20
WHILE DASHU, Loxa, Wairin and Eris came running onto the beach, Izramith stumbled out of the water, her heart still thudding.
“What is that thing?”
“It’s an eel,” Braedon said. “I’m sorry I had to kill it.” The latter to Eris, who nodded, his face grave. He waded into the water. “It’s a big one.” He placed a hand on the side of the creature’s head and stood like that for a while. No one said anything. Eris faced away from the beach. His lips moved. A dedication? Death prayer?
Then he let his hand slide from the head and turned around. “Throw me the rope.”
Together, they heaved the creature to the beach. You had to watch the spikes on the head, Eris said, because they were poisonous.
Loxa brought him a knife and he sliced into the flesh, peeling off the skin and cutting chunks of t
