Free 1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) by Christine Rains

slowly clearing. She turned her head in each direction until she found the fuzzy shape of Sam crouched on the ground. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes. I fell, but the sand is soft. I didn’t hit any mines,” Sam informed her. “Are you okay? What happened?”
    The water lapped gently at her. Nothing tried to grab at her from underneath. Her leather stuck to her like a second skin. What happened? Something hit her. Or rather, she hit something. It hurt her head to knock against it, but then it blasted her backward.
    Shit. Land mines below. Sea mines above. The fact she was almost out of the water when it went off saved her from being decapitated.
    “There are mines in the water too.”
    From below, Sam muttered something. Did he curse? Meira couldn’t remember any time hearing him swear. The thought amused her even in this dire circumstance.
    “How deep are the mines? Can you tell?”
    “I don’t know.” Meira wasn’t about to feel around to tell. “Not deep. Pretty close to the surface, but I couldn’t see them.”
    “Do you think you could swim and not touch any of them?” Sam questioned.
    “I don’t know.” She frowned. “But I’m not leaving you. I need to get down, and we’ll try this again.”
    “No, there’s a different way if you can do it.” Sam stood and motioned to the ground. “When the water splashed, it revealed where the land mines are. I can walk if you can keep splashing water along the path, but only if you’re certain you’re not going to hit any mines.”
    Blinking her eyes a few more times, Meira’s vision returned to almost full clarity. The explosion had spread water about thirty feet along the path. There was plenty of room for Sam to walk safely around the mines. He could do it if she could supply him with water to clear the way. She wasn’t wild about swimming, especially in this river, but it was a good plan. The best plan at the moment.
    “I’m floating. I can’t do any fancy swim strokes, but I think I can get along and not dip any deeper below the surface.” Meira kicked her feet with a wee motion that propelled her slowly forward. She could do this. She had to do this.
    “Take it slow and easy. No need to rush.” Wounds on Sam’s shoulders bled in lazy streams. She’d torn his flesh again with her talons. At least the down bandage on his chest held even if it didn’t look pretty.
    A little speed was necessary. He needed to be healed before he fell over.
    When Meira was over the next dry spot on the path, she pressed her wings less than an inch below the water. Then she flapped them forward, spraying water on the sand. It worked perfectly except her body dipped a little lower into the river than she expected.
    The second time, she didn’t use as much force with her wings. A little less water, but it still did the trick. Meira was shivering. She couldn’t feel her feet and the ends of her wings.
    “Come on. You can do this.” Sam tiptoed around the mines below.
    Ten feet and then another. Kick, flap, and splash. Repeat.
    Meira wasn’t sure how long it took, but she was starting to feel sleepy. The coldness was gone, and that couldn’t be a good thing.
    “One last time and then we’re there.” Sam’s voice was warm and clear. It was the only thing that propelled her forward.
    Flap and splash. Not a big one, but it was enough. Meira twisted her head to watch Sam walk by the last few mines and stand in the exit. He grinned and motioned to her with both hands.
    “Float a little farther down and drop to the ground. I’ll catch you.”
    Floating she could do. Meira could hear the din of the crowd in the distance. Sam had made it. Oh how Zeus and Hera must be fuming. Smiling, she kicked her numb legs and swooshed along with her wings open.
    They were numb too. Soaked feathers caught on something, and the roar filling her ears was no longer from the coliseum.
    It was from an exploding sea mine.

CHAPTER 12
     
    Meira fluttered in and out of consciousness.