Part 4

Bursts of sun hit Teylin as he was pulled up a steep set of stairs and out onto the sunlit deck. He blinked heavily, his eyes not used to being in direct sunlight, but he refused to look away from the golden rays. Around him, deep blue ocean stretched for as far as the eye could see in every direction. Burly crew members bustled about on the ships deck, going about what Teylin guessed to be routine tasks. Out of the corner of his eye, Teylin caught sight of red and he acted automatically.

“Wait.”

The man pulling Teylin ignored his plea so he reached out instead in passing, clasping his hand to that of one of the workers. He ignored the wrenching pull on his arm and held fast for a brief moment as he cast a quick healing spell, the power surging through him so fast that it clouded his vision in white. The crew member looked at him in shock but Teylin missed it as he stumbled blindly behind the strange man. Just as he was beginning to regain his senses, the pair moved into a cabin on deck and the contrast in light between the sunlit deck and dim room made him once again struggle for vision.

“Now, you’re going to tell me exactly who are you?”

Teylin found himself shoved in the chair as the strange man whirled to glare at him furiously. His wrist felt like it was burning from the man’s touch. He could still feel the fingers upon him like a phantom touch. Underneath the sleeve of his robe he could see a dark bruise forming and he ran his fingers over the skin in a daze. The feel of his own fingers on his skin was so drastically different from the strange man’s rough skin.

Belatedly he realized he had been asked a question. His hand curled around his injured wrist subconsciously, and he wasn’t quite sure whether it was to protect his wrist from further harm or to remind himelf of the warmth of another man’s skin.

“Umm… I’m Teylin, a Priest of Raased.” Which was true enough. Teylin doubted that mentioning the fact that he was the High Priest of Raased would do him any good right now. “You are?”

The strange man looked at him in surprise. “What?”

“It’s polite when being told someone’s name that you offer your own in return.”

The man stared at Teylin as if he were an idiot. Shaking his head, the man executed a mocking bow. “Captain Ravi Jivanagh of the Four Winds, at your service.”

Straightening, Ravi gave him a cold smile. “Now, for starters, what do you think you were doing to Jarth back on deck?”

Teylin blinked. He’d thought that was obvious. “He was injured. I healed him.”

Ravi lifted his hand to his face and muttered something that sounded vaguely like a prayer to the Goddess of Tides. Well, Teylin thought it was a prayer until he heard the words ‘stupid priest’ thrown in. After a moment, the Captain turned to watch him. “You do realize what kind of situation you’re in?”

“You captured us.” That much was obvious. Teylin could have given them the benefit of the doubt and assumed this man and his crew had rescued the passengers from whoever attacked their ship, but the ropes that had bound him told him otherwise.

“Right. We’re pirates, get it? You’re our prisoner. You’re not supposed to be helping us.”

Teylin frowned and stood up, a glare from the Captain making him sit back down quickly. “I don’t care who you are. I’m not going to let others suffer if I can do anything about it. I’d heal the rest of your crew to if you let me.”

“You are getting tied up and thrown back in the cell you came from, as soon as I’m done with you.”

Teylin didn’t bother adding that he’d just untie himself again.

“Now, care to explain what all these are for?” Reaching into a chest, Ravi pulled out the elaborate jewelry and robes that had been part of Teylin’s luggage. “And also, I’d like to know what you were doing in the Captain’s cabin surrounded by a set of guards?”

“They belonged to the priest I served, who now numbers the dead on the ship.”

Somehow his face did not betray him at the open lie. He had enough practice schooling his expression at the Temple that for once he was grateful for the way he was raised. Raased, he hoped, would forgive him the deception.

“And will your temple come looking for your master when he doesn’t appear where he should?”

It was only fair to warn the Captain, though Teylin felt a pang of guilt that he might cause the Temple staff to worry. “Yes, they will.”

With a nod, the Captain called in a crew member to take Teylin away.