Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“In case I don’t seem appreciative,” I say softly, stroking my thumb over the back of his hand. “I am humbled that you have done so much for me. It makes me happier than you can possibly imagine.”
He gazes down at our hands and nods once, then pulls his hand from my grip. “I will return when we arrive. Eat your food and drink your tea.”
I’m left alone for a few hours, and make myself a strong cup of willow bark tea with the rest of my fresh water and a large chunk of the bark that I swirl in the cup with my finger to steep it. Tastes awful, but my cramps disappear like magic and I’m able to enjoy the day. The landscape is changing, the distant land coming closer. We’ve been following the shoreline from a distance far too great for me to swim, but now we’re approaching.
It’s not the most comforting shoreline. The gentle sands are gone, replaced by bleak gray cliffs with jagged rocks at the base. Nasty-looking waves crash against the tumble of boulders at the edge of the water, and I shudder to think of anyone swimming in that. I’ve heard from travelers that the shore gets more and more forbidding the closer one gets to the great city of Aventine, so we must be close.
That makes me nervous. Aventine is, among other things, a slave hub. Is Ranan taking me there after all? It’s the ideal place to ditch an unwanted wife, no questions asked. He said he wouldn’t…and yet he hasn’t kissed me, either. Hasn’t shown me any sort of husbandly interest.
And yet…he showered me with gifts.
He is a confusing man.
My belly clenches with nervousness as I work on cutting the serviceable fabric he gave me into a dress. I have no needle to sew it together, but I cut the edge into small tabs, and then I knot the tabs together, and it’s almost as good as sewing. I’m able to make myself a sheath dress with no sleeves, and I slip it over my head just as Ranan approaches.
The sea-ogre immediately frowns at me, eyeing my dress. “What is that?”
“Does it look bad? I made it just now.”
He shakes his head, his mouth thin with disapproval. “You should not be doing anything of the sort. You should be resting.”
“I can still help out. If you give me fish, I can clean them for you. Or dry them. Whatever you need.”
“I need you to rest.” Ranan’s hands go to his slim hips. “It doesn’t matter now. We are at my grotto. Do you think you can swim a short distance?”
I’m surprised he asks. “Even if I’m bleeding?”
“It is a short distance, and we are out of the deepest waters. I will hold your hand the entire time. You do not need to be afraid.” He holds a hand out to me, a silent invitation.
I get to my feet, uncertain. I haven’t seen anything that looks like a cave amidst the craggy rocks of the shoreline, and I’ve been looking hard. Even now, we’re still farther from the shore than I’d like. While the rocks are close and the crashing waves near enough that they fan a light mist over my hair, we’re still far enough out that the waters are deep enough for Akara to swim in. If Ranan lets go of my hand, I have no doubt that I will drown.
Yet dying in the sea sounds better than being returned to slavery. If he steers me towards Aventine, I suppose I can always jump into the waters or let go of his hand. With a bright smile, I push my hand into his outstretched one. “Let’s do it.”
He leads me to the rounded edge of Akara’s shell, and the choppy waters bounce and splash against the turtle’s side. “I will return for your things. For now, I want to get you situated somewhere safe. Follow my lead, and when I say hold your breath, do so.”
I eye the tall, sheer cliffs close by and nod nervously.
We jump into the water together. For all that the seas are rough, they’re warm. I surface with a sputter, and Ranan’s hands immediately go to my waist. “You’re still wearing your dress.”
“It’ll dry. It’s fine. Let’s just go.” I’m anxious to get this over with.
He nods and then takes my hand in his. I lock both of mine onto his one as he pulls me forward, his strong three free arms cutting through the water with ease. He tugs me along at his side, speeding us through the choppy waves. I expect him to head for the rock-strewn shore, but he heads for the sheer cliffs instead. I can see nothing that looks like a cave—just sheer rock—when he turns to me. “Hold your breath.”