Chapter 53
Arriving back in Tideholm felt like a step in the right direction to Gaeren—until the Sayhleens threw the Vendarans back in the hut. Extra guards were placed outside the walls as if they suspected the prisoners were more dangerous after seeing Lady Merinnia.
Nori brought them food the next morning, but the guards watched her like a hawk and little was said.
“I suspect they’ll revert to their original verdict,” she whispered as she passed Gaeren bread. “But I can help you escape.”
“What about the starbridges?” Aeliana whispered.
Gaeren tensed as one of the guards leaned over Nori’s shoulder with a frown. She never was able to reply.
That night, when she brought dinner, she spent more time flirting with the guards than trying to speak with the prisoners. It left several of the Vendarans irritated, but after she left, Velden chuckled and shook his head.
“Can’t you see what she was doing?” he asked.
The others frowned and glanced toward the closed hut door.
“I guarantee she just poisoned them.”
Aeliana’s jaw dropped, and Gaeren echoed Velden’s laugh, remembering all the times he and Riveran had snuck sleeping herbs into Enla’s food. It required sleight of hand and distraction. Velden was right.
“I suggest we all be ready for something to happen tonight,” Velden said, then settled against the wall as if taking a nap.
Sure enough, near the moon’s reign, there was a tap, tap, tap on the back of the hut opposite the door. Gaeren leaned over, attempting to see between the slits of the thatched walls.
“I think they’re all asleep,” Nori said.
“Valerian root?” he asked.
“A different herb. One that will be missed by our medicine woman. So I suggest we do this quickly.”
From inside, they dug through the thatch, widening a hole until the largest in their group could fit, while on the outside, Nori used a different seaweed to soften the net surrounding the hut.
“I don’t suppose you’ll send some of that home with us?” Velden asked as they all took turns crawling out. “Could be handy the next time we’re here.”
“I can’t imagine you’ll be back. It would mean your deaths.” Nori grabbed a sack from beside her feet, throwing it over her shoulder.
“And what about you?” Aeliana asked. “Are you coming with us or staying here?”
Nori bit her lip, glancing back at the homes in the distance. “I don’t think I have a choice.”
Before they could ask what she meant, a shout rang out from the heart of the village, and her eyes widened. “Quickly, come!”
She ushered them into the forest.
“What about the starbridges?” Sylmar asked.
She shook her head. “My mother hardly left her room all day. I couldn’t get them. But she should be in the town square by now. We can check the box, but if they’re not there… well, I might need a couple of people to help me find them.”
“I’ll go,” Gaeren offered. If there was any memory of where the starbridges had been placed, he was the one who could find it.
“Me too,” Aeliana said.
Nori pulled the sack off her back and laid it out. “At least I found your weapons.”
Eyes lit up all around as everyone scrambled to find their preferred swords and bows.
But Iris’ eyes filled with tears as she lifted Holm’s sword.
She sheathed her own dagger and knife, then hugged the sword that was far too big for her against her chest. At this point, they wouldn’t be able to pry it from her, even if it cost her her life.
To Gaeren’s dismay, Aeliana passed her dagger off to Velden. He knew it would allow the other man to find them after being separated, but he didn’t like her giving up her best weapon. Though, when she pulled out a bow and arrow, he supposed it might not be her best after all.
“Come on.” Nori led the group to the perimeter of the forest. “If the rest of you hide in the woods, we can meet there after we find the starbridges. If they sound an alarm, you may want to take to the water. They won’t expect that from you.”
They all nodded their understanding, but before parting ways, Lukai caught Gaeren’s eye. He hesitated, rubbing his palm and glancing at Aeliana, who was hugging Iris goodbye.
“I’ll take care of her,” Gaeren said.
“I know,” Lukai said, then he turned back to the group, finding his place beside Kendalyhn.
Nori, Gaeren, and Aeliana crept around the edge of the village until they were lined up with the center.
“Most of the village is waiting in the square to hear the elders announce what happened at Seer’s Sanctuary,” Nori said.
“They’ve all noticed we returned with one less.
The rumors have gotten out of hand, and my father will have to give some sort of update or risk the people revolting out of fear.
In many ways, a decision to stick with his original verdict would be an effort to protect the rest of you. ”
She shot Gaeren an apologetic look, but he shrugged. “It’s something my parents would do in Elanesse. Everything for the greater good and all that, right?”
She nodded, then pointed toward a section of homes that looked a bit familiar. Probably the ones they’d used to clean up the week before, which now felt like ages ago.
“Our house is the third in from the left. My father has a guard stationed in the front and back, but I’ve already drugged the one in the back. I’ll go first to make sure it’s taken effect and then you can join me.”
They crept across the village, keeping to the shadows, and Gaeren wished he had darker clothing so he could hide better.
When Nori left them hiding in some bushes near her home, he reached out to tuck Aeliana’s hair under her hood, remembering the way she’d grown it out again in the future Lady Merinnia had shown him.
She smiled at him before tugging the hood down lower to cover her eyes.
The vision he’d seen of her running on the beach with what he assumed were her children came back to him, filling him with a strange mix of warmth and a twinge of longing.
He wanted that future for her, but he didn’t want the future that came with it for Enla.
How could he choose? And what actions would lead to one path versus the other?
Nori waved them into the garden, then led them through the back door. “Come on,” she whispered. “Theirs is the last bedroom upstairs.”
They ran with her, following her steps to avoid any squeaky stairs.
When they entered the room, the vision he’d seen of her mother hiding the starbridges felt closer, like he could overlay it with their present surroundings.
He almost expected her mother to follow them through the door and pry up the loose board.
Instead, Nori did, reaching for the box.
“Please be here,” she whispered. But when she opened the box, it only held the pink shell.
Gaeren swore and ran a hand through his hair, but Nori went still, staring at the shell.
She lifted it from the box as though in a trance.
“I’d forgotten this was here,” she murmured.
“What?” Gaeren asked.
“I didn’t think anything of it when I first saw it. But now…” She trailed off, her gaze slowly scanning the room as if she was seeing someplace else. “She knows.”
“Knows what?” Aeliana asked.
Nori’s gaze snapped to focus on them. “Nothing.” She gripped the shell, then shoved it in her pocket. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Gaeren asked.
“I’m guessing the starbridges are in my father’s pocket.”
They followed her down the stairs, but as they rounded through the back door, she stopped short, making Gaeren and Aeliana run into her.
Over her shoulder, Gaeren caught sight of Gellen leaning over to check the guard’s pulse.
They had no time to hide before he glanced up.
His dagger came loose, its three trident spokes gleaming sharp in the moonlight.
“What are you doing?” The question was directed at Nori, but Gaeren sensed the other man tuning in to his thoughts.
He did his best to leave his guard down, knowing that letting the man assess the truth was more helpful than concerning at this point.
“Why would you help them?” Gellen asked.
“Because they’re innocent,” Nori said.
“They killed a sprite,” he hissed.
“If a sprite threatened me, what would you do?” she asked.
His face crumpled. “That’s not a fair question, and you know it.”
Her tone came out fiercely protective. “And yet that’s the position they were in. It wasn’t fair. Who’s to say what they did was right or wrong? We weren’t there.” Her voice softened. “They just want to go home. Just let them go home.”
His gaze snapped to Aeliana and Gaeren, the indecision on his face giving Gaeren hope.
“We don’t want to hurt anyone,” Gaeren said. “We really do just want to go home.”
But as he said the words, Gellen stepped back, his face slack with horror as he turned to Nori. “Why would you go with them?”
Nori stiffened. “You promised to never read my thoughts.”
“I never thought you would betray your people,” he threw back at her.
“I’m not betraying my people. I’m protecting a different set of people who wish no harm on our people.”
“But you want to go with them? That’s not possible. That would ruin everything.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What does that even mean? Your plans for us?”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said.
The entire situation suddenly shifted as Gaeren felt a surge of empathy for this man trying to protect the woman he loved. “I think he’s right, Nori. You should stay.”
This time three pairs of eyes stared at him in surprise, then Nori stepped back, eyes wide. “For all the sprites,” she muttered. “You know too, don’t you?”
Gaeren’s face heated.
“Did you see it from this?” She held up the pink shell. “Did you see the same two paths as my mother?”
Gaeren’s mouth swung open, but he had no idea what to say.
“He did,” Gellen said. “And I’ve seen it too. Or at least your mother told me what she saw. Please, Nori.” He tucked his trident away, his pleading eyes like those of a child. “Please let me protect you.” He reached a hand for her, but she slapped it away.