The Courting of Bryn - Chapter 18
As they neared the island Sinbad didn't even need three guesses to figure what the two sorceresses were going to say next:
"Something's off on that island Sinbad," Maeve said.
"It just feels wrong somehow," Bryn added.
"You always say that!" Sinbad said.
"We're always right too," Maeve said, crossing her arms and looking challenging.
"What, you want us to turn back?" Sinbad asked.
"No! What are we, scared children? We just wanted to warn you," Maeve said, looking at him like he was the weird one.
"Oh, thanks," Sinbad said.
They had barely beached the longboat on the shore before a very attractive young woman crested a dune and came towards them. Sinbad stretched out his arms and shoulders in preparation.
"What are you doing?" Firouz asked him.
"Limbering up, I want to be able to catch her before she manages to kiss me," Sinbad said, sending a cheeky wink Maeve's way. She quietly bristled while Rongar silently laughed. Bryn and Doubar shared a look, something had transpired between the pair but neither knew what.
"To walk in your shoes for just one day…" Firouz said, recognising the distinct possibility that Sinbad would have to use those catching skills, though generally the women waited until they'd been saved from whatever they needed saving from.
"Yeah, it's pretty great," Sinbad agreed.
"Greetings strangers, I saw your ship and have come to warn you," the pretty woman said when she reached them.
"My name is Sinbad and this is my crew," he made his customary sweeping motion to encompass everyone. "Who are you and what are you warning us of?"
"I am Ikram, I live on this blessed isle. Or, it was blessed until we were beset by an evil. A man who had come to drink of our fount with his love, but before they could drink she collapsed and died. We tried to comfort him, but he was very angry. He spoke a few words and a tower resurrected over the fount. He has ensconced himself within and started taking any happy couple within sight… We have not seen them since," Ikram said, tears filling her eyes. "So turn away, sweet strangers. Our isle can serve you no longer."
"How about instead of turning away we have a go at this bereaved maniac?" Sinbad opted.
"But you could be hurt!" Ikram exclaimed.
"Better us than some peaceful farmers," Sinbad shrugged, patting his scimitar to get the point across that they were rather used to random adventures.
"Oh thank you!" Ikram said, launching herself into his arms.
Sinbad caught her just in time, keeping her at a- rather surprised- arm's length. "It's not you just… look over my shoulder, see that red-head? She'll roast me over a fire, the girl and the big guy next to her will keel-haul me and the other two will just laugh and make bad jokes while all this is going on."
"You could've just said you were married," Ikram said, looking at him strangely.
"Yes Sinbad, you could've just told her you were married!" Firouz laughed.
"Don't get him started about his wedding day, he won't stop for an hour!" Doubar added.
"You know, that roasting could still happen!" Maeve snapped at the sniggering foursome. With head held high she stepped up and slipped her arm through Sinbad's. "I think it's nice of you."
"Have I said something wrong?" Ikram asked.
"No Ikram, I apologise for my crew. How about you tell us more about this tower, then we can decide what we need to break into it and free your countrymen," Sinbad said, re-assuming his role as leader.
The crew sat around the only tavern's table, studying a sketched rendering of the tower while the publican supplied them with copious amounts of food and drink.
"Are you sure there's only one door?" Sinbad asked Ikram.
"Yes, we have scoured the isle to see if there was a secret tunnel, but we found nothing," Ikram told him.
"And you've never seen him come out?" Sinbad asked.
"No, he magically captures the happy couples that come within sight of his tower," Ikram said.
"Alright, so night would be the best time to attack, he won't be able to see our approach," Sinbad said.
"They don't call it the witching hour for nothing Sinbad, dark sorcerers are strongest at that time. I would suggest pre-dawn," Maeve said.
Sinbad nodded, taking her advice under advisement. "Right crew, listen up and tell me if you see a flaw in the plan: Rongar and Maeve climb the tower at pre-dawn and Firouz and Doubar hide in the tree-line at the same time. Dermott will be our eyes in the sky and give the signal. Bryn and I will wait until the sun is up and then amble up to the tower pretending to be a happy couple." Sinbad saw Doubar's eyes narrow at that but he went on regardless. "Bryn will let Dermott and Maeve know where we are and what the situation is. Maeve will give the Dermott the signal, then Rongar and Firouz will use an exploding stick to blow the front door while Maeve and Rongar rain fire and dirks from up high."
"Wait, why does Bryn have to go in?" Doubar protested.
"Because she's a better empath than Maeve and we'll need that to assess the situation from within, plus when you want to rain fire, Maeve's your best bet… And yes, I have considered putting you with her, but we need our two strongest men at the two entry points, Rongar up and you down," Sinbad explained.
"Well I don't like it," Doubar persisted.
"It'll be alright Doubar," Bryn said, laying a gentle hand on his arm. "I want to do this, to help these people."
"I don't like it when people take advantage of your goodness," Doubar muttered.
"Then I am glad to have you by my side to help me out when that happens," Bryn said.
"On a practical note, I don't think I can climb that tower," Maeve said, hating to admit it, but rather feel a little foolish now then ruin the whole plan while it was unfolding.
Sinbad nodded, looking at Rongar. "Can you?" he asked.
Rongar studied the sketch a moment, then nodded.
"Can you drop a rope when you're up there and help Maeve up?" Sinbad asked.
Rongar nodded once more and patted Maeve on the shoulder, wanting her to feel like they were in it together for this one.
"Should we not hold one of the sorceresses in reserve in case the evil one has laid traps and hexes us all?" Firouz suggested.
"Bryn, Maeve, what do you think?" Sinbad asked.
"I can barely control my own magic, undoing other's magic is beyond me," Bryn shrugged.
"Well it depends on the spells used… I would have to have my books and I would maybe be able to break them eventually… but by then the bad guy will have spelled me into oblivion already," Maeve said.
"Right, so no reserve it is," Sinbad said.
"I would recommend that every one of the teams has a few exploding sticks with them in case we come across more sturdy doors than foreseen," Firouz said.
"Good point, how many do you have?" Sinbad asked.
"Nine right now, I can make more if you give me some time," Firouz said.
"Nine will be fine, four for you, four for Rongar and one for me- maybe he won't find it when he captures us," Sinbad said. "Is everyone clear on the plan?"
The crew nodded. "Then it is time for bed, we have a VERY early morning," Sinbad said. "Ikram, is there room for us here, or do we make camp?"
"I have arranged for three rooms right here, will that do?" Ikram asked. She was very surprised to see this captain include the females of his crew so easily into his plan of attack. He couldn't love his wife very much if he allowed her to be in such a dangerous situation, could he?
"It will do fine," Sinbad nodded as he rolled up the sketch of the tower. "Off to bed, crew!"
"You can stop ordering us around now," Maeve said, with a little roll of her eyes. The others quickly left the table and made their way upstairs, recognising an argument in the making.
"But where would be the fun in that?" Sinbad drawled, enjoying the game of riling the sorceress up.
"The fun of not being roasted from the inside out," Maeve narrowed her eyes at him, enjoying this game as much as he did.
"The thing is," Sinbad meandered right into her personal space. "You threaten to roast me a lot, and so far all you've done is get me a little hot under the collar and let me tell you," he took his time looking her up and down, lingering at her cleavage before looking back into her eyes. "That has nothing to do with your magic."
"Goodnight!" Ikram shouted over her shoulder as she beat a hasty retreat. These people were weird!
"Oh look," Maeve said, tilting her head a little but making no move to create some more distance between them "You've scared away the girl."
"Oh dear," Sinbad said, completely unconcerned as his focus remained solely on the woman in front of him. His face was so close to hers that his nose lightly grazed against her skin; he tilted his face a little, sending his nose to caress her cheek. He felt more than heard the small gasp coming from Maeve at the contact.
Her hands bunched to fists in the fabric of his shirt. Her knuckles were almost as white as the cloth beneath them. She felt her knees becoming wobbly and her brain turning to pudding and the man hadn't even kissed her yet.
"Sinbad," she said but her throat didn't cooperate. She swallowed convulsively and then cleared her throat. "Sinbad," she tried again, this time managing to get the sound out.
"Hmmm?" he said just before his lips found the sensitive spot on her neck behind her ear.
Maeve's eyes fluttered shut for a moment. With a supreme effort of will she pushed him back. "Oh! Sorry!" she cried out when she saw how hard she had really pushed him.
"What was that for?" Sinbad complained.
"It's just… you were… and I…" Maeve stammered, then noticed she was fanning herself with one hand and had to laugh at her own absurdity. "You're dangerous!"
"You were about to jump me, weren't you?" Sinbad had a definite glint in his eyes when he came to that conclusion.
"Pfah! I wouldn't… alright yes," Maeve admitted, because really, what did she have to lose?
"Interesting…" Sinbad said, eyeing her with that look in his eyes again but keeping his distance.
"Yeah, I'm just going to see what room Bryn has picked for us. You know, go to sleep, as per the captain's orders," Maeve said.
"What? You're sharing with Bryn?" Sinbad asked, not happy about that for some reason. "What about the people here, they still think we're married!"
"But we're not," Maeve pointed out, liking the feeling of getting some power back after having been so thoroughly seduced.
"And I'm sure Bryn and Doubar would like the chance to… talk… all night!" Sinbad said, two steps below her on the stairs, a pleading look on his face.
"I'm sure they won't mind going downstairs to talk," Maeve said, grinning at him. "Bryn, what room?" Maeve said, her voice loud in the small hallway.
The middle door of the opened and Bryn's head popped out. "In here. Sinbad, you're with Doubar at the end."
"Good night," Maeve said sweetly, before closing the door behind her.
She turned around to find Bryn give her a pointed look. "I thought you two were fighting," she said.
"Only a little bit," Maeve shrugged, dropping down onto the bed to get her boots off.
"So why was Sinbad practically drooling just then?" Bryn asked, smelling a rat.
"Because he is a weird little man?" Maeve suggested, but off Bryn's look she amended her answer. "He was looking to collect the kiss he had foregone this morning. I let him know that I am not that kind of girl- sort of."
"So you're not mad at him for… declaring his lack of proper intentions?" Bryn asked.
Maeve had to think about that one for a moment because 1. she was keeping her relationship with Sinbad a secret 2. Bryn and Doubar were trying to get them together and 3. they thought the two were mad at each other… or something. "We made up," Maeve said eventually.
"So how did you do that?" Bryn asked, sitting down at the bed opposite Maeve, a look of polite interest on her face.
"Well last night, after Doubar took over the tiller, we all had a drink and then Sinbad and I talked and decided we'd be better off as uncomplicated friends," Maeve said, trying to think how that would come across to Bryn.
"Which is why he was trying to kiss you just now…" Bryn drawled, something was sooo not adding up.
"Oh come on, you know Sinbad kisses all his female friends! Don't tell me he's never pressed those lips on yours!" Maeve protested, trying to fluster Bryn.
"Well that was…" Bryn started to defend herself, then gave up because they were veering off point which she suspected was Maeve's goal.
"But that doesn't explain why he didn't kiss Ikram this morning," Bryn finally pointed out.
Maeve shrugged. "You're going to have to ask him about that. I just know Sinbad and I are in a good place right now."
"Does that mean you want Doubar and I to stop our meddling?" Bryn asked, all genuine concern.
"Look, it is as I told you, if he grows up I'd love to be with him. But I am not going to wait around. You and Doubar do what you want," Maeve said.
"We might be able to whip him into shape," Bryn winked at her. "I like having a project."
Maeve laughed: "Poor Sinbad, he won't know what hit him!"
It was pitch-black out when they gathered in the tavern's common room. Doubar had both hands on Bryn's shoulders, looking her in the eye as he admonished her to stay safe, be careful, not to take any risks and to stay in one piece.
She patiently promised him all that before tenderly kissing him and ordering to take his own advice.
Meanwhile Rongar and Maeve- who had donned pants for this occasion- had knotted the rope at regular intervals to aide her climb and were going over their part of the plan. Firouz was going over his exploding sticks, making sure they were safe and the fuses were long enough- he really hated not being there when these things were set off, it was so easy for it to go wrong and hurt someone!
"Crew, it is time to get into position," Sinbad finally said.
Bryn gave Doubar one last hug, while Sinbad clapped each of his crew on the shoulder. One by one Dermott and the two pre-dawn teams filed out.
"I hate it when we separate," Bryn admitted when no one was left but her and Sinbad.
"Me too," Sinbad agreed, his eyes still on the door where the people closest to his heart had just departed by.
Rongar and Maeve made it safely to the top of the tower where, as expected, a single hatch sat in the floor, leading to its interior. Rongar attached one of the exploding sticks to it and then the two sat down on the tower's flat top, waiting for Dermott to tell them to go.
Firouz was having some trouble out in the woods because Doubar was particularly fidgety and would probably give their position away.
The tower stood on a low grassy hill, the bed of the little creek the only interruption. Around the hill trees grew abundantly and in those the two were currently hiding. However, if someone in the tower was looking at the trees with any sort of night-vision, then Doubar's movement was not helping at all.
Firouz made calming signs with his hands, not daring to use his voice, but Doubar was paying him no attention so Firouz eventually quietly and carefully pushed Doubar into a sitting position. Thankfully the gentle giant did not struggle, finally seeing Firouz's concern- too distracted by Bryn's welfare to think much on his own.
Dermott circled the tower once when he saw Bryn and Sinbad arriving. This was the signal for the other two teams to be on alert.
Bryn and Sinbad entered the clearing, their arms around each other. They were laughing; the twinkle in Sinbad's eye making it obvious that it was one of his jokes that had set his pretend-lover off.
Sinbad dropped his arm from around her waist and took her hand in his instead as he merrily hopped from one side of the little creek's bed to the other while she looked on, all indulgence and admiration.
Doubar gritted his teeth as he looked at the two of them. He knew there was nothing going on between them, but he couldn't help a stab of jealousy. But soon enough the jealousy evaporated when he felt an icy chill settle on his heart: the couple had winked out of existence.
Thirty seconds later Dermott made another pass around the tower, screeching as loudly as he could. Firouz and Doubar started running at the tower…
Rongar dove on top of Maeve, protecting her from the blast with his own body. Lucky for him Firouz had shaped the charge to explode downwards so the two were unharmed. Quickly they scrambled over to the hatch to see what was below.
Firouz and Doubar heard the blast above them just as they were sticking their own stick to the tower's door. Both took a couple of steps back and plugged their ears before the door blew open. They grabbed their scimitars and charged in.
Upon appearing inside the tower Bryn and Sinbad were immediately grabbed and tied to some gruesome looking contraptions. Dazed as they were from the transport they couldn't do anything to defend themselves still Bryn managed to get a message out to Dermott to come save them NOW.
"What is this?" Sinbad asked, his eyes again clear and observant.
"Don't worry boy, you will live on," the man in charge muttered, pulling back a curtain and revealing a corpse attached to the same sort of contraption Bryn and Sinbad were strapped to. "In her. Your life, your love, when I feed it to her, she will rise again!"
"So would this be a bad time to tell you I'm not in love with her?" Sinbad asked.
The mage's eyes narrowed but before he could react an extremely loud noise sounded through the tower, almost sending him to the floor.
"Intruders!" He hollered, but the soundwave had been amplified by the tower's structure so he, and everyone else inside, was pretty much deaf. Consequently he felt, rather than heard the next explosion.
The mage's minions, by the looks of them all reanimated corpses, were even more sensitive to the soundwave, their rotting limbs were being shaken off.
It couldn't have been more than five minutes, but to the deaf and captured Sinbad, it still felt far too long, before the ground-team, their scimitars dripping with gore, came rushing into the prison. On their heels the roof-team ran in, Maeve's hands still smoking.
Doubar cut the two prisoners free while Maeve faked a fireball to the left so Rongar had a clear field to slice the mage's head right off. Firouz dealt with the remaining minions.
Maeve and Rongar ran back out, having told Firouz and Doubar to stay with their deaf friends while they searched the tower for the other prisoners.
Sinbad and Bryn wrapped the beloved corpse of the mad mage in one of the curtains so they could take her out of the tower to get a decent burial. After a moment's hesitation they did the same for the mage- maybe in death they could be happy together.
The minion-corpses were quickly turning to dust. There would be no burial for them.
Maeve came back into the room and motioned them to follow her. Once outside they saw the happy couples who would have been forced to give up their life's energy for a doomed love, now hurrying to get away from the tower.
As soon as Doubar carried the remains of the mage out of the tower, the structure disappeared, leaving only the legendary well-spring.
No one felt the need to drink from there right at the moment, so they all trouped down to the village where they were welcomed as returning heroes.
That night the whole village came out to the spring to re-claim it as their beloved spot, no longer allowing it to be tainted by evil.
Though still deaf, Bryn could not be pried away from Doubar's side, even dancing with him to the music made by some villagers, completely trusting him to lead her through the unheard song. They eventually joined the queue of hand-holding villagers, waiting for their chance to drink out of this legendary fount. Bryn smiled through the whole night and Doubar's eye didn't stray from her for more than a few seconds: he epitomised the look of a man in love.
And late at night- so late that the sun was about to rise once more and barely anyone was left awake on the grassy slope, Sinbad nudged Maeve awake.
He held her hand, leading her to the gurgling well and looked at her.
She nodded.
Together they kneeled down and, still holding hands, drank.