Page 118 of Blood of the Stars

When Orra finally took Kendalyhn’s hand, Kendalyhn frowned. “You have to let your guard down; otherwise, Sylmar will want you bound for the rest of our travels.”

“I’d like to see him try.” Orra’s face softened into something more like amusement than irritation.

“The rest of our travels?” Aeliana asked. “He means to take them with us?” She glanced back at Gaeren, whose curious gaze was irritatingly back on her.

“The prince wants you or maybe the starbridges, so he also wants to go after Mayvus.” Kendalyhn’s voice rose, making Aeliana’s face heat. “And the friend will go wherever the prince goes. Some sort of childhood promise or vow or something. I’m guessing Sylmar is keeping them close to watch them, not necessarily because he trusts them.”

“Does it ever feel wrong knowing so much about people when they haven’t willingly given you the information?” Aeliana asked, her words sharp with her frustration. The other woman didn’t have to spill everyone’s secrets just because she knew them.

Kendalyhn’s eyes flew open, all efforts to sift Orra’s soul gone. “You’d be surprised at how willing people are to be seen. It takes little effort on my part. When you sift through someone’s soul and their darkest and brightest parts and still love them? There’s nothing to match the sensation of being seen and loved.”

It was more than Kendalyhn had ever shared with Aeliana, but it felt like an insult. Or at the very least, a reprimand. Kendalyhn had seen Aeliana’s darkest parts and held no love for her.

“True words, even when spoken so harshly,” Orra murmured, surprising both women out of their anger.

Kendalyhn closed her eyes and squeezed Orra’s hand once more.

Aeliana stepped away, not wanting to witness another display of Kendalyhn’s magic.

Gaeren straightened, his eyes still on Aeliana, but she wasn’t ready for whatever he might say. Her throat felt raw after facing Durriken, after defending a beast and reviving a stranger only to watch the stranger turn on the beast. She didn’t trust herself to accurately evaluate anything Gaeren might have to say.

Besides, Sylmar, Lukai, and Holm were leading Jasperus and Velden toward Islara. She picked up her pace to follow, but Sylmar saw her coming and shook his head. “It needs to be done.”

Her insides grew cold. “No. He’s branded. There has to be a way to undo the brand. Jasperus told me they could be cut out.”

Sylmar hesitated, then let the others get ahead of them. “He’s a dragon. We don’t know if it works the same way. We don’t even know if he has magic for her to control.”

The memories she’d seen from the dragon flooded her mind. He definitely had magic, but she wasn’t sure if knowing that would make Sylmar more or less likely to kill him.

“Besides,” Sylmar added, “it’s nearly impossible to get close enough. He won’t let us cut it out.”

“You left him unconscious. It should be easy. If cutting out the brand could remove his connection to her, don’t we have to at least try?” She let her gaze bore into Sylmar’s, willing him to consider it.

He hesitated, making her hope rise. “Do you want to risk the lives of everyone you love on a possibility?”

She looked away, hating his logic, hating how the memories she’d received from the dragon defied his logic. Gaeren stood only a few feet away, far too interested in their conversation. She frowned at him, but he stared back, undeterred.

Sylmar turned to catch up with the others, and Aeliana watched him go. She couldn’t save Durriken, but she could stay with him. It was better than facing Gaeren. Maybe like Orra, she could sing the dragon to the Stars or the Sun or whatever awaited them all beyond this life.

She rushed to join Sylmar, stumbling over her thoughts. She hadn’t cared to evaluate what the servants of the Stars taught when she was growing up, but now she felt a burning desire to know the truth. Were the Stars worthy to be worshiped? Or were they created by something greater, like the Sun? She supposed Cyrus’ faith hadn’t wavered like hers.

The sky that had been dark with clouds now grew black with the setting Sun. The Stars and moon remained hidden, the only light coming from the torches carried by the men.

They entered the gate, weapons drawn. From a distance, the dragon looked almost like a large dog, curled up and passed out from an afternoon of play. His chest rose and fell as hot breath escaped his nostrils, his black tongue lolling out the side of his open mouth.

Without hesitating, Sylmar walked up to the beast’s side and laid his staff and hands on the dragon’s scales. Aeliana closed her eyes. Would it be peaceful? Or would the air be rent with Durriken’s shrieks of agony?

She sensed a warm presence at her side and opened her eyes to find Gaeren observing Sylmar’s work. Gaeren’s focus remained on Durriken, but his body angled toward Aeliana, his hand on the hilt of his dagger, as if ready to defend her should the need arise.

Aeliana almost laughed. That dagger couldn’t protect anyone from Durriken.

Several long moments passed, and Lukai, Holm, Jasperus, and Velden huddled together, whispering. She slipped around them, making her way toward Sylmar. The old man sucked in several gasps of breath, turning his frustrated glare on Aeliana. She expected him to send her away, to make some comment about her reckless behavior putting herself in harm’s way.

He bent over, hands on his knees. “I can’t…”

“You can’t kill him?” Hope bloomed in her chest.

He shook his head, wiping the sweat from his upper lip while squinting up at her. If his destructive somatic skills couldn’t kill Durriken, it wasn’t from lack of effort. “It’s possible I could after resting, maybe recharging in the Sun.” He straightened, then leaned on Durriken for support. “I’ve drained too much energy today. My starlock resists. But Durriken’s likely to wake before I’m ready.”

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