Part 22 (2/2)
If only the stones would tell her own future.
She frowned. But they never had. She had not once seen herself in any of her visions. That was odd. Her two visions of Gian had both come to pa.s.s, and now there was nothing to say what his future would be either. How much she would give to see either of their futures at this moment.
b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, she thought. You're turning into one of those weak minds made to become marks for people just like you.
The cry of gulls interrupted her morbid thoughts. Surely that meant they were near sh.o.r.e. She slipped out of her hammock and let herself out into the blinding sunlight. The captain stood at the wheel, looking exhausted. On the left about a mile away dry hills loomed above a beach with huge surf cras.h.i.+ng on the sand. One sailor moved about the deck coiling ropes and another sat on one of the same mending a sail with even st.i.tches.She smiled at the captain. ”Well done, Monsieur le Capitaine. We made it.”
He gave her a grimace. ”We did indeed, if you call Cagliari on Sardinia our destination.”
”We're not in Algiers?”
”The sh.o.r.e's on the north,” he said in disbelief.
”Oh.” She'd never been much on direction. But now that she looked at the sun behind her, it was coming up directly in back of the boat. ”How far is Cagliari from Algiers?”
”About three hundred sea miles.”
That would not please Gian. The cabin door cracked open. Gian squinted against the light. ”Good job, Gaetjens.”
”I'm not sure we could have done it without you, signore.”
”Come. Let's draw a new course.” He shut the door abruptly. Kate knew why. The captain gave the wheel to a sailor and ducked into the cabin. She followed. Gian had a parchment spread out on the table and weighted with the heavy tankards they used for ale.
The captain thrust an index finger at the map. ”We must stand in to Barcelona or back to Rome for repairs and supplies.
Shouldn't take above a week to get a new mast.”
Gian shook his head. ”No time, my friend. Can she limp into Algiers?”
The captain frowned. ”Maybe. If the weather holds.”
”I think the weather has done its worst.” Gian moved his hand over the map, looking for a route, then pointed. ”Here. We'll hit land here, then hug the coast.”
The captain looked up, concern etched in his weathered face. ”You take a chance.”
Gian set his lips. ”The stakes are high. Our compet.i.tion has just gained ground on us. We'll collect fresh water on sh.o.r.e here and crack on for Algiers.” Glancing up, he saw Kate standing, back against the door, and touched his hand to his forelock in the cla.s.sic sailor's salute. ”Good morning.” The captain headed out to the tiller, his look pensive.
”I thought you said we were faster than their larger s.h.i.+p,” Kate whispered.
”But they are more stable in a storm,” he said, ”with their greater weight. And hairing they did not lose a mast themselves, they would have been able to stay closer to their course.” He shrugged as though he didn't care, but his eyes were serious. ”They may be before us.”
”In Algiers?” She chewed her lip in dread. She had no desire to meet Elyta again, ever.
”Perhaps. She'd find our destination in Amalfi. Or maybe they'll go straight to the temple. You told them I was taking the stone back there.”
”But they don't have the stones to guide them.”
”Maybe they don't need them.” He looked away, toward the horizon. ”Elyta was once a mentor to the woman called Asharti who started the whole mess in North Africa. It was Asharti who found the temple. If they were still friends then, maybe Elyta already knows where it is.”
Chapter Eighteen
On the evening of the fourth day after the storm had a bated, they drifted into Algiers harbor. They had actually made good time, or so the captain said, considering. But four more days on board a tiny boat with no privacy and no chance to be alone with Gian was torture. Gian was edgy the whole time, pacing the cabin, working all night with the sailors. It was almost as if he didn't want to be with her. His answers to her questions were short if he answered at all. There was something wrong with him.
The gangplank was hardly set out when Gian appeared in coat and boots. ”Gaetjens, escort Miss Sheridan to the Hotel Africain.
I have some urgent business I must attend to.”
Gian registered her mulish expression. ”You'll be perfectly safe.”
”I'm sure I will...” Indeed, the sailors had all been most kind and deferential after she'd cared for the injured Jenkins.
”In case you are looking for our cargo, I've taken them with me for safekeeping.”
Before she could say more, he disappeared into the crowd on the docks. She was left to gather their belongings and trail after the captain to the hotel, fuming. He might be able to keep his pockets from being picked. He'd caught her out after all. But it wasn't right to leave her without a clue as to what was next or what she was to do.
By the time she and the captain reached their destination, she was perspiring. The night was steamy. The hotel turned out to be a whitewashed affair with a tiled roof and arched windows filled with filigree iron. Inside, cool blue tiles and the luxury of indoor plants were welcome, but the French spoken by the desk clerk was even more so. Kate didn't speak Arabic, The porter deposited Gian's valise in one room and left her with the key to one adjacent.
”Thank you for all your help, mademoiselle,” the captain said, bowing over her hand.
”Thank you, captain. You have been most kind.”
”Now, I must beg forgiveness, for I have a mast to see to.” He grinned. ”It would not do to be unready when il signor Urbano wishes to return to Amalfi.”
She sincerely hoped they had a chance to make use of that new mast.
It was nearly midnight when she felt vibrations and the faint scent of cinnamon and something else wafted through the door.
Could that be Gian? If so, he had gained back his scent.
The door opened and he strode in without knocking, looking strong and relaxed, ready. The circles that had hung about his eyes were gone. His face was pleasingly flushed and his eyes snapped with energy. His vibrations were faster again, almost at the edge of consciousness.
Blood. Why hadn't she guessed? She felt a fool. ”I see you got what you needed.”
He flushed further.
”You could have had more from me, you know.”
”I couldn't risk taking from anyone on a boat that size. If they'd realized they had a vampire aboard, I'd have had them jumping overboard.” He strode to the window and closed the shutters. ”They're here.”
”Elyta?” she gasped.
”No, Ian Rufford and his wife. They've taken a villa in the old part of town.”
”You mean you weren't sure they were even in Algiers?” How like him to keep that little doubt from her.
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