Erisea’s lord spoke in a sympathetic tone that left me thinking.
I waited for them to walk past us.
“Do they know about your situation?” I asked Reagan.
He dipped his head in my direction, an arm sliding around my back as if to draw me closer. It nearly brought me to a standstill. It would have, if he hadn’t dropped it before ever reaching out.
“They know I’m facing a sentence,” Reagan murmured, unfazed. “It’s something hard to hide, and they know about the attacks we’re getting, but no specifics.”
I inclined my head, the meaning in his words all too clear. Yet I found myself distracted. He’d almost pulled me closer. Did he even realise it?
Alameda turned back to us. “Would you like to see the beach?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.
I blinked. “Hm...yes.” My neck was already craning as I tried to glimpse through the buildings before us.
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Reagan said, only to my ears.
“I am. I’ve never seen the sea before.”
His eyes stayed on me, surprise plain in them, and I shrugged.
“So today will be a first for you,” he said. “Let’s hope it’s very special.” His voice held that familiar sardonic edge, though not the usual mockery.
“I’m walking through a hidden city next to three mages. I think this is special enough.”
That earned me a chuckle.
We reached the last building and stepped onto a sandy pathway a few metres from the water.
Frothing waves lapped at the shore, covering the sand. The salty wind was gelid as it brushed past us. It carried a clear trace of winter.
Coriander and Alameda removed their shoes, leaving them on the sand and moving closer to the water.
“You will love this, Jane,” Alameda beamed. “The sea can wash away your deepest worries if you let it.”
“Until a sea spider bites your leg,” Reagan whispered as we removed our shoes.
“We’re not going in, right?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow, glancing at me with a hint of amusement. “Are you not fond of water?”
“I’m just not dressed to swim.” Nor could I if I wanted to.
“We’re not swimming,” he said flatly. “Just enduring sand between our toes for the next two days. Hope you enjoy that.”
I snorted.
The cold touch of wet sand met the soles of my feet. When the water rushed up to my ankles, I hissed. The splash was icy and faster than I’d expected.
In seconds, the hem of my skirt was soaked up to my knees, the fabric clinging to my skin as I tugged it upward.
“That’s a proper welcome from Erisea to you, human,” Coriander beamed.
Their clothes were wet too, clinging to their forms as the sea continued its invigorating assault.
I pulled my hair from my face, stepping back, and completely missed the person behind me until I collided with her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, spinning to face them.
