Loud knocking on the door woke Teylin and Ravi the following morning. Ravi was out of bed instantly, pulling on a pair of pants hastily as he rushed to see what was the matter. Teylin stayed huddled in the fading warmth of the bed, his eyes fixed blankly on the door to the cabin. He knew without doubt what the commotion was. A hand rested on the space in the bed next to him that Ravi had just vacated. Closing his eyes, Teylin savored the remembered warmth for a long moment before he forced himself to move.
He stood with a slight twinge of pain. His muscles protested the movement after their abuse last night but he ignored them. Crossing the room, he bypassed the plain robe strewn on the floor and headed towards the chests of stolen loot Ravi had collected in his room. Inside he found the ceremonial robes salvaged from the attack. With great reluctance, he started to slowly pull them over his naked body. He had never dressed himself in the robes but he managed to get all the latches and fastenings properly placed. Grabbing an ornamented brush from one of the chests, he slowly combed his hair into a semblance of decency.
Teylin’s reflection stared solemnly back at him, his expression freezing into a look of distant coldness. Deep breaths calmed him as he set himself for the task ahead. He knew what would happen if he left matters alone and that was not acceptable. While the fate for himself was the same either way, it was the fate of the people that currently surrounded him that mattered more to Teylin. Outside he could hear the shouts of the crew as they readied weapons and prepared for a fight. With one last glance at his reflection, Teylin turned and walked out of the room.
It was exactly like he had pictured in his dream. The same armored soldiers stood on deck of the approaching ship, sharpened weapons gleaming in the bright sunlight. The skies were clear for miles around but the sunlight no longer warmed him like it used to. He didn’t think he would ever be warm again after this. No one noticed him as he stepped out of the cabin, not until he started to move towards the railing of the ship. Men around him stopped their preparations, turning to stop him but their hands never quite reached him. The ships drew close. As the soldiers prepared to launch themselves onto Ravi’s ship, Teylin spoke one clear command that carried over the din of all the men.
“Halt.”
The noise from both ships died as all eyes focused on him. The soldiers on the opposite ship instantly dropped to one knee as soon as they saw him, a wave of blue falling to the deck. One soldier remained standing, and he moved forward to the railing of his ship. Teylin stood opposite him as the two ships drew close. The soldier did not look away.
“We’ve come for you.”
Teylin nodded his acceptance. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ravi staring at him with carefully concealed fury. He forced himself to keep his eyes forward, his face betraying nothing of what he felt.
“There are captives below. Third door on the right near the end of the hall. You will bring them with us.”
One glance from the soldier opposite Teylin and another was rising, jumping the short gap between them and moving unimpeded into the ship. Teylin could tell that Ravi wanted to scream at him but common sense in the face of over three dozen trained soldiers lined up before him kept the Captain silent.
A barked command from the commanding soldier brought forth a plank to connect the two ships. Knowing what would happen as soon as he crossed, Teylin raised his hands in the air and chanted swiftly. A glowing white crest formed under his feet, the symbol of Raased prominently displayed against the wooden planks. Harshly barking the ancient words of the spell, he forced the pattern to move forward and ingrain itself on the side of the ship.
“In the name of the Divine and Most Sacred Raased, Lord of Light and God that Reigns Above All, do I, his High Priest, grant a full pardon upon this ship and all of its crew for any past crimes they have committed. None may lay a hand against the men of the ship while the symbol of my protection doth blaze in the purest of light from its hull.”
Surprised stares met him from all around and he ignored them as he stepped onto the plank bridging the two ships with fake calm. He was betraying everyone who had come to trust him, but this was the only way to preserve some fraction of his heart from the pain that was to come. No matter what the repercussions would be, he could deal with them as long as he knew Ravi and his crew were safe.
He didn’t look back as he crossed over to the other ship and let the commanding soldier lead him below deck.
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