The next morning Kassim was gone. Morgiana carried him back to Mirno's and returned back to the palace. She was sleeping in her room now. In the end, it was agreed for Alibaba to speak with Mirno and the others. Alibaba had no idea what he was going to say though.
He put that aside for the time being and focused a new problem. He needed to leave the palace. To do that he would need his father's permission. Really, it was too soon after his return to be asking his father for any favors. This couldn't wait that long. There's was no telling when Kassim could get Mirno to agree, and then it would be only one chance. There would be no rescheduling.
Besides, Alibaba wanted his father to know what was happening. It was a King's duty to know the state his city was in. Even all the way to it's poorest district. If they didn't know or were willfully ignoring it they were failing in their responsibilities. That was something that Alibaba believed in. He knew that his father wasn't ignoring the problem. Either his hands were tied with legal restrictions of the nobles refusing to report the attacks or he wasn't aware of the intensity of the problem itself. Alibaba was counting on both being the answer.
Getting permission to leave the palace wasn't just for the meeting either. Alibaba needed to practice using Amon. The Barasi had magic tools, so he needed to be prepared to fight against them. If he couldn't control Amon because of his added magoi, Alibaba would be in big trouble. He had a head start in the training by already having an idea on how to summon and control Amon. All he needed to do was get used to the new magoi amount he had. It couldn't be that hard. He managed in Reim to get used to Kassim's added magoi to his body. And at least he didn't also have that added boost in his magoi. Kassim's magoi left him like his Rukh did, going to the present Kassim when Alibaba arrived in the past. If that was still with him, Alibaba would technically have three different sources of magoi to contend with. Too much. Alibaba was happy just dealing with two different magoi reserves.
Step one in defeating the Barasi: Getting control of his magoi and making it conform into one solid reserve; and getting Mirno, Papak, and Tirdad to agree to an alliance. Both needed him out of the palace grounds.
"Again!" Barrack barked. Alibaba grunted from his place on the ground. Barrack was relentless in their training that day. It was hard for him to keep up. Too many thoughts on what was happening were going through his head. They kept him from focusing. He was worried about Kassim, about the Barasi, about not being enough to get Mirno and the other two to agree.
He gritted his teeth and shook the thoughts away. There was nothing he could do until he spoke with his father. Alibaba stood up on shaky legs and got back into his stance. Sweat was pouring out of every pore and he felt like he was going to drop. Barrack eyed the position of his feet and gave a sharp nod. Alibaba rushed forward, dagger outstretched and body dancing as he tried to disarm Barrack. He was getting better, more used to his body and the feel of his dagger again. It won't be long until he was back in tip-top shape.
Barrack was on the defensive, blocking and parrying what he could. Alibaba kept his weak points guarded or only left them open for moments at a time to keep the older man from getting an edge. It was hard, pushing his younger body in ways he didn't before. He was treating it like he was twenty-two again. He knew that it was probably dangerous to do so, but he couldn't help it. It was just too frustrating being so weak compared to then. Al-Tharmen was at their doorstep and he wasn't ready.
"Gah!" Barrack knocked him down again. Alibaba lied sprawled on the ground with his chest heaving. He heard Barrack's footsteps get closer. He let his mind wander again.
"That's enough for today." Alibaba squeezed his eyes shut at the order. "You're not focusing. We'll try again tomorrow Young Prince." Barrack helped Alibaba up and sent him to the baths to clean up. Alibaba glared at his hands while he was soaking in the water. He needed to get better. As he was now Al-Tharmen and the Barasi could walk over him no problem. This was starting to get ridiculous.
It didn't help that he could feel Amon's power thrumming under his fingers each time he picked the blade up. He could practically taste the potential power at his beck and call. It was invigorating and distracting. It was terrifying. Alibaba never truly wanted power. It was a dangerous thing to have. Dangerous, but needed. If he was going to battle Al-Tharmen and the Barasi's magic tools he would need Amon's power. It still scared him though. He had heard too many stories of good men who went mad with power. Alibaba hoped that he wouldn't be one of them.
When he reached the baths Alibaba soaked in the hot water with a hiss of relief. He let his mind wander as all his troubles to his current predicament float in his head. He couldn't let himself be this weak for much longer. Alibaba reached to the side of the tub where his clothes and things were. He picked up Amon's sheath and pulled out the dagger. It didn't look all that different now. If he tilted the steel just right he'd be able to make out the seal traced onto the blade. The dagger was warm to the touch, it had been since Amon was sealed inside. Like he was bursting at the edges to be released.
He brought the dagger to his chest and closed his eyes. Alibaba calmed his heartbeat and tried to empty his head. Amon's power was simmering within the seal, just out of reach. Alibaba couldn't exactly speak with the Djinn, not while outside of a Dungeon or without the aide Aladdin. They were connected though. A King Vessel to his Dijnn. Alibaba didn't hold much in the official titles but he knew that Amon was there, listening.
Amon...please hear me.
Alibaba felt the water around him start to heat up. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and a familiar hum was thudding in his chest.
I need to be strong enough to defend against Al-Tharmen. I want to be able to protect my family, friends, and my people. Please, help me.
The words left his mouth unbidden as if he were in a trance. "Djinn of Politeness and Austerity, lend me your sacred power...AMON!" Alibaba's eyes opened with renewed clarity and power. The water in the bath was at a boiling point and when he called Amon's name it exploded up like a geyser. Alibaba's concentration flicked out as he spluttered water out of his nose and mouth.
In the end, he was left naked in a near-empty tub holding his dagger limply. Alibaba was sure he looked like a wet rat too. Water was everywhere, soaking the entire room. He winced while looking. The maids were going to flip when they saw the mess.
The good news, Alibaba mulled while cleaning up what he could, was that he could access Amon's power. The bad news was that he couldn't control it. There was too much power in that. He was lucky that he only was able to call up heat instead of actual flames. If he summoned Amon's flames in such an unstable manner he'd be a charred chicken.
His experiment just further proved that he needed training. He couldn't do it at the palace either. There were too many eyes, and the nobles loved their gossip nearly as much as their money. News of him having a metal vessel would travel quickly. He didn't want the Barasi or Al-Tharmen to know about it just yet. Which meant he needed to find a secluded area to train. It'd have to be away from the palace.
It was nearing lunchtime. Alibaba would be able to catch his father in his office if he hurried. Alibaba quickly dressed and left the baths to speak with his father. The sooner he spoke with him the better. It would give him more time to work with.
Alibaba was able to get to his father's study without any trouble later that day. He rapped on the door twice and waited for his father's permission to enter. He couldn't help but be slightly amazed at himself. In the past and in the other timeline Alibaba never would have thought of seeking out his father on his own volition. He didn't want to bother the King. Now here he was, comfortable enough to knock on his father's study without being called after.
"Enter." Alibaba slipped inside and shut the door behind him quietly. Rashid didn't look too busy thankfully. He had a few documents out on his desk and was reading a book. At the edge of the desk was a plate of food, but there was no servant in view. They must have just delivered the meal and left then. Rashid put the book down when he saw who entered.
"Alibaba." He greeted with a smile. Alibaba smiled back and approached the desk. He felt suddenly nervous. His back was ramrod straight and palms sweaty. He wasn't here to see his father. No, he was there to speak with the King. Rashid noticed Alibaba's serious aura and gave him his full attention.
"Father, there is something I need to discuss with you." Best to be professional. Rashid watched him carefully, hawk eyes taking in everything. He dipped his head for Alibaba to continue, staying silent. Alibaba swallowed his dry throat and worked his mouth to try and talk. Words were escaping him. Just how would he start? He needed his father to listen and agree with him.
"Do you remember when Sabhmad mentioned that attack on one of Lord Bardok's shipments?" It was a week ago, so it shouldn't be too hard to remember. That there was no way the other attacks hadn't been missed by Rashid either.
"Yes, I do recall that. Do you have information about the attack?" Alibaba hesitated. He wanted to tell his father everything. Starting with the fact there were some nobles who were helping buy and sell slaves at their own docks. Smugglers weren't strange at Balbadd's docks, so long as they paid due and didn't cause trouble it was okay. If they were caught they were fairly punished and sent on their way. It was different for slaves though. Balbadd had a no tolerance for the slave trade. The punishment could be life in prison up to death.
Such a heavy crime cannot be accused without proof. Alibaba had none except for the word of two dead children. For now, he would have to let it go. It went against his nature and his conscience, but he assured himself that the nobles would be brought to justice one way or another.
"What I'm about to say has to stay between us." Before leaving Kassim said it was suspicious how easily they were finding the noble ships. Good luck was stretching it. Someone was leaking information and there was no telling where. Alibaba doubted the source was in the palace but Kassim made him promise to be careful.
Rashid straightened in his seat and raised a curious brow. "I see. Alright." He was curious, which was good. It made him open to what Alibaba was going to say.
"When I got back, my friends and I were accosted by a man called Dexia and two others. I was hiding my face so they couldn't see me, but they did see Kassim." Alibaba figured it was best to start at the very beginning. "Dexia warned Kassim about a new gang that is gaining power in the slums. They call themselves the Barasi.
"Kassim stayed in the city to find out more about them. I recently was able to speak with him. The Barasi are the ones behind the attacks. They're hiring pirate ships to attack and steal the merchandise on the ships. They've also enlisted bandits to hit caravans coming to Balbadd." Rashid's eyebrows furrowed at the news. He set a hand up to pause Alibaba.
"Do you know where on the map?" Alibaba nodded his head. Rashid reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a more detailed map than what Kassim had. Rashid had Alibaba point out what places he remembered Kassim showing him.
"These are what Kassim was able to find so far, there's no telling how many others were hit." For every one they found it would be prudent to assume two more were attacked that they didn't know about. That's how fast the Barasi were moving. Rashid looked at the map with troubled eyes.
"We'll have to gather a troop of soldiers to hunt these Barasi down. They needed to be stopped." Rashid said. Alibaba shook his head fiercely at that. They couldn't send in the guard. The palace soldiers, while strong in their own right, stood no chance against magic tools. Balbadd was not a military state. It was a trading nation that managed to avoid conflict by its connections to the other nations in the world. They also didn't know just how large the Barasi were, where their headquarters was, or who their leader was. Alibaba also knew that sending guards into the slums on a manhunt would only fester more aggression from the citizens towards the throne. It was too soon after the plague and the quarantined fire.
"Don't do that!" He said. "The Barasi have taken over almost all of the slums and have too many members to be able to capture them all. You'll have to take out the leaders, who have confirmed magic tools." Rashid paled. He reached out and grasped Alibaba's shoulders in a tight grip. It surprised Alibaba. He knew his father would get upset but he didn't expect this.
"Are you sure? They have magic tools?" Alibaba nodded his head. Rashid pulled back and started pulling out parchment and ink. "I'll contact our allies in Sindria. We don't have the power to defend against magic tools." He meant Sinbad. That wasn't a bad idea really. Sinbad would be more than enough to defeat the Barasi with his seven Djinn. Still, Alibaba didn't like it. Balbadd should be able to solve its own problems. That, and Alibaba didn't know how long it would take for Sinbad to respond but it wouldn't be soon enough.
"I don't think that's a good idea either Father." Rashid paused in his actions to listen to Alibaba. "It would take too long. The Barasi are gaining power quickly and are moving fast." They needed to take care of the problem as soon as possible. Before Al-Tharmen could spin any more discord in the city through the Barasi.
"Then what do you suggest?" Rashid asked. He didn't look convinced of Alibaba's reasoning. He was just letting Alibaba have his peace. It was a show of respect that Alibaba appreciated, even if it stung his pride.
"Let me handle it for now. The Barasi are smart and are being careful. Kassim thinks there might be someone in the nobles who are leaking information to them. We already have a plan to help stop the Barasi gaining any more territories in the slums." Though whether the plan would work or not was a long shot. Rashid didn't need to hear that.
Rashid frowned. "Let you handle it?" He repeated. "What will you do about the magic tools?" Ah, that. Alibaba's hand reached to his belt where Amon was strapped. He bit his lip and glanced over his shoulder. They were alone, and the servants would be busy in the kitchens. The guards outside wouldn't be listening in. Or would they?
Alibaba looked back to his father and lifted the dagger from its sheath. He tilted it just enough for the light to catch the seal. "About that, I have a plan." Rashid's eyes widened. Alibaba sheathed the dagger and gave his father a sheepish smile.
"You were wondering what I was doing while I was gone." Alibaba tapped the sheath lightly. Rashid looked between Alibaba and the dagger with a shocked expression. Alibaba didn't blame him. He'd never expect him to conquer a Dungeon either. He still sometimes was in disbelief at his luck.
"I came here wanting to ask permission to leave the palace grounds so that I can investigate the Barasi. I'll need a flexible schedule and I promise once this is over I'll make up all of my studies tenfold!" Alibaba bowed at the waist in his request. Rashid didn't reply at first. Alibaba worried that he'd be denied and he'd have to start sneaking out.
"Stand up Alibaba." Alibaba rose and looked up at his father hopefully. Rashid's face was stern and heavy with seriousness. He wasn't treating this request lightly. "I will send word to Sindria and ask our allies for their help." Alibaba's shoulders dropped. Rashid was going to deny him. He didn't believe in Alibaba. He should have seen this. Alibaba wouldn't believe in him either. To Rashid, he was a twelve-year-old kid who had run off for half a year to chase after Sinbad's stories.
"Your plans for the magic tools aside, it is a serious issue that those experienced should have to deal with. Not a young Prince who is only eleven." Hearing Rashid verbally say what Alibaba feared hurt. It snapped at his pride and his heart. He had grown used to his father's favor of him. He forgot that Rashid had to think like a King and do what, to him, would be the safest option for the kingdom. Letting a half-cocked kid and his friends at a problem like this was not an ideal plan.
"That being said," Alibaba glanced up from the ground at that. He had looked away from his father as he rebuked him. Rashid's face was tilted, a thoughtful look on his face. "You know the city and have contacts there that I and our allies do not. You will have a better chance of gaining more information about what is going on. I will allow you to monitor the situation and leave it in your hands until our allies can help." Alibaba gaped. He didn't understand. Didn't his father just say that he wouldn't be able to handle it?
"I'll grant your request to clear up your schedule for this purpose. This stays between us. If your friend Kassim is correct then we will need to proceed with caution." Rashid went on to come up with a cover story for Alibaba to use if anyone asked why he wasn't so busy with his tutors anymore. Alibaba listened idly, mind whirring. He was still confused. His father was granting his request but was still calling for Sinbad.
It sent mixed signals to Alibaba. Was it because of his age? Alibaba had trouble remembering how young he actually was most of the time. He still felt like a twenty-two year old, not eleven. Rashid might also be calling for Sinbad to help Alibaba with his Djinn, now that he knew about it. Or it could be a combination of the two. Alibaba didn't know. Whatever the case, he was getting the free time he needed to be able to practice and go into the city. That was what was important. Everything else can be picked apart at a later date.
By the time he left his father's office, it was nearing the evening time. He had a new schedule wrote out, with barely anything written in. When Alibaba asked for free time, he wasn't expecting this much. He had one day with all of his tutors, three mornings with Barrack, and that was pretty much it. The rest was blank, free for him to choose what to do with. It gave him plenty of time and then some to start tackling the Barasi and his Djinn training.
Things were starting to look up.
Morgiana walked with Alibaba through the streets of Balbadd. She stayed a silent companion as they traversed the marketplace in the second district. She made sure to keep vigilant in case the Fanalis she had seen was nearby.
"Morg, look at this! It's so pretty!" Morgiana looked at the necklace that Alibaba was holding. It was simple in design, gold fabric set in three layers with a red bead at the center of each layer. Morgiana had to agree that it was pretty. The merchant at the stand was an elderly lady. A young woman and her daughter were standing beside her. The little girl giggled and jumped up and down with a smile.
"Look mama, he likes the one I made!" The girl rushed forward and tugged at Alibaba's pants. "You should buy it, mister! I worked very hard on it!" She smiled up with a gap-toothed smile. The mother reached forward and brought her daughter back to her side. She bowed her head with a worried look
"I'm sorry your highness, she just gets so excited." Alibaba smiled and knelt down to the little girl's level. He asked the girl how she made the necklace, further exciting her. Morgiana watched as he encouraged the girl and complimented her craft. If Jamil or his parents were the ones standing there, they'd demand the girl be punished for her impudence. Alibaba was different though. He smiled. He thanked the girl.
It was confusing to Morgiana. Alibaba was different from Jamil and his parents. He hated slavery, and he thought that all humans were equal. That alone set him apart from her old masters. What really was surprising was that he was of a higher station than what Jamil's family was. He was a Prince, third heir to a throne. And yet, he looked at those under him with kindness and warmth opposed to sneers and disgust. It was different than what she was used to. As a slave, all of her masters were of a high station. She was Fanalis, therefore expensive. All of the nobles or wealthy people she had met were nowhere as kind as Alibaba.
He was an enigma she didn't understand. Her dream was to go to her homeland, to see the place her heritage was from. Yet, she found that she didn't quite want to leave yet. Not when Alibaba was still a mystery to her. She wanted to know what made him different. Was it how he was raised? He said that he grew up in the streets with Kassim. From what Morgiana had seen, those who lived there came out as rougher creatures. Darker and more cynical towards life. Dire wolves.
Alibaba wasn't that. He was bright and warm. He was like the rising sun on a misty morning. He brightened everything he touched, just by being himself. Morgiana didn't know what animal he was like. She had never met something like him. It made her instincts falter. In the wild, or auction houses, faltering instincts could get you killed.
So she observed him. She wanted to know what he was. Morgiana also wanted to help him with his current troubles. He and Kassim saved her from Jamil's family. That was a debt she could never repay, but helping Alibaba save his home from this strange enemy will help. Not only that, but she wanted to stop the ships with the slaves on them. Alibaba looked so stricken at the thought of slave ships passing through Balbadd's port that she knew he had no idea. When Kassim told her about them, she had wondered. But seeing Alibaba's face confirmed it.
Morgiana also wanted to see that other Fanalis again. She had never seen another of her kind since she was a small child at her parent's side. That was so long ago, she couldn't remember their faces. She wanted to know what her fellow Fanalis was doing with the Barasi. Was he a slave as well? He didn't have chains on him, but Morgiana knew about unseen chains. She still had some on her own heart from her time as a slave. She didn't know how long it would take for them to vanish.
"Aha, I'll take it Lady Kara!" Morgiana blinked back into awareness. Alibaba gave the elder woman some gold, the necklace still in his hand. The little girl was beaming and her mother was looking at Alibaba in awe. Morgiana smiled at the child's expression. She looked so innocent.
"Here Morg!" Alibaba held the necklace out to her. Morgiana stared at it blankly, taking the necklace from him. "It's for you!" The little girl was looking to her now, green eyes bright. Morgiana hesitated. She never had anything of her own before. There wasn't a time she could think that she had worn jewelry.
"It'll make you look really pretty miss!" The girl exclaimed. Morgiana looked at the happy expression on her face and the hopeful one on Alibaba's. Was such a trinket so important? Morgiana studied it more. It was pretty, the smooth silk fabric cool on her skin. It was nicer than the things she had seen Jamil's mother wear. Was it really for her?
"Go on, try it on!" Alibaba smiled at her. It was so bright. Just what was he? Morgiana took the necklace and clasped it around her neck. Alibaba and the girl oohed and awwed with applause. The two older women looked at her with kind expressions. Morgiana felt herself blush. The elder woman, Kara, handed Morgiana a mirror. She looked at her reflection.
It was a bit big on her, the bottom string of silk resting on her chest, but she would grow into it. Morgiana wasn't sure, but suddenly it looked a lot more beautiful now than before. She liked it. She handed the mirror back and looked away from the others. She didn't know what to do with the feeling. As a slave, there was no use liking or disliking anything. Slaves didn't have opinions. They weren't human, they were tools or pets. But she wasn't a slave anymore. Morgiana was free now and could have her own opinions.
Alibaba bid the women goodbye and promised the child he'd visit again. They continued through the street at a slow pace. Alibaba was stopped every now and then by merchants wanting to show him their wares or to just say hello. Alibaba was well liked by his people.
He had told her that before leaving for Quishan he had come into the city many times to see Kassim. The citizens had grown used to seeing him running around and liked to chat with the Prince. Morgiana understood why they wanted to be near him. Alibaba had a sense around him that made people want to flock to his side. He had to be a bird of some kind. Not one of prey. He didn't have sharp talons that she could see. Alibaba didn't like violence. He used his head to solve things.
As they walked Morgiana caught a familiar scent. She turned and saw Kassim in a darkened alley. He nodded to her and left. Morgiana touched Alibaba's arm as he pulled away from a food vendor. He took one look at her expression and knew. She watched as his face dulled slightly, taking on a more serious outlook. He was still bright, but his smile was heavier. She wasn't sure what to liken the expression to. It was odd seeing it on his normally cheerful face.
They slipped through the crowds and entered the alley when no one was looking. Kassim was waiting for them with two others at his side. Alibaba recognized them.
"Zainab! Hassan!" He hugged them both. Hassan was a large man, built firmly with large muscles that could haul large weights. Zainab was smaller, her thin body built for speed and her smile as sharp as the spiked piercings in her bottom lip. An ox and a jackal. An odd combination, but they smiled at Alibaba with warm eyes. Zainab nudged Alibaba's side teasingly.
"You and the Boss just can't seem to stay out of trouble can you?" She groused. Alibaba weakly fended her off with a laugh. Kassim rolled his eyes and looked to Morgiana.
"You see anything?" He meant the Barasi and their Fanalis. Morgiana breathed deeply and took in the scents around her. Kassim: tobacco and dirt, Alibaba: faint embers, Zainab and Hassan: Salt and water, the market was wafting in the air and the people were all a mix of combined smells. The Fanalis man was not among them.
"No, I haven't smelled him." She would smell him before she saw him. He was Fanalis, so he would know how to hide. He didn't know what she was though, so he wouldn't think to hide his scent. Kassim looked at her oddly but nodded his head.
"Alright!" He snapped, cutting off Zainab and Hassan's teasing of Alibaba. The three looked to Kassim sharply, stopping their playing around. "The meeting's taking place at the Old Grounds, neutral territory. We have less than an hour to make this work cause that's all they're willing to spare to hear." That wasn't a lot of time. Alibaba looked nervous. He was going to be the one to do the talking. Morgiana didn't know why he was so worried. Talking was something he was good at. If these were good people, she was sure Alibaba could convince them. He had that effect.
"Zainab, Hassan." The two straightened their backs. "You two are going to be Alibaba's 'guards' with me and Morgiana. If anyone tries anything stupid or you see something, tell me or her." Kassim ordered. The two nodded, accepting it without question. Zainab rested her hand on her hip where a whip was lassoed to her belt. She gave Morgiana an appraising look.
"You must be strong if Boss trusts you." She grinned toothily. "Good. Not enough bitches in these parts." Though crude, Morgiana knew a compliment when she heard one. She smiled. Hassan didn't comment, only dipping his head in her direction as a show of his acknowledgment. Morgiana felt like she passed an unspoken test.
"Come on Zainab, don't be like that." Alibaba complained. He gave Morgiana an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I think the sea life got to her head. I'm sure it will all be okay." Zainab pushed Alibaba roughly into Hassan and flicked her hair in his direction. Alibaba squawked like an offended chicken at her back. Kassim rolled his eyes again and followed her, taking the lead. Hassan lightly pushed Alibaba forward and let Morgiana go in front of him.
They kept that formation all the way to where the meeting was. Kassim in the lead, Hassan in the rear, and Alibaba between the two girls. It was a good line up, the best defense for Alibaba. Morgiana didn't know anything about Zainab or Hassan but she could guess. Hassan was tall and wide, a good guard against a rear attack. He could block an attack to give them time to retreat or form an attack. She also assumed that he knew how to use his fists, given the lack of weapon on his person.
Zainab walked with confidence in her step, hand never straying from her whip. She knew how to use it and wouldn't hesitate to do so. Morgiana knew that jackals were dangerous not only for their speed and teeth but for how cunning they could be. Zainab was probably full of surprises.
Morgiana had a better understanding of Kassim. She knew that he was proficient in the use of dual wielding those swords of his. He had a new weapon with him though. Two small things tucked into his belt at the sides of both sheaths by his hips. Alibaba noticed them too.
"Kassim, what are those things next to your swords?" Kassim glanced back idly and looked down. He touched one of the weapons and smirked.
"I don't know what they're called, but I swiped them from Quishan." He must have meant the Dungeon. Alibaba had told her that he didn't want anyone knowing that he had a metal vessel if possible. Morgiana understood. Being underestimated was an advantage that one wouldn't want to give up. It helped her plenty of times.
"What do they do?" Zainab questioned, looking at them curiously. Kassim pulled one out and held it behind his back without pausing in his stride. Zainab took it and looked the item over. It was small and shaped in a sideways L with a hoop at the junction where a lever rested. Zainab held it so that the curve was in her palm, a finger automatically resting at the side of the hoop and lever.
"Pull that trigger and a blast of fire shoots out. I almost set Miro's curtains on fire with them when I was checking them out." Zainab whistled and handed it back when Kassim reached back for it. Alibaba's eyebrows were raised up high.
"What about your swords?" Kassim shrugged at his question.
"I like these more." Alibaba frowned at that.
"Barrack won't be happy about that. He's been asking after you." Kassim and Alibaba argued some more, bickering like children. Zainab and Hassan both weathered it with amused looks. One wouldn't believe Alibaba and Kassim brothers until they spoke with each other. They squabbled like two children on a playground sometimes. It always made Morgiana happy to see such familiarity between them. She liked even more when they included her in it. Alibaba did that effortlessly as if she was always a part of their family. Kassim was more reserved, but not unkind.
"It's nice to know you two haven't changed." Zainab said with a sardonic laugh. Kassim and Alibaba told her to shut up, making her bristle and join in the argument. Hassan shook his head with a sigh and smiled down at Morgiana.
"They're always like this. You get used to it." Morgiana's heart warmed and she brought a hand to the necklace that Alibaba gave her. She wondered, was this what a family was like? If so, she wouldn't mind being a part of it
"Heads up!" Kassim barked suddenly, stopping the squabble. They had come to their destination. They walked out of an alley and crossed a bridge to an open field. The place was dead with only a single tree as a sign of life. Old buildings stood with the marks of fire damage.
In the clearing three other groups were present. One had an old man who stood as tall as Hassan with a bald head and a shockingly white beard that reached his chest. He was dressed plainly, a white tunic and pants with a black sash wrapping around his neck and shoulders like a scarf. He leaned on a cane and had a stern facial expression, enhancing the scar that crossed his left eye. Morgiana recognized him as the man Kassim had been staying with since his old home was in Barasi territory. He was Mirno. The man had brought four others with him, all large powerhouses with large muscles and obvious fighters.
Across from him was a younger man with dark hair cut close at the face and left loose in the back, a black band tying it into twin tails. His face was tattooed with tribal markings around his face to look like he was wearing a mask over a pair of dark green eyes. He was wearing tight pants and a red sash at the belt that held a sword at his hip. He wore a black jacket over a white tunic, a gold choker at his neck. Behind him where three others dressed similarly with curved swords at their hips.
Between them was the last group. A lithe man with brown hair and grey eyes watched the others around him carefully. He was dressed like Hassan, with pants and no shirt apart from a sash thrown over his shoulder and chest. His chest had scars on it, showing his evidence of winning dangerous fights. With him were two similar looking men and two others who towered at seven foot.
Kassim led them to the clearing and came to a stop when they reached the semi-circle. He let Alibaba stand in the front with him and the others flanking the Prince. Morgiana watched the surrounding area carefully as silence prevailed the meeting. She didn't see anything in the empty buildings or the city behind them. For now, they were alone.
"Well, if it isn't his Royal Majesty!" Mirno huffed, looking at Alibaba carefully. "And here I thought you lot were too good for us rats." Morgiana tensed at his tone of speaking. Mirno was gruff but reservedly kind to Kassim from what she had seen. Why he was treating Alibaba with such hostility was beyond her. Kassim said that Mirno had helped him and Alibaba survive when they were younger. Shouldn't he be treating Alibaba the same as he did Kassim?
Alibaba didn't flinch at the comment but his lips did thin into a grimace. "I'm as much of a rat as I am a royal Lord Mirno." Mirno scoffed at the respectful title Alibaba used but he didn't interrupt. "I know plenty of people who come from these streets who are worth more than some of those who live in the first district." Morgiana knew who he was talking about. The slave dealers, whoever they were. Alibaba didn't condemn people from what she's observed, but he had a firm moral system.
"I'm confused as to why we're here." The brown-haired man was the one speaking now. He looked at each group with suspicious eyes. "I was told that Mirno wanted a summit with me and Tirdad, something about Kassim getting his Troupe back together." He frowned and pointed at Alibaba. "I wasn't told that the third Prince would be here." That man must have been Papak, making the other man Tirdad. Mirno huffed again and tapped his cane onto the dirt.
"That's because I thought that's what Kassim was doing. He wanted us all to meet, saying he wanted to speak with us all." He glared at Kassim. "What's the meaning of this boy?" Alibaba looked to Kassim with wide eyes. Kassim didn't look worried, keeping his poker face up.
"I let you think that cause if I told you Alibaba was going to be the one speaking you wouldn't show." He shrugged and glanced at Alibaba with a deadly smirk. "If you want to think that way, go ahead. But I'm not the one running the gang now, he is." Kassim pointed at a panicked looking Alibaba. This was not discussed beforehand. Zainab and Hassan balked at the statement and looked to their proclaimed boss like they wanted to object. They kept silent, however.
Morgiana scanned the area again and caught the gaze of the man who must have been Tirdad. He smiled at her with a tilted head. He looked like a cheerful guy, an almost fatherly aura around him. Morgiana didn't trust it. She didn't smile back him and only stared back. His smile widened and he let out a loud chuckle that caught everyone's attention.
"We're already here Mirno, Papak." He said. "We might as well hear what the boy has to say. I'm curious. I thought only the Barasi had a Fanalis at their command." He sent Morgiana another smile. Alibaba bristled and shook his head.
"She's my friend, not my subordinate. Ignore what Kassim said, I'm not running a gang these are just my friends doing me a favor." He sent a light glare at Tirdad and the others as he said this. Morgiana did not mind the assumption Tirdad made. Alibaba was kind, and she didn't mind following him for now. Still, his refute of the statement made her want to smile.
"I don't care what you're doing. I won't listen!" Mirno stated. "We're leaving." He went to turn around, his followers surrounding him immediately. Morgiana glanced to the others. Alibaba visibly faltered before a spark of determination lit in his eyes. Morgiana watched, transfixed. He looked like he did in that Dungeon and was facing down Jamil's parents.
"You all have a common enemy, the Barasi!" He shouted. "They've taken over the slums one gang at a time and you're all that's left. The four pillars are gone and we all know who they will hit next. They've already started the attack." He was looking right at Mirno's group. They had stopped when Alibaba spoke. Like they were compelled to listen. The guards moved and Mirno turned around to look at Alibaba in a new light.
"Speak." Alibaba's chest was heaving as if his words from before took all his energy to say. His eyes kept that same look of molten gold though. His voice didn't shake when he continued.
"They've hurt the caravans coming through, making the traffic in the west gate come to a still. You have the fighting and gambling rings but as they recruit more and more people that will dry up as well. Their territory is bringing on meeting yours. It wouldn't take much for them to start harassing those who have to go through their alleys to get to your business." Mirno's face darkened as Alibaba spoke. He was not taking kindly to the facts that Alibaba was delivering. Behind him, his guards were shifting on their feet with anxious energy. They wanted to strike and were waiting for a command.
Morgiana kept her body loose but ready. All it would take is a twist of her foot and she would be able to launch herself to them before they even took a step.
"They plan on backing you into a corner." Alibaba looked to Tirdad next. "All the Barasi need to do is get you to retreat your people into the ships to take your territory. They have enough people and weapons to run you out or risk an all-out war. You care for your people too much to risk that." Tirdad gave a thoughtful shrug but didn't comment.
"Papak, all they need to do to get you and your brothers is to bribe the guards to their cause instead of yours. They have the gold to do just that given that they can get both bandits and pirates in their pockets and not go bankrupt." Papak scowled and looked to the two men who bore a resemblance to him. They must have been his brothers. Alibaba looked to the three leaders and stretched his arms out wide.
"The Barasi want to rule over the slums and are just days away from accomplishing that!" The three leaders all startled at the exclamation. They looked to each other and to their companions with guarded expressions.
"And what are you proposing?" One of Papak's brothers asked. "You still haven't said why you gathered us here." Alibaba swallowed before speaking again. Morgiana kept an eye on both him and their surroundings. She didn't sense anything yet, and neither had anyone else. That was a good sign.
"An alliance between your gangs." This was met with surprise. Mirno had a distasteful frown on his face while the other two gaped at the suggestion. "If you three promise to come to each other's aide if the Barasi attack you can halt their progress. As powerful as they are no one can take you all on at once." Morgiana heard a noise from behind. She turned her head carefully and looked to the bridge and waterway behind them. There was nothing noticeable there. Red eyes narrowed.
"The Barasi are up to a grander scale of attack that we don't know about!" Morgiana kept an idle ear to Alibaba's words while looking for the source what-what she heard. There was nothing behind them that suggested that sound. It was a scratching noise, like a foot crunching onto the dirt.
"Their first step is to take over the slums. Then they are going to start attacking the nobles by stopping the ships that come through. You all know how that has been going, imagine what they could accomplish with the rest of the slums under their command?" She looked beyond the bridge, to the alleyway that they had used. It was darkened with shadows, but she saw something small there. A dog. Was that what she heard?
"And why should we stop that?" Mirno's booming voice distracted her. Morgiana turned back to the conversation. Zainab and Hassan were tense at the older man's anger. He was red in the face and glaring at Alibaba with a hatred that shocked her.
"You damn nobles killed us! Razed the streets without care for our lives or homes! Look at this place!" Mirno waved his cane around the clearing and to the damaged buildings. "Your lot did this! People died! And did you care then? No! You only come when some upstart brat goes and annoys the nobles and their pockets!" Morgiana felt her mouth turn down as he got more erratic. He looked seconds away from issuing an order to attack.
"You weren't here! You left and started living the life and only care for how much money those bastards are making. You don't care what happens to us! You didn't care when Mar-" Kassim stepped forward with a thunderous expression.
"Shut the fuck up." He held up one of his unnamed weapons, pointing it at Mirno. His guards all bristled and got ready to charge. Zainab and Hassan were quick to flank him and make them pause. Morgiana kept her place at Alibaba's side. The blonde looked heartbroken. His eyes were watering and his lip was bleeding from how hard he was biting it. Morgiana didn't know what was going on or what Mirno was talking about. She knew that she didn't like that look on Alibaba's face though, and that was enough to make her angry with the old man. She wished to face him down with the others, but she couldn't leave Alibaba on his own.
"You have no Goddamned right to speak about her like that old man." Kassim hissed. "Alibaba had nothing to do with that shitstorm. It was fucking terrible but what did you expect him to do? Clap his hands and make it all go away? Mariam was sick and was going to die." Tears were falling down Kassim's face, contrasting the sneer he wore.
"What they did was wrong. It was fucked up and I will hate those bastards until the day I fucking die, but Alibaba didn't get Mariam sick. He wouldn't have done what they did. These streets are his home as much as that fucking palace, or did you forget who his mother was? Huh?" He looked to the others furiously. "What about you fuckers? You remember her? She worked her ass off to feed us. Worked in your fucking house Papak. Alibaba is as much as a fucking slum rat as the rest of us, so listen to what he has to say or get the fuck out and die to the Barasi. I don't care." He spat at Mirno's feet and stepped back. Zainab and Hassan took their places back at Alibaba's side.
Mirno's face was screwed into a sour expression, hatred still burning in his eyes. He made a strange gesture with his hands and barked out an order at his followers. They left without a word. Alibaba watched the older man leave with a sorrowful expression. Papak and Tirdad watched the whole ordeal silently. When Mirno was gone Tirdad tsked.
"I never did like that guy." He piped up. "His personality leaves a bad taste doesn't it?" He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his hands in a 'what-can-you-do?' manner. "Still, I'd like to hear more of this grander scale thing you think the Barasi are on." His cheerful smile turned serious and he crossed his arms while looking Alibaba directly in the eyes.
"The Barasi haven't just been hitting the noble ships, but mine as well. I don't take kindly to that." He looked to Papak briefly. "I'd be willing to form a pact if you are Papak. Power in numbers and all. The Small Prince has a good point about my people's position." Papak shuffled on his feet and looked to his brothers for a moment. They seemed to have a silent conversation before he turned back.
"I'd have to speak with the rest of my brothers, but for now you can count us in. I want to hear more as well." Alibaba's face brightened, but he still looked to where Mirno left with a troubled look. That man would become a problem later. Morgiana was prepared for that outcome. Her opinion of him was low anyhow. She didn't know what he was about to say before Kassim stepped in, but whatever it was made both Alibaba and Kassim sad. Even Zainab and Hassan had looked bothered at the end of it.
Unforgivable.
Alibaba talked further about the Barasi and what their actions were causing and how it could affect Balbadd. They listened carefully and gave him their full attention. They looked to him with respect they hadn't before. The meeting lasted until the evening time, well past the hour time limit that Kassim had warned them against. The three leaders of the groups had discussed all that they knew of the Barasi. They left with the promise of meeting again at a different location.
Papak and Tirdad left, leaving them on their own in the clearing. Alibaba seemed to wilt into himself, his former bravado leaving him. Kassim was still mad from Mirno, Zainab and Hassan were watching him carefully.
"Well, that wasn't a complete failure at least." Alibaba offered meekly. Kassim spat on the ground again, as if Mirno was there still.
"Old man wouldn't know a good idea if it hit him the balls." Alibaba frowned but didn't refute it. Instead, he turned to the tree that stood in the clearing. He walked over to it, kneeling at the base. It was then that she noticed the stone. Kassim turned his back to it as Alibaba traced the letters engraved on it. Zainab stepped beside Morgiana and watched Alibaba with a sad expression.
"Kassim's sister, Mariam, died when the plague was going through the slums." She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, flicking the piercings against the upper lip. "They wouldn't give out medicine to us, blocked the slums off and burned the buildings and the infected dead bodies. Called it a quarantine. We made a memorial stone for those who died and put it there. This is all that is left of the old slums." She shook her head and turned to Kassim.
Morgiana turned Zainab's words in her head. Kassim's sister. Alibaba said he grew up with Kassim and considered him a brother. That meant this Mariam was like Alibaba's sister. And Mirno was going to use her name against him like a weapon. No wonder Kassim looked ready to kill at the time. Morgiana looked to Alibaba. He was standing from the headstone and heading back, his face sad but not defeated.
"What did you mean that Alibaba's the new boss?" Zainab poked Kassim in the arm. He scowled and pushed her arm away. She stepped back but kept her gaze on him. Alibaba stared at Kassim as well.
"I want to know that as well. Kassim, you're the boss of the Troupe, not me." Alibaba frowned at his friend in worry. "I'm not running a gang." Kassim laughed and smiled at him.
"Might as well be now." He shot back. "You're the brains of the operation right now, even Tirdad and Papak could tell." He pulled out one of his new weapons and twirled it on his finger. He looked at Alibaba with an amused eye. "Alibaba, you just started a gang war." Alibaba's faced paled and he looked stricken.
"Oh Solomon, you're right. What have I done?" He wailed. Morgiana huffed out a laugh as the others continued to tease Alibaba.