Chapter 2

The Nomad docked in the port of Baghdad right on schedule. Sinbad leapt lightly onto the dock and looked around. Baghdad was as close to a home as he had, if you were talking about dry land. He did have estates in Baghdad, but he wasn't often there. He also was rich, if he felt like going and getting the money. However, there was an added measure of excitement from living from cargo to cargo. Especially if you knew that if worse came to worse you could always get more money.

"Sinbad!" he heard Doubar's angry voice yell behind him and he turned around just in time to leap out of the way as Doubar came crashing down right next to him.

"What's wrong, Doubar?"

"You! That's what's wrong! I told you I'm not letting you out of my sight until this whole affair is straightened out."

Sinbad laughed and patted his brother on the back. "Oh, Doubar, you've always been there for me, but don't worry so much, I'm sure they won't try anything in the middle of a crowded city."

Doubar looked around, for a moment reassured, and then started. Turning to look at Sinbad, he hissed, "Did you say crowded?"

Sinbad's head started up, and he gazed around quickly. The streets were completely empty. No one was in sight. "What's going on here?" he cried, completely baffled.

Where usually was a bustling city was now silence and emptiness. Their footsteps seemed to echo as they started down the streets. "Now this is strange," Sinbad said. In all his years, he had never seen the city like this. Suddenly from up ahead, a group of armed men charged out of an alley.

"Looks like trouble," Sinbad said lightly as he drew his sword. Doubar nodded grimly, and added, "But there's only twenty of them, brother, they shouldn't be too big of a problem."

Sinbad grinned at his older brother and then they engaged the enemy. As Sinbad slammed the hilt of his sword into one man's face he said, "I don't know what the caliph's thinking, but he really should clean up the trash in his street."

"Aye, little brother. When streets are dirty they give cities a bad name," Doubar said as he flung a soldier into the wall. Then there was a screech from a hawk and the rest of the crew joined them. Maeve almost seemed to blaze as she raced in with her broadsword. Firouz made careful slashed with his blade and dodged equally as carefully. Rongar slew swiftly and silently and threw his knives just as effortlessly. Dermott every once in a while plunged from the sky, attacked, and returned just as swiftly. The soldiers were soon either running or lying on the ground moaning. Sinbad smiled casually as he wiped his sword on one of the injured men's pants. Cheerfully, he said, "I'm thinking we should send word to the Caliph to come pick up this garbage heap."

"How dare you say the Caliph's name," spat one of the wounded men. Sinbad and his friends turned in surprise.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Doubar.

Before the man could answer, they heard voices shouting, and they as they turned they realized they were surrounded by more of the men, far too many for them to defeat.

As they looked around at the uneven odds, a man stepped forward, and glaring at them ordered, "Drop your swords. You are to accompany us to the palace."

"Huh," Sinbad said, "this is a larger escort than the Caliph usually sends us. Would you mind telling me what's going on?" If anything the man just became angrier. With a cry of rage he stepped forward and slapped his armored fist across Sinbad's face. Sinbad staggered back, recovered and looked puzzled at the man.

"How dare you speak the Caliph's name? How dare you return?" the man growled, "Take them to the prince!"

Instantly the men were on them, binding their hands. Sinbad sighed and sent a puzzled look at Maeve, who shook her head. The men quickly trussed them up, and then they began their march to the palace. Sinbad, though noticed that as soon as they were taken prisoner, people began to come out of their homes, casting frightened glances at Sinbad and his crew.

"What exactly is going on here?" Maeve finally cried, her temper getting the best of her. "I demand to know. Why are we being treated like this?"

"Shut up, wench!" One of the men said, "You can thank your Captain for your present predicament."

"And what exactly did I do?" asked Sinbad.

"Oh, don't play innocent with us, Sea Scum," hissed the man in charge, "you deserve death and worse than death, but the Prince will decide you fate."

"What happened to the Caliph?" Sinbad asked, and was once again, slammed across the face.

Doubar growled, angry at the treatment his brother was getting, and roared, "You miserable cretins! We've saved this scrawny city time and time again, and this is how you repay us?"

The men ignored Doubar and continued on. They soon reached the palace and were brought into the audience chamber where Prince Casib sat with his wife. Sinbad was again in for a surprise, for as they entered, Prince Casib started up angrily, pointed his finger at Sinbad, and said, "There you are! Where is my father?"

Sinbad looked at his crew, looked at the Prince, cocked an eyebrow, and said, "That was just what I was wondering."

"Don't lie to me, Sea Dog," the Prince roared in a terrible temper. "It was only yesterday you marched in here, killed the guards and carried my father off, but only after you terrorized the villagers! There is no way you can deny it! I saw you myself."

"Well, my Prince," Sinbad said, carefully, "sometimes appearances can be deceiving. It is not the first time I have been impersonated. The Omar of Basra was almost fooled the same way by a Sorceress who was impersonating me. My Prince, I have been out to sea for the past month. There is no possible way I could have taken the Caliph, who was a dear friend of mine."

"LIES!" roared the Prince. "It was the face and the attitude I see before me. He acted just like you, the first time I saw you in the streets. He acted like you are acting now."

"Um, your majesty," Firouz said amiably, "Did this person act alone, or with a crew?"

"He," the Prince said, pointing a finger at Sinbad, "came alone."

"My Prince," said Doubar, "do you really think Sinbad, who saved your queen from Turok and who has always provided excellent service would really kidnap the Caliph?"

For the first time, a hint of doubt appeared.

"For the debt you owe me, your majesty," Sinbad said, quietly, "please give me the chance to help you find your father. The Caliph has always treated me well. I would give my life to return him safely."

The Prince looked at Sinbad, and murmured, "He had an evil look in his eyes. That was the one difference. Well, maybe one of his eyes was brown."

"What did you say?" asked Maeve, suddenly looking very worried.

"The man that kidnaped my father looked and acted just like Sinbad, only I think he had one brown and one blue eye. In my anger I had forgotten. Perhaps you are telling the truth. After all it would be rather stupid of you to return to a place where you had just committed a crime, especially after telling us you would be returning."

The Prince seemed to think for a moment, and then a small smile appeared. "Sinbad," he said, "I'm still not totally convinced it wasn't you. But for the debt I owe you, I grant you permission to search for my father. If you do not find and return him within three months though, I will see you as guilty and set a price on your head so high, you won't be able to step on land without having bounty hunters jump at your throat."

"Thank you, my Prince," Sinbad said, bowing. The guards were motioned to cut their binds, and they did so, though reluctantly. As the man undid Sinbad's binds, Sinbad brought his hands out in a swift uppercut that slammed the man in the chin, and sent him reeling into unconsciousness. Doubar began to laugh, and the Prince looked suspicious.

"What was that for?" the Prince asked, shrinking back slightly.

"For a sore jaw," Sinbad said, feeling it slightly. "He wasn't very gentle in his treatment of prisoners."

"Well, little brother," asked Doubar, "can you really blame him? If you thought someone who had taken the Caliph was in your hands, you'd probably act the same."

"I hope not," Sinbad said, with a rueful smile, "I hope I'd be obliged to give them the benefit of the doubt first."

Sinbad then turned to the Caliph, "Well, your majesty, we will be off. Let us hope we find the Caliph in time."

"Agreed," said the Prince, and Sinbad and his crew bowed once and walked out.

Prince Casib sat quietly for a moment, and then kissed his queen gently. "It will be alright," she said, "Sinbad saved me, I'm sure he can save your father." Then she quietly stood and left Prince Casib alone with his thoughts.

Prince Casib was suddenly disturbed a few minutes later when movement caught his attention and he turned to see who it was.

"Are you sure that was wise, your majesty?" asked a hooded man who emerged from behind the throne, "Sinbad is a crafty one, in three months he could have your father dead, or hidden so well you'll never find him.."

The Prince looked at the speaker and his eyes slowly hardened, "You may be right, my faithful servant. Maybe I should send some guards after them?"

"I fear they will not stop them from reaching their ship in time. However, you might want to post that bounty now. It will at least keep him on his toes, to know that you still do not trust him and are on the lookout. It may make him less apt to hurt your father. Also if someone does capture him for you, you can always torture the information out of him. It is undoubtable that he is the one that took your father."

"That's an excellent idea," grinned the Prince, "I'll send runners and my fastest ships to spread the word. We won't let him make fools of us."

Rumina chuckled as she watched the events unfolding around Sinbad. She knew the price on his head would also send another, more devastating message. It would tell many individuals that Sinbad was no longer under the protection of the Caliph of Baghdad. Many potential revengers had sometimes been held in check by that protection, but now that it was gone, they too could try to get their revenge on Sinbad. She chuckled again, as her father, accompanied by Scratch entered the room.

"So," Scratch was saying, "no hard feelings about before?"

"Of course not. What type of Sorcerer would I be if I couldn't forgive a little thing like you only bringing back my head? After all, the master took care of the rest. I still don't understand why your still here though."

"The master requested my presence here, so here I'm going to stay."

"So, why do you follow him?" asked Turok, magnanimously. "After all, he isn't a demon or devil, he is merely a mortal man."

"Yes, he is, but with powers far greater than my own. I would not dare go up against him."

"And wise you are for that," the voice said, as it once again spoke.

This time in unison, all three bowed, and said together, "Master, I herald your coming."

"Yes, yes," said the voice, "get up. We have a lot to get done. Sinbad has begun his search for the Caliph, who incidently is in your dungeon. Eventually, his search will lead him to you. Rumina will make sure of that."

"How?" asked Rumina.

"Well, he knows a double of him was in Baghdad, and so far, you are the only he knows of who impersonates him. Although, your impersonation was frankly terrible, I have to tell you that."

"Yes, Master. Well, it was supposed to be terrible."

"I know. Anyway, as he is searching for your new hideout, I am going to make sure he encounters some 'friends' from his past who will be searching for revenge. Scratch is going to help spark that feeling in their hearts. Turok, you are to regain your strength for now. Being brought back to life can drain you slightly, but once you are recharged you will stronger than ever. Rumina, Scratch's necklace has already increased you power, but train with your father while you wait. You will need all of your powers to deal with what's coming."

"Yes, Master."