One of the gray fins veered toward the silver dragon, but the other two headed toward Rysha and Shulina Arya.
Growling, Rysha swam out to intercept them. Dorfindral felt like a dead weight in her hand, but she aimed the point toward the closest fin, hoping to get lucky. Unfortunately, the sword wouldn’t assist her against a non-magical enemy.
The fin veered, and she twisted as she treaded water, and stabbed. She clipped something, but the sword slipped off the slick flesh. She sensed more than saw the shark turning toward her, racks of razor teeth snapping at her.
Rysha kicked away and thrust again with the sword, lamenting that the water slowed her movements. But the shark had been headed straight toward her and almost impaled itself. She hit resistance, shoved harder, and the blade sank in. The shark thrashed and spun away, clubbing her with its tail. She slashed after it, determined to deter it from attacking Shulina Arya.
She missed, but the shark sped away. Now, where was the other one?
Rysha rotated in a slow circle, squinting through her spattered lenses for a gray fin. But the sharks seemed to have disappeared, all three of them. The water had grown calm. Rysha swam back to Shulina Arya’s side and touched her scales, but didn’t get a response this time, not even a moan.
Trip? Rysha thought, afraid to ask, afraid she wouldn’t like the answer.
Above you.
Rysha looked up as a gold dragon soared overhead, flying low above the water. Bhrava Saruth. Sardelle and Trip rode on his back.
Trip slid off the side and splashed into the water a few feet away.
The silver dragon has fallen to a deserved death, Bhrava Saruth announced, banking to fly circles over them as Trip paddled to Rysha’s side. Shulina Arya is barely alive. But she is not so far gone that a god can’t heal her. Yes, I will do this, and she will be most grateful to me. Perhaps she will wish to engage in the mating flight.
Seven gods, Trip, Jaxi spoke into their minds, heal that dragon before she’s indebted to horned and horny here.
I’ll do my best. Trip patted Rysha briefly, the water making his movements awkward, then swam close enough to Shulina Arya that he could place his hands on her side. He closed his eyes, treading water with his legs as he rested his forehead against her scales.
Rysha wanted to hug him and thank him for coming, but that would interrupt him. Instead, she put her back to them, watching the waves for shark fins.
They will not come back, Bhrava Saruth said. They sense that a mighty predator has arrived.
Trip? Rysha asked.
The god Bhrava Saruth!
He’s been like this the whole battle, Jaxi told her. He took down a puny bronze that was half his size, and now he’s extra full of himself.
I wouldn’t have guessed he could get… fuller.
No, it’s true.
Shulina Arya’s head rotated to the side. She’d been on her back with her wings and tail stretched out, floating in the water.
Captain Trip, Shulina Arya thought. She sounded pained, but Rysha took hope from hearing her telepathic communications. I was foolish.
It happens to all of us, Trip replied.
They both kept Rysha in the conversation, which she appreciated. She swam close to Shulina Arya and rested a hand on her scales again.
I did not fully understand your weapon and that the silver meant to hide behind me. That coward. I only wished to engage in another battle. My blood was cold with the desire to slay my enemies.
Have you already healed her? Bhrava Saruth asked. I meant to do that myself. I was merely trying to figure out how to do so without landing in that loathsome water. There is kelp all over the place. Disgusting.
Such a persnickety god, Jaxi observed.
It is good that you have healed this female and ensured she will not feel indebted to that dragon, Azarwrath added.
I’m glad I had the strength left to do so, Trip thought. I’m tired after the battle, though I feel better now that I’m away from the platform. Is it ironic that I built something that was as harmful and unappealing to me as it is to dragons?
Not since you’re half-dragon, no, Rysha thought.
Trip opened his eyes and paddled back, giving Shulina Arya room to stir her wings. He looked at Rysha as she did the same, then offered her a crooked smile and plucked a long strand of kelp off her shoulder.
He must have sensed her pain from her injured thigh, because he let his hand linger, coming to rest on her sleeve. Warmth flared in her leg, tingling intensely then itching, making her want to scratch the spot. But the sensation soon faded, along with the pain.
“You’re getting more efficient at that,” Rysha said. “Thank you.”
Trip bobbed his head in acknowledgment.
“Do you have the strength to fly back, Shulina Arya?” Rysha looked up at Bhrava Saruth, who still circled, probably glad nobody had told him to come down for a dip. She might have to ask him for a ride back, but wanted to make sure Shulina Arya was fit enough to escape the waves and fly back.
Yes, Storyteller, and you and your mate must fly with me. I would be most distraught to return home without my rider on my back.
We wouldn’t want that, Trip thought and floated out of the water as Shulina Arya rolled over onto her stomach.
Rysha couldn’t believe either of them had the strength for magic or flying, but at least it wasn’t far to shore. She sheathed Dorfindral and climbed up Shulina Arya’s wing to her back.
It appears that all of our enemies are vanquished, Bhrava Saruth announced.
No more little bronzes for you to pick on? Jaxi asked.
I was heroically defeating an enemy of Iskandoth, not picking on anyone.
I noticed you let Shulina Arya handle the gold dragons.
I have battled and defeated many gold dragons.
The words faded from Rysha’s awareness as Bhrava Saruth stopped circling and headed toward shore. Sardelle lifted a parting hand, though Rysha trusted she would see them both again soon.
Shulina Arya hadn’t responded to the comments. Maybe she was further healing herself or marshaling her strength for the flight.
Rysha found a spot in front of Trip, twisting to pat his leg. “Thank you for coming.”
He rested his hand on hers, gazing at her with his dark green eyes. His short hair was plastered to his head, and his uniform sodden, but he was still appealing. Perhaps because he’d just finished drawing upon his magic to heal Shulina Arya, he was radiating his scylori, and she had a hard time looking away.
“You’re a heroic and sexy rescuer,” she added, smiling.
“Am I?” With his free hand, he plucked seaweed off his shoulder and tossed it into the water. He left his other hand on hers, warmth and a tingle of magic coming from it.
“Definitely.”
“Good.” He leaned forward and kissed her, his touch caring and tender. Don’t let your dragon fly in front of any of my rockets again, please. I was terribly worried. Sardelle nearly fell off Bhrava Saruth when I screamed into their minds that I needed a ride.
You should learn how to turn into an eagle or seagull so you can fly on your own when a flier isn’t available.