Chapter 8
“You could at least wear trousers around your room to get used to them.” Kendalyhn’s words came out with a sneer as she entered Aeliana’s dressing chamber.
Everything the other woman had taught her so far had come with bite.
It was like they were back on the road from Valorian to Islara and Aeliana had lost any ground gained with her since then.
“Why can’t I be Vendaran and wear skirts? Orra wears them.”
Kendalyhn rolled her eyes. “Orra also senses the starbridges being used. And she survived a Star collecting Jasper’s body when it should have burned her up.
There’s something off about all the magic she can do.
” She shuddered as she swept past Aeliana, then patted the chair sitting before the dressing mirror.
It was one of their forced tutoring times, and Sylmar’s prediction that they’d be motivated for quick progress had been proven false over the last eleven days.
Especially since Aeliana kept sneaking away to question Mayvus’ former soldiers about her research.
Now she reluctantly sat, eyeing Kendalyhn’s hands for hidden scissors.
“If you’re not going to cut your hair, you at least need to learn different braids to hide its length.” Kendalyhn glared at Aeliana through the mirror. With Aeliana sitting, Kendalyhn was a head or two taller than her and seemed to relish the change.
“That’s... actually a really good idea.” The admission was immediately followed by a wince as Kendalyhn yanked a brush through Aeliana’s hair.
As Kendalyhn’s fingers moved deftly through Aeliana’s locks, she gave curt instructions, and Aeliana did her best to replicate the intricate knots while mentally running through which soldiers she still needed to question.
None of them had been close enough to Mayvus to really have good information.
Those in her tight ring of knowledge had either been killed or had run off.
“You’re doing it wrong.” Kendalyhn pulled the braid from Aeliana’s distracted fingers and took over. A frown marred her soft brown skin and broke up her perfectly symmetrical and delicate features. “It’s probably better for you to watch it done right.”
Aeliana tried to rein in her focus. The sooner they got through all these lessons, the less time Sylmar would make her spend with Kendalyhn and the more time she could look for blood stores and get to the bottom of Mayvus’ endgame so they’d be prepared when she returned.
“My mother taught me all sorts of braids.” The more Kendalyhn’s fingers worked, the more her tongue loosened.
“We did them over and over while reciting scripture. She told me they were the only crown a priestess should ever take. Even then she was warning me of Mayvus’ plans.
” Her brow pinched, and she tugged a section of hair tighter.
Questions sat on the tip of Aeliana’s tongue, but it was rare for Kendalyhn to open up, so she listened, taking in whatever the bitter woman was willing to share.
“When I was older, she let me grow my hair just enough to be scandalous for a priestess, then required me to braid it daily, except she taught me to braid tiny daggers into it.”
Aeliana squinted at the mirror, trying to catch the glint of metal in the knots forming a crown on Kendalyhn’s head.
“I don’t wear them anymore,” Kendalyhn snapped.
“There’s no need when I can strap a dozen better ones in plain sight.
” Her scowl slowly smoothed out as she continued working Aeliana’s hair, twisting it over and around itself to hide the length.
“The hilts were delicate butterflies or finely crafted flowers, but they hid the one weapon my parents hoped I might get past Mayvus’ soldiers. ”
“Were you…?” Aeliana sat up straighter. “Did they intend for you to kill her?”
Kendalyhn shoved one final pin in Aeliana’s hair, scraping her scalp in a way that was sure to draw blood. “I was raised to be an assassin. To infiltrate the high priestess’ trainees. But I never even had the chance to apply.”
Aeliana’s mind raced. Sylmar had told her Kendalyhn’s parents were killed by Mayvus, but he hadn’t explained all this.
“We should take this one out and have you do it again,” Kendalyhn said. “I’m not about to act like your maidservant and come to your room each morning to do your hair.”
Aeliana hesitated. “I don’t mind learning braids, but something tells me that’s not all Sylmar wanted you teaching me.”
Kendalyhn crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you think I should be teaching you?”
“You’ve only been talking about clothing and hair and how mine’s a disaster. He wants me to know how to present myself as a Vendaran. As the daughter of a respected priestess. Something you have experience with.”
“Fine.” Kendalyhn huffed as she sat in the chair next to Aeliana, her crossed leg swinging impatiently. “Where should we start? Do I need to help you unlearn your ridiculous notion that the Stars are our creators instead of the Sun? Or can we skip to blessing rituals and prayers?”
Aeliana fought to keep her voice even. “Maybe you can explain the priesthood hierarchy. In Vendaras, there are priests and priestesses at every Stargazer. All have autonomy to run their Stargazers how they choose, so long as they abide by scripture. They’re held accountable by the Council of Priests, which is essentially the seventeen most experienced priests and priestesses in the country, who vote on how to handle religious affairs. ”
Kendalyhn’s frown smoothed out and her foot stilled as she listened. “There’s no one who has final say over them all?”
Aeliana shook her head. “I suspect that’s why they don’t have people like Mayvus working their way to the top, but maybe I misunderstood.”
Kendalyhn sighed. “Before Mayvus kidnapped your mother, the two of them were the two highest priestesses, each having spiritual authority over half the nation alongside the Elanesse’s monarchy. Mayvus tore down half the Sungazers in the eastern province to secure her place.” Her jaw tightened.
“And they intentionally gained that power because they felt they were rightful heirs to the throne instead of the Elanesse?” Aeliana tried piecing their history together, remembering the story Orra had shared about the Wyndren sisters being descendants of one side of the Elanesse and Gaeren and Enla being descendants of another.
“I suspect that was Mayvus’ motivation, but your mother just wanted to lead the people to worship the Sun. It was what made my parents—” Kendalyhn cut off, then busied herself gathering up Aeliana’s brush and pins just to lay them back out in a more organized fashion.
“It’s what made your parents sacrifice themselves for her?” Aeliana finished softly.
Kendalyhn’s hands stilled. “Who told you that?”
“Sylmar gave me the basics.”
Kendalyhn’s eyes narrowed, but, apparently unable to find a way to make that Aeliana’s fault, she continued talking.
“According to the official records, my parents desecrated their Sungazer. If by ‘desecrating it’ Mayvus meant they used it to actually worship the Sun instead of a woman rising to power, then yes, they were guilty.” Her lips pursed, but her eyes held a vulnerable hint of pain that Aeliana had rarely ever seen on the other woman’s features.
“Their convictions were strong because they’d been inspired by your mother. ”
“So you blame her for their deaths,” Aeliana murmured, “which is why you hate me.”
Kendalyhn stepped behind Aeliana and began ripping pins from Aeliana’s hair. “I don’t hate you because of my parents.”
Aeliana raised her eyebrows, watching Kendalyhn through the mirror. “But you do hate me?”
Kendalyhn frowned, her fingers taking on a new urgency to pull Aeliana’s hair from the braid. “It seems like you understand the hierarchy of the priesthood well enough. Should we move on to the blessings and rituals?”
“Why can’t you just answer my question? You get along well enough with Lukai and the others, but you have some sort of secret grudge against me. It makes no sense.”
Kendalyhn’s face reddened, and she backed away, her hands on her hips. “Secrets? You’re the one who’s been avoiding our lessons and giving evasive answers. You hardly even look at Lukai, and now he’s worried you’re going to break your bond—”
“Our bond? What does Lukai and our bond have to do with anything?”
“I’ve followed you.” Kendalyhn jabbed a finger in Aeliana’s shoulder. “Watched you sneak off with soldiers.”
This time it was Aeliana’s face that heated. “I’m questioning them,” she blurted out, then immediately regretted it. “But you can’t tell Sylmar.”
Kendalyhn snorted, then wrapped her fingers around Aeliana’s shoulders, her eyes glazing over as she attempted to sift Aeliana’s soul.
Aeliana wrenched away with a snarl. Her starlock heated in automatic self-defense and light sparked from her hands, but it sputtered out before it could form a functional light shield.
Kendalyhn’s eyebrows rose. “Does Sylmar know you’re losing your touch because you’re out of practice?”
Aeliana scowled, then held out her hand. “Go ahead; sift my soul. I’m telling the truth. I’m questioning the soldiers for information about Mayvus.”
Kendalyhn grasped her hand, and her eyes went blank once more before the tension in her shoulders dissipated. “You’re asking them about her research on the winex?”
Aeliana sighed. “Among other things. My mother’s right. Mayvus is alive. We’re destroying her stores of blood and studying her research, trying to figure out how we can weaken her when she returns.”
Kendalyhn backed away, her relief shifting to a smirk as she tossed the pins on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re actually doing something behind Sylmar’s back?”
Aeliana winced, then nodded, unsure if she’d just given her almost enemy fuel or gained some of her respect.
“All right, princess.” Kendalyhn sat back down and crossed one leg over the other, her brow furrowed. “Your mother might be crazy, but at least you’re not sitting around on your backside waiting for everyone to hand you everything like I thought.”
“I’m not a princess. And my mother isn’t—”
A knock on the door interrupted Aeliana, and Iris used her wide hips to prop the door open while she peered around a stack of blankets. “Your mother sent me, love. Felk and the others are asking for you.”
Kendalyhn wasted no time standing. “That’s clearly you and not me. I was hoping to get some sparring in this morning anyway.” Her smirk returned. “Have fun talking to… Felk.” She laughed as she scooted past Iris.
The older woman frowned at her back before muttering to Aeliana, “I wish Sylmar had told you to come to me for these things.”
“I think everyone would have been happier with that arrangement,” Aeliana agreed, but for the first time since the battle, she felt like she might have gained some ground with Kendalyhn, and a tiny seed of hope sprouted within her and her lips lifted.
Maybe it shouldn’t have been a big deal, but the other woman was the closest to Aeliana in age, and a small part of her longed for a female friend amongst all these men.
Iris tugged her into the hallway and passed her half the load of blankets. “What are you smiling about, then?”
“Maybe Sylmar had the right idea, even if it didn’t seem like it. He’s got some wisdom hiding behind his scowl.”
Iris made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat before leading the way. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”