In Deeper Waters F.T. Lukens (acx book reading txt) 📖

due to illness or something else, something about Athlen’s proximity and the strong cage of his arms and the salty smell of his skin.

“You need to lie back down,” Dara said. “Before you fall.”

Athlen jumped, and Tal grasped his shirt in his free hand to keep from sliding to the ground.

“I’m sorry!” Athlen said, grip bordering on painful. “Are you all right?”

Tal shook his head, but the dizziness persisted. “I don’t feel—”

“You’re dehydrated and feverish,” Dara said, interrupting. “And with your arm bound, your balance will be off. Let’s get you back in the boat. It’s the only level and uncluttered place in here.”

As much as he disliked the notion of sleeping in the jolly boat, there wasn’t much choice. Settled back against the hull like cargo, in fresh clothes and bandages and wrapped in blankets with a cushion under his head, Tal was finally warm. He didn’t feel strong by any means, and his belly sloshed with water and no food, and his hands itched, but he was safe.

He was safe, even if he didn’t want to consider what he’d done to escape, how he’d blazed his way free. He clamped down on the feelings of weakness and shame that welled in him, banished them as best he could, and closed his eyes against the images of fire and smoke. Instead he focused on the tight wrap of clean bandages against his skin and the musty smell of his borrowed shirt. Tal squeezed the shark’s tooth in the clutch of his hand, the point digging into his palm, securing him to the present and to Athlen like a tether. He listened to Athlen and Dara whisper to each other, the soft sound of their voices a comforting hum. Tal breathed deeply; the fresh air of Athlen’s cove was a far cry from the ash-laden, hot air that had bubbled from the scorched planks of Zeph’s ship.

After a few moments Tal felt grounded, and he slid the tooth into the pocket of his trousers and opened his eyes to peer at the hole in Athlen’s ceiling. The stars twinkled above him, and the half-moon was partially obscured by clouds. The dawn was so long ago, and the events of the morning seemed more like a dream than a memory, as blurred as he had been. How long had he slept? How long had Athlen towed him through the seas?

“What happened to the storm?”

The fierce whispered conversation between Athlen and Dara ended abruptly.

“The storm?” Dara asked. She leaned over, blocking Tal’s view of the sky, and brushed the back of her hand over his cheek. “His fever has gone down, so he shouldn’t be delusional.”

“He’s not,” Athlen said, his voice hinting at amusement. “I told him this morning there was a storm brewing. It’s already passed by on the sea.”

Tal furrowed his brow. “Oh.”

“I’ll let you know if another one is coming.”

“You can do that?” Dara asked, braid whispering over Tal’s chin as she turned away.

A passing cloud spliced the moon in two. The cavern darkened, awash in shades of blue and droplets of gold.

“Yes. When I’m near the sea. I haven’t traveled far enough inland to try it on land.” Athlen splashed his toes in the water. “You should rest, Tal. Dara and I will keep watch, if you’re worried.”

“Not worried. I know I’m safe here.”

“Good.”

Tal’s eyes slid closed. The gentle rocking of the boat soothed him, and the rhythm of the waves beyond the cave reminded him of home and of the sounds of the waves on the beach outside his bedroom window. Bundled in warmth, he slipped along the edge of sleep.

“What was your plan?” Dara whispered. “You can’t keep him here forever. He’s sick, and this damp cave isn’t going to do him any good. What if he gets worse?”

“If he gets worse, then I’ll bring him to your house.”

“Across the town where the missing prince was last seen? He’ll be recognized in an instant.”

“Is that not a good thing? It’ll get him to his family. That’s what he wants. That’s what he needs.”

Dara huffed. “A group of mercenaries tried to kill him! It’s not safe for him to be seen in public, much less with a boy who has a reputation for being strange. You don’t know who else is after him or what people might say or think. He’s a prince.”

“Is that a problem? That he’s a prince?”

“You don’t understand.” Dara’s tone wasn’t condescending, but fond and gentle. “I don’t know what it was like where you’re from, but princes don’t cavort with commoners. And certainly not that prince. According to rumor, this is the first time he’s left the castle in years, and he’s already been kidnapped and almost killed.”

Tal squirmed and shifted in the boat. Dara wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean he liked what she was implying.

“Two people,” Tal mumbled, tongue thick in his mouth.

“What was that?” Athlen’s voice went sharp. “Two people?”

“Zeph and her crew kidnapped me, but before that, one of my brother’s sailors tried to kill me too.” If that sailor had succeeded, then Tal wouldn’t have killed Zeph and her crew, and his family wouldn’t have to worry about him any longer. Maybe that would’ve been better, if Tal hadn’t yelled for help, if Shay hadn’t intervened. It was an unsettling thought, and one Tal entertained only briefly, because despite his inner turmoil, he knew he needed to live to save his family. But the ache of his decision to hurt and to destroy teased at the back of his mind. It left him feeling hollow.

“See?” Dara said, voice bordering on shrill. “His brother’s own crew tried to kill him. He can’t trust anyone except his family. You have to get him home.”

“I’ll take him now. We’ll get a boat and we’ll—”

“He’s too weak to move. He needs a few days to recover before you go galivanting around the kingdom.”

“No boats,” Tal said. “No more boats.”

“Fine. No boats. We’ll go by land.”

Tal cracked open an eye. “Will you