She let him slide into the softer dry sand.
Ulli walked toward her, having gone back to the camp to summon Fletcher, Liam, Jette, and Rigelt.
“Build a fire,” Robin shouted, turning back to the waves to help the rest of the exhausted swimmers to shore.
Another rowboat appeared over the breaking waves. This one was just as full, with more clinging to the sides of the boat.
The ship would have had two rowboats, maybe three. Not nearly enough for the Majis onboard.
But Sol, Aizel, and Ian were strong swimmers. Nele and Lane, too. They would make it. It would just take them longer.
“The other ships?” Robin asked the next man she helped to the shore.
“Two burning,” he replied. “The third was still standing.”
Two ships burned. Robin looked back out over the waves. That would be so many people in the icy sea. She turned back to the shore, looking for Ulli. Someone should take the empty rowboats back out to look for survivors.
Fletcher was pulling a piece of driftwood toward the small group of Majis huddled together in the sand. Rigelt knelt next to them, a ball of light in his hands that Robin assumed was emitting some sort of warmth as everyone leaned toward it.
She turned back out to the sea. Ulli and Jette were splashing through the waves, pulling the two empty rowboats behind them. Good.
Her eyes scanned the horizon. It was too soon for the swimmers. She knew it would take them longer. But she wanted to see them. She wanted them to survive.
A buzzing sound filled her ears. She could not tell whether it was from the ceaseless battering of the waves against the shore or merely the pounding of blood inside her head. Perhaps it was both.
The cold, humid air pierced her lungs with every breath, igniting the fiery pain in her shoulder.
She turned south and started walking down the length of the beach again. The waves were pushing in that direction, and she knew from previous shipwreck rescues that the survivors and debris could wash up over quite a distance.
She found herself bending down to check each dark shape in the wet sand. Kelp. Splintered wood. If she saw nothing, her eyes returned to the ocean.
She turned around. It had been too long. The swimmers should have made it by now.
Movement up ahead caught her eye. A line of soldiers marched down from the monastery.
The early dawn sky finally began to change from black to purple, creating just enough light to see shapes in the water.
There.
A body rolled in with the waves. It was not Ian. But she did recognize that thin set of shoulders.
Robin rushed forward and rolled Nele over so her face was not in the sand. She still breathed, but barely. “Here!” Robin stood, shouting and waving her arms. Not caring if the incoming soldiers saw her.
Willa stood up ahead by the smoking attempt at a small campfire. She noticed Robin’s wave and ran down the sand toward her.
“Here,” Robin repeated, leading her to the exhausted Nele.
Another body stumbled toward them out of the waves.
“Lane!” Robin cried. She ran toward him, putting her arm around his waist to support him. She debated physically lifting him in her arms, but knew she would not be able to carry him across the difficult sand.
“Nele?” he rasped.
“She’s here,” Robin replied.
Up ahead, Willa had succeeded in getting Nele to her feet.
“What happened?” Robin asked.
