The warriors of Kohlmar were brutal in their form of attack. The hundred best fighters of Baghdad had planned to distract the flying beasts and lead them to the neighboring wilderness, away from the innocent civilians. But much to their dismay, only four of the warriors took their threat seriously and flew down to challenge their strength. The other thirty six split into halves and the first half flew into the Market Square and housing settlements and began to wreck havoc amongst the people. The other half soared to the Palace to attack the Royal Palace. Doubar found himself being attacked from all sides. Eighteen of the warriors surrounded the Palace and uttered thunderous cries while breathing fire down on the Palace guards and servants. Many were burnt alive by the ruthless beasts.
Firouz and Rongar ducked and swerved as many pieces of rock flew about wildly in the heat of the battle. Once or twice, the beasts carried away some hapless fighter and threw him down from a treacherous height. "My actual plan was..",cried Firouz,leaping and running through the debris. By now, all his gliders had been destroyed and the satchel he slung on his shoulder was all that he had. ".. to use the gliders to fly and throw this corrosive mixture …to melt away the medallions from around the necks of the beasts…But without the gliders.." Rongar stopped as if struck by lighting. He violently thumped his chest and pointed to the skies.
"What do you mean,you can do it?",asked Firouz with a frown. "It takes a good aim to launch a sample of the mixture that far". Rongar took one of his dirks and showed them to Firouz.A wave of pain again seized hold of the inventor. "You are a knife-thrower!",he observed. "All right ,come on, you might be just the one I need"
Firouz and Rongar where now near the City Gate where the battle was most intensive. Four of the beasts seemed to easily overpower the best fighters of Baghdad. The warriors possessed fierce strength and their armors deflected arrows and any rare swipe of the sword. They breathed down fire and scattered the people like rats scurrying from a flooded barrel.
Firouz moved Rongar to an advantageous position and gave him a small tight little bag and quickly shook some of the corrosive mixture inside. The bag gradually began to dissolve. "Be quick and correct,my friend!",said Firouz."This is a very powerful mixture. Be sure to aim it at the medallion around the creature's neck!"
One of the flying demons raced closer to breathe fire. Rongar quickly took aim and launched the bag into the air. The bag, unable to contain the unstable mixture, exploded into dust right into the creature's face and neck. The warrior blinked back in confusion and prickling pain. Some of the dust settled on the medallion and began to corrode it into nothing. As the medallion dissolved, the beast screamed in pain and swooped down in wild circles. When it crashed into the ground, the armor and scales dissolved away and a weakened human stood up on shaky knees.
"Not so fearsome anymore,are you?",asked Firouz, swinging his saber and approaching the startled solider.
"Mistress Rumina will not be denied her rightful place on the Sultan's throne!",barked the enemy, while taking a haphazard swipe at the inventor.
"I guess you're in no mood to surrender then"
Rongar threw one of his dirks and killed the soldier with a single blow. "Good work,my friend",cried Firouz. Suddenly he found everything so familiar. The way, in which Rongar had co-operated so effortlessly with him, respecting his inventions and acting as his protector and friend. A stinging pain shot through his skull and he fell to his knees with a loud cry. As Rongar stood over him with a concerned expression on his face, Firouz was transported to a new place – the hidden lair of Master Rushid.
Doubar coughed and stumbled out of the huge clouds of dust and smoke that arose from a small pile of ruined marble pillars. "Can't let this go on much longer!",he gasped. Then,spying a spear by his side, Doubar flung it at the grinning warrior with all his might. The warrior flew backwards and caught the spear ,breathed fire on it and tossed it back to Doubar. The big man leapt out of the way with a loud yell. "There is nothing you can do to stop us! We are invincible!",bellowed the warrior. Another flying demon joined him."At first,we will destroy all your homes and streets. Then we will turn and slay you all!"
"Oh yeah,we'll see about that!". Doubar flung a gigantic net with the help of four of the guards and captured the Kohlmar warrior. The other guards tightened the ropes while Doubar threw himself upon the creature's back with a bludgeon in his hands. "I'm going to deal with this problem the old-fashioned way – blow…. by…. blow!". The warrior's exoskeleton helmet broke into a dozen pieces and he cried aloud in pain as some of the bone like fragments tore into his eyes. "Ugly beasts, go back to hell where you came from!" The other warrior looked perplexed for a moment. To shoot fire would mean, to injure his fellow warrior. As he pondered over hi s predicament, he found himself trapped in a similar net. No sooner than he was pulled in, did the four guards leap on his back, brandishing their weapons and dealing with nasty blows of their own. The former warrior threw off Doubar and cried out loud. He stooped down and breathed a ring of fire around Doubar and himself. "Now, you can't escape.. "
"I wasn't planning to", retorted Doubar. "You're the one in big trouble!"
"You never give up ,do you?", thundered the creature. He dragged away the remaining bits of head-gear and Doubar shuddered at the ugliness of the distorted cat-like face. The warrior charged forward and pounded Doubar on the jaw. The man went sailing in the air and landed in a heap. He picked up Doubar again and dealt with an even stronger blow to his face. A gash tore across Doubar's forehead and blood began to seep from it. Doubar moaned out loud and rolled onto his back.
"Feeling sorry now,little man?",asked the creature, bending low over the fallen sailor.
"Actually..",said Doubar,in ragged breath."I… was.. just getting.. started"
Doubar grabbed the medallion and pulled at the chain with all his might. The chain snapped and he held it in his fingers. In a quick instant, he rolled over to the edge of the flaming ring and flipped in into the blaze. "You fool, give that back to me!",cried the warrior leaping to save his medallion. But the silver had tarnished in the red-hot fire and once it began to melt, the warrior's supernatural powers began to disappear. "Nooo…!"
"Not so tough, are you, little man?",asked Doubar, clutching the struggling swordsman by the scruff of his neck and hoisting him off his feet."Time for the final round!"
Doubar landed quick blows on the warrior's jaw and chest. He tossed him on the ground with a painful flip. The warrior struggled once and then remained motionless. Doubar smiled in satisfaction and then turned around, hearing the cries of the guards. "My work is never done!"said the sailor, bounding up to take down the other netted beast.
"Death and destruction everywhere", sighed Rumina, happily. She crunched on a few conjured delicacies and sat gazing into her magical mirror,which showed the on-going scenes of battle. "If only father could see me now. He would have been so proud of me!". Rumina laughed and glanced over to Sinbad who was leaning heavily against the mast. "You look pale, dearest. Your face has turned gray. Why don't you come here and have something to eat?"
"I..I'm not hungry",managed Sinbad in a hollow voice whist staring at Baghdad city through anguished eyes.
"All the excitement has been too much for you", replied Rumina, ignoring his sorrow and carrying the bowl towards the Captain." Here, what's more delicious than deep fried scorpions?"
"Get away from him!",cried Maeve,advancing forward with her sword. She broke into a loud war cry and charged at Rumina with her shining blade. Rumina instantly clutched Sinbad's hand and deflected Maeve's sword with a powerful blue ray of light. The sword went skidding down the deck and before Maeve could get to her feet, large iron shackles appeared around her hands and feet, complete with an iron weight which pulled her roughly to the floor. Sinbad grimaced in pain and Rumina glared at her prisoner in fierce anger.
"This is your rightful position. On your knees and pleading for me to spare your pathetic existence.."
"I will never plead-"
"Silence! You annoying peasant, I could crush you like a worm". Rumina stretched out her hand and tiny flashes of lighting shot through the shackles, rattling Maeve violently such that she cried out in pain.
"Don't harm her!",yelled Sinbad,trying to stride forward on uncertain feet.
"You are using borrowed powers,Rumina.",shout out Maeve."You may kill me, but you will never prosper"
"I've had enough of your insolence! I should finish you once and for all!". Rumina raised both her hands to strike when Dermott flew down with a fierce screech. "That wretched bird again!",groaned Rumina,struggling to aim her hands at the fast-moving target."I won't miss this time!"
Suddenly a sight in the mirror distracted her from her objective. It was a sight so startling that Rumina could hardly believe her eyes. Caipra was protecting the Royal family under a magical dome.
"No!",yelled Rumina,forgetting everything and gazing into her mirror."Who invited that wretched woman into this battle. She could ruin everything!". Rumina looked about the deserted ship. Her features were twisted into an ugly frown as she concocted a change in her plans. When she looked up, there was a smug smile on her face.
"I will take care of you later",she said to Maeve with a smile.
"Sinbad,my love.. Shall we hold hands?". Rumina grabbed Sinbad's hand in a strong hold and clutched the Kohlmar staff in the other hand. She closed her eyes and began to chant. Instantly a bridge made out of gigantic sea-rocks rose up from out of the water, leading directly from the Nomad's deck to Baghdad's port. Servants dressed in black and leading sleek black panthers appeared. Rumina conjured a black cloud which lifted her a little distance from off the ground. Only then did she let go of Sinbad's hand. The Captain slumped down into a heap.
"A queen's entrance must be majestic and you know what they say", mused Rumina. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. That pesky old woman, will be disposed off and I will be free to assume my throne" She blew a kiss and began to float away with the staff as the cloud carried her across the bridge and her servants followed with the roaring panthers.
Ten of the demon warriors surrounded the Capira's dome and began breathe fire upon the glowing walls. The royals cried out in fear whist the Sultan stood firm with his arms around the youngest in his family. "How much longer will it hold?" he asked, in worry. Caipra's hands were stretched skywards. The rays from her hands sustained the dome. "It is not a question of time, your Highness. But I must not be distracted. All my focus must be on the persistence of this dome"
"My people.. my poor subjects",said the Caliph. "Perhaps if the destruction does not end, I should propose the treaty"
"Rumina does not want a treaty.",replied Caipra."If she is not stopped, she will have her way and destroy everything and everyone in this city-"
"But who is to stop her?"
Caipra turned slowly to the Caliph with a surprised smile." Do not despair, your Majesty. Remember, Sinbad is still out there on the ship. He is very resourceful and he will no doubt come to your rescue"
Before the Caliph could reply, a cold wind swept through the Courts, putting out the flames of the flying beasts. The warriors simpered like kittens and slinked away into the darkest corners of the Courts. On her dark cloud, Rumina descended with the familiar smirk on her face. Her right arm held the powerful scepter of Kohlmar. "So, you are all waiting around for Sinbad to come and rescue you from evil Rumina, is it? Well, I got news for you. Sinbad is in a position where he can help no one but himself. ". Rumina tilted her head and grinned in scorn." and that is, by surrendering unconditionally to me-"
"Be gone,witch!",bellowed Caipra,in fierce anger."You have done enough damage here"
"You know, I wasn't counting on you being here. In fact, this dome trick is really getting me down". The staff began to glow green and a bright ray shot out from the head to the floor beneath Caipra's dome. The marble began to crack and quake from pressure. Chunk by chunk, the pieces of the floor began to sink inside giving Caipra no choice but to drop her protective dome.
"Now that that's done", resumed Rumina, in satisfaction. "Step aside, I want a word with the Caliph-"
"I offer you a treaty, Rumina", broke in the Caliph. "I only ask you to spare my people and this city. I offer you my life in exchange"
Rumina leaned forward and began to laugh. Her melodious voice filled the ruined Courts and echoed down below. "I will take your life .. and..". Rumina clapped her hands, and a flying warrior flew in with Prince Casib in his claws. The Prince's face and arms were covered in bruises and he was panting ,as if gasping for air. Adina screamed at once and began to wail. "..the life of your son as well. As for the others, let my creatures ravage this city until the next morning. Whoever has managed to survive, will pay obeisance to me, as the new Queen of Baghdad!"
One of the demons swooped down and made a grab for the Caliph. "Get away,demon!", yelled Caipra and she summoned all her strength and aimed her hands at the beast. A loud blast, the beast dissolved into thin air. The people gazed at Caipra in awe.
"You have interfered long enough", screamed Rumina in seething rage. She took a deep breath and her eyes began to glow in green. The staff began to glow as well. When Rumina spoke, her voice thundered mightily. "Let this be a duel to the death, old woman. Prepare to die!"
"Pure wall of energy",stated Firouz in a awed whisper. He lifted his trembling palms from across the surface of the gigantic wall. "He..hello.. Is anyone here?"
"You sound hesitant,Firouz. Are you afraid of me?"
Firouz jumped violently in fright. The voice came from behind and he peered into the darkness to behold the mysterious speaker. "Who..are you? ... ...Where am I?"
"My name is Rushid and you are in my private domain"
Firouz waited a beat. He replied cautiously,"But this is a very unusual domain."
"Why should you say that?"
"I know that it hasn't got a physical presence like the lairs of the many monsters we've faced before-"
"Do you think that I'm a monster?"
"Point of fact. I do. Only a monster would steal away parts of a person's life. Don't you know that memories are precious to human beings? Our relationships, friendships, loyalty – everything is built on the times when we've helped and stood by each other."
"You're right", admitted the voice.
Firouz looked nonplussed. He ventured,"By agreeing with me, you have proved my theory that not all monsters are unreasonable creatures of darkness". He paused. "Now that I have my memories, I wish to go back"
"Before you leave, there is something that I would like to reason with you. Firouz, Rumina asked for my aid to fight against you and your Captain Sinbad. Her plans of vengeance for her father's death are the destruction and acquisition of Baghdad City-"
"Well, your memory tricks have split us up so that we can't help each other to fend off Rumina!"
"That's right"
"Come out from the darkness so that I can see my enemy"
"I'm not your enemy. I supported Rumina only because I think the world must be owned purely by the beings of magic. Magicians, wizards are the ones with supreme knowledge and skill. They do not lower themselves to the very dregs of society like the humans do"
"I can think of a few exceptions"
"Humans are weaklings. They have the mind of the lowly ants which toil under the sun carrying their load in single file to an anthill. They can be controlled and should therefore serve the beings of magic"
"You sound just as hateful and cruel as Turok"
"You prove me wrong"
"Human beings may live monotonous lives but they have thoughts, emotions,ambitions and dreams. They cannot be forced into mindless slavery"
"Yet they are slaves to many things – wine and even gambling.. By posing as a fellow gambler, I have bought many a human to be my humble servant. They do my bidding to work off their debt. One of them is Asif-el-Quidar"
"So he was our betrayer"
"Yes. Because you see, he would have done anything so that I would spare his son's life"
Firouz frowned uncomprehendingly. Then it dawned on him in a sickening flash. ". Asif gambled on his son's life"
"You now understand the cheap meanness of a human heart"
"What he did was mean and foolish. Even cruel. But judging all people by one stupid example-"
"I could show you a thousand more like Asif-el-Quidar"
"I'd still stick to my opinion"
"Not a very logical thing to do"
Firouz took a few steps forward. "Point of fact. I don't care"
Suddenly he found himself being transported through a void. The world grew familiar again and his good friend, Rongar was still waiting, patient as ever for him to get up on his feet. "Come on, Rongar. We have warriors to slay!",cried Firouz. He thumped Rongar on the shoulder and then as one accord, they both rushed quickly to the Sultan's Palace.
As Firouz and Rongar tore their way through, there were masses of people running in terror , some packing whatever possessions they could find and fleeing to the nearby forests and hills. The Prince's army had long since been scattered and some of the bodies were left burning at the village gate. There were cries everywhere, women wailing for their husbands and children wailing in confusion. Suddenly they heard a loud thundering sound and in the midst of dust and smoke, the Sultan's palatial dome sunk inside. The inner walls came crumbling down in utter chaos.
"Two down", said Doubar, gazing warily at the sky. "And many to go.". The big sailor dejectedly walked down the steps of the Palace. Some of the injured guards had retreated together to the lower rooms where they could tend to their wounds. Doubar was the only one who could still go strong after the fight with the warriors of Kohlmar. As Doubar pondered on the predicament, his eyes drifted to the ocean where he spotted the Nomad. "If those warriors came from that wretched ship, then perhaps the solution to defeat them once and for all, might also come from the same ship. I've got to find out what's going one there". Doubar chose the shortest path to the port and upon finding a small battered sailboat which was surprisingly in good condition, he slowly began to row towards the Nomad. As he was half-way through his journey, far away in a distant, he saw a wide bridge of sea rocks emerge before his very eyes. He watched as a dark cloud descended down the bridge towards the city of Baghdad. "Whatever is going on up there, I'm going to put a stop to it", decided Doubar with a grim nod. He rowed with greater vigor towards the ship.
"Sinbad,what's happening to you?",cried Maeve,in panic.
Sinbad had collapsed in pain and his eyes were once again glowing in green. Maeve gazed at him in fear and confusion. Slowly the green glow covered Sinbad entirely, surrounding him like a glimmering blanket. Maeve's eyes wandered to the seeing mirror and she saw the dome which Caipra had constructed, being taken down by Rumina. She watched as the Caipra and Rumina prepared to fight each other in a fierce duel.
"Hold on,Sinbad.",said Maeve,struggling in her heavy shackles. "Rumina.. is going to fight Caipra's magic. But every time she summons her powers, she will wield the scepter of Kohlmar and sap your strength as well. You've got to resist her Sinbad. That is the only way you can break this alliance". Maeve's eyes burned with unshed tears. "That's the only way, you will live"