Page 178 of Blood of the Stars

“This will raise the people’s spirits,” Lukai admitted. “Maybe give them hope that infiltrating Mayvus’ hold the day after tomorrow might have some measure of success.”

“But Summer Solstice is still three days away,” Gaeren said. “If Mayvus hasn’t branded Aeliana yet, she won’t do it before then. We could use the extra day to plan and prepare.”

Lukai raised his eyebrows but made no comment on Gaeren’s awareness of the branding. “Mayvus knows we’re here. If we can get to her earlier, maybe we’ll still catch her off guard. We can hope.” His words fell flat with his own disbelief.

When another soldier beckoned Lukai back inside the tent, Gaeren turned to look for Daisy. Firelight from campfires danced across soldiers, but every now and then he caught sight of her brown waves peeking out between shirtsleeves and shoulders.

At Sylmar’s glare, Gaeren began introductions, which meant Kendalyhn also came out to sift every man’s soul. A few of the pirates resisted, while a few others seemed too eager to place their hands on Kendalyhn. She only had to pull out her knife and threaten to replace one man’s hand with a hook to get them all back in line.

Velden slapped Gaeren’s back with his slimy webbed hand in lieu of a greeting.

“I almost wish she’d follow through,” the older man said. “Unfortunately, we’ll need every last one of their thieving hands to pull this off.”

“Is it that bad?” Gaeren asked.

Velden bobbed his head back and forth in indecision. “Sylmar is always gloom and doom, but I think he might be right this time. He’ll want you in on tonight’s meeting. You can decide for yourself if it’s hopeless after you hear his plans.”

“I doubt anyone wants my opinion. I’m more likely to incite a mutiny if some of these men figure out who I am.” Even as he said the words, he realized it might be too late. He hadn’t bothered covering his face.

“Aeliana made sure everyone knew how you ensured our escape from Elanesse. There’s not a man or woman here who would go up against you now.” Velden’s gaze sought out Daisy, so Gaeren watched her too, this time noticing the dark circles under her eyes. She’d been through too much in the last few moons, and the worst was yet to come.

He didn’t bother saying goodbye to Velden; he headed straight for Daisy. She looked up at him, her eyes brightening through the pain.

“I still can’t believe you came,” she said.

“The note from Gullet wasn’t enough?”

“No, it was. I just…” She trailed off, then looked up at him. “I feel like every time I hope for something to happen, it gets ripped away. I didn’t want that to happen with you.” She twisted the ends of her hair, not holding his gaze.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” He lightly tapped her shoulder with his knuckles. “I’ve been chasing you for years; I’m not about to stop now.”

She smiled faintly, watching as Marnok made his way through the crowd. The older man stopped various people, asking them each a question. Probably wondering if they knew him before his memory loss.

“I’m scared, Gaeren,” she whispered. “Anything could happen in the next couple days. So much could go wrong.”

He glanced at her worried eyes, his mind shifting back to their childhood, to the chubby arms reaching out and begging for one more story because the shadows at night were frightening. Only this time, he didn’t have a story to cheer her up.

“I think we’re all scared,” he said.

She nodded, blinking far too fast.

“Come here.” He ignored the itch of his bond mark as he took her hand, weaving through the tents and fires until he reached the edge of the camp. He gently nudged her to a fallen log, then sat beside her, still gripping her hand. They sat, and a million questions came to his mind, most too personal to ask out loud.

“How is Durriken helping Mayvus after you freed him?”

A crease formed between Daisy’s eyebrows that Gaeren wished he could smooth out.

“She branded him again. I saw it on his paw, and Orra found it when she sifted his soul. Or tuned in to his memories. I still don’t understand her magic.”

“That makes all of us.”

Her lips quirked up, and Gaeren fought for something else to say, something that might keep her smiling. “I’m glad Durriken didn’t get to you. Would have wasted all my efforts to keep you safe.”

Her smile dropped, and her eyes grew wet. “I wanted him to take me. I offered myself up. Instead, he just kept killing them. All of them.” She pulled her hand from his to bury her face in her hands, but it seemed more like she was hiding than crying.

Gaeren’s insides twisted, half of him horrified that she had put herself at risk, the other hating the way her guilt weighed her down. At their feet, amidst the grass, a handful of daisies sprouted, their petals unfurling. Gaeren’s heart pounded as a dozen memories surfaced from his childhood.

The flowers had grown in a field near Celanoft’s Sungazer. He and Daisy had spent hours there over the course of his dedication year. Her baby fingers hadn’t been able to form them into chains at first, so she’d insisted he make them for her, fashioning them into necklaces and bracelets, sashes and crowns.

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