DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The New Adventures of Sinbad - all this recognition goes to the Creater, Ed Naha.
Here is another chapter for you. Please let me know what you think! I will be writing more soon.
Chapter 8
By week's end, Gunnar has made great progress in rebuilding his home. With the help of his local friends and Sinbad's crew; the foundation was complete and the wooden logs were in their place. Today they hauled small and medium sized stone to give more detail at the entrance. They also fastened the wooden doors to each room. By evening, everyone gathered at The Tavern to unwind.
Doubar, Rongar, Gunnar and Sinbad found a table near the stage. They opted for front row view of the entertainment for the night. The live music ignited the crowd. People were dancing and cheering.
Sinbad glanced around the room. He saw Firouz seated at a table with Felix and a few other local friends of Gunnar's that they met through out the week. Firouz must've had their attention because they were all leaning in to listen to his words. The Tavern was starting to get filled enough that voices needed to be raised to be heard over each other. Most likely, he was describing an invention he created that he had stowed away on The Nomad. Sinbad looked past Firouz and saw Bryn at the bar speaking with Mira. Tonight she wore a cream colored dress with sheer cap sleeves that fluttered in the breeze from the opened doorway. The fabric looked soft and delicate to the touch. Whatever Mira said to her caused her to laugh. He studied her profile and decided that she was the most beautiful woman in the room. He took a sip of his ale and brought his attention back to the table. Next to him, Doubar caught his attention and spoke in his ear to be heard.
"Have you two talked about what you needed to yet?" Doubar had followed his brother's gaze just moments ago.
"Not yet", Sinbad shook his head and gave a look of determination, "I hope so tonight".
"Good luck to you!", Doubar gave a deep chuckle and slapped his brother's back encouragingly.
Sinbad smiled at his brother's support and looked over at Rongar. He had a woman dancing up on him who seemed to seek his attention. Rongar looked at the table, he gave them all an innocent shrug before standing up to dance with the stranger.
"Rongar! You watch those hands!" Doubar hollered out jokingly. This caused Sinbad and Gunnar to laugh.
Gunnar leaned in to speak with Doubar and Sinbad, "The jewels of Capua have decided to grace us with their presence tonight", he was gesturing towards the many ladies in the room. "They look to be dressed in their finest".
"Did you not see the sign when we entered?", Doubar asked, "Tonight is ladies' night, they get half off their wine!"
"Mira and John have hosted that before", Gunnar explained, "I think last time, some of the ladies had consumed too much wine, it was rather humorous".
"Loose tongues and lost inhibitions", Sinbad confirmed.
Gunnar nodded, "Exactly!"
xxxxx
From the bar, Bryn could see where the crew sat. She and Mira were amused when they watched Rongar doing his best to keep up with a woman dancing around him. To the far left of them is where John stood; he was pleased of the amount of guest they attracted. Ladies' Night was always successful in their books. Bryn could hear John welcoming people in and inviting them up to the bar.
Mira leaned in to speak with Bryn, "Don't look, but there is a man behind you that won't stop looking at you".
"What?", Bryn turned and made eye contact with the guy Mira was referring to. She looked at Mira, "I don't know him".
"I told you not to look!" Mira laughed, "He is coming this way."
A few seconds later, Bryn felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and a tall man with dark brown eyes was looking down at her. He had a smile on his face. He then looked to Mira, "I would like to buy this charming lady a drink".
Bryn shook her head, "No, that is not necessary". She smiled, "Thank you though".
Mira ignored her friend's protest and poured her some wine anyways, "Bryn, of course it's necessary, you are in a tavern and you have empty hands". She winked at her friend as she slid the glass in front of her. Mira could not deny a paying customer early in the evening.
"Bryn? Is that your name?" The stranger held out his hand, "My name is Anders". Bryn shook his hand, "Thank you, Anders". He lifted his ale for a toast, "To new friends". She lifted her drink up as well and accepted the toast with a smile. She watched him from the rim of her glass as she took a sip. She could tell there was something going through this strangers mind but seemed hesitant to voice it.
"Are you okay?" Bryn was unsure of his silence. It took him a moment to speak.
"Is there somewhere we can talk where it's not so loud?" Anders questioned with a sense of urgency in his voice.
"Let's step outside", Bryn replied. She wasn't sure what he had in mind but she grew curious. Something was bothering him. She glanced at Mira to let her know that she would be right back, but she was busy serving customers. Instead, with drink in hand, Bryn made her way towards the entrance and Anders followed.
xxxxx
After speaking with Anders, Bryn went back inside The Tavern to seek her captain. She looked where she last saw him sitting and what she saw made her spirits plummet. "Why am I not surprised", Bryn grumbled to herself. Anders asked her a favor and it was something she needed to speak with Sinbad with. Right now she just couldn't walk over there. Sitting right next to Sinbad was a woman with one elbow on the table and one hand caressing Sinbad's arm. Bryn's view of Sinbad's face was blocked by the woman's head but Bryn could see that Sinbad didn't do anything to stop her wandering hand. Not wanting to see anymore, Bryn turned around and made her way towards John. She smiled at him and showed him her empty wine glass.
"Ready for round two?" John held up a ceramic vase filled with red wine.
"Yes, please", Bryn held up her glass as he poured her some more.
"This one is on me", John winked at her and turned to serve another costumer to his right.
She stayed at the bar for awhile not wanting to turn around. What she saw made her feel sad. She felt like a fool. She wanted to kick herself for even thinking there might be a something there between her and Sinbad. Maybe it was just one sided. With a sigh, Bryn resumed drinking her wine. She needed to distract herself from these thoughts. She decided she should go mingle around and take part in conversation.
Bryn turned and tunnel-visioned it over to Firouz's table. She was pleased to see that there was an empty seat in front of Firouz, which allowed her to have her back towards the cause of her current frustration. Not wanting anyone to know something was bothering her, she put a smile on her face when she greeted them.
"I see you are participating in Ladies Night", Felix nodded towards her glass of wine in her hand. He saw that there was only a few sips left.
"I am a lady aren't I?" Bryn was short with her answer. Realizing her tone, she decided she needed to lighten up. "Looks like you're running on empty over there," She nodded towards his mug, "Would you like me to get you a refill?" She held out her hand. Maybe if she kept herself busy for the moment, Sinbad and little-miss-wandering-hands wouldn't be heavy on her mind. She looked around the table, "Would anyone else like a refill?" She heard a chorus of please and thank you and stood up and made her way back up to the bar.
xxxxx
Just moments earlier, Sinbad was just about to excuse himself and stand up from the table. He hoped to find Bryn to steal a moment with her but was blocked when a someone stood behind him. He first felt hands on his shoulders and felt the pressure of a welcomed massage. He glanced up behind him thinking Bryn thought to find him first but was disappointed to see it was someone else. Blue eyes were upon him.
"Sinbad, right?" The blonde confirmed once she got his attention. She stopped her massage and slipped in to sit next to him. "My name is Katrina".
Sinbad looked at the stranger who already knew his name and gestured towards the table, "This is Doubar and Gunnar". Katrina said a quick hello and turned her attention back to the man next to her. "I've heard stories about you", she rested her elbow on the table and reached with her other hand to touch Sinbad's hand, which was holding on to a half full mug of ale. He glanced at his hand that was being tickled by her soft touch. He missed the look of amusement that Doubar and Gunnar exchanged with each other but could hear their muffled laughter.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear", Sinbad warned her. This wasn't the first time he's heard this.
"I hear you are the best sailor of the seven seas", Katrina than brought her attention to his arm. "You can weather any storm". Her hand then started to wander around his biceps, "…and you're quite the man", she giggled and Sinbad looked at the woman in front of him. It was clear to him that her actions were fueled by wine.
xxxxx
Bryn returned to the table with a tray full of ale. "Here we go, boys! Bottom's up!" She placed it on the center of the table and sat back down in front of Firouz. She took her glass of wine and resumed drinking it.
"Bryn, slow down. What's the rush?" Firouz commented. When she said 'bottoms up' she meant it, because she didn't put her wine glass down until it was empty.
"I only had a few sips left", Bryn responded with a shrug.
"Now look who's running on empty?' Felix chimed in, "I will go get you another one".
"Wait! I'll come with you", She stood up and joined Felix, "I think I would like some ale instead".
Firouz watched them walk up to the bar and wondered how many has Bryn already had. Amongst the crew, she was known to be a bit of a lightweight. She rarely indulged in more than one or two.
xxxxx
Sinbad glanced at his brother and Gunnar. They were no help at all. They just sat there with goofy smiled on their faces. Practically telling him he was on his own with this one. Some friends he had. He laughed and shook his head.
"Sinbad", Katrina scooted closer to him and place her arm around his shoulders. She then leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Let's go somewhere quiet with little distractions", She looked at him with wanting eyes. He was just about to decline when Rongar tapped him on the shoulder. Rongar gestured towards his throwing knives. Sinbad wasn't sure what he meant by them but reached at anything. He turned to Katrina, "I'm sorry, I need to see to my crew", He stood up and helped her up. "I will take a rain check on that". He let her hands go and followed Rongar. He missed the look of disappointment that was clearly on her face.
Once there were out of her ear shot, Sinbad patted Rongar on the back, "Thanks, Rongar. I needed that". Rongar laughed and gestured to his throwing knives again. This time he pointed towards a wall that had a bulls eye painted on it.
"Okay! One game of darts!" Sinbad responded, "I can only handle you besting me once". He welcomed the interruption and he too enjoyed a game every now and than. He took a glance around the room to find Bryn. Her back was to him at the bar and he told himself he will go see her after this game was over.
xxxxx
When Felix got to the bar, he saw Bryn holding on to the counter for support once she joined him. "Are you okay?" He noticed she needed to regain her balance.
"Oh I am just fine. Just got little lightheaded there for a second, " Bryn gave him a reassuring smile with a wave of her hand, "I must've stood up too fast".
Felix ordered a drink from Mira for Bryn and Mira gladly obliged. It was a busy night, Mira wanted to ask Bryn about what Anders wanted but was too busy seeing to her customers, she felt it would have to wait. She left them with a smile.
While sipping on her ale at the bar, Bryn stole a glance at where Sinbad was seated. She wish she hadn't. The only people at the table were Doubar and Gunnar, who seem to have invited two other ladies to their table. They were all smiles in conversation. What bothered her the most was that Sinbad and little-miss-blondie wasn't there. "Just great", Bryn voiced out loud. She could only imagine what they were up to.
Felix looked at the direction she was looking and saw what she just did. He misunderstood what her comment was about, "Don't worry about Gunnar, those are not the type of girls he's interested in". He tried to lead her back to where they left Firouz, "Come on, let's sit back down".
Bryn was too lost in her emotions, she barely heard Felix speak. "I think I'm just going to go outside for a little while. Fresh air sounds good", she stepped away from Felix and held up her ale, "Thank you for this". She smiled and turned to leave. Felix shrugged at her departing form and sat back down with Firouz.
xxxxx
Fresh air is exactly what she needed. Once she stepped outside Bryn closed her eyes and focused on the cool breeze touching her skin and running through her hair. Not too long after that, she felt her world spinning. She opened her eyes and decided a walk would help set her straight. Silently she scolded herself for drinking more than usual but at the same time she justified it. She was hurt and thought wine would numb the pain. She was wrong. It didn't help at all. It only made her feel a little dizzy. Before, seeing Sinbad surrounded by women that adored him was tolerable. Tonight, for some reason, it was a little more difficult to accept. She was more angry with herself than Sinbad. He never made promises to her. She let her guard down and she should've known better.
Bryn stopped walking and looked ahead of her. In front of her was The Nomad calmly sitting on the water. She looked so peaceful. She stepped on the dock leading towards the ship and heard the distinct sound of the wood creaking below her. As she approached The Nomad she realized she hasn't stepped foot on it since she came into port. She had the ale that Felix bought her still in her hand. She took another sip and decided to come aboard. The Nomad was quiet up on deck. She wasn't sure if any of the crew members were down below. She walked towards the stern of the boat and let her hand brush against the wooden rail. What she was looking at calmed her. It was the sea lit up by the moon. "God, I missed this." Bryn said to herself out loud.
xxxxx
"Do you know where Bryn is?" Sinbad stood next to Firouz. He just finished losing to a game of darts with Rongar and couldn't find the woman that has been on his mind. At this point he wasn't feeling that all lucky.
"She was just here, " Firouz looked to Felix, "Wasn't she just with you?" Felix was sitting across from him and nodded his head.
"She said she wanted some fresh air", Felix looked at Sinbad, "She's probably just outside".
"Thanks", Sinbad went towards the entrance but was stopped by Firouz.
"Sinbad!", Firouz gestured for his captain to come closer, "She didn't seem herself. I think she had more wine then usual".
"Really?", Sinbad was surprised. "That's not like her".
Sinbad exited The Tavern expecting to see Bryn outside. He looked left and right but she was not there. He saw a couple customers leaning against the outer wall and asked them if they've seen a brunette with a cream dress on. One of them nodded and pointed towards the direction of the water. Sinbad immediately thought of The Nomad and hoped to find her there.
Finally luck found him tonight. Sinbad came aboard his ship and he saw her. Her back was to him while she was leaning against the rail. She was looking out into the distance. When he approached her, he said her name, to not startled her. When he got to the rail to stand next to her, he placed a hand on her back and he felt her tense up.
"Bryn, what's the matter?" He stood next to her and nearly knocked over a mug of ale that was at his feet. He looked down and saw that it was half gone. When he looked back up, she angled herself to face him.
"You", she pointed a finger to his chest and stepped closer. Sinbad looked down at her with a raised eyebrow in question. "You, Captain", Bryn jabbed a finger against his chest and looked up at him, "Drive me crazy".