Sorcerer or Sailor Be

by Slea

The wind blew though Sinbad's hair as he stood the bow, watching the sun come up over the horizon. The sky looked as though it had been set ablaze by Allah himself. Maeve noticed him as she emerged from the cabin below. He had been at the tiller most of the night, and on deck a greater part of the day before. She found Doubar had relieved him sometime in the night, but the Captain had things other than sleep on his mind.

"Tis a beautiful sunrise," she said trying to announce herself as she approached him.

"Aye" he whispered and deadly. He turned around and found Maeve’s lovely eyes questioning his statement, so he continued. "There's a storm out there, Maeve. It's as if it has a mind of it's own...." He turned back to the sunrise and with the slight gesture of acknowledgement he stated "That's a warning of danger."

The captain then walked quietly away leaving Maeve to her thoughts, and went below. Doubar roped down the tiller and wandered up behind her. "Tis hard to believe," she acknowledged, "that something so beautiful can be so dangerous."

Doubar smiled. "Have you forgotten Rumina?" She glared back at him as he chuckled. "There's rough waters ahead. Best we wake the others and batten down the hatches. We've a long day ahead of us."

The storm struck the Nomad hard. Sinbad had asked Maeve to go below, but since she had released Dermott to the skies earlier, he knew she'd refuse and she did. "Stay midship" he yelled over the wind and rain that pelted them. "Firouz, stay near the mast! Tie yourselves down if you must!" Firouz held the sheets and Maeve one arm, the mast in the other, just as the Nomad listed to it's side.

Chaos was erupting through the ship. Three crewmen had been thrown overboard in the sudden barrage of waves that tormented the ship. Sinbad was tossed heavily into the rail, but, as the blackness try to encompass him he focused on the ship. He could hear some of his crew yelling in fear and panic. It took everything Sinbad had to see through the rain and blur of the headache. Doubar and Rongar struggled against the tiller, and Maeve against Firouz's ropes, but Sinbad could not find the scientist among them. Again an enormous wave crashed into the ship knocking the young captain to the deck. Disoriented, Sinbad was startled when Firouz grabbed him helping him over to the mast.

"Sinbad, you're hurt...Sinbad?" the scientist yelled, nearly losing his own balance while trying to help the captain maintain his. Sinbad just shook his head, trying to shake off the dizziness. The winds began to ease though the rain continued. "The storm is beginning to subside, Firouz" Sinbad finally replied. "Release Maeve, and assist Doubar. We have to bring the ship around and try to bring the ship around and try to find those in the water." By that time Maeve had already released herself, so he was more than willing to be heading in the opposite direction.

Maeve was furious and ready to give someone a piece of her mind, or sword. Just as she was about to let loose on the captain, he calmly spoke up. "Maeve, something's wrong. Can you feel it?" Maeve was taken back by the almost child-like way he sounded. It worried her. She was about to call for Firouz, and Doubar, when someone yelled out, "We're being boarded!" Suddenly Sinbad sprung to life. Drawing his sword, he pulled Maeve behind him. "Prepare to repel boar...." he started to command until an ear piercing scream shattered his focus...

Maeve's scream was unintentional but it pretty much conveyed what everyone felt. The creatures that came aboard looked like they had been buried at sea once already, many years earlier, but Sinbad was prepared to send them back. The swollen masses of skin, bone, and seaweed poured over the rails, and they were ready for a fight. They were barely on deck before swords clashed.

The crew of the Nomad was out numbered from the start. Although it didn't appear to be too difficult to defeat these creatures. It seemed for every creature they killed, two boarded. Sinbad was pinned to the bow of the ship. By the time the captain realized he was being separated from the others, it was too late. The crew had found themselves quickly surrounded by the hoard of grotesque creatures.

"It seems easy enough to dispatch them, but they seem to be multiplying in numbers," Firouz observed. Then Doubar observed "We will just have to dispatch them in quantity" and with that he hoisted a plank and charged through the wall. "Be careful" Sinbad was heard to yell over the ruckus. "The swords are poisoned!"

Rongar joined in on the melee, pushing the creatures over the side three and four at a time. His quick eye and swift moves landed his blade in the back of a monster trying to sneak up on Maeve. It struck with such force that Maeve was nearly sent over the side with it.

With the tide of battle turned, it became easier to drive the attacker back to the sea. Until one by one the devils were returned to whence they came. Firouz, Doubar, Rongar, and Maeve watched at the rail as the last of them submerged below the water. The surviving members of the crew also crowded at the rail, watching with jubilation, as the last creature submerged beneath the water.

"A fight well fought and win well deserved," Doubar acknowledged slapping some of the crew on the back.

"I've never seen the like," laughed Firouz. "Where do you suppose they came from and more important, where do you think they went?"

"There didn't seem to be much fight in them," laughed Doubar.

"Maybe that's why their blades were poisoned," Maeve pondered. "What do you think, Sinbad...Sinbad?"

When there was no response they all turned toward the last place they had seen him, and were horror-stricken to find him desperately trying to pull himself up from the deck. Doubar reached his brother with a speed that would not be expected of such a hefty man. He gently helped him to a resting position against the rails. Sinbad was pale and the left side of his shirt was drenched in rain, sweat, and blood.

"It doesn't make sense, " Sinbad murmured. "It's just a scratch."

"Hush, little brother," Doubar ordered. "Firouz, quickly!"

"I'm here! I'm here!" Firouz returned, pushing his way through the crowd of concerned crewmen. Doubar took a blade from Rongar's bandolier and cut away his brothers shirt. Sinbad was right. The wound didn't appear to be more than a harmless graze. Not much more than a tender inconvenience. He had seen more of a welt raised by a wet rag, yet, Sinbad was bleeding as though he had been run through.

"They were everywhere," Sinbad continued to mumble. "The blade barely touched me...then they left. Why didn't they finish me?"

"By the seas," Firouz whispered as he busied himself, trying to stop the flow of blood.

"That bad?" Sinbad winced. It felt as though his ribs were being torn from his body. Each breath was becoming an effort he wasn't sure he was able to make.

"It's not working!" Firouz exclaimed, as he busied himself pressing the remnants of Sinbad's shirt against the wound. The poison must be preventing the blood from coagulating. With despair and desperation in his eyes, he glanced back at the others. "I can't stop the bleeding..."

Sinbad's life was spilling onto the deck. Firouz needed a miracle, and he needed it now. "Allah help me," he prayed. "Think, Firouz" he muttered to himself..."think." His friends life was slipping through his fingers but if he couldn't help him with medicine then what he needed was.....Magic.

"Dim-Dim?" Sinbad whispered looking past the crew into the fog. Everyone turned to search for what their captain was looking at. A glow appeared in the mist, behind Maeve. She could feel his words, as they struck at her heart.

"It is not poison Maeve, it is magic...Only you can help him now."

"But Master....I can't!" she cried.

"As we speak his life force is being bled out of him, my girl" the specter continued. "Only you can stop this now. Only you can help him..."

"I don't know how" she pleaded.

"THEN HE WILL DIE" boomed the image. "He will die." Dim-Dim faded back into the mist.

Maeve turned helplessly back to the others.

"Please," Doubar pleaded. "Please try."

"Maeve," Sinbad whispered as he slumped to the deck. He knew he was in trouble by the looks masking his friends faces. He tried to think of something to say to break the tension, but it hurt to think. Suddenly he felt Maeve's soft hand cover his ribs. Her touch gave him a warm comforting sensation as a white void converged on his very soul. Then just as he thought Allah had granted him the ultimate peace, it was shattered by a burst of pain and a blood curdling scream...his.

The storms end was nearly three days past. Although Firouz was able to stop the bleeding by searing closed the wound, Sinbad was still dying. Maeve refused to leave his side. She had her books brought to her, in hopes that she could learn what was needed to save his life. She sat and watched as Sinbad drifted in and out of consciousness. Tears ran uncontrollably down her face. She knew she was as much to blame for the pain he was going through as the dark magic that was ebbing through his blood.

Firouz would wonder in and out to check on both of them. Doubar took over the duties of Captain. Firouz deduced that it was more of an attempt to busy himself than anything else, but he was at the door when Firouz walked out.

"I just looked in on Sinbad," Firouz reported. "I don't know how to assess his condition. I never claimed to understand Magic, but there hasn't been any change. We do need to talk about Maeve. Sorceress or not, she won't be able to do this much longer. Even an experienced sorceress needs to rest to build up her strength to maintain her powers."

"Firouz, get to the point," Doubar growled.

"The point is," he returned, "if something doesn't happen soon were gonna lose them both!" He attempted to apologize when he realized his outburst, but Doubar would have none of it.

"No, no my friend. You are right." Doubar agonized that Sinbad would never have allowed her to help him if he thought it would bring her to harm. "Maybe I'll talk to her, if that doesn't work I'll order her to bed." He pushed through the door, hoping to give the impression of confidence he didn't feel, but as he walked in he was stopped in his tracks by what he saw. Firouz scooted past him to discover Maeve with her head on Sinbad's shoulder. She wept uncontrollably.

"Dim-Dim, Please! I can't hold on to him any longer....I can't think" she sobbed. "Dim-Dim, Please, you have to help him...help me help him...."

Firouz ran to the bed, and laid his ear to his captains chest, but all he could do was close his eyes as tears welled up in them. Without a word, Doubar lifted the young woman into his arms and softly left the room.

Chapter 2

Firouz had never been a drinker, but then he'd never had to watch helplessly as his best friend died . He'd made a noble attempt to empty the wine keg , but that over sized primate of a moor had found him and stopped him. To make matters worse he was tossed on the mans shoulder like a sack of grain and toted back to his quarters, the useless makeshift LAB Sinbad had set up in the cargo space of the ship. After hurling some quite colorful metaphors at the man, and a flask or two, Firouz sat back mumbling until Rongar left the room.

The room. A trove of gadgets and gizmos of every shape size and purpose. And when you get down to it USELESS if they cant be used to save his first and truest friend.

As he opened the wine skin he'd hidden for medicinal purposes, Firouz remembered the first time he had sailed with his friend ...and the words never seemed truer .

Sinbad was not more then 13 then. Not old enough to be a seaman, but then maybe he wasn't old enough to be leaving home to apprenticed as a physician... who knows but that kid did the job of 4 men twice his size, spent times in the evenings to study charts and navigation then pop by to listen to this overzealous would be scientist chatter away about what ever caught his fancy. Before going off to bed 3 or 4 hours before having to rise and start the new day.

The heckling was common place for Firouz, he'd been teased all his life. And the crew of the ship he sailed was no different. Everybody had something to say about what ever hypothesis he was spewing, none of it making any sense to any of them including the young seaman, but Sinbad listened and protected Firouz's right to dream.

"Dim Dim says," he remembered the young man saying, "that dreams will one day shape the world. If you can see it in your head you can build it with your hands."

It was something that always popped in his head every time he'd want to give up. "All those dreams. All the wonders I was gonna build for the world .... useless," he screamed, tossing the empty flask into his coveted chemicals he then took a barrel he had built to withstand his more volatile ideas and started to toss in his equipment tools and inventions and notes...

If his knowledge couldn't save his friend, then they were USELESS and with that he began to dump a liquid over the top but before he could drop the candle in to the collogue of dreams, Doubar and Rongar broke through the door.

"By the gods man, What are you trying to do? Blow up the ship?" Doubar exclaimed, knocking the candle from his hand.

"There's only enough fuel to cause a small incineration," the scientist returned struggling against the big mans arm lock.

Rongar looked back at them holding up the years of notes that had been soaked in oil as if to ask why.

"Because they're useless if they can't be used to save the life of someone who believed in them...who believed in me ...," Firouz sobbed. When Doubar released him from the arm lock the man dropped to the floor and cried.

Doubar asked the Moor to check on Maeve while he stayed with Firouz. After Firouz finally gave into an unrestful slumber. Doubar began to wonder how he could ever tell his friends the truth ...that when Sinbad died so did the NoorManna, Light of Hope.

*****

Rongar sat in a chair next to Maeve's bed. She had not awoken nor moved since she was taken from Sinbad's room.

He thought about how the one called Dim-Dim had said that only she could help the captain survive the injuries he had sustained during the attack, but her attempt to nearly cost her life.

He moved a lock of red hair from in front of her face.

*Truly a vision awake or asleep.* Rongar thought to himself. Then he looked at Maeve and wished he could speak aloud. *You and the captain were fools not to proclaim your love for each other. Fools trapped in the belief that there was something more important than your love. Nothing is as important my friend. He did so love you, and only wanted take care for ...and protect you. He would not approve of your death being caused by your attempt to save him.....so live my fair princess. Don't you be frightened, we will protect you and see you safely to your quests end. I don't think the crew could bear the loss of both of you.*

Rongar then lowered himself to the floor next to the bed. Wrapping his arms around knees, he lowered his head . He would wait. * I'll be here* he thought. *No harm will come to you, your safe. We well protect you as he would have. With our lives.*

*****

Doubar returned to Sinbad's room to discover the other crewman had been by. The room was aglow with candle light. Prayer candles placed on the trunk at the foot of Sinbad's bed had brought reality back to haunt him.

"Oh, little brother, what do I do now?" he sighed aloud. "I had never intended to be a sailor. Now I'm a Captain. Aye, but you have a good crew and they know their jobs, we'll be OK until we find Dim-Dim. I promise you we will find Dim-Dim. And we will return him and Maeve safely home.....but then what? I have no desire to sail as you did...I had made a promise to protect you before you were born, a child's promise to an angle who appeared in a dream....twice I allowed you to sail without me....the first time they brought you back barely alive, sick from injuries sustained when pirates tried to take the ship....but the only surviving officer, you captained the ship to port seeing to your men's safety before you would allow anyone to tend your wounds by then...well...you'd have thought that would have kept you from going back. But I promised myself if I couldn't talk you out of going then by all that's holy, I'd be going too."

Doubar laughed at himself when he remembered his first nights aboard ship since he was a child. "Oh, did those sharks eat well that week, but I got my sea legs the first fight we encountered. Of course you never tried to stop me when I left the second time. You just sailed off into the sunset. Then came the news that your ship had gone down in a storm with all hands...for weeks I'd hoped against hope that you would be on the next ship...then weeks became months and months became years...just as I accepted your loss, you returned. But for what? Death has cheated you out of a greater destiny, little brother."

He watched as the candles began to flicker out. "Noormanna, I have failed you. Tomorrow, I return your body to the sea you loved so well and the light of hope will be gone forever."

*****

Sound echoed in his head, horrible sounds of screams of anguish, pain and sorrow. Sinbad opened his eyes to a magnificent white glow. Within its light he felt warmth, there was no more pain or fear.

As he sat up, he discovered that he was clothed in white satin, the softest he had ever felt. Around his waist, Sinbad found a light blue sash adorned by a golden sword in a jeweled sheath.

When he rose from where he sat, he noticed the white light that had embraced him was getting dim. It appeared as if it were being strangled by a dark void, a blackness that had him just outside its grasp.

Sinbad could hear cries within...the distant warnings of great danger, but they became drowned out by laughter. Evil heartless laughter echoing in his head. The darkness grew tighter around him and as it did he became aware of the fear he had managed to elude until now.

Then they appeared, the shadows, fading in and out of the void just outside the light. The blackness in his past reaching back to him. Faces of men and monsters he had defeated, coming back to haunt him as the voices became louder the faces became clearer...Vincenzo flashed in front of him reaching for him with those cursed gloved hands, "How should I position you, Sinbad?...Maybe on your knees..." he laughed as he vanished only to be replaced by a giant crab claw snapping at him. Acting on instinct, he had drawn his sword, but each strike was useless. The Cyclops and the harpies, all vanished into the missed as unscathed by Sinbad's attacks as he was by theirs.

Azul of Corusar, Zabut of Mirhago...One after another, the creatures returned snapping and shrieking. Closer and closer, louder and louder until he could no longer stand the pain and confusion in his head. He dropped the sword and desperately clapped his hands over his ears.

Then it happened, a creature darker than anything he had encountered encircled him, then changed into his darkest enemy, Turok. He saw a flash just seconds before the evil wizard sliced through the armor of white light, grazing his side. The satin clothes became crimson wit his blood. Sinbad was helpless. The laughter boomed louder and louder in his ears. And the darkness encompassed him again.

*****

The lack of pain was the first thing that Sinbad noticed. He was clad in his normal clothing. *It was just a bad dream.* He awoke refreshed. Bounding out of bed, he couldn't wait to go back to the normal chaos that usually made up his day. As he headed to the door, he felt an unnatural pull preventing him from even reaching for it.

"Something isn't right," he guessed aloud.

"You don't know the whole of it," responded a not so unfamiliar reply. Captain Benu.

Although the words formed at his mouth, Sinbad made no sound. He turned to find himself face to face with his old captain, his first and long dead captain. He stood with another man, and they were both dressed in robes rapped in glow of white, and the unknown man wore an air of nobility as well as he wore his crown of gold. Sinbad stood silent, as the fear gripped him that he was....

"Dead?" the old captain said, finishing Sinbad's train of thought.

Sinbad looked back to the bed, at his body lying in a state of rest. *Allah, keep me*

"Have no fear, my son," the stranger smiled. "Your body is being kept alive by a friend but they must return to it soon or they too will be pulled to the other side."

"Forgive my ignorance sire, but I don't understand," Sinbad begged. "Who are you and why is this happening to me?"

The man smiled and took Sinbad by the hand, and with that the young man felt a rush of warmth and the knowledge which only confused him more.

"I fear that I am the cause of your troubles. In life, I was called Artemis of Meric, I am your father..."

The world was spinning out of control for Sinbad. "No!" he challenged. "My father was a merchant seafarer. Doubar told me about him, he'd never lie about that." Sinbad realized it was himself he was trying to convince, "Doubar never lied to me!"

"Calm down my son."

"Stop that...stop calling me that." Sinbad demanded. "I'm not your son, I can't be your son. I'm a simple sailor, your a King, and sorcerer." It finally occurred to him that he recognized everything the king had mentioned as being true. He found himself remembering things that Dim-Dim had told him of the isle of ice.

Meric was a lush and beautiful floating island that was ruled by a King and Queen known to be practitioners of white magic. That the royal family was expecting their third child, a son. A child born unto a pair of sorcerers are blessed with tremendous powers but a son born of this union would be unstoppable. It then became foretold that the son of light would vanquish evil from the world.

The sorcerers of darkness vowed this child would not be born and attacked the island killing the King and Queen and unborn child. The twin sisters were able to save themselves by joining their powers. It turned the island to ice. Many evil sorcerers were defeated and some are said to have been frozen to the ground.

Sinbad's royal visitor continued as though he had been aware of every thought.

"..........but what the world does not know my son, was that my wife was carrying twins and had foreseen the coming attack. She went to the inn and placed her son with in the womb of the wife of a sea merchant, who was wealthy and kind...and she had already been blessed with a strong son who would protect the baby son from the evils that would purse the child."

The young captain found that his knees longer held him up. He slid down the wall and buried his head in his hands. Benu sat beside him, placing his arm around boy he'd once knew, as the king continued.

*****

"Then a cloak was placed around you to protect you from the evil which would see you dead, but the cloak also suppressed your powers. As you got older, the cloak became unable to restrain the great power within you. Two years ago, your power started a turmoil in the forces of evil that nearly killed you."

"The storm!" Sinbad concluded.

The king just nodded and continued. "Your sisters pulled you from the waters and placed that band around your wrist." At this, Sinbad found himself covering the band on his arm as if to hide it from the man. "Others wear similar bands...they were to be there to protect you until your powers were fully developed. Unfortunately, the poison that is now in your system has again activated your powers...you will have difficulty controlling them and defeating the blackness that tries as we speak to claim your being. Only your sisters together can help you now. They must remove the band so you can be purged of the black magic."

Before Artemis could continue, the door opened and Doubar and Firouz entered the room, as well as Rongar with Dermott propped on his arm. "Doubar, don't you think if there were anything I could do to awaken her, I would have. She has not moved since.." Firouz swallowed hard in a vain attempt to fight off the emotional memories that had haunted his every breath. "since you took her from this room. She will not survive the day."

With those words Dermott screeched then perched himself on the bed post above Sinbad's body.

Suddenly it became all too clear for Sinbad that the friend they referred to earlier, was Maeve.

It was her spirit in his mortal body. "NO!" he screamed.

*****

"RELEASE HER NOW!" he screamed, running to the bedside hoping to see her light within his own lifeless being.

"It is not within our powers to help her my son," his father replied. "as she was the only one who could save you, so you are the only one who can save her and it may already be too late."

"HOW?" Sinbad glared back at the king. "Tell me how!"

"When you return to your body, Sinbad, her soul will be released," Captain Benu returned. "but she may not be able to find her way back to her own body....and there lies the rub, laddy...If she doesn't find her body before it dies"

The king broke in and continued the dead captain's sentence. "her soul will be doomed to wander."

"NO MORE!" Sinbad shot back. "This whole nightmare has to end NOW. Father, I ask only one thing. If I fail to return Maeve to her own body. Please..." Sinbad looked like a lost child, "please, help her soul find peace....please." Sinbad didn't wait for a reply.

He returned to the bed and laid down. For one brief moment, he could feel her within him. Her soul touching his, her spirit, and the warmth of her smile within his very being...and then she was gone...

Pain and air were in a competition to see who would fill the empty space Maeve had left within him. But nothing could stop him from doing what he needed to do to save her. Not even the priceless reaction of his friends to his sudden resurrection.

*****

Sinbad's voice was too weak to be heard over the excited voices in the room, even his screams of pain as Doubar embraced him were drowned out. He had to find a way to get their attention. The it occurred to him. Sinbad made eye contact with Dermott. *Dermott, Maeve's in trouble. Help me...*

With that the bird screeched loudly, spread his wings, and flailed them. It got the crews attention and that was all he needed. Sinbad grabbed Firouz and pulled him close, as his voice was barely audible over the silence.. "Maeve...something wrong....Maeve needs you...Go!"

The physician repeated out loud Sinbad's words but something inside told him that his friend knew what he was saying so he grabbed Rongar and headed out the door.

Sinbad then took Doubar by the sleeve and pulled him down to him. "I've got to get to her." Though the big man wanted to argue, something told him that there was no time to lose. "This will be quicker, little brother," Doubar said as he hefted Sinbad's body into his arms and headed down the corridor.

They found Rongar and Firouz trying to suppress Maeve's convulsing body. Doubar sat his brother down at the side of the bed. It took all the strength the young captain could muster to sit up on his own.

He brushed his hand against the side of her beautiful face. Her body relaxed and then he smiled. "Come back to me, my love."

None of the crew knew which disturbed them more...the fact that Maeve opened her eyes, or that Sinbad had finally professed his love for her out loud.

Chapter 3

Maeve awoke with Sinbad asleep beside her. His head rested on the headboard of her bed and her hand in his warm hand . She lightly touched his face and smiled, it wasn't a dream. He's alive! "It worked, thank God! It worked." She slipped softly from the bed and carefully lowered his head to her pillow. His eyes opened for a moment, still too weak to move he simply smiled when she kissed him on the cheek. "Sleep now my heart, tomorrow will be soon enough to tell them of your adventure." she whispered. Then before he could speak she covered his lips with hers "....tomorrow."

He awoke to find his friends watching over him. The attention was kind of embarrassing. "Ok," he blushed. "I guess one doesn't return from the dead everyday."

"I don't know Little brother "Doubar returned. " you seem to have made a career of it." The laughter cut through the tension like a sword. Maeve sat next to Sinbad on the bed. She helped him to a seated position. "Where are we ?" he rasped , accepting the water Firouz handed him.

"Maeve had us chart a course for the isle of ice." the scientist babbled.

Sinbad glanced over at Maeve as if to ask "how much do you remember?" she watched his eyes not sure if it was a question she need answer. Instead she turned her attention back to the overzealous scientist who never noticed they strayed. "I have to say I was shocked, I thought Meric was a myth" Firouz admitted "Doubar gave me the settings though in the name of science I don't know how he came up with them" Firouz babbled "I thought Meric was a floating isle....always moving?...Well if it doesn't move we should be there in three days."

"Well Doubar" Sinbad inquired "how DID you get the course to the Isle of Ice?"

The big man shuffled around in one place as though some one set the deck on fire beneath him. Then he removed a small orb from his pouch. The orb appeared to be crystal held up by four beautiful dolphins. But when Sinbad looked inside he saw that it in cased another crystal that floated on water and around its edge were symbols of navigation. Sinbad wanted desperately to hold it but he hurt so bad that he was afraid he might drop it.

It was given to me by a wench nearly two years ago..." Doubar mumbled solemnly "after your ship....well when your ship went down with all hands. I was on a bit of a binge...feeling like I had let you down. I visited one bar after another...hadn't seen a sober day in nearly six weeks. when a young woman true a vision entered the bar....she'd come looking for me but unfortunately she asked the wrong person. Bargus was about my height and weight but he was, to put it mildly, a cad.....he told her he was me....and I paid no mind until she said she had something for me. He said he "I bet you do" and started slobbering all over the wench. Doubar diverted his eyes but you could still see the shame that dulled them. "He groped at her like a slaver looking over the product....she screamed out for the love of the light ...in the name of your brother do not do this...I could no longer let the charade go on. I told her I was Doubar and was going to ask her what she knew of you...when suddenly the bar was full of people who claimed they where me I tried to protect her, but there were so many....I don't remember much after that..... I awoke on the beach, her body lying naked beside me they had...".the bitter memory stuck in this throat ....tears fell down his face "..she was still alive ... she still had her cloak. I found it most of her clothing where scattered around the beach but her cloak she clung to like a child clings to a doll. She took the orb from it saying it would help me to protect you one day. "What was I to do?" he yelled more at himself than any one else "She was dying !!! I didn't have the heart to tell her she had gone through all that for nothing.... After she died tossed it as hard as I could in to the ocean.

"When I returned to bury her...the body was gone. I wanted to rake my fury through the town, too kill Bargus for his deed and anyone who had participated...but half way up the rocky embankment a giant wave came out of nowhere and struck me from behind. I couldn't find the surface. I was resign to my fate, you where gone and she would still be alive had I not been busy feeling sorry for myself Death was the easy way out." Doubar continued "My life passed before me, then every thing went dark When I awoke, I was back on the shore where I had left the woman and beside me lay the orb..." he gently returned the orb back to his pouch. Well I don't know why I kept the thing but it was as though it somehow held my faith that you would return."

Sinbad smiled at Doubar, who looked uncomfortable with his having so openly related his feelings in front of everybody ...or maybe it was just the fact of its secrecy being breached .it didn't really matter cause a sudden wave of dizziness swept through Sinbad, that nearly sent him toppling off the bed. Sending everyone in a panic to steady him. Adding chaos to the frustration and aggravation of the last couple of nights.

Maeve was the only one to notice Sinbad had already had a grip so tight on the bed sheets that his knuckles were white. Unfortunately Firouz had not, and bore the brunt of his frustration in the end. In a flash of fiery white light Firouz went flying through the air coming to a stop with a resounding crack and crumpled to the ground in a lifeless mass.

"NO!" Sinbad cried but it was too late, he saw his friend go through the air then lay unmoving on the floor. Everyone stood stunned till they saw Sinbad try to stand, then fall in his attempt to get to Firouz. Doubar grabbed his brother who struggled like a madman against his arms. As Rongar checked the physician to verify what he already knew to be true....Firouz was dead. He just closed his eyes and shook his head....never before had he wanted to be able to scream.

Sinbad struggled and arched against his brothers hold "NOOOOOOO" the younger man yelled. tears streaming down the his face " PLEASE! PLEASE!.... FATHER HELP ME" Doubar felt as though his heart would break, when suddenly he released his brother he was not sure why....but he did. Sinbad crawled over and grasped Firouz face in his hands "please forgive me," he whispered "I need you my friend please don't leave me." then with everything he had left he screamed out "...Allah PLEASE......"

Rongar turned away there was not a dry eye in the room save his. His friend was dead and he had sworn he'd not cry for the dead but avenge them but how do you avenge the death of one friend when it was caused by another. Rongar's thoughts were disturbed by a gasp, then a flash of light behind him he slowly turned to find a bluish white aura enveloping his two friends. Sinbad cradled the physician in his arms the light became so brilliant that he, Doubar and Maeve had to shade their eyes.

"By the gods" whispered Doubar "Maeve what's happening to them?"

"Magic Doubar, he's using his power" she sounded awed by what she witnessed but their thoughts were set aside by the sound of Firouz awaking. Sinbad felt the power explode from him. He tried to pull it back but it all happened too quickly, and in that one brief second the pain eased then returned two fold. What had he done! He saw Firouz lying motionless on the floor he tried to stand, but his legs would not hold him. Sinbad's mind was wrapped in a whirlwind of pain and emotion. Why wasn't anyone listening ? "Nooooo" Doubar let me go he's not dead I can feel his life force. I can help him. "Please" let me try. As he struggled against his brothers strong arms he saw Firouz's spirit emerge from his body a great and wondrous light opened up around them and he saw Meric step from it. Firouz "PLEASE" don't go.... "PLEASE!..... FATHER HELP ME." He felt his brothers grip loosen. He had to get Firouz to hear him. He had to bring him back. Was anything he was saying getting through to him.

"ALLAH, PLEASE....." please let him be strong enough to right this wrong. The forces converged on him with a great deal of pain. He was getting confused and weary. He fought through the shield, by concentrating on the empty eyes of his friend he had to bring the light back to them. He felt the web of magic tear and the pain increase but he also felt Firouz return to his body. Then he felt nothing as the glow began to fade they saw Sinbad crumple to the deck Rongar stayed with Firouz while Doubar went to his brother. Sinbad still whimpered, begging forgiveness like he was totally oblivious to what happened. Maeve walked over to Sinbad whispering something as she gently pushed aside the locks of hair that covered his closed eyes. Sinbad quieted then appeared to be asleep in this brothers lap. Doubar wiped the tear from Sinbad's face then from his own." Maeve what's going on."

She tried to explain all that she remembered during the time when she was in Sinbad body. She almost saw the big mans heart break when she explained that Sinbad was not his true brother but the son of a sorcerer king and queen....but some how he also looked relieved...as though he already knew all she told him. Firouz had come around in time to hear most of what she said Fascinated, but frightened too, by what he was hearing "but you said the bracelet muted his powers. What he just did Maeve was no simple trick!"

"I am afraid I do not understand either" she explained "Sinbad was born to the power but his powers are...were dormant by all rights he should not be able to have done that...til after years of training. Dim-Dim once told me that a child born to the magic was blessed for they would accept the difference as any normal child would accept their hands or their feet, but Sinbad's powers were held from him. He will need someone to train him to control his skills, if he is to survive. Someone more powerful then me." She could tell that the men did not understand what she was trying to convey, so she got to the point. "There are two types of magic positive and negative ...good and evil. Dim-Dim once said those born to the magic possess both ....It is said the good will dominate the magic," Then she whispered as she sat beside Doubar. "And evil will be dominated by the magic." She continued as she stroked gently at Sinbad's hair "He has been poisoned by a dark force and because it was already a dominant force it is trying to control him.

For one born of the power it is like an energy, Dim-Dim described it as..like being stung by a million bees.. The greater the power the more fierce the pain." Firouz was about to object when she just waved him off. "As we speak there is a battle of power going on in side of him eventually if not properly trained to handle it he will die or become evil himself. Once it gains control, the Sinbad we know will be lost to us for ever."

Then what happened to me?" Firouz inquired "was the negative powers gaining control?" Maeve just smiled shaking her head. "Not really. You interrupted the internal battle for control. The good was distracted. The battle is very hard fought, and painful. Yes the dark forces struck out at you but Sinbad managed to manipulate them."

"But Firouz was dead!" Doubar stressed. "That is not something Sinbad would do"

"Firouz's death was caused by the impact to the wall" she stated and then slowly opened Sinbad's hands to expose bloody blistered wounds...blackened as if by fire. "The force that would have hit you was a fire ball stronger than any I have ever been able to conjure."

Firouz's face wore a mask of death white his biggest fear had almost came to pass.

"If he had not absorbed it," Maeve continued "you would have been burned to death."

Sinbad found himself back in the dark realm that perched him between life and death. His white satin unstained, on his side the jeweled sword. He watched as his friends kept watch over his body then he noticed the another presence a dark presence. "What do you want of me" the captain hollered in to the emptiness.... "I have all I need ...Sinbad. I have you... soon I will have all of you and when I do I will be able to conquer the world." echoed the darkness "I won't let you! I will kill myself first!" " Then I would just take one of your friends......and you will still no longer be a threat to my reign" a hideous laugh echoed in Sinbad's head. He drew his blade hoping to find some thing to strike out at but it did not come it just taunted him with it's evil laughter.

The next two days seemed uneventful. Sinbad awoke with no memory of the day before. His hands healed themselves. He and Maeve sat on the foredeck practicing what to her were still fledgling skills. But with each passing moment they discovered new and fascinating differences in their skills Maeve was using incantation to work her art but Sinbad need only to think of something and it would come to pass. Maeve elevated a coil of rope that Rongar had been working with to the crows nest. Sinbad lifted the unwilling, unhappy moor up after it. Sinbad was like a child with a new toy and moment by moment his powers got stronger, as did the pain. But Sinbad as always, seemed to smile through the pain.

Firouz watched them from across the ship he found he couldn't look his friends in the eyes. For if he did, they would know how truly afraid he was of Sinbad. Everyone could see how pale Sinbad was becoming though his skills were strengthening his body was paying the price. Once he collapsed on the deck, and everyone went running to his side. Firouz found he could not move. His heart was willing but his feet would not budge. He managed to tell Doubar to take him below he would be right down he was going to his cabin to get some herbs....but when he did not show Rongar found him there with the bottles shaking uncontrollably in his hands.

"I can't...." his friend insisted. "I can't help him, I ..I ..I'm afraid"

The moor took the herbs from his hand and with a couple of gestures he explained he would take the herbs to the captains room. Firouz gratefully understood and explained what he need to do to concoct the medicine. " Place it in some hot water" he explained "and make sure he drinks it all.....it will make him sleepy almost instantly but it will also nourish his body." he still found it difficult to look at his friend but at least Sinbad will be getting the medicine he needed. As Rongar went to leave the room. Firouz finely looked up at his friend " please don't tell the others..you know....how you found me......" the big man smiled and shrugged as if to say "I won't say a thing" and then walked off leaving the scientist alone in his thoughts.

Sinbad was back on deck hours later he sat on the rail with Maeve nestled in his arms as they watched the waters gently open to the cutting edge of the ships hull. He so loved being at sea. And if he must die then this is where he would prefer to be. But not with out a fight! There had to be a reason for all this. The stars were in the sky and his love was in his arms. Was his destiny to be realized or does he lose everything to the fates. No! Too much depended on his will to live. His love, his life and the lives of so many others balanced precariously on his shoulder. As he turned Maeve to face him and she gently embraced him in her eyes......the weight of the world wasn't so much to bear........... as long as she was there.

Maeve watched Sinbad sleep she could see him struggle with the dark forces he wasn't resting well. She spent every waking moment with him and when he was resting she'd lay with him often he would find her in the bed still sleeping long after he awoke. It must have been then he realized she was joining her powers with his to help him With the fight. But he made her swear not to do it again...for he would take his own life before he would let her be entwined in this horror of pain and confusion that was slowly draining his life from him.

"Its not hurting me Sinbad, and your getting so weak." She tried to explain. "Until the island stops moving away from us you need me. I can help you without any harm coming to me." She found herself adjusting his clothing that lay loose on him, even combing his hair with her fingers. For she knew she could not look him in the eyes.

"I don't know who you are trying to fool Maeve" he snapped causing her to jump away ..then the normal gentleness Returned to his face....and he smiled. Without a word and just a wave of his hand, her body was enveloped in a pale green glow. Her life force was weak he could feel it now they could see it. He lowered the field and the light faded. He wearily returned to the bed and sat down. She joined him. He brushed her fiery curls from her face and looked lovingly in to her eyes "If it were not for Dim-Dim's life force Maeve, you would be dead ...am I right......."he watched her struggle with a reply then continued " he's not here now" Maeve felt her mouth drop open she wasn't sure how he knew, but Dim-Dim was using everything he had to give her strength enough to help him in his fight....it had to be important for Dim-Dim was crossing his life force from the other dimension to save Sinbad using her as his catalyst for transference of his powers.

"I would rather give up my life than give up you and Dim-Dim. You have to let me do this on my own. No more helping...OK?" He smiled softly as he stroked her face "promise me Maeve" she started to object but he swallowed her words in a kiss. And they spent the rest of the night together holding on to each others dreams. After awhile she awoke. While she watched him sleeping, she felt Dim-Dim cross through the Veil between worlds and enter her body a single tear rolled down her face. "master," she whispered. "He asked us to let him fight this battle alone." "Then he knows? She heard.

She smiled "yes master Dim-Dim. He knows everything. He said he will fight as long as we don't interfere....but I'm afraid.... he looks so frail and tired . "But we must honor his request," the voice whispered "And pray. but mayhap there is one more thing we can do to help....but for now rest. I will be back when its time."

Later that morning, Maeve had found Firouz in his lab tinkering with some massive object, he had busted earlier when he thought Sinbad dead. He was unaware she had entered the room. She could see his heart wasn't in his work. And his mind lurked elsewhere. He noticed her just as he let loose on the massive structure, but as he tried to regain his composure. She hit him across the face.

"You self centered son of a Bitch. He needs you!"

Firouz stood stunned for a minute then he tried to explain. "Maeve you don't understand!" He challenged

"Your right I don't understand! I don't understand how you can just AVOID him, Firouz! He's dying, he's barely able to stand. He stays below cause the lights bother his eyes. Doubar is in a frenzy because WE can't get anywhere near the island before it moves. And your hiding down here in your little wonderland cowering from your fears."

Firouz eyes got as wide as saucers. SHE KNEW. But "how" although he merely mouthed the word. She heard it as clearly as if he yelled it out. "How do I know ?" She growled " Sinbad told me. When I told him I was going to throttle you with my very hands. He said after what he did to you he didn't blame you for not wanting to be anywhere near him. Well he might forgive you, you little worm, but If he dies I will NOT! And I don't think you will either" The man swallowed hard he knew that she was right. And as she stormed out of his room in a flood of tears. He deduced that the only way to defeat his fears was to face them.

It took Firouz a better part of the morning to work up the courage to go in and check on Sinbad. If what Maeve said was true his friend was going to need his knowledge....his friendship ..... and his strength.

As he reached the door to Sinbad's room he knocked ever so gently as to not awaken him if he were resting. There was no sound at first so he pushed the door open ...to his horror he found Sinbad, curled on the floor writhing in pain and anguish.

"Hold on Sinbad I'll go get Maeve." he hollered but he found he couldn't move in any direction.

"No" Sinbad grimaced "she can't...... help... me. ...have to do this..... alone...."The pain was so great that tears flowed freely from Sinbad's eyes. Suddenly the writhing ceased and Sinbad's body started to convulse. "NOOOOOO!" Firouz screamed "he grabbed the hard leather sheathe of Sinbad's dagger and forced it in to his friends mouth to prevent him from biting off his own tongue then wrapped his friend tightly in his arms "no Sinbad you have to stay with us..... we need you ....fight it."

Firouz heard a snap and felt a pain surge through him. It felt as though lightning struck. But he didn't let go. He wasn't going to abandon his friend, not ever again. Not even if it meant his life "I'm here Sinbad ...forgive me." the fit stopped suddenly. Firouz's breath caught in his throat. which was good cause it made Sinbad's breathing audible. He was relieved too that he could still feel Sinbad's heart pounding in his chest. He's alive!" He assured Doubar and Maeve as they and Rongar burst through the doorway "When I found him he was in the throws of a seizure. but he's gonna be ok. For now." At first he wasn't willing to relinquish his hold on his friend he wanted desperately to hear Sinbad forgive him. When Doubar did pick him up, the physician saw that he too was in trouble. The lightening sensation he had felt, severely burned both his arms and his chest. Maeve saw as the man's face lost all color but in a voice too calm for the situation the physician just stared at his arms "well that's curious. You would have thought I would have noticed that." Maeve grabbed him as he started to sway. Then she concentrated on healing the burns. She had too apologize as she realized that she wasn't strong enough to heal it all but she did manage to remove a big part of it. The rest would have to be left to time. "I wish I could do more ...I ..." she just shrugged she was lost for more words that would not sound like an excuse. But the little boy smile returned to the scientists face along with its pallor.

"That's ok "he interjected " there's a new plant I found. I wanted to test its properties, now is as good a time as any ! Wanna help?" She smiled and helped him to his feet and they left to mend his arms and the strain on there friendship.

Chapter 4

Sinbad again found himself locked way in the depths of his own mind, that dark place that led nowhere, and he was not alone. The creature could be heard echoing louder than before," you can not fight me forever Sinbad. You are not strong enough!" he cackled "you might just as well give up now ......before I kill off all your friends ....."

"I won't give up an I won't give you dominion over me or anyone else. I might die" the young captain spat " but be assured, I will take you back to hell with me ...." Suddenly the echo of laughter stopped. and the pain intensified. Sinbad doubled over ...he felt as though he would explode. But instead of drawing his sword as he did before he released the pain back, as Maeve had taught him, into the dark corners. Instantly there was a howling scream where the laughter once had been, then the world lit bright and for a moment he saw a dark robed figure flea back in deeper into the shadows.....then he saw and felt nothing.

Sinbad awoke just moments after Maeve and Firouz left. Rongar and Doubar were still in the room. "It happened again didn't it?" He whispered. His big brother just smiled and placed his hand gently on his shoulder. " I felt it....happen but This time I couldn't stop it." Sinbad looked deeply into his brothers eyes They had always been a great source of strength whenever things seemed to spin out of control. "Doubar I need to ask a favor of you....one I have no right to ask but no other option should things come to that" Rongar started to leave the brothers alone to their privacy, but Sinbad stopped him. "No! Rongar I would like you to stay. It might involve you as well." Sinbad could barely keep his head up on his own and though he tried Sinbad did not have the strength to right him self so they helped him sit up by propping him up with rolled canvas and pillows. Then Doubar sat beside him on the bed, and waited. "Please understand....." Sinbad started his voice barely a whisper. " I have thought long and hard on this it is not something I ask lightly."

"All my life you have been there for me Doubar." the younger man continued "Now I'm asking you to be there for me in death." the young sailor watched his brother as all color drained from his face. "Understand big brother I have not given up. But I also can not relinquish the dark forces haunting me to rain its terror on this world." Sinbad could see his brother was frightened he was not sure that even Doubar would be strong enough to hear his next statement ....or he would be strong enough to ask, but there was no other choice "I have won my first real victory against the darkness inside of me. But in doing so I have left you and the others to its wrath. As we speak it burns to strike out at all of you but it is not yet strong enough and I am not sure if I can hold it off much longer. If it defeats me it will seek out another victim in one of you I can not allow this." Sinbad grew silent his strength waning and his courage failing. He had no other choice he had to just come out and say it. "If I loose control even one more time Doubar ..........I want you to kill me!"

"NO" Doubar boomed the statement, the big man in a rage " Now how can you ask that of me...besides losing is not an option." "Doubar " Sinbad winced trying to raise his voice to be heard "Do you think...... I would ask this of anyone if I had not weighed all the options ?........how can I make you understand !..... I have too much to live for to want to die." and with tears rolling down his face Sinbad yelled out "Allah forgive me!" then he took Doubar by the hand and stared down into the depths of his brothers soul and then he pulled his brother's soul into the dark and battered remains of his own ....

At first Doubar was unaware of what was going on. Then without warning his body exploded with a burst of pain that sent the large man to his knees. It was so great it knocked the very breath from him. He managed to look up to find Sinbad watching him. A glorious glow wrapped around them, and they were both wrapped in robes of silken white. But his little brother seemed unaffected by the forces around him. "Forgive me brother but I know, no other way to show you what I am fighting." Sinbad pleaded. His voice sounded almost unholy "I cannot allow anyone else to go through what I, and others before me have. The only way to end the relentless circle of suffering is to take my head. I will ask Rongar if you refuse. But It will end! I have no other choice. Doubar. please forgive me." Doubar felt it's grip being broken and as it did the pain disappeared but not the memory. Rongar had gone and retrieved Firouz and Maeve when he saw Doubar collapse to the floor, the man was struggling desperately to lift himself up when they reached the room. His body was dead cold and it shook uncontrollably. Maeve took a large section of canvas from behind Sinbad's head and used it as a blanket. Rongar and Firouz tried to massage his arms and legs to get his body warm again.....

"What happened" Firouz inquired hoping he'd be given a clue to Doubar's ailment it was many minutes before the big man was able to speak but when his voice returned he glanced back at his friends and whispered "we've been given one last chance." As he rose to his feet, and with tears in his eyes he kissed his brothers forehead. "Forgive me little brother, I didn't understand......... We will do as you ask." he paused swallowing hard the words he'd spoken" but only as a last resort." Then he motioned the others to follow him from the room. Not another word was said till he reached the deck. It was already night out and somehow it seemed empty and so much darker than normal. Doubar relieved the night crew and took the tiller himself .unable to stand the silence anymore Maeve spoke up. "What happened in there, Doubar! What's wrong?"

"Sinbad has asked me to kill him... take his head...."he paused when he heard Maeve's breath still "....and I have agreed to.... if we can not reach the island by morning. There is a strong chance that Sinbad will die anyway but what evil dwells within him has lived and taken many souls before his and he fears it will try to take one of us if he can not stop it." Doubar turned his eyes to the bandages wrapped around Firouz's arms and then sighed " So at the next sign of aggression by him Rongar or I will take his head. If we can not reach this island"

Maeve knees turned to water, Rongar caught her as they buckled.. "Have you taken leave of your senses Doubar ...He is your brother! And our friend." Doubar looked angered by the accusation that he could be so cold hearted. " I, better than you know who he is. He pulled me in to his soul, Firouz!"

Doubar grimaced at the reoccurrence of this most recent nightmare. "I felt his anguish and I will not allow him to suffer anymore. Nor will I allow any of you to become it's next victim. Sinbad is right, there is no other option. Save one.... we must get to the island tonight." Rongar took Maeve below, her legs were wobbly at best, her emotions were spinning out of control. Why were the gods punishing them. Sinbad is a pure heart full of love and faith. What could he have done to make them so angry ..

Rongar just sat next to her and listened as she cried herself to sleep, this whole cruise has been exhausting for all of them. Now he may have to kill Sinbad in order to save him, and he was not ready for this. The young captain had become more than a friend or comrade he had become his brother. One he trusted more than any he had met. But by agreeing to be Sinbad's executioner he knew would be killing Maeve as well. When he was sure Maeve was asleep he covered her up and started to exit the room. He had the strangest feeling he was being watched as he looked back. He thought he noticed a white aura being absorbed into the sleeping figure. He just shook his head and wrote it off as being due to the lack of sleep and went top side. There was too much to do and no time left....

Maeve felt it as Dim-Dim entered her body, it was the first warmth she had experienced in what seemed days. But he did not have much strength left either

"Master" she whispered "he won't see morning if we don't reach the island. I'm frightened he's fought so hard to live"

"I know, my girl." Dim-Dim replied, even as the image of his body faded slightly "but he and I are the reasons you have not been able to reach the island." The expression on her face was all that was necessary for him to continue

"When the sisters turned the island into ice to protect the survivors of the wizards attack on Meric they managed to defeat the evil that lay there and chase away those who approached. But I feared because the twins were still young in their skills as they were in their age. They too would need to learn more of their powers to protect themselves and the people of Meric after the deaths of their parents. I placed a bumper, or shield if you will, around the island so that the island could never be approached by evil again. Every time you got close to it the island reacted to the blackness that is inside Sinbad. When he ripped the cloak to save the young physicians life he exposed the powers of darkness poisoning his system. We must open the shield so the Nomad can get to the island ....neither of us are strong enough to do this alone I am not sure we can do it together....."

Then how about the three of us" came a familiar voice behind them Sinbad's spirit was washed in a luminous dark blue glow his powers were stronger then both of them but every thing he did in this state would deplete them leaving his body to the whim of the dark powers. Maeve ran to him wanting badly to hold him, but knowing it was impossible. she stopped short. "Sinbad you can't you have to ....."

"No Maeve he's right." Dim-Dim interrupted "he is the only chance we have, you must go topside now child." He continued "I wish to talk to Sinbad alone." As Dim-Dim stepped out of her body she turned back to the two of them. Sinbad smiled his brightest dimpled grin and she returned it with a prayer in her heart that this worked as she walked out the door.

When the door shut behind her Sinbad turned to the elder man's spirit and smiled "we don't have much time grandfather what is it you need to tell me.?" Sinbad almost believed the spirit of his surrogate father would fall over in a whisper, it's mouth dropped open but quickly recovered and returned the smile Sinbad offered "I always said you there was more to you than good looks my lad." he laughed, then quickly regaining his composure "I do want you to know how proud of you I am and have always been, my son. I wish I had time to explain why we did what we did."

"No need grandfather my heart knows there was a reason. Pray Allah we live long enough to learn them, but if we don't grandfather .....may Allah bring us back together in the next life." And with a nod the men smiled and vanished and the room faded back to its dark existence.

As Maeve reached topside she went to the bow of the ship despite the pleading of Firouz that she get some rest. He was sure the outcome of this day was going to be more than any of them would be able to stand. But she said nothing and walked over to the rail. Doubar joined her there, just at the edge of the horizon was Meric......the isle of ice. It was only visible because of the glorious aurora around it lit the waters like a great beacon. "Its so beautiful its not hard to believe Sinbad came from there...."she mumbled aloud Doubar watched it for a moment then replied "I don't understand why it keeps moving away....like he's not welcome anymore" a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Its the demon in him that it's trying to avoid. There was a shield placed around the island to keep evil from ever setting foot on it again. Placed there by Dim-Dim to protect the people from the dark force that had attacked it so many years ago"

"Dim-Dim ?" Doubar whispered

"He could not have known, Doubar "she retorted sharply realizing that it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than him, she turned her attention back to the island "anyway He feels Sinbad may have the power we don't to break through the shield and allow us the chance to reach the island.

"And what do you feel Maeve" Doubar inquired realizing by her actions, she had left something unsaid "it doesn't really matter big brother" Sinbad's voice startled the big man, but what he saw when he turned to confront the voice scared him half to death along with many of the superstitious crew members.....Sinbad stood behind him yet he could see through the apparition to the aft of the ship as well.

"Doubar " Sinbad quickly announced hoping to distract his brothers thoughts "when I break though the protection around the island you will see the aura in that area disappear, it will look like a black hole in the wall of light. You must head a course straight for it. I do not know how long I can maintain the opening and you cannot veer off for if you do the shield will collapse back on to the Nomad crushing it and all on board. Do you understand? Doubar nodded and started to head for the tiller, but a gentle pull held him in place "big brother this is not a decision you can make on your own " he heard echo in his head. It was then Doubar noticed the frightened men hovering around them. Each face etched with fear and courage.... Sinbad's crew" Doubar pulled himself up an the railing of the ship, he looked over the ocean of faces that stared hopelessly back at him

"Men you know what we face and you know why. I have my reason for needing to reach the island, a selfish one." he stared into each face and could see.... Sinbad is right, "this decision " he continued "is one we will have to make as a whole, if you wish us to abandon this attempt we will, but it will cost Sinbad his life......Well men what do you say?..... Murmurs echoed off the waters as he watched the men confer amongst themselves then they separated and started for their posts.... a lone sailor ,Garret by name, stood before Doubar.

"Sir," he grunted "Captain Sinbad.... he took us on board and treated us more like family than crew, saw to our families and their comfort and treated us like part of his own. and well sir ..".the man stood for a minute hemming and hawing like he wasn't sure how to say the next sentence so he spat it out "...well sir we feel your wasting valuable time with your pretty speeches, please get to the tiller so's we can get this thing started."

Maeve snickered when she heard Sinbad laugh it had seem like for ever since she had heard that wonderful sound...but all too soon things got serious as she heard Dim-Dim say it was time and entered her body Sinbad stood beside her for a moment looking into her eyes no word were exchanged they did not need to be.....then he too joined his soul to hers. Maeve opened her arms as she felt the power of the ages and that of the future merge within her, suddenly the winds of change erupted in a powerful force that flowed through her and out at the island. The crew were hit with an arctic force of cold as the shield fell. Ice could be heard hitting the hull of the sturdy vessel and Firouz feared they might be incased in its wake before they cleared the wall of light.

"Little brother" Doubar yelled for he too could feel the ships momentum being halted by the ice and wind. "She won't make it you we have to free her from the ice." Garret and two of the other men slid over the side to break the ice away from the tiller. Maeve looked down to see that ice was building around the hull. " Allah" she heard Dim-Dim whisper " forgive this foolish man. It is useless...I have doomed the ship ...she could feel his power wane from her body he was no longer strong enough..to stay on this side of the veil... suddenly she found her self entwined with more fear than she had ever experienced "Sinbad" she yelled Dim-Dim's gone....we can't do this alone.... We're all gonna die"

"No, Maeve." she heard him whisper in a calm soothing voice "we can do it but I need you, don't leave me ...Ok " she felt the fear subside until the hull was jolted again by a large chunk of ice "Maeve concentrate on just the shield I am gonna step from you and release the ship from the ice....."

"NO!" She screamed "Don't leave me please"

"WE are almost through Maeve can't you feel it?...I am almost home........" and with that his spirit stepped away from her body and just before she collapsed "she felt a warm wind gust from behind pushing the ship clear of the shield and safely into the tropical waters off the shores of Meric.

Firouz caught Maeve as he fell to the deck, she was alive but so drained he wasn't sure how long she'd stay that way. Doubar disappeared below deck as the spirit of his brother began to fade. He reached the room only to find Sinbad's lifeless form laying in his bed. the globe he'd thought he held in his pouch lay on a piece a parchment with Sinbad's hand writing.

Dearest brother
I write this knowing there is a chance I will not survive the attempt to reach my home. Forgive me, but I hoped they would be able to help you locate Dim-Dim, so to he can continue to assist Maeve complete her quest. It is said my sisters possess great powers for good. I pray they find it in their hearts to assist you. For I no longer have the power.... Allah be with you my brother ......love Sinbad

Doubar took the globe and tossed it as hard as he could against the wall, it shattered in to a million pieces across the room. He would fail his brother no more...and with that he removed his scimitar from it's scabbard and knelt down beside him. Forgive me brother I prayed this moment would never come ... I will do as you ask and find Dim-Dim and see Maeve safely to her home. I will miss you little brother ..Allah guide my sword to its mark make this swift and sure. As he swung the large sword over his head the room filled with the same aura that had filled the skies around the island and Sinbad's eyes flew open. Lightning flew threw the air knocking Doubar against the wall. The air started to stir in the room, then it picked up to a wind that would equal the gale forces of nature. It pinned Doubar to the back wall and yet Sinbad's body rose from the bed with no problem. Doubar could only think that the dark forces that entrapped his brothers spirit had finally won out and he would be its next victim. He had failed his brother again. How could he stop the evil that his brother had given his life to try and protect this world from. He had no power, no magic to defeat it. Then just as it got outside of his reach he heard Sinbad's voice yell out "NOW, BIG BROTHER ! NOW!"

Doubar flung his arms outward. A surge of power flew from his fingers at Sinbad, striking him square in the chest and flinging him like a rag doll to the ground. Doubar stood motionless as his brother's body convulsed and then eased to a deathly still. Then slowly lowered himself to the floor in a wave of dizziness and stared blankly at his hands .

The quiet was broken by Rongar and Firouz entering the room. The physician hurried to Sinbad's side and quickly assessed his condition" he is still alive ...barely" he announced. Before anyone could get there bearings the room resounded with a thunderous crack then a flash of pure white light appeared in the center of the room. Stunned they watched as the room filled again with the white glow and enveloped them all.

Two of the most beautiful women they had ever seen appeared from the brightest point of the light. One had hair of spun gold and eyes of summer blue. The other had auburn hair and eyes emerald green. And despite their differences they looked remarkably alike, with the same youthful beauty as Sinbad. Almost enchanting. It was easy enough to deduce that they were the twin sisters, Solaria and Miriah, sovereign rulers of Meric. After the men got over the shock of the women's ethereal beauty, they quickly ascended too one knee and averting their eyes in recognition of the sisters stature.

Firouz was the first to regain his composure .'forgive us your highness' I fear we bring you sad tidings"

At first the sisters did not seem to react. They simply glided to Sinbad's side and with the grace of a feather they floated down to the deck beside him . The men watched as they waved their hands simultaneously over their brothers body and a radiant pearl-like glow of white washed over him then quickly faded to a shimmer.

The women stood with equal grace and faced Doubar who just stared hopefully at his brother. Solaria lightly touched his face, softly wiping the tear that fell. "Doubar, our mother had chosen well the protector of Normanna. You more than any of us have made the ultimate sacrifice. To have done what you did to protect our world was truly an unfathomable test of love by human standards Doubar. Not many would have passed".

Doubar finally found the strength to speak he still could not look the women in the eyes ...he just simply stared down at Sinbad. Please. Your worship is there ...can you ...will my brother live? The women could see the same questions etched in all three faces.

I fear my friends" Miriah announced "no power, save his own will to live, can save our brother now. Though the light fades the hope remains in all the hearts he has touched. I wish we could do something, for we would have liked to know our brother" she again lowered herself beside Sinbad combing gently the hair from his face. "He is quite beautiful, don't you think." Solaria sat next to her, when Firouz lowered him self beside her. We too wish you could have known the man your brother had grown to be I think you would have been very proud. We shared some great memories."

"Would you share them with us?" Miriah asked hopefully, turning to her sister who just nodded "It would mean a great deal to us." She extended her hand as if to invite the others to join them on the floor.

Rongar turned to Doubar and without a word from either they too sat quietly on the deck beside them. Then the sisters extended there hands to the men who accepted them and as the circle was completed it was though the world shook, and then exploded in a whirl wind of thoughts, dreams, and memories. Happy, and sad memories filled with all the love, hope, warmth and happiness that was Sinbad. Memories of people, places, and things they experienced; the joy as well as the heartaches and they remembered each one as though they were reliving them. Laughing and crying through them all, but as they approached these last days; things started to take shape, form, and texture; the ship rocked with great fury, they could hear Sinbad yelling at Maeve from the main deck ...Maeve yelling back Doubar found him self fighting the storm for control of the tiller and Firouz fighting Maeve . "Stay mid ship" Sinbad could be heard yelling over the wind and rain that pelted them . "Firouz stay near the mast! Tie yourselves down if you must" Firouz held the sheets and Maeve in one arm and the mast in the other; just as the Nomad listed to its side. Sinbad was tossed heavily into the rail,"...Sinbad your hurt ...Sinbad!!! Sinbad?? Sinbad?"

As Sinbad's eyes fluttered open he found himself staring up at a blurry, but welcome vision of friendly faces . He tried to sit himself upright and found he was held down by Maeve's firm but gentle hand. "And where do you think you're going ?" She questioned coolly.

He stared back at the faces that held that same look of concern and smiled. "Nowhere, I guess. What happened anyway?..." As the others relayed to him the outcome of the storm. His mind seemed to wander to a island of ice in the middle of the warm Mediterranean waters and two beautiful sisters who govern there....

"Well sister, now what shall we do ?" Miriah sighed as she stared in to the crystal globe that encased a model ship floating on a sea of liquid.

"Nothing for now." Solaria replied " It will take time for him to regain his powers, and then when he is strong enough he can free his sister from the bonds of evil that stole her from our mothers womb so long ago. At least we know now if anyone can save her he can . With the help of his friends."

"Until then ?"

"Until then, my dear sister. We allow him to be what makes him happy", she smiled as she looked deeper into the crystal. At the handsome figure who stood at the bow of his ship "A Simple Sailor "

The End