Page 57 of Scalebound

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The sun was shining iridescently, reflecting off the water. We had to hurry before anyone saw us, and we were all walking fast enough that showed that we knew it, too.

We were making our way around the glistening sea, nearing some unattended boats, when we heard muffled voices.“Belle! Behind the boathouse!”Thank the scales that she heard me as she dashed behind the crooked, broken-down house, with her pink scales flashing in the sun as she ran limply with her hurt ankle.

Damian grabbed my hand and bolted behind a few barrels by shore. Their wooden surfaces bore the marks of their time, rough and weathered, with cracks running through their aged exteriors. The air around us carried a pungent aroma, stale beer, and a musty scent.

The barrels were stacked up three high, so we wouldn’t be seen unless they intended to look specifically behind them. As we came to a stop beneath the brown rusty kegs, I glanced down, still feeling the electricity from his touch. I blushed, realizing that he was still holding my hand tight, not wanting to let go.It reminded me of the electricity that pulsed from our touch when our fingers skimmed in the Forbidden Forest or when he wrapped his arms around me on Belle.

Exchanging glances, Damian let go of my hand, and I turned as a blush rose to my cheeks. Shaking it away, we peered through the cracks to see where the voices were coming from.

Three figures made their way toward the dock perched out to the water, where a few of the wooden boats resided, swaying in the breeze as they waded in the water, held by a ratted rope tied to a pillar at the edge of the dock.

One of the men held a vivid gemmed sword in one hand, his arms making movements as he spoke with the other. His hair, the color of pine trees, stood up straight, formally made to accustom his stature as a knight. His violet uniform was the color of silk that I would know from anywhere. The lion crescent fixed on his back.

What the scales were knights doing from my kingdom out here?

The other figure next to him wore the same purple cloak. His hands sat firmly on the hilt of his sword positioned at his hip, ready to draw it out if necessary. There was a third man with him, whom I couldn’t see clearly, but caught sight of his thick boots.

It made little sense that knights from my kingdom would be out this far. This was a part of the Sardan Kingdom’s territories. The only reasonable explanation was that they were here for me, but that wouldn’t make sense since my father sent me himself.

We curiously continued to watch them. They moved slightly, the guard with dirty blonde hair and stripes of silver talking profusely with his hands, moving every few seconds, his chain-mail shifting. I could see in between them, catching a glimpse of a fisherman. His age was evident in the fade of his sky-blue hair, which mirrored the distant horizon. Deep creases formedalong his face, telling the aging stories of his life. His attire was of emerald green waders that were worn and well-used. A sturdy net hung from his grasp, showing his hours spent on the waters.

Only being able to hear a few phrases at a time, I heard, “king’s orders,” “girl with pink hair,” “Scaleborne,” and “golden eyes.” What did they mean by the King’s orders? They had to be searching for me. But why would my father do that?

I thought of how he was acting weird. The look that Tobias gave him, and how he had wanted the map originally. This must be Tobias’ doings. But how?

Also, the girl that was let in the castle. There was no way that she would’ve been let in by any of the guards. It had to have been someone inside of the castle. The only person that it made sense to be was Tobias.

An urge tugged at me to approach them and to see why they were here for me. I wanted to see why my father sent knights to look for me. He was the one that sent me on the quest. It didn’t make sense.

Damian grabbed my arm, knowing that I was about to do something and would give away that we were eavesdropping. Maybe he could feel the heat on my skin from my fury.

Glancing at Damian, he had a finger over his mouth.

We were hushed as we waited, the voices slowly fading into nothingness. I peered over the cans, the muscles in my legs cramping from staying in one place for too long. “Are they gone?” I whispered to Damian. He glanced in my direction, his brows knitting together in a deep furrow. Uncertainty flickered across his features.

“Belle, are they gone?”

“San,”she said inSatas Lerma, confirming they left.“I don’t hear them from where I am.”

“Let’s go,” I whispered to Damian. We sprinted to the small boats billowing in the water’s waves off the deck. They weresmall, but they could hold both of us comfortably. Our feet clambered against the wooden dock, making their way hastily to the boat.

The water swayed them from side to side; the foam bubbling on its surface. Seaweed speckled the thin layer of froth with its dark green color and musty smell. The sun’s rays filtered through, showing small clementine fish swimming underneath the layers of water, spouting small bubbles to its surface.

Jumping into one of the darker wooden boats, Damian untied the rusted ropes hooked to the small pillar of wood connected to the dock, and we slowly began to float away the moment it was released. He grabbed a paddle from the boat and dipped it deep into the water.

We made our way a few yards past the dock and the shore. Surveying the area, I tried to find anyone, any bodies, shadows, or movement. Nothing caught my eyesight. Even the older man we just saw was gone, probably working in his boathouse. I sighed in relief, knowing that we still had quite the journey but that at least we were safe for now.

I could feel Damian’s strength as he rowed us and pushed us closer to the other side of the water. It was far in the distance, but I knew it was there. Damian’s arms swayed from side to side as he dug into the water, pushed, and then did the same on the other side, his efforts creating circular ripples throughout the clear ocean’s surface.

The sun’s rays sprinkled, casting orange and yellow shadows on the small waves. Fish bubbled to the surface, and birds chirped in the air, flying freely. The only sounds being the swish of us crossing the water and the wind rushing past my hair.

Plush, beautiful green trees scattered around the mountains and the shorelines, the beauty of the Earth encapsulating my view. I took a deep breath, hoping to savor the life I could feel and smell through my senses. Will the Deathlies take thisaway from us, too? The life that was found on the earth was so precious and valuable–something that I didn’t realize I cared so much for until I saw what they were capable of.

Damian continued to paddle, the water making sloshing noises beneath the boat after each stroke.

“What draws you to the ocean?” he asked, the dimple in his cheek rising with a curve of a smile. “I can see it in your eyes. The water makes you light up inside.”

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