Rumina entered her own room with a sly smile of satisfaction. "Everything is going according to plan!",she purred,happily. The room had altered quite a bit. The curtains were drawn to block out the sun. Some of the furniture had been removed and Rumina's own things were arranged in their place. "With my powers weakened, you have become my only option. ",she said as she walked slowly to the corner of the room. In the shadows,was a tall object covered in a glassy veil. Rumina slid off the cloth and gazed upon the statue of glimmering bronze. It was a gruesome sculpture of a creature - part human and part feline- barring its teeth in an ugly leer. There was a cunning glint in its bright green eyes. The statue held two objects in its clawed hands. In one, a lovely delicate balance made of smoky glass. And in the other, a long black scepter ,smooth as silk. The head of the scepter was shaped into a head similar to that of the statue. There were smaller green stones fitted as the eyes. As Rumina approached the statue, the balance tilted ever so slightly to one side. "Soon",said Rumina laying her hands and head on the scepter."You will be mine. And I will have enough power to crush the entire city of Baghdad"
Sinbad was in deep sleep. After a heavy meal ,provided by his gracious hostess and surrounded by his friends, Asif and Nassima, Sinbad was a happy man indeed. Now he lay still, his arms crossed over his chest and his head leaning against a soft pillow,dreaming of sailing to back to Baghdad. The fruit on the side shelf remained untouched. Sinbad was too full for dessert. Slowly and quietly , little Abdul shuffled from under the bed and tip-toed to the bowl. He put out a hand and helped himself to an apple. Soon he munched into a ripe mango and a pear. When he was midway through a cluster of grapes, he noticed Sinbad's head-band hanging on the headrest of a cushioned chair. After taking one look at the snoring Captain, the boy smiled and ran over to the chair and picked up the cloth. He tied it on his head,just like the Captain and stood in the same stance in front of the mirror. Abdul also had long brown hair that fell over his face. He pushed back a few locks and tried to look as heroic as he knew how. But the effect wasn't complete. He needed a sword,just like the Captain. He eagerly looked about the room and then spotted the scabbard hung on a high hook on the wall. There was a low table which could be used as a footstool. Abdul grinned and ran to the table. He climbed up and reached for the swinging scabbard. Poor Abdul. It was only an inch out of reach. Abdul jumped lightly, causing the scabbard to swing even more.
Sinbad opened his eyes. He looked about, wondering where he was. The dome shaped ceiling painted with stars and a moon looked beautiful but unfamiliar to him. He was just about to drop off when he spotted Abdul jumping desperately on the table. "What the-" Abdul spun around with a gasp. Now he was in trouble. He stood against the wall ,still with fright. Sinbad rose up and walked slowly to him. "Who are you,boy? What's your name?"
When Sinbad came close enough, Abdul suddenly slipped through his legs and scrambled under the bed. "Hey,come back here..",cried Sinbad diving down after the disappearing boy. But he was too big to fit into the recess of the giant bed. He struggled out and peered into the dim niche. "Come on out,litte fella. i won't hurt you."
Abdul looked at him dis-trustingly. Sinbad sat cross legged on the floor. "How long have you sitting there?"
The boy remained silent.
Sinbad smiled. "If you wanted to look at my sword, why didn't you just ask me?". He walked up to the scabbard and unhooked it from the wall. He sat back down and drew out the glittering weapon. "Look! Do you like it?"
Abdul shyly slipped out and sat down a little away from Sinbad. But after a little while, he grew curious and came close to Sinbad. He sat down cross legged,just like the Captain and reached out to touch the Sinbad drew it away at once. "You can look. But you can't touch. A sword's dangerous for a boy like you.."
Abdul took off the head-band and handed it to Sinbad.
"Thanks",smiled the Captain. "Now ,what's your name?"
"Abdul",replied the boy.
"Well,Abdul.. what are you doing here?"
"Hiding"
Sinbad frowned. "Hiding? From who?"
"From the witch lady"
"What witch?"
Abdul climbed on the bed and began jumping up and down on the covers. Sinbad stood up as well. For one moment, he wondered if the boy speaking the truth.
"Abdul,where is your mother?"
"She's here",came the reply.
"Your father?"
"He's here"
"What's his name"
"My father built this house.",said Abdul,with a grin.
"Your Asif's son.",said Sinbad with a smile. "Why he never told me. Come on then,I'll take you to your mother"
"No!",objected Abdul at once.
"Why not?"
"That witch lady is bad. She will see me"
"Rumina? She's not a bad person. What gave you that idea?. Now, come on ,it's time you went home"
Abdul stopped jumping. "This is my home"
"It's Rumina's home"
"It's my home.",said Abdul,perfectly mimicking Sinbad by putting his hands on his hips and wearing a long-suffering look.
"That's not true",said Sinbad sternly.
"It's true",replied Abdul in prompt imitation.
Sinbad moved towards the boy but he was too fast for the Captain. In a thrice, he slipped under the bed and stayed safely underneath.
"Come on out,Abdul. Stop playing games",said Sinbad wearily.
"Go away!",came the reply.
Sinbad decided he would tackle this problem the other way around. He would find Nassima and tell her of Abdul's whereabouts. She must be searching for him since morning.
Sinbad's conversation with Nassima proved to be strangest one he'd ever had. Across the luncheon table earlier that day, she had seemed extremely polite and distant. But to talk the same way now and remain vague and indifferent even at the mention of her son struck Sinbad as very odd indeed. When he stood next to her, he noted for the first time the vacant expression on her face. Her eyes were dim,devoid of any emotion. She gazed endlessly ahead, watching the servants tend to the gardens. Her hands tugged distractedly at the tassels on her sleeves. "If you say I have a son, then perhaps he must remain with me", was the best reply she had to offer.
"It shouldn't have anything to do with anything I say..",replied Sinbad,puzzled. "Is something wrong,Nassima? Is there anything troubling you and Asif?"
Before Nassima could reply, they heard a loud chirping sound by the trees. Sinbad spied Dermott sitting comfortably on the lowest branch.
"Ahhhh,there's the feathery admirer. Nassima,meet my bird-friend, er... Bird. Bird, meet Nassima."
Dermott screeched loudly.
"All right",assured Sinbad."I'm gonna take you seriously this time. What do you want me to do?"
Dermott flew into the air and down the garden path and perched himself on the gate post.
"Do you want me to follow you?",asked Sinbad,beginning to understand Dermott."Is there someone you'd like me to meet?"
Dermott screeched loudly again.
"Okay,lead on"
Sinbad prepared to follow when suddenly a powerful beam shot out from behind him ,targeting Dermott. The hawk instantly took to the air,narrowly escaping the rays which turned the gate post to ashes. "WHAT'S THAT WRETCHED BIRD DOING HERE?" Rumina descended the marble steps ,her face white with anger. She reached the middle of the garden,her eyes tracing Dermott's flight. "YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!" Her eyes glowed a deep red ,shooting the beam again. This one found it's mark. Dermott fell down to the ground. "What have you done?",cried Sinbad, appalled by her cruelty. Rumina looked completely transformed. Her voice had grown coarse and hard, her mouth was a malicious line. Sinbad gingerly held Dermott in his hands. "It was only a harmless bird"
"I hate birds.",seethed Rumina. Her eyes kept darting around for Maeve,fearing she too was nearby."I loathe the very sight of birds. This is my house isn't it? Can't I do what I want?"
"I just thought you could have shown a little mercy"
"Mercy?",scorned Rumina,forgetting herself."Mercy is for wimps" She saw immediate displeasure spreading across Sinbad's face.
"All right",said Rumina,pretending to make light of her fury. She swayed her hand over Dermott's body ,palm downwards and the hawk began to stir again. "If this pleases you. There!He will wake up in a few days. I don't know my own strength sometimes". A large cage appeared enclosing Dermott inside. "Nassima will care for him"
"She is a witch!", thought Sinbad, rather shaken by the sudden display of magic."Abdul was right!"
"Come with me,Sinbad. I have something to tell you",said Rumina looking sweet once again. She linked her arm through his and led him away. As Sinbad looked back,he saw Nassima with the Dermott's cage beside her, staring vacantly as before. A queer feeling came over him for the first time.
The bond between Dermott and Maeve was broken. The former ,lay unconscious in his prison unable to respond to his sister's pleas while the latter fell into despair. No words could describe the suffering that Maeve underwent alone. Tears seemed meaningless to her since her sorrow was intermingled with guilt. The memory of when she challenged Rumina and when the heartless witch turned Dermott into a hawk just to spite her ,played out before her eyes a thousand times. Each time,Maeve felt as if she were pushing a well-sharpened sword into her own heart. They say bitterness and grief are only emotions. But to Maeve, they seemed like nasty potions to be swallowed. Each gulp threatened to drain her inner strength. Dermott couldn't be dead!. Maeve tried in vain to reach Dermott. If she could only sense even a fading glimmer of his sub-conscience. She tried so hard and vowed so many vows to never dare give up. She would never give up. Dermott had to be alive!
"What did you wish to tell me?",asked Sinbad of Rumina as they entered her room. Unable to shake off the image of Rumina turning the gatepost to ashes and having an uneasy fore brooding that she might be a regular practitioner of the black arts ,Sinbad couldn't help but remain guarded in his manner as he regarded his hostess in a new light.
"Sinbad",began Rumina,easing herself into a comfortable chair and tossing back a lock of her dark mane."Believe me,this was not the way I planned to show you that I possessed magical powers."She paused and glanced at Sinbad. The latter sat in keen attention and she went on."I would have done this.." Rumina waved her fingers and the vase of rose buds near Sinbad changed to one of full bloom. "and took you by surprise"
"Oh,you surprised me all right!",retorted Sinbad,shaking his head."Yours is an extraordinary talent"
"And a burden"
"Why do you say that?"
"What you saw in the gardens. My gift causes me to destroy as well". There was a clear note of sadness in Rumina's tone meant purposely to tug on Sinbad's heart strings. If Sinbad was in full possession off all his memories concerning Rumina, he would have seen through her crocodile tears at once. But right now,Rumina was at perfect advantage. By turning quickly away as if to hide the tears from her eyes, she waited with all the patience of a predator for Sinbad to draw near and console her. The inevitable happened.
"It's nothing that can't be changed,Rumina",said Sinbad,gently."You've got a hot temper and many of us are guilty of that,but -"
"Oh,thank you Sinbad. I knew you would see things my way",cut in Rumina,grateful to drop her act. She stood up from her chair and grabbing Sinbad's hand,she took him to the corner of the room where the statue was. Once again,she pulled away the veil and the hideous statue appeared.
"What is that?",cried Sinbad,repulsed by the ugliness of the sculpture.
"It's from my private collection,dearest",said Rumina, proudly.
A wave of pain shot through Sinbad's head. "AArrrggh!",he groaned, wrinkling his brow.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I get these funny headaches now and then. They are driving me crazy"
"Here.. does this make it better?" Rumina ran her hand across the side of Sinbad's face. Her hands were as smooth as silk and Sinbad thought that they made his headache better indeed. Rumina leaned closer,winding her other hand around Sinbad's neck. Then she kissed him.
Sinbad broke away,dazed."You're full of surprises,Rumina",he managed.
"You have no idea".
Suddenly the silver balance in the statue's hand,tipped completely to the other side. An intricate ancient symbol of black appeared on Rumina and Sinbad's hands which were entwined in embrace and quickly faded out of sight. "It's done." Rumina pushed Sinbad away and reached for the scepter which tottered loosely from the statue's other hand. "The sceptre of Kolhmar is mine atlast!"
"Huh? Whats that?",said Sinbad,still under the charm of her kiss.
"You needn't concern yourself,dearest - it isn't anything important.",said Rumina,caressing the scepter."Why don't you go to the local village and find something interesting to do,hmm?"
"Yes, about that",said Sinbad finally getting a grip on himself."I don't want to impose myself on your kindness any longer,Rumina. I will find a some place to stay and get to work on how I'm going to reach Baghdad. I'm very anxious to go home"
"Do whatever you want,Sinbad",replied Rumina,hardly paying attention to Sinbad's words. "I think I may plan a trip to Baghdad as well. I'm a good friend of the Caliph and his family"
"Well,I hope we meet again"
Rumina only smiled.
Sinbad walked out of the door. But he collided hard into the muscle-bound chest of a man, who was twice taller than himself. "Excuse me,I'm-"
"Out of my way! I must speak to mistress Rumina",said the man pompously.
"Be my guest",said Sinbad,stepping aside for the man to pass.
The man shoved Sinbad roughly as he walked past and entered through the door.
Sinbad couldn't help sneaking a look once or twice. The man was dressed like a soldier -in blue and black and carrying a very heavy sword. "He must be a swordsman! I wonder what he's doing here.."
"IDIOT! I TOLD YOU NOT TO DISTURB ME HERE!" Sinbad smiled as he heard Rumina scream the words. "Looks like that temper of hers is back! Poor fellow!" He adjusted his head-band and ran lightly down the stairs and out through the house towards the seaside village.