Read Online A Glimmering Girl by L. K. Rigel - Free Book Online Page B

personage that it’s not possible.” Captain Raymond fairly gloated, as if this proved his own point.
    Helpless, Ross watched Aethelos push the boat back into the water and jump in. Sarumen shook his head in frustration and joined the prince. They set out for the foundering ship, now perched at a bizarre angel. Horrendous groans of breaking wood carried over the surface.
    “She’s taken on too much water,” Captain Raymond said. “She’ll split in two from the weight. Mark my words.”
    The princess fell into the sea where drowning men ignored her and tried to swim toward Sarumen and Aethelos in their little boat. And oddly enough, the swimmers were all men. Watching Meline, Ross understood why. Her massive gown had taken on the weight of the water, and she simply had not the strength to keep to the surface. Her head went under once, twice, and she never came up again.
    The others grabbed on to her would-be rescuers’ boat and pulled it over.
    “Captain Raymond, you must give me a boat.” Ross had to save Sarumen and the prince.
    The captain’s face was fixed in a no, but his eyes lit on the glass in Ross’s hand.
    With a sinking feeling, Ross knew what he had to do. He held up the instrument. “The glass for a boat.”
    “Done.” The captain held out his hand, palm up. “But no men. You’ll do your own rowing, my lord.”
    “I’m no lord.”
    “I’ll go with you, sir,” Braedon said.
    “Good lad.” Ross clapped the boy’s shoulder. “But I’ll not risk your life yet again so close to home. Stay with the Vengeance. Bring my trunks to Tintagos Castle for the baron’s keeping until I return.”
    Ross clasped Braedon to his chest in a heartfelt embrace. After nearly four years saving each other’s lives, this parting was as sudden and as unexpected as any death.
    “Tell my father my last thoughts were of him,” Ross said. And for Braedon’s ears alone he whispered, “Tell Rozenwyn I would have married her.”
    “I will, sir.” Braedon’s face reddened at the mention of marriage. There were tears in his eyes, and he choked. “I promise.”
    Ross pulled away from the Vengeance , mad to reach Sarumen and Aethelos. Brother Sun and Sister Moon, guide me and give me strength.
    “Sarumen!” He screamed with all the power he had in him. He listened for an answer. None came. “Aethelos!”
    Sick at heart, he kept to the east beyond the reach of desperate and drowning men. He had thought he was done with living among the dying. It all came crashing down on him. So senseless. So meaningless.
    “Tintagos!” It was Sarumen. “Ross!”
    Ross scanned the surface frantically. He spotted a pale form streaking away from the others, a man’s bare arms cutting expertly through the waves. Ross hurried to intercept him.
    Sarumen grabbed on to the side of the boat. “Lean away to balance my weight.” He pulled himself into the boat. He was entirely naked.
    “My lord, you must be frozen.” Ross took off his cloak and handed it over, but he couldn’t help staring.
    Sarumen was perfect. His skin had no blemish, no scar. His muscles were well formed but not garish. It had never occurred to Ross that a man could be called beautiful—but it was the only word that fit. Beautiful.
    He traced the scar on his own face, from the corner of his right eye down to his jaw. “The prince, my lord.” He focused on the moment. “Is he…”
    “Gone,” Sarumen said. “Damned fool. I told him to remove his boots and tunic, that they would drown him. Out of modesty or pride, who knows, he didn’t listen. He pulled me under with him. I threw him off to get to the surface for air, and then I couldn’t find him.”
    “Great gods.”
    “I should have gone down with him.”
    “What good would that do?”
    “King Henry…”
    “No man can fight the ocean, my lord,” Ross said. “I’ll go with you to the king as your witness. I saw you fight for his son’s life.”
    “Thank you, Ross. You have my gratitude,”