An Errand for a Friend

[Kalani]

The darkness of night was slowly giving way to light as a faint glow in the east heralded the dawning of a new day. The streets were fairly quiet as of yet, only a few folk up as they prepared for the day.

Kalani walked steadily along, her stride purposeful as she made her way towards her goal, where she knew that she would find answers for the friend she had left behind. Baffling questions gnawed at her mind, but the brunette merchant resolutely pushed such questions to the side. True, there was something going on in this situation that she did not understand, but the important thing was that a friend was in need. No matter how curious she might be of how it was Maeve had become separated from the Nomad's crew or why the Celtic sorceress seemed in such turmoil when the aforementioned ship's crew was mentioned to pique her curiousity, it was honestly none of her business. Though she might look upon the crew as something akin to family -- for, having lost her family... twice, in a sense, she was more apt to become attached to those she befriended -- that did not mean it was any of her business when things happened.

Knowing her thoughts were wandering into territory that they should not, Kalani approached a small house, halting before the door as she raised her hand and rapped lightly against the wood.

[everyone]

Asim



The bright morning sun entered through the window of Asim's house, and the merchant took a moment to just close his eyes and let the warm rays meet his skin. While he breathed in deeply, in his mind he already put in order what was to be done today.
Just yesterday he had met with one of the captains that often shipped his goods, and tomorrow he expected another cargo to arrive here. Today he would have to make sure that his costumers were still interested in what he got for them, and he had to tend to his market stable, too. But first of all he would have to go to... .

The sound of light knocks against the door of his small home distracted Asim from his thoughts and he turned his head slightly as if he expected to see already who was waiting to get permission to enter. Adjusting the red robe that he used to wear, the elder merchant then cleared his throat and made his way to the entrance before he opened the door with curiosity. Although it was not uncommon to have poeple knock at his door this early, it still didn't happen all too often that someone came to seek him at that time of the day. Briefly he thus wondered who it might be, but when his eyes spotted the young merchant, a smile settled on his face.

"Kalani", he greeted the young woman, and indicated a slight bow of his head, "Come on in." He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter. "To what do I owe the honour of your visit?"

[Kalani]

A warm smile lit the delicate features of the young merchantwoman as the door opened and she found herself facing her good friend, Asim. When she had extended the trade of the family that had adopted her to Basra, she had become acquainted with the elder merchant, gaining a friend and ally in the process. As he indicated that she should enter, Kalani stepped through the door in a swish of satins, taking a position inside where she could comfortably speak of her errand.

'It is a pleasure to see you, Asim.' she began, true sincerity in the words. 'Perhaps as you might guess, however, this is not a social call, unfortunately. I am here at the behest of a friend.' She paused only a moment, then queried, 'Have you been to the docks recently?'

[everyone]

Asim




Asim's gaze followed the young woman as she passed him by, the cool morning air entering with her as she did so. The merchant then closed the door behind her, turned back to her and awaited what she had to say. Unconsciously his head moved in a slight bow as he meant to return the greeting to her. The elder man liked Kalani and her visit definitely was a pleasant surprise to start the workday with.
When the brunette then voiced her errand, he listened up.
"I have indeed", Asim replied, his voice showing interest in her case, "even if only for a short amount of time. Why is it that you ask?"

[Kalani]

The elder gentleman's voice showed his full interest in what had brought her to him and Kalani had come to expect no less from her friend. A kindly gentleman and a good friend, she had learned that she could fully depend upon him whenever she needed it. Now, even though she was not here for herself, she knew that he would help to the full extent of his ability.

'I wondered if you might have heard the whereabouts of a ship called the Nomad, captained by Sinbad. Have you any idea where the Nomad might be?'

[everyone]

Asim



"The Nomad", Asim mused quietly. "And captained by Sinbad you say."
The elder man's face showed a deep frown as he mulled over the words which seemed to be somewhat familiar to him.
"I think I heard of him before", he finally voiced as obviously he tried to memorize what little he knew, "Quite an adventurer isn't he? Has been to Bagdhad quite often." He then paused for a little while. It was easy to see he was deep in thought, with his eyebrows furrowed and his gaze being a little distant. The merchant tried hard to remember anything that could be of help - remember conversations that me might have overheard and where that name had been mentioned. But eventually he had to realize that he came up near to empty.
"But it feels like the last time I heard his name was an eternity ago. Most likely back when I lived in Bagdhad myself."
Asim lowered his head a little while he sought to meet Kalani's gaze again. "Forgive me, my dear, I wouldn't know where this ship anchors."

[Kalani]

Kalani watched in silence as Asim mused upon her query. She remained patient, feeling a kindling of hope when the elder merchant mentioned that he had at least heard of Sinbad before. Not overly surprising, of course, considering the adventures that the Nomad's captain and crew had gotten into over the years. Anyone in the region who had not heard of Sinbad had to either be isolated or completely oblivious to the happenings of the world. She nodded slightly as he remarked on a bit of information regarding Sinbad -- the fact that he was an adventurer and had been often to Bagdhad. The deep thought of her fellow merchant was slowly beginning to extinguish the hope that Kalani had held that he might know whether the Nomad was in port or where she might be anchoring at the moment if she was not in Basra.

The answer, when it came, was disappointing, but the brunette smiled anyway. After all, she knew that one could not expect easy answers all the time, particularly regarding a ship that could be anywhere in the world at the moment. Nodding, she responded, 'I understand. Thank you for trying, though.'

[everyone]

Asim



His friend's disappointment didn't escape Asim - even though Kalani obviously tried her best to hide it - and the elder man truly felt sorry for this. He would have well liked to help her, only he couldn't.
"It's important for your friend to know, isn't it?", he said with clear sympathy in his voice. Although he didn't know of the reasons just why they were searching for this crew and ship, Asim was well aware that Kalani wouldn't ask him for nothing.
If only there was a way to get to know about the ship's whereabouts, he pondered. If only he knew who else to ask. If he didn't know the answer, then maybe so did one of his own friends.
It was at this last thought that suddenly Asim's face lit up, and he looked at Kalani with a hint of a sparkle in his eyes.

"I might know someone who could help you."

[Kalani]

Kalani nodded slightly, seeing that her disappointment had been noted despite her effort to hide it. 'It is,' she confirmed. At least, she thought so. Maeve had seemed so strangely conflicted when the topic of the Nomad had come up that the brunette still was not sure whether the Celtic sorceress really wanted to know or not. It was all very confusing, but Kalani felt that some of the confusion could be fixed by at least knowing where the Nomad's crew was located.

Silence fell between the two merchants and Kalani was just about to thank him for his time and try elsewhere for news, when the elder gentleman's face lit up. Words of farewell died in her throat before they could be born and she could do nothing but listen as her friend spoke. Hope kindled in her own eyes at his words and she queried, 'Where might I find this person?'

[everyone]

Asim



As Kalani asked for the one Asim was talking about, the elder man himself, too, felt a little hopeful. He wasn't quite sure if his own enthusiasm was affecting the young woman, or whether it was the other way round, but in the end he decided it didn't matter anyway.

"He just arrived here a few days ago", Asim began to explain, his eyes not leaving his merchant friend, "Majid. He's an old friend of mine. A merchant like us and yet he also sails the seas himself. If anyone knows where such a captain as you are searching for might be, then it shall be him."
Asim really believed in what he said. He had gotten to know the tall young man several years ago, and even though the other merchant usually preferred to stay on his own, the two of them had become friends. Hardly had Asim ever had to ask Majid a favour, but he was well aware that now was the time to do so. For he knew about the other man's interest in the world, knew about his habit of observing and learning - knew that out of all his acquaintances it was him who would at least have an idea about where the captain and ship in question could be.

"He's got a small house down south in Basra", he then went on, thinking thoroughly about the information in question. The last thing Asim wanted was to send Kalani the wrong way. "But seeing the sun is up already, I would think him to be at his stand already. It's actually close to mine. Just go a bit further down the road when you've reached it and look out for a stand where weaponry is being sold. You really can't miss it."

[Kalani]

Kalani listened intently as Asim spoke of his friend, a fellow merchant by the name of Majid who apparently also sailed the seas. She enjoyed accompanying some of the merchandise she sold across the seas on occasion, though she did not own a ship herself and thus paid passage on whatever ship happened to be carrying her goods. And while she could not see herself owning a ship for such a situation, she could certainly agree that it was not an unwise business decision to make, being master of one's own ship.

The brunette nodded slightly, acknowledging the directions that she was to take. 'So I shall most likely find Majid selling weaponry, not far from your own stand.' she repeated, just for clarification. At least that would be quite convenient; she was well familiarized with the location of Asim's stand, so finding a stand a little further down would be no problem at all. Smiling warmly, Kalani inclined her head in both thanks and farewell, adding verbally, 'Thank you very much for your time and your help, Asim. I appreciate it very much. And now, if you will excuse me, I shall go see Majid.'

[everyone]

Asim



"Yes, indeed", the elder man confirmed what Kalani had just summed up. "I hope you will not have troubles finding it but I trust you will be alright."
Hearing then that his young friend bid him farewell, Asim bowed her head to her.
"You got nothing to thank me for", he mirrored her smile, "In fact I wish I would have been of more help. But I hope you will find the answer to your question eventually. And I would be honoured to have you visit me again when you have time. You are always welcome here, Kalani."
Asim's dark, warm eyes lay on his friend as he sent those words her way. Then he bowed once more, before he set himself into motion and went for the door. He understood she couldn't linger at his place anymore, and he was aware that he, himself, had business to tend to as well.

After he had opened the wooden door for Kalani to step through, Asim turned to the merchant once more: "I would very much like to accompany you, but unfortunately I have to meet with one of my costumers. Oh", he suddenly went on as if something important had just come to his mind, "and do tell him I sent you."

[Kalani]

Kalani paused in the doorway, long enough to reply, 'I shall be sure to visit you again, Asim. And next time I promise to have time to actually visit, rather than this rather unsocial call.' Smiling, she nodded to acknowledge that she would let Majid know who sent her, then with a final farewell, the brunette was on her way.

The city was waking up more, now. The streets were not as busy as they would be in a few hours, but nor were they as empty as they had been when she had first made her way to Asim's home. The young merchantwoman strode purposefully along, paying only minimal heed to her surroundings. On this morning, with the errand she must run, she did not have time for distraction. Her greetings to those who called out in greeting to her were briefer than usual, but all could see that she was on a mission of some sort and no offense was taken.

At last, Kalani could see Asim's stand ahead. And as her merchant friend had stated, only a little further on was a stand showcasing weaponry of many sorts for sale. She slowed her steps as she approached, blue eyes looking for the owner of the stand.

[everyone]

Asim



Asim listened to his friend as she replied to his words, promising that she would make sure to have more time when she visited him next. The elder merchant let his smile widen just a bit more in response to what she said, before he gave her a short nod upon hearing she would humour what he last had spoken. Asim had not mentioned the reason just why he thought it to be so important that the young woman would say who it actually was that sent her to the fellow tradesman, but he knew that the significance of the same had been obvious in his voice. Majid was a secretive man, he knew and he was very cautious when it was about strangers - it would help the young woman a lot with her quest if she mentioned Asim's name.

With a last glance that he directed her way, the merchant finally closed the door behind his friend and went to tend to his own business.

---

Majid



It was quiet still at his market stand. The air was clear and yet it also held a trace of warmth already that was so familiar to him. The tall merchant breathed in deeply as he took the last two of the newly purchased scimitars to arrange them on the display. Majid knew that soon enough costumers would come. They always did. He had been running this business for so long now, he knew how people here in Basra thought, knew how to treat them and what to talk about. It was interesting really, he thought, how different the people could be. On all his journeys he had learned so much, and he had visited many countries which would have been able to offer him a home, and yet he had decided to have the same here. Basra was were he always returned to. It was the city where the few friends he had lived. A city where someone like him could live in peace and without questions.

Majid's dark robe fluttered slightly as only moments later he emerged from behind the stand; his dark eyes focusing on his goods. A shining well-formed scimitar hang by is own side and it was obvious by the way he handled the metallic ware that he was not only familiar with trading them, but that he was trained in using them as well.

[Kalani]

The movement of a tall, dark-robed man caught Kalani's attention and she noted the way he handled his steel wares as he set two scimitars on display. By the way he moved, she knew this stand had to belong to him and was certain this must be Majid, the man that Asim had sent her to find. The one that might just know where the Nomad and her crew were at this time. She smiled to herself, thinking of how it would be if she could get encouraging news to take back to Maeve. After seeing her friend so upset, it made her all the more determined to be of help in whatever small way that she could.

Clearing her throat lightly so as to announce her presence without surprising the merchant who was at present apparently absorbed in his wares, she then added verbally, 'Excuse me; are you the merchant called Majid?'