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The Draconian set Tiernan and I down atop the uneven earth. Without the wind rushing past us, it was eerily quiet. I hadn’t realized Arrow had followed us until his screech broke the silence and had me tripping over my own feet. Finn caught me before I fell backwards into the water.
I threw the creature a cutting glance as it landed atop the lowest branch of a naked tree. Squawking like a gull.
“Damn you, Arrow,” I cursed at him. He ruffled his feathers, turning himself so I was faced with his tail. Cheeky little bugger.
Tiernan shook his head, “I hardly see him anymore,” he mused, “Where have you been?” he asked his pet, as if the falcon could answer him.
“Stalking me—that’s where he’s been,” I said, righting myself, waiting for Kade and Alaric to make their way to us over the stones and moss.
“Good boy,” Tiernan said. Arrow cooed, turning back around.
“Ready?” Alaric said, gesturing to the water at our backs when he and Kade approached.
“I am,” I said, “Did you see any when we were flying in?” I asked—the question meant for all of them.
“No,” said Finn, “They don’t come up to the surface often.”
Alaric, Kade, and Finn all shook their heads as well.
“Time to put the theory to the test then.” I pulled my hair back and tied it with a strip of leather from my wrist.
“You stay here,” I said—mostly to Kade and Alaric, “You’ll only scare them off.”
Alaric laughed roughly, “If you think I’m letting you go in that wateralone, you’re insane.”
“You aren’tlettingme do anything,” I said, a little more abrasive than I’d intended, “I’m going in the water and you’re staying here,” I said, trying to soften my voice.
Alaric set his jaw, ready to come back with some scathing retort, but Finn turned and stepped into the water, “I’ll go with her,” he offered, “If that’s alright with you,” he added, posing the question to me.
They had helped save Finn once, and he had no weapons on him aside from his sword. I nodded, “Alright, but take that off. I don’t want them to fear us.”
He did as I asked and unbuckled his entire belt. Tossed it onto the ground, the sword clanging against the stones.
“I don’t like this,” Alaric grumbled, stepping in to stop me.
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight like polished silver. “I’ll be alright,” I told him, “Finn will be right beside me, and I know you’re an incredible shot with that bow.”
“Are you trying to ply me with compliments?”
“Is it working?”
He smirked, running his fingers through my hair, “So damned stubborn,” he said under his breath, “Just be careful.”
I turned to where Finn waited, one boot in the water and the other still on shore. I took his outstretched hand, kicking off my own shoes before I stepped into the sea.
The water was a shock to my skin. Autumn had turned it from bearable to near-freezing. I radiated a little heat from my core, letting it spread through my skin. As long as I didn’t open the gates and let it out, it would remain only as a warm ember and nothing more.
I cringed as my toes squished into the slimy, pebbled seabed, stepping on tip-toe to avoid as much of it as I was able.
“Watch your step—it drops off in another few yards.”
He was right. The water was just above waist level, and ahead I saw where the bottom we walked on vanished into darkness. Another two steps and we’d be in over our heads.
“Now what?” Finn asked.
I shrugged, “I suppose we wait.”
Chapter Four
