Page 60 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Oh,Iwill,” he chuckled. “Iwouldn’t miss watching you catch a slimy fish for the world.”
“IbetIcould catch a fish before you could,”Iteased back, nudging his arm.
Hetilted his head with a gasp in mock astonishment. “Beforeme?Never.”
“Ican do a great many things better than you, my dearest friendThevin.”
“Namesome.”
“Running, climbing, lying…lumen riding?”
Hecovered his hands with his face, feigning embarrassment. “I’veforgotten all those things.ButIstill thinkIcould catch a bigger fish than you.”
“We’llhave to wait and see,”Ilaughed.
“Whywait?” he asked, rising and stretching his arms over his head, then around his body.
“Whatare you doing?”Istood with my hands on my hips.
“Catchingthe biggest fish.”Hegrinned and his single dimple flashed just as he ran toward the pool and dove in.
“The-vin!”Iyelled, shaking my head and crossing my arms.
Hepopped up out of the water, flicking his head like a lumen after a rainstorm. “Watchme catch the biggest fish!” he called, capturing the attention of several onlookers nearby.
Iran to the edge of the great pool, following his sleek form as he dove back under the water, swimming straight for the largest aurum fish we’d seen flowing lazily.Itsscales were pure white with one small patch of brilliant orange at the end of its tail.Itwas easily ten feet long and darted fromThevinthe moment it noticed him headed straight for it.
Ilaughed, sitting on the edge of the pool with my feet in the cool water.Icupped my hands to my mouth and shouted, “Gofor something smaller on your first try!”
Idoubted he heard me, and regardless, he didn’t follow my advice as he chased after the massive beast.Igiggled to myself watching his body glide through the water.Heat last came up for air, flicking his hair again and wiping his face, taking long deep gulps.
Hesmiled at me, then looked around for something else to catch, giving up on his initial trophy.Weeyed the next largest fish at the same time as it rose close to the surface nearby.Withanother flash of his smile, he turned his body, diving once again toward the entirely orange fish, not quite as long as the last, but still bigger thanThevin.Thefish glided at the surface, unafraid of the man swimming toward it.Ina flash,Thevinjust managed to grab ahold of its dorsal fin.
Thefish thrashed in a panic, butThevinheld on with both hands, showing off for my amusement.
Irose in slight concern and shook my head, giving way to laughter and ready to jump in to join him.
Thefish thrashed its body to knock off its rider, butThevinheld on, cutting through the water like a knife and lifting a hand to wave at me.
Iwaved back, about to tell him he’d proven himself enough, when the massive white aurum from before circled around them in agitation, flicking its tail across the water.
“Thevin!”Icried, “Letgo!”
Herealized the real danger just asIdid.Thewhite fish twisted and smacked its tail sideways across the water, hittingThevinsquarely in the chest.
Iscreamed his name, watching his body go limp, his hands releasing the fin as he began to sink into the ripple of waves across the surface.
Ididn’t think—Idove, gliding into the water and using my momentum from the jump to propel straight forThevin’sbody slowly lowering in the depths.
Thewhite aurum fish wasn’t done, however, as it circled back toward him for more punishment.Ididn’t have time to act, didn’t have breath for a spell.Ipaused under the water, releasing my hands back over an orb of white, pulling them apart, just asI’dwatched my mother do to form the portals that led us to theSpire.
Itwas my one chance, my one thought to send that fish…somewhere.
Ihad barely enough time to set a destination, let alone think twice ifIwas powerful enough to form a portal likeI’dseen my mother do that morning.Theonly thought that passed through my mind was the fact thatIshould have reversed time instead of jumping into the pool to save him, and now,Ididn’t have the breath to do it.
Aflash of white light wove through the water, blinding me and the aurum fish.Itswerved away at the last second, avoiding whatever it wasIhad just formed under the waves.Iswam as fast as my legs could push me towardThevin, wrapping an arm around his chest to heave both of us to the surface.
Peoplelined the edge of the pool, some already in the water, swimming toward us.Aman took one ofThevin’sarms and we swam him to the hands of the people waiting to pull him out.
