wrath of the Sea Queen (44 page)

"No
;
al
though we did make a g
reat
team
, didn't we?
 
I would not have been able to do what I did without your help. 
You were incredible the way you did that. 
But
,
I think I need to be in the water
to make that transfer
again."

"Can you use the excess energy to restore your own strength?"

"
It doesn't work like that for me.  Don't ask me why.  I haven't got a clue," C
a
eli re
plied
.

"
Would you like something to drink
? 
I can bring you
a
glass of water
.  What do you need?
"
  Vin
stood
up and pac
ed
in front of her as she sat on the bunk.  A mild draft swept the hair back from her face, causing her to shiver again.

"
I don't know yet.  This is still new to me. 
I
a
m learning as I go. 
Right now, I can
tell that it doesn't feel
right,
and
I'm
pretty
sur
e I
wi
ll be able to tell when it doe
s
. 
I
need some time to figure it out
."

"We've got time.  All the time you need.  We'll stay right here," Vin assured her.

"It
would be easier to do
this in
dry clothes
,
so that I'm not
so cold
.  Do you think you
might be able to
find something else
for me
to wear
, please
?
"

"I think I can
manage
that," Vin answered
with a half grin
.  He
reached over to adjust the blankets, making sure they were still wrapped snugly around her.

"
And maybe you could check on Ben and Salma? 
I
woul
d like to know that they
a
re all right
;
and
it would give me a few minutes to sort out my thoughts.
"

Vin sto
o
d directly in front of C
a
e
li and looked down at her for several
long
heartbeats before responding to her second request
.

"
I don't like that idea at all.  I
woul
d prefer if you came with me. 
I don't want to leave you alone
. 
Do you think getting something to eat would be helpful?  Do you want to sleep
a while longer
?  I will help you however I can, but
I would rather not leave you
here
by yourself
.
"

Vin
's
previously set aside
worry for her
returned
now that he
had a
better understanding
of
the problem
she was tackling
. 
He tried to think of everything that might possibly help with her struggle, but C
a
eli wasn't ready for any of his questions. 
He stared at her a moment longer, while she looked up at him
with a pleading smile
.

"
Please, Vin. 
I understand that you
'
re concerned, and I appreciate that. 
More than anything,
I need
a few minutes
to myself.
 
I will be perfectly fine right here. 
Trust me
to
find an answer.
"  C
a
eli
smiled to
reinforce her a
ssurance that th
is was
the best way
Vin
could help her
. 
This
related to
her gift, and she needed to understand it.  Vin could not do that for her.  He finally relented.

"
Ok.  I never could resist your smile, but I won't be gone long.  And if I know Salma, you
wi
ll have more company than you want when I get back.
"

"That's ok.  I
still
need her
help
."

"
You a
re sick
,
then,
on top of all this,
aren't you
?"

"I think so."

"Then you will definitely have company when I
return
."

Vin turned and quickly walked out of the room, shutting the door tightly behind him. 
He wanted to hurry.  For C
a
eli to openly admit that he
r
sick
ness
and want Salma's help told Vin that she must not be feeling well at all.
He let the captain know that his wife was resting, and he would return in a few minutes with Dr. Erickson.  Vin set off
in a rush
to find Ben and Salma.

C
a
eli didn't move for several minutes.  She
rack
ed
her brain
trying to fi
nd
a way to accomplish what she needed.  Before too long, she
came up with
a
wild
idea.  Since it was the only solution
that came to her
, C
a
eli decided to try it.  She
shrugged the blankets
off her shoulders
and
ignored her sodden socks and shoes scattered a few feet away
. 
Quietly,
C
a
eli
slipped unseen
from
the little cabin and then out of the steering room
, too
.  The captain and the men with him were occupied with the
sudden downpour
that seemed to come out of nowhere
,
reducing visibility. 
Once she reached
the open deck
, unnoticed
, C
a
eli disappeared.

Vin located Ben and Salma in the
mess hall
,
along
with some of the crew and guardsmen.  They
had just
finish
ed
a
meal of
sandwich
es
and warm soup
, and
Ben
now
sipp
ed
on
a
hot
cup
of coffee. 
Vin
sat down with them to bring them up to date and find out if anything else
had
happen
ed
.

"
C
a
eli
'
s in the helmsman's room.  I think she ran me off because I was hovering and asking too many questions.  She wanted a few minutes to herself.  I want to get back
to her
as soon as I can.  She is not entirely well. 
First, h
owever, I need to find her some dry clothes.  Any idea where I might be able to
scrounge up
something
for her
to wear?  Frankly, I wouldn't mind changing into dry clothes myself.  I feel like a drowned rat.
"

"
The
re are
plenty of
spare sweats, like the
lovely
outfit
Salma is wearing.
  Salma, would you
be kind enough to f
etch something that would fit C
a
eli?  It will be interesting to see you two fashionable ladies
sporting
such stylish, matching
apparel
.
"
  Ben smiled mischievously at Salma
, who got up from the table and headed down a hallway to the left
.
 
T
he ship was st
ocked with a variety of emergency
supplies
, including clothing
.

"
Vin, your duffle bag is over in that corner with mine. 
We'll take them both up with us,
"
Ben said.

"
I had a feeling you might
want to
go up
with me
,
"
Vin answered.