Disclaimer: I do not own Magi
Chapter 10
Althea stood under the stars with Sinbad and the group behind her, having a good time. Althea smiled and glanced at the shimmering lights as the rukh around her floated, squeaking and chirping. She closed her eyes as she listened to the rukh and the sounds of the people she held dear.
Then all of a sudden she heard a boy scream. Snapping her eyes open, she felt a force hit her. She let out a sharp gasp as she gripped her chest. She saw a boy and a djinn in front of him as he turned around. They both stared at each other in shock as a look of recognition spread between them. Then all of a sudden, there was a wave of Rukh, knocking Althea onto her back.
"Althea!" yelled Sinbad as he ran over as he picked her shaking form. Her eyes were wide in shock and set on the sky as he looked to see shooting stars. He could feel something in the air and Althea had small tears flowing from her eyes, "He's here…."
A few years later….
Althea sang a light tune under her breath as she sang a song for the children of Balbadd, as her long raven hair fell down. Masrur stood guard watching over her as she was playing cat- cradle and showing some of the kids how to make the unique shapes. Some of the mothers watched in tears at their children's smiling faces as Althea had also given them so money. It may not be much to last them some time but it was more than they had in a long time.
Masrur glanced around for any threats that may harm the closet person to his king: Sinbad, as he had gone off somewhere (most likely drunk) and smiled slightly at the Lady of Sindria. Despite Sinbad's request for her to dress what she wore back in Sindria, she wore her travelling clothes, approved by Ja'Far (since he didn't want to draw too much attention for a trading mission).
She wore her usual black turtle neck shirt but bared her shoulders. She wore midnight blue gloves from her arms to her fingers that was held by a bronze ring with a large jacket that acted like a shawl as it bared her pale shoulders and covered her hands easily. She wore a belt around her thin waist that held her swords and other necessity, as she wore a dark red skirt that hid her black pants and boots. A simple golden necklace was put around her neck that had decorated with small jewels but there was a scarf blocking it.
There was a lavender blue veil covering her multi-coloured eyes as Masrur knew it was to hide it away from the people of the black market. Nobles were fond of rarities as these and would do anything to have them. Even though, Althea could protect herself with Masrur and Ja'far by her side (at this moment), it was better safe than sorry.
Ja'far appeared out of the alley and sighed, "No use, I can't find Sin." He said. "How is Althea?" he asked.
"Playing with the kids."
Ja'far sighed but smiled slightly as it was Althea's instinct to play with children. He stepped closer and saw Althea playing with the cat's cradle and some of the kids were beaming at how they managed to create some of the shapes.
"Althea-sa-" said Ja'far but caught himself. Althea turned her head and smiled at Ja'far, "Ah, is it time?"
Ja'far nodded and bowed slightly, "Yes."
Althea hummed and nodded, "Alright." She said before turning to the children, "Big sister has to go now with big brother over there." She said to them.
The children deflated a bit but Althea patted their heads as they giggled, the white rukh flying around them in glee. Althea smiled a bit before waving them good bye as Masrur and Ja'far followed close behind.
"Althea-sama," said Ja'far, "Please refrain from exposing yourself to danger. Balbadd hasn't been exactly in good condition."
Althea stopped and glanced over her shoulder, patting Ja'Far's head, in which earned a slightly peeved look from the ex-assassin. "Don't worry too much, Ja'far. I'll be fine." She said with a slight smile.
Ja'far blushed a bit, remembering when he was younger when he first joined Sinbad and Althea.
Masrur smiled a bit at the sight before Althea giggled, "Come on, I think I know where Sinbad is."
Ja'far and Masrur looked at her in curiosity, "How do you-"
Althea smiled like she knew something they didn't as a white rukh sat on her shoulder. The two house hold vessels of Sinbad, followed Althea as they did several turns and corners before coming upon an expensive hotel. They had already made reservations and went in, as Althea spoke, "Sinbad is coming soon, so-"
That were the only words needed as the two bowed before closing the door and made their way to the lobby of the hotel to meet their king. Althea just stared at the door, blinking before she sighed, shaking her head. 'Though I forgot to tell them, he brought some guests along' though Althea.
Althea took some time to herself as she looked outside, watching the blue sky and the bustling people. Then all of a sudden, she heard the door open and a pair of arms wrapping around her waist. Althea just hummed as a head was placed on her shoulders as Althea sighed, raising her hand and patting the purple hair of Sinbad.
"I'm back." He said.
"I realized."
There was silence, "You got drunk and someone stole your metal vessels when you passed out, didn't you?" she asked, as she continued to rub his hair as Sinbad stiffened.
"Yes…." He said hesitantly as Ja'far and Masrur just watched the two as Ja'far sighed.
Althea sighed, "Thought so." She said before pulling Sinbad's ear as the king hissed. Althea just rolled her eyes and let go of his ear and placed her chin on one of her hands, staring at Sinbad. "Well it was bound to happen. Weren't you the one who kept insisting that Ja'far and Masrur follow me so I wouldn't get robbed?"
Sinbad just felt a pang to his heart as Althea shook her head, "Well can't help it now." She sighed while pouting a bit.
"Sorry." Smiled Sinbad.
Althea glanced at him before giving one last sigh and placed her small hands on either side of Sinbad's head, moving it to find any injuries. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
Sinbad chuckled and Jaf'ar and Masrur just smiled at the mother like attitude of Althea. The king grabbed her hands as Althea was satisfied that there were no injuries on him. She huffed before they prepared to get ready for the night where in the morning, they would have a "chat" with the current kings of Balbadd.
Althea walked alongside Sinbad but a little bit behind him with Ja'far on her right and Masrur on her left. The three of them followed their King to the Royal Palace of Balbadd and Althea glanced around. There were signs of the castle falling and she glanced at the soldiers, most of them were falling.
They met in the guest room and Sinbad sat in the chair with his legs crossed and hands folded as he rested them upon his knee. Althea stood behind Sinbad, as they all had passive faces. "Hey." Said Sinbad, "Why have you broken off trade with my country, Sindria?"
The two kings of Balbadd stood there and Althea and Masrur make out their whispering.
"Haha calm down, Sinbad! It's been a while." Said Abumand.
"You've become bigger, Saluja brothers. You're finally kings, huh?" said Sinbad, smoothly.
"Hahaha, your belly has gotten a bit bigger too." Said Abumad.
Althea narrowed her eyes, 'Like you have the right to talk about that' thought Abumad as he was not only a short midget but looked like a pig.
Sinbad gripped the flap of flesh of Abumad's stomach, "Nonsense, you don't have the right to say that."
"Ow, ow, ow, let go!" yelled Abumad as Althea covered her mouth and tried to stifle her laughter and came out as a giggle with a quiet snort. Sinbad smirked at her before Sinbad slammed his fist on the table.
"Anyways! My business comes first… resume trade with Sindria!" said Sinbad seriously, "Sindria is an island country. It depends on trade to stay afloat. We cannot afford to lose Balbadd as a major trading partner. More over, when we first started trading, sensei, your father, taught me many things. I don't want to lost the two countries' current relationship."
Althea stared at him, "Haa…it's sad but…" said the second brother who was thin.
"Resuming trade is impossible." Said Abumad.
"What?" growled Althea and Sinbad as they flinched.
"That's how it is! Right now, I have my hands full dealing with Balbadd's domestic issues!" said Abumad.
"Domestic issues?" questioned Sinbad as Althea sighed.
"You mean the Fog Troupe?" said Althea coolly.
"H-How did you-" stuttered Abumad.
Sinbad rose an eyebrow at her, "It's not that hard not to listen to it. The Fog troupe is a thieves guild that opposes the country itself. The moment I sat down, all the people talk about are the Fog Troupe and the incident at the palace." Explained Althea as she sighed.
Sinbad narrowed his eyes at Abumad, "Explain."
"The Fog Troupe are the cause of Balbadd's domestic problems. They're terrorists that opposes the country itself. Nonetheless, those guys were originally but a group of about 40 thieves from the slums. That is…about two years ago, they broke into the palace's treasury and pillaged it. With that as war funds, they also acquired power. Since then, the political situation has been unstable and those guys have been steadily gaining support. Their ranks have swollen and become a large family with a size of several hundred men! Furthermore, they acquired knowledge of a strange black magic-"
Althea widened her eyes behind her veil and glared, 'Black magic….black rukh? Could it be Al-Thamen?' she thought.
"They have become such a powerful anti-government force that the armed forces can't control the anymore. To make matters worse, they distribute the money and goods that they snatched away and hand them out to the people…causing people are idiots. All their theft of the national treasury does is cause us to raise taxes." Said Abumad as he picked his nose. Althea scrunched her face in disgust.
Sinbad just stared at them as Ja'far and Masrur glanced at each other and at Althea, already twitching. They inched a bit further away from the girl.
"You guys have a bad reputation, you know." Said Sinbad, flatly.
"Sh-shut up! This is a big problem! Lately, a troublesome guy has joined their group! Honestly, what a 'wonder man'! If not for that guy, we would have-" said Abumad but was cut off by his brother.
"B-brother, that topic is…"
"What?" asked Sinbad.
"Nothing, anyways!" said Abumad.
"It's the Fog Troupe is at fault that trade can't resume. Why don't you go outside…and do something about resuming trade yourself!"
Sinbad and Althea glared at him as Althea growled, "If you don't resume trade with Sindria, aren't you the one who will suffer the most?"
"What?!" yelled Abumad.
"You're suffering major economic problems and if you don't resume trade with Sindria, you'll lose one of your vital supports for allies. Sindria has other trading partners so we can manage on our own, so by just telling us resuming trading with yourself, people will realize that there will be no sufficient economic help for Balbadd and they will grow even more bitter at the monarchy and will join the Fog Troupe." Said Althea, "I look forward seeing Balbadd crumble."
Abumad and his brother paled as Sinbad stood up and placed a hand on Althea's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.
"If that is the case then….I will go and exterminate this 'Fog Troupe' by myself and without any help from the army." Said Sinbad as he slammed his dagger into the table.
The four of them left as Sinbad kept an arm around Althea's waist to prevent her from stabbing the kings as they could see her hand twitching. "Althea." Said Sinbad, in a slight warning tone.
"I know." Hissed Althea, "I know…" she said, deflating a bit as she remember the state of Partevia Empire as it was collapsing in many ways.