Iarion’s heart gave a flutter of alarm. If Lodariel’s head was bleeding, she needed to get to shore and bandage it as soon as possible before she passed out. Now he wanted to go to her side more than ever.
“Keep swimming ahead of me to the shore,” he called to her in what he hoped was a calm voice. “I think that attack was meant for me. If I keep my distance, you should be safe.”
“Are you sure?” Lodariel’s words were becoming a bit slurred. “That doesn’t sound right...”
Iarion scrambled for another tactic. “Are you saying you can’t beat me to the shore?”
“Pfft. I can beat you anywhere. I mean, anytime.”
“Prove it then,” Iarion challenged. “Race me to the shore.”
“You’re on!”
Lodariel let go of the rock and began thrashing her arms and legs in a stroke that was far less graceful and
