He didn’t respond, but simply walked to the opposite corner of the room, where a second chair was propped against the wall. Cormac pulled it out, setting it in the center of his room to face her, and sat.
Kamira squirmed like an unruly child in her seat. “Alright, you’re starting to make me nervous. What is it? Just tell me already.”
“I know you’re a Sorceress,” he said calmly.
Kamira froze, raising her eyes to meet his unwavering blue-gray stare. His face revealed nothing of what he was thinking—no hint of emotion or quiver of interest. Was he upset? Did he want her thrown off this ship? She opened her mouth to speak, but he put a hand up to silence her.
“There’s no use denying it. Your secret is safe with me. I have no issue with Sorcerers and don’t hold the same opinions as the Emperor.”
She blinked a few times at his words, surprised that he didn’t share Doraan’s hatred, before blowing out a shaky breath. “How did you find out?”
“I’ve been around long enough to understand what it means when unexplainable things begin to happen.” He finally allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch up for a split second before falling back into that steely expression he always held firm. “My suspicions started the first morning you spent on the ship, when the whirlpool you claimed you hadn't seen appeared on one of the calmest sea days we’d had in weeks. The second clue came during the attack on that merchant ship. The storm that allowed us to get away with our lives showed up out of nowhere, just as you stood on the railing—unwisely, might I add—and disappeared shortly after you were shot.”
Kamira gulped audibly, sinking further and further into her chair as he spoke. She had been so stupid and careless.
“But the final straw was the fact we reached Torheim a full two days ahead of schedule. The fastest ships in the realm couldn’t amount to such a feat, even with the wind and currents on their side. That’s when I knew for sure that you are a water Sorceress.”
“I—stars, I just wanted to help, and the only way I knew how was with my gifts.” She closed her eyes, letting her head fall back against the back of the chair before opening them again and sitting up. “Do the other crew members share your views, or do they side with Doraan when it comes to Sorcerers?”
“It’s an even split. I know Doraan informed you of the curse. Of the reason we’re stuck roaming the seas. Most of the men can not forgive those who use their powers. They have only seen and experienced the pain it causes. There are those, like me, who have experienced the opposite.”
Kamira sighed, slumping in her chair once again. “I understand. I mean, I don’t like it or agree with it, but I can see where they are coming from. I’ll stop using my sorcery. I’ll be better.”
“I actually had another notion in mind,” Cormac said, leaning forward in his chair and resting his elbows on his knees.
She cocked a brow at his expression. Curiosity was etched into his features and a sense of excitement she’d never seen from him before.
“And that is?” she inquired.
“I was hoping you could use your gifts to cut our trip to Neilmaar in half.”
Kamira's eyes widened in surprise, unsure if she heard Cormac correctly. He wanted her to use her sorcery after all? “But wouldn’t that cause suspicion in the crew? They would know something strange was happening.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. We need to reach Neilmaar as soon as possible. If anything, that fleet made the urgency of our trip increase ten-fold.” Cormac clasped his hands together, still leaning his elbows on his knees, his pale blue eyes locked onto hers. “Jorne will be able to come up with some explanation about the luck of the currents and the angle of the winds to keep the crew from asking too many questions. He remembers before, when we lived freely with the Sorcerers. He knows that most are kind and good.”
Kamira looked at his clasped hands, watching as his knuckles turned white. He was hiding his agitation well. He needed her to say yes.
“So, only you and Jorne will know what’s actually going on?”
He nodded.“Yes, just the three of us will know the truth.”
“What about Doraan?”
Cormac sat back against his chair, placing a hand on either knee, and Kamira watched as red replaced the white across his hands as the blood rushed back to them. She waited as he seemed to mull something over quietly in his mind. “It is imperative that Doraan not know you are a Sorceress. He cannot even have an inkling of suspicion.”
Kamira nodded. “Agreed. But how do we keep it from him? He’s bound to think something is amiss if we make it to Neilmaar days ahead of schedule.”
“I will handle Doraan. Don’t worry.”
“But what will…”
Cormac reached over, placing a large calloused hand on her knee. “He won’t find out. Trust me.”
Cormac’s tone was laced with desperation—a hitch in his voice that took Kamira by surprise. In the span of several minutes, Kamira had seen more emotion flash over Cormac’s features than she had during the entire almost three weeks on the ship, and it was all surrounding Doraan. He loved Doraan like a son, she realized, and would do anything to protect him. That thought had her nodding.“I trust you, Cormac.”
He pulled his hand away, shoulders relaxing with a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Kamira.” She smiled at his relief, but anxiety washed over her when he added, “There is one more thing.”
Her eyebrows rose in anticipation of his next words, “Yes?”
