Night Eight: Swing of the Pendulum

Ithnan had already materialised, there in Sinbad's rooms at the top of that tall tower of his palace in Sindria, by the time Judal opened his eyes. He had no idea how long the Al-Thamen member had stood there. It stuck the dark Magi the mysterious man had changed little over the years; his face was covered by that white cloth, thorns were intertwined at his forehead to hold it in place, and lastly that strange staff rested against his shoulder. The tall, troublesome figure remained very still and silent; as from behind that checked, ornate mask Ithnan only cared only for their organisation and turning this world to ash. As for Judal, he didn't think nor care about such things much; he had never needed to.

Ithnan had waited for him, and for Al-Thamen there was little more important than retrieving their Magi. They would never lose someone like him, and protected him both from death and any enemy. Nevertheless, given Judal's current situation and how he had fallen asleep it seemed a little...creepy, not to mention highly embarrassing. After it, he had been spending another night in the arms of another man – and an enemy – and Sinbad was holding him tightly in his sleep as he had grown accustomed to doing. There wasn't a while lot normal or not strange about laying there and being found like this. He would certainly have a lot of explaining to do to those who had bound him to them since his birth.

Ruby eyes fixed on that man, and he knew this would be it for him and his king. Sinbad had of course wanted to deal with anyone from that shadowy organisation and possibly wanted to drive them – violently – from Sindria himself. He had been insistent Judal never deal with them again; but then really, was there a better alternative? This situation was nonsensical enough to start with and would never have lasted, so in the end it would have ended this way. Outside he noticed the deep tones of night had lightened, paling to a ruby blush lingering on the horizon, and it seemed early morning was a good enough time to leave. He had savoured that powerful body, still wrapped protectively around his own, for so long. It was time to have his own power back.

More than anything, Judal wanted to be free again.

What surprised Judal was that he had no – immediate – desire to see Sindria in flames. It seemed an odd thought to have but then he reasoned he just wanted it to be an interesting fight. Even if Sinbad asked him to not deal with Al-Thamen and insisted he could beat them, which was laughable. Besides, the man would fairly useless right now, and Judal knew even if Ithnan didn't bring him back someone else would. It was confusing, but one way or another that man was his enemy and he should want to destroy him. But he didn't, even if that man had embarrassed him with such a situation to start with.

"We looked everywhere for you, Judal," Ithnan told him impassively as eyes searched him from behind that mask. Again, and not for the first time, he tried to escape from his king's arms but didn't have the strength to free himself this time, and his body was sore from what they had...been doing over the past nights, anyway. That glowing chain, as always, still lay resting against his bare chest and was shining brighter than ever. "How could you allow yourself to be captured, anyway? Lying in his bed, how amusing - I didn't expect that. Father would not be happy with you."

"Eh, well, he tricked me," he knew that was a weak excuse. He just hadn't thought nor wanted to have a conversation – naked, no less – like this. To make it even more humiliating, Ithnan was of course entertained in watching him to continue struggling to free himself; even more so perhaps when his attempts were cut short. A bandaged arm draw tighter around him, pulling him back firmly against the warm and toned body before leaning into Judal's neck to stop him moving. This really was beyond awkward, he thought, before flushing and giving up.

Ithnan continued to study him. "I don't even feel you resenting him at all. Even now you're caressing that chain instead of trying to break it, even if I guess that would be futile to try. Shouldn't you want revenge on him?"

Ah, yes, it was that line of thinking – or lack of – which had troubled him for a while, too..."It's just so heavy that's all," Judal, however, drew his hand away from said chain hastily. "And it took you so long to turn up. What was I meant to do?" his eyes narrowed, remembering something. "You cursed him, didn't you?" Ithnan nodded."You're so crude like that! And obvious."

"He'll serve his purpose to Father as a black king," he replied simply. Well, Judal was curious with how that was going to go. Much like with Sinbad's defiance to them, it was a question of believing him when he said he was halfway to depravity already and couldn't be cursed twice. Judal admittedly had no reason not to trust him; he knew the man was strong, but not as strong as he claimed. If he could do half of what he claimed, it would be impressive. "And you'll serve your purpose too; I hope you haven't forgotten that."

"Like I could forget something like that? Just...stop being a weirdo and hurry up and break this chain already. Then I can leave," Judal imagined that, materialised in such a way, Ithnan couldn't do a lot of damage there. Likewise he didn't fair too well in areas filled with white rukh, which Sindria was. He wasn't sure how Ithnan had ended up in such a state and in his actual body, as Sinbad had the good sense to tell him little of what had been happening. He just would have thought Al-Thamen would have been...angrier he had been both captured and away for so long. He had no doubt he would be both question and imprisoned over this, but there was no helping that. They needed him too badly, he guessed, to waste time when retrieving him.

"Remember the organisation commands you, Judal, not the other way round. Leave immediately, I can't stand being in a place like this," with a wave of that staff and a simple gesture, Judal watched that chain binding him for so long splinter. Then it shattered into a stream of fractured white and streaming shadow. He could see the black rukh already pouring back into him as a result of Ithnan's magic. They empowered him, and it was a wonderful feeling, as if he was submerged head first into the tide of a cold and black night time ocean. "I'm curious if you think you could still persuade him to join us after this long? You can't be that foolish. But it doesn't matter; he will soon join us now his fate is cursed."

The thought was still there, the strange hope Sinbad was right and wouldn't fall fully to depravity. He was just confused he actually cared about such a thing. "It would have been more fun my way; you're such a pain. He was so entertaining as well. Wouldn't a war have been more fun?"

"There will still be a war. And remember that entertaining yourself with the enemy like this is forbidden. Not to mention I don't want to see that much of you again..." those cold eyes informed him. Well, way to make such things seem even more appealing; the forbidden part at least, he could gladly go without that strange man seeing him like this.

"I don't care much about that stuff anyway. If you're done lecturing me I'm leaving," without another word, Ithnan nodded. He faded back into the shadows and then was gone.

With a deep breath, Judal reached up and rubbed at his throat below his gold and ruby choker. After so long he finally felt like himself. Every inch of his power was seeping back into his body; and it really did feel incredible. It had been so long – too long – since he had felt like that, that sensation of knowing he could do anything he wanted. It seemed laughable to waste that by returning to Kou, as more than likely they'd keep him there for a while and not let him fight. But it couldn't be helped; he was far too important for them to lose and they'd be annoying if he didn't do as they ordered him to.

A gleam of white light caught the corner of his eye. Looking down he eyed over that broken – yet still lovely - chain and felt it was almost a pity such a thing had been ruined. As Ithnan couldn't exactly handle white rukh, those had been left within it and continued to dance over its broken yet still radiant coils. Judal decided not to draw them out himself, he liked the way they looked there too much. Instead he reached over curiously to rub his fingers over its warm and glowing fragments as they lay scattered over the bed. In doing so he brushed lightly against a bronzed hand, and a curious surge resonating within his skin as he did...Sinbad's hand.

It seemed, Judal admitted to himself, that having his magic back was only the second most incredible thing to occur to him that night. And he knew well what – well, who – the first was.

.So, Ithnan had asked him if he wanted revenge, or even if he desired to kill that man? Increasingly he really couldn't comprehend such a thing. Hadn't the thought always been there that either he had Sinbad as an ally, or he would take joy in destroying someone that strong? Things had grown even more complicated between the two of them. Even now he could kill him so easily; his king wasn't exactly guarded right now. As he was cursed, even if he woke up more than likely he would be defenceless in his current state. Even if Judal had told himself he would have his revenge, laughably he just didn't want to harm him. Not until he was strong again, at least, he decided. Thinking something like that seemed to settle things.

So instead, and surprising himself again, Judal leaned in. He felt his lips brush softly against Sinbad's cursed and bruised cheek, then the man's lips, parting them slightly for a stolen kiss, and knew he wanted to stay there. It was interesting just how reluctant he was to leave. Even so, he knew he had to, and so he climbed off the bed; wondering if that kiss would be their last. At least he doubted they would encounter each other for a while. He dressed hurriedly, and took the red-jewelled sceptre which had been useless to him for so long.

He headed for the balcony, and it was then he felt amber eyes fix upon him. Before Judal could do anything, Sinbad had darted up towards him as if guessing something had happened – but then was it that hard to figure out? The dark Magi panicked, jumping and floating down from that tower down to the white-washed streets far below. He honestly never had thought so many people would seek to chase and chain him; it just seemed to be occuring a lot lately.

He paused, thinking of how frantic Sinbad looked, and felt something twinge within him. Everything about that man's eyes commanded him to wait. Even if Judal liked going where he pleased – he was well known for such a thing in fact – he didn't mind the thought of obeying his king so much – sometimes, at least. Well, what the heck, he decided as he twirled his sceptre between his fingers. It's not like he was the type to sneak around, anyway. Certainly it seemed a waste to just leave if he wouldn't see him for a while...and he didn't want to leave quite yet.

How interesting things would be, given everything, Rukh streamed around Judal's body, and he had never felt this powerful; granted a little on the sore side. And Sinbad had that curse he had not succumbed to, and more than likely wouldn't be a match for him. Either way could this be a good chance to see his strong his king was, even when in that state? Well, this final meeting could prove to be highly interesting...