"Mike," said Maeve, "I don't know of any temple of Horus that isn't less than a 1000 miles away, do you?"
"You maybe right about that Lynn, but we'll have to break into the pyramid."
"Breaking in is your line of work." She smiled evilly.
"Hales," said Sinbad, to the elderly man who was looking out of the window, "What do you have to say?"
"I must speak with Tessay on this matter, captain. It is not an easy thing to just walk into a pyramid, especially Horus', considering the structure."
"What do you mean?" asked Firouz.
"Horus, being a god, his pyramid was built in such a way that it is impossible for anyone to escape alive. It is full of booby traps, confusing passageways, and mazes. The purpose of this was that anyone who gets in, either dies, or lives in the pyramid till death."
"So no one has ever escaped this place?"
"No one." He said, "the pyramid contains immense riches that were offered while Horus was buried. It was a thief's paradise as it can be a thief' hell."
"So what do we do now?"
"I'll go talk to Tessay. You better have some dinner. I'll see you in the morning."
They nodded.
Hales left the inn, to go and meet Tessay. Mike turned to Maeve and said, "So you think Tessay will agree?"
"I don't know, Mike. I am hungry. Will you be joining us for dinner?"
"Yeah, I think I will."
"That's great!" said Doubar heartily, "now all this excitement is making me hungry, let's eat!"
They all laughed, and ordered the food and ale.
For a while they were silent, not knowing what to say. Then Firouz broke the silence by saying, "so Maeve…what was it like to be a thief?"
Maeve did not like being called a thief but she did not mention it, instead she answered, "Kind of like on the Nomad. I mean you know, get into trouble and get out of it."
"How much trouble could you possibly get on a ship?" asked an amused Bacheet.
"On Sinbad's ship?" Maeve said with and evil glint in her eye, "Lots of it! These boys are attracted trouble like honey attracts bees." The men pretended to scowl at her, but she just laughed.
"So Lynn," said Duraid, "tell us about your adventures with Sinbad."
"There are so many."
"Tell us any one."
"Doubar is better at that. Aren't you Doubar?"
Doubar had a wicked smile on his face, "shall I tell you FAAAAVOURITE one?"
"Yeah…please do." Said Duraid.
"It's the one we had with the Vorgon." He said slyly, watching Sinbad and Maeve. The couple blushed beet red. The crew started laughing so badly, that they almost fell of their chairs.
"What was it about?" asked Bacheet wondering what was so funny.
"Bacheet," stammered Maeve, "it was nothing much…just a monster that sucked of the life force of people…"
"Yeah I know someone who could do that." Said Bacheet and said slyly, "remember him, Duraid?"
"Who?" asked Firouz.
"Yusuf."
Maeve, Mike and Duraid glared at Bacheet.
"Who is that?"
"He was a gang leader, Mike's rival. He worked with Ishmitar, so he was a major pain.
"Why is he like the Vorgon?"
"He is known to make people's lives miserable. He'll torture 'em then he'll leave 'em in pain. Mike, Duraid and Lynn had a personal problem with him."
"How come?"
"Well, once Duraid got into a brawl with his men. The soldiers happened to pass by. Yusuf's men escaped, but Duraid got arrested. So Lynn had to go get him out of there. What we didn't know was that Yusuf's spies were watching us and they knew Lynn was going to get him."
"So what happened?" said Doubar, he was interested in knowing about how Maeve worked with these men."
"Well, the dungeon has a vent which is twice Duraid's size. Lynn tried to open the vent and haul Duraid up. However, Yusuf's men came from behind and pushed her, so she fell right into the dungeon. They closed the door of the vent, so she couldn't get out again."
"What happened next?" asked Firouz.
"Well, there is no such prison where Lynn can remain for more than a day. So she finally got out, with Duraid. When she was free she was so mad at Yusuf that for the next one week she forgot about the Fiery Eye and she was more bent on exterminating Yusuf."
"You said he WAS the opposing gang leader." Observed Sinbad.
"Yes he WAS, Lynn, finally decided to teach him a lesson, she set him up, and was it an ingenious plan, she set him up and had him arrested. Since he was a wanted man for manslaughter, he got beheaded, and his gang was obliterated. That's where she got her label name."
"Which one?"
"She was called…and still is, I guess, she was called, 'Shady Mike's partner --- The one you don't wanna mess with.'"
The crew laughed heartily.
"I did not intend to have him beheaded," said Maeve, "But if I had known that he was involved in the slaughter of women and innocent children, I'd have done it myself!"
"Wow!" said Doubar, "Lass, you must've been such a terror!"
"I can still be one!" she said with and evil grin.
The crew started laughing hard.
After sharing some adventures and a good meal Mike and his men decided to go back to the den, to get some sleep.
"We'll see you tomorrow." Said Mike, "I think tomorrow it'll be raining…I don't know." Maeve nodded, she gave Duraid and Bacheet a hug, and Mike a handshake, she wanted to hug him but she didn't, since she was aware of Sinbad's eyes on her.
"I think we better get some sleep." Said Sinbad. They all nodded and went upstairs.
Maeve was looking out of the window at the stars, when Sinbad knocked on her door. It was a hot night. He came in and smiled. She smiled back, came up to him and kissed him.
"I am going to be honest with you." She said, "I am not in the mood for this."
"Neither am I." He smiled slyly, "Although we have a lot of catching up to do, it's too hot to make it even hotter. I just wanted to be with you."
She smiled, "same here. So what do we do?"
"Well, we could get out of these clothes and go to bed."
"Good idea!" she kissed him and helped him get out of his vest, shirt and sash, while slowly undid her vest, and pulled it of her. She kissed his shoulder and said, "Mmm…tastes delicious."
He suddenly scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed he laid her on it and knelt down to pull off her boots. Once they were off, she pulled off her white shirt/dress over her head and tossed it to the chair nearby. He slid his shoes of and climbed into the bed with her. She kissed him lovingly. He deepened the kiss as he pushed her back into the pillows. When they were breathless, he broke it. He looked into her eyes and said, "Phew! It's hot!"
"What is?" she said slyly.
"Everything!" he smiled back at her, he turned to lay on his back and said, "I'm really tired…what about you?"
"Hmm?" she said sleepily, "oh me too! I just wish I could conjure up some wind!"
"Yeah!" he said, "Good night!"
"Sweet dreams!"
The day's events took their toll on them and they both fell asleep.
The next morning it was raining heavily. Tessay was already waiting for them downstairs. Maeve came up to her and gave her a hug.
"Maeve," said Tessay, "I will not waste time in idle chit chat. I think you should go to the pyramid of Horus. I have a feeling this is the confrontation between you and Taita."
"But Tessay," she started, "it is sealed properly."
"Only by magic. I shall come with you and break the spell."
"You're gonna come with us?" she frowned.
"I may be old, but I haven't cracked. Besides, you need a guide."
"Tessay…" started Sinbad.
"Maybe I could talk some sense into Taita."
"But…" said Maeve.
"Maevelyn, that pyramid is can be YOUR tomb, if you don't have proper directions."
"Tessay, you…" she stopped short as she realized something she wrinkled her forehead, "Tessay, have you ever been inside?"
Tessay smiled, but didn't say anything.
"You have been in there, haven't you?" Maeve was shocked.
"Yes, I have, you know I can see why Mike's men and Sinbad's men like you so much as a member. You are very smart."
"Don't try to change the subject, Tessay." Maeve warned lovingly. "When?"
"I went with Taita, when he was good, of course."
"How old were you?"
She said shyly, "17."
"You went into a death trap at the age of 17?" Sinbad was surprised too.
"I was a sorceress, dear captain. I could get out easily compared to others."
"Why did you go in?" said a very surprised Firouz.
"Oh! Young blood! We were both so silly. We wanted to see what it looked like from inside. So we cut our classes and sneaked into the pyramid. It wasn't very pleasant. I remember each and every sordid detail of the place."
"Tessay…" Maeve was still in shock.
"That is why I insist on coming with you. I remember every facet of the place."
"Well…" said Sinbad, "what does Mike have to say?"
"I haven't told him, yet."
"But I know now…" came another voice. Mike walked into the room. He smiled at the two women and said, "Tessay, are you sure you can do it?"
"Better than you can."
"Then it's fine with me."
"And with us." Said Sinbad. The crew nodded.
"Good!" smiled Tessay.
"So when do we leave?" he smiled.
"We'll have to leave tomorrow. Today you'll have to get some things arranged."
"Like?"
"Camels, for one thing this place is in the dessert. Food and water, for whoever is going, it must be enough for a month. You never know when you run out, especially on water. Maevey and I shall go and have a look at her books…"
"What books?" asked Mike.
"The books that Dim Dim gave me." Maeve answered.
"Maeve who is this Dim Dim guy?"
"HE is not a GUY, he is my mentor." She said in the stern tone of voice, that Sinbad loved so much.
"Your mentor?"
"Yes. My mentor."
"In what?"
"Everything." Was all she said, in a tone of voice that told Mike that it would be a bad idea to probe further.
She turned to Tessay, "Now, anything else that we need?"
"Umm…well it is a day's ride. I don't know how long we'll take in the pyramid…"
"But Tessay… the Isle?"
"I have put a spell on that allows it stay for one more week."
"Oh good!"
"Anything else?" asked Sinbad.
"Yes, lots of rope, you have your weapons…remember, take lots of water. I think that should cover it."
"Okay…" said Sinbad.
"Oh and one more thing. At least one of us must stand guard of the pyramid. In case anyone tries to break in or something like that, and also, when we come out we might need him."
"Okay." He nodded, "Who all will be going in?"
"Umm…Lynn, Bacheet, Duraid and me for sure along with Tessay. What about your crew? I assume you'll be coming, Sinbad."
Sinbad raised his eyebrow, but said, "Doubar, Rongar, Firouz and I will be going in…and of course as you said Maeve."
"In that case, Talia stands guard." Said Mike.
"WHAT?" said Talia, "I wanna go in too."
"It is enough sacrilege that we are breaking in the tomb of Horus, I don't want to violate it further by having a money crazed whore like you stealing the riches," Mike stated coldly.
"I am not a money crazed whore." Talia squinted.
"You were the reason we're in this whole mess in the first place."
"Don't blame me, if you can't protect your property."
"What did you say?" Mike's eyes narrowed. His body language told Maeve he was going to do something drastic.
Unfortunately, Talia did not recognize it, she answered back, "I said, don't blame me, if you can't protect your property."
Mike went up to her and slapped her hard on the face. In fact, he slapped her so hard, that she fell on the floor from where she was sitting with a bleeding nose.
"Mike!" scolded Maeve as she and the rest of the crew went to help her up. She was struggling to control tears. Maeve gently lifted her face so she could see her nose. Sinbad offered her a handkerchief; Maeve took it and gently dabbed her nose. She passed it to Firouz, since she was not having any success being gentle. She glared at Mike and hissed; "If I ever see you doing that again, I swear I'll break your teeth, myself, and we both know that I am capable of it."
"I don't see why you care about that harlot, anyway?" Mike growled.
"That is none of your business." She retorted, "you shall NEVER do that again, at least not while I'm here."
Mike scowled back at her. They could see that he had accepted defeat. Talia was surprised at the command Maeve had over this man, but she was grateful too. Sinbad was proud about Maeve's uncanny knack to have control. The others were surprised at how Mike could control Talia. They knew that if any other man had dared to slap her she would have run her sword through him, by now; but here, she was almost crying as if she were the timid wife of an abusive husband.
Finally Tessay spoke sternly, "Now stop this nonsense, both of you. We cannot defeat Taita if we are fighting ourselves. Maevey, where are your books?"
"On the ship."
"We'll go there now. Mike, I suggest you arrange for the camels and the rope. Captain, I think you could manage the water and other supplies?"
Sinbad nodded quietly. Talia had gotten a hold of herself by now.
Maeve went up to her room to get something to cover herself in the rain. Talia followed her upstairs, she stopped Maeve and said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For defending me…you have to teach me how you can defy Mike and get away with it." Maeve smiled and patted Talia, and said, "it comes with practice."
Talia laughed, and went back down. Maeve sighed and she went to her room and got her stuff.
Mike had already left to get the camels; Sinbad was waiting for Maeve before he was to leave. Maeve came down and said, "don't fall into any trouble."
The men glared at her, but started laughing as she laughed. They went out side covering themselves. The rain had become into a steady drizzle. Sinbad slipped his fingers in Maeve's when no one was looking. He squeezed it and said, "Be careful, oh and just check up on the rest of the ship since you're going there."
She smiled and squeezed his hand back, "I will."
They headed out in opposite directions.
As the crew and Talia were walking through the streets, Firouz said, "Sinbad, this guy Mike, are you sure we can trust him?"
"Maeve trusts him, Firouz, in fact so does Dermott."
"How do you know about Dermott?"
"Well, he doesn't seem to mind it when Mike tries to come in contact with Maeve."
"He doesn't need to," teased Doubar," someone else is doing it for him."
Everyone except Sinbad laughed.
"Very funny." Sated Sinbad, "anyway, Tessay and Hales trust him, and I like them."
"So do I." Said Doubar, "well, I guess if lass trusts him, I can trust him."
Meanwhile, Maeve and Tessay walked to the ship. Maeve sighed, "I just wish those two egotists would quit trying to be chivalrous!"
"I think they are trying to impress you."
"Well, they both know VERY well, that it doesn't work. I mean, that is the last thing I expect form those two…at least Mike."
Tessay laughed, "well, you do have a tendency to bring out powerful emotions in many men."
Maeve scowled at her as she walked up to the ship.
Amjad was shouting at Hameed to go and mend the sails. Maeve went up to him and said, "Amjad, how is the ship coming along?"
"Well, it's fixed and ready to sail; but not in this weather."
"We won't be setting sail anyway. Sinbad told me to tell you to get whatever supplies for the ship. We won't be seeing you for the next few days. We have some errands to run."
"Okay," he nodded, then he noticed Tessay.
"Oh!" said Maeve when she realized, "This is Tessay, I have to some work right now, so don't disturb us."
Amjad nodded and smiled. Maeve led Tessay into the cabin, where Dermott was already perched. Tessay ruffled his feathers. Maeve got out her entire lot of books. She sat down on the floor. Tessay started going through her spell books, while Maeve went through Dim Dim's diaries.
By afternoon Sinbad and the others had returned to the ship. It was raining heavily, so they were all drenched. Sinbad knocked on Maeve's door.
"It's open."
He opened the door and peeped inside. He was surprised to see the two women on the floor; Tessay was sitting, and Maeve was lying down propped up on her elbow. There were books scattered all over. Maeve was engrossed in a book. She looked up at Sinbad, sat up and smiled.
"This place looks like a storm hit it." He remarked.
"No," said Tessay playfully, "it looks like Maeve hit it."
Maeve made a face while Sinbad laughed.
"Well, have you found anything?"
"Nothing so far." Maeve sighed.
"Wait a minute." Said Tessay as she picked up a book.
"What is it?" said Maeve, as she crawled towards her.
"I think it is a diary."
"Dim Dim's?" asked Sinbad.
"No, that isn't his handwriting." Said Maeve as she looked through the book.
"What is it?"
Maeve smiled, "It's been written by Juan, he was a friend of Dim Dim's. I met him once when I was at the isle of dawn."
"Was he a sorcerer?" asked Firouz who came in and heard everything.
"No, he but he was a scholar. He called himself a historian or anther-no…anthra- something."
"Anthropologist?"
"Yeah! That's what he said he was. What is it?"
"A type of historian…an anthropologist studies cultures and histories...I have always…" he stopped short when looked at Maeve's unreadable expression.
"Tessay," she said, "Apparently, you and Taita are not the only ones who went inside and got out of there in one piece."
"This man went inside too?"
"Yes, and he has written a detailed description of the pyramid along with some information on the tendency the pyramid has with magic."
"That's excellent!" said Sinbad, "We'll read it to the others at dinner today."
"No," said Tessay, "tonight you must sleep early, Maeve can read now, for herself. If anything is absolutely then only shall we discuss it at dinner."
"Yes ma'am." Said Sinbad as he saluted her.
Tessay shook her head and said, "Let us go to the inn now. Tomorrow, we start two hours before dawn."
They nodded. Maeve picked up her books and arranged them all with the help of the others. Then they left for the inn.
When We Were Thieves - Part 14 Section 1
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