Page 28 of Anwen of Primewood (The Eldentimber #2)

I f you’re going to be stuck on an island, Galinor isn’t a bad person to be stranded with. Still, my heart beats in a frantic rhythm, and I go cold despite the warm air. Suddenly, the beautiful island is lonely, and the evening animal calls from the interior seem dark and foreboding.

“It’s fine,” Galinor says, reassuring me. “He’ll be back in the morning.”

He sets me on the ground, and I rub my hands over the goosebumps that have pebbled on my skin.

I glance at Galinor to see how concerned he is, deciding I will gauge my reaction from his.

If he seems alarmed, then I know we will be eaten by island animals by morning.

If he is only a little uneasy, then there is only a chance we’ll be eaten.

Galinor notices I’m studying him. “What?”

I gape at him. He doesn’t look concerned at all. In fact, a small smile tugs at his lips.

“Galinor?” I say. “You do realize the ship has left us, and we are all alone on an empty island, don’t you? ”

He raises an eyebrow, and my cheeks get hot.

“We're okay.” He chuckles and pulls me into a reassuring embrace.

I close my eyes and settle against him, more than happy to accept any comfort he will offer.

“We’ll scout for fresh water, build a fire, and see if we can find something to eat. I promise we will be completely safe until morning.”

I look up. “Do you really think Jacques will return?”

“I know he will.” He laughs and squeezes me tighter. “He won’t leave us stranded. Besides, Dristan knows we’re here. If nothing else, he’ll track us down tomorrow.”

I nod, though I’m not convinced.

He pulls me toward the center of the island. “Let’s see if we can find water.”

I freeze, too nervous to move.

“What’s wrong?”

I motion to the dark jungle forest. “We don’t know what might live in there.”

Galinor gives me an incredulous look. “You befriended a glasseln. What could live on this island that’s more intimidating than that?”

“Dragons?”

“We’re too far south.”

“Manticore?” I bite my lip. “Harpy?”

Galinor’s eyes light with amusement. I’m glad I can be entertaining.

“Anwen, listen, the wild horses wouldn’t thrive here if there were something large and scary living on the island. ”

From the way he says it, I know he’s teasing, but I do feel a little better. He takes my hand and pulls me into the trees, and I soon acknowledge I might have been spooked for no reason. The only thing I hear is the scurrying of little rodents and the occasional call of a nocturnal bird.

Galinor twists and turns through the trees as if he knows exactly where we’re going. He stops a few times to listen, and then he gently tugs me along.

I hear the sound of rushing water much later than Galinor, but I recognize it right away. “There’s a waterfall!”

By now I’m quite thirsty, and a cool drink would be welcome.

Galinor finds the waterfall with little trouble, and I come to slow stop when we push through the last of the brush.

The sky is dotted with rapidly multiplying stars, and they shine through the tree canopy above us. Water cascades down to a crystal pool, and even in the dark, it’s clear enough I can see the pebbled bottom.

Ferns grow along the edges, and flowering vines climb the rocks. Flecks of moonquartz mineral shine like glowing lanterns after having soaked up the rays of the sun all day.

It’s not large as waterfalls go, but it’s lovely.

Wishing I had worn a different gown, I lean down for a drink.

I forget about getting my skirts dirty when I dip my hand in the water.

I expect it to be cold like a mountain stream, but it’s warm.

Though not all that pleasant for drinking, it would be nice to soak my feet in.

I begin to pull off my boots but then stop .

I don’t know what’s native to these waters. Perhaps I should ask Galinor if he thinks it would be all right to risk.

When I look over at him, my mouth goes dry, and my question is forgotten. Galinor has taken off his tunic, and he leans over the pool, scrubbing water over his face and hair.

I squeak, and though the sound is quiet, it must be loud enough for Galinor to hear. He looks over and laughs. “Nothing is going to attack you.”

As if that’s the reason I’m gawking at him.

“I know,” I say, though of course I don’t really.

I’m about to rip my eyes from his dripping shoulders when I notice a strange scar on his side. It’s as long as my hand and red as if it’s still fresh.

I forget my embarrassment, wrestle with my skirts, and crawl the short distance to him. I motion to the raised skin. “What happened to you?”

“Poisoned dagger,” he answers, his voice dark.

“The tournament?”

He said Prince Lionel poisoned him to keep him out of the last competitions, but I had no idea it was this bad.

He nods, and my eyes meet his. I run my finger over the length of the scar, and his muscles tighten under my touch.

Tilting his head back, he studies me. “Have you ever swam under a waterfall?”

“Of course not.” I pull my hand away as I narrow my eyes. “Have you?”

He shakes his head. “The idea has never tempted me before. ”

“You say that like you’re tempted now.”

Galinor laughs. “I might be.”

I stare at him, stunned, as he pulls his legs over the edge and then drops into the water, completely soaking his pants.

“You’re going to be wet and miserable all night.”

“We’ll dry by a fire later.”

“ We’ll ?” I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”

Still kneeling by the pool, I don’t even have the sense to move back when he swims over to me.

“Anwen?”

I give him a wary look. “What?”

Without warning, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in with him.

“Galinor!” I screech as I flail in his arms. “My gown!”

The fabric is wet and heavy, but the pool is shallow, so it doesn’t drag me down.

His answering laugh is loud and bright. “I’ll buy you another.”

I swipe at the water running down my face, blinking as it drips into my eyes, and then I go still. Galinor’s arms are still wrapped around me.

He grins. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”

It does feel good, but I think he’s talking about the water.

“I’m sorry,” he answers, but his voice is too smug for the apology to carry much weight.

Finally, once my hair is out of my face and I’ve caught my breath, I crack a smile. “Liar.”

He laughs, checks to make sure I’m steady, and takes a step back .

I run my hands along the surface of the water. “It’s like a huge bathtub.”

The warmth soothes the muscles in my achy leg. Fighting with the gown, I find a submerged boulder by the edge of the pool and sit, resting my head back on the bank. I sigh, closing my eyes. “Let’s just stay here until morning.”

The glow from the moonquartz is comforting, and everywhere else on the island is dark. I would happily hide here the whole night.

We’ve been in the pool for quite a while when Galinor finally asks, “Are you hungry?”

I wish he hadn’t mentioned food because my stomach growls at the reminder. I only nibbled at the lunch the queen sent to our rooms, and now I wish I had taken the time to eat more.

With a sigh, I examine my fingers, which are wrinkly from our prolonged soak. It’s probably time to get out.

Galinor pulls himself from the pool and holds his hand out to me. I grasp it and attempt to drag myself out of the water. My saturated gown is very heavy, and I stumble under its weight. Galinor’s hand is the only thing keeping me from splashing rump-first back into the water.

“You’re hopeless,” Galinor says with a laugh. He then leans down, wraps both hands around my waist, and pulls me from the pool.

Once I’m on my feet, I peer down at the sad, soggy material that was once the beautiful gown. “I’m also soaked. ”

Instead of sliding his tunic over his head, Galinor holds it out to me. “Here.”

I stare at the material for several moments before I snatch it away. It will be nice to be dry.

“Turn around,” I command, but I needn’t bother. He already is.

It takes a little work to untie my bodice’s wet laces, but I’m soon free of the gown.

I strip off my underskirts and quickly pull Galinor’s tunic over my head.

It falls almost to my knees, and it’s so large, it’s comical.

I lace the neck up, and, since his back is turned anyway, I breathe in the scent of the fabric.

After I’m sure everything is in place, I glance down at my bare calves. There’s nothing I can do about them, and he already saw more skin when he removed the arrow anyway.

“All right,” I say, self-conscious.

Galinor turns back and grins wide, his dimples showing in the dim light. “Is it all right for now?”

“Yes, thank you.” I can’t quite meet his eyes. “But I hope my dress will be dry by morning. I don’t want to greet the captain like this.”

He frowns. “No, that wouldn’t do.”

We walk through the forest and back to the beach. I miss the moonquartz’s light, but I can see well enough now that my eyes have adjusted.

Galinor unceremoniously discards my gown on the sand. “First, we’ll build a fire.”

“A fire would be nice.”

My hair is still dripping, and I’m chilled. I sit on the beach and watch Galinor gather driftwood and fallen timber from the edge of the forest. Soon, I’m warming my bare feet by a crackling fire.

Galinor only kneels in front of it long enough to make sure it won’t go out, and then he wanders to the water’s edge and begins poking his sword in the sand.

“What are you doing?” I ask when my curiosity gets the best of me.

“I’m looking for clams.”

I join him and nudge the beach with my foot. “How do you know where to find them?”

Galinor shrugs. “I don’t, but you can find mussels in the lakes and streams in Glendon. Marigold said clams were similar and could be found on the beaches in Triblue.”

“You remember?” I ask.

I, too, vaguely remember Marigold’s lecture as we were nearing Triblue. She’d gone on and on about all kinds of seashore wildlife, but by the time she mentioned clams, I was only nodding and smiling.

He gives me a quick grin. “I only remember because I’ve dug for mussels.”