"Motherhood and fertility…to be exact." Duraid said.
"I thought she was a myth…"
"she isn't Firouz…otherwise I have no way of explaining the weather." Said Maeve
"Maeve," Sinbad touched her hand, "what does that have to do with the weather?"
"Isis, was the sister-wife of Osiris. She was the daughter of the god Keb who represented the earth and the goddess Nut who represented the sky. She has a temple on the land of Philae…which happens to be and island in the Nile River…"
"An island in a river? But that is impossible." Interjected Firouz.
"Firouz…this is a magical isle…somewhat like the isle of dawn…only difference is…you can find it easily."
"so what does this have to do with the pearl."
"the nature pearl…as it is called… was some sort of insurance…given by Isis, to the land of Egypt. It is the largest black pearl that has ever been. People always thought it was a myth…that was actually, a rumour spread by the priestesses of the temple, on Philae, so they could protect the pearl. This pearl is said to control the changes in weather, throughout Egypt. The thing about this isle is that it appears once in three years, in the summer solstice…that is when the festival of Isis takes place… "
"How can a pearl control weather?" said a very intrigued Firouz.
"Nobody knows that…they don't disclose it…" said Mike.
Maeve smiled her mysterious smile. Sinbad understood said, "that is where Maeve comes in the picture…right ?"
Maeve grinned, "right as usual, captain."
Mike frowned at Maeve's affection to the crew, especially Sinbad… Sinbad noticed it and smiled in satisfaction.
Duraid asked Maeve, "Lynn, girl, how could you know?"
"Dim Dim, had been in Egypt at one of the ceremonies…he decided to pay a visit to the temple in Philae…" she took out one of Dim Dim's diaries and read, "the high priestess is the only one who is permitted to see the pearl. However, during the ceremony, I happened to whisk into the chamber where it was kept… I was young, and foolish, very foolish.
"I sneaked through the halls while the worshipping ceremony was going on. I traced, with my magic, the chamber where the pearl was kept. I saw the high priestess going into a chamber. I peeped through the door and there it was. It was black and shining. It was huge but beautiful; about the size of two fists. It was the largest pearl I had ever seen. It emitted an aura of intentional good. The pearl was placed on a golden perch. On straining, I could see that the perch was shaped like two hands, with the palms outstretched as if it were holding or catching something. The pearl was in the hands…the protection of Isis…that is what it was called.
"We were told that there would be a violent change in weather…that was when we should be bowing down...it was part of a ritual. We were never explained what would cause the violent change…I saw the high priestess lifting the pearl out of the protection. She raised it and chanted loudly. The minute the pearl was out of the protection, there was a loud noise. I could hear the worshippers chanting and could hear the sound of their bowing. It was then I figured out how the pearl worked. When it was out of it's protection, the elements would unleash through the weather. There would a violent change causing the earth to go haywire. Outside the isle…in mainland Egypt there would be a violent storm. It would not be so sudden…it would be more gradual. The high priestess returned the pearl to its perch. The minute she did so, I sneaked out of there. It was an experience of a life time."
Maeve sighed, as she finished reading. Everyone was silent as they heard the explanation. After a moment of silence she said, "in one of his teaching lessons, Dim Dim told me, that as part of the ritual the nature pearl would only be out of its protection for a minute. One minute is enough to cause a whole storm that lasts for a day."
"Maeve…" Sinbad said, after finally getting his voice, "isn't this magic?"
"Sinbad, I don't know how to explain this to you…but I'll try…the nature pearl controls nature, right? So technically, whatever changes occur due to it, will appear as natural to even the best trained white mage. It is only after long observation that one realizes it is in truth the pearl. Does it make any sense?"
"Strangely, it does." Said Firouz.
"Fireball…" said Mike, "the pearl had been gone for about two weeks now…"
"A week and a half to be exact." Corrected Maeve, surprising Mike, with her accuracy.
"Maeve…" said Talia, "what happens when the pearl is out of its protection for so long?"
"What is happening right now…" answered Maeve, "and it'll get worse…in fact if this goes on…it'll mean the destruction of the world…"
"I thought it only applied for Egypt?"
"Dim Dim said that the pearl has a tendency to control weather wherever it goes."
"So Talia," said Sinbad, "why did you steal it?"
"The pay was good…"
"I thought you were going straight." Said Doubar.
"Yeah right!" said Maeve.
"Well, if I knew it would do something like this, I'd have never done it." She snapped.
"Fireball," Mike interrupted, "Hales, came to me the day after this wench stole the pearl. He told me about it being stolen, and that the high priestess, who happens to be his twin sister asked for his help. Since we all consider the pearl being a myth, he thought it best not to tell anyone who could possibly leak the validity of its existence. That's why..."
"He approached you, as usual…" Maeve completed, "…does anyone else know?"
"Only the pharaoh, the queen and the princess."
"Do they know that you are also helping?" she asked in an affectionate teasing tone as Sinbad felt a twinge of jealousy.
Mike gave her a look that said, yeah right! Maeve chuckled, causing another twinge of jealousy flowing through the sailor. Apparently, it showed on his face, causing the crew to snicker.
Mike said, "that isn't the worst part, love…" Sinbad bit his lip to avoid screaming when Mike called Maeve, 'love', he had this desire to yell, that's my girl you are talking to, mister.
Mike went on, "you're never gonna guess who this bitch…" he pointed to Talia, " stole the pearl for…"
"Who?"
"Taita."
"Who?"
"Remember Ishmitar?"
Maeve nodded.
"His brother."
When We Were Thieves - Part 8
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