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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 11:48:47 GMT -5
Their eyes met for a second, when Bryn turned to leave and immediately, Sinbad felt guilty. He knew his friend had just meant well and he appreciated she worried for him because this was what friendships were about, too, but there seemed to be some sort of barrier he could not or was unwilig to overcome at the point. If he went into more detail about Maeve it would mean he had to talk about how he truly felt for her and he knew this would hurt. It wouldn´t make things better and just left a bitter taste. He frowned slightly, but not in irritation, rather unvoluntarily showing through this slight change of expression that Bryn was probably just giving up at the point and this made him feel worse.
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Post by Dermott on Feb 5, 2009 11:55:05 GMT -5
He tried to listen more carefully, while he let the upward currents to take care of him. Up, Down, North, South, East, West. “Where did you come from?” He kept on asking to the strange thing while he didn’t stop to fly round and round. Then, turning to south-east he felt it again. This same shady, evil intent, determined and sharpen like a sword blade. And he saw those cruel eyes again, so familiar he could swear he knew them. But they faded away in a heartbeat to leave place to an new, unknown scenery. So, while his body was still wandering above the ship, Dermott’s mind was kidnapped by his own vision, as always happened whenever he let himself up to his gift.
There was a bay, on a creepy volcanic island, with high cliffs surmounted by a luxurious palace. Dermott stood in amazement for a second. How could a human being be able to construct anything at such a height? Then the answer came naturally like an obvious realization. Magic. No, black magic. It was a dark place full of wandering people, excited, engaged in their willing to harm and bring destruction. Dermott had been able to feel their intentions. That’s where his anxiety came from.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t manage to see clearly the inhabitants, they looked just like shadows to him, as if the dark island was protected and unapproachable. And the more he tried to come near, the more it faded away, disappearing from his sight.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 12:15:02 GMT -5
"Oh, didn't mean to disturb you two, girl", he answered somewhat startled to Bryn's excuse for leaving. He tried to say it as if it was true but he could not fool himself. Watching sadly the young one retreat he suddenly felt sorry for her. Sinbad's changing facial expression had already been a hint to just what the two had really been discussing about but now he finally was sure he knew. And somewhere deep inside he even felt that after one year with the crew, the girl in deed had the right to know. But the only one to tell her was to be Sinbad ... and he knew that his little brother just couldn't bear talking about her - not yet. He had seen the younger one close up after the storm, turning to the dark side he for all his life had fought. He'd seen just what losing the Lass had meant to him and he saw what meeting their mother had set into motion.
Now however a new frown had formed upon Sinbad's face. His eyes followed the brunette and his eyebrows were risen, indicating that he was thinking about something. Doubar could only guess just what it was but deciding to leave it and distract him instead, he nudged his little brother, catching his attention once again.
"Kemal's doing well, don't you agree?"
Doubar then slightly tilted his head back to the tiller where the young man, who had joined the crew only weeks before, by now was safely holding the rudder.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 12:25:03 GMT -5
For a moment, Sinbad looked after her, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. Well done, you fool, he scolded himself. She takes a heart to come and cheer you up and you react all uptight. What is it with you? The answer to this question was superfluous. Maybe one day she would understand. And maybe later he would find the courage to apologize to Bryn for reacting like that. In fact, he would have preferred her to shout at him. That he could cope with. Sometimes, Sinbad just needed someone to set his head straight again. This hadn´t happened for a year and now everything felt like an extremely draining hangover.
His brother´s words made his attention snap back to reality. He reached a hand to rub his neck. "Doing rather well for someone that young, yes." he agreed, his voice sobering, but slight traces of his earlier mood still lingering. By Allah, he needed something else to put his mind on. Maybe having a nice pint of ale in Basra (or two) would be a good idea.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 14:56:59 GMT -5
Doubar heard the words his little brother spoke and he noticed the light tone the captain tried to add to them. But beyond that he was able to hear the same thougthful trace that was also still to be found in his eyes.
"You should really take a few days off", he suddenly heard himself vocalize what actually he had only been thinking that moment. But knowing it was the truth anyway he turned a little more towards his brother and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 15:01:10 GMT -5
Sinbad crooked half a smirk, now being somewhat amused. What was it with people being so mothering arond him today. "Do I look so pityful today?" he asked. He had seen Doubar glance over at him and Bryn earlier and he knew perfectly well that his brother knew him well enough to be able to tell when something was off. Better than anybody. And he also knew that Doubar had started a totally random topic for a reason.
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Post by Dermott on Feb 5, 2009 15:03:22 GMT -5
The Island started to became smaller before Dermott’s eyes, until it took the form of a black, gloomy sphere, dancing together with another one colored in blue tones. The bird gave a closer look to the latter, and realized there was something moving inside. They were images of the Nomad and its crew sailing on a clear, blue-green water expanse, where he could even see himself flying around. The two globes kept each other at a distance and then came near to move away again. Dermott looked at the allegory disclosed n front of his eyes, and instantly thought. “There’s a connection between the Nomad and that place”.
But suddenly, a third, brown, moving orb appeared between the previous two, showing a sea port in a big city, full of people, merchants and colorful buildings.
“Basra!”
Acknowledged the hawk instantly, now curious to see how the new element will fit in the dance. But, with his great surprise, the blue and the black sphere started to move around the brown at a high speed, preventing every movement from this one. Then, all of a sudden, they shot themselves against the brown globe at the same time, collapsing, and creating a new, bigger, twisted sphere, which looked like a fire ball.
The more Dermott stared at it, the more it increased its size, becoming as luminous and blinding as the sun.
He opened his eyes wide. It was the sun indeed. His vision was over and the hawk found himself awake and flying again over the Nomad. He felt dog-tired. His last effort drained away all his strength, and now he needed to rest.
He noticed that Bryn was standing alone on the deck now, and while he began to glide slowly to join her, he couldn’t help to feel perplexed about what he had just seen.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 15:21:33 GMT -5
Sinbad's sudden question caught Doubar a bit off guard. He raised his eyebrows for a moment, letting his brother's words sink in. In deed they were kind of mother-henning him, he silently acknowledged. After all, Bryn had most likely also only wanted to help him with trying to make him talk about what was on his mind...
Hearing out the slight amusement that was mixed with his words and knowing that he hated being all mothered, the first mate decided to follow the line his younger brother had begun and put on a smile of his own.
"In fact you do", he slighty laughted, then let his voice become rather serious again. "At least to those who know you."
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 15:34:22 GMT -5
Sinbad gave a brief nod, acknowledging the answer. "I think a good night´s sleep will do." he said, referring to the fact that a few days off was not really an option. "and a good ale somewhere in Basra." he added in a lighter tone. "We could all need that." The last days had been quiet, lazy almost. A bit too quiet for his tastes. With all the thoughts that had been haunting him he was looking forward to the busy streets of the city.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 15:57:30 GMT -5
"Aye. No arguing about that one, little brother", the first mate grinned in agreement to what the captain had just said. "Wine, music and a good fresh meal ... that's what makes land-leave become so special."
Suddenly feeling a little enthusiastic while thinking about what was awaiting them, Doubar winked at Sinbad, letting a broad smile spread across his face. In deed the captain had been right when saying that all up here might need a little distraction from the monotonous routine a calm passage could bring and most of all, he added only in thoughts, it was his brother himself who finally needed something to divert his thoughts with.
"So, how long do you think it will take us?", he asked with a light voice, trying to stick to the direction their conversation was taking by now.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 16:25:56 GMT -5
Sinbad had a look around as if to test the winds and weather conditions. His eyes fell on a little feathered shape that was slowly swooping back down to the Nomad. Dermott looked tired - if one could even tell when a bird looked tired that was.
"If the wind stays like this, we should reach Basra tomorrow before noon." he said with a nod.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 17:15:17 GMT -5
"Sounds good", the first mate answered absent-mindedly. He had followed his brother's gaze and was now watching Dermott as well. The little hawk was just about to join Bryn and by now was already slowing down his flight.
"Guess he'll enjoy the land-leave too", Doubar observed with a thoughtful smile, then turned back to Sinbad, letting a slight frown appear on his face.
"By the way, little brother", he addressed his captain, changing the topic as a new thought entered his mind "do you know what that new thingy is Firouz has been working on lately? It always makes me nervous when he's hiding some of his gadgets away for such a long time. It usually means that they are far more complicated than he would like to admit ... and far more dangerous..." The last words he had involuntarily spoken with a lower voice that was near to a whisper. Raising his left arm slightly he could see the little hairs on it raise and felt a shiver running down his spine. "He'll never ever get near me with any hair-trimmer again, I can tell you", he half muttered, watching from the corner of his eyes his brother's reaction.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 5, 2009 17:22:25 GMT -5
Sinbad chuckled, shaking his head, then patted his brother´s shoulder. "I have no idea" he said. "but at least we have chances it turns out to be something useful, don´t we? Just remember his exploding stick and this ..." he thought about the word. "the glass that makes things look bigger. But I understand your concerns, big brother."
He had to admit that sometimes he was sceptical towards Firouz´ inventions such as this bath tub thing he had built quite a while ago. He had never understood why anyone would want to get water into a ship instead of keeping it out. Truth be told however, the inventor´s ideas had come in handy more than once.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 5, 2009 17:30:57 GMT -5
"Yeah, especially as most times it's been me who's become victim of his inventions", he half-grumbled, thinking of the ruby-beamer and that strange two-pedal-thing he had gifted that princess Gaia with one day.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 6, 2009 4:00:24 GMT -5
Sinbad was grinning by now. It was strange how a simple, trivial conversation could better his mood better than trying to talk about what troubled him. Probably it was a bad idea to always shove things to the back of his mind and even though he was contemplating this and that to push away help from outside, but he did not notice that right now. "He´d probably say it´s all in the sense of science and that you will learn to appreciate it one day." he said, comfortably leaning against the railing now. Dermott had sunk deeper by now, closer towards the Nomad. "There is something funny about Dermott today, don´t you think?" he asked.
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