“This is crazy,” I say. “He wouldn’t do that to me. Adom is getting under my skin.”
I swim back to the shore, dry off, and change into the plain dress I borrowed from Adom. I tie my short hair back using a fresh rag. The scent of fire and grease fills the cave. Muuth is cooking breakfast. He’s always taken care of me. If he says the boat is wrecked I will believe him. I wet my lips and move toward the cave entrance.
~ * ~
Nerama and Canna are sleeping in the central cave when I enter. They uncurl their long tails and bat sleepy eyelids. The pungent scent of dragon dung permeates the air. When Nerama sees me laying a plank of wood on the floor to serve as a dustpan, he hisses.
“What are you doing here, Rat?”
I hold the broom in my right hand and force a smile. “I’m sweeping scales.”
C
