Chapter 132

ALEK WOKE TO THE NOISE of the birds clattering over the roof of the house they slept in. He shifted in the narrow cot bed, twisting to lift the curtain a little and peered out; the sun had just started to rise. With a yawn he sat and slipped his boots on, the other men snoring when he ducked out the back door with a towel.

'Going for a swim?' Loushka appeared silently around the corner as he walked toward the river.

'Yeah. A moment's peace before the day begins would be nice.'

They continued to the water's edge; the dirt-track wide enough for Loushka to walk alongside him.

'Missing Cat?'

'Yes, but it's good to have time with just the guys, like we used to.'

A sound behind them caused them both to turn, and Kerak sauntered up with the languorous grace of a lion. Alek greeted the griffon then dropped the towel to the side and stripped his pants and boots off. The river had a bend not far down with a deep swimming hole tucked in it and an overhanging tree that had a rope hanging fro