The Barbarian's Captive by Maddie Taylor

older. His looks were deceiving though, for as he drew near, a closer look at him revealed smooth, wrinkle-free skin.
    He began to converse with Him , while he continued to hold her in place. The next thing she knew, the white-haired man — whom she presumed to be a doctor or medical technician of some kind — placed a shield over her eyes, and everything went black. No more than a second passed before it was removed.
    “Can you understand me now, sprite?” The low, rich rumble by her ear magically transformed into words she could understand. Her eyes shot to his face as he leaned over her, his arms braced on either side of her body as he watched her intently.
    “I can. What did you—” She stopped, unsure if she was speaking his language now, or he hers.
    “This is Jarlan,” he tilted his head to the white haired man beside him. “He inserted a translator. We can converse now.”
    “Inserted?” Her hands, which were strangely free, flew to her head, feeling for a mark, an incision of some kind, or a microchip under her skin. Her brows knitted as she gaped up at him. “How? There wasn’t time. He put on those glasses things and the next second took them off, you couldn’t have—”
    “Actually, it took longer than that,” Jarlan corrected. “About a tenth of a time cycle as our computers deciphered your language and entered it into our data banks. It just seemed much shorter for you.”
    “A tenth of a what?” She turned to the older man. “Are you a doctor?”
    “Those in my profession are known as healers. Some refer to me as a physic. In your world, yes, I would be a doctor.” He looked at Him . “She might experience some dizziness, though that could be from her first teleportation, as well. Either way, it should pass by morning. Contact me if it doesn’t or if her symptoms worsen.” The healer reached down and peeled an electrode from the side of her neck and nodded. “You can take her now, Max Kerr. Rest will do her well for the remainder of the day.”
    She looked at her captor, now able to give him a name.
    Max Kerr.
    She frowned. He didn’t look like a Max.
    He caught her hand and helped her to her feet, watching closely as she stood. The room tilted momentarily, then righted. She blinked and although she felt suddenly tired, the brief vertigo quickly passed.
    “Dizzy?”
    She shook her head, pulling on her hand, but he didn’t let go. “I’m fine,” she said, tugging to get free again. “I’d like some answers. I want to know—”
    “I will answer your questions in due time. For now, you will do as Jarlan said and rest. Come along.” He turned, towing her along toward the door. She passed another bed, Eryn lying upon it. She was wearing the same visor like glasses and not moving, a tall half-naked barbarian looking on from her bedside. Eva dug in her heels, wanting to stay. Her resistance had no effect, however, as Max continued out the door and into a corridor.
    “We shall arrive on our home planet in about four time cycles. You will rest in my suite until then.”
    As he started down the hall, her hand enveloped in his, she hurried to keep up, taking two steps for each of his long-legged strides. They passed other people — all men — dressed in the same tunics as the healer, but in different colors. After several turns, they arrived at a lift and got in. She barely felt it move before the doors opened again. Thinking they hadn’t gone anywhere, she stayed where she was only to be tugged out by Max.
    “This is the warrior’s level. We’re almost there.”
    “It looks the same as the floor we just left.”
    “Look up. The colored stripe on the ceiling indicates the level you are at.” He slowed as they approached double doors. “Here we are.” He passed his hand over a sensor embedded high in the wall and they opened. “I’ll have the doors programmed for your heat signature after you have learned your way around. It might not be on this flight, however. Our