Page 14 of Shaw

Nyall went to the outer gates, where the guards told him that Julianne had passed, and then climbed atop the wall to look out at the forest trail. Fletcher already stood with the watchers, and greeted him with a raised brow.

“Dinnae tell me you fret over Mistress Scott as well?” he asked.

“Lark told me of their argument, and bid me check on the lady.” He nodded toward the forest. “She runs like a deer.”

Nyall’s gaze shifted to the trail he’d recommended, on which Julianne now dashed along as she fled in the direction opposite that of the forest. She jumped smoothly over the sea wall as she raced down to the shore, but her haste seemed excessive. He frowned, scanning the bay, and saw two small figures struggling in the water. A streak of black poured down the side of the cliff and streamed into the shallows.

“Fack me.” He pulled off his sword, shoving it at Fletcher as he jumped from the wall to the ground outside, and ran.

Chapter Four

Julianne had been ready to do a jog through the woods when she spotted the kids thrashing around in the middle of the bay. The two small boys had blond hair, and looked too young to be great swimmers. She didn’t know why anyone would allow them to swim out so far from shore, and she didn’t see any adults anywhere. Were there no babysitters in the twelfth century? She hurried down the cliff stairs.

Focus, girl. You’re going to have to haul both of them back at the same time.

Multiple victims in the water always made the rescues even more dangerous for a lifeguard. She had no flotation device to give to one so she could tow him along by a rope while supporting the other, which would have been her strategy in her time. Luckily they were little guys, and kids always liked her. She just had to get them to listen to her and do what she told them.

From the stairs she jumped the last couple of feet to the sand and tore off her boots. The white dunes seemed like soft, warm powder on her bare feet. Keeping her gaze locked on the kids, she stripped off her borrowed shirt and pants, down to the lingerie Lark had made for her.

Down at the water’s edge the temperature of the sea seemed close to bath water, and warmed her legs as she waded out to the drop-off of the shallows. From there she submerged and surfaced, starting her swim with quick freestyle strokes that would allow her to reach them faster. As she cleaved her way through the water toward the two youngsters, the salt stung her eyes until they grew accustomed to the sea again and cleared. She made sure to keep her breathing deep and regular, inhaling as she turned her head to the air, and then exhaling underwater.

Hold on, I’m almost there, kids.

When she drew closer the boys stopped splashing and struggling, and abruptly disappeared from sight. When they didn’t surface again she dove down to look for them, only to find both floating right in front of her. She grabbed both kids by their arms and dragged them up to get some air, but neither of them coughed or showed any sign of distress.

“It’s all right, little dudes,” she told them, blinking to clear her eyes. “I won’t let you drown.”

The smaller of the boys tilted his head, and ejected some water from three slits on his neck, making her flinch.

“You’re so fair, my lady.” He held out a small hand with webbed fingers. “Willnae you wait for me before you take a mate? When I’m a man, I should love you dearly, and give you a fine son.”

Julianne inadvertently got a mouthful of sea water as her jaw dropped, and had to spit it out before she asked, “You want to what?”

“Eejit.” The bigger boy smacked him on the back of the head, and then gave her an apologetic look. “Forgive us, my lady. We’re no’ yet grown enough to mate, and as such cannae trifle with mortal females.” He grinned, showing a glimpse of the handsome man he’d be someday. “I only hope I may meet one as fair as you to wed.”

“Uh, thanks, little dude.” Her breath hitched as she watched them turn and dive under the surface to swim off, both boys moving so fast they became blurs that quickly disappeared. “Fish boys. They have talking fish boys here.”

When two arms curled around her she nearly screamed, but Shaw came around and held her as he treaded water.

“Dinnae fear them,” he said, his eyes changing from black to dark gray. “The lads, they’re the bairns of the Finfolk, the clan’s allies.”

“They can breathe water through those gills on their neck, right? And they live underwater?” When he nodded she looked out at where the boys had disappeared. “How many fish people are there out there? Why didn’t anyone tell me about them?”

“I cannae give you a count of the lads, but the Finfolk males, they’re many. ’Twas reckoned by Lady Valerie ’twould be too much for you accept all at once.” He studied her face and then drew back. “Do you wish me gone from you again?”

She wanted to shout yes, but that would be mean. Shaw had been with her most of the time, so he probably hadn’t voted to keep her in the dark. At the same time he knew everything about this place and the strange things that lived here.

“I need answers,” she told him. “Can you give them to me?” When he nodded she pointed to the nearest shore.

Shaw swam with her to the little islet, which turned out to be the same one Caroline had told Julianne was her home. As soon as they waded out of the water the diver walked down, a basket of berries over one arm.

“Fair morning, Chieftain, Jules.” The diver glanced past them. “And the other love of my life. Quite a party. What’s up?”

Julianne looked back to see a tall, well-built man with waist-length white-blonde hair walking out of the surf. Like the two boys she’d seen earlier, he had three gill slits on either side of his neck. He also wore what looked like an abbreviated gray wet suit so well-fitted to his muscular body it seemed like a second skin. His face, which rivaled Shaw’s for stunning good looks, had an exasperated expression.

“Hey, love of her life,” she said, smiling so much it hurt her cheeks, which was better than passing out at his feet. “I’m Julianne.” She glanced down and forgot to keep smiling. Whoa. Even fish dude’s toes are webbed.

“I’m Jamaran, commander of the Selseus garrison,” the fair-haired man said, and gave her a respectful bow before he regarded Caroline. “Two of our lads strayed from the settlement, and Mistress Scott believed them drowning. She attempted rescue them.”