Page 4 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
"Could be fun to go for a swim," Tony said. "When was the last time you went swimming? And I mean other than the pool in the harem. That doesn't count."
Eluheed thought back to his homeland, where the sea was at the bottom of the rugged Elucian mountains, but no one had ever thought about voluntarily taking a swim because the water was freezing. There had been that lake in Russia, over a century ago, and that water had been cold as well, but not nearly as bad as the Elucian sea. After that, he had swum in the Mediterranean, which had been a treat. But he hadn't allowed himself to indulge often. His endless quest to recover the treasures buried beneath Mount Ararat hadn't left him much time for recreation.
"It has been a long time," he admitted. "Perhaps later." He sat down on the cool sand. "I just want to enjoy the view for a little while."
"Right." Tony chuckled but sat down next to him. "The view is magnificent." Neither of them was looking at the waves.
The ladies had claimed a spot near the water's edge, where the guards were spreading out towels. Evidently, the ladies didn't want to take advantage of the beach loungers and the umbrellas that provided shade. They wanted to be close to the water where the breeze cooled the air.
Areana sat gracefully on a white towel, her blue swimsuit contrasting with the paleness of her skin. Next to her sat Tamira and Beulah, while Sarah and Liliat headed for the water where the others were already splashing around.
"Come on!" Raviki called her friends. "The water's perfect!"
Tamira rose to her feet and glanced at Eluheed before joining them, and he had to force himself not to follow. He had to pretend that she was just another of Lord Navuh's ladies, and he was merely one of their escorts, a shaman who was entertaining enough to be included in their outing.
At night, they could enjoy their basement sanctuary where they could be together in every way, but here, under the blazing sun and watchful eyes, they had to keep their distance.
"Tula looks so happy," Tony murmured. "After everything we've been through, it's good to see her like this."
Tony hadn't been with them in the basement during the attack on Navuh's mansion, so he hadn't seen Tula helping the servants and keeping calm under pressure.
"She did great," Eluheed said. "Tula is made from strong stuff."
"I know." Tony grinned. "She's something else."
Tamira hadn't fared as well. As explosions had shaken the mansion above, she'd trembled against Eluheed, not because she'd been afraid of the ceiling collapsing on top of them but because she'd been terrified of the enhanced soldiers winning. She'd even asked him to kill her rather than let her fall into their hands.
The knife she'd pressed into his hand still haunted his dreams.
"They've been waiting for a shore excursion for a long time." Eluheed watched Tamira wade into the water, her face lighting up as the waves lapped at her legs.
"I don't know why Navuh didn't allow it before." Tony leaned back on his forearms. "What could he possibly be afraid of? The ladies swimming away to freedom?"
Eluheed glanced at the nearest guard, but the man seemed uninterested in their conversation, or maybe he couldn't hear them over the noise of the waves crashing to shore. Nevertheless, it was dangerous to speak so freely about their captor.
"The lord has been generous," Eluheed said carefully, the words tasting like ash in his mouth. "We should be thankful."
Tony snorted, but he was wise enough to shut up and not continue in the same vein. They both knew that this outing was a reward that could be withdrawn at any moment.
All the ladies were in the water now, laughing as waves knocked them about. Tamira was splashing Raviki, who shrieked and retaliated, and for a moment, Eluheed allowed himself to imagine Tamira with him, free and away from this place.
What would she be like in a world where she could make her own choices?
"Want to swim?" Tony stood and brushed sand from his legs.
Eluheed rose as well, pulling off his shirt. The sun immediately attacked his pale skin, but he knew he wouldn't burn, and not just because of the copious amounts of sunscreen he'd slathered all over himself to hide the fact that he didn't burn in the sun.
His immortal body wouldn't allow that to happen.
They waded into the water, and Eluheed had to suppress a groan of pleasure as the cool ocean embraced him. For a moment, he could forget his failures, his centuries of fruitless searching, the oaths that bound him to an impossible mission, and his predicament of being captive on this island and needing to find a way out for himself and Tamira, and possibly the other ladies and Tony as well, because Tamira wouldn't agree to leave without them.
"Race you to that rock." Tony pointed to an outcropping about fifty meters out.
"You're on."
They dove forward, but Eluheed held back. His body was stronger and faster than that of a human, and definitely more capable than Tony's. He matched the other man's pace, letting Tony pull slightly ahead as they neared the rock.
"I win!" Tony slapped the stone triumphantly.
