Page 81 of The Anointed's Paladin

Nidori jumped to her feet. “I could fly up and find the way.”

“Wait,” I said, summoning a bright light.

Kaine raised his hand, shielding his eyes. “Ouch! Watch where you’re shining that,” he said, pulling a cloak over himself. I shot him an apologetic look.

“Okay, Nidori. That should be enough for you to find us again.”

“Along with anyone else in a half mile,” Kaine grumbled from under the cloak, which I realised was mine.

Nidori rose up into the air, disappearing into the blanket of white. We waited for a moment, the only sound the waves lapping against the boat.

Then she returned, wings buzzing as she settled back to her spot. “We need to head that way,” she said, pointing, and I adjusted our course, letting the light flicker out. “We’re not far now.”

“Gods, Talon. You really should give a warning next time. You could blind someone with that,” Kaine poked his head out of the cloak.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, a small smile on my face. He was gorgeous even as he sulked, his silver curls all messy.

“What’s that?” Nidori asked, tearing me from my thoughts. I looked up to see another light ahead of us in the fog. It wasn’t golden like mine had been; it was a pale blue.

“Looks like a waywird,” I said slowly, turning and looking around to see if more were coming. Sure enough, I could make out more blue glows flickering into existence. “Water spirits. They’re harmless enough. It’s actually not bad for us. They float over shallow rocks, trying to lure boats aground. They’ll show us where notto go.”

“As long as they’re the only thing out here that noticed your beam,” grumbled Kaine, pulling the cloak over his head again.

I resumed paddling, keeping in the direction Nidori had pointed at. The waywirds were now a beacon for us, telling us we were heading towards land. My hands were freezing on the oars, almost numb after the hours of paddling and of icy water dripping over my skin.

We had been out here for ages, and I was tired. I was looking forward to sleeping when we found dry land, even if I would be sleeping alone.

I squinted into the fog, blinking as it appeared to twist before my eyes. I blinked again, hard, but it did not make the shapes vanish.

Instead, they became clearer, and I realized the waywirds were not the only creatures out tonight.

“Shit,” I whispered, leaning forward and beckoning Kaine and Nidori close. Nidori looked at me with wide eyes, Kaine peering outfrom his shroud. I put my finger up to my lips. “Fogtyls,” I whispered. “Blind. Be quiet.”

Kaine nodded, glancing up. Nidori pressed her finger to her lips, eyes wide. I settled the oar on my lap and tried to sit still.

They reminded me of giant jellyfish, floating in the air, tendrils and tentacles hanging down. Some were low enough that they brushed the water, whereas others ended high above our heads.

The waves lapped against the boat, pushing us along. We had run into a whole herd, the tentacles thick around us like vines in a forest.

Kaine flinched as one got caught on our vessel. It let out a wetthumpas it fell inside. We all froze, watching the end lazily extending up, exploring the air. Shit. Shit. Our course shifted as the tentacle started to drag us away from the island.

Kaine shifted quietly sideways, towards the tendril, glancing at me and Nidori. I gritted my teeth but nodded. He moved forward again, silently, closer. Nidori grabbed her hair, pulling it taut as we both watched his foot stretch out, touching the invading extremity. He stayed like that for a long second as I held my breath. Slowly, slowly, he moved his foot up, shifting it up into the air. My eyes widened as the end touched Kaine’s leg, but he kept moving, gradually shifting the tentacle out of our boat. A cold sweat broke out on my back, and my body felt like a loaded spring.

All that tension was released when something brushed my back. I jerked forward and dropped the oar. It clattered to the floor of the boat.

I only had a second to look up in horror before movement exploded around us. I dove forward, wings out, trying to protect the others. Tentacles lashed at us, beating down on my back, my wings desperately trying to keep them out. Kaine had shed the cloak and drawn his dagger, and was viciously slashing at the ones closest to us.

They don’t grab under the water, I remembered. I hoped I was right.

“In the water, on my signal!” I roared, pulling my arm free of one tentacle. Two more took its place.

“What’s the—” began Kaine, but I raised my hands, releasing a roaring fireball that exploded around us, pushing all the tentacles back. We didn’t have long; I shoved Kaine, and he fell over the side with a splash. Shit. He better be able to swim. Nidori flew up, clearing the worst of the grasping mass.

I jumped, plunging into the icy water. I opened my eyes under the surface, but it was pitch black, and I couldn’t see a thing. I still clung tight to the oar, which gave me a little extra buoyancy. Something latched on to my foot, pulling me down, and I struggled, kicking, trying to shake it off. I caught a glimpse of what looked like silver seaweed beneath me and realised it must be Kaine. I swam down, grabbing him and kicking hard, flapping my wings to try and bring both of us to the surface again.

I rose above the waves, gasping, and Kaine struggled as well, almost pushing me under. I coughed. There was a cracking noise as the boat Nidori had made was crushed. We watched as pieces of it were lifted up into the air, disappearing into the dark shapes in the fog.

“Calm down, Kaine, or you’ll drown us both,” I said, trying to avoid being shoved under the water.

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