Page 145 of Wind Rider

“Probably because we’d all fret and make it worse than it actually is,” said Sora as she and her boat, which held Sheena and her Captain, as well as O’Bryan, drew beside them.

“It’s gonna be fine,” O’Bryan said. “This is our last obstacle on the lake, and then we’ll be free of it forever. Good news, right, Nik?”

“Greatnews,” Nik said.

When they were circled around him, Antreas spoke quickly, explaining efficiently to the attentive Pack.

“This is the last ruin we face on Lost Lake. Tomorrow midday we reach land and the entrance to the Rock Mountain passage.” He had to pause as the Pack cheered and whooped before continuing. “The Golden Man Ruins are as deadly as they are strange, and they also mark where we need to change direction to make land quickly.”

“Well, we know they’re right up there.” Wilkes pointed at the winking spot of gold ahead of them. “Can’t we just veer to the left now and avoid them completely.”

“No. I stopped you here because of what happens as we draw closer to this part of the lake. The water changes for a wide area around these ruins. For some reason this particular sunken city created whirlpools and sections of deadly currents that can capsize boats much bigger thanours. Unless we want to add a week to our lake crossing, we must follow the path through the ruins rather than circumvent them and chance the water traps.”

“Okay, we follow you just as we’ve been doing,” Sora said. “We’ve gotten pretty good at it.”

“You have,” Antreas said—his expression grim. “You’ve also gotten good at getting safely past the Mouths and Monkeys. You’ll need all those skills here. These ruins are odd for many reasons—the strangest might be that they’re a major breeding ground for Mouths and Monkeys. We do not know why, but there are more of those creatures here than anywhere else on the lake.”

“What kind of ruins are they?” Davis asked.

“We have no true idea. It seems to be one enormous building and has the look of a temple. It was built in a huge rectangle. There are six pointed towers that protrude above the water, as well as what looks like a roof that adjoins them and a good part of the building itself. It’s from the highest of the towers that the Golden Man stands.”

“Is he a god?” Mari asked.

“Not a god.” Dove suddenly spoke. “But someone who proclaimed that their god was present—though he was not. The monument they built to him was filled with secrecy, not divinity. The Mouths and Monkeys began here—it was from somewhere very close to this temple that they escaped their old world and made a new one, more likeable to them. That is why they guard this ruin so jealously.”

A chill shuddered through Mari. “How do you know that, Dove?

Dove shook her head. “The words simply come to me. I hope they are sent by the Great Mother Goddess.”

“I believe the Goddess speaks through Dove,” Davis said. “I feel it deep within me.”

Sora nodded. “I believe so, too.”

Mari’s gaze sifted through her Pack. She saw her people nodding in agreement.

“I do not doubt Dove’s vision,” Antreas said. “It explains a lot—but it doesn’t change the danger.”

“Well, Nik’s gotten really good at shooting Monkeys,” Mari said. “He can do it one more time.”

“Nik, you need to be ready to shoot more than one,” Antreas said.

“We’ll all be ready,” Wilkes said.

“Okay, be sure everything is tied down securely and your ballasts are all even. Remain behind me—go double file, but do not stray or straggle. And when I tell you to go,paddle fast.”

It didn’t take the Pack long to batten down their supplies and be sure the canines—and one Lynx—were secure as well. When all was ready, they set out in a double file behind Antreas and Danita.

“Nik, I’d like you to paddle beside us,” Davis called. “We have Rose and the puppies with us, and also Mariah is moving really slow—particularly today—and she doesn’t want to leave the nest she’s made on her ballast.”

“Yes, Nik,” Claudia said, sending her very pregnant Shepherd a worried look. “I’d feel better if your crossbow was close by us. Mariah is feeling restless and out of sorts today.”

“No problem. We’ll stay near,” Nik said as he and Mari paddled their little craft beside Davis and Claudia. Also in their much larger boat, along with Rose and the growing puppies, were Dove and Lily. “Lily, if you transfer over to our boat you can paddle with Mari so that I can focus on aiming this crossbow.”

“I’m a stronger paddler than Lily.” Dove spoke up immediately. “I would be happy to come to your boat and help out.”

Nik shrugged and then nodded. “Sounds good. Let’s do this fast, but safely.”

By now they were all experts on the water, and moving Dove was easy. She settled in at Nik’s place in the front of the canoe and Nik moved to the center, leaving Mari to steer—with Laru on one ballast and Rigel balancing the opposite side.