Chapter 73
Aeliana sat at the dressing table in her room, still surprised that Kendalyhn was fussing over her hair with the same focus she used when sifting souls.
Even Iris had perked up a bit to get Aeliana ready for Thallahan and Fay’s wedding while Enla serenely watched on from her place at Aeliana’s tea table.
“I thought Vendarans preferred trousers,” Aeliana said, picking at some lint on the silk gown Enla had lent her.
“Not for a wedding.” Kendalyhn’s face held mock shock that made Aeliana laugh.
“There are too many rules in your culture.”
“I agree,” Enla said.
Kendalyhn side-eyed the future queen while finishing up the braids scattered throughout Aeliana’s hair. The Recreants weren’t ready to trust Enla, with good reason, but Aeliana couldn’t help seeing all the ways she resembled Gaeren. It made it impossible to see her as an enemy.
“You wear a dress most every day,” Aeliana pointed out. “So you either have a different set of rules, or you’re above them.”
“I would much rather wear trousers,” Enla admitted. “But yes, I’m expected to dress differently because of my role. When my meetings are done, I always change. These tight shoes come off too.” She frowned down at her dainty slippers.
Aeliana opened her mouth to ask another question, but Kendalyhn chose that moment to dust a powder on her face, making her cough.
“Hold still,” Kendalyhn said sharply, reminding Aeliana of the days when they were always at odds.
True to form, Aeliana ignored the other woman’s instruction, pulling the clamshell from her pocket and opening it to reveal the pea-sized gemstone. “Enla, do you know anything about this type of gem?”
Enla leaned forward, her head angling to study it. “It’s beautiful. But I’ve never seen anything like it. And my father has many gems,” she added dryly.
“It’s from Sayhla Island,” Aeliana murmured, turning it so light reflected off each perfect edge of the gem.
“Sayhla Island?” Enla’s eyebrows rose and she looked again.
“It could be a fabled Sayhleen pearl. They’re said to be a source of power, one the old kings and queens enslaved the Sayhleens to procure.
I didn’t think they were real. If they were, my father would have one.
In fact, don’t let him see you have it.”
Aeliana bit her lip and closed the shell before tucking it back in her pocket.
“I’m glad you and Gaeren worked things out, love.” Iris gave Aeliana a knowing smile.
Aeliana glanced back at Enla, but the other woman’s face had regained its passive, almost vacant, look. Was she sifting the future again? Seeing how the Sayhleen pearl might be of use? Or looking to see if Gaeren and Aeliana’s friendship was destined to become something more?
“Yes.” Aeliana drew the word out slowly. “It’s good to have friendships to lean on when war is looming.”
Kendalyhn snorted, and Aeliana was grateful when Enla’s response cut off whatever Kendalyhn was about to say.
“After our council meeting tomorrow, I can officially begin preparations. Your fight is the same as ours, even if my parents can’t see it.”
Aeliana hesitated, no longer sure if Gaeren planned to fly to Mt. Vescano with her or if he’d stick around to see through Enla’s shift into power. She wouldn’t blame him for staying, but she couldn’t delay her trip. Not when they had no idea what Mayvus planned to do.
“Can you see what Mayvus will do? Do you know how we can best defeat her?”
Enla shook her head apologetically. “Perhaps if I had something that belonged to her, I could sift her future. Definitely if she was here with us. I’ve seen you and Gaeren taking ships to fight her in the Northern Sea, and I’ve seen him defending you at the fortress in the Myndren Mountains.
But those scenarios are dependent on his choices.
Even if he was as predictable as the seasons, which he’s not, Mayvus’ choices will create new branches, and I’ll have to sift them all over again. ”
Aeliana shuddered.
“You have choices to make too,” Enla murmured, her eyes glazing over.
Aeliana squirmed until Kendalyhn told her to sit still while she painted her cheeks.
The whole idea of dressing up for a wedding in the middle of everything going on felt silly.
Tonight she’d leave with Durriken. She’d find a way to break the curse.
And then they’d finally be prepared to face Mayvus on their own terms.
Was Enla seeing all that? Was she seeing Aeliana succeed?
“Close your eyes,” Kendalyhn instructed, and Aeliana welcomed the ability to block everything out as Kendalyhn painted her eyes with Enla’s kohl.
Enla’s chair creaked, and Aeliana peeked to find the future queen standing.
“Give my brother my regards. And tell him he’ll regret his gift if he gives it, even though it’s the right gift to give.
” Her gaze shifted and her face went slack.
She sucked in her breath before focusing in on Aeliana again.
“I wish you success,” she whispered. “But few paths hold it. Don’t let him get hurt. ”
As she slipped out the door, Aeliana’s pounding heart felt deafening. Did that mean Gaeren would come with her despite the meeting tomorrow?
“What was that about?” Iris asked.
Aeliana shook her head, and Kendalyhn clucked her tongue, grabbing Aeliana’s jaw and holding her face still.
“She’s losing her mind,” Kendalyhn said. “We can’t trust anything she says to make sense.
Aeliana swallowed hard, letting her silence confirm Kendalyhn’s words. She hadn’t told anyone else about her plans to seek out the curse from its source. She wasn’t sure anyone would let her go, and she wasn’t looking for permission.
“Yesterday she told Lukai to study the herbs in the apothecary in case he had need of them soon,” Kendalyhn went on. “He wasn’t complaining about the tour—it’s probably his new favorite place. But why would she say something so bizarre?”
A knock sounded on the door, and two of the guards answered it before announcing Gaeren’s presence. Aeliana rubbed her sweaty palms on the green silk skirt, leaving damp marks that made Kendalyhn frown.
It was going to get tossed later anyway. She had leathers on underneath, because she couldn’t exactly ride a dragon wearing layers of silk.
As the soldiers parted for her to leave the room, she caught sight of Gaeren standing in the hall, nervously tugging on the buttons of his jacket. Her jaw dropped as she took in his formal fitted attire and his stiffly styled hair.
Then she bit her lip to hold back a laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“You look very handsome,” she said.
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t lie. Enla would never let me attend a wedding in anything less than this ridiculous costume. And I figured I ought to butter her up.”
“Why?” Kendalyhn stood at Aeliana’s side, arms folded over her chest.
He grinned. “It never hurts to butter up a sibling. Especially when they have the power to do things for you.”
Kendalyhn made a face. “You have the most dysfunctional family I’ve ever met.”
“I don’t disagree.” He held out a hand to Aeliana.
She stared at it just long enough for it to be awkward, then looped her arm through his.
As he led her down the hallway, she glanced back at the ever-present guards. “I don’t know how you stand all the formalities and constantly being followed and watched.”
“Why do you think I escape so much?” he asked. “Speaking of escape…”
She sighed. “You have to stay.”
“I was going to ask if everything is good for tonight.” His eyebrows rose, and she grinned.
“What about the meeting tomorrow?”
“Uncle Danton has it under control. And Enla approved the trip… to Rykarn”—he added with a sly grin—“before Father gave the deadline. Riveran’s promised to look after her since Croft’s never around.”
“I haven’t met him yet,” Aeliana admitted as they stepped out a side door and into the chilly breeze.
“He’s too busy with the navy men,” he said, then snorted. “Maybe they’re converting him to a Recreant.”
The carriage ride into town felt long with several people pointing them out, whether because they were surprised to see her or Gaeren, she didn’t know.
“I wish I had Lukai’s illusion skills,” she admitted.
Gaeren chuckled. “It would be convenient at a time like this.”
“Where’s the princely gift you promised Thallahan?”
His grin turned sheepish. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to find one.”
“You didn’t bring one?”
“No, I did,” he rushed to say, then dug into his pocket.
For a moment, Aeliana wondered if he would pull out the golden arrow he guarded for Orra. Instead, a crumpled slip of paper rested in his hand, and he smoothed it out across his knee.
“I guess maybe I should have put it in a card or something.” He grimaced and passed it over to her.
“What is this?” She scanned the legal terms that made her already slow reading even slower.
“It’s the deed to Starspeed.”
For the second time that night, her jaw swung open. “Your ship? You’re giving him your ship?”
He shrugged. “Larkos didn’t want it. He said being captain was a young man’s game. And I’ll be stuck at the palace for a while. There’s no sense in letting her go to waste.”
Aeliana clamped her jaw down, trying to picture Gaeren staying in the palace day after day with his prince’s garb and perfectly coiffed hair.
She could imagine it, but it was bleak. She caught herself mourning the image of his hair and tunic blowing in the wind at the ship’s helm, the carefree grin on his face unable to be matched with his current attire.
“It’s very generous.” She passed the paper back to Gaeren.
“Think Fay will approve?”
“I think she would have been happy with a little extra money to get them started. This goes far above what she expected.”
He grinned. “Good. You know how much I like to surprise people.”
She smiled back at him as the carriage slowed. “That reminds me. Enla says hello and that you’ll regret giving the gift.”