Rose of the Mists Read Online Free Page A

monster of the deep come to claim him as its meal? It did not matter. A flip and a kick sent her straight back down. This time she didn’t hesitate as the reeds grazed her. Without seeing, she knew where he was.
    She found his head first, when the springy texture of his hair moved through her searching fingers. Slipping behind him to stay out of his reach, she ran a hand down his back until she encountered his bonds. Both legs were caught in the leathery grip of the reeds. Small but sharp, her blade sliced through the wet tentacles that clung to him. He was no longer hostile, but he did not even try to free himself as she worked to release him. She hacked more frantically at the vines.
    He must live! He must!
    The thought became a chant in her mind. She could not bear another death on her conscience.
    When finally he floated free, rising past her like a bubble, Meghan sheathed her knife, grasped him about the waist, and began to kick with all that was left of her strength. They rose slowly. It seemed an eternity to her until they reached the air. When his head broke the surface her gasps sank them again and again until she could control the heavings of her starved lungs; but not once did she release her burden.
    “You’re safe! You’re safe!” she whispered against his cheek as she started for the shore, the stroke of her free arm carrying them.
    In deep water she maneuvered him easily, but as they reached the shallows the man became an ungainly weight. Finally Meghan gave up swimming and began dragging him, one hand under each armpit, as she struggled for sure footing on the slick bottom.
    Suddenly the water behind her erupted with splashing and barking. A moment later, Meghan was pushed flat as a great weight leaped onto her back. Hair streaming water cross her face, Meghan righted herself and came face to face with the stranger’s pet. The dog was even bigger than she remembered, nearly chest-high and baring teeth that could grind her bones, but she was too angry to be terrified.
    “Get away, ye great beastie!” she roared in a furious tone and heaved an armful of water at the dog.
    Without waiting for the animal’s reaction, she turned and grabbed the man, whose head had slipped under the water. Pulling and tugging, she brought him to the bank, keeping her gaze averted from the animal who stood watching her. No doubt he waited to see if she meant his master harm.
    When she reached the grassy bank, she lifted the man by his underarms and tried to drag him onto the land. He was heavier than she had thought and her efforts met with only partial success. Once his shoulders and chest cleared the water, she found she had no strength and lowered him onto his back. Squatting, she paused to draw several fresh breaths, knowing that he would not slip back in.
    “No thanks to ye!” she muttered as the dog came hesitantly forth, his head lowered, and poked his nose beneath his master’s. After a brief inspection, he began to whine.
    “He’s nae dead!” Meghan said sharply, and pushed away the dog’s muzzle as she bent over the man. He could not be dead; she would not have it so.
    But a look at his face was not reassuring. He lay absolutely still, his face as translucent and pale as mother-of-pearl. Annoyed and frightened, Meghan gently shook his shoulder.
    “Awake, man! Ye must nae be dead!”
    She laid a hand on his chest, but she could not be certain that she felt anything more than the throb of her own pulse in her fingertips. She knew nothing of dead people, had never touched one. The small animals she and Una snared were different: their rapid heartbeats and quick breathing were easily detected. She shook him again.
    “Open yer eyes, man! Dinna be dead!”
    Once more the dog poked his muzzle against the man’s clammy cheek and licked it twice before lying down beside him. The man did not respond.
    Terror awakened within Meghan. One man had died before her eyes this day. Now she had risked her life to save