Page 50 of Henrikk’s Secret

Chapter 10

SECRETS

Asher

Is this death? Asher wondered.

In any case, it was a wonderful feeling to be floating. The afterlife was warm, almost unbearably so, like the heat of the sun beating down on his back. At least his body was weightless. This was a feeling he could get used to. Peaceful and serene, like a fresh breeze on his face.

Until someone or something grabbed him and hauled him into a sitting position.

Asher opened his mouth to object—he’d been quite comfortable, thank you—only to hurl up a mouthful of seawater.

“That’s it, get it all out,” Henrikk’s voice said, hitting him across the back repeatedly.

Asher groaned.

“It’s all right, we made it,” Henrikk added reassuringly.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Asher muttered, peeking open an eye. Henrikk came into his vision, crouching and peering at him in concern. His hands were on Asher’s shoulders to steady him. “Didn’t expect we’d wind up in the same place.”

Henrikk’s mouth quirked. “We’re not dead.”

Asher’s vision focused further, and he spotted palm trees, the fronds swaying gently. “I feel like we ought to be. Did the dragon…?”

“Oh, she’s dead.”

“Ah.” He let out a sigh of relief. “And we’re…?”

“Not dead. And remarkably uninjured, as far as I can tell.”

Asher eyed Henrikk’s arms, which were keeping him sitting upright on the sand. The skin was torn and bloodied as if a wild animal had attacked it.

“Coral,” Henrikk explained.

There was a nasty cut on his face as well, but it wasn’t bleeding. Asher reached to touch it.

Henrikk froze but didn’t shy away.

Asher smoothed the skin near the cut, then gave a sigh. “If only we had some coconut oil.”

“Mm. Now there's an idea,” Henrikk smiled slyly.

Asher ignored him. “We’re going to need more limes.”

“Well, when life fails to give you lemons…”

“Abduct your closest friend to another plane, defeat a dragon, and get yourself beaten to a pulp on the coral reef—obviously.”

Henrikk chewed his lip, a fang indenting it. “Closest friend?”

“Yes.”

“In terms of proximity?”

“That too.” Asher smiled, then grew pensive. “I’ve missed your humour. We used to talk like this all the time.”

Henrikk looked away guiltily. “I must admit…I’d forgotten we used to be like this.”