My mouth began to water, and my body flushed cold.
This was so not good.
You’re the pretendmagvis.You can’t get sick.
I spun around and began to stumble back toward the stairs. The sea spray and howling winds had been a nuisance, but my stomach had been far more settled out there—
The ship rolled again, and I fell into the wall.Oh no.
Black leather boots appeared on the stairs in front of me, growing into legs and an unhappy face. “I specifically told you to stay on deck.”
Focusing on each breath, I forced myself toward those stairs.
Harthon muttered a curse. He grabbed my arm and quickly corralled me up the steps.
Blessedly cold air beat my face, and I closed my eyes, inhaling deep. But that was a mistake, because closing my eyes was just as bad as being back down in the cabin, and the watering in my mouth intensified—
Instinct sent me dashing to the ship’s side. My belly heaved as I made contact with the wall. I got my face over the railing just as my stomach emptied itself.
“Hold fast! We have a big one!” someone shouted.
My abdomen cramped and I vomited again into that awful, terrible sea just as a warm body crushed me against the wooden wall.
“Hang on.” Harthon yanked me to the deck.
The ship went down, then keptgoing down, before suddenly tilting up at a dangerous angle.
I watched as a wave rolled over the front of the ship, sending a wash of water down the entire deck that slammed into my knees. Harthon was all that kept me from sliding with it.
Whoops and cheers rose across the deck, like this was some kind offun.
I shoved Harthon away and threw my face over the railing again, cursing this ocean, the Domus, themagvisherself for giving me the eyes that brought me here.
Then and there, I was the furthest thing possible from the all-powerful being I pretended to be. It seemed the ocean was determined to remind me of that.
Staying at my back, Harthon pulled my hair away from my face as I continued to heave.
Spitting, I panted, “The sea is trying to kill me.”
Harthon’s body vibrated against me. Was thisfunny?
“Not just you. All of us, every time we sail.”
Chapter 16
Inever did get to explore the cabin.
Once the seasickness took hold, there was no going back. I stayed by that wall, dangling my head over the side in the most un-magvis-like fashion, until Harthon set me back in the center of the ship with a bucket to vomit into. Even when there was nothing left in my stomach, it continued to spasm. As the skies grew dark and I thought the misery would never end, exhaustion finally claimed me.
Even then, I refused to go below deck to sleep. Harthon knew this without asking and had Stefano bring up a bundle of blankets. I deliriously watched as Harthon wrapped me in them and situated two heavy chests beside me, so I wouldn’t slide around as I slept. Then I passed out.
I remembered all this as I slowly regained consciousness, hints of light filtering through my closed eyelids. The blankets around me were warm but lumpy, the deck hard on my back. The air smelled salty with hints of mildew from the ship.
My body wobbled as the ship rocked.
Gently.
I readied myself for the inevitable pitch and roll. It didn’t come. Neither did yesterday’s nausea.
