Night Five: A Naive Brat and his Idiot King

The dream Judal experienced wasn't really all that much of an unfamiliar thing. In fact, something told him he had seen it many times before.

Ever since he had fought that blue haired chibi-Magi a second time – and likewise, had lost to aforementioned brat a second time – that dream had replayed itself. Over and over. And each time, it had grown steadily clearer and clearer in his mind. As such that dream, memory, prophecy or whatever it was had stuck – no, more like etched – itself inside Judal's mind and rudely refused to go away even if he wanted it to. If there was one thing he detested, it was the idea of his own thoughts and mind not being his own. What right did that...that mere child have to show him such things, anyway?

Judal stirred slightly; as he had slept for a long time, those senseless images he saw were beginning to bother him immensely. At first, it was fine – it simply felt as though he was keeping his distance whilst staring through a mist, straight into the face of an incoming disaster. Such things unfortunately grew clearer, and he drew closer, and every time that very same dream replayed itself in his mind.

By now, he knew that such images took place on a dark an ominous night. On grassy plains of a faraway place he had apparently been born in, yet had been too young to remember. He watched so many fires engulf it on what he took to be the night of his birth; and watched their embers glitter on a cold, northern wind of a random and destroyed village. The air was ripe with the screams of the weak and defenceless. Men of Al-Thamen came, faces obscured, and such a thing wasn't hard to believe. It was simply recurring, unwelcomed thoughts which haunted him and made their way into his mind and soul. That for some reason made his very being ache painfully.

Perhaps that was how fear felt; watching those men with their cloth covered faces rain down shadowy black magic and revel in their destruction. But then Judal couldn't really remember ever being afraid of anything. The sensation of agony within his mind and the crushing and aching within him was...curious. All of those thoughts of loss, of loneliness – but then he thought it couldn't be his loneliness. After all, he had never been lonely, had he? He would surely remember something like that.

His eyes slowly opened, and that thick and heavy veil of sleep finally fell from his exhausted mind.

When he woke, Judal found himself alone in a room. A rather small dark and – most irritatingly – simple room at that; and the likes he had never seen. He would never so much as set foot into such a room, let alone – usually -wake up from being passed out in one. Aside from the not-so-luxurious bed he lay curled up on, he noticed the room was filled of numerous baskets of varies red and pale gold fruits scattered about and...well, little else. The smell of salt and sawn wood reached him, and he scowled. Who would be stupid enough to dare touch him, let alone bring him to such a place?

Judal shifted to sit up, and it was then his body was protesting how movement was somewhat...more problematic than usual. He paused; yes his body felt extremely heavy. No, not so much heavy more – and this was a laughable thought – weak. But then of course, he wasn't weak, so that made no sense. Somewhat confused and still disorientated, he looked down at himself. From the dull lighting and muted shadows cast down from the swinging paraffin lamps above his head, something – on him – caught his eye. It was a rather impressive, beautiful-looking golden chain worn around his neck and lying lightly against his chest. A chain he could feel was gleaming radiantly from the weight of collected magoi – his magoi – it seemed. For a moment he watched, transfixed, as light and dark played and danced spectacularly over its numerous rings.

He paused as seeing such a thing made him begin to remember. Back before he had fallen asleep, he had been on the docks in Balbadd, and thinking of returning to Kou. He had been talking to...him he recalled, and his eyes narrowed. Yes, Sinbad had placed this very thing around his neck, hadn't he? After that Judal had felt his eyes close, and then he had endured that strange sensation of it draining the magoi from his body. It had been so sudden, but he couldn't really describe it as being all that unpleasant or painful – even if he didn't like that it had caused him to sleep for so long. Surely that idiot hadn't intended this? He doubted it, he had looked surprised. Regardless, he had no desire to stay here.

He reached up, trying to take that damned thing off – but he couldn't. He watched his fingers fumble over it, as if such a fragile thing was far too heavy for him. What had that idiot done? Sinbad had some hag magician back in Sindria, he remembered. Right – it was their doing, and he'd just make that idiot take it off. As he slumped off the bed he felt himself waving, and stumbled across the room to a small, dark wooden door. He then reached up a fist to strike against it, angrily, and as hard as he could. "Hey! What's the meaning of this, you bastard?!"

The door creaked disinterestedly, and little else. He struck against it again several more times before hearing paced footsteps and the door opened easily – oh, it wasn't locked? He hadn't thought to check that. As daylight flowed into the room behind him, and stinging against his eyes. He stumbled forward, and felt that all too familiar figure – one he was currently furious with – draw him into his arms tightly as he did. "Ah...it's a good thing you're lighter than I thought, collapsing like that. It's good to see you awake - I didn't mean to scare you back there."

...Then don't kidnap me you damned idiot, the thought come to him. He tried to ignore the warmth flooding through him from being held in such a way; he didn't know why but it calmed him down. He almost felt relieved to see that man. He shouldn't; did that idiot think he would get away with this? He reached up, striking his captor across the face.

"...I completely deserved that..." he doubted he had hit him very hard. Sinbad didn't release him, but he felt the tall man circle his waist before slipping the door behind them to a close.

"Yes, you did. Where am I? And what is this...thing?" he demanded. That chain, and his magoi within it, was so close to him. He could feel the wealth of his stolen power trapped in it, and it annoyed him he couldn't reach out and reclaim it.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" yes, it certainly was, but that was hardly the point. He watched tanned fingers lightly stroke over the chain, as if to illustrate how it worked to him; how energy flowed like hued water within it. Judal assumed it simply collected any magoi within him, and prevented him gaining more. As if to answer a question he watched Sinbad gently lift it, to indicate he at least could do such a thing; even if the dark Magi guessed he wouldn't take it off of him. He should demand it be removed but instead he watched that hand draw over the chain, teasing the magoi within it to ripple under his touch. Such a thing was...calming, soothing even, but it shouldn't be."This is something I made with a friend a long time ago, for if we met again. I think it just...works a lot better with a Magi than a magician than we had thought; again I'm sorry about that. I kept it, but it never struck me you'd actually agree to escape them and come to me."

Come to him? What- join his household? And have a metal vessel working on him even in...such a weird way? He leaned into Sinbad's shoulder, continuing to watch his hand lazily."I never said I wanted to escape."

"No; I might have been reading between the lines there," no; as always they were just reading from two very different books. "You know how household vessels work, don't you?" He nodded. "They don't work with magicians or Magi, this was something we experimented with, and so it has a different use. We thought it would fail, as vessels don't work if the wearer doesn't wish to belong to that household. It seems you do, however, as its working fairly well."

Judal narrowed his eyes. "That's a cheap trick, you should know better than that. Have you lost your mind?"

"Who knows? Maybe you stole it from me."

Judal broke away from him, furious, even if his body wanted to stay with him. Lacking strength he felt himself slump against the wall. Sinbad had really done it; and sooner or later they would both pay for this. If only he had magoi...come to think of it, just how much had he come to rely on such a thing over the years? More and more, he thought, but then that was obvious. As he had grown stronger and stronger in time, why wouldn't he rely on it? In theory, his power was only limited to his own body; any power he gained from rukh was limitless. Of course, that much was in theory, and it was a redundant detail in his current condition. Well, it was his fault for trusting an enemy, or to let someone – anyone – get that close to him.

The solution was simple – he just needed to get away. Even if, honestly, he didn't want to. What a stupid thought...

"If it makes you feel better they probably would just think you ran off if they can't sense you." Sinbad said, as if knowing what Judal was thinking next. "You did say you were late going back to Kou. I mean, obviously they think you're smarter and stronger than to allow me to capture you so easily."

...Well...that struck a nerve, and he had been thinking that, too. But – him – saying that. Judal hadn't even forgiven him for the...kidnapping thing. And nor would he. "...The heck did I ever lower my guard for an idiot king like you anyway?"

"Who knows, but it seems like something a naive brat would do doesn't it? I just think you're angry as I thought of this before you did," that struck nerve grew fanning into full fury – was Sinbad trying to anger him? He was...admirably good at it.

"...Did I say idiot? I meant moron king," he snarled back furiously. Admittedly, he knew that wasn't exactly the best retort he had ever thought of. His flaming eyes were already searching the room close to him for something – well, anything, actually – that could prove to be both dangerous and useful. He settled on what looked to be a - pitifully – small knife on a table close by. He took it, gripping it tightly as he backed away from his captor. Seeing as nothing else was working..."That's it, let me out of here. Right now."

"Ah..." Sinbad's smile was...soft and kind, yet amused...something he hadn't really seen much before. He liked it, a lot, but he didn't like being mocked...again. Whatever that idiot was up to, things were playing into his favour. Judal was playing into his hands, and that annoyed him. "You win then, have it your way. I give up. But I hope you're a good swimmer."

"...Huh?"

The other man paused, pointedly, giving Judal more than enough time to realise what he was referring to. Those paraffin lamps...well, they were rocking gently. In fact, the whole room around them was doing the same, lightly from side to side. Of all he knew, the dark Magi was fairly certain that rooms weren't inclined to bob up and down. "We are currently on a ship. Headed for Sindria, in fact."

...He hadn't expected that. He also hadn't expected Sinbad to draw up to him, and he felt that pitiful knife being unclasped carefully from his fingers. But then he had never seriously meant to use it anyway, but that might be obvious. It was a fairly useless thing that he doubted would do any damage; he disliked weapons and favoured magic. He just...couldn't, use it right then, obviously. He watched Sinbad pick up an apple from one of the numerous baskets, peeling it in a single and swift, enviable graceful gesture before placing it in his hand. Judal just stared down dumbly at the fruit now sitting in his palm and wasn't quite sure how to respond for that. As he was hungry, he settled for taking a bite out of it, and slipped down to sit on that dark and creaky wooden floor.

"You don't seem to dislike being at sea so far, at least..."

"...I have been unconscious, you know," Judal chewed at that sweet, tangy fruit, savouring it. He felt Sinbad sit down close beside him and he reached out, not sure why he was, but curled his fingers tightly around his. The dark Magi figured he was just annoyed at that concerned look; he wasn't a child after all, he wasn't scared. The other man looked surprised, but then it wasn't like he was forgiving that idiot or anything.

As he finished his apple, he watched Sinbad reach for another. He took it, quickly, before he had a chance to peel it – the skin was the best part, after all, everyone knew that. He chewed on it slowly yet keenly before leaning in to rest his head on the other man's shoulder, feeling that rich and violet hair tickle pleasantly over his face. A warm smile slowly crept onto Sinbad's face, as though his surprise became relief. An arm curled around Judal's waist and a curiously tingling sensation he couldn't describe washed over him. "Ha, if this was what you wanted, you could have just accepted my offer to me mine. Any time, you just always rejected me. Then, what's up with this now? You're an idiot, if they find us we're both dead."

Sinbad nodded slowly, as if he had considered that. "Well, I liked the idea of you belonging to me more than my belonging to you. But when they do come for me, I'll just have to beat them." Judal was really focused more on his apple to object; but he didn't believe he could win. Not alone, he'd win if he joined with Al-Thamen certainly and became Judal's instead, but he had always been annoyingly opposed to both ideas. And he couldn't belong to that idiot anyway, they were enemies- what was he going to suggest he become the Magi for Sindria? Sindria wasn't powerful enough for that. He felt tanned fingertips trace over the side of his face, and looked back to him. "Regardless...I'll protect you from them. You have my word on that; you made that promise to be mine, after all."

...Of all the ridiculous things he could say. "...I only promised that because I thought you were joking back there. And you know it. Ha, you thought I was serious? Are you that stupid? This won't work, ever."

"Alright..." a slim finger draw up under Judal's chin, coaxing him to look Sinbad in the eye."Then look at me, and tell me that you don't want us to be together. And I'll get you go."

He remained silent.

Sinbad leaned in, stroking his long ebony hair back with both hands, admiring it before his lips brushed slowly over his cheek. Daring to test his luck, and wanting revenge anyway, Judal caught his lips teasingly, even if nervously. Well, that would be the first time – he – had kissed someone properly. As he pushed his king against the wall, the man laughed. It struck Judal as...weird; just to hear him do so in such a relaxed and content way, even if he didn't know why it seemed strange. It just did. Within moments his captor had pulled him into his lap, strong arms drawing round his prisoner and holding him rightly. For now, he was fairly sure he wanted this, a lot, and rested tiredly against him. Until he escaped or persuaded Sinbad to take that chain off him, he would at least enjoy this. Deep down he felt his king was right; and knew that man was who he wanted – he always had been, there was no one like him.

He didn't really understand why; he just knew he wanted this. That hand in his hair whilst another surrounded his weary body, and his own fingers tangled in that wild and violet hair of the man in front of him. He tried not to explain it, he just accepted that embrace, aware he had never let anyone that close to him before. Judal knew that, if he really had been a naive brat, he would have believed an idiot king's claims that this would last forever. It wouldn't, but for now it was nice to think like that – that warmth, that comfort; that touch – were just too much to resist.

Strangely enough, this was something the oracle had never meant to happen. Really Judal knew it was his fault, for going to watch Sinbad sleep that time and thinking it would be fun not to leave when he woke. But then, he had always liked nothing more than sneaking in to watch his king sleep.