Tahir stepped off of the ramp and onto the dock. He smiled. He was home. He could hear all the hustle and bustle of Sibbayda, Sultan's City. The beating sun was enough to make one instantly start to sweat the moment after stepping into it, but he didn't mind. He was used to it. He just pulled his turban up over his head and kept walking.

"Tahir!"

He turned towards the familiar voice. It was his friend, Nadim.

"So you have returned at last, my friend!"

"Yes, and it is good to be back," Tahir said, grinning.

"So did you find what you were looking for?" Nadim asked.

"I did," Tahir replied.

"And what was it?" Nadim asked, after Tahir offered no more information.

Tahir sighed. "It doesn't matter."

Nadim was silent for a moment. "Well, at least you've come back. And in good time, too. There are...things afoot, though I shan't speak of them here."

Tahir raised his brow slightly. "Alright, later then."

"But let us get out of this midday sun! Here, let me carry that," Nadim said, reaching for Tahir's bag. "You do pretty well for a blind man, but I'm sure it would be easier without having to carry everything."

Tahir smirked. "Yes, since it's so terribly heavy. Do you think that I've lost of my strength in my travels?"

Nadim laughed, and slapped Tahir on the back. "Of course not! This way," he said, pushing Tahir in the right direction.

"Did you get rid of my house when I was away?" Tahir asked.

"Your house? I wouldn't really call it a house, maybe a rundown shack, or falling down upper story of a rundown shack..."

"Alright, that's not the point. Do I still live there?"

Nadim laughed again. "Yes, you do. I had to take up residence in it myself to make sure none of the other 'street scrum,' as we've been dubbed by the Royal Guard, would take it. And I must say, its quite a nice place...for a rundown shack. Anyway, I hope you don't mind me staying there, I really like how much light gets through, compared to...well, you know."

"I see," Tahir replied. "You invaded my home while I was gone," then more seriously, "but you take the notes on everything that goes on. Wouldn't it be easier doing it from there?"

"Don't worry, I go first think in the morning and get started right away. I—"

"You go first thing in the morning?!"

"Yes, and no one sees! That's why it's called a secret passageway, remember?"

"Fine," Tahir said.

"Good!" Nadim said happily. "Besides, I do think you owe me something for keeping your so called house for you for those two, three months. And look, here we are!"

Tahir put his hand up and forward until he could feel the rather unsturdy ladder. He started to climb and count the rungs. He knew precisely when to stop and where the hole in the wall would be. He grabbed the ledge and swung himself inside. Nadim followed.

"So is our pyramid still standing?" Tahir asked.

Nadim snorted. "Of course, it's nothing like that. Besides, there's no possible way to bring that thing down. Leave everything inside in ruins, perhaps, but not bring it down."

Tahir nodded. "Then what are these things that are afoot?"

"Faiza's sick."

"The plague?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's not all that surprising. Unfortunate, yes, and I truly hope she gets better, but—"

"Tahir, it's bad. And if she's dies...I'm not sure where Shahzad's loyalties will lie."

"You think he would betray us?"

"All I'm saying is that he can be rather...hot-headed and irrational at times. If he gets upset, he might start to blame us for it," Nadim said.

"I trust him."

"He's royalty, Tahir, you can't trust him. That was the mistake our grandfathers made! That's why the Search for the Sands of Time never got anywhere. Even if the sultan seems harmless, he's not necessarily the one controlling things."

"Shahzad is not the sultan," Tahir remarked.

"He's the son of the sultan, and I was speaking of Rashid anyways."

"Well, you should say so before changing the subject."

"Look, Tahir, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to tell you what's going on."

Tahir nodded. "I understand. You have nothing to be sorry for."


Xavia gazed out at the now barely visible spot of land. Then she turned and walked the length of the ship to the other side, and looked out at the seemingly endless sea. The fresh sea air blue in her face, and she could smell the salt. She loved it. She finally felt like she was doing something, something exciting, something meaningful.

"Are you enjoying the sea air?" Afzal asked, coming up beside her.

She nodded. "Very much so."

"Well, that's good, since we'll likely be sailing for the better part of a month."

Xavia smiled. "Tell me about Arabia, Afzal."

The old man smiled and shut his eyes. "Arabia...the sun blazes high in the sky, heating the entire land. The blue sky gleams so brightly one can hardly look at it. Villages dot the land in bright spots of color. And everywhere the sand paves everything in gold. Towards the ocean there are many cooler oasises that are full of life and green things that grow. The breeze smells of spice...and sand." He opened his eyes. "What more would you wish to know?"

Xavia shrugged. "Anything, really. It all sounds so...exotic."

"Well, you will be there to see for yourself soon enough."

Xavia smiled. "Yes...I will."


"...and that, Princess, is the end of the story," Afzal finished. "It's getting late now, we should be heading to our cabins."

Xavia nodded. "But it was such a wonderful story! Did it really happen?"

Afzal glanced. "Yes...and no. It depends on how you look at it. All stories are based on something real. Whether it be something that happened, or just dreams and wishes. The fabric of a story is always real, Xavia. All good stories are made up of something good, something grand, something that's worth everything. And that something is real."

Xavia nodded, and smiled dreamily.

"But come along now, to bed with you!" Afzal commanded.

They started walking. Xavia blinked—that is, she thought she blinked, but instead she saw a flash of the blind man's face, then a cloud of sand. She stopped walking, confused.

"Xavia?" Afzal asked. "Are you coming?"

"Yes..." Xavia said, starting to walk again. She must have just...subconsciously pictured him. She blinked again. Nothing. She followed Afzal. They walked down to the lower deck, where the cabins were. She left him at the door to hers, and went inside to go to sleep...

Two men were fighting with long, curved swords...a cave was filled with piles of treasures...people in a city moved around a pyramid...a black eyed man wanted revenge...he fought the blind man...the sand opened up and swallowed them...something—some sort of glass encasement started to crack, it shattered into a million pieces! Xavia woke up, gasping for breath.. They were going to die, she was sure of it

She looked around. She was in her cabin, on the ship. Everything was fine. She wiped the sweat off of her brow and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. It was just a dream. She settled back against her pillow shakily. She tried to sleep, and rest her mind, but her eyes would not stay closed. The dream seemed so real, though it was only flashes of images that made no sense to her.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Any constructive criticism, or anything else you'd like to say about the story, is very welcome!