Page 136 of Blood of the Stars

“Have you seen the way all the men watch Orra?”

Both their shoulders shook with silent laughter.

As Gaeren turned back to study the creek, Aeliana bit her lip. If he could look past her history with blood magic, who was she to judge him for his attitude toward Durriken? Or for being a Loyalist? Or for being the prince, son of the king and queen bent on annihilating Aeliana’s family?

She sighed. There were just too many things dividing them. Even if they got along from this point forward, they would never have the friendship he claimed they’d shared in the past. They’d been children.

“Do you see that?” Gaeren reached for his bow, then hesitated with the arrow. Aeliana followed his gaze. Movement caught her eye—a dark figure, partially hidden in the shadows. The coloring seemed off for an antelope, along with the shape. A few more feet and it would reach the Sunlight, but it didn’t move like an animal either.

Just as Gaeren drew back his arrow, Aeliana gasped, pushing his arm down before he even had the chance to aim.

A man ambled toward the water. A cloak covered him from the neck down, and a rough beard hid his face. The rest of his hair was cropped close to his head but stuck up in all directions like he hadn’t combed it for days. His skin was lighter than most she’d seen in Vendaras, but she’d heard those from the east coast had fairer skin like Lorvandans. She glanced at her hands. The light copper that had been unusually dark in Lorvandas now seemed pale with her Vendaran companions. But it matched the stranger’s. Her mother had come from the east. Maybe this man had too.

He bent forward, scooping up water and splashing it over his face, using it to smooth down his hair. His movements felt exaggerated, intentional, like he wanted to be seen.

“He’s waiting for us to approach,” Aeliana whispered.

“What?” Gaeren grabbed her, the restrictive motion strangely comforting as his fingers once again warmed her skin.

She shook his hand away along with the distracting thoughts.

“No,” he hissed. “You can’t talk to him. We have no idea who he is.”

“I still don’t really know who you are,” she pointed out, “and Sylmar sent me off in the woods with you, alone.” She stood, keeping a careful eye on the man as she made her way into the valley. The man turned in their direction, but he was too far away for Aeliana to make out his expression. He stayed still as she drew closer, not reaching for any weapons, not calling out for any assistance.

Despite Gaeren’s protests, he shadowed her the whole way down the hill.

Too late, Aeliana realized the stranger could have a starlock, and then he might have any number of skills at his disposal, skills that could kill without weapons. Her own starlock warmed, reminding her that she wasn’t powerless. She also knew Gaeren wouldn’t hesitate to use his magic to protect her, and the thought left her surprisingly comforted. But the stranger’s stance remained relaxed, maybe even patient.

When they were a dozen paces away, she stopped, studying the stranger before her. He towered over her even from a distance, unkempt and wary, his cloak muddy and torn. There was something familiar about him, something that tugged at a memory in the back of her mind.

“I just want to talk,” the man said, “but I think the conversation would go better if you called off your guards.”

Aeliana turned to Gaeren, hand out to smack his bow and arrow back to his side once more, but Gaeren’s hands were already down. “We don’t have guards…”

She narrowed her eyes, spinning around to scan the ridge they’d come from. So… Sylmar had sent someone after them.

Before she could see anyone, the stranger rammed into her side, and she landed hard on her back, the breath knocked from her. In the back of her mind, she registered the rush of an arrow by her ear. She held up her hands, shielding herself from the blow she anticipated, but it was Gaeren’s elbow that bruised her arm as he dropped his bow and arrow and launched himself between Aeliana and her attacker.

The thump of paws on dirt reverberated through Aeliana’s ears, followed by a snarl.

Gaeren placed himself over Aeliana as a human shield, but between his arm and side, she caught a flash of silver skin as the man scooted away on his backside, his hands raised in surrender to the strangely familiar winex hovering over him.

“Wait,” Aeliana said, even as Gaeren tried shoving her farther behind him. “His hands.”

The winex turned, the unmistakable tear mark on his cheek bringing a rush of emotion that clogged Aeliana’s throat.

“He attacked you,” Felk growled.

The man spun his hands, a glimpse of hope in his eyes. His knuckles and wrists were covered in tattoos.

“No. Back at the Falls—he saved my life.” Aeliana pushed Gaeren aside and stood just as an arrow whizzed through the air, penetrating the stranger’s side.

CHAPTER 55

The stranger’s eyes widened as he grasped the arrow burrowed in his gut. He staggered back, his pleading gaze resting on Aeliana.

“No.” She rushed forward, helping him to the ground. “No, no, no.”

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