was coming to an end. That with the end of her magic, she would finally fulfill the Sun’s prophetic words.
A growl pulled her from her satisfaction, and she opened her eyes to find a straggler from the winex clan crouched by the door, waiting for her to move. At least he hadn’t snapped at her. She sighed and opened the door, stepping aside so he could go through to the garden.
A dozen or so had left with this last cycle. The memories Emeris had given Felk apparently weren’t strong enough for him to be confident in their ties to the people. It would break Aeliana’s heart if shecame back and Felk was gone, but he wasn’t a pet for them to keep on a leash.
Twelve days into this new cycle and they’d finally made it through their most rebellious stage. Still, Orra fully expected another dozen or more to leave.
Shouts echoed down the hall as she shut the door once more. If she hadn’t just watched the winex all settle in to sleep for the day, she would have assumed they were causing trouble again. She followed the sound, wondering if it was possible that General Nels’ scouts had returned early. But this would be far too early.
She quickened her pace, tempted to unfurl the tendrils of her magic that had been growing in the last moon. The quiet and rest had been good for her, even if feeling blind without using her magic had left her on edge. She wasn’t sure it could ever be what it had been, but it was returning. Even so, it wasn’t enough for her to waste on something as trivial as seeking the future she was about to experience.
When she rounded the corner to enter the main hall, a fire blazed in the hearth, giving light to the pockets of soldiers gathered around on their day off. The rest were out guarding the fortress or rebuilding the ramparts, but these soldiers weren’t all relaxing. Several of them stood on tiptoe, trying to catch sight of who was coming through the main entrance. Gullet flew past and up into the rafters, where he anxiously hopped side to side.
When the crowd parted, Orra glimpsed Emeris, her face unusually bright. She had been growing stronger too, but this lightness had nothing to do with her magic. Behind her, a man with shorn hair and tattoos on his hands followed, his face far wearier. His years rested somewhere between Aeliana and Emeris, too old or young to be either’s contemporary.
“Marnok’s back,” Orra breathed out.
Rildan brought up the rear, ushering them both through the crowd and instructing people to give them space.
“Orra,” Emeris called. “Come to my sitting room so we can hear about Marnok’s travels.”
Without her meaning it to, Orra’s magic stretched out towardMarnok, snatching up snippets of furious witches and calculating sprites. Her eyebrows rose. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
Despite the lack of trust Emeris had shown for General Nels, he’d been invited too. But this time he came alone. Rildan and Emeris took a seat on her settee, hands clasped as Emeris beamed at Marnok, who looked unsettled on the chair across from them. General Nels opted to remain standing by the door, arms crossed. Perhaps he viewed himself as some sort of guard. Or perhaps that was just his preferred stance.
Orra pulled up a chair next to Marnok, giving him a smile. “It’s good to see you. I hope you’ve come to terms with who you are.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Did you know all along?”
Orra lifted her shoulder noncommittally. “Only bits and pieces. Enough. If I haven’t shared it with anyone yet, I have no reason to start now.”
He nodded but still shot Emeris a nervous glance.
“Tell us about the witches,” Emeris prodded.
“Yes, the witches.” Marnok took a deep breath, wiping his palms on his trousers. “It turns out they have about as much love for the Wyndrens as the Elanesses do.” He smiled wryly. “And now they hate me just as much.”
Emeris’ eyes held compassion. “I’m so sorry.”
General Nels shifted from his place at the door. “Why would you be sorry?”
She and Marnok exchanged guilty looks.
“Because my mother is a witch.” Marnok’s words held no pride, but there was a hint of defensive disdain.
“We can’t choose whom we’re born to,” Emeris said.
“I take it you told them you’re a friend of the Wyndrens?” Orra asked.
Marnok sighed. “Not at first. When Emeris showed me what she could of my past”—he glanced at the high priestess, uncertainty in his eyes—“I knew I not only needed to face my origins, but I had to do it in secret. On top of being born to one of the highest witches, I wasraised with purpose. I was sent to infiltrate the Wyndren household. My mother wanted me to end their line.”
Rildan’s grip tightened on Emeris’ hand, but he didn’t seem surprised.
“And yet…you didn’t.” Orra smiled. He’d left out half the story. She suspected everyone in the room knew what he’d left out, except for General Nels. There was no need to make him spill everything. The full truth would come with time.
“I didn’t. Perhaps I left the witches with the intention of doing just that. Or maybe I never fully believed in my mother’s obsession. Emeris’ memories can’t tell me those parts of my story. But in the end, I trusted Emeris over my mother.” He glanced at Emeris. “Or at least her memories of me suggest that.”
