Chapter 14 updated

I forgot that I finished Chapter 14 on my cruise.

Chapter 14 ~ Dresden
Ten days at sea. The ocean calls to me. I can stare at the blue depths for hours. Watching the waves is almost intoxicating. The constant playfulness as each wave crashes into another causing white foam to melt across the surface. Looking to where the pink sky touches the deep blue and seeing the horizon slowly take over the sun, the last ten days play back in my mind.
We had our little talk the three of us. We resolved the issues that were plaguing our party. The one thing we had not agreed on was for Jael to learn to fight. She was determined to protect herself and her connections. She did not want to be the weak princess that everyone seemed to think she was. The problem was more Jayden and Elan; Jayden because he was too protective of his twin and Elan because he was disgusted with the thought of teaching a woman to fight.
I had kept silent through the arguments as Jael tried to first persuade in her sweetest manner and when that failed, her attempts at convincing using every connection she had. Defeated again she resorted to demands. It had come to a head the night before over dinner. We were discussing our route once we land in Sundurnik and what possible routes posed the least amount of danger. Jael, fighting control, said between clenched teeth, “The route should be the straightest course to Reykjavik. We are running out of time! If you would just teach me to protect myself we wouldn’t have to worry about the risk.”
“Jael you are not the only one we are thinking of. Would you have us run blindly into hostile territory without planning first? We brought men to protect you.” She just glared at him over her glass. Giving up on him she turned to Elan, “If my brother dies because of your cautiousness then his blood is on your hands.”
I stood as she rose to leave. She met my eyes briefly and projected into my mind, “This is foolishness. Tell them. I know you agree with me.” Her eyes narrowed as she searched my eyes for something. It still made me nervous to hold her gaze. It was unsettling the control she had gained after her emotional shut down. She was right, though, I did agree. The more protection she had, even if she provided it herself, the better.
I had been thinking of her gifts and how they might help her in a fight. If she could do something to keep her distance from the enemy then perhaps her brother would yield.
I turn at the sound of her coming up on deck. She sways slightly in the wind and walks to the rail to steady herself. As she grips it I see her arm muscles flex. I stare at the definition in her upper arms. A vision of her gripping a bow like she grips the rail drifts into my mind. The vision is so sudden and completely clear it doesn’t seem of my own creation. She looks at me guiltily through her lashes, flushing slightly.
I dwell on the image of her with a bow. She could shoot a bow from a hundred yards away and be relatively safe. Concentrating harder on the image she imprinted in my mind, I close my eyes trying to decipher how she could blend her abilities with this skill.
It wouldn’t be enough to just learn the bow. She needs an edge and only her mental abilities can provide that in such a short amount of time. It would take her too long time to gain accuracy without something to focus her powers on. There must be a way to use her connections to give her added ability. Could she see through the eyes of her connected? If she could without taking over their thoughts and actions, be able to see everywhere at once, eyes all around the fight…she could be inescapable.
Noting that no one is within ear shot I walk across deck to stand beside to her casually. We stare out across the playful sea together. “Lady, could you do it?”
She looks sideways at me. After a few moments of thought she looks back to the waves as two crash together sending up a spray as if to kiss her cheek. She wipes away the moisture from her cheek smiling at my way of seeing the antics of the sea, “Not how you think, but yes.”
We stand there for a few moments watching the sun slowly disappear. Then turning fully to me she holds her breath studying me carefully. Finally she reaches out to me slowly. Touching my hand, my eyes fix on her fingers as she brushes my skin setting it on fire. I finally find her eyes. I cannot tell if she holds my gaze with her power or if her beauty just captivates me. It doesn’t matter. I have been waiting to touch her for what seems like an eternity. Like a drug her skin on mine is intoxicating. She runs her fingers from my hand to my chest fingering the gem at my throat briefly. All the while I just watch her barely daring to breathe.
Her hair whips around her face in the wind and the setting sun illuminates the green ring in her eyes making them glow. Caught up in everything that is Jael I forget the dangers of our contact. I reach up and cup her cheek in my hand. Her skin is so soft yet it sends an electric feeling up my spine. She closes her eyes and leans into my touch. As soon as her eyes close the world comes crashing in. I realize we are only inches apart; she is practically in my arms. I release her and take a nervous step back breaking our contact fully.
She keeps her eyes closed, but takes a step back as well. Sighing sadly she turns back to the rolling scene before us. “Will you teach me?” she whispers in my mind clearly unable to speak aloud.
Still not sure if she held me with her powers or if the moment was real I whisper, “Yes.”
“Good,” she says aloud. “See you in the morning then.”
I sigh and shake my head trying to make sense of my emotions. The moment was only her power drawing us together. I am sure it was nothing more. She doesn’t know me. She can’t feel the same way. I am Crulian. “Princess, we start at dawn,” I tell her seriously. I cannot let my desire for her get in the way of her training I tell myself sternly. She is a princess and I am Crulian.
“Prince,” she says with a slight bow.
I watch her go regretting pulling away from her. I catch sight of Raidon glaring at me from the other end of the ship. I return his glare and watch as he tries to bury his jealousy. That one could pose a problem. I can tell Jael’s lack of attention is hurting him. She avoids him at all costs clearly ashamed of connecting to him. It doesn’t matter. We will be docking in Sundurnik in two days. Putting the unpleasantness behind us will be much needed, for everyone.