Under Murky Waters

THE STONE BENEATH Zale’s palms burned with the heat of the scorching sun. Sat at the ledge hidden beneath a bridge, Zale panted heavily, attempting to catch his breath from the frantic swim. His boots were still submerged in the water, now soggy and uncomfortable beyond belief and yet he had never felt better.

He was finally home.

Cordelia, on the other hand, looked perfectly fine. After she hoisted him up on the ledge, she had swam away in search of something to wear. In the end, all she could find was a simple commoner’s dress from a trunk that was left forgotten on the docks, probably luggage that the travelers had missed out.

When she returned to Zale’s side, she was dressed enough to blend into the crowd, brown flats covering her toes and a scarf that has been soaked in salt water wrapped around her head to prevent herself from drying out under the hot sun.

“Ready to go?” She asked, a hand on her hip as she watched Zale struggle to stand up on his feet.

It was a simple dress she wore but Zale couldn’t help himself but stare a second longer than what was proper. The white fabric clung onto her skin, showing curves where she had them. Over it was a simple brown apron tied securely around her waist. The top had slight lace detailing over the neckline and its sleeves were puffy, ending at her forearm.

Cordelia fiddled with her raven hair, arranging the braid that she had carelessly tied together with a string she found among the belongings where she had acquired the dress. When she noticed Zale staring, she frowned.

“What? Do I look improper?” she pouted.

“Not as much improper as stunning,” he mumbled under his breath, careful not to let her hear his innermost thoughts. He cleared his throat, this time, speaking a little louder, “you look fine. Shall we?”

He did not wait for Cordelia to respond before briskly moving past her, trudging down the cobblestone pathways he had already memorized from his years living in Limebarrow. Every once in a while, he turned back to make sure she was following him. And every once in a while, while he was checking, he couldn’t help but own a shadow of a grin.

Cordelia walked with her back straight, hands poised in front of her and chin tilted slightly upwards. Her steps were small yet sufficient to keep up with his own, and her dress, though long, never brushed against the ground as she always held it slightly up with her fingers, pinching at the fabric. When she looked at her surroundings, Cordelia’s eyes never lingered for more than a few seconds. It was just enough to study the landscape yet show no distinct interest.

“Have you been here before?” Zale couldn’t help but ask, slowing down so that he could walk by her side.

“No, but I almost did. When I was alive, I studied the landscape of this town through drawings that were brought to me. Although I must admit that drawings can never measure up to the true image. Limebarrow is a beautiful place,” Cordelia murmured.

Before Zale could ask another question, Cordelia fiddled with the medallion, pulling at it so that Zale could see what she was talking about.

“I brought you to shore. Now tell me about this. Where did you get it?”

“I’m bringing you there right now,” Zale replied. “My father gave it to me.”

As Cordelia’s eyes lit up with interest, she shifted her attention from the town’s landscape to Zale. She trailed after his every word, drinking in the newfound knowledge hungrily, neglecting the rest of whatever was happening around her.

In the shadows, a small distance away, a head perked in attention when they smelt the sea breeze that clung onto Cordelia stronger than what was blown in from the ocean. They turned, hooded eyes narrowing after the two figures that walked side by side with interest. Reaching into their pouch, four copper coins were pulled out and pressed onto the wooden table as a fee for their meal before the legs of the chair they sat on scraped against the floor.

The figure was off, scurrying after Cordelia and Zale with a grin. A treasure had just leaped off the map and straight into the hands of those who wished to acquire it.