"Hey Sinbad, " Doubar said, "how many more days until we reach Alexandria?"
"It'll be a long voyage Doubar, a minimum four weeks."
"I wonder what argument he had with the governor, anyway." Said Firouz.
"Beats me," shrugged Sinbad," all I know is that we have some top-secret stuff to deliver to the governor of Alexandria."
"Well, as long as we will get some wine and women over there, I don't mind!" said Doubar.
"Even if we don't I am sure you will find some way to get it!" joked Firouz, causing all three of them to laugh.
Sinbad looked around the deck, searching for Maeve. His eyes lit up when he found her in her usual spot, her head in her book. She was reading Dim Dim's diary. She wanted to know if there was some place in Alexandria worth visiting. Sinbad walked over to her, and sat down near, her. She could sense his presence before he came. She looked up and gave him her best smile.
"Hey sailor!" she said.
"Hi Maeve, what are you reading?"
"Oh, just one of Dim Dim's diaries."
"Obviously it is very interesting."
She nodded and looked back in the book. He touched her hand and she looked back at him. He whispered, "can I see you in the cargo hold after an hour?"
"Sure. But why?"
"Why not?" he whispered in a sly voice, and suddenly Doubar walked by the couple, hastily Sinbad added, in a louder voice, "I wanted you to help me check if the goods are in proper shape."
Then he got up and walked away. Doubar was looking at them with an idiotic grin, thinking, those two will never come to their senses and admit it!
An hour after dawn Maeve walked into the cargo hold. She had not caught on why Sinbad wanted her there. She looked around, nobody was there. She shrugged and looked at the goods, checking each one of the boxes for tampering, or damage. She walked further in, when she felt as if she was grabbed from behind. Surprised she lost her balance and fell, right into Sinbad's arms.
"Hi!" he giggled.
"Hmph! Do you always treat girls like that?" she said.
"Only gorgeous redheads." Saying so he pulled her onto the ground with him and leaned against one of the boxes. She snuggled into him. He cupped her face and kissed her tenderly for what seemed like an eternity.
"Shouldn't we be checking the cargo?" she whispered, before kissing him again.
"We should," he said, still kissing her, "but we aren't" and he gave her a steamy kiss.
Maeve was out of breath, she took a deep breath and said, "what if somebody just walked in here?"
Sinbad kissed her hair and hugged her saying, "then they would see the master of the seven seas, kissing the most beautiful enchantress that has ever been."
"Mmm" she nibbled his jaw, "that would be a perfect picture, wouldn't it?"
"That it would." And saying so he lifted her face and kissed her voluptuous lips with all he passion he could show her.
Suddenly they heard Doubar and Firouz's laughter. They quickly wrenched away from each other, and stood up, just as Doubar and Firouz walked in with Rongar. The trio saw the couple's flushed faces. Maeve quickly turned away and pretended to inspect the other boxes; Sinbad managed to stutter, "umm! Hello men! Umm...umm…what are you doing here?"
The three of them giggled at the young captain's almost red face. Then Rongar signed, we thought you might need help with inspecting the boxes."
"Boxes?" then realized where he was and said, "yeah! Right! Boxes! Yes, I will need some help with the boxes…so umm…you guys can help…I mean you are the crew so you have to help…so umm why don't you help?" Then realizing how disoriented he sounded he turned away and bent over a box.
Doubar, Rongar, and Firouz laughed, as they went on with their jobs. Maeve could not take it any more, so she told Sinbad, "Sinbad, I have reading to do…. So if you don't mind…can I go?"
"Sure Maeve…I don't mind at all, you go ahead with your reading." He smiled, but inside he was cursing, of course I mind, dammit! I want you here with me. Why is it that my brother and my best friends have such perfect timing? He thought sarcastically.
Dermott heard this and started laughing (mentally), so loudly, that even Sinbad could hear it.
Dermott? Sinbad thought, he recognized Dermott's voice. He could feel the bird nod, in his head. Where are you?
On the mast.
How come I can hear you if you are there?
Telepathy reaches beyond the normal human voice can.
Oh! Well my feathered friend, is there anyway I could hide my thoughts from you?
Dermott chuckled, imagine a wall surrounding your thoughts.
Okay, he did as he was told to… it took effort but he finally did it. Can you hear my thoughts now?
No…
Congratulations Sinbad! He heard a new but familiar voice in his head.
What? Who was that?
It's me, sailor, your resident sorceress.
Maeve?
Well I never thought you would have guessed, she said sarcastically.
Sinbad chuckled and said, why are you congratulating me?
Because you succeeded in learning how to control your powers of telepathy.
Thanks!
You're welcome.
Welcome where? In your mind, or in your room. He thought evilly
Hearing this Dermott started laughing loudly. Sinbad could feel Maeve flashing a mental glare at Dermott. Then Maeve said slyly to Sinbad, that is for me to know, and you to guess. Sinbad blushed. Doubar and the others wondered what was going on with him. When Sinbad saw that they were all giving him strange looks he walked out of the cargo hold.
It had been four peaceful weeks of sailing. By the grace of Allah, the wind was good enough for them to be on schedule. Yet, for Sinbad, it was a painful experience. He had never realized how difficult it was to find time for private matters aboard the Nomad, until now. He could not spend anytime alone with Maeve. He wanted so badly to hold her, and kiss her. Every time he tried to do that, some crewmember graced the couple with their presence. It was so annoying. He had to keep himself from jumping at her and kissing her every time he saw her. He was so happy that they would dock soon. Maybe he could find some time with her at port.
That night, Maeve, Sinbad, Firouz, Doubar, and Rongar were playing poker whilst having supper. Maeve, as usual, was winning. Finally, she decided not to play the next game and eat. Sinbad was having trouble keeping his eyes of her. He had already lost the previous games because he wasn't paying attention. After taking some food on her plate, she, by mistake, dropped her fork. She bent down to pick it up, Sinbad followed suit, pretending to pick it up. But instead he caught her hand, under the table, Maeve looked at him with a frown, her eyes first wondering what he was doing, then ordering him to let go off her hand. He simply smiled his annoying grin. She tried to free her hand but his grasp was too tight. She wanted to say something, but she knew it would mean a whole lot of embarrassment. So she took a deep breath, telepathically she told Sinbad, if you don't let go off my hand I shall fry you alive.
A worthy sacrifice, he teased. She shook her head and picked up the fork with her left hand. Sinbad kept hold of her right hand. In truth, she did not mind him holding her hand, but she did mind him doing that while she was eating. She carefully picked her food with the fork (she wasn't used to eating with her left hand).
"Maeve?" Firouz observed, "since when did you start eating with your left hand?"
"Well…umm…umm…well you see my right hand is a bit numb after all that magic I practiced today… so umm…I thought I should rest it… I can manage with my left hand." She managed to babble. Firouz shook his head. While Sinbad was wearing a self-satisfied grin.
Sinbad, let go off my hand now, she screamed in her mind.
What'll you do if I don't?
I will…umm… will…
You will what? He challenged.
I will make sure you are the target for my fireballs while I am practicing.
Like I said Maeve, a worthy sacrifice.
Hmph! Said Maeve, and then she had an evil idea.
After she finished her food, she went back to playing. Sinbad had released her hand. As she was playing her cards, she slid her right boot off. She moved her leg along Sinbad's. The sailor was surprised. She slithered her foot all the way unto his thighs. Sinbad was shifting uncomfortably. You know you look soooooo cute when you squirm, she teased.
Maeve, he tried to catch her foot, with his thighs as it went further up. But she wriggled it even more. The others were wondering what was wrong with Sinbad. Maeve's face was completely expressionless.
"Sinbad, your turn." Said Firouz.
"huh?" said the captain, trying to get Maeve to stop.
"I said, it's your turn."
"YES!" he shouted as Maeve's foot, tickled a very private place. The others looked at him in shock, even Maeve pretended to be surprised.
"oh sorry!" he said sheepishly, "yes it's my…" then he raised his voice again as her foot teased him again, "…TURN"
"Sinbad, are you okay?" concerned Doubar asked.
"oh! No Doubar! I am fine. Just a little jumpy, that's…" then he squealed as he continued "…ALL! Oh sorry! I mean that's all!"
Maeve was having the time off her life. She tried her best not to giggle. Then she said slyly, "What's the matter Sinbad? Is anything afoot?"
Sinbad glared at her. She went back to the game as she slid her foot down his leg, to his calf. He was a little relieved, but not totally. He begged her in his mind, do you mind stopping your game of footsie? I am trying to concentrate over here!
Like I wasn't doing that when you did not let go off my hand!
Eating doesn't require that much concentration!
But it requires a right hand if that is what you use!
Maeve, I cannot… then suddenly her foot went all the way up again, MAEVE he screamed in his mind. Stop this, please? He flashed her a puppy dog look in his mind.
But I am having so much fun! She said in a childish voice.
Love, he said in a more sentimental tone, he knew she couldn't resist that. We'll have time for fun later.
Then suddenly they heard giggling. They snapped out of their telepathic conversation. The saw that the others were giggling at them, they blushed as they realized they had been staring at each other, and caught in the act.
"oh! quit it you guys!" Maeve said frustrated. She slid her foot back into her boot.
They giggled even more. Sinbad scowled at them and was about to say something when there was a shout from above deck, "CAPT'N SINBAD! CAPT'N SINBAD! THERE IS A STORM APPROACHING!!!"
They dropped their cards and ran up deck. They gasped at what they saw. It was a nasty looking storm.
Sinbad wasted no time in giving orders. "Doubar! Get hold of the tiller. Rongar tie those lines! Firouz, how much more time until it hits us."
The wind was already trying to blow them off deck, "about 15 to 20 minutes!" Firouz shouted.
"can we steer away from it?"
"Sinbad, its everywhere…" shouted Maeve.
"okay! Maeve! That storm is going to be a very bad one the Nomad might not make it through…try and see if you can calm it!"
Maeve nodded and ran below deck. Firouz ran down to get his water pump working. Maeve got her books out, and flipped through the pages. She tried to reach out to Dermott. She felt a moment of panic mixed with relief when she felt that he was not near the ship. She prayed to Allah to watch over her brother. She then began working on a spell.
Sinbad hoped that Maeve could find something that would help them…his ulterior motive by telling her to do some magic, was to send her down without her objecting, as she always did. He caught hold of a line as a huge wave came and washed aboard the deck.
Maeve reached out to the power within her. She could sense that the storm was not of any magic, it was just nature in a very bad mood. That was why she was going to need more power than usual. It would take up more power for even a trained mage to manually control nature, especially when it was it seemed very angry. She was surprised it came to her comparatively, easier, then it usually did. In fact, it was as if, she could feel love flowing through her. That's it! Love! That is the secret of all white magic. Sinbad patched up few of the wounds in my heart, when he went into my dreams, and turned my hate into love. She instinctively reached her hand to touch the locket he had given her. she smiled, as she thought of whatever she and Sinbad shared. Her nervousness of not being able to succeed sank and a feeling of calm surrounded her heart. She called out to her spirit, and to her essence. They welded into one as the fire in her turned from scorching heat, to comforting warmth. This whole process of realization and welding took a good two hours. Firouz was observing her from the corner of his eye, since usually her spells involved side effects. He dropped whatever he was doing when he saw her frown turn into a calm and serene smile. Her face took a certain radiance, he had never seen before. She looked almost, like an angel, he thought. She closed the book, stood up, and went up the stairs, to go above deck.
"Maeve, Sinbad told you to stay below deck." Firouz tried to stop her, but somehow he had a feeling she knew what she was doing and let her go. She walked up as if she were in a trance. Her eyes glowing. She went up deck steadily.
The waves raged back and forth, the rain was not showing any mercy either; the storm tossed the ship about as if it were a toy. Sinbad was trying to hold down a sail, when he saw Maeve coming up. "MAEVE! Go back down!" he screamed just as he ducked a wave. She did not seem to hear him. while the other sailors were trying to keep themselves from falling overboard, Maeve walked with out any need of support, or balance. She walked to the middle of the deck, as if she were walking in a garden. Sinbad and Doubar were shocked at her entranced appearance. A huge wave, came threatening to swallow her.
"MAEVE!" Doubar, and Sinbad shouted for her, but just as the wave would have taken her away, it stopped. It stopped in the middle of its way, and looked like a huge wall of water. The sailors were stunned. the wave slowly began to reverse itself as Maeve began chanting. She slowly raised her hands upward to the sky. Slowly, dark clouds, began accumulating over head the Nomad alone. The ship lurched as Doubar who was stunned let go of the tiller. The tiller went haywire, steering the ship on a totally different course, Sinbad and Doubar caught it and steadied it and went back to the spectacle before them. in over an hour the clouds were just covering the Nomad itself. Then they began contracting to mid-ship. Firouz's mouth was wide open as he saw the dark clouds circling around Maeve. Maeve was just staring at them, as if she was challenging them. they began to descend to a few inches above her head, this took another hour. The ship was now steady, Doubar handed the tiller to another sailor. The brothers went closer to Maeve. After another hour, the clouds formed a dirty mass above her head only. And almost suddenly they charged at her with rain, lightning and wind and every calamity-causing thing possible. Just as Maeve sent out two red beams of magic at the cloud. It was as if she was fighting them.
"MAEVE!" Sinbad screamed and tried to get her away from the attack. But as he ran to her he hit an invisible wall and was thrown back.
"SINBAD!" Doubar and the others helped him up. When he was on his two feet the young captain tried to go back but Doubar held him back saying, "Let it be little brother, that wall will not allow you to help her."
"No! I must!" he freed himself from the giant and pounded his fists at the invisible wall.
"Sinbad!" Doubar caught him from his fit. Sinbad struggled unsuccessfully in his brother's tight grasp. Finally, he stopped and watched helplessly as the forces of nature, charged at the only woman he truly ever loved.
"Maeve," he whispered, "be strong, my love, don't let it claim you."
It won't, Sinbad, he heard in his mind followed by a flutter of wings, in his ear. He turned to look at Dermott.
Are you sure?
Look at her…
Sinbad did as he was told, Dermott went on, whenever she looks that sure, she will do it.
Sinbad saw her face, if there was anything it looked like, it sure as hell did not look nervous.
For the next three hours, this went on. The clouds began to look weaker, their black colour faded, and finally it became clear, but then Maeve's beautiful face showed signs of weakening too. But she expelled her power nonetheless. Finally, just as the sun came out on the horizon (this whole episode lasted the whole night). The clouds miraculously disappeared. Maeve dropped her hands exhaustedly. Her forehead had beads of perspiration all over. She was drenched to the bone. The whole crew applauded, at her astonishing accomplishment of the impossible. Sinbad, Doubar, Rongar and Firouz ran up to her, and gave her a sandwich hug. They only let go when she started gasping for air.
"Maeve?" concerned Sinbad asked her, "are you all right?"
"Me? Oh sure! Never been better…" she whispered and put on a bright smile just before her eyes rolled up and she collapsed onto the deck, unconscious.
"by all that is holy!" Doubar exclaimed, and Firouz rushed to her side, to examine her.
"it's okay!" he sighed, "she just fainted from the exhaustion that's all."
"yeah right! Firouz" Sinbad said sarcastically, as he gently picked her limp body up. "that's all!"
Firouz just shrugged, Sinbad told Doubar, "take over the deck, and Rongar check the ship for leaks or damages, Firouz you find out how far we are off course, Dermott, shake a tail feather and find out if there is any land nearby and… AMJAD!…" he called out to the sailor untying a knot, "see if the cargo is in good shape, we don't want to earn a reputation of not taking care of our goods."
He then walked down with Maeve in his arms, to her cabin. He was just about to lay her in her hammock, when she stirred. He smiled at her. and gently laid her in the hammock. He pulled out her boots, and then looked at her. she was drenched. He could see her skin as her chiffon shirt clung to her skin.
He grinned evilly, as he thought, maybe I should help you out of those clothes Maeve; you might catch a cold.
Her eyes fluttered open suddenly and she hissed, "don't you dare."
"Maeve!" he exclaimed.
"you were expecting somebody else?" she said sarcastically as she sat up.
Sinbad chuckled and said, "nope, you'll do just fine!"
Maeve frowned and then said, "well, before you help me out of the clothes, at least help me out of this hammock."
Sinbad smiled and helped her out, she wobbled a bit to gain balance, but finally she was steady on her two feet, she used Sinbad as a brace. Then he said mischievously, "well, I have helped you out of the hammock, now for the clothes." He tried to reach at the laces of her vest. When there was a pounding at the door. Maeve hastily broke away from Sinbad's embrace, and opened the door, it was Firouz, "Sinbad, we have…" then seeing Maeve he exclaimed, "Maeve! You are all right!"
Maeve smiled at her friend. Firouz went on, "Sinbad, we have found land, I don't think we are far from Egypt. There is a little leak on the ship. My water pump can handle that temporarily… but we do need to dock."
"Very well, Firouz, go and tell Doubar to head for land. If there is a harbour, nothing like it!"
Firouz nodded and left them. Maeve walked over to her trunk and opened it. She turned to Sinbad and said, "don't you have a ship to captain?"
He put on a mock expression of hurt. She smiled walked up to him and kissed it away. When she had accomplished it, she said, "they will come searching for you."
He nodded and shook his head saying, "I don' mind going to port, anything just to get some time with you."
"same here." She said and gave him a quick kiss, before he turned to leave.
Dermott, soon came flying in. By that time, Maeve had come up deck;
"Dermott, says we are near Egypt, and there is a harbour on the west." She said. The sailors nodded, and proceeded with their duties. Dermott, flew off, saying he was hungry.
As Maeve had said, there was a harbour to the west. They docked the ship and Sinbad gave orders about who should do what. Finally they all got off the ship.
"this is must be a big port, it is a very busy harbour." Speculated Firouz,
"I wonder where we are." Said Sinbad, he was about to walk up to a man to ask where they were when he saw an expression on Maeve's face. It seemed pale. The others saw it too. He was about to ask her what was wrong when she suddenly bolted away. Sinbad was about to follow her. when he heard a familiar voice from behind, "well, if it isn't the guy with the best tasting lips in the world." He turned around, and before he knew what was happening, he felt himself being given a steamy kiss. When he broke away, his eyes registered his entity.
"Talia?" they all exclaimed.
"yeah it's me! What are you guys doing here?" then she saw Maeve walking up to them shooting daggers at her. Talia was undaunted and waved, "Hiya honey! What's up! Where is that cute bird of yours?"
Maeve raised her eyebrow at Sinbad's former lover. Talia just laughed.
Sinbad finally decided to break the ice, and said, "Talia, do you know where we are?"
"don't you know?"
"I do." Answered Maeve. They all looked at her with a questioning gaze. She continued, "the reason I ran away, was because I wanted to make sure this was the place I thought it was."
"you know his place, lass?" asked Doubar.
Maeve nodded, "I have been here before."
"well, where are we?" asked Firouz.
Maeve looked into Sinbad's eyes and answered, "Cairo."
When We Were Thieves - Part 3
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