All right. My muse is back, my job is no more in a crazy time… in this three months hiatus I've been in South Africa, and I've gathered a lot of ideas, so, keep up your hopes! :D I can do this!
A HUGE thank you to my wonderful MagicalMoonStar because she never lets me down, and enjoy this rather shining new chapter of "Curse of the Black Rose"! ;) I'm back, guys!
Meanwhile, in an enchanted cove blooming in nature, a young girl was crouched on a set of runes, staring thoughtfully at them. She was wearing a light blue tunic, and her dark curls shielded her face to anyone entering the opening.
"Lucky git." She mumbled, staring at a faded piece of wood, where the rune representing the stone was once shining. The thief was way to lucky… or clever. Or both of them. The girl brought a curl behind her ear, revealing her green eyes and her troubled pout while she clasped all the runes in her fingers, throwing them again in front of her, almost if she was looking for a different answer.
"You look disappointed, kid." a deep voice stated, startling the young druid. The girl quickly recovered, turning to face her mentor.
"Master. I didn't feel you coming." she calmly pointed out, before bowing in front of the red haired man approaching her. He wore a dark green outfit, embroidered in silver with the triquetra, and he was leaning heavily on a long stick. A long red beard, streaked in grey and combed in neat small pleats covered his chest.
"That's why you're still my pupil, Niahm. I've to suppose she has escaped the stone golem, hasn't she?" the man asked, shooting a glance to the faded stone rune, almost glaring to the young druid.
"She has. I'm sorry, master. And… Erik died." Niahm admitted after a couple of seconds, lowering her head, her fists closing in anger, mentioning the death of her friend and fellow student of druidical magic.
"She's the pirate queen, kid, never forget. Erik knew he was risking his life… his name will be treasured in the Hallows Sanctuaries forever. – the elder druid said, rather sadly - And you're still a druid in training, even if you're really talented. Don't blame yourself. That woman snatched out one of our greatest treasure, never forget it, Niahm."
"I know. But this time… I don't get how it happened! – the girl snapped - I mean… I get it, but I don't understand. First, our guards are slayed down, and so was Erik following them… but, Master, I wasn't feeling bad auras except for the cursed pirate! The runes were very strange!"
"Explain, Niahm." The elder druid asked, furrowing his eyebrows, leaning on his stick to stare at the runes displayed in front of his young apprentice.
"I was following the fight with the runes, and I sensed a rather strange aura, black and white merging and fighting each other… but nothing more. And you know what? The golem… came down thanks to some kind of sorcerer shining with a pure white aura. Can you believe it? A good guy helping a thief! Heck, that aura was so clear that it had even some sparks of green, almost like he or she had some knowledge of druidical art… - Niahm kept rambling, her hands quickly rearranging the runes in front of her in some kind of arc – and now, look at them!" she snapped, waving her right hand on the runes and pointing at them while they started to glow.
"Water… the thief is back on sea. – Patrick pointed out, staring at the blue rune topping the diagram – fire and stone shielding our cursed thief, meeting a spear halfway. There are exceptionally good fighters to protect her… and their souls are pure." The druid read, thoughtfully.
"And this is the plus…" Niahm objected, pointing another group of runes around fire and stone. And Patrick O'Brien, Guardian of the Sword of Airgetàm, for the first time in years was at loss of words.
"Maeve." He whispered, while Niahm kept staring quizzically at him.
"We have to split."
Sinbad turned his gaze on Maeve, already facing him, her arms crossed in front of her, her jaw already clenched in the way that usually meant she was set on something. The sunset was coloring the sea around the Nomad in orange hues, the skyline already turning to the light violet announcing the night while they kept sailing south, heading Sukur lands. He sighed, shaking his head. He knew she was coming… he learned to know how that little magic mind of hers worked, and tried to prepare himself to the argument for the whole afternoon. He knew she was going to propose to takeTalya away with her, and Sinbad did his best to come out with a better plan. But, as much as he hated to admit it, he knew that for once she was right. Talya brought on the Nomad something too big for them, and if they didn't manage to keep the situation under control…
"I know." He sighed, bracing the tiller and chewing on his lower lip for a moment, his gaze lingering on the horizon while the ocean breeze made his new red sash blow behind him. Maeve quirked an eyebrow, puzzled, taking another step to him without breaking her stare, searching for his eyes.
"That's all sailor? – she enquired – no arguing, no playing the hero on me?" she frowned, leaning beside him near the tiller.
"Maeve…" he warned her, casting a serious glance to the redhead before going back to stare at the sea.
"Sorry… I just didn't expect you to agree so eagerly. - She shrugged, bringing her rebellious locks behind her ears. – so… you got that the situation is really dangerous."
"I did. And I've thought about it, but I didn't see any other way to get out of this alive… as much as I hate this plan." Sinbad pointed out, finally setting his eyes on the sorceress, who just smiled sadly back.
"I don't like it, either… but as you say, it's our only chance to get out of this alive. - Maeve quietly added, lowering her gaze to the deck – let's face it, I'm still recovering after Rumina, there's no way I shall be able to shield all of us from the curse, if the druids activate it. If it's only me and Talya… maybe I'll manage to handle the situation." She sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"Is Bryn coming with us then? You should…" Sinbad began, but Maeve sternly glared at him.
"I'm not leaving you without magic, sailor… and I'm not negotiating this one. You'd be doomed, without Bryn. Did you get the whole "weapon from a God" part of speech about the Sword?! - Maeve snapped, before softening a bit - As a plus, she'll be able to contact me when you get the sword. And I'll orb Talya and me to you all, straight away." Sinbad nodded, staring for a moment to the redhead before clenching tighter the tiller with a frustrated growl.
"I SO don't like this plan." He stated. Maeve smiled, placing a hand on his arm.
"Then, next time I tell you I don't want to anchor somewhere… humor me!" she teased him, easing the tension and earning a smirk from her captain.
"As you wish, my sorceress… - he bowed slightly, lowering his face to place a soft kiss on the back of her hand. – even if I know you would miss the adventure…" he teased back.
"Sure thing… I can't live without the thrill of risking my life…" Maeve groaned, rolling her eyes before going back to stare at the horizon. The couple stayed silent for some minutes, enjoying the soft breeze and the last moments of sunset, both lost in their thoughts.
"We'll leave at dawn." Maeve whispered, after a while.
"I'll do my best to bring the Nomad as close as possible to the shore, so you won't have to get tired orbing a long way." Sinbad obliged, staring worriedly at her.
"Ok…" They locked eyes for some moments, sharing the worry for the separation, the longing for each other. Maeve fidgeted with the silver band at her middle finger, biting her lower lip before gathering her might. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Sinbad…? I've to…" she started, but she was cut by Talya running on deck, only half clothed.
"Red!! Where the heck are you?" she yelled. Maeve and Sinbad exchanged a worried glance, before the sorceress took some steps to the Pirate Queen.
"Talya…!! What's the matter?" Sinbad called loudly. The woman quickly joined them, followed by Firouz and Bryn who hear her screm. Maeve eyes narrowed when she noticed the mark on Talya forehead glowing blue. She took a deep breath before turning to Sinbad.
"It's activated. Water." She announced breathlessy. Sinbad tensed immediately, scanning the darkness out of the Nomad deck, his senses alerted.
"Maeve…what do you mean with water? Because we're kind of surrounded by water, right now!" Firouz asked wide eyed, staring at the sorceress placed a hand on the Pirate forehead, trying to focus on the curse. Bryn took a deep breath, Dermott perched on her arm, while the Nomad began to roll slowly, even if the sea was still strangely calm.
"It means I've to go, right now. And let's hope the curse follows us without striking too hard on the Nomad. – Maeve snapped, turning to face Bryn – They're on your hands Bryn…"
"But…!" the brunette began, but her mentor quickly waved her hand to cut her out.
"No time for being uncertain, Bryn. You can do it!" Maeve assured her, and Bryn nodded, sprinting back to the galley with Dermott while the crew was slowly coming on deck, leaded by Doubar and Rongar.
"What do you think you are doing, Red?"
"Trying to save the Nomad, Talya…" she muttered, securing her hold on the pirate queen while the Nomad was slowly going out of route despite Sinbad efforts, leaded by an invisible force. The crew meanwhile was sensing something was wrong, and was quickly taking position. Rongar and Firouz run at prow, staring at the ocean, while Doubar made his way to help his little brother.
"I… I…" Maeve stuttered, shaking her hand while staring at her captain, helpless.
"Go, Maeve! And… Just be careful." Sinbad pleaded her, the redhead nodding tiredly.
"You too, sailor. Don't you dare to die on Bryn!" she yelled, before waving her hand and disappearing with the Pirate a Queen in a whirlwind of white lights.
