Check the Boat

“Come on,” you snap, wearily dragging yourself back towards the boat. For once, you hope the imp is right as the shadows of the cavern close in once more, the holy flames of the sword still flickering along its length, but the strength of the glow is much diminished. It is enough, however, for you to guide yourself back to the boat, and once there, to see a familiar waifish figure curled up next to it.

A relieved sigh escapes you. Not only that Glenda is safe, but that you won’t have to wander around the dark anymore. You hear the imp flapping overhead but are far too exhausted to do anything about him now. Not that he likely had seed or venom enough to menace you. You actually manage a slight laugh at that.

“What funny fire hair?”

“Nothing,” you mutter as you curl up next to Glenda, the saint’s sword close at hand.

“Okay. You sleep. I keep watch.”

You mutter something in answer but sleep has already claimed you and you drift away into an exhausted slumber.

It is the utter blackness of exhaustion, where sleep seems to only last a second and hours pass in a blink before your eyes flicker open, squinting against the glare of sunlight. Yawning, you sit up, closing your eyes tightly before opening them once more. You are met by the shining glitter of the sea lapping at the cove. The sun shines through the narrow opening of the cave, the tide creeping in with the dawn.

“You’re awake?”

You turn your head to see Glenda sitting on her knees behind you. She smiles at you, then frowns slightly. “You look tired, Sabine.”

“Mmm. Yes. Rough night.”

“Very hard!” the imp squeaks.

You give the demon a glare and quickly spare Glenda a glance, but she seems to have missed the comment. She’s staring back at the cave and the darkness therein thoughtfully. You rub your eyes and stand. You wince as your exhausted muscles burn and ache with fatigue, but do your best to ignore it as you take hold of the boat. “We’d best move on. Help me take the boat.”

“Wait.”

You look to Glenda and pause. She looks…off. Almost blank, a strange look to her bright eyes. “What?”

“We shouldn’t take the boat. We might hit the rocks. We’re too tired to row.”

You sigh and shrug. “That may be, sister. But we must leave this place. We must reach Gerlangen as

soon as we can.”

“But we do not need to go by boat. Maybe a passage. Deeper in the caves. It might run up to the shore.”

You hesitate. Technically, there is no reason such a thing might not exist. “It’s a risk,” you say lamely.

“But Sabine,” Glenda says in a reasonable tone. “We could explore a little, at least. Just to be sure. If we can just walk to the shore, why bother sailing? It should be apparent if the cave goes nowhere.”

“I suppose…”

Her idea has merit, but you feel wary about the way Glenda spoke and the strange look to her. Again the thought of her missing in the night flashes through your mind and you scrutinize her closer, but nothing shows itself overtly. Are you merely jumping at shadows?