‘If we can discover how their chymical weapons work it’ll be a big help,’ said Tobry, unhitching a death lash from Orlyk’s belt and jamming it into the pack.
‘Careful,’ cried Tali. ‘That can take your whole arm off.’
Tobry winced, then stripped the sandals off Mijl’s small feet and tossed them to Tali. ‘Here. You can’t run across the Seethings in bare feet.’
She put them on.
‘They’ll see us as we climb the slope,’ said Rix, ‘and run us down long before we can reach the horses.’ He eyed Tobry surreptitiously, unnerved by his miraculous recovery from the dart. ‘We’ll have to take to the lake.’ He took off his boots, tied them to his belt and waded in.
‘I’m not going without Rannilt,’ said Tobry. He seemed to be in pain.
‘You found her?’ said Tali, standing on the edge. ‘Is she all right?’
Rix drew her into the water. She was shivering and resisted him. ‘She found us. Made us come after you, too.’
‘We can’t leave her.’ Tali jerked on his arm.
‘Can’t take on a dozen of the enemy, either. Rannilt’s well hidden; she’s safer than we are. We’ll come back for her.’
He drew Tali out until the cool water was mid-chest on him, throat level on her, and it was glorious on his inflamed skin.
‘What if we don’t get back?’ said Tali.
Rix explained about the note and the gramarye Tobry had put on Beetle. ‘Luzia is my old nurse in Caulderon. She’ll look after Rannilt. It’s the best we can do.’
Tali bit her lip, then nodded.
‘Can Cythonians swim?’ said Rix.
Her eyes were darting, her breathing fast and shallow. ‘I don’t know — but I can’t.’
She seemed close to panic, but she was such a little thing she could hardly cause him any trouble. ‘Stay with me and you’ll be all right. Tobe, we’ll swim across to the outlet and go down the cascades. Once we’re far enough ahead, we’ll double back to Rannilt and the horses.’
‘What if we can’t get back?’ Tali’s voice cracked.
‘We’ll think of something else.’
‘Better dump the swords,’ said Tobry.
‘I’m keeping mine. If they beat us to the cascades — ’
‘A sword will be no use at all. They’ll pick us off with arrows from the bank.’
‘I’m not going unarmed. Tali, ditch those baggy robes.’
Tali shrugged them off and Rix pushed them under. She was still wearing the silk gown from yesterday, though a tear across the waist revealed a livid welt on her pale skin. She pulled her orange hat down as far as it would go. She was trembling, her breathing fast and shallow. Shock, he thought. This could get tricky.
‘Take hold of my belt, Tali. Don’t let go.’
She did so and he swam out using sidestroke. She was clinging so tightly that her knuckles were jammed into his belly. Every so often her eyes rolled back; she was fighting not to scream.
‘What is a pothecky, anyway?’ said Rix to Tobry.
Tobry’s eyes never left Tali’s face. ‘Cross between an alchymist and a healer, but uses chymical potions for war. How are you feeling?’
Rix put his head under for a few seconds. ‘Still hot. I don’t ever want to go that close to death again. Ah, this water’s good.’
They were only a hundred yards out when the second squad came charging down the track and stopped at the bodies.
‘No splashing.’ Rix put an arm around Tali and sank down in the water. ‘We can still get away with this.’
They managed another twenty yards before they were spotted.
‘Go!’ Rix took off, Tali trailing behind like a wide-eyed corpse.
The enemy ran to the water’s edge and several troops waded in to chest level, but headed back and the archers began to fire.
‘Keep low,’ said Tobry. ‘A head shot is quite an ask from there.’
‘You could do it,’ said Rix, ‘so maybe they can.’ Tali’s teeth chattered. ‘How are you doing?’ He turned over and swam on his back to watch her.
Her eyes were enormous blue pools. She was clutching his belt desperately, yet kept letting go with one hand to pull her hat down. Rix could not identify with her fear of the water. He had learned to swim before he could walk.
‘If you can do it, I can,’ she said, shuddering.
‘The water isn’t that cold.’
‘It is to me. In Cython, all the water is warm.’
‘And you’re such a little thing.’
‘I’m strong,’ she said, with a determined tilt of the head. ‘In Cython, if you’re weak, you die.’
‘How’s your ankle?’
‘It’s excruciating. But in Cython we learn to endure pain.’
‘You don’t give much away, do you?’
‘Reveal your weaknesses and everyone takes advantage of them.’
‘I just saved your life,’ he said irritably, ‘and you saved mine. I don’t expect to be your friend but I think I’ve earned a little trust.’
‘Father said never trust anyone who says, “Trust me.” Father said you learn how to trust by seeing what people do, not by hearing what they say.’
‘I’ve just ridden six miles through the blasted Seethings, risked my life and nearly died, for you.’
He could see the unspoken questions in her eyes —
An arrow plucked at the surface of the water a hand span from Tali’s right shoulder. She rolled over and the hat came off. Letting out an incoherent cry, she grabbed it and jammed it on. Two more arrows splashed near Tobry.
‘Hang on tight and hold your breath, Tali,’ said Rix. ‘Tobe, dive!’
Rix dived deep, pulling her under with him, and swam away from the shore for as long as his breath held, nearly two minutes.
He surfaced twenty yards ahead of Tobry. Tali bobbed up behind him, hatless, her gown up around her shoulders, coughing up water. She let go of his belt and covered her eyes with a forearm. Her other arm thrashed feebly. Arrows rained down.
‘Tobe?’ Rix turned towards him. ‘We’ve got to get further out.’
‘Where’s Tali?’ cried Tobry.
Rix churned the water to foam as he turned. Her hat was floating several yards away. ‘She was just here.’
‘She was in a bad way when you came up. Why didn’t you hang onto her?’ Tobry dived.
Rix did too, squinting through the murky water. He could only see down a yard or two. He swept his arms out to either side as he swam, cursing his stupidity.
As he surfaced, Tobry was also coming up. ‘You’re a moron, Rix,’ he said furiously.
‘I know.’ Rix scanned the water but there was nothing to see save arrow splashes. ‘She seemed to be doing fine …’
‘You swam underwater for forty yards! I couldn’t hold my breath that long.’
Rix dived again. Fool! You could see how afraid she was. You’ve drowned her! He surfaced and dived again, swimming around in circles, feeling sicker and sicker. Finally he burst up. Tobry was treading water with his back to him.
‘Tobe?’
‘I’ve got her,’ said Tobry. ‘She’s not in a very good state.’
