Chapter 34 #2
Gaeren’s face heated, but he grinned back at his old friend. “I need them to take care of my ship. Sylmar and Velden are close to ruining it beyond repair.”
Hours later, Gaeren waited in the shadows of the dock while watching for Aeliana to disembark the ship. Despite his confidence in her word, nervous energy kept him pacing. What if Iris caught her? Or what if she changed her mind? What if she told Lukai and he refused to let her go?
His bond mark itched and he frowned, still caught in his confusion over whether or not to cut it out. It felt like it represented so much more than his bond with Lenda. Now it represented all his ties to his family and Elanesse.
But then Aeliana was running across the plank, the wind tangling the short bits of hair in front of her eyes.
He smiled but couldn’t help missing the way it had wrapped around her when it was long, like a cocoon protecting her.
When he stepped from the shadows, she sucked in a breath, and a spark of light grew between them that temporarily blinded him before it sputtered out.
“You can’t do things like that,” she gasped out. “I might have hurt you.”
He chuckled. “With your half-formed light shield?”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Hopefully that’s all it would have been, but I still don’t have great control of my magic.” She stepped away as if he were to blame for that. “With the change of tactic in training me, I feel like my control has gone backward.”
“So…you might have given me a memory when I startled you?” He gasped in mock fear. “I don’t know what I would have done.”
She slapped his shoulder, then glanced around nervously as she adjusted her pack. “Now what?”
For some reason, it hadn’t dawned on Gaeren until now that they would be traveling alone for five days. He suddenly felt out of sorts, like he should have considered how intimate that might be.
“Um, we head for the ferry on the south side of town. Riveran arranged a ride for us.”
Her eyebrows rose. “What’s he going to tell Sylmar and Velden in the morning?”
Gaeren shrugged. “That he has no idea where we are. Because by then we’ll be across the inlet and we could be anywhere.”
She snorted out a laugh and started toward the southern half of the city, all awkwardness dissolving.
Conversation lulled as they both grew tired, their bodies clearly feeling that it was the middle of the night even if their minds weren’t. By the time they reached the ferry, Aeliana’s eyes were barely open.
Gaeren put an arm around her and let her lean against his shoulder while they stood in line to board. “We’ll be able to sleep on the boat until the Sun’s rise. It will be enough to get us through the day.”
She nodded against him but didn’t pull away.
Out of habit, Gaeren scanned the others lined up to board the ferry.
A midnight run wasn’t unusual, but it was more likely to hold seedy individuals.
He kept his hood covering most of his face, unwilling to let his identity be the thing that foiled their plans.
His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a familiar nearly shaved head from behind, with fish hook earrings dangling.
“Velden?” Gaeren called out.
Aeliana’s head shot up from his shoulder, and her entire body stiffened.
Velden turned, eyebrows raised, and he stepped out of his place ahead of them in line to join them. “Well, this I did not expect.” Even so, he rubbed his webbed hands together as if it was exactly what he’d hoped for.
“What are you doing here?” Aeliana asked.
“Probably the same thing as you. Although I’m curious—did you know my plans were a ruse? Or did you think you were the only one fooling Sylmar?”
Aeliana blushed. “We weren’t trying to fool Sylmar. We’re just trying to get the starbridge.”
“As am I.” Velden held out his hands in mock surrender.
Gaeren frowned. “I call your bluff.”
Velden’s eyebrows rose. “You think I’m bent on revenge?
” He looked away, his gaze going out over the water.
“Maybe. But I want that starbridge just as much as you. Maybe more.” He tightened his grip on his pack, readjusting it on his shoulder.
“Maybe I can avenge my mother this way, maybe not. But I can at least find her people—my people. I can gain closure on a different part of my past.”
Gaeren and Aeliana exchanged a glance.
“What if you let us do this for you, Velden?” she offered, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s not that I don’t think you can do it, but what Ludo and Barny said…” She trailed off, biting her lip.
“I’ll be fine.” Tight lines formed around Velden’s mouth even though his tone remained light. “That old fool can’t hurt me.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”
“Well, I’m willing to find out.” His lazy grin returned, then, as his gaze flicked between them, it turned wicked. “Besides, it seems like you two are in need of a chaperone.”
The heat in Gaeren’s cheeks rivaled the red in Aeliana’s.
“You should be thanking us instead of teasing,” Aeliana mumbled.
“Is it teasing if it’s true?” Velden turned as the line started moving, leading the way on the ferry and talking over his shoulder. “Three is a good number for this mission anyway.”
“Why three?” Gaeren asked.
Velden glanced back to wink at them. “Oh, let’s be honest, shall we? Any number is a good number if it doesn’t include old Sylmar.”