Chapter 3
"So, where to start off?" Doubar asked Sinbad as the boat pulled away from the harbor.
"Well, I've been thinking that the culprit here has to be Rumina. After all, she's the only one I know of who does impersonations. Plus, she hates the Caliph, because he ordered her father killed."
"But what about the blue and brown eye thing?" Maeve asked, entering the conversation, "it's not like Rumina to mix up her looks. She's much too concerned about them and about you. We could be going after Rumina and stirring up a whole hornets nest of trouble when she hasn't even done anything this time."
"Maeve," Doubar asked stunned, "are you actually defending Rumina?"
The rest of the crew watched her, waiting for the answer, and she stood for a moment, and then threw up her hands. "Well, I don't want more trouble if I can avoid it. Something is wrong already, I can feel it."
"And I feel that Rumina is involved, even if she wasn't the kidnapper," said Sinbad. "It is too much of a coincidence that this happened right after Caipra's warning."
"Oh, you're probably right," Maeve sighed, "it just doesn't feel like her style."
"And you may be right," Sinbad said, "but with only three months on our side, we've got to take what we can. I've got to follow my hunches."
"Well, that brings another disturbing problem to mind," interrupted Firouz, "but where exactly are we supposed to find Rumina. Point of fact, we destroyed her last hideout, so where else could she possibly be?"
"Well," Sinbad said, a small grin appearing on his face, "why not ask Maeve to consult her books?"
"Oh, brother," Maeve said rolling her eyes, "fine, I'll go see what I can find out. Maybe I'll contact Caipra while I'm at it."
"Then we might as well head for the port of Basra," Sinbad said, "I have a feeling I might want Omar's support behind me on this one. I think he, at least, will believe me when I say I didn't kidnap the Caliph. After all, he was the first one Rumina tried it on. Besides, we still need to empty our goods if we want to travel light and fast. Not to mention a little bit of extra money will come in handy if we need information."
"Aye, brother," Doubar said with a grin as he turned the tiller. "Toward Basra it is."
"Master," Rumina breathed, "you're so good at this, it's almost scary."
"Why thank you, Rumina," the Dark Master said, as he settled down on a finally decorated couch. "As I've said, it certainly is easy to predict what he's going to do. He's clever, but I've observed him enough to know where his clever little mind is going to lead him. He draws conclusions quickly and follows his hunches. If you set up the board just right, he will place himself in your hands."
"So, who exactly will be waiting for him in Basra?" Turok asked with a curious little smile.
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise," the Dark Master said with a cocky smile and a raised eyebrow.
Sinbad and his crew quickly docked into the port of Basra. Sinbad was about to leap out, when Doubar grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back.
"No," Doubar said, "this time I go first. You don't seem to understand the word danger, Sinbad. Now you stay here until I check if the coast is clear, and then we'll make our way to the palace."
Sinbad shook his head, his soft, short, wavy hair flopping in the breeze. He sighed and watched as Doubar gazed around the docks threateningly and then motioned for Sinbad to come down. Sinbad did so, and he was followed by Maeve who had her sword out and who followed him like a body guard.
"What are you doing?" Sinbad asked exasperated.
"Watching your back, what else?" Maeve said and then her grin dropped as she added, more seriously, "Doubar's right, Sinbad. You don't understand the meaning of the word danger, and from the sound of it, the whole world might hang in the balance."
Sinbad smiled disarmingly, and said, "Now what makes you think I might be in danger?" Smiling as her lips pulled back in disbelief, he hollered at Firouz. "Firouz, you and Rongar sell the cargo. We're going to speak to Omar." Firouz nodded and Rongar showed his understanding. Quickly some of the crew began to unload the ship, and Sinbad, Doubar, and Maeve started off, with Dermott soaring overhead.
Sinbad entered the palace without mishap, and they were quickly brought in front of Omar. "Sinbad, my boy!" yelled the Omar, excitedly, "It is nice to see you here. I was worried for your safety."
"So, you heard about what happened in Baghdad?" Maeve demanded.
"Yes, and about the price on your head. It is most unfortunate. So, what really happened?"
"Price on his head? Sire, what do you mean?" Doubar demanded, sounding slightly angry.
"Well, the fact Prince Casib put a price of 1 million gold pieces on your head after you left his port. He sent one of his runner ships here, but I booted the man out. Told him Sinbad was a personal friend of mine, and if he no longer had the Caliph's protection, he now had mine. I didn't believe a word of it. I knew Sinbad, who had stopped me from going to war and had saved my people from the cyclops, would never, ever turn on his friend, the Caliph, and it was undoubtably another phony."
"That little brat broke his word!" Sinbad said, angrily, "He swore he wouldn't set the bounty until after two months. This is going to make it twice as hard to find the Caliph."
Omar looked angry. "Sinbad, I fear the peace I finally made with the Caliph will not last with his son. He doesn't seem to understand honor or honesty."
Sinbad bowed low, quickly controlling his temper, "Don't worry, sire. I will find the Caliph, and then he'll have a good talk with his son. I would like to thank you for your kind offer of protection, and for your faith in my honesty. However, I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline the protection."
"What?" Maeve yelled, who had been thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a couple of the fleet's finest ships behind them.
"Little brother," Doubar agreed, "What are you thinking?"
Sinbad looked at Maeve, Doubar, and at Omar and said, "If Omar makes an offer of protection, the Prince Casib will see it as him siding with us, against his father. Immediately, Prince Casib will strike. War will break out again. This would only help Rumina, Turok, and Scratch. I will not dishonor our friendship by allowing you to serve evil, you highness. However, I will accept your friendship still. I simply do not want you to once again go to war with the Caliph or his son."
Omar thought for a moment, and then said, "Wise words, Sinbad. You are right, of course. My friendship for you however, makes me feel as though I should do something to help you. I feel as though you are my errant son. One who is constantly in trouble."
Sinbad gave him a quick grin. "Well, sire, one is never in trouble when one is surrounded by one's friends. We will be leaving your dock shortly to begin our search. Thank you, sire. Knowing you still have faith in me, means a lot."
Omar nodded and smiled fondly at the young sailor. "Watch yourself, my boy. With no protection, you can expect to find loads of trouble, and with that bounty on your head, trouble will find you."
Sinbad nodded, and bowed as he backed out. Maeve and Doubar followed. Both gazed left and right angrily as though anyone of the people around them might threaten Sinbad. Sinbad rolled his eyes and lead them out into the street.
They made it back to the ship without mishap. Firouz and Rongar were sitting alertly on the docks waiting for them. As they spotted Sinbad, they both jumped to their feet.
"Something's wrong, Sinbad," Firouz whispered, and Rongar nodded in agreement. Sinbad was about to ask what they were talking about when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Well, hello, Sinbad. For once I'm pleased to see you."
Sinbad turned slowly and faced his long-time enemy. "Hello, Plunkett. I'm sorry to admit I'm still not happy to see you. Why the change of heart?"
"Well," Plunkett said, with a slow, evil grin, "it's not so much you I'm pleased to see as the bounty you will bring me when I turn you in. Why don't you save yourself some trouble and come along quietly. I promise I won't hurt you too much."
Sinbad glared calmly at him and rolled his head around indicating his crew. "What makes you think you'll do any better against us this time?" His words were confidant, and as he spoke, his hand moved down to grasp the hilt of his sword.
"Well, for one thing, I brought more help. For another thing, you surprised me last time. This time I was looking for you." With that, Plunkett brought his sword out of its sheath in a smooth movement and charged at Sinbad. Doubar who was watching was suddenly taken back to a memory of many years before.
Sinbad, 15 years old drew his sword smoothly. "You can't take my ship, pirate!" the young captain declared hotly. He had received the ship only a month ago, and he was ready and willing to protect it. He was facing off against a rough man who had managed to catch Sinbad's ship and board it. However, Sinbad was not ready to let anyone take over.
"I am Plunkett," the pirate said snidely, "and I'll take whomever's ship I please. How did such a small boy come to own such a ship anyway? You really should go back to playing with toys. Or maybe you're just pretty enough to take and sell on the slave market."
At these words, Sinbad's face flushed an angry red, and he charged at Plunkett. Plunkett waited calmly and moved to parry the boy's first thrust, but Sinbad had been trained by the best. Even angry, he twisted his sword out of a thrust into a downward strike, and Plunkett had to move quickly to avoid it. A surprised look came over the pirate's face as the boy's skill managed to parry his every move. Plunkett glowered angrily as he began to struggle against the boy's sword. Suddenly with a deft twist of his sword, Sinbad managed to flip the sword out of the pirate's hand. Plunkett's face was a mirror image of Sinbad's as they both stared in surprise at Sinbad's sword. It was leveled directly at Plunkett's throat. Sinbad quickly shook off his surprise before the other man noticed it, and said in as serious as voice as the 15 year-old could manage, "Get off my ship."
Plunkett began to back off, motioning for his men to do the same. "Who are you, boy?" the pirate growled.
"My name is Sinbad."
Sinbad had forced the pirates onto a rowboat and set it adrift. He figured they would be able to catch their own ship sometime, and it would give Sinbad and his crew time enough to get out of their reach.
As Sinbad turned to face his crew, the men began cheering. At that point, he won their loyalty and trust. Doubar watched the amazement fill his brother's face as the men that, before this incident, had tried every way to undermine the lad's authority, now cheered and praised him as their Captain. Sinbad stood straighter and assumed a cocky, albeit, somewhat restrained grin.
That scene flashed through Doubar's head as he watched his brother meet one of his oldest foes in battle. Then he engaged his own enemy.