Ready for another adventure? This is only the beginning. The crew starts off in Baghdad and will be setting sail to Carthage soon enough. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The New Adventures of Sinbad - all this recognition goes to the Creater, Ed Naha.

Baghdad

"I do not envy ye going to Carthage, Sinbad."

Sinbad stood across from his old friend, Brom, Captain Brom to be exact. There were standing at one of the high tables outside the Thirsty Whale, a popular tavern located in the heart of Baghdad. Popular enough that the barkeep had no choice but to allow his tables to overflow onto the street in front of his building; especially during his busy hours. The seating and tables were roped off, of course, to ensure that they were being occupied by patrons of the Thirsty Whale.

Sinbad was not surprised to run into familiar faces here, for Baghdad was a busy port for many sailors. Where he and Brom stood, he recognized a few other Captains and their crew members amongst the crowd. He could see a few of his own crew near, catching up with old friends or perhaps making new ones. He smiled at the man in front of him and took a sip of his ale before speaking. "I do not envy me as well. When was the last you've been there?"

Brom's eyes squinted in thought. "About two months now. It is more recent than I care to admit. It's gotten worst there, my friend. It's best that you make your stay as short as possible."

"Are you trying to scare me?" Sinbad replied. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Brom gave out a hearty laugh. "I am only trying to be a good friend!" He then took a swig of his own ale.

"Sinbad doesn't scare easily."

Brom's eyes shifted to their visitor and smiled at the sight of her. "I would imagine so." He stood aside to greet her with a kiss to the cheek. "You look well, Bryn." He gestures towards their table. "Join us?"

"Yes, please." Bryn maneuvered her way around the table to stand next to Sinbad. She felt him place a hand at the small of her back as soon as she stepped closer.

Brom now faced the both of them and noticed something he didn't quite notice before. Sinbad and Bryn shared a look that was most telling. He was sure that Sinbad's eyes soften as he looked at her and a smile that could only be given to woman was on his face for a brief moment. Is that an arm around her waist? Brom held back his own smile and tongue at what he just discovered between these two friends.

"What conversation did I just rudely intrude on?" Bryn smiled at Brom and Sinbad.

Brom answered quickly. "I was warning your Captain about Carthage." He tilted his cup towards Sinbad. "I do hope he takes mind of what I have said so far."

"I've never been there." Bryn stated. She didn't understand what the problem was. "Is warning needed?"

Brom raised his eyebrows and pointed a finger at Sinbad, ignoring her question. "You better keep her by your side at all times if you know what's good for her." Although, I am sure that wouldn't be a problem. He thought to himself.

"How much worse could have it gotten?" Sinbad asked his friend. He leaned forward towards the middle of the table, truly curious.

Brom leaned forward as well to answer his question. "The second your ship is nestled into their harbor, the guards start barking orders at you as if they own you. They come aboard without permission, order you to line up your crew for their ridiculous inspection, and they even have the audacity to search your ship!" He slammed his hand hard on the wooden table in frustration. "It's really quite violating, if you ask me, Captain to Captain." He gave a heavy sigh as he straightened his posture. "It's as if you are guilty of some crime you have no idea that you committed. Questioning you and your crew to no end. You can't get any work done timely there."

"How do they manage to get people to stay?" Bryn asked.

"Once you pass the guards approval, it's a whole other story. The city of temptation is what I like to call it." Brom admitted. "Although, I think it only entices a certain kind of man or woman." He could see that Bryn was unsure of what he was referring to. He reached across the table and gave her a pat on the hand. "You will see." He promised her with a wink.

Bryn shrugged and gave them both an uncertain look. "I think I am the one that is more nervous about it now." The table, including herself, shared laughed about what became of the subject.

Sinbad gently nudged her shoulder with his own. "Don't worry. We will be fine. It's not the most hospitable port, but we will manage. We will only be there for a day or two."

"There is one other thing I should probably inform you, Sinbad." Brom waited for Sinbad to meet his eyes. "The Captain of the Guard in Carthage is no other than RJ."

"Riley?" Sinbad confirmed.

Brom nodded his head. "He will be eager to step foot on your deck, no doubt. Whatever business you have there, be sure to have your paperwork ready. RJ can be quite an irritant when things don't go smoothly. I think he takes everyone's precious time making sure everything is in his order to relieve himself from boredom."

"Who's RJ?" Bryn looked to Sinbad for an answer. "An old friend of yours?"

"Friend may not be the correct term." Sinbad replied, about to take a gulp of his ale. "We don't necessarily see eye to eye."

Brom smiled and shook his head as his mind went to the past. "RJ had hopes to steal The Nomad from Captain Sinbad here back in the day." He could not suppress his laugh at the memory. "He succeeded too!"

Bryn had to smile. "Is that so?"

"For only a day." Sinbad informed her pointedly. "Never again will I trust that man." He glanced at Bryn and could tell that she wanted to know more about it.

Brom got both their attentions when he slammed his now empty mug onto the table. "I need a refill. I will buy us all another round." He left them with a smile as he made his way inside the tavern in aims for the bar.

Bryn turned to Sinbad and spoke more quietly. "Are you worried?"

Sinbad smiled down at her and pulled her closer to him. "I'm fine." He gave her a reassuring smile. Realizing that they had a moment to themselves, he consoled her concern with a small kiss to her cheek. Afterwards he leaned towards her to place a delicate kiss at the base of her neck. He brought his lips close to her ear to whisper. "Do you think I can manage to steal you away before the nights end?" He was hoping to finally get some alone time with her before returning to the ship. It seemed they had very little of that during the past few weeks at sea and he wanted to right that.

Bryn tickled by his touch and his little public display of affection, stifled her laugh before answering. "I think you can manage anything once you set your mind to it." She whispered back.

Sinbad saw a challenge in her eyes and silently accepted it. He was leaning in to kiss that smirk off her face when he heard his name being bellowed from the tavern door. Of course. He gave a small sigh of defeat. He could recognize his own brother's voice anywhere. As he turned his head towards the entrance, he could see that Doubar was making his way towards them with a friend in tow; an old friend that he hasn't seen in a very long time.

Bryn wasn't surprised at the interruption. She knew Sinbad had many friends in Baghdad that always seem to seek his company. She also knew that catching up with them was important to Sinbad as well. "I am going to see if Captain Brom needs any help." She whispered to him before taking a step away. She glanced up at him and could see that he looked torn. She tried to give him an assuring smile that told him that she wasn't going anywhere.

xxxx

As she made her way through the crowd, her gaze was downcast in thought. She wondered about Carthage; thought about all that Brom just shared with them. He mentioned an inspection of the crew was to be administered on deck. What for? She pondered. She didn't believe Sinbad when he simply stated that he was 'fine'. Sometime during that conversation, she could tell that he grew more tense.

"Bryn! Over here!"

A woman's voice called out to her a few tables down from where she was walking. It was Anna, one of Brom's crew members. Anna was one of the two women that Brom hired on to work on his ship. Having a similar life style, Bryn and Anna have become good friends.

Bryn greeted her with a smile and they exchanged hugs. "How are you, Anna?"

"I am just dandy." Anna replied. She looked Bryn over up and down. "You look rather fetching in that skirt! I love that dark blue color." She reached out and touched the fabric for moment. "Your hair looks nice up too. How do you keep the boys at bay?" She teased. Anna was not much for wearing skirts. She grew up more like a boy and never felt comfortable in them. She opted to wear leather pants and a cropped top while at sea.

"I can handle myself." Bryn replied back with a smile.

"Of course you can. You've got one of the best swordsmen on your ship to teach ya. Speaking of which, I just ran into Rongar moments ago. He is looking as handsome as ever! How is life and the boys on The Nomad? " She gestured for Bryn and her to sit down at the nearest long bench behind them.

"It seems there is something new every day." Bryn replied honestly. "Life on The Nomad is an adventure."

"I can understand that." Anna smiled. "How is Captain Sinbad? Getting himself into trouble these days? Arguing with traders? Saving damsels in distress?"

"All of the above." Bryn smiled. She pointed over her shoulder. "He's outside if you want to see him."

"I will wait till him comes to me." Anna winked. "I don't go to any man."

"Ah! There ya are!" Brom seemed to have come out of nowhere. He placed a full mug of ale in front of Bryn. "As promised."

"Thank you, Captain." Bryn smiled up at him. She was distracted by Anna enough that she forgot to help him with the drinks.

"Now where is mine?" Anna raised her voice.

Brom placed another mug on the table. "Take this one. I will get Sinbad another."

Anna laughed. "Oh! I was only kidding." She pushed the mug towards him but he refused to accept it back.

"No, no, no. You drink it." Brom smiled. "It will give me a good excuse to speak with that lovely bartender over there. You two catch up. Do whatever you women do. Talk!"

Both of the girls laughed as he made his way back towards the bar.