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 fallentimber 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.”
I push my foot through the wet sand. Within minutes, I find something. I drop to my knees and unearth a triangular shelled creature. Excited, I hold it up. “Is this one?”
Galinor crouches next to me. “It looks like it.”
