Author's Note: Don't worry, he didn't die! But you knew that already…duh. Hehe.

Amiti felt a glass being pressed to his lips. Someone was propping his head up and shaking him awake. He opened his lips and took a sip of the liquid in the cup.

The taste was overwhelming, bitter and burning. He spluttered and sat up sharply, coughing and choking as the hand on his head moved to slap him on the back. Amiti moaned and retched, and he felt a rough-hewn wooden bucket being pressed into his hand. He hung his head vomited, the salt of seawater and the sharp taste of whiskey burning his mouth and nose. He heaved and clutched at his stomach until it felt that there was nothing left in his whole body but acid and an awful taste in his mouth.

He leaned back, miserable, tears inadvertently springing to his eyes as a headache began pounding in his temples.

"Water…" he croaked.

"Here!" he heard Karis's voice from across the room, and felt another glass at his lips. He clutched at it thirstily as he sucked down the cool water. He opened his eyes, setting the glass down.

His vision came back slowly, and he groaned as the dim light reached his sore eyes. He was in a large room, sparsely furnished with a table and chairs, a dresser, and the small wooden bed he was laying in.

Mist and the other Djinn were gathered at the foot of his bed, their wide eyes staring at their keeper. The other Adepts' Djinn were there, too, whispering and fighting to get a view of him. He put his arms out weakly, and several of his own little creatures rushed to sit with him. He hugged them tightly as they fussed over him.

Karis hovered worriedly in the doorway, and Eoleo was crouched next to Amiti. His dark red hair was still damp, and Amiti noticed with a jolt to his stomach that the pirate was nude, save for a blanket wrapped around his waist.

The prince realized with another jolt that he was completely naked under the sheets. Without his circlet on his head, his hair fell loosely around his eyes, still dripping onto his cheeks.

The pirate was studying him with a frown.

"You're an idiot," he said roughly. Amiti blushed. But Eoleo broke into a grin. "Look, I know you're from Ayuthay but you crossed the line this time. Fallin' in the water and then makin' us drag all your clothes off so you don't catch cold. Ya nudist."

Amiti managed a watery grin.

"And where are your clothes, Captain?" Eoleo looked down and laughed. Amiti noticed for the first time that the Champan man had a thick gash running across his chiseled stomach. He gasped and leaned forward, placing his hand on the Fire Adept's abdomen and knocking several Djinn over.

"How did you get that?" He closed his eyes and cast Ply on the wound. A pang of guilt struck his empty stomach. Eoleo had risked his life to save him, a man who had hated the Champan people all his life. Again, he found himself in debt to a pirate.

"Lemme see," the older man replied. "Someone on my crew falls in the water, I go help him and get cut up in the process. Standard practice for shipmates." He placed his hand over Amiti's. "Be careful, eh?"

Amiti nodded. The pirate nodded and stood, wincing as he rose.

"Come on," he said to his Djinn. They clamored around his ankles, wanting to stay and watch Amiti. "He's not an exhibit," said the pirate. "Out you go! C'mon." He winked as he left.

Karis immediately ran over to Amiti and forced some bread into his hand.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she said. "We were all so worried."

"I'm sorry," said Amiti. "I need to be more careful…" he sighed and looked up at his friend.

"Why didn't you listen to Eoleo when he said to get belowdecks?"

…"I just have a hard time trusting such a man. A pirate, who no doubt has wrecked and pillaged dozens of Ei-Jei ships along with his father."

"And you are from Ayuthay, and you and your uncle have no doubt imprisoned or refused to trade with dozens of Champan citizens," said Karis. "It's their way of life, Amiti. They don't have fertile land to build on or a good supply of water. Champa is poor."

"He insulted me, you heard it!"

"What, the bit about you wearing 'real clothes?'" Karis shook her head. "Tyrell would have said the same thing if he even had half a clue about Ayuthay customs and he had just met you. And did you ever think Eoleo was just joking around?"

Amiti frowned. He hadn't. And it was also true that Ayuthay people didn't wear many clothes. In fact, when he had met the children of the Warriors of Vale he had been bare-chested and wearing sandals…

The prince sighed. "I suppose so. I feel awful now. For not trusting him and then for making him jump to save me like that."

"He was worried about you," said Karis.

"Really?"

"Oh yes. He was very upset. You're one of his companions now. We all are." Amiti took a bite of the bread and sighed. His back was sore and his head ached.

"What did he say when I went over?"

"I heard him yell, 'that goddamn prince just got thrown over' and then he came charging belowdecks to get our help. We all anchored the rope as he jumped in after you. He was frantic."

Amiti swallowed the bread with some difficulty.

"He's so brave…" Karis nodded silently.

"Where are we now?" Amiti asked.

"The seas are calmer now that we are out of the eclipse. Eoleo has set us a course for land, and he's been teaching Matthew how to steer the ship. Everyone is about to turn in for the night up on deck. Are you ready to come upstairs?"

Amiti nodded, started to get up, and then hastily grabbed the sheets. "Um….my clothes?"

"Oh!" Karis grabbed a pile of clothes from the table and handed them to him. "Your traveling gear isn't dry but there were some extra clothes that Eoleo said you could use." She smiled. "See you on deck."

Amiti hastily slipped on the breeches, tunic, and vest and pulled on the leather boots that Karis had handed him. They were a little big and smelled of seawater, but he was very grateful to be warmer and dryer. He pulled his hair back in a simple ponytail and walked upstairs.

Tyrell was already snoring beside Karis, who was just settling down to sleep. Matthew, Sveta and Eoleo were at the helm, and Kraden and Rief stood by them, examining the orb that King Volechek had given Sveta.

Amiti walked up to Matthew, who embraced him tightly.

"Hello," he said simply, turning back to the helm. Sveta, not one for hugs, shook Amiti's hand and gripped his shoulder.

"You look better," she said. The beastman looked worried. Amiti supposed she was still upset about her brother, though her green eyes still shone with an ethereal ferocity . He was surprised that she was talking to Eoleo, the man whom her brother had been about to execute by boiling…

But all those memories seemed so far away now. As for the pirate, he smiled and punched Amiti playfully in the shoulder.

"Ow!" The Water Adept noted with a bit of disappointment that Eoleo had covered his muscular chest up with his usual armor, tunic and cape. …for a pirate, he certainly was easy on the eyes.

"Now those are some real clothes, Little Prince," said Eoleo. "You look ready for the weather now and not just ready for a court session!"

Amiti almost snapped back at the pirate, but remembered what Karis had said. And despite all his manly bravado and coarse language, Eoleo had just lost his father. Amiti decided to be a little more tolerant.

"I'm just glad they didn't give me your clothes to wear because then I'd be drowning again…in all that extra cloth." Amiti smiled wryly at Eoleo, who let out a deep rumble of a laugh.

"Another comment like that and I'll throw you off again! Mercury Adepts should be able to swim…or at least calm down those damn storms! Are you a faulty Adept, boy?" Eoleo clapped Amiti on the back, forcing the younger man to erupt in a coughing fit. He aimed a fist at Eoleo's chest but withdrew it immediately when the plated armor proved to be stronger than it looked.

Matthew and Sveta laughed at the pair of them as Amiti held his throbbing hand, and then Matthew let out a huge yawn.

"You tired, Matt?" asked Eoleo. "Go lie down; I'll keep this old girl on course." Matthew nodded and walked to the ship's rear. Sveta joined Rief and Kraden in their discussion of the orb, leaving Amiti and Eoleo together at the wheel.