SINBAD – The new Journeys
Episode #03: Curse of the Black Rose

Disclaimers: AOS and all his characters belong to Ed Naha. I just borrowed them to let the Nomad sail again.. :) Don't sue me please!
Author's note: This story is number #3 in my Sinbad – The new Journeys serie. For a better comprehension of this one, you should read first "New Beginnings" and "Prophecy Girl".

"See…? Just an ordinary market in an ordinary port, no need to go all catastrophic on me…"

Sinbad pointed out, following a rather annoyed Maeve through the stands of the market they were visiting. Red hairs framing her pale face, a white blouse with brown vest and matching pants, the sorceress was staring at the various items, evidently trying to ignore the captain tailing her.
"Sinbad, don't you have anything better to do? Don't know… captain a ship, perhaps? Or what about drinking grog with the guys at the tavern?" the redhead snapped back, glaring at the sailor, hand on her hips.
"No, I don't. First off, you're still weak and I want to keep an eye on you…"
"I'm perfectly capable to take care of myself!"
"I know! But then… I just want you to be aware that an uncharted stop is not evil! And we can have fun, while we wait for the suppliers to load on the Nomad what we bought!"
"If I told you that I didn't like the idea of stopping there… that's way I mean it! Will you ever take me seriously?" Maeve spat, glaring at him. Sinbad sighed, rolling his eyes.
"I always take you seriously, Maeve… it's just you used to repeat these words every single time we made an uncharted stop."
"I know… - Maeve snorted – but now tell, me… whenever I've been wrong?" she shoot him a meaningful glance before going back to stroll between the stands, looking around for something.
"Come on Maeve… we chose to let the wind take us, and the wind took us here!"
"It wasn't the wind… it was the lack of water!" the sorceress grumpily pointed out, stepping near a stand covered with bowls of strange powders and dried leaves, surveyed by an old, serene woman.
"You are quite impossible when you chose to be it, you know?" the Captain asked, hands going to his hips.
"I'm out of herbs, I've to restock. Care to help or are you just going to annoy me? Because if so, I would have rather brought Bryn along, at least she could use some introduction to the art of herbs, and she doesn't complain as much as you!"
"So you do prefer Bryn to me? I should feel hurt…" Sinbad pointed out, smirking.
"Aww.. my poor baby. Don't. " Maeve teased back, her mood already sobering, grinning back to the captain before studying the herbs displayed on the stand she just reached. Sinbad approached her, looking uncertainly to the dried leaves, leaning a bit on the sorceress.
"Are you looking for spices to cook Dermott with…?" he inquired, making Maeve groan.
"Actually, I'm not. Now, would you stop intruding my personal space, sailor?" Maeve smiled, casting him a sideway grin.
"I wouldn't… I can't be sure that if I let you out of my sight, you won't disappear…" he whispered, seriousness in his tone. Maeve turned to stare in those blue eyes, her heart melting at the tender concern they showed.
"I'm not going anywhere… I promised, remember? - she smiled tenderly, leaning in Sinbad touch – but if you are worried for me, you should start to listen to my advices!"
"Maybe… Sometimes." he whispered back, sneaking an arm around her waist to drew her closer, his eyes locked to hers.
"Liar… - she mumbled back, leaning in to place a soft kiss on his lips – all right, as much as I hate it… we are still in the middle of a market…" she remembered him, smirking playfully before pushing a lock of hair out of Sinbad forehead.
"Yeah… herbs shopping…" Sinbad repeated forcefully, stepping back from her to watch her choosing what she needed, his hands going to his hips while he surveyed the nearabouts.
"You know, sailor… I kind of miss that red band you used to wear…" Maeve observed absently, casting a quick glance to the Captain unruly hairs, contrasting with his shaved face and clean clothes.

"My headband… has been ages since last time I wore it… I don't even know if I still have it…" Sinbad nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his forehead. The headband was nastily shredded into pieces by Firouz, eager to use it as a bend for a bleeding, injured Sinbad after a fight with the bad guy of the day, some days before Maeve falling overboard. He never thought about replacing it, and somehow the constant crashing of his hairs against his eyes got to be a habiture.
"Well… - Maeve shrugged, collecting his herbs before guiding Sinbad to the next stand, her eyes attentively scanning the clothes arranged on it – try this…" she smiled, picking up a red sash she handed to the captain, who smiled back.
"Will you ever take a no as an answer…?" Sinbad asked, arranging the cloth while the sorceress payed for it.
"Not from you…" she smiled tenderly, making Sinbad stop to watch at her, grinning slyly.

"MAEVE!"

The sorceress bolted in full attention at her brother mental scream, noticing for the first time the noises of swords clashing against each other. Sinbad furrowed his eyebrows, paying attention for the very first time too.
"No chances it doesn't concern Doubar and the others, I suppose…" he muttered, drawing out his scimitar noticing Maeve troubled face.
"Not at all… let's go!" the redhead muttered back, drawing out the sword she kept on her back and running after her captain, who was following the shouts and noises.
"Stay away from troubles, and most important… Don't use magic!" Sinbad yelled her, turning a corner to see his brother duelling with a couple of cloaked warriors.
"Don't ask me some promise I can't keep! – Maeve snorted back – see? I told you I had a bad feeling!" she snapped, kicking her nearest attacker before engaging him in a sword fight.

"Little brother!" Doubar called for Sinbad, crashing two fighter between one another and noticing him for the first time.
"Doubar… what the heck happened to the whole 'let's make a stop to have some rest' plan?"
"She happened!" his elder brother quickly answered, pointing a petite woman with his scimitar. She was fighting not far away from Firouz, expertly knocking out warrior after warrior despite the size difference. Long unruly black hairs, tight leather outfit, a bandana on her head, the Black Rose looked no different from the last time Sinbad saw her.
"Hey Sinbad, long time no see!" Talya smiled, winking seductively to the captain before going back to fight with fury.

"Just great." Maeve snorted full of sarcasm. She got rid of her latest opponent before noticing a figure cloaked in green, muttering something in the shadow created by a stand. She furrowed her eyebrows, feeling a tremor shooting through her body.
"Magic?" Bryn shouted her, uncertainly, her eyes wandering in the nearabouts distracting her from her fight. Maeve muttered something, stepping towards the magician but being blocked by another warrior.
"RONGAR! The green cloaked one! – she called, while Doubar went to Bryn rescue – Target him!" she added, forcing the fighter in front of her to lower his guard. She could feel the power sourcing from the magician, and she knew it was too late when Rongar dagger flew to him, killing him smoothly.
"Just what I needed… - she muttered, clashing her sword handling on the warrior face and knocking him out. The hood of the cloak left her opponent face, to reveal a headband embroided with three swirls, meeting in a middle to form the Triquetra. – But…" she was forced out of her thoughts by an ominous sound of houses being crashed, and loud thuds echoing above the screams of people running for their lives. Soon the warriors fighting the Nomad crew left, disappearing in the escaping crowd, leaving the friends to look worriedly around.

"Talya… what have you done this time?" Sinbad asked, glaring to the pirate who smiled innocently.
"Me? Nothing!"
"Yeah, sure… that's why there's that thing coming to hunt us!" Maeve growled, her head nodding to the sky.
The crew quickly regrouped, backing slowly, staring worriedly to the huge stone golem advancing slowly. Talya quickly stepped behind Sinbad, her hands replacing the long bag she wore on her back before tightening the bandana she was wearing low on her head.

"Are you still sure you don't want me to use magic, Sinbad?" Maeve asked sceptically, Bryn already on her side, while she kept staring to their opponent.

SINBAD – THE NEW JOURNEYS

Created by Ed Naha

Continued by Whirlingcharm Productons

Curse of the Black Rose

Written by Electra

Here we are...Hope you'll like the beginning of this new adventure...:D