"Fatima!" A middle aged woman with brown hair called out of the window of her hut along Agrabah's borders. "Fatima!" she called again. Soon enough the head of a young girl appeared against the river bank, her hair wet. She was no older than ten. "There you are you reckless child. Where have you been I have been calling for an hour!" Like most mother, when worried she spoke everything at once.
Fatima smiled and wrung out her hair. "Swimming. Rajime was teaching me."
The mothers attitude changed almost immediately. "Ah, you mean the spice merchants son? Well then that is better. You know he will be a good match when the time comes to marry. It will be quite a step up from a fishmans child."
Fatima blushed. "Mama…I don't even know if I feel that way about Rajime…I mean he's two years older than I am."
"Ah but that will not matter when the time comes. Two years is little this way or that." The mother kissed her child's cheek. "You just go right on swimming with Rajime. Just be sure to be back before dusk."
"Ah ma. We live right on Agrabah's Western border. The guards come by three times a day. Nothing will happen to me." Fatima said and began to open the door.
For a moment, there was silence. Then the mother looked up from her knitting and screamed.
Her daughter turned stiffly, the front of her little yellow dress growing red. "Mama…" she whispered and fell forward, the end of a pike imbedded deep within her back. The woman screamed again, rushing to her child's side and clutching her closely, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Now don't move." Said a dark, hard voice from above her. "This will only take a second."
Mozenrath rose from the bed, shaking. The Agrabah nights were cold and he had little on. He finally walked to the wardrobe and looked at the cloth there. None of it was fancy stuff, but it would suit him well enough. He selected a pair of forest green pants and an amber dyed belt to go with it. He selected a thickened robe, also green with amber trim and a pair of black boots.
A part of him wondered why he was taking such care with his appearance now. At the Citadel, Diriel had let him wear only the jewelry which he'd been given. He did not dress himself nor was he allowed to have any will as to what was put on him. Diriel made all those decisions himself.
Now, Mozenrath realized, it was something of a comfort to be able to chose what clothing he put on. He found a ribbon and tied his hair back pulling the curls out of his face. He looked at himself in the mirror, and touched his own skin. It was strange. He was a vain man, took precise and efficient care of his appearance, but when the daemon had taken over he'd stopped caring. What did it matter what he though. As long as Diriel was happy with his appearance it wasn't his concern.
It still isn't. He realized and wondered why he'd put on the clothing in the first place. Oh yes, he'd been cold. There was no body beside him in the bed. Diriel, as much of a discomfort as it was to have a claw wrapped round his middle at all times, had at least provided some protection from the icy nights. Blankets were no equal to a body.
He shivered again and closed his eyes.
Mozenrath missed touch, connection. There had always been someone there in the loneliness. Mirage…his mother, however distant had at least been there. Destain, however abusive, had at least been there. Xerxes, the annoying little blighter, had been there. Diriel…
He felt himself beginning to cry again. He wanted to slap himself. Why couldn't he stop weeping like a damn woman! Worse, like a weakling. He knew he was not strong. He had never in his life been a strong person. He was a survivor. Bare it for now, live, make it through, and do what you must to get what you need. That was Mozenrath's philosophy.
But he had always fought not to cry.
And now he wept. Wept to be so alone.
Mozenrath slapped his hands across his arms suddenly. He watched as the marking appeared, glowing red even in the dark light and casting a sinister glow around his face. He sighed, wincing at the pain. He had known it would come soon enough.
Mozenrath opened the door and caught site of the large, burly guard that always seemed to maintain a sour disposition. "You…" he pointed, not completely sure of how to say this. He had no authority here…but then again he was growing used to that.
The guard paused and fingered the hilt of his sword. "You were ordered not to leave the rooms."
Mozenrath took a step back. "I haven't. Technically I'm still in them." He gestured down. His feet had not left the doorframe.
Rasoul rolled his eyes and grit his teeth. He had been stationed here specifically in case something happened. "What do you want wizard?"
Mozenrath closed his eyes and pulled back the hem of his robes, revealing the evil reddened glow of his flesh. "Tell them he's coming." Mozenrath said as a look of horror crossed Rasoul's face. "Tell them he's close."
Aladdin was awake and sitting in the guest rooms now Mozenrath's. He looked carefully at the sorcerers arms, the red marks curving wickedly around the mans flesh. He took Mozenrath's hand and heard a sharp intake of breath. "Sorry…I just wanted…" he said shyly and Mozenrath shrugged as though he didn't care. "Do they hurt?" he asked.
"Like someone's drawing in my flesh with a fire iron." Mozenrath whispered and Aladdin stood up. He walked to the bathroom and took the washing basin, filling it with cold water and putting a wash cloth inside.
"Here." He said and pointed to the seat. Mozenrath cocked his head, not quite knowing what was meant. Aladdin sighed patiently. "Just…sit down…I don't bite." He tried a half hearted smile and Mozenrath warily sat next to him.
Aladdin put a cold cloth on the signal and steam immediately rose from the mark. Mozenrath made a hissing noise, but his face seemed greatly relieved. Aladdin waited a few minuets, always watching Mozenrath from the corner of his eye. Even with everything, he was still wary of the crafty warlock. However, thanks to Mozenrath they had a little bit of a warning about Diriel.
"Mozenrath…how long...?" he started in and Mozenrath turned his head away. Aladdin steeled his resolve and pushed forward. They didn't know how much time there was. "Mozenrath how long did Diriel…have control over you?"
The sorcerer looked at him. "He didn't volunteer information if that's what you're getting at." He said quickly. Aladdin looked crestfallen. Mozenrath tried to think of something else to say. "He couldn't lie to me…I found that out quick, but once he was free…I didn't exactly have time to ask a lot about him." Mozenrath felt his skin blush and tried very hard not to look at Aladdin.
"But surely there must be something. A weakness…something we can use to defend you…ourselves with." Aladdin pressed and Mozenrath's eyes suddenly seemed to brighten.
"Two things…assuming he wasn't lying about not being able to lie." Mozenrath gave a great moan as the wash cloth was re dipped and placed against another mark. "One…Diriel has a problem with locks. I don't know why. But when I was trying…" He didn't want to admit to it but what choice did he have. "When I was trying to run I locked a door behind me. He couldn't get it open and he couldn't seem to burst through either. He did try to come in over the ceiling, but I think that was just to distract me." He contemplated for a moment. "It may well be that once a room or door is locked he can't enter. You have to come out to him."
"That's good." Aladdin smiled hopefully. "Agrabah's gates have massive locks on them, if we bar the doors it might hold him off."
"I'm not sure if that counts. Agrabah doesn't exactly have a roof over it's head. What if he can fly?" Mozenrath brought up, his mind working furiously. "Still…I suppose it's worth a try. Your djinn can always cook something up I'm sure."
"Genie isn't here." Aladdin said sharply. "He's on his honeymoon with Eden."
"Who?" Mozenrath asked.
"The female djinn, the green one."
"You mean that psychopath that nearly tore my Citadel…! Mozenrath stopped suddenly. It wasn't his Citadel anymore. "Congratulations." He said with a little flicker of his old self and let Aladdin continue with the water. There was silence between the two for a moment, the sound of steam rising from the slashes the only noise in the room. "There…was something else." Mozenrath said suddenly. "It was in the spell so he couldn't have lied about it."
"What?" Aladdin asked.
Mozenrath coughed. "Through writhing body/Thy passage born/Less wax and wane/Have vanished lord." Mozenrath quoted. "I am his passage here. Diriel needs constant access to my…" Mozenrath felt a swelling in his chest and swallowed his pride.
"To your body." Aladdin mercifully finished for him.
"Yes. If he can not take what he needs from me for a full month, than he'll loose his power. He won't be able to stay on this plain of existence." Mozenrath finished and leaned back against the pillows. "That's all I can offer." He said apologetically.
"With a little luck that might be enough." Aladdin said and sat back, thinking. They could lock the gates easily enough. Even without Genie, Iago knew Jafar's laboratory like the back of a wing. Maybe they could rig up some sort of roof or protective barrier just to be safe. And as for the month time limit…
They would just have to bit the arrow on that one. He would not send his people out to face this daemon if it was even half as powerful as Mozenrath said. He wouldn't risk lives over this man.
Ah but you already are. His conscious spoke up. You risked not only your life, but Jasmine's, your guards, your armies, your peoples lives from the very instant you took Mozenrath from Diriel. And all for what? Aladdin looked at Mozenrath from the corner of his eye. A moment of pity for a pretty face.
Aladdin opened his eyes wide and felt his lips slide open. A pretty face. He had not just thought that. It was a phrase…that was all. Mozenrath was just so damn womanly it was easy to confuse him as attractive.
The green color complimented him though. Far better than that nasty gothic stuff he always cloaked himself in. The deep, vibrant forest color seemed to make his skin tone richer, more alive. The amber added just a hint of exotic to him, enhancing that sly, almost fox like quality his face held. The front of the robe was left open, designed that way and Aladdin did not catch himself as his eyes wandered up the lean, toned abdomen, over the chest, and all the way to Mozenrath's face. With his hair pulled back and his features out from under the ugly turban, Mozenrath's features possessed a soft, sensual air.
Too pretty for a man.
Almost beautiful enough to be a woman.
Mozenrath realized he was being looked at in that way. He clutched his robe a little tighter around his shoulder and pulled his arm out of Aladdin's hand. The younger man had subconsciously begun to massage the palm with his thumb. The gesture had been comforting…even friendly. His breath began to stammer and he slipped to the edge of the seat away from Aladdin.
Aladdin realized he'd been doing something very embarrassing. "Sorry…I had no right."
"Yes. You do." Mozenrath stammered out, taking a very deep breath. Aladdin looked at him, not understanding. "Diriel was my master…I belonged to him. You kidnap…rescued me…that means I belong to you I suppose."
"Mozenrath, that wasn't my intention when I brought you here. I mean…I didn't even think for a moment that you might think I meant to…" Aladdin was awful at explanations.
Mozenrath shrugged. "A whore is a whore. What does it matter who the master is." He said and looked back at Aladdin, a little light in his eyes that almost dared the street rat to try something flickered for a moment, but died out quickly.
Aladdin rose to defend his honor, but at same moment the doors swung open. It was Jasmine, dressed in her more efficient black warrior princes outfit. "Aladdin, we don't have much time. A messenger from the outskirts has come with news…" She could feel the air in the room as thick as pea soup. "Aladdin…?" she said in a voice that betrayed the emotion inside. "Aladdin what's wrong?" she said.
'Nothing." He said quickly and tuned back around. "I've got good news. I need to find Iago and have him look up some stuff." Aladdin began, following Jasmine out of the room. He paused at the doorway, and did not turn, but spoke quickly. "I am not that kind of man Mozenrath." He said sharply, deeply insulted.
"And what kind would that be Aladdin? The kind that would not lay with another man. Or the kind that would not rape him?" Mozenrath said only to hear to door slam shut behind him, leaving only the cold walls and empty chambers to close around him again.
"We need to work quickly now." Aladdin said from atop Agrabah's high walls. "Make sure everyone outside the walls is in by noon. Tell them to leave all their possessions behind, bring only food from their fields and as much of that as they can carry." Aladdin pointed to the scribes. "Go to the holds and see exactly how much food we have. I want every stalk of barley and every fish head accounted for. Whatever might go bad and spread to the other food either try and salvage or throw it out."
He turned to Rasoul. "I want you to arm every man of able body just in case Diriel breaks through the walls." He began and Jasmine stepped forward.
"Give every mother a dagger or arrows." She said. "If that daemon breaks through the walls he won't waste time sparring women and children. The messenger assured us of that." She said to Aladdin and he nodded.
"Make sure every gate is bolted and locked, if there is a crack in the wall spackle it, if there's a tunnel dung underneath, cave it in. I want every crack and crevasse sealed over. He can't have any way in." Aladdin said as a final order and dismissed the group. "Where's Iago?" he turned over his shoulder to look at Jasmine.
"Working on the spell. He's no sorcerer…even he admits that, but Sadira is accomplished enough to help him." She pointed to the far corner where the bird and a rather fair girl were crouched over something, drawing lines in the bricks and adding ingredients. "Aladdin…" Jasmine said with an obvious inflection in her voice and Aladdin sighed.
"I know what your fixing to say and your probably right." Aladdin admitted. "I just wasn't thinking." He said. "I saw Mozenrath there and it's like it wasn't Mozenrath at all, just this poor, abused slave who needed help." He hung his head against the support of his arms. "I should have just left him there. And now I'm putting my own people at risk by allowing him to stay."
Jasmine was taken aback. That hadn't been where she was headed at all. But it was a great comfort to hear Aladdin confide this in her. She put her budding and so far unfounded suspicions aside to comfort her beloved husband. "Aladdin what you did was only in your nature. You're a noble person…more so than what so called nobles are." She set a hand against his shoulder and smiled in a way she knew would put him at ease. "Aladdin what you did might not have been the wisest of all moves, but not to have rescued him would have been a betrayal of yourself."
"I suppose so…" he said thoughtfully and Jasmine caressed his cheek, standing on her tip toes to kiss him tenderly. Her warm, full lips touched his and Aladdin hummed, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Answer me this: seeing what he was like…seeing him as you did in Diriel's room…do you think you could have left him there?" Jasmine asked suddenly and waited for a response.
"No. No I couldn't leave anybody like that Jasmine!" He said strongly and Jasmine smiled.
"And that's what the people love about you. Your concern for everyone, no matter who they are." She assured him. "It's what I love about you." She said and pressed the heaviness of her breasts against his chest.
"I love you Jasmine." He said softly, burying his nose in her hair to smell the flowery perfume she always wore. Jasmine smiled and let him hold her as tightly as he wished, the sheer strength of his grip squeezing all fears away.
She was just being overly protective.
"Look, you have to put the amethyst facing inward along side the datura." Said Iago impatiently as the young witch Sadira struggled to keep up.
Sadira huffed and tossed a pony tail out of her face. "I'm not used to all this stuff. Can't I just put up a hundred foot wall of sand?" she asked as she tied the stone and the plant together with a black string.
"Oh yeah, a big wall of sand will do so much good against a powerful daemon!" the parrot squawked and smacked her with his wing. "Just follow the instructions, kid." He said and turned another page with his claw. "Jafar didn't do a lot of summoning but he was very knowledgeable when it came to daemons."
"How do you know that?" said Sadira, drawing a circle with chalk and aligning the crystal to the very center of Agrabah.
"Because he was never stupid enough to raise one." Iago said in a sardonic voice and lifted a wing. "Unlike some sorcerers we know who were dumb enough to pull up a lust beast." He started.
"Um…Iago…" Sadira said warningly as a figure came up the steps behind him.
"And just for that extra measurement of stupidity, Mozenrath doesn't even take the time to properly contain the thing!" he continued, oblivious to the interruption. A pair of black shoes appeared on either side of him, but the parrot kept right on. "I swear to you it's almost as if the guy was just asking to get fu…"
Iago suddenly seemed to notice how dark it had gotten and looked above him. Mozenrath was standing there, looking directly down at Iago. The look on his face made it clear he'd heard every word.
"Um…Mozie…ole buddy hi." The bird stammered. "I'm uh…guessing you're here for Al." Mozenrath frowned but made no response. "I'll just go get him shall I?" Iago laughed nervously and flapped off, leaving Sadira behind with the wizard.
Sadira had never seen the wizard before, though she'd heard about him many times. He didn't seem to notice her aside from a casual nod in her direction but seemed to be looking down at the protection circle she'd drawn up. "So…I hear you were a pretty powerful sorcerer." She said by way of trying to start a conversation. Mozenrath nodded and she made a little pouty face. He moved past her, still looking down at the spell in progress. "Well your just a bundle of friendship aren't you." Sadira muttered and bent back down.
"Your doing that wrong."
Sadira looked up in question. "What do you mean?" she picked up the spell book and read the directions. "It says the crystals should point towards the center of the city so the barrier will encompass the epicenter."
"Yes I know the book says that, but if you do it this way the barrier will only cover the palace. The entire rest of Agrabah will be left exposed." He explained patiently and knelt down. Without asking Mozenrath took hold of the amethyst and turned it facing outward. "Your putting one of these up every thirty feet am I right?" Sadira shook her head yes hesitantly and Mozenrath rolled his eyes. "Put them up every fifteen. It takes more time but you'll have a better support system if one of the stones cracks or loses power."
Sadira looked back to the book and wrinkled her nose. "But the book doesn't say anything…"
Mozenrath growled under his breath. "Books are only extensions of their writers. If the author doesn't know then obviously the book doesn't. And the writer of that particular book happened to be an inferior sorcerer." He opened his mouth as if to say exactly how inferior this wizard was when an outraged yell sprung up from behind him.
"Mozenrath! What are you doing up here?" It was Aladdin headed down the walkway with his princess and two guards behind him. He approached Mozenrath straight up and frowned. "I thought I told you to stay in the suits."
"It's a good thing he didn't." Sadira suddenly spoke up. The group turned to look at her and she blushed behind her dark skin. "I had this all wrong, even Iago didn't catch it." She pointed to the book and grinned. "If he hadn't come along and corrected me part of Agrabah might have been left open."
Aladdin seemed confused and arched an eyebrow at Mozenrath. "I thought you couldn't do sorcerery without your gauntlet." He said accusingly.
"I can't. Nothing powerful enough to fret over at least. But just because I can't fire at people any more doesn't mean I've forgotten how to do it." Mozenrath admitted quietly. He suddenly felt a lot less aggressive than he had coming up here. Why did he leave his room in the first place? He should have just stayed there and obeyed till this whole thing was over. What if Aladdin remembered what he'd said about being the heroes property now?
What if Aladdin decided to punish him? Despite the younger mans kind words and action, Mozenrath wasn't sure he trusted Aladdin enough not to lay whip marks across his back for disobedience if for no other point than to make his authority clear.
"What are you here for?" Jasmine spoke up, a twitch on the back of her neck going up.
"I…" Mozenrath turned red, suddenly he couldn't remember why he was up here in the first place. He backed down. "I'll leave now." He whispered and began to head down the railing.
To everyone's surprise, Aladdin went down after him. "Mozenrath wait." He said and the sorcerer stopped, turning as though fearing a hit. "Just wait. Look I'm sorry, but you have to understand the position I'm in. the councilors already don't like knowing you're here and…"
"And will take any excuse to throw me over the wall and back to Diriel." Mozenrath surmised quickly. "I apologize. I…I admit I forgot you were now Sultan here." He could see the curious and bewildered faces staring at the two of them talking. With sudden humility he knelt to the stairs, his head so low down it touched the bricks. "I'm sorry master…are…are you going to punish me?" he said, just loudly enough for others to hear.
Aladdin paused only an instant. "No…not this time slave." He whispered then under his breath. "But you've got to remember what's going on here. It looks…bad if people hear me give you and order and then see you disobey."
"I understand…I'm sorry. I just…' Mozenrath suddenly remembered why he'd come seeking Aladdin. The silence of the rooms had begun to grate on him. Every corner, so vast and gaping seemed to wish to swallow him whole. He did not feel trapped. Worse, he felt there was too much space to feel secure and comfortable in. "I'm sorry." He said finally and did not look up until Aladdin allowed him to rise.
"It's okay." Aladdin said and heard a slight cough behind him. Jasmine was looking from one man to the other, her eyes on the hand Aladdin had extended to help Mozenrath to his feet. "Sadira!" He said with sudden exclamation. "Are you done with the spell?"
"No, I still have half to go now that I know how to better it." She said and Aladdin hit upon an idea.
"Take Mozenrath with you. He'll be able to help you get this done quicker and point out if any mistakes are made." Aladdin nodded meaningfully towards Sadira and Mozenrath accepted it, following the roughly dressed girl along the wall.
Jasmine waited until the others had gone out of hearing before she turned to Aladdin. "What was that all about?" she said, a note of suspicion in her voice. There had been something, a look only too familiar when Aladdin had taken hold of Mozenrath's flesh hand to help him rise. She had received that look the first time they met, when she had tripped on the stairs up to Aladdin's tiny hovel.
Inside her blood boiled with jealousy.
"Aw Jasmine." Aladdin said weakly and scratched his head. "Listen…I think Mozenrath is just really confused about things right now."
"How so?" She asked, teeth clenched as Aladdin sat down on the wall. She waited, her face becoming slightly less hostile as he explained what Mozenrath had said to him in the bedroom. Jasmine softly pushed her fingers to her mouth when he said the word 'whore'. "He…he said what exactly?" she asked again.
"A whore is a whore. What does it matter who the master is?" Aladdin repeated and Jasmine turned to look for the sorcerer. He was standing some distance away, helping Sadira with the amethysts. They seemed to be talking…or rather Sadira was talking.
Mozenrath was just nodding and shrugging most of the time.
"I see what you mean." Jasmine said stiffly. "But Aladdin he can't actually think you would…?"
"What other experiences does he have to draw from?" Aladdin said softly. "Diriel…and everyone has heard the rumors about Destain. Heck my mother told me once or twice when I wouldn't go to bed. "Go right to sleep or Destain will come and get you." Aladdin poured himself a cup of water and drank it down. "He probably expected me to ravage him the first night."
"And it's probably confusing him as to why you haven't" Jasmine concluded, mulling the thought over in her head. There was another possible conclusion there, one she almost dared not to explore. If Mozenrath had referred to himself as a whore, it could only mean he'd come to accept being used in that manner. As such, he accepted, even expected Aladdin to use him in that way. When it hadn't happened, and Aladdin had made it clear that he wasn't that sort of person, the idea had probably confounded Mozenrath to no end. Did that mean Aladdin had something worse in mind? Or that Aladdin just wasn't attracted to guys. Both ideas could be very disturbing to Mozenrath fragile state right now.
People like that needed constant reassurance of their standing. That was probably the whole reason he'd kept Xerxes around. If someone is beneath you than you must be above someone. It complimented the idea of Mozenrath as a powerful Lord. But now, with nothing to explain to him exactly what was expected, Mozenrath had merely assumed the closest role he knew how.
Aladdin's slave. He had bowed quickly, shown submission, sought out his master when he was confused. It all fit perfectly. "Shit…" Jasmine muttered under her breath and saw Aladdin look at her in shock. "What?" she said with a little smile. "Didn't think I knew any words harsher than darn or goodness gracious?" Aladdin sort of grinned and Jasmine took a cup for water for herself. "I swear if I live to be a thousand people will always insist on seeing me as some naive little princess." She murmured and Aladdin chuckled.
"I like it. It means you can keep surprising people whenever they underestimate you." He said and kissed her cheek warmly. "I won't." he said in her ear. "I won't…I couldn't…" he tried to comfort her and Jasmine hid a sad little smile.
Don't make promises you can't keep love. She mused as a trumpet blast carried over the dunes and rattled the walls. Everyone within sight ran to the edge of the wall, scanning the desert for any sign of what the horn was sure to have signaled.
Far in the distance, a single rider appeared on a great black horse, his visage identifiable even from this distance. Aladdin looked for Mozenrath and saw him, eyes wide in fear as an earth shattering roar crossed the lands. He waved to Sadira and she began to run, setting up the last of the stones as quickly as she could. Mozenrath tried to pull himself away from the sight as the red marks on his arm began to burn again. He shook.
"Everyone get within the walls!" Jasmine shouted and Agrabah sounded it's own warning horn. People screamed and grabbed what they could, heading inside the gate as quickly as possible. Many came with their children, five, six seven little brats in tow as they shoved them inside the walls. Men on horses, royal guards sent to control the evacuation sped them along, Running among the huts to be sure they were cleared out before heading back within the safety of the walls.
The gates slammed shut just as the end of the last horse tail vanished between them.
But it did not look as though Diriel was planning to run them all down in the next five seconds. He rode out, the massive black stallion under him snorting angrily, it's white eyes full of cold. He pulled up to the last few meters before Agrabah's wall, riding back and forth for a moment to make sure he had everyone's attention. His horns, black and wicked flashed in the sunlight as his face grinned, the beauty of it too impossible to be believed. "Agrabah!" he hollered in what was more like a command than a speech. "Where is your Sultan Aladdin?"
No one answered, the sound of flags flapping in the wind was all the answered him. Diriel growled. "Where is the Sultan Aladdin!" he demanded again, his horse rearing back to show great lion like claws where hooves should have been.
Aladdin stepped up to the wall. "What do you want here daemon?" he said sharply as Diriel smiled bellow.
"I want what's mine." He said in a voice like silk. "I want Mozenrath. Give him to me now and I will return to the Black Sands now, no questions asked. Refuse…" He smiled almost as if he hoped they would and raised his arm. Behind him, in a line that seemed to go on for miles, a troop rose up. Thousands upon thousands of vicious, snarling creatures, hopping about on cloven feet and brandishing the most sadistic looking weapons in this world jeered and danced, wanting blood shed.
"Refuse…" Diriel repeated. "…and I will raze your city to the ground. I will take the souls of your women, the bodies of your men, and fed your children to my minions for whatever sport they can give."