Page 105 of Realm of Wind and Vines
Draven’s eyes glitter in the golden light from the spheres floating between the trees. “Wanna come down here and say that to my face?”
“Not to mention that a lightning strike would probably kill all other marine life in the river too,” Lyra adds.
She is also standing in the river, her eyes scanning the clearwater as she searches for another fish. All three dragon shifters have stripped down to their underwear so that their armor doesn’t get wet while they try to catch fish in the slow-moving river. There is no direct sunlight down here in the dryads’ underground forest, but the air is warm. And so is the water, from what Lyra has said. Apart from us and the glowing orbs in the air, the lush green forest around us is peaceful and still.
Galen laughs and wiggles his eyebrows at Draven. “Whenshecomes in and urges you to act responsibly, you know you’ve lost.”
Still standing knee-deep in the river, Draven mutters under his breath, but amusement tugs at his lips as well. “I still dispute your claim that your reflexes are better than mine.”
“And yet…” Galen drops his newest prize on the pile of ice next to Isera before turning back to smirk at Draven. “I’m the one who keeps catching all the fish.”
“That’s just because you always aim for all the grandfather fish who swim so slowly that even Orion could’ve caught them.”
“Keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night. I’ve simply developed excellent reflexes because I’ve spent two hundred years in close proximity to that,” he points at Lyra, “absolute maniac who keeps jumping off cliffs and shifting mid-air right in front of me.”
Draven tips his head to the side. “Good point.”
“For the record,” Orion interrupts. “I could catch fish if I wanted to. I simply choose not to.”
Everyone turns towards the Unseelie King, who is standing on the grass halfway between me and Isera. I continue my work while I turn to glance at him as well. My knife thuds steadily against the flat piece of wood before me as I continue gutting and chopping the fish without looking at it. On my other side, Alistair is frying the freshly cut fish with his fire magic.
Orion keeps his chin raised as he looks back at us all.
“Remind me again what it is that you are actually contributing with here?” Draven says, and arches an eyebrow at him.
“My presence is contribution enough.” His black and silver eyes gleam as he flashes us a devilish smile. “You’re welcome.”
In the water, Lyra rolls her eyes while Draven looks like he is contemplating whether to shoot a lightning bolt at the Unseelie King or maybe to create a rain cloud right above his head. Galen straightens after dropping off his fish on the pile of ice and then starts back towards the water.
“And besides,” Orion continues. “I’m not the only one who isn’t doing anything.” Twisting slightly, he looks over at Isera, who is standing two steps to his right. “What are you contributing with, little viper?”
Isera just points down at the pile of ice that the fish is resting on.
“I’ve gotta agree withsqueamyon this one, ice lady,” Alistair calls while moving the flame in his palm around the fish before him. “You could probably catch more fish than Draven.”
“Squeamy?” Orion demands, looking completely outraged. “Is that supposed to be a nickname?”
“I am perfectly capable of catching fish,” Draven huffs from the water.
“I’ve already done my job,” Isera replies to Alistair’s comment. Arching a dark eyebrow, she gives him a knowing look while I swear a smile lurks at the corner of her lips. “Just focus on yours,Flambé.”
Alistair’s mouth drops open. “Flambé?”
She shrugs, her silver and blue eyes gleaming. “You keep giving everyone else ridiculous nicknames. You could use one of your own. And you do excel at pouring alcohol over things and setting them on fire.”
A laugh bursts out of me. While still continuing to cut the fish before me, I laugh so hard that my shoulders shake. Alistair just shakes his head at the both of us and then shoots a glance down at the dagger that keeps flying across my makeshift cutting board.
“Careful with the knife, Soulstealer,” he says.
“Nah, she’s good,” Lyra calls from the water while stalking a fish. “Just look at how her hands move. She’s a pro.”
Galen meets my eyes from over his shoulder while he walks back into the river. “You are actually surprisingly good at that.”
“I used to be a fish cutter,” I explain with a casual shrug. “I’ve literally been doing this exact thing almost every day of my life.”
To my right, Orion scrunches his nose. “This is why I decimate anyone who even thinks of taking my crown. I would die before I ever touched a dead fish, let alone?—”
“Here,” Isera suddenly calls.
