“We’re all very fond of Bastian,” the owner said gently. “Bring him back safely.”
“I will,” Saina promised firmly.
She had to.
Chapter 30
Bastian let the ship drag him in a daze through most of a day, exhausted muscles cramping and wounds stinging from saltwater as they continued to ooze precious blood.
He could dimly hear sailors arguing over the poor performance of the vessel he was clinging to, and knew he must be slowing it considerably.
Saina remained close in his head, teasing him, reminding him to breathe if he let his head slip beneath the surface for too long, even singing to him when the pain grew unbearable.
His strength felt like it was coming to an end when Saina finally told him, Let go. I’m he
re.
He opened gleaming eyes, not even aware that he’d closed them, and groaned, slowly let his cramping forearm release the ship. It was full night, and he could not see her at first, but her hands on his nose let him breathe freely as they sank to the bottom of the ocean.
Saina, he said weakly, drifting down.
My treasure, she said sweetly, her loose hair tickling sensitive scales on his dragon face as she leaned into it with her arms wrapping around him.
They reached the bottom of the ocean with a lazy, gentle landing in soft sand. A ray that had been hiding there high-tailed away from his monstrous shape.
Bastian drowsed as she swam the length of his body, making angry, concerned noises over the cracked scales and wounds, gentle hands exploring the damage.
You aren’t bleeding badly anymore, she said at last.
Just need to rest, heal, Bastian said, fighting to stay conscious. Sleep.
You sleep, she said fiercely, laying a kiss on his big head. I will watch.
Bastian had never felt safer.
Chapter 31
Bastian groaned as he settled into the sand, wrapped his tail over his feet, and closed his giant eyes. It was darker with them closed, but Saina was relieved to hear his breathing grow steady as he fell into sleep. She found that he continued to breathe easily as long as she was within arm’s length and she inspected the scaled length of him again.
Satisfied that nothing else could be done to make him more comfortable, Saina curled into the hollow by his neck, where his tail made a perfect resting place.
Nothing dared to disturb them, but Saina didn’t allow herself to sleep. She did sing, a wordless song of comfort for Bastian, tangled with a warning to anything that might encroach.
As dawn began to send tendrils of color into the dark water, Bastian stirred at last.
I’m here, Saina told him at once, letting her voice rest.
I failed you, Bastian sighed.
That’s the first thing you think of? Saina scolded him.
You are the first thing I will always think of, Bastian responded. And the last thing when I sleep.
Saina couldn’t reply for a long moment, and she suspected that she would have been crying if she hadn’t already been cradled in saltwater. How do you feel? she was finally able to ask.
In answer, Bastian unwrapped his tail and stretched his body, creaking and wincing as he uncoiled. Better, he said in surprise. Better than I expected.
We’re still a ways from Shifting Sands, Saina told him. Can you make the trip, or is it better to stay here another day?