Rongar eyed his brawny captors in hate and contempt. He abhorred slavery of any sort. Every man should be free to work and eat. No one belonged to any master. No matter how wealthy or powerful that master may be. Rongar's back smarted with several lashings from his taskmaster's whip. Once he had broken free from his shackles and challenged his cruel tormentor. The other slaves in the galley egged him on with loud hurrahs and cheers as Rongar skillfully landed blow after blow on the man's chest and jaw. Then,just as the man raised his whip and rallied his strength for a strike, Rongar's dirk plunged itself firmly into the man's heart and he fell dead upon the heaving floor. And now Rongar was being taken to the Captain of the ship who will decide the punishment for his crime.
"Let the prisoner come in!",commanded the imperious voice.
Rongar was shoved inside, his hands and legs shackled in even stronger bonds.
"So, you're the trouble-maker on my ship,The Jezebel.. What's your name?"
Rongar's interrogator was basically a very fat man with a short stumpy beard. It was hard to believe that he was the revered Captain of the ship. Perhaps the respect lay in his wealth. His cabin looked like a mini palace with divans and ornamental chests. To the side,stood a gigantic hookah, its perfumed smoke already fogging the air. The Captain's fingers glittered with rings of gold and numerous chains weighed down his double chinned neck. When he moved, there was a curious jingling sound, like the chiming of bells. Rongar looked closer and found the source of the sound. Around the Captain's waist was a thick golden belt of a thousand bells.A sudden smile broke across the moor's face for the Captain looked ridiculous indeed.
"I asked for your name,you defiant young rat! Now talk... or else I will have you cut into a million pieces and the pieces scattered all over the sea bed!Then the fish will eat the pieces and you will completely be destroyed!"
Rongar glared back,bemused but silent as ever.
"That's it! I have no more patience for you!" The Captain pushed past the moor and threw open his door. "Send for Bushra,the most exalted harbinger of wisdom and truth. Tell her that her esteemed services are most humbly and urgently requested by her unworthy servant, Captain Yassar"
The Captain slammed the door and fixing an angry eye on Rongar,settled back into his cushioned chair and resumed counting money out of his chest.
Presently there was a soft knock on the door and a rather heavily veiled woman,looking shapeless in her flowing robes sailed inside. She didn't notice Rongar as she charged straight ahead into the Captain's presence.
"You require my services,Captain?"
"Oh! Oh yes!Yes,your grace!Do step this way. I am in utmost need of your assistance. I have a most non-cooperative prisoner for execution and I need you to tell me the exact time,place and the manner of death which will prove fortunate for me. For the past few weeks ,your gracious presence aboard my unworthy vessel has brought me tremendous luck! My wealth has doubled and my clients have increased. This belt is an ingenious addition to my array of good-luck charms. It has brought me nothing but good fortune. I no longer have to hop on one foot until my enemies are destroyed , give the ancient banshee call to stop a raging storm or pay tributes of oil to the sea spirits so that they would make my journeys successful..My unworthy heart overflows in utmost thanks for your most excellent words of advice.."
The veiled celebrity raised a weary hand to stem the unceasing tide. She turned to face Rongar. Almost instantly she reeled back in surprise and gripped the Captain's arm.
"This is the man you wish to kill?"
"Yes! Most definitely"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Really?"
"Yes really"
" Well,then... Let me consult with my magnificent crystal ball and tell you after reading the sun, the stars and the planets, which day is acceptable by all creatures,demons and ghouls in this world and the next for the execution of.. what did you say his name was?"
"The fool wouldn't tell"
"I thought so"
"Eh?"
"Err.. I mean,bring the man to my quarters. I need his aura to begin my incantations"
The door was thrown open once again and Rongar fumbled into the corridor,half helped by the lady of many veils.
"Oh,this is going to be good!",grinned Yasser clapping his chubby hands and preparing to follow suit.
"Im sorry,dear Captain. I must do this alone",came the firm reply.
"But.."
"My servant will bring you my answer in the morning."
Sinbad toyed curiously with the rainbow colored bracelet on his wrist. "It won't come off",announced Sinbad to Rumina."This strange piece of jewelery has been around my wrist ever since I got washed ashore and I can't remember how I got it!"
"How astonishing...",yawned Rumina,looking anything but astonished. At that moment,she was brooding over how annoying it was to travel as ordinary humans do - on horses and in carts. "If only I could conjure up my whirlwind or raise my skeleton army!""Oh look,Sinbad!",she cried,stifling a another yawn and pointing excitedly ahead."We have arrived at last."
Sinbad alighted from his horse and walked as if he were in a dream. He hardly paid any attention to Rumina's words. Instead,his eyes absorbed every design detail of the building."I've stepped back in time. This can't be real",he whispered in unbelief."Even the statues and the lawns look the same.."
"I thought you'd like my little abode,Sinbad"
"Like it?Rumina,this may seem crazy to you but your mansion is an exact replica of my mother's old home.",continued Sinbad."I..I don't understand...how is this possible?"
"This is a day full of possibilities,Sinbad. But come...it is time you met my skillful architect",said Rumina."To me, he is a most valuable find!I really couldn't have got along without him"
Rongar gazed suspiciously at Bushra as she locked her door and plugged the cabin's only window with a piece of thick sackcloth. Holding a dim candle in her hand,the lady dropped down on her knees under the bed and pulled out an iron hammer and a giant blade. "Quick, your shackles",she hissed and Rongar obediently placed his arms on a wooden stool. With loud hammerings, the bonds on his wrists and his ankles were broken and the chains were tossed into a rusty trunk. The moor flexed his muscles and then moved back into a defensive position, his hands reaching for his dirks. "What? Don't tell me you don't recognize my voice,Rongar..",faltered the lady in genuine surprise. She pulled off her veils in one tug and threw off her ridiculous gown. There was certainly a remarkable transformation. Gone was the shapeless and in her place stood a sturdy young girl dressed in sensible sailing clothes and her lovely black hair done up in a vibrant scarf. She had the face of a mischievous imp and her eyes reflected her emotions. Even now,they peered affectionately at him- as if she were meeting an old friend. "It's me,Talia!"
Rongar shrugged and shook his head.
"Come on, you can't have forgotten me already?",cried Talia in disbelief."Good old Talia.. black rose of Omar? One of those words has got to ring a bell..."
Rongar shook his head again.
Talia pursed her lips and looked dismayed. "Well,I know I wasn't at my best when we planned the heist..er.. the destruction of the eye of Kratos. But to forget me altogether! This is more than I can take! You remember the map,at least? The spider guardian?" Rongar continued shaking his head. Suddenly he felt a twinge of pain shoot through his skull. Talia didn't notice for she was still wrapped up in her recital. She turned away and began to reason with the walls.
"What about the pilgrims all dressed in white robes with cult-symbols on them? No? Boy,I deserve it. Talia, you were always too cocksure of yourself! You deserve to be humbled like this"
Rongar clutched his head and fell to the floor.
"The elephant dung?",laughed Talia in recollection. She turned hopefully."No one can forget the elephant dung!"
Rongar on the floor in a quivering heap."WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S THE MATTER?"
Rongar shook away her hands and struggled under the pain. Suddenly he groaned out loud and looked about wildly as if possessed. Talia instantly cupped his mouth with her hands. Her face was dead serious and her eyes were alert."Screaming is one thing I can't allow,old friend. You see, one here knows my true identity. And I need to keep it that way" Rongar breathed in ragged gasps and continued to struggle in her restraint.
"Is Sinbad and the others somewhere about? Rongar,something's wrong with you if you can't even remember them! What about the Nomad? What's going on?"
Through the darkness, Rongar battled alone against the searing pain. Flashes of memories seemed to flicker through his mind's eye. Talia seemed vaguely familiar. Everything she said, seemed to have happened once long ago. But as he tried to remember, it was as if he was running into a wall of pure energy. Like ramming into a bolt of lighting!Rongar fought desperately to remember. Then suddenly in a jolt of pain,he recalled her voice.. her merry voice intermingled with several other voices which seemed strangely familiar to him. He heard the clashes of the swords, the flames rising from the center of the room where a precious object was stored... "
Rongar relaxed and straightened gingerly. He turned in Talia's direction. He slowly nodded and beat a strong hand on his chest.
"You remember me now?",asked Talia,taking a few steps forward.
Rongar nodded.
"What about Sinbad?"
Rongar shook his head and explained through a series of actions that his memories have somehow been erased. As his hands waved over his chest, he realized for the first time that two of his dirks were gone!He fumbled all over the floor, surprised at their disappearance. He was always very careful with his weapons. He cared for them immensely,always keeping them well sharpened and polished. "How did they disappear?"
Sinbad went out to the balcony of his room. He caressed the tall pillars that held up a dome shaped ceiling. A marble seat ran all the way along parapet. There was an artificial water feature to the side. The sounds of the bubbling stream was pleasant to the ears. Into the balcony stole the branches of a large tree full of sweet smelling red berries. There were blossoms of tiny flowers as well. Some of the flowers shed their petals which were scattered all over the marble floor. A few birds danced on the topmost branches. An industrious fellow was even building a tiny nest. "So you too would like a home by the sea,eh?",said Sinbad with a sigh. He trotted back inside. "Asif is truly a miracle-worker. This feels just like home!"
Suddenly he heard a bird call that sounded nothing like the tiny birds that fluttered about the fruit trees. Sinbad frowned as he saw the hawk on the beach sitting regally on the marble seat."Oh no! Not you again!"
Dermott screeched lightly and flew into the room. Sinbad ran after him,amazed at his temerity. "Look,bird.. Im really not much into pets,so if you'll just go away on your own.."
Dermott eyes darted all over the room. He spotted the Captain's sword in its sheath on a small side table and instantly flew to it. With a loud screech, Dermott took the sword in his talons and struggling under the weight, began to flap harder and harder till he was at a resonable height off the ground. "Come back here.. that's not a toy!",yelled Sinbad,beginning to lose patience. He climbed onto the table as well and made a pounce for the hawk. But Dermott darted sideways just in time. Sinbad crashed onto the carpets,toppling a tall vase full of flowers and water. Dermott screeched once again and flapped towards the balcony. "Are you trying to tell me something,bird? What do you want from me?"
Dermott dropped the sword in a loud clatter and settled once more on the seat. Sinbad shrugged lightly and sat down on the seat beside him. "Okay,let's er..talk..",he said.
Just then,Rumina threw open the doors and walked into the balcony. Dermott vanished instantly. Sinbad gazed from Rumina to the disappearing hawk in puzzlement. Could it be that this bird feared his benefactress?
"Enjoying yourself,Sinbad?",asked Rumina with a smile.
"Oh yes. Very much so. This place is so beautiful. Asif-el-Quidar deserves all the praise"
"Im sure he does",said Rumina,drawing closer to him. Sinbad smiled a little,taking in her exotic perfume. "She is very beautiful",he thought, glancing back into Rumina's dark eyes which never left his face. "So,tell me more about yourself,Sinbad",said Rumina,putting her hand through his arm. "When was the last time you went to Baghdad?"
