The Loyal

22 - Shallow Water

Dain took one nervous step into the crystal water. It lapped up around his legs, sucking him down, trying to consume him. Sirath slowly eased herself into the freezing water beside Dain. She shuddered as the water washed around her ankles, breaking and splashing into her eyes.

Small coloured fish darted in the water, several swimming around the companions, catching their scaly bodies against Dain's skin. Dain had never seen such an abundant of colour beneath the water. He continued to wade out, leading the way, and making a miniature slipstream, for Sirath who was especially nervous in the relaxing water.

Suddenly Dain spotted a strangely shaped boat ploughing through the waves from Moonhaven. It was so odd that Dain struggled to recognise it as a boat for a minute. It was roughly two metres wide and three metres long, all displayed in a raft shape. The sides were curved up and the front, where a man was rowing with an extremely wide paddle, ended in an arrow shape. Woven baskets were stacked behind the man and the boat appeared to be made from wood.

Dain crouched down and slipped Dinura, his sword, into his hands. Feeling both heroic with the weapon in his hands and awkward almost sitting in the water, Dain watched Sirath lower herself as the boat came closer. The enormous paddle seemed to be very efficient in getting the raft places fast.

Slowly embarrassment crept up Dain's neck as he realised that he was showing off his fancy sword. He didn't even know how to fight! The blade grew heaver and Dain was forced to support it in the water, not exactly intimidating. Sirath growled and he glanced up.

The rower brought the boat to a final halt in front of the two. Dain was startled to find it was a woman, though he wasn't sure why. The woman was dressed in a strange fabric which was pressed against her skin. It covered from the top of her neck to the end of her wrists then over her feet. Dain had never seen a stranger outfit. Her dark hair was netted up in a bundle on her head, her bright grey eyes were flashing with humour and in her hand was a long spear.

The Moonhavian stared at Dain's face longer than expected, when finally Dain recalled what she would be staring at. His wrecked left side. He felt her eyes follow down his neck where there were few burns and onto his shoulder where there were many. She then, after hesitating, turned to the dragon who almost blended in with the water.

Sirath tried in vain to look majestic, but failed badly, she looked extremely uncomfortable standing in the mud which sucked up her claws.

The woman expressed a glowing smile on her face, turned, leaned down to drop her spear and straightened out again. She stepped back and held out her hand to Dain. "Come, you must be cold."

Now that she said it, Dain realised that he was, extremely. Somehow this woman calmed him and was trustworthy. He slid the blade back in it's place and resolved to leave it there until he knew what he was doing then Dain reached out his left hand, without thinking and grasped the stranger's own hand. He noticed her flinched, her hand falling slightly limp and he cursed himself. Her eyes fell on his burn hand and took and deep breath before finally tugging Dain up onto the raft.

He tumbled down at her feet and Sirath watched with a curious expression. Apparently the woman hadn't though that the dragon wouldn't fit on the raft without sinking it. The woman paused, as if suddenly realising the problem. Despite that, Dain gave her credit for not being terrified, but actually calm near the dragon.

"Your dragon will have to swim," she said finally, taking up the paddle again.

Dain hesitated, he felt he should swim with Sirath but two factors caused him not to. Even though Dain was determined to defy his need for rest, his body ached with throbbing pain and Sirath was dragon who was fit and energetic. Dain still felt bad.