I hope everyone had a great Holiday! Thank you for your patience on getting another chapter from me. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The New Adventures of Sinbad - all this recognition goes to the Creator, Ed Naha.
As Bryn descended the stairs that lead towards the inn's lobby, she could see that no one was at the desk. There was a sign to ring the bell if assistance was needed. She noticed that behind the desk was a door that probably lead to the inn keeper's personal room. She decided that speaking with him will have to wait. She didn't want to disrupt him.
Once you enter the inn and walk past the desk , to the right of it, you will find another room. When Bryn entered that room she saw that it was an extension of the waiting area. There was a bar at the back with tall stools and a lit fireplace to the left of it. The fireplace was surrounded by couches with elaborate decorated cushions. She was not the only one in the room. She made eye contact with the bar tender.
"Can I help you, miss?" The bartender gestured for her to come closer.
"I am just waiting for someone", Bryn replied as she made her way to the bar.
"I'm Otis", he held out a hand.
"Bryn", she smiled and shook it.
They both heard a door open and heard footsteps as someone entered the inn. Bryn looked over her shoulder. It was not anyone she recognized. A man and woman made their way up the stairs towards their room.
"I take it that wasn't them", Otis noted out loud. He watched Bryn shake her head. "You've been here before", he crossed his arms in front of him and studied her, "I recognize you. You usually travel with a bunch of men. Sailors".
Bryn smiled knowing that means of travel was most common at this port, "You're right".
"Would you like a drink as you wait?" Otis asked.
"No, thank you", Bryn replied,
"Well, I'm pouring you one anyways. It's on me", Otis smiled, "I can't have you up here with empty hands. Wouldn't want customers to think our beverages are poor or unwanted". He looked up from the glass he was pouring into when he heard her laugh.
"You remind me of a friend of mine", Bryn explained, "She works at a tavern at my hometown. She would say something very similar".
"Where is home?" Otis asked as he pushed the full glass in front of her.
"Capua and The Nomad is what I call home", Bryn answered. She lifted up the glass and nodded her head as a thank you before taking a sip.
"You travel with Sinbad?" Otis recognized the name of the ship. He appeared impressed.
"Yes", Bryn answered.
The door of the inn creaked opened again. Bryn didn't have to turn around to see who it was. She recognized Doubar's laughter from afar as he stepped in and heard the scuffle of numerous footsteps on the wooden floor. She looked over her shoulder and watched Firouz, Doubar, Rongar and Anders make their way up the stairs. Neither of them noticed her sitting at the bar. She didn't expect that they would. She noticed Sinbad was not with them. She turned back to Otis.
"Have you two met?" Bryn looked at the man. He leaned against the bar with both elbows on the table.
"Sinbad? No, no, we've never met. I just know of him. I know of many sailors who go through this port. I've met many too. Not Sinbad", Otis explained.
"Do you know Captain Hawkins?" Bryn found her window of opportunity to broach the subject. She figured she may as well pick Otis' brain while she was waiting.
"Garrett?" Otis replied. "He comes here often. I believe Kingsley is his second home".
"Second home?" Bryn repeated.
"He purchased a home here not too long ago", Otis answered. "He no longer stays at the inn".
"Does he offer shelter to his crew there as well?" Bryn asked. She heard the door creak open again. Before answering her question, Otis made eye contact with the person who entered.
"Sometimes. Some of his crew stays here still", Otis answered while still looking at the guest at the entrance of the lobby, "Hello!" He recognized the man that walk towards them.
Bryn glanced over her shoulder and was disappointed to see that it wasn't Sinbad. She wondered what was keeping him. She knew she didn't set a time of when to meet. She just assumed he would be back soon, like the others. She debated on whether or not she should go look for him. The man who just entered the lobby sat down next to her. Judging by the state of his clothing, going outside would be the last thing she wanted to do. Especially in the white dress she had on. He was drenched.
"Bryn, this is Charlie. He works in town," Otis made introductions.
Bryn smiled at Charlie, "Hello".
Charlie tilted his head in her direction and looked back at Otis. "I would like whatever she is having".
xxxx
Outside the tavern, Sinbad watched his crew make their way towards the inn. He wanted to walk with them but right next to him stood Marie, who requested to be escorted home. He tried discreetly passing her off to Anders, but he didn't seem to get the hint. He took in a deep breath, put a smile on his face and agreed to her request. Marie smiled sweetly and took a hold of his arm as they walked.
"You remember where I live, right, Sinbad?" Marie smiled up at the captain.
"Just down the road to the left. Second Door on the right", Sinbad answered. He looked down at Marie and saw a wide smile spread on her face. She was pleased that he remembered. He silently thanked Allah that it was not far. He wanted to get back to the inn sooner than later. He remembered that Bryn wanted to see him in the lobby and he didn't want to keep her waiting for too long. He was also curious of what she had to say. He had a feeling it had to do with what happened on Captain Hawkins' ship.
Marie interrupted his thoughts, "Oh Sinbad! I feel like it's been forever since the last time we've seen each other. Will you stay with me during your stay? It would be wonderful to take the time to catch up". She walked close against him wrapping her arms around his waist.
Sinbad felt he had no choice but to put an arm around her shoulder, "I can't stay with you, Marie. I've already purchased a room at the inn".
"You can cancel it and get your money back", Marie responded. She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Sinbad was surprised. She's never offered for him to stay with her before. He knew he had other reasons of why he couldn't do it. It was not that he couldn't, it was because he didn't want to.
At that moment, they heard thunder rumbling above their heads. Droplets of rain was starting to fall. They were coming down on them hard. Marie was first to bolt towards her door, which was within both their sights. Once she got there, she held it open for Sinbad to run inside.
"You can't go back to the inn now", Marie sounded convinced, "Not in this weather". She quickly shut the door behind him as he ran in.
"The wind is moving the clouds fast", Sinbad replied, "In that condition, usually when it rains like this it will lighten…"
He was stopped by a kiss, silencing him. Marie pressed her body against him and wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. Sinbad was caught by surprise and couldn't help but respond back. He soon realized what he was doing and stilled. He gently pushed her away.
"Sinbad?" Marie frowned. "What's the matter?"
"I can't do this, Marie", Sinbad shook his head slowly at her. He stepped back and made sure they were a full arms length apart. "I'm sorry. I am not the same man that I was the last time I was here".
xxxx
'That went well', Sinbad sarcastically thought to himself as he walked out of Marie's home. He just spent the last forty minutes consoling the woman. When it comes to women and tears, he has a hard time turning his back. He shook his head at the cliché of what just happened. He had to tell her that it was him and not her. He was honest with her and to himself. He told her that he met someone that he really cares for and he wanted to make that work. Him being with her now will not help. For some reason unknown to him, she didn't accept that and continued to wail. It took some soft words and hugging to get her to calm down. By the end of the conversation, he hoped that she really understood.
With a tired sigh, he looked up at the sky. As he expected, the clouds shifted and the rain was now going further north. He now thought of what was ahead of him as he walked back towards the inn. Mostly of who was there. He has kept Bryn waiting longer than he wanted to. He knew he had to apologize and hoped that she was still there for him to do so. He was also still curious of what she wanted to say to him. He quickened his pace to the inn.
xxxx
Charlie persuaded Bryn to sit with him by the fireplace. He explained that he was chilled by his soaked clothes. When he ordered her another drink she tried to protest but Otis ignored it and poured her another glass anyways.
"Who did you say you were waiting for again?" Charlie asked her as he reached out to warm his hands closer to the fire.
"I didn't say", Bryn replied, "But since you asked, I'm waiting for Sinbad".
"Captain Sinbad?" Charlie raised his eyebrows in question.
"Yes", Bryn answered.
"What business do you have with him?" Charlies asked. He immediately looked at Otis when he the bartender scolded him for putting his nose in someone's own business.
Bryn laughed at Otis's remark, "I am a member of his crew".
"Well, you might be waiting for awhile. I saw him outside the tavern not too long go heading in the opposite direction with a fine looking woman on his arm". Charlie described. He was staring into the fire as he spoke and did not see the smile disappear off of Bryn's face. When he looked back at her, she quickly regained her composure and feigned disinterest. He continued talking, "He's probably seeking shelter from the rain as I am now".
"It's not a big deal. Thank you for letting me know. I will just speak with him tomorrow", Bryn replied with a shrug. She took a sip of her drink. At that moment she decided to not wait for Sinbad any longer. She looked at her drink and downed. "Thank you, Charlie for this," she held up her empty glass. "I really should be getting some rest by now". She stood up from the couch and looked at Otis, "Thank you, Otis". He smiled at her and waved it off as if it were nothing.
Charlie looked up at her and was surprised by her sudden movements, "I wish you didn't have to leave so soon". He was going to try to convince her to stay but changed his mind. "It was nice meeting you, Bryn. I hope we run into each other again".
"I am sure we will", Bryn smiled. "Goodnight".
xxxx
Bryn was on the staircase slowly making her way back to the third floor to her room. As she climbed she had one hand on the railing. She was not in high spirits. She was irritated, confused and tired. If Sinbad wanted to talk another time, he should have just said so rather than having her wait, she thought. She tried to ignore the fact that there was another reason of why she was so irritated. She sighed and turned down the hall towards her room. While she fumbled with the keys, she looked at the number on the door. She was in front of room number twenty-three. She realized she was on the wrong floor. She wanted room number thirty- three. Her thoughts were elsewhere. She miscounted while she climbed the stairs. She shook her head at herself and turned back around towards the stairway. "Next time someone pours me a drink, I need to be firm when I say no!" Bryn said out loud to herself. She tried thinking on how many she had between the tavern and the bar at the inn, but lost count.
After climbing one more flight of stairs, she walked towards her room. Her eyes were focused on the number on the doors, she didn't notice a man hidden within the shadows of the entryway to the room just past hers. She found her room and looked down at the door handle to insert her key. At that moment, she sensed movement to the right of her. Before she had time to react, keys fell from her hand as everything went black.
The man was too quick. When he found his window of opportunity, he knocked her out with the hilt of his sword and caught her before her head hit the floor. He gathered her limp body into his arms and walked down the other end of the hall towards the back stairway. He descended the stairs and went out a back door that lead to a covered wagon that was waiting for him. The driver jumped off the wagon to push aside the cover. They placed Bryn within the bed of the wagon.
The driver looked at Bryn's still body, "Are you sure this is the right girl?"
"He didn't specify which one he wanted. This one was easier to get. The other one was behind locked doors. He will get this one to talk".
"Let's get moving before anyone notices that she's gone", The driver instructed, "Morning will be here soon".
xxxx
When Sinbad got to the inn, he scanned the lobby and did not see Bryn. The bartender told him there was a woman of which he described. He told him that he just missed her about fifteen minutes ago. Sinbad said his thanks and turned to go upstairs. He sighed, feeling sorry that he did, in fact, cause her to wait. He would understand if she was upset. He contemplated on knocking on her door to apologize but decided it will have to wait. He didn't want to disrupt Ruby if she was sleeping. He knew he had to speak with her in the morning instead.
