Page 80 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

Caspian squeezed my hand a little harder. “For how long, exactly?”

“I’m not sure,” I said honestly. “Ran will be connected to me though through my magic. He should be able to tell you if I’m in any real danger.”

“How exactly will he tell me that?” Caspian asked, giving the water horse a dry look.

I could drown him, Ran suggested.It would be an extremely effective way to send a message.

“Seas below, Ran,” I sighed. “Play nicely. YoulikeCaspian, remember?”

Fine,he relented, sounding truly disappointed.Then I shall neigh loudly like a common stallion. Will that suffice?

His tone dripped with sarcasm, but I chose to ignore it. “Perfect. He will neigh at you if I’m in trouble,” I related to Caspian. “Loudly.”

“How very original,” Caspian drawled.

Please let me drown him,Ran begged.

“Seas below,” I huffed. “If you’re just going to argue, you can leave me alone to face the violently enraged lake spirit, thank you very much. I’d much prefer his company.”

Both males grumbled their apology, and I rolled my eyes at their ridiculous posturing before closing them to focus on the lake.

In the time I had been practicing with Ran, I had learned to control my approach to the lake and hold off Morar for longer and longer periods before the sea swept him from my mind.

But today I would have to sweep him from the lake, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about doing it. Ran had suggested to let the sea assist me, so I turned to her, glittering at the edge of my awareness.

Alright, old friend,I told the sea, focusing my magic on her, rather than the angry lake.You can’t rush in to save me this time. Help me push the angry spirit from the lake instead.I added a whispered,Please, as I tried to send a mental image relaying my meaning. It was best to be polite to forces of nature when asking them to do your bidding.

The sea rumbled in agreement, a gentle splash of waves against my mind as if she were wishing me luck.

“Marina,” Caspian said, drawing me from my near trance. He cupped my cheeks as I blinked back into myself.

“What?”

He kissed me, fierce and unrestrained, as if he feared he might not have another chance. The sea pushed at my mind, but I told her to wait, just one more minute, so that I could tastehimone last time.

“Come back to me after this, Urchin,” Caspian rumbled, his lips barely an inch from mine. “I’ve changed my mind about bedding you.”

“You have the worst timing,” I breathed, my toes curling into the dirt. “This epiphany couldn’t have come yesterday?”

He kissed me again, pouring feeling and desire into the kiss, a question and a promise.

Ran gave an irritable neigh, and we broke apart.

“Come back to me,” he said again, nipping my lip once more before stepping back and taking my hand.

I blew out a deep breath, Caspian’s presence next to me fading out as I let the waters claim me again.

“It’s time,” I said aloud, finding it difficult to focus on anything outside of my body. I felt the faint pressure of Caspian squeezing my hand before I mentally plunged into the lake.

Morar roared at my intrusion, his annoyance with my increasingly persistent attempts to cajole him growing to a tempest of fury. He bucked and screamed, forcing images into my mind and clawing at me in the hopes I would release him.

In the past, this had eventually worked. This time, I held fast.

Morar thrashed, a swirling vortex of darkness that churned the lake and spun in my mind. Based on the agitated drops of the kelpies, the churning was both metaphysical and entirely real, and I felt water splash against my legs as my mind tried to hold the lake.

Why do you thrash so?I asked Morar.Why not float away and rest?

PAIN.