First off I'd like to express a huge thanks to jellyfish'confetti (awesome name), Akumarayne and Perpetual Dreams (sorry for embarrassing you, lol. Seriously though its a great help having that pointed out as I'm somewhat awful at noticing errors. Ugo I've wanted to bring back for a while, so that was fun. With Alibaba his tact is...something. He tries at least) for their comments. I really do appreciate it; it's a little more motivation to continue :) And thanks to Akumarayne again for checking things through and being victimised in the process of doing so. Lastly thanks to everyone reading etc so far. It means a lot, really, and it's something I'm enjoying working on.

I might try to make updates more frequent (try...I know what I'm like), especially as the story is drawing to a close now. It's my aim at least. Anyway - enjoy~

Chapter 18

The nights in Balbadd saw Judal by the docks, where he at least attempted to do as Ithnan had asked. Or rather, that patronising snake which demanded him to not cause further trouble, before slithering off to leave him alone. The magician's serpentine creation was determined on the matter, so the darkening Magi did as it asked. Despite not really wishing to be bossed about by such a creature, he didn't wish to be found by Kouen. Not now. Yet clearly alone, he cast aside those thick robes of Al-Thamen along with his veil. After all, he disliked those articles which made him somewhat identical to the strange men currently infesting the country he was in.

Ithnan wouldn't approve – but the docks were so empty who would see him? With the place on lockdown, of all things? Following Judal's earlier, and somewhat satisfying attack on that small-fry subordinate of Sinbad's, the sanctions had happened. News had gotten back to Kouen after all, or so Judal had heard. News from Kouen's generals following Jafar, informing him the man from Sindria had attacked one of their Empire's Magi. Judal just glared at that. Did Kouen really think that he of all people couldn't take care of himself? It had been one sided, and grinning he recalled that Jafar hadn't stood a chance. Soon after Judal had left, the men following Jafar had taken the assassin's unconscious, somewhat frosted body back to the palace. All Judal could guess was that Kouen sought to imprison Jafar, and possibly interrogate him.

The thought cast a dark, unpleasant expression over his features. Judal looked out to the glittering black tides he was unable to cross. They were stuck here, at least until Kouen had interrogated his current prisoner. He didn't want to wait that long. Yet currently Balbadd wasn't accepting any Sindrian ship to dock. And none sailed away on the chance of conspirators escaping. All because, as that damned snake was so swift to remind him, because he had used his power. Could he be blamed? The last time the Magi had truly enjoyed himself was unleashing Kassim to terrorise Qishan – and that had been ages ago. Since then, a way of getting rid of the power building inside him was all he could think about.

Kouen was such an alarmist! The First Prince of Kou and perhaps the strongest general Judal had. Yet right now he was such an over-exaggerating inconvenience to his plans. . Judal could barely believe his actions had caused him to do this much.

Frustrated, he swung his legs over the creaking side of the docks. He watched his toes dip into the churning tides, sending lazy ripples in their wake. As if wishing the slow ebbing would quench his increasingly chaotic thoughts.

It would be a delay; one that might take days or even weeks. It was hard to believe a simple body of water would take so long to cross. By land he and Ithnan had travelled from Kou, to Qishan and arrived in Balbadd in months. Getting to Sindria could take that long. And it would be too dangerous to simply use magic and fly there. The dangers of drowning, sea monsters...Ithnan had told him not even to try it. And he had known better than to doubt him.

He'd leave it to Ithnan to figure this out. If Judal had it his way, he'd try to force his way past Kouen's sanctions. He'd kill anyone and find a ship. Then find he'd have no crew. It was why the creature Ithnan created had slithered off, apparently to speak to his actual body back in Kou. That much had been confusing – Judal had simply assumed Ithnan's real body was what he had travelled with the past months. Apparently not. So it had left, and whatever a snake could do to fix Judal's situation he didn't know. He just hoped it would be resolved.

At least he was alone now. And not in a way he'd been since leaving Kou. Back at that time, now seemingly so long ago, right after Aladdin had left for Sindria. Judal just about remembered how isolated and vulnerable he had felt back then. Right before the magicians of Al-Thamen had done...whatever they had done to him. He couldn't remember the rituals done to his body. His mind. Just that he had wanted to forget. That he was so different now to the person once secretly coveting the company of the one he once believed to be his own blood, his twin. That strong, brotherly love was a dream fading rapidly. He didn't remember cherishing his time with Aladdin, despite his rukh assuring him he had.

He was interrupted from his thoughts as a man drew close. A man with a crow perched upon his shoulder, and watching him intently. Judal felt his legs freeze in mid swing and looked back. The man was tall with long pale hair, and wearing a long drab and sash common to the area. If he'd been thinking, he'd be worried at having been seen. He wasn't worried, not even as this invader cautiously unbuckled the straps on his shoulder, allowing the crow to stretch its dark wings and take to the air. He wasn't worried, as the man looked weak. That sparse fluttering of darkened light surrounding him told him as much; he was no threat.

With a loud caw, that rustling of ebony feathers took to circling overhead. As if it was a bird of prey, commanded by its master to seek out an easy target. Something Judal wasn't. A false, painted and vaguely sadistic smile circled on the man's face. "Such an esteemed young person, out here all alone? What would you do if someone dangerous like a slaver found you?"

"Ha? I'd kill any slaver of course," yet somehow that sounded more of a threat than a question. Considering that murky rukh of his, he just felt he'd be embarrassed if Kouen or Ithnan heard of this. So he gathered his robe and veil and went to leave. "All the slavers here are jokes, anyway. Everyone knows that."

"...What did you say? Hey, I'm talking to you!" the man had reached out as Judal passed. His gloved fingertips graced against something of a shimmering wall. That crackling sphere of magic which quickly encased the Magi, protecting him from any who meant him harm. "...Ah, that's interesting. Who are you, boy?"

"Huh?" he glanced up to the bird hovering above him. He wasn't used to being asked who he was. People just knew who someone important like him was. "You're so stupid you don't know that? I'm one of the Magi of Kou."

"...Interesting. I bet they'd pay a lot to get you back."

In the next moment, that crow had dived down. And Judal laughed as it struck against the golden orb of humming rukh surrounding him. If he was being attacked, he might as well fight back. And who would miss a slaver in over his head. "You really are a damned idiot~"

"...Why not just make this easy on yourself?"

Why would Judal make anything easy on himself? He'd want a challenge – this wasn't one.

That man's breath was already billowing out in a frigid cloud of moisture. Static clung to the cold night air, right as Judal's body obeyed him. Splinters of ice were forming at his fingertips, weapon in hand, before he uttered a word.

Unfortunately, he never got the chance to do more. An alabaster snake weaved over the wooden pathways towards them. That familiar construct of Ithnan's struck out, fangs barred as they sank into the neck of that crow swooping down in an ill-timed dive. "...Enjoying yourself, Judal?" its voice, far too loud for its body, echoed out. Speaking caused it to release the bird, which haphazardly returned to its master's arms. "I told you without your robes you'd stand out."

"...They're so heavy though. And he'd have found me anyway. He's a slaver, after all."

"He is. And he's somewhat notorious in Sram these days. One who killed his master; didn't you know?" the albino creature's bloodied eyes flicked to the figure, cradling his injured pet. Granted, Judal and the slaver hadn't a clue who each other were. But at least the Magi considered himself someone worth remembering.

"...T-that snake is talking?!"

"Eh?" the statement puzzled Judal somewhat. Yet that person backed away, as if to escape. "Of course it's talking, it's made from magic. You really are an idiot. First you don't know me and then – hey!" the events proved too much it seemed. The man was darting away already. "You run so fast!" he laughed, then looked to the snake approaching him. "You just went and bit his pet though. That was weird."

"I suppose it was. But I told you not to cause trouble. Especially after Kouen made all that fuss."

"Hey, that guy approached me first," he insisted. He gathered his robes in one hand, draping them over his slim shoulders rather than wearing them properly.

"Never mind that – it seems you were right after all," of course Judal was right. Right about what, exactly? "Gyokuen spoke to my actual body, back in Kou. She saw some interesting things; and she'd like Aladdin back at the palace. As soon as possible."

"...Why?"

"She has reason to believe your king's going to be troublesome. And he might try to keep your brother in Sindria," a brother who was not really Judal's brother. And in turn, a king who wasn't really his king. No matter how many times he told Ithnan otherwise he kept saying that. But then, he was fairly sure Aladdin wouldn't know he was technically spying in Sindria for Gyokuen. Even Judal hadn't known, not that he cared. "...You don't seem too interested, Judal. Do you want a better reason? She also claimed your brother chose a king there."

That would be a better reason. Judal whipped round, only to remember the voice addressing him was slithering about his bare toes. Eyes aflame with sudden interest, he looked down. "You're kidding! Seriously? He did that? He actually raised a dungeon and got someone a djinn?" the reptile swayed from side to side, as if shaking its scaled head. "...That's no fun. He's so weak! Who's this guy he picked, then?"

"Oh, that was the interesting part. His name is Alibaba Saluja – the third prince of Balbadd. Former prince, I guess. But it seems Sinbad lied about saving him. Why ask though – do you wish to fight him?"

What a foolish question. "Of course I do. I've already named five really strong generals. I want to see if Aladdin picked someone as good."

"How cruel. You know without a djinn he won't stand a chance," a humourless laugh, and one he was used to. "But it will prove you're stronger."

"Once we get there, anyway, " the Magi scowled. All of this was making him more and more impatient. "So did you figure anything out, or not?"

"Heh. It wasn't so much figuring out anything. I wanted Gyokuen's permission to use teleportation magic to get to Sindria."

"Huh?" it wasn't something Judal had been taught, and knew little about. Perhaps they would have thought he'd escape? Well, he would have done. From the little he did know it was something involving complicated circles and required a lot of magoi. Usually needing a dozen or so magicians – not that he personally would be lacking in power. He could do that much without thinking. He just doubted that weak, insignificant fraction of Ithnan could have the same reserves of power. "...That's so useless though. No way can you do something like that."

"You're right, I can't. I need your power; I need to possess your body."

"...Heck no."

"Don't you want to get to Sindria as soon as possible? This would be fast. We can land on an island close to the country, and you can recover. It's that simple. You know that there are more than enough black rukh inside of you for me to utilise; more than an army of magicians. You just need to let me in."

He wanted to get there, yes. He'd not even mind having to rest afterwards. But allowing Ithnan into himself to use his power? That was far from appealing. "Just teach me to do it myself."

"You think that we'd teach you something like that? We don't trust you enough," his expression soured dramatically. "We need to move quickly, remember? Do this, and you'll be ready to attack in days."

Judal threw up his hands. "Ah, fine! Just don't do anything weird to me."

"What do you think a mere snake could do inside your body? Judal – if I was actually serious about wanting you, I'd have had you long ago," the mere thought caused a chill to run through him. His eyes fixed on that creature, watching it fade from his sight. Its form grew faint, both smoky and incorporeal, as it became nothing more than black mist. A moment later it solidified, curling in a glittering band on his forearm. Shivering he pulled his robes back on properly, aware it was now near identical to the many golden bracelets he wore. "...Are you ready, then?"

Ready wasn't the world Judal would have used. Already a blanket of coldness ran through him. A darker, foreign sensation of magic flooded and seeped under his skin. It might have been the same in those rituals. In those hours of his life forgotten, erased from his memory. The things the magicians of Al-Thamen had done to change the very core of him. The pull on Judal's magoi had already started, weakening him. Every part of him once again submerged under their control; something both freezing and darker than any midnight ocean. "...Just get it over with."

Not before long the skies had again darkened over Sindria. Storms all but threw the summery, peaceful kingdom of Sinbad's into cruel disarray as blustering winds tore through its fields in an unrelenting cascade of rain and fury. The suggestion of a monsoon was gathering in the verdant tides off shore – which wasn't so surprising, given the island's location. What did surprise Sinbad was that the weather did little to quench the stagnate heat and humidity. The air felt uncomfortably charged, and soon the skies were all but painted black. If he'd been more superstitious, he might have believed it an ill omen. That this was a sign of something dangerous approaching; something which sought to throw his home into further turmoil and destruction.

Yet, Sinbad wasn't superstitious. So he paid little mind to such things.

Instead he arrived with Sharrkan at that usual place the swordsman had to meet his students. Vivid tones of yellow sunlight poked holes through the darkening horizon, offering just enough light to see their feet. Rain continued to plummet down as the two made it to shelter. It was far past the time for training, and perhaps too dangerous for it. It was for a different reason that Sharrkan agreed to call Hakuryuu to meet him – and it was on Sinbad's command. As there was something he had in mind.

Now out of that continuous and soaking tirade, Sharrkan caught his breath. And promptly continued the conversation his king didn't want to have. "...Look, I'm just saying. You didn't need to pick a fight with Hakuryuu at all. And if Jafar was here, he'd be against it," he declared, and was glowered at. Hakuryuu wasn't someone he felt he should lose to. Djinn or not, Sinbad didn't relish the idea of losing to a teenager. The fact his general declared Hakuryuu held swordsman skills close to his own did nothing to change his mind. "You know if he was here he'd have been nagging you to work instead. As bad things happen when you want to go challenging people."

"...Don't say it like that. And wasn't it you who recommended I saw how strong your student was for myself? That means you told me to challenge him," the white haired prince from Heliohapt, now a trusted subordinate, just shook his head. He continued to squeeze drops of rain from his tunic as his king continued. "And it's surprising you actually think I'd lose."

"Without using djinns? Sure you'd lose – oh, don't look like that. You know you're not the best using a sword. I just meant to, say, take the kid out for a drink. To get to know him, not get into a fight," strictly speaking, calling the Fourth Prince of Kou seemed condescending. Especially as one thing the arguing duo agreed on was that he'd be an asset. Even if it was a lesson Sinbad's aching body had learned the hard way. "Jeeze...why did you let Jafar wander off to Balbadd, leaving you all alone? He's like your voice of reason sometimes."

"I didn't let him wander off anywhere, and you know that. I just neglected to mention I'd like for him to take people to help him. So Jafar went alone," ...he'd been too troubled by Aladdin at the time to think things though. Once the Magi had started those dreams about possible events in Kou he'd been so interested in that he had been careless. Right now he was definitely missing Jafar's counsel. Yet the former assassin was so proficient at espionage and someone he trusted he didn't think twice in sending him to Balbadd. Yet he currently felt like he was missing part of himself.

How long had it been, since he had spoken to his parliamentary official? He had conversed with him through that Eye of Rukh when Jafar was pursued by Kouen's most trusted men. Sinbad really hoped nothing had happened. He eyed over his rain-soaked courtyard, waiting patiently as Sharrkan began to tip the water collected in his sandals.

"...Don't take this the wrong way, but you're not so good at controlling yourself without him to help you."

"Is there a right way I can take something like that? It's a little insulting if my own generals don't have faith in me."

"Don't say it like that. You're my king – of course I have faith in you. But you know I said Hakuryuu's almost as good as me with a sword. And I'm definitely good with a sword."

Sinbad grimaced; of course he knew that much. Even if he was assured Sharrkan was right, even if he didn't want to admit defeat. He knew too well he was too used to fighting with djinns that fighting with just a sword left him disadvantaged. At the same time, it made sense to see what Hakuryuu could do first hand. His fingers roamed over that silver cuff set at his wrist. He had messed up though, thinking it would be an easy fight. He also should have had more self control – he shouldn't need Hakuryuu or even one of his own djinn to save him. Black rukh had spilled out, gushing from him like from an open wound, and it was a reminder for how precarious his situation was. That he needed to be careful, and not let his guard down for it to happen. Yet...Sinbad hated to lose. He was just too used to winning for this long, and used to peace, he had lulled himself into the thought he was infallible.

That was dangerous. He couldn't let himself slip. It had just been that long since his last defeat. Back on that dark day which had witnessed Rashid Saluja losing his life. And Sinbad had been powerless to stop it; he wouldn't be made to feel helpless again. Yet ironically, it made him a bad loser to a fault. "You're right, Sharrkan, I admit it. I underestimated him, fine, but I'd have wanted to fight him. I wanted to see just how invaluable he is."

"...Really?"

"I've given it some thought," he admitted. "He has strong feelings about Kou. He's been here this long wanting to return there, wanting his revenge. He's also been writing to his sister, Hakuei. I've seen the ravens passed between them." Sharrkan gave him a look. "What? Don't say I shouldn't spy on people. If I didn't then I'd not get to know anything interesting."

"...And you wonder why Jafar shouts at you so much."

"No I don't. It's understandable why he gets angry at me," not that he was going to stop. And he, of course, wasn't currently here to complain himself. Sinbad folded his arms. "We're going to give Hakuryuu all the help he needs. It's why I asked you to call him here. To make him an offer."

Bad loser or not, even if his pride felt slightly injured, this was needed. Sinbad took a deep breath. He attempted something of a smile, looking to assure his subordinate he was perfectly fine and held no grudge. He doubted either of them believed it.

"You want him to join us?"

"Or become an ally, yes. Ren Hakuryuu is someone we want on our side. You were right," the king confirmed. "Zagan's dungeon is close by. And Hakuei's letters insinuated she knows as much, and is close by. You can suggest to him you were thinking the same. If we help those two, they'll want to help us. It means our situation improves when dealing with the Kou Empire."

"And it might help Aladdin and Judal want to stay here," the swordsman continued slowly. A lot came down to that – having at least one Magi supporting Sindria. Given the current state of things, and the growing prosperity of the Seven Seas Alliance, he wished to be more ambitious. "Well, Hakuryuu fits other criteria for being useful to you. He's now almost killed you; so he'll fit right in with all of us."

Sinbad narrowed his eyes. "...He didn't almost kill me," no, it was worse than that. Someone overpowering him in a fight that wasn't even serious. And then saving him, not from an enemy but from himself; it was embarrassing. It felt humiliating for someone like him, even if he tried to hide that much. He looked up, noticing two figures approaching. Two princes, rushing through the courtyard as the rain above took a momentary respite. He'd not counted on Alibaba joining them as well. Or did Hakuryuu actually believe Sharrkan was sadistic enough to train him at this hour, when the weather was this bad?

Well, that was actually a possibility.

But then this might be a good thing, Sinbad thought to himself. If he left to see Aladdin, Alibaba would want to go with him. "Sharrkan..." he whispered quietly to his general. "A change of plans – I won't be going with you."

"...Why not?"

"No time; just do me a favour. Take Hakuryuu out, somewhere nice; let him drink all he likes."

His tanned general made something of a face with that. "Ah, Sinbad, he's not the best drunk you know..."

He wasn't really listening. "Well, women, whatever he wants. Don't tell him we know he's been writing to his sister. Convince him you just thought the same. But we'll help him with a dungeon – whatever you think he wants to hear, say it," he stopped talking as the two princes closed in. Then Sinbad offered that same, slightly strained smile. And perhaps Hakuryuu and Alibaba didn't fall for it either. "Ah, Hakuryuu. It's been a while."

Or, really, it had been days. Days that had seen guards posted outside of the prince's room, perhaps making Hakuryuu believe he was being punished. In a perverse way, maybe that's what had happened. "S-Sinbad-sama?" he stuttered. His eyes widened as he stopped dead in his tracks. Then he knelt down onto the soaking concrete, as if to prostrate himself. "I-I really am so sorry. Please don't think I'd ever look to harm you. Not after letting me stay in Sindria for so long."

"Ah, I don't. I can't believe my men did that to you."

"Oh, no – it's nothing," really? As he heard Hakuryuu had been both ranting and raving about being unappreciated. And that no one respected him. "I deserved that much."

"Not really, and there's no need to be modest. Not when you saved me; I'm extremely grateful to you," for the sake of his country...he felt he had to admit to this. And at least say he was accepting of what happened.

Hakuryuu stood, and cast Alibaba a warm look. He then nodded. "Then I'll accept that I helped to save you. I'd do it again if needed," ...there was no need for that. "And I admit I feel proud over defeating someone as strong as you."

His teeth gritted again. "...Yes. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight. You earned it," with one last look to Sharrkan, he passed them. He was fairly sure his subordinate would be good enough for this matter anyway. That he was enough to calm the situation. He noticed a fair haired figure following him. He was right – of course Alibaba was more interested in seeing Aladdin. Who of course had been watched following his most recent collapse.

"...King Sinbad, are you going to see Aladdin?" he gave a short nod but didn't turn round. He didn't even slow down, not with a loud roar of thunder groaning overhead. He wanted to reach the Purple Leo tower before that rain started again. "King Sinbad, I-"

"Hm?"

"...I," Alibaba hesitated as the taller man turned graciously to him. "You want Hakuryuu to enter a dungeon, right? That's why you called him out so late. It's why I asked to come, too. I figured you'd want to ask Aladdin for help – and I wanted to see him," Sinbad looked over that youngest son of Rashid's curiously, following the assessment of his actions. He'd inherited that somewhat unfortunate habit of knowing exactly what the Sindrian king had in mind. Something that only Jafar surpassed him at. Still, it was unnerving to think he could be understood so easily. "I-I mean – Hakuryuu proved himself to you. So you'd want to help him?" he nodded, even if he was still bristling at that mention. "You'd want to enter a dungeon with him too, I guess? I want to come with you."

He felt almost disappointed. The first drops of rain spotted over his shoulders as Sinbad mounted the steps. "You weren't correct with that last point. There is a dungeon close by. And it's somewhere I think Hakuryuu should go. And I was on my way to ask Aladdin to join him."

"Really? I thought you'd want to go yourself."

"I would. But it was a condition of the last djinn I encountered –Crocell. He told me I'd not be able to enter any more dungeons. If I approached one, I'd pass through it and nothing would happen. The same would be true for any of my generals, my household."

"...Oh," Alibaba replied slowly before correcting himself. "I didn't know that. But you'll sent people other than your generals to help him. And you'd let Hakuryuu come back here when he's done."

"You think so? Do you think he'd like to?"

"Oh, of course. He loves it here. He's even written to his sister, asking if she wants to come to Sindria," he really was useful, telling Sinbad things like this. And confirming what he believed was correct.

It was good enough news to lighten the king's mood. He passed through the aqua halls to the sound of the rain already falling noisily outside. "She would be more than welcome here. Above everything, I wish to be on good terms with the Kou Empire," especially if it meant keeping their twin Magi safe. Preferably in Sindria. "But you're perceptive as your father was. You're just like him when he was younger."

"...Thank you. No really; that means a lot hearing you say that."

"When we see Aladdin, you could help me. He could write to his palace, saying he'd want to stay longer. Dungeons take time after all," that, as Sinbad expected, received an enthusiastic nod. Of course Alibaba would wish for him to stay there longer, too. "And you'll want to go with them, won't you?"

"Yes. I...I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Over the past days," the prince confided as they reached Aladdin's door. "I can't waste time like this. I want to help Hakuryuu, and I want to repay the kindness you've given me. Whatever it takes. It might be dangerous but I want to go. Do you think I'll be alright? I'll keep Aladdin safe for you there, I promise."

"If I send enough people I think you'll be alright. But be careful in there. It's a good opportunity; you could learn a lot," Sinbad wasn't too keen on Alibaba going there. But somehow he seemed somewhat integral to keeping both Aladdin and Hakuryuu in Sindria. If in all these years Aladdin had chosen him – and only him – that had to count for something. It might even encourage that perceptive son of Rashid's to become familiar in his Alliance. For now, as Alibaba followed him into Aladdin's room, it seemed the best thing to do.