Page 82 of The Anointed's Paladin

His hair was plastered to his face, eyes wide. “I can’t swim.”

“I’ve got you. Stop struggling.” I pulled him close to me and wrapped my arms around his chest. His panicked flailing was slowing, and he took deep, gasping breaths. I kept talking, trying to keep him calm. “Spread your legs out, and just try to float.”

I moved the oar, slipping it under his arms to help him. He was still panting but did as I said.

I leaned backwards, starting to kick and warily watching the scene above us. Our talking had attracted some tentacles, and my heart pounded as they brushed by us, tips dipping into the water, but thankfully, that was all they did. The waywird’s blue lights still floated over the water; a beacon of hope. Shallows.

I started the slow, laborious journey of moving us across the cresting waves and to shore. My legs and wings were burning, but I kept going.

“Nidori?” asked Kaine.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I saw her fly up. I think she got away.”

I heard her voice calling our names. She sounded panicked.

“Kaine! Talon!”

What was she doing?

“Nidori!” shouted Kaine, getting a mouthful of seawater. He tried again. “Nidori, we’re all right! Meet us at shore!”

“Kaine?” she called again. I saw her now, her tiny form zooming across the water.

She met my eyes, relief flashing across her face.

Then a dark shape twisted behind her. I started, trying to shout or warn her, but it was too late; she screamed as a tentacle lashed out. It collided with her in mid-air, and a sickening crack rang out. I watched, horrified, as her tiny form plunged towards the surface of the water.

“Nidori!” Kaine cried, his voice breaking.

I lost sight of her; I was desperately trying to memorise where she had landed.

I kicked, my feet hitting rock, and staggered upright, setting Kaine down, so he could gain his footing. I frantically pushed through the waves to where Nidori had disappeared.

“She’s there,” he gasped, pointing down. I dove under the waves, summoning a bright light under the water.

It was so much quieter under the waves, another world. My light lit up the water in an eerie glow, revealing a landscape that usually remained hidden. I swam down, fish darting out of my way as I dove. I could see her, resting on the bottom of the sea floor. The water pressed all around us, sealing us in. I was an invader in this world, unwelcome and death would come to me if I lingered.

I swam on, my lungs burning, and scooped up her tiny frame, pressing it gently to my chest. Her hair tickled my face. I kicked off the bottom and made my way back up, holding her limp form tightly in my hand.

I crashed through the surface, gasping for air again. Sounds returned—the crashing of the waves, the calling of birds. Kaine was hugging himself anxiously, looking like a drowned rat. He grabbed my arm, trying to help tug me to shore.

I lay Nidori down on the pebbly beach, Kaine hovering anxiously.

“Heal her,” he snapped, and I bit back a retort. What did he think I was doing?

“It’s not doing anything,” I said, my voice shaking. I was pouring all the magic I had into her tiny body, but she seemed to burn through it as fast as I could give it, her wounds too great for me to fix. Tears burned in my eyes. Maybe if I just fixed her skull, her spine, that would be enough.

Fuck, if I still had my oath, I could do this.

There was a rustling sound, and vines sprang up from the ground, pushing me back and wrapping around Nidori. I caught a glimpse of her face, her eyes encircled with bruises, before she was obscured. I sat, my empty hands trembling, trying to figure out why she’d been taken away.

Kaine tore at the vines frantically, but they thickened, twisting tighter around her. A faint yellow light surrounded the tangle, and a figure the size of a child formed on top. She had dark skin and long black hair. Her dark eyes glowed from within her slightly shifting features. Mother Leihandra stared at us, expression unreadable.

“There is no more you can do for her now,” she said, her voice like wind chimes. She sat down on top of the dome she had formed. “Her fate rests in my hands.”

“Won’t someone come and stop this?” I asked. “Gods aren’t supposed to interfere.”

Leihandra snorted.

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