Page 224 of Blood of the Stars

Aeliana let go of her mother’s hand to reach into her pocket and grasp the golden arrow.

Orra shuddered, then scanned the room until her searching gaze landed on Aeliana.

“I’ll take Cyrus home,” Gaeren said, “and then I’ll bring it back to you. I swear on the Stars.”

Orra stilled, then nodded.

“We can search for the stone while you’re gone.” Sylmar’s grunted words left everyone stunned.

“How do you know about the stone?” Orra asked.

“Stone?” Gaeren asked. “Is that the circle? Is that what takes people to Ahmranas?”

Sylmar nodded. “Last I saw it was hidden in that loose stone behind the bed. It’s where Mayvus always kept it. It’s how I knew where the arrow would be. I’d hoped we’d find both.”

Something in Orra deflated, and Gaeren helped her back to the settee, shooing away Kendalyhn and Lukai.

“I suppose there’s no reason for us to wait,” Cyrus said, but his gaze strayed to Aeliana, begging her to change her mind.

“You need to check on Bartholem. And if you can find my father?—”

Her mother stirred on the bed, but her eyes remained closed as a soft moan escaped her lips. Marnok stepped away from Thallahan, shifting his focus to her mother.

Riveran twisted his hands. “If you can wait until Gullet returns, I’d like to come with you.”

“What about your… wife?” Gaeren asked.

Aeliana smiled at the genuine concern in his voice. Something had changed between the two men.

Larkos stood, pushing off the wall. “Thallahan and I will gather our remaining men. Paint Starspeed and give her a new name. We’ll get what we can to take care of Riveran’s wife and Breeve’s mother. Maybe bring them back here if that seems safer.”

“Can you check on Erech, too?” Gaeren asked. “Make sure he and the stableboys are taken care of before you leave?”

Larkos nodded. They both turned to Aeliana, and suddenly everyone was looking at her for direction, as if she were the one in charge.

“Does that mean the rest of you will stay?” she asked. “Help my mother rebuild?”

“Iris and I won’t leave Emeris’ side,” Holm said. He stood, then inclined his head while touching his fingers to his forehead. It was the same motion the soldiers had done back in the forest, the same she’d seen Gaeren’s men do before him.

“Kendalyhn and I will be here as well,” Lukai added, making the same motion. It made her squirm.

“You can’t get rid of Sylmar and me even if you want to,” Velden said. Thankfully, he shot water from his hand to her face instead of bowing.

“Marnok?” Aeliana asked, nudging his back where he was bent over the bed.

“I’ll stay if you’ll have me,” he said, his fingers pressed against her mother’s wrist.

“That sounds… good.” Uncertainty colored her tone, but the others all stood, dividing as if she’d given orders.

Riveran stepped out onto the balcony, whistling for Gullet to return.

Sylmar took Velden to the stairwell, eager to make sure the winex were gone and to find General Nels for a report. Gaeren’s men followed. Suddenly everything was happening too fast for Aeliana. She thought they’d get a break after Mayvus was gone, but it seemed as if it was all just beginning.

“Mayvus?” The murmur came from her mother’s lips.

“What?” Marnok asked as he and Aeliana both leaned in.

Her mother’s eyes fluttered open. “Where is Mayvus?”

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