Chapter 101
I breathed a small sigh of relief when I entered the little hovel a little while later, and my whole body grew relaxed. I was happy that I was outside of the castle walls in the coolness of the trees and the peace that it brought with it.
However, I knew that it wouldn't be for long, for I had to go back to the city where the heat was blistering and people needed me.
I unpacked my basket of things that I would need, deciding that it would be best if I slept here for the evening before I changed into more suitable clothing for the outdoors.
Ever since the king had pushed me down, I wore normal female clothes instead of pants with a skirt on top.
I wasn't sure if the king would try that again, but I was going to be safe rather than sorry because I did not want to be caught in pants.
He didn't need to know that I wore different clothes...
There was some whining at the top of the hovel, and I paused in what I was doing and looked at it, waiting to see if whatever it was was going to try to come in or to leave.
Again, there was more whining at the top of the hovel, and some dirt fell into the hole as if the creature was trying to get in and get to me.
I hesitated and grabbed my bow and a quiver of arrows before I started to make my way up the hovel to see what was creating that ruckus.
The thing stopped trying to dig into the hovel as soon as I started climbing out of the hovel and waited for me to appear without making a sound.
And as soon as I stuck my head out of the hovel, I breathed a small sigh of relief when I saw that it was only Rowa. "Rowa," I greeted, and Rowa wagged her tail in greeting. "What are you doing here? You are early."
Rowa whined and laid her ears against the back of her head and looked at me with a look that I couldn't describe.
The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention, and I grabbed my bow tighter in my hand. "Did something happen?" I asked and narrowed my eyes a little. "Did the prince get captured again?"
Rowa shook her head no and whined again. She looked toward the lake and then back at me before she looked toward the lake again as if to say that it was happening over there.
The hair on the back of my neck stood straighter at attention, and I grabbed my bow tighter in my hand, mildly surprised that it didn't break. "Is someone in trouble near the lake?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rowa barked before she whined, and I had this feeling that someone was in trouble near the lake.
"Show me."
Rowa didn't need to be told twice and started to run toward the water, and I followed her without saying another word.
She led me to the lake and stopped at the edge of it and turned to look at me before she looked into the water where there was this large lump floating in the middle of it, not moving at all.
"Oh, crap," I said and took off my boots and socks, tossing my bow down onto the ground because I knew that I wasn't going to need it while I rescued this creature from drowning.
If I wasn't too late...
I shook that thought from my head while I took the quiver off of my back and tossed it to the ground before I started to run to the lake with Rowa following me, and we swam to the creature.
I reached the creature first and swam around it to see if it was caught on anything that might be tying it down, which was why it couldn't escape in the first place.
I couldn't see anything on the surface, so I dove into the water and kept my eyes open to see if I couldn't see anything that way.
Still, I wasn't able to see anything, so I went up for some air before I swam closer to the creature and started to feel around for something that was holding it down.
I wasn't able to get too in depth with my search, for the creature opened its beady eyes and shoved me away from it, and the whole world spun with that shove.
Oh, for the love of the Great, I thought while I pursed my lips in annoyance.
I went up for some more air while the creature thrashed around tangling itself further into whatever it was caught in.
"Would you stop moving?" I asked over the sound of the crashing waves that were caused by him. "I am trying to help you."
The creature roared out in annoyance and shoved a whole lot of water toward me, and I took a deep breath before I was surrounded by the water that had me tumbling around in a circle.
This would be a heck of a lot easier if he didn't move and would listen to me, I thought while I pursed my lips further in annoyance. I can't even get close to him.
I swam back to the surface and watched as the creature struggled some more before finally giving up, and as soon as he gave up, I moved closer to him.
The creature growled and glared at me when I got too close to him, but he didn't try to attack me like I thought he would.
"Let me help," I said and patted the knife that was around my waist. "Where are you caught?"
The creature roared his response but didn't try to attack me. He looked at me with murderous eyes, and I had this feeling that if I wasn't careful, then I would be seriously injured, or worse.
Killed...
I shook my head to dismiss that thought before I swam closer to the creature, not caring about my safety while I moved closer to him. "I am going to have to feel around to see if I can't find the thing that is holding you if you don't tell me," I said. "Please, know that I am only trying to help."
The creature growled and gritted his teeth together but didn't say a word. He stayed still, and I had this feeling that he was going to let me help him.
I took a deep breath and released it with a small whoosh.
Oh, thank the Great.
I swam back over to the creature and started to look around with the creature watching me.
"Foot," the creature said in his language, and I could tell that it was a Shifter because of it. "My foot is caught, Human."
I nodded and breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful that he was starting to be more cooperative with me. "Which one?" I asked in the same language.
"You can understand me?" the Shifter asked in shock and surprise.
"Yes," I said and nodded in confirmation. "Now, which foot is caught in something?"
"Left. How?
"Because of my tribe," I said and shrugged, biting back a small grimace. "Now, hold still and let me take a look at your left foot. Do you know what you are caught on because I didn't see any rope around you?"
"What tribe allows you to understand me? I do not know of any tribe in this area that can understand me."
I held back an eye roll and pressed my lips into a thin line, growing annoyed with him. "We can talk about that later. Do you know what you are caught in because I didn't see any rope around you when I looked to see if there was anything?"
"Then you are going to have to look better," the Shifter said with a snarl in his voice. "I can't move."
I rolled my eyes and scowled, pressing my lips into a thinner line. "Then hold still, and I will see what I can find," I said coldly.
And with that, and without another word, I took a deep breath and swam down into the water with him watching after me with something in his eyes that I was glad I couldn't see...