The silver-green waters sparkled in the sunlight a dozen meters below.
“The vent is closed, the burner won’t fire.” She took my hand. “I am afraid there is nothing more I can do. I am sorry to have dragged you into this.”
“For a snooty elven lady, you’re alright.” I put a hand atop hers and squeezed.
She smiled.
I smiled.
The fuel tank exploded.
Chapter Fourteen
I shielded my face with an arm as burning fuel rained over us. “Over the side!”
We clasped each other and tumbled over the edge.
How far to the water?
How deep?
Would we—
Ka-wumm
The impact jarred me to the bone. I lost track of Sephi as I tried to regain my bearings.
Which way was up? My world turned to a frigid blue-green haze.
I spun half a turn, grabbed her arm, and swam for the lightest section of water.
Gasping as I breached the surface, I found myself immediately pulled under again.
As I writhed against my armor, a boot brushed the stony lake bed.
We were nearly ashore, but the lake was still deeper than I was tall. If I stripped off my armor, I’d be more vulnerable when we—
An arm encircled my chest, dragging me upward.
As I broached the surface again, gurgling and thrashing, a calm hand brushed through my wet hair. “Please do not struggle, Mister Thistlewood. I have located an elevated stone to stand on, but it is quite slick.”
Coughing up water turned to panting breaths as seconds passed.
Water stilled to a gentle rippling as she patted my head in stroke after comforting stroke.
“I guess it pays to be tall, eh?” I finally spoke.
“At times.” She squeezed the back of my scalp. “It is not far to shore. I believe if we hold our breath and push off the bottom we can make it. I would prefer not to discard my armor or saber.”
“Agreed.” As soon as death by drowning was off the table, our weapons and armor would be key to avoiding death by monster.
We picked our way through ever shallower water to reach a shoreline overgrown with evergreen trees, most with trunks thicker than I was tall. Aside from a rustle of wind through the upper branches, it was eerily quiet. Had the explosion cowed wildlife into silence?
I squeezed her hand as we stood at the shore, water dripping from our bodies, eyes darting tree to tree. “You see the wreck of the balloon?” I spoke at a whisper. “I’d like to get my scythe axe back. There should be a flare gun in the basket as well.”
She motioned to the upper branches of a tree ahundred meters distant, where wisps of smoke trailed off the smoldering remains of the basket.
I tiptoed closer. “Looks like we’ll have a bit of climbing to do.”
