Rising tide - Mel Odom [103]
"Lady, as you've said, I'm naive about some things, but one thing I have learned is that beauty can be deceptive."
"Touche," she replied, looking into his eyes. She smiled at him.
Jherek became even more aware of the way the blanket enfolded the two of them, and of the scent of lilacs. The moonlight ignited copper flame highlights in her damp hair. She was beautiful.
"You lie as well," she replied calmly, without accusation. "I don't know if your name is Malorrie or Jherek."
"Lady-" Her words tore at Jherek's heart. He'd never wanted to lie to anyone.
She placed her fingers against his lips. "Shush. I feel I know you. I think you believe you have reasons for lying about the things you lie about. I won't have you lying any further to me, not if I'm going to get to know you, and I won't push you to tell me anything you're not ready to say."
He waited, smelling the lilac softness of her fingers.
"Do you understand?"
"Aye, lady," he said softly.
She stared at him in silence for a moment, then broke the eye contact. "You need to get some sleep," she said, "as do I. Tynnel will keep a crew out searching for any more possible survivors, but I don't think there'll be any. We can talk more tomorrow."
"As you wish."
She smiled at him." As you wish,'" she repeated. "I like the sound of that."
Jherek flushed. At the moment, looking into her eyes, the response had seemed so appropriate, culled from the pages of books he'd read, of the romances in the stories, but aloud like that, with Sabyna drawing attention to it, it seemed to strike a false note. "I only meant-"
"It's all right. I meant what I said, I do like the sound of it. I've grown up around the sea and seafaring men all my life. Men's lips often move before their brains have full sails up. I'll warn you now, if you start coming across as a dandy, I'll have none of it. The man I had dinner with, the one who was polite and kind and thoughtful, and maybe a bit flustered, that's the one I enjoy. If he turns out to be a bit of drama or a flummery, I warn you now I'll be greatly disappointed." She took her blanket back and stood.
Jherek stood as well, and he was surprised how chill the wind felt now after being wrapped in her blanket. He took the empty bowls, intending to drop them in the galley after they parted.
"Are you still interested in helping out with the work Breezerunner needs?"
"Of course."
She started to go, then turned back to him. "There's one other thing I want to mention to you."
"Aye."
Her manner turned even more darkly serious. "When I read your palm earlier, I had a vision. I've never had one before, but I know that's what it was. It was interrupted by the collision."
Jherek felt his stomach turn small and cold, wondering what she'd seen. After living with Madame litaar as she gave divinations all those years, he believed in such magic, "I don't know how far in the future, but at some point, you're going to cross swords with Falkane the Salt Wolf. It will be at sea, but it's a sea I've not seen."
Suddenly dizzy, feeling like the deck itself had dropped out from beneath him, Jherek made himself remain standing.
"That surprises you?" she asked.
"Aye."
"Why?"
"I'm just a sailor, no king's man or corsair to pursue the pirates of the Nelanther."
Her eyes examined his face. "It might not come true," she said finally. "The vision felt like it was sometime in the future, but the events aren't set. If you stay on your present course, I feel it will happen, but visions aren't written in stone. Good night. I'll see you in the morning."
Jherek watched her walk away, reveling in the sight of her while at the same time feeling more wary than ever. After leaving the dishes with the cook, he took himself amidships and hung out a hammock. He'd stayed in the cabin below decks for the last three nights, sharing the space with other travelers and some of the ship's crew. Tonight, though, he wanted to sleep out under the stars, hoping it would clear his head.
He laid on the hammock and draped the heavy blanket