Reign the Earth (The Elementae #1)(59)

I was alone, and the water was crushing me.

My lungs burned, and I kicked my legs, trying to figure out how to find the surface when everything was dark around me like I was blind. I hadn’t been practicing using my element—not like I should have. I had used this power helplessly to save Kairos and Rian, but I had never believed I would need it to save myself.

I had been so frightened of my own power that I had forfeited my best means of survival.

Clawing at the ocean around me, I fought. I refused to believe it was too late. I was desert born. I was Elementa. I was powerful beyond my own understanding, and I would not be defeated by this.

This wasn’t like the lake in the desert. This water burned with salt, and it was so deep and vast and dark that I seemed to be weightless, and I twisted, unsure if I was up or down or where the air was. I fought the urge to breathe in water and called my power to my hands.

I could feel rocks, bright threads far below me. That meant the air was up, and I pushed as hard as I could.

I broke the surface with a wild, gasping breath as Theron struck the water, swamping me with a wave that brought me under again. I kicked and fought, panicked, breaking the surface again. I couldn’t keep my body aloft, though, and I started sinking.

“Hold on,” Theron gasped, hooking his arm under mine. He drew me back against his chest, lying flat in the water and using one arm to swim as his legs kicked, keeping us afloat.

A light shone on us, and a moment later, a boat appeared. Galen abandoned his oars, other men steadying the boat while Galen pulled me up and out of the water, leaving me in the bottom to cough and gulp for breath. Theron was next, pushing up over the side as Galen grabbed his clothing and heaved him the rest of the way.

Soldiers covered us in blankets and their cloaks, and as I shivered, I knelt by Theron. “Are you all right?” I asked.

“My queen,” he gasped, still catching his breath. “That is the question I need to ask you.”

Relieved, I wrapped my arms around him, feeling shuddering sobs that were some mixture of the cold, my tears, and my utter gratitude rack my chest. “You saved my life,” I told him.

“And he will be very generously rewarded for that,” Galen said, hauling back on his oars. There were two other men rowing in the boat, and Theron and I were wedged between their seats. “Are either of you hurt?” Galen asked, looking down at us as he pulled back again.

“The queen was injured when the tower was attacked,” Theron said, still panting for breath.

“Just scratches, I think,” I said, shaking my head at Galen.

His eyes met mine, his scowl softening a little in a way that made him look … worried. He was worried about me. He swallowed and looked away. “A quaesitor is waiting to see to your needs. I’m sure you have all kinds of cuts and bruises,” he said, his eyes flickering back over me.

“I’m well,” I said, huddling under the blankets and shivering for warmth.

“And you?” Galen asked Theron.

“It will take more than falling from the sky to hurt me,” he said.

Galen snorted. “The quaesitor will check you also, my friend.”

Theron’s hand flopped up from the boat and then fell again. “Bah,” he said. “If something needs stitching, I’ll let you know.”

Galen gave a sharp nod, drawing in a deep breath like he hadn’t for a while.

“Was this the Resistance?” Theron asked.

Galen shook his head. “No. We don’t believe so. They were stealing workers—it’s possible they’re foreign slavers with powers. We’ve heard reports of people disappearing from the communes, but we never knew how they were doing it. Now we do.”

“Damn sorcerers,” Theron muttered.

My eyes flew wide to him, but I didn’t say anything.

“Did you see who they were?” Galen asked.

“No,” I said before Theron opened his mouth. Even if I trusted Galen with such information, I refused to arm my husband with information to help him track a ship full of children.

Theron looked at me. “No,” he repeated. “We never made it on deck.”

Galen nodded, and we all stayed silent while they rowed us back to shore.

There were soldiers waiting for us at the dock, but Calix wasn’t among them, and I looked to Galen. “Where’s Calix? Was he hurt?”

His face went grim as the oarsmen grabbed the dock, looping ropes around little metal bars. He stood, helping me to stand as well. “He’s occupied,” he told me. “But safe. We need to make sure you’re all right.”

Galen helped me from the boat, and Theron behind me. “Theron, go rest,” Galen ordered.

He shook his head. “I won’t leave the queen unattended.”

“I’ll stay with her. Zeph will be here with more guards soon anyway.”

Theron nodded, putting his hand on his side and wincing. “Keep an eye on those quaesitori,” he said solemnly.

Galen chuckled. “Yes, soldier.”

Theron nodded again and sighed, like he could finally relax without me to protect. Galen led me toward the communes, to one of the first buildings that had men running in and out of it. I could see the Oculus, now no more than a spire—the whole top had fallen off.

This building seemed to be the primary military space, and a wide hall that was probably used for meals had been cleared, with sheets serving to section areas off. We walked through it briefly, only to go out another door, but I saw so many men wounded or dying.