Page 190 of Blood of the Stars

“How did your parents bond you to Lenda?” She peeked between her lashes to catch him studying his hand.

“By joining our blood and fusing it on our skin.” He said the words slowly, like he was hearing them for the first time.

“Is that not a form of blood magic?”

“It’s different. It…” He trailed off.

She opened her eyes fully and smiled up at him. “What about Lovers’ Falls? You tuned in to Aeliana’s blood to find her.”

His mouth hung open.

“It’s magic that uses blood, and while it might catch the attention of the dark spirits, it doesn’t call them the same way it does when Mayvus uses blood magic. The intention behind it matters because it’s indicative of your response to the dark spirits. They are attracted to the blood, but they’re also attracted to the darkness brewing in the progeny that spills it.”

“Are you suggesting blood magic can be good?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Spilling blood for magic is rarely an act of love. And it will always attract darks spirits. But the Sun gave us blood to house the power of the light given to us. One could argue that every time magic is used, it’s a form of blood magic since that’s where the power resides. It’s our choices that will determine if it’s used for right or wrong.”

“That perspective… no one else seems to agree. Even those who approve of blood magic speak in terms of it tapping into higher power rather than harnessing it for right or wrong.” His words held more curiosity than accusation, his brow knitted with the thoughts tangled in his mind.

“Even these Recreants,” she said, “who are willing to use blood magic as a last resort, might find my definitions disturbing. But the Sun wants us to do right things—not just for the sake of doing them. We need to do the right things for the right reasons.”

She swallowed hard, the rush of the truth being revealed pricking at the back of her eyes. It had been on the tip of her understanding for hundreds of years. But the Sun saw fit to give her understanding now. For this moment. For her needs as well as Gaeren’s. “The Stars sinned, not because they separated the people or because they put up barriers. It wasn’t the actions themselves that were wrong. They sinned because they did those things without consulting the Sun. They did it for their own purposes, which were guided by fear instead of love.”

“That’s not how the story is told.” Gaeren frowned at her.

“And yet it’s the way the story goes.” She said the words firmly, more like a reprimand. “You came to the text with your preconceived ideas and found ways for the words to fit what you already believed. You should have come with an open mind and heart. You should have let it speak to your soul. It wouldn’t hurt to read it again.”

She studied him a moment longer, and he shifted under her gaze.

“It seems your pull toward the starbridges has lessened,” she said.

He barked out a laugh. “It’s all but disappeared. I no longer need them to find Aeliana or protect her. I thought they could protect my family, or at least appease my sister, but it appears my family doesn’t want protection.”

“If you didn’t have people to protect or wars to be fought, would you want them?”

He hesitated. “Maybe to see lands and people beyond this one. But somehow I suspect your reason for wanting them is far more noble than mine.”

She smiled, even though his words weren’t accurate. Her reason was likely the most selfish of all. “And yet our two goals aren’t mutually exclusive.”

She glanced over his shoulder to the camp beyond, where Sylmar exited his tent and glared at everyone within view before stomping over to Aeliana. After exchanging a few words, Aeliana pointed toward Orra and Gaeren, and Sylmar squinted in their direction.

“You should help Aeliana with the uniforms Felk just delivered,” Orra suggested as Sylmar made his way toward their tree. “Maybe show the others Felk can be trusted. Sylmar’s about to send you away anyway.”

Gaeren stood and turned, starting at Sylmar standing less than a foot away.

“Go on,” the older man said. “I need to have a word with Orra.”

Gaeren gave her a questioning glance.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, finally munching on the flatbread he’d given her.

Sylmar snorted, then sat beside her, groaning as his stiff joints made it more of a fall than anything else.

Gaeren took off, and Orra watched as he sat beside Aeliana, far closer than he needed to. She swallowed the burned bits of bread and tore off another piece, popping it into her mouth.

“I told you to leave Aeliana out of your mischief,” Sylmar said.

Orra turned to face him as she chewed, studying the scars lining his face. The memories leaking off them spoke of sacrifice and honor, but she knew better than to bring up his past. He wore the scars as a mask for his soft side, letting only the harshness shine through.

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