Chapter 4

Sindria

Ja'far hadn't believed the messenger who brought word that Sinbad's ship had been spotted on the Southern Horizon.

It was simply impossible. Firstly, Ja'far had only just received word of the ship's departure four days prior. Secondly, Magnostadt was to the North, so North would be the direction from which they would come. Thirdly, his luck had been far too terrible as of late for something to be going his way.

Only when Ja'far visited the palace's highest tower and saw the ship fast approaching with his own eyes did he believe the tale, and just like when he'd received Yam's message, he had swelled with giddy relief which deflated out of him as quickly as it had come.

He'd cursed his wretched anxiety for its persistence. It still lingered to that very moment, alive and well as he stood beside his fellow generals watching Pisti's albatross soaring closer. What the hell's wrong with me? I'd promised to squash this nagging energy once Sin was in the country, but now that he's arrived, I still can't shake it.

Ja'far sighed in frustration and discretely placed a hand over his heart, acknowledging the invisible pulsing cord resting beneath his fingers.

Ever since the disturbing dreams had started, the bond had seemingly become a living entity. He could feel it tangibly tugging at him, like a thick leech stuck to his skin, sucking and squirming. He'd even stood in front of the mirror that morning to examine his chest. There had been nothing but his pasty-pale skin staring back at him, of course.

He'd felt more foolish than reassured for checking.

Just because he couldn't see the bond didn't mean it wasn't there. It had been there practically as long as he'd known Sin. When he was younger, it used to tug and pull quiet frequently, and he'd ponder over it for hours, wondering it's origin and why it wriggled whenever Sin paid him any mind. It wasn't until the bond practically thrashed out of his chest after finding himself next to a naked Sinbad in their shared bed during a trade route escapade that he'd realized what it all meant.

He was in love with Sinbad. Deeply in love. Not in a brotherly way, either. How could he properly serve Sin as a subordinate if he was head over heals? He was ashamed. He'd promptly shunned the tie after that, deciding the bond must have been born from his emotions.

What else could it be?

From that time on, Ja'far had kept the bond fiercly secret, and done everything in his power to mask his infatuation with Sinbad. He never slept in the same bed with him again, denied invitations to drink together, scolded him frequently, and told him relentlessly that he best take a wife. He figured it was working. No one had said anything to make him think otherwise over all the years. They all just thought he was a giant stick in the mud.

Not entirely wrong, but he portrayed it more than he actually was.

The bond gave a little tug as he stood with his hand over his chest making him feel a bit queasy. He frowned. As of late, it had been a great deal more difficult to believe the bond was just a product of his emotions. The haunting sensation it created recently was so real, it often left him feeling drained and shaky. It had never done that before. He swore the evidence of its wear was effecting his outward appearance as well.

Even the other generals had noticed a change. He didn't tell them about the dreams, or the living cord, of course. They'd all think him loony. He'd instead told them it was stress and lack of sunlight that had him so peaky. It wasn't a complete lie. Sharrkan had jokingly dubbed him "Regent Ghost" after that though, which Ja'far did not find amusing in the least. He brooded just thinking on it.

The albatross was growing large and soon its massive wings buffeted the air around them as it descended onto the stone balcony. Ja'far's smile was genuine when he caught his first glance of Sin, just his shape and rush of purple hair visible from a distance.

"Welcome home," Ja'far said warmly once the bird touched down, composing himself and stepping forward. He pushed his inner musings far out of reach. "I must admit, we were a bit surprised to hear of your arrival so soon. We only just received word of your departure from Magnostadt,"

"Oh? Were you hoping to have a bit more time away from babysitting me, Ja'far?" Sinbad asked light-heartedly.

"Of course not, Sin!" Ja'far's freckled cheeks reddened but the harmless jape was swept from his mind as he caught sight of Sin up close. The king leaned heavily on Drakon as he dismounted the giant bird, face gaunt and gray. Even when he detangled from Drakon's supportive arm, he held himself gingerly, almost painfully. He was clearly unwell. The realization made Ja'far's heart go cold.

"Sin, you look terrible!"

Ja'far received a wistful grin in return. "You don't look so good yourself,"

When Ja'far scowled, Sin just chuckled, "I'll explain everything in time. Just promise not to be furious with me,"

Sin reached out and placed a heavy hand on Ja'far's shoulder, eyes locking with his advisor's. Ja'far furrowed his brow, unable to interpret the longing, stormy look he recieved.

The king's touch was gone in an instant as Sin strode past to greet the other generals. Ja'far had to consciously undo his hand from the front of his robe as he wordlessly followed Sinbad to the stage overseeing the kingdom. All eight Generals assembled in an organized line, dutifully overlooking the masses as Sin stepped up to the dais.

Yam's restless fidgeting was driving Ja'far crazy.

He didn't know what he had expected upon Sin's arrival, but so far, he didn't like the way things were going. He'd been looking forward to dispelling his anxiety, not increasing it tenfold. It was eating him alive.

"People of Sindria!" Sinbad said with a voice so commanding it would be easy to believe nothing amiss. It didn't fool Ja'far however. The vigilant ex-assassin was observing Sin like a hawk, noticing the extent of his sunken appearance and how he used the balcony railing to brace himself.

Thankfully, Sinbad's speech was concise. Ja'far got the gist of it despite being wholeheartedly distracted. Sin spoke of their success in staving off war and their alliance with Reim and his intention to aid Magnostadt's restoration. He ended by welcoming the new immigrants from the magical city, urging his citizens to make the newcomers feel at home after their plight.

Sinbad stood at the edge of his castle waving down at his people for an appropriate length of time, maintaining normalcy even as he turned and strode away from the overlook, but no sooner had he slipped beyond view of the crowd did he stumble.

"Sin!?" Ja'far grabbed the man's elbow to steady him in place while Masrur took his other side to keep him from falling, but they were forced to lower Sin to his knees all the same as his legs gave way completely.

"I warned you that this would happen! This is exactly what I was afraid of!" Yam said to Sinbad who avoided her gaze, abashed.

Ja'far looked between their exchange, fuming. "Will someone please tell me what's going on!?" He glared at both Yam and Drakon for answers, but it was Sin's thready voice that responded first.

"It's a rather long story-" Sin said breathlessly. If possible, he grew even paler and suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth. It was evidently a poor attempt to keep from retching because he still crumpled forward, heaving, but it was blood that spilled through the cracks of his fingers as he lost the battle with his gut.

Ja'far's mouth fell open in shock as Sin emptied a stomach full of bright red blood onto the polished granite. "What the HELL!"

Yam had gone white as had all the generals. She turned her attention to the nearby messenger staff, paying Ja'far no mind. "We need the royal medical team assembled immediately! Have a room prepared!"

"I'm sorry Ja'far- I'll have to explain things later," Bloody tears were rushing down Sin's face as his eyes closed and his body went limp.

It was Masrur who caught Sinbad. He gathered the unconscious king into his lap and held him there, looking down at the man with an oddly pained expression. When he looked up to Ja'far, his eyes were deep pools of unreadable emotion. His mouth dangled open for a moment, lost for words until he managed to piece together a halfway relevant sentence. "He passed out,"

"Yes, he passed out!" Yam said sharply, exasperated and more frazzled than Ja'far had ever seen her. "Now hurry, we've got to get him to the medical wing,"

Masrur's aloof mask was back in place by the time he stood with Sin and took off for the lower levels of the palace, the seven remaining generals in his wake.

It took all of Ja'far's effort just to keep up as Sinbad was whisked inside and hurried behind the closed doors of a sick room. He and the other generals were halted at the door, barred entrance by the medics. Even Masrur was kicked out after delivering Sin. Only Yam had been allowed beyond the threshold, to Ja'far's chagrin.

It wasn't until their denial of entrance to the medical room was strictly reinforced by the guards holding keep that they redirected their efforts. Poor Drakon was nearly tackled as the other generals overwhelmed him with questions.

"Drakon, you were there with Sin and the others in Magnoshidat! Tell us what happened!" Sharrkan said while Spartos and Hinahoho echoed his demands.

"Tell us, Drakon!" The eye's of the assassin brooked no room for negotiation.

The former Partevian prince sighed. "Quiet down, all of you, and I'll tell you everything,"

Ja'far retreated to his study after hearing the tale.

He was a roller coaster of emotions, and frankly not fit to be around anyone at the moment. There was anger, shock, worry, betrayal, and then anger again.

"Why didn't you send word of this in your letter!?" Ja'far had barked at Drakon, but the dragon's reasoning had been so solid, so fucking reasonable, even he, The Cheif Advisor, would have advised it. They'd simply been protecting the king's condition from potential enemy eyes should the note have fallen into the wrong hands. Ja'far couldn't fault them, and when he couldn't direct his anger at Drakon, he hadn't known where else to place the emotion except back on the king for getting himself into the whole ordeal in the first place.

"Just don't be furious with me," It was what Sinbad had told Ja'far when he'd first arrived, but how could Ja'far not be? It was because of Sin's own reckless, sacrificial actions that he was fighting for his life with magoi depletion.

Ja'far was seething. Livid. How dare he go and try to off himself without asking my consent first!

"Damnit Sin! What a fool you were," What would we do if we lost you? What would I do? Ja'far paced back and forth pulling at the cords round his wrist and cursing under his breath, feeling powerless and angry and terrified, but his growing weariness seemed to suddenly eclipse all of these emotions.

I shouldn't have ignored my gut. I should have insisted to go along with Sin. I could have helped or prevented this from happening somehow. He told himself, trying to ignore the way his legs began to slow, growing heavier and heavier in the most peculiar way. It was as if a tidal wave of sleepiness were crashing down upon him.

How can I be so tired at a time like this? Ja'far thought, caving in when his legs began to shake. He sank into his desk chair almost against his will. Even his bones were tired.

What the hell is wrong with me? I've got to stay awake. I've got to so I can keep tabs on Sin. Ja'far's eyes were falling shut even as he screamed at himself to keep them open. Confused, he rubbed his eyes and lightly slapped his face in an attempt to shake the fatigue, but it didn't help.

This isn't normal. Am I okay? He wondered, feeling a touch of concern for himself as the urge to sleep overwhelmed him. It was like he'd been drugged. Every muscle in his body was beginning to go slack.

His head banked off his desk as he collapsed forward but he was in a dead sleep long before he could register the pain.

Ja'far jerked upright as he came to, choking and coughing, a puff of ash bursting from his mouth. Its taste was harsh and bitter and made his tongue feel like dry chalk. I must have fallen asleep in the burnt forest, he reasoned, chain jingling as he reached up to clear the soot from his eyes.

Ja'far stood and brushed the ash from his robes, looking about as he did. He could see the clearing in the distance, a globe of dim yellow light hewing the darkness. It wouldn't take long to reach. He took the chain in his hand and tugged himself forward, feeling fortunate that the groping journey would be short.

When he stepped through the boundary, Ja'far found the 18-year old version of Sinbad waiting for him.

"Ja'far, you came!" Sinbad said urgently when he spotted the ex-assassin. The young man was hunched over the fire pit, face dirty with soot, and eyes wild with panic. His mane of purple was plastered to his head, heavy with water. The braids at his scalp were starting to unravel and even his clothes were soaked through and dripping with mud, "I'm so glad you're here!"

Ja'far began to feel the pitter patter of rain on his shoulders as he approached the hearth.

"Hurry and help me with this fire, the storm's almost put it out!" Sin had a dented tin cup which he was using to bail the flooded pit. It looked as if he'd dug a moat of sorts, but that was filling quickly and threatening to overflow. The chain that tumbled from Sin's chest clicked and clacked as it smacked against the stone border in rhythm with his frantic motions.

At the center of the pit, the live embers hissed and fizzled angrily as the rain pelted them from above.

"You'll let the fire die if you don't cover those embers," Ja'far said warningly, pulling from his pocket a cluster of palm fronds. The flustered teenager fell back onto his rump as he watched Ja'far fashion a shelter above the hearth.

The makeshift roof soon deflected the rain, though the embers had been reduced to a dull simmer by the time he was finished. Ja'far reached into his pocket and retrieved the brush and logs he always brought with him. It took a bit of coaxing, but the fire eventually took, flicking indignantly beneath the umbrella of palm.

"You're lucky I came along when I did," Ja'far said extending a hand to Sin. For a long breath, the young adult just stared up at Ja'far from the mud, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, but Sin did reach up and clasp the outstretched arm after a moment, pulling himself to his feet.

"You're a mess," Ja'far said, but Sin didn't respond, he simply threw his arms around Ja'far with such force, the ex-assassin was nearly knocked off his feet.

"Thank you," Sin said with thick emotion, hugging Ja'far tight. The warmth of tears added to the rainwater already soaking Ja'far's robes as Sinbad cried into the fabric.

Ja'far held the young man close until the sobs quieted and the teen detangled himself from the older man, turning away in shame.

"It's okay to cry once in a while," Ja'far reassured him, but gasped when he caught sight of Sin's face. The ruddy tears on his cheeks were made of blood.

"Sin!" Ja'far reached forward and caught the boy's face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe away the streaks of red, smearing blood and soot together, but Sin just smiled sadly and pointed to the sky. Ja'far looked up at the black swirling clouds. Unnaturally warm, thick droplets of rain peppered his cheeks. Ja'far's robes were becoming dappled with red.

"Ja'far, please don't let the fire go out," Sin said, completely soaked in crimson.

The storm of blood was only picking up speed, pouring down so thick, Ja'far lost sight of Sin in the torrent. He spun around wildly and tried to find his friend, but he knew Sin was already gone.

Ja'far dove to his knees by the hearth as he saw his palm shelter start to falter in the sheer weight of the rain. Don't let the fire go out. Sin's words echoed in his head. The pit was beginning to flood once more, this time with red sticky liquid. Ja'far scrambled to the edge of the hearth, fumbling for the little tin cup Sin had been using.

Don't let the fire go out!

He bailed and bailed, but the red was rising higher and higher...

This story has morphed into something much different than I originally imagined! The dream sequences were something of an afterthought, but now they're a major part of the plot!

Thank you so much for the reviews/follows/favorites! :)