Chapter 10

Alibaba stared down at the sword in his lap.

He'd been studying it for hours now. Its blade was about two feet in length, gouged to the cross guard with a double fuller that ran straiter than the horizon. The two rubies in the pommel glowed like cat eyes in the dark and the teal-olive detailing around the grip was etched to grip the sword with dragon claws.

Alibaba traced the handle with his index finger before closing his hand around the hilt. Only if he focused hard could he sense the power dwelling within. Baal seemed to sit restlessly inside the metal vessel. It was as if the djinn knew his master was elsewhere.

Alibaba breathed out through pursed lips, a bad feeling swirling in his gut.

He glanced over towards Morgiana. She was sitting nearby on the floor hunched over her shackles with rag and oil. She'd been polishing them for the better part of the afternoon, working over them methodically long after they were spotless. Her eyes seemed far away.

Alibaba next looked towards Aladdin. The young magi was laying on the bed aside Alibaba, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling whilst clasping Ugo's flute. He wrung the gold shaft in his fingers mindlessly.

Alibaba released the weapon and sighed.

When he had first arrived in Sindria with the ship from Magnostadt, he had gladly received this lull in action. It had been an opportunity to make up for missed time, tell stories, and listen to stories in return, all the while basking in the luxurious visitor quarter of the royal palace. He got to meet Aladdin's friend Sphintus, and learn all about the wizards of Magnostadt. He was able to hear Morgiana's tale of the dark continent and of Yunana and the mastery of her metal vessels.

It had been a wonderful few days, however, that had been before they'd figured out the truth of King Sinbad.

Ever since then, it bad become near agonizing to sit idle.

On their third day in Sindria, Sphintus had left to explore the capital while Alibabda, Aladdin, and Morgiana stayed behind to obtain audience with the king, but instead of the welcome they'd expected, they'd been promptly denied.

The day after that, they'd asked to meet with the eight generals but they'd been curtly turned down then too.

"No one is to meet with the royal court at the present time. Extenuating circumstance have the city officials occupied. They wish to extend their deepest apologies for any inconveniences," The guard had told them, a canned response no doubt. Alibaba and Aladdin had begged for more information but the guards were stoic.

From that point on they'd become an investigative team of sorts, lurking where they probably shouldn't and listening in on passing staff who whispered to one another as they worked. The rumors they pieced together soon explained why they weren't allowed to visit the King.

Sinbad was still gravely injured.

He was being kept in the hospital ward.

He wasn't improving.

The rumors were difficult to swallow. They'd all come to believe Sinbad was well on the mend after seeing him appear in front of his people the day they'd returned but as it would seem, that show had been nothing more than a rally.

Alibaba frowned thinking back on Sinbad's state the day Al Thamen had tried to corrupt the world's rukh. He and Aladdin had seen Sinbad's injuries up close. They'd been the ones to catch him as he fell. The extent of it had been severe. Sinbad had been motionless and bleeding with hardly a heart beat within his chest or a breath upon his lips. Seeing such a powerful man reduced to that state had been disturbing. To hear Sinbad might still be in such a state was even more so.

It was disquieting. Unsettling. Alibaba didn't like it in the least.

He looked back at Sinbad's sword once more, thinking of how Kouen had thrown it to him on the shores of Magnostadt. Of course he meant to return it. He just hadn't found the proper timing yet to do so.

Alibaba sighed loudly, shaking his head, blonde locks swaying with the motion. Both Aladdin and Mogriana turned to look at him as he broke the room's silence.

"Man, this sucks!" Alibaba glared down at Baal's sword. "Sinbad is supposed to be the strongest man in the world right? He's going to get better, we know he will, so why are we sitting around worrying?!"

Aladdin sat forward and set his flute down for the first time all day. "I want to believe that too, Alibaba, it's just, you overheard the guards talking...they said Uncle Sinbad was in a coma last they knew,"

Morgiana gave a sad little nod. "It didn't sound good,"

"Well I'm sick of sulking around," Alibaba tried to force some hope into his words. "If Sinbad really is in trouble we should try to help. He's been there for us time and time again so it's only fair that we be there for him in return," Alibaba held Baal's sword aloft to embellish the speech. The lamplight gleamed off its flawless steel.

"What are you saying we should do?" Morgiana asked blandly.

Alibaba went quiet at that, becoming flustered. "I -I don't know, but we should try to do something! You're a magi, Aladdin! And Morg, you got to train with Yunan! I bet he taught you a ton! Between the three of us, maybe we can think of something helpful!"

"I agree with you Alibaba, but we don't know any details. It's going to be pretty hard to help since we don't know why Mr. Sinabd is sick," Aladdin said.

"Even if we did have an idea the palace guards won't let us near King Sinbad or the Eight Generals. They've restricted over half the palace," Morgiana said, setting her shackles and polishing rag aside.

It was true. During their investigation they'd found guards at every junction leading deeper into the palace and locked doors with each turn. Alibaba starred down at the sword in hand, thinking that barrier over.

"I think I've got an idea," He said after a few breaths time, eyes lighting bright as he looked up to Morgiana and Aladdin. He picked the sword up from his lap and held it out for them to see. "We'll use this to our advantage. Think of it as a bribe. It could be our ticket into the palace!"

Ja'far 's feet moved beneath him on their own accord.

He was aware that he was wandering, walking with no purpose. He hardly even knew what part of the palace he was in. Maybe he was heading towards the dungeons, or the foyer, or maybe outside to breath some fresh air? He really had no idea, nor did he care to. His mind had seemingly shut down and in all honesty, he welcomed it. A pulsing ocean crashed in his ears and a fog had rolled over his vision.

To put it simply, he was in shock. He had been ever since they'd told him the prognosis. Sinbad's prognosis.

The memory of it was all a blurr.

After Sin had collapsed, Ja'far had run for the medics. Burst into their cabin at three in the morning, in fact. He'd been all bloodied and frantic, a stuttering mess barely able to form a proper sentence.

They'd come immediately despite the hour. First there were two medics, then four, then the whole medical palace staff had come. The windows had been dark and the night thick as they'd worked to save the king. Ja'far had watched on in terror all the while. He'd seen them try tirelessly. They'd done everything they could. Everything.

But it wasn't enough.

It just wasn't.

"He's dying. Today, tomorrow, maybe the day after that. I suspect it won't be long. We're sorry. So sorry,"

Ja'far had to brace himself against the corridor wall as the words suddenly played through his mind, reliving what the medics had told him early that morning. The memory was too much. To think back on it was physically painful. Breathing heavily, he clutched the stone beneath his palm, mouth dry, eyes wide and staring. He tamped down his emotions and swallowed hard, letting the fog roll back into place.

Being numb was easier than facing the truth.

His face a mask once more, Ja'far pushed himself back upright and continued onward. Step after step. He was a robot.

He hardly registered the shouting coming from the hall ahead. He walked towards it blindly until the small ruckus came into view.

"Let us through! We've got to see King Sinbad! We have his sword!"

Ja'far blinked at the three figures pushing against the armed staff. The guards were much taller and thicker than any of the intruders but, bless the rebels' souls, they were trying with all their might to break past. Ja'far picked up his pace, letting a little feeling come back to his body as he recognized the group.

At least this was a distraction.

"Guards. Pray, stand aside. Let these three by."

The two men holding keep dutifully became still as they recognized Sindria's Chief Advisor. Their spears carefully parted and the grip on the rebels loosened. The blonde youth being held by the largest guard roughly broke free from the arms around his waist and pushed past the man indignantly. His robes were all ruffled and the unruly portion of his hair that typically pointed skyward was even more wild than usual. The girl with pink hair followed suit as did youngest looking blue-haired boy.

Ja'far blinked down at the three before him. "Alibaba, Aladdin, Morgiana. I'm surprised to see you in Sindria. I'd no idea you were in the country,"

"General Ja'far! It's good to see you! We came back on the ship with King Sinbad, but the guards haven't let any visitors through since we landed at port..we couldn't even send a message in," The prince of Balbad huffed and patted down the blonde locks that had gone rouge before giving the guards a final glare.

Ja'far studied the bunch closer with pale green eyes. Aladdin had grown taller in a years time and Morgiana looked more of a woman than the little girl she had been when they'd first met in the streets of Balbad. Alibaba looked more or less the same. Maybe his hair had grown a bit but he appeared just as youthful and innocent as ever. Full of naive hope. Ja'far thought, looking the young prince up and down. It was then that his eyes fell towards the weapon at Alibaba's hip. His brow raised in surprise.

"Is that Baal's sword!?"

"Oh!" Alibaba flushed red and glanced down at the unsheathed sword he'd tied to his waist, guilt flashing across his features. He undid it from the fabric and held it out. "We've been keeping it safe for King Sinbad ever since we got back from Magnoshdat. He, uh- dropped it during the battle,"

"And you just thought to return it now?" Ja'far held out his hand for the sword. Alibaba placed the grip of the weapon into Ja'far's waiting palm, looking abashed.

"Don't get mad, Mr. Ja'far, we didn't mean to keep the sword so long," Aladdin said, Morgiana nodding at his side.

Alibaba rubbed at the nape of his neck and studied his feet. "We were going to keep it until we had a chance to see King Sinbad, but then I thought we might be able to get into the palace if we used it as collateral. I guess that plan didn't work very well. We're lucky you came along,"

The shadow of a smile came to Ja'far's lips. "Lucky indeed. And I'm not mad. I should be thanking you for taking good care of it. I know Sin would thank you as well," The weight of the sword suddenly felt heavy in his hands.

He's dying. Today, tomorrow, maybe the day after that...

Ja'far's insides knotted in a fist as the pain gutted through him. Sinbad will never hold this sword again. It might as well be a relic, for all it's worth. He closed his eyes and tried to steady himself as the fog threatened to consume him once more. He couldn't go numb now, not in front of Alibaba, Aladdin, and Morgiana. By the time he came back to grips with the present, the three before him looked concerned.

"Are you all right, Mr. Jafar?"

He hadn't realized he'd physically staggered until he found both Morgiana and Alibaba's hands at his shoulders. A bead of sweat was trailing down his temple and his breathing was coming a bit too fast. He must have been white as a sheet. Embarrassed, he gingerly shrugged their hands away and straightened his spine.

"I'm sorry about that. I've been under a bit of stress, but I'm fine. Really"

Sinbad was sure to see to that. He thought bitterly.

Morgiana and Alibaba exchanged skeptical looks but Aladdin just stared at him, eyes hard and steely.

"It's King Sinbad, isn't it?" Aladdin said, his voice ringing with certainty. "He's the reason you look so upset,"

Ja'far's throat clicked dryly as he swallowed. It took him a moment to force out a reply. "King Sinbad's condition is none of your concern at this moment in time,"

"Not our concern!?" Alibaba said, suddenly looking very heated. "King Sinbad is our friend! Of course it's our concern! Look. We already know King Sinbad is in the hospital,"

"We know he's still sick," Aladdin nodded.

"We overheard it from the guards," Morgiana explained. The guards behind her stiffened.

Ja'far didn't know what to say to their chorus. He felt like a deer at the end of a bow, or a rabbit overrun by wolves. "Quiet down, all of you. I'm not to disclose any information about the king!"

"But you've got to tell us what's going on! We want to help!" Alibaba said.

Ja'far's heart turned to ice in his chest at those words. It's far too late to help. Sin's dying. Today, tomorrow, the day after that...

A mirthless, brittle laugh shook his shoulders. "How could you possibly help?"

Alibaba looked taken aback by his reaction, uncertain and confused. "We...well, we're not sure how we could help, but if you tell us what's going on maybe there's something-"

Ja'far cut him off by holding up a hand. He shook his head, a bone deep weariness coming over him. "Just follow me,"

He led them for a ways, up some steps and down a secluded corridor. He brought them out of earshot of the guards and well away from the heightened staff. Far from any prying eyes and perked ears.

"Listen," Ja'far finally said once he was sure they were in private. "The rumors you three overheard are not wrong but there's more to it. It's worse than what you think. The truth is.."

Today, tomorrow, the day after that..

"Sin is dying" the words came out in a withered breath. The admission struck him like a blow, like someone had just balled up their fist and pummeled him right in the stomach. His knees went weak and his eyes brimmed but he grit his teeth and forced himself to stand tall, fighting back the tears. He would not cry in front of anyone.

"But -but that's impossible," Alibaba had gone paler than spilt milk.

Ja'far shook his head. "Sinbad never recovered after the battle in Magnoshdat. The medics say there's nothing more they can do. His magoi is running out and once it does that will be it. It's only a matter of time," Today, tomorrow, maybe the day after that...

"W-what are you saying?" He heard Alibaba say over the rush of blood in his ears. "You're giving up on him? But you're one of the eight generals -you're not supposed to give up,"

"I didn't give up. He did," Ja'far all but whispered. His hand traveled to his chest on instinct, balling up the fabric atop his heart where the bond had lived. He searched for the end of the thread but, damnit, Sin's magoi manipulation skills were unparalleled. He'd left no trace of the bond. It was silent and intangible.

I vowed to accompany you where ever you go, Sin, but you went and left me behind. I would have followed you to the end, you bastard. I love you. He clutched the silent bond even harder, enough to make the skin beneath it ache. He clutched it as if it were a rope in a swelling sea. He clutched it as if it were the last dying ember.

"Wait, there's something weird going on with the rukh all of a sudden!" Aladdin said, stepping back in surprise. "They're flocking all around Mr. Ja'far!"

"They are?" Alibaba said, squinting at the air as if willing his own eyes to see the invisible force.

"Yeah! There's thousands of them! It's like they're being drawn to something," Next thing Ja'jar knew, he felt Aladdin's hand on his own, gently working to detangle the fist from his robes.

"Will you let me see?" Aladdin asked. Ja'far looked down at the child before him, taking in his boyish features and clear blue eyes. Not just a child. A Magi. I've got to remind myself that.

He let his grip loosen and his hand fall to his side, exposing the center of his chest. Aladdin's eyes went wide.

"What is it, Aladdin?' Morgiana asked

"There's a spot right here -" Aladdin used his pointer finger to press directly over Ja'far's sternum. It wasn't much, but a little zap pierced Ja'far through and through. It was the exact spot where the bond had lived. "-It's glowing! The rukh are going crazy around it -like moths around a flame... and it's hard to see but I think there's some sort of string attached. Its thin as a spider thread," Aladdin spun around on his heels toward the far corridor, eyes evidently tracing the invisible string. "I'm not sure where it leads though,"

"The bond," Ja'far choked out, overcome with a rush of adrenalin.

Aladdin looked puzzled as he turned back to Ja'far.

"It's got to be the bond -it's still there! A-and you can see it!" The ex assassin stuttered.

"Bond?" The little Magi's face screwed up in confusion.

If the bond is still there then that means there's still a way to help Sinbad. I can give him more magoi. I can stop him from dying! I could still save him!

"I'll tell you everything," Ja'far blurted, feeling crazed and wild.

This is exactly what he needed.

He needed a miracle.

He needed a magi.

Sorry for the long gap between chapters for anyone still out there. I have not abandoned this!