Fireland's S3 : Ep 1 - Nemesis

[Fireland]

Follows Those who feast at night. Feel free to comment, give ideas, correct anything that doesn't appear coherent in the storyline.

EPISODE I
NEMESIS

Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.
(Mark Overby)

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Chapter I
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The crew had sailed from Sarania to the small island of Golbahar, a three weeks trip that had most of the crew worn out. The weather has been capricious, the cargo they delivered wasn’t what the rich client who ordered it was expecting, thus the crew had to get involved into interminable negociations with the grumpy old man in order to preserve their reputation and hopefully, to maintain their partnership with both Golbahar’s and Sarania’s merchants.

Moreover, Maeve and Sinbad’s relationship was turning rapidly into a shipwreck. The first days has been great : everybody was in a good mood, especially Sinbad. He tried to spend as much time as he could with the redhead sorceress. They had allowed themselves to flirt every now and then, and they had playfully kept on stealing kisses from each other whenever they would be alone – which didn’t happen that often. However, things had changed quickly. Aside from the cargo delivery issue, personal issues started to get in the way, too. If Maeve and Sinbad had tried to forget about the pain and grief they had both suffered while they were apart, the emotions they desperately tried to restrain soon started to pour out in any given situation. Sinbad already felt tensed because he knew Maeve could learn about his last year behavior at anytime, thanks to the lower crewmen’s incessant blabbering.

Maeve had a hard time adjusting back to her old life. She was trying her best to get used to working on a ship again. Every now and then, someone would question her about her whereabouts in the past year, her relationship to the vampires, and other things she had agreed on answering the first few days, but had grown tired of talking about, three weeks later. The sorceress also felt frustrated with Dermott’s stubborn silence, because the hawk had refused to tell her anything related to Sinbad’s behavior while she was gone. It was getting on her nerves, especially because the crewmen frequently implied there were things she wouldn’t be pleased to know about their captain – their innuendos usually referred to his temper and, of course, to women. She had tried to ignore their comments and simply enjoy Sinbad’s presence whenever he would join her at the bow, in the galley or in her cabin, for a small chat. But the more she heard the gossips, the more upset and angry she became. She started to think he might as well be using her, too. She never dared to confront him about this, but she had made clear to him that their playful kissing game was over. Sinbad had slammed her cabin’s door behind him. That was pretty much the last time they had a true face to face conversation.

Of course, the whole crew had witnessed the tension building up, especially over the past week : by now, the two barely spoke to each other. Every now and then, Maeve would throw a sarcastic reply to Sinbad, who usually had enough patience to brush it away. Whenever he felt he was getting angry with her, he rather walked out of the room to avoid her. The crew wished Sinbad and Maeve could sit down and talk open-heartedly. And even cry, yell at each other or hit their fists against the wall if they ever felt like it. The crew didn’t mind the pain and violence their conversation would most likely lead to, but at least the two would finally be able to sort things out. However, neither of them felt ready for this kind of conversation. Their pent-up frustrations were starting to compromise everybody’s mood.

In this context, the whole crew gladly agreed on their improvised stop in a nearby port. They were only a few days’ sailing away from Basra - their real destination - but Sinbad had decided everyone could benefit from a day or two off the Nomad, and everyone welcomed their unexpected days off. The water was deep enough for the Nomad to anchor directly by the dock. Maeve decided she needed some alone time with Dermott and left the Nomad as soon as she could, heading straight to the village. She hoped to find someone who could lean her a horse for the next hours or so. She really needed to escape her incessant thinking and forget about her pent-up frustrations. She realized she hasn’t been able to practice magic much during the past weeks, either. Sinbad was always on her mind, and her own mixed feelings about him – affection, love, anger, pain – as well as her jealousy kept her from fully concentrating on her tasks and studies. If only she could find herself a horse, and ride it along the shore, allowing herself to empty her mind from all her concerns for a few hours …

She had been walking for a few minutes in the village when she heard a female voice calling for her. ‘’Nomad’s lady !’’ Maeve turned around. Standing before her was a young woman of her age, slightly younger maybe, with dazzling blue eyes and long blond hair. Her skin was fair, just like Maeve’s. She smiled at Maeve and asked her if she really was part of the Nomad’s crew.

‘’I am’’, Maeve nodded. ‘’Do you know me ?’’

‘’No. I’ve seen you leaving the ship, and I followed you here. You sail with Captain Sinbad, don’t you ?’’, the girl asked. Maeve nodded again, which made the blond girl smile widely.

‘’I’m happy I haven’t been mistaken. I wanted to ask you something. I thought it might be easier for me if I asked a woman instead of a man from Sinbad’s crew’’.

‘’Ask me about what ?’’ Maeve frowned.

The girl gazed at her, smirking. ‘’You know …’’, she let her sentence trail off, as if what she was implying was utterly obvious to the redhead.

‘’I’m afraid I don’t.’’ Maeve replied. ‘’Are you expecting me to help you in any way ?’’

The girl chuckled. ‘’Yes, I most definitely want you to help me.’’

‘’For what ?’’ Maeve asked, now feeling slightly annoyed.

‘’For Sinbad to bed me’’, the girl dropped straightforwardly, a malicious gaze upon her lips.

Maeve gaped of disbelief. What did she just say ? Did she just ask her for advice so she could spend the night with Sinbad ? That was surreal. Maeve had witnessed wenches trying to seduce Sinbad several times before, but when she was around, he rarely did more than flirting with them. From what she recalled, he had pretty much always returned to camp or on board with the rest of the crew at the end of the evening. And after they had exchanged their first kiss, he had politely declined any woman who would flirt with him. Back then, Maeve had interpreted his behavior as an implicit way for Sinbad to tell her he was willing to be exclusive. Maeve was not naive either ; she knew he must have had flings while she was gone, and the gossip she had heard on the Nomad tended to confirm this. However, having a girl literally propositioning herself, like this one just did, stunned her as well as it angered her.

‘’What makes you think he would ?’’ Maeve replied sharply.

‘’I’m sure you know well enough’’, the girl answered cockily, then started chuckling again. ‘’Anyhow, the last time he was around, my friend Shirez only had nice things to say about him.’’

Maeve felt her heart being crushed ; a wave of dizziness, and even nausea, overwhelmed her. The girl noticed the redhead’s momentarily faintness and innocently asked her if she was okay.

‘’Get … out … of my … sight’’. Maeve gritted. ‘’NOW !’’ she yelled at the girl.

The girl snorted before turning around and walking away from the sorceress. Maeve reached for the closest house and leaned her palms against the wall, trying to calm down and to compose herself.

*Sister, are you okay ?* Dermott asked her worriedly. The hawk has been following her and was now flying above her head. He landed on the roof above her. He didn’t know what Maeve and the girl had talked about, but his sister didn’t look well.

*Leave me alone*, she ordered Dermott.

*What happened ?* Dermott insisted.

Maeve looked up to the roof where the hawk was perched, tilting his head to stare at her questioningly.

*Why didn’t you tell me about him ? How could you let me face situations like these ?* she asked him angrily.

Dermott tilted his head to the other side. *I knew it would hurt you.*

Maeve hit her fist against the wall. *Damnit Dermott ! I could have imagined a lot of things, but I would never have expected this. I wasn’t prepared.* Maeve looked down, her eyes filled with tears. She took a deep breath. *How many ?* she finally asked her brother, her voice broken.

Dermott stared at her blankly. *Forgive me, sister. I love you both, thus I will stay loyal to you both. I can’t answer this question.*

*You wouldn’t use this waffling if there hadn’t been many,* Maeve replied bitterly.

*I’m sorry, sister. It is not for me to tell.* Dermott answered before flying off.

Maeve uttered a frustrated grunt before walking back to the dock. Her heart pounded heavily, both from anger and from apprehension as she saw Firouz and Rongar working on the dock, loading a few supplies. She prayed she wouldn’t stumble upon Sinbad on her way to her cabin, where she intended on locking herself up for the rest of the day.

‘’Hi Maeve !’’ Firouz greeted happily when he saw the sorceress was already back from her trip. Rongar waved at her, smiling. Both men’s smile faded : she looked outraged.

‘’Hi’’ she hissed sharply, barely looking at them when she walked passed them, back to the ship. She climbed on the Nomad. Her eyes focussed on the galley’s door, avoiding to look at the bow or lower deck where she expected Sinbad to be working. She reached for the doorknob … and her heart skipped a beat when the door yanked open. Sinbad stood in the doorway, chatting with Bryn and Doubar who were both seated at the table. Sinbad saw Maeve in the stairs ; he turned and casually smiled to her. Her eyes were throwing daggers at him. He frowned, his eyes questioning her. Maeve felt an outburst of anger when Sinbad didn’t push himself out of the way. He stood there, wondering what had happened in the village that caused her to feel that upset.

‘’Maeve, is everything okay ?’’ Sinbad asked her, even though he already knew the answer.

She snorted. ‘’Yes, but I’d like to go to my cabin’’, she answered coldly.

Sinbad stared at her, then said : ‘’I’m sure you do, but first, I’d like to know what made you so angry’’.

‘’I’m not angry’’, she hissed, knowing just how lame her attempt of a denial was. Sinbad obviously thought the same thing, for he raised his eyebrow and leaned his palms against both sides of the doorway, purposedly blocking her the access to the galley.

‘’Well, in this case, why don’t you tell me how your visit to the village went’’, he suggested. His voice was gentle, but Maeve perceived the slightly mocking tone underlying his request. She frowned, then swiftly turned around and climbed the stairs. Sinbad followed her on deck and grabbed her arm firmly.

‘’Now, you tell me what happened’’ Sinbad asked her more authoritatively. Maeve realized Sinbad seemed to think she had faced some trouble while visiting the village.

‘’Nothing bad happened.’’ she said, softening her voice so he would believe her. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

‘’I wished this to be true, but since you look upset and want to flee, either to your cabin or off the Nomad, I can’t help but think there might be something you’re not telling me.’’

‘’Well, that makes us even, then’’, she muttered.

Sinbad released her arm. He looked at her, puzzled. ‘’Is it me you’re angry at ?’’ he finally asked, in disbelief. She didn’t answer and glared at him with much hostility. ‘’Fine, why don’t you get it off your chest ?’’ Sinbad snorted and clenched his fists on his sides. ‘’I’ve tolerated your sarcastic remarks for the past week and I’m really getting tired of all this. What is it about me that bothers you so much ? What have I done to you ?’’ Sinbad scolded.

‘’To me ? Nothing. And it will stay that way, thanks to your reputation.’’

Sinbad stared at her blankly. ‘’I’m not following you. Why would my reputation have anything to do with whatever made you angry ?’’

‘’I’m not talking about your diplomatic or heroic reputation’’, she snarled. ‘’I’m talking about the lewd, whorish reputation I didn’t know you had as well.’’

Sinbad momentarily gaped, and so did all the crewmen working on the deck. ‘’Go back to work !’’ Sinbad yelled at them. His jaw clenched. He stepped closer to Maeve. ‘’Where does that come from ?’’ he scowled.

‘’I don’t know. You should ask your mistresses, if you ever recall their names. Does Shirez ring a bell ?’’

Sinbad flushed, and she knew she had hit a nerve. Sinbad was furious, however he knew she was right. He indeed hadn’t cared much for the wenches he had been with while she was gone. He remembered Shirez, only because Maeve mentioned her : he had forgotten her name over a year ago. Sinbad was ashamed of his behavior now that Maeve was back. Although he had not bedded any woman ever since he battled Scratch – and haven’t even thought about it after he had reunited with Maeve –, he knew that by the time he had encountered the Lord of the flies, it was well rumored among his crew that he was one to scarper early in the morning. Dermott had tried to hide this from his sister, but Maeve had heard the gossip. She had been upset about it and it had definitely added to the tension between her and Sinbad.

‘’I don’t know what to tell you,’’ Sinbad answered, hoping he could elude her questions.

‘’It doesn’t matter’’, Maeve replied sharply. ‘’I know enough already’’. She walked to the galley and slammed the door behind her.

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[Fireland]

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Chapter II
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The rumors of what Maeve and Sinbad had argued about spread quickly on the Nomad. Maeve had spent the last hours locked inside her cabin. She had refused to eat any breakfast, even when Firouz and Bryn had each asked her if she wanted them to bring her meal to her cabin. Sinbad had spent the afternoon on the upper deck, barking orders at the lower crewmen. He had just rushed downstairs, to the galley, where he furiously browsed through his maps. Nobody dared to talk to him. They were all waiting for him to calm down.

‘’Where is this stupid map ?’’ he muttered angrily.

‘’Are you looking for the one with red drawings on it ?’’ Firouz asked shyly.

‘’This one precisely, yes.’’ Sinbad slowly turned to the scientist. ‘’You wouldn’t happen to know where it is, would you ?’’ he raised his eyebrow.

Firouz chuckled nervously. ‘’I … I think I saw it … when I set it on f…fire.’’ Firouz stuttered.

Sinbad took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

‘’Let’s see if we can find another one’’, Doubar suggested, hoping it would prevent his brother from, basically, killing Firouz. ‘’We could browse the marketplace, I’m sure we could find some good maps. They might even be more precise than your old ones’’. Rongar nodded.

‘’Good idea’’, Bryn added. ‘’We could also look for fresh fruits to bring along, until we reach Basra’’.

Sinbad stared at his friends. He knew they were only trying to help him. He felt his anger fading away and he sighed, feeling better already. ‘’Alright, let’s go, then,’’ he nodded. Sinbad, Rongar and Firouz left the galley. Bryn looked at Doubar.

‘’Should I ask Maeve if she wants to come along ?’’ she asked him.

‘’Aye. The fresh air will do her some good.’’ Doubar smiled.

Bryn smiled back to him and walked to Maeve’s cabin. She knocked softly on her door and waited for the sorceress to open it. Instead, she heard her voice through the wooden door. ‘’What is it ?’’ She sounded annoyed.

‘’We are going for a quick trip to the marketplace. I thought maybe you’d like to join us.’’

Bryn waited, but Maeve didn’t answer. The brunette cleverly added : ’’I thought it would be nice if you and I went book shopping, while the guys took care of the boring ship stuff.’’ Bryn smiled when the door finally opened.

‘’I’m glad you decided to join’’, Doubar smiled warmly to Maeve when she walked out of her cabin.

‘’I’m coming along, but don’t expect me to speak to that jerk’’, she muttered. Doubar and Bryn glanced at each other. Doubar offered his arm to the readhead. ‘’Come on, Lass. Let’s just enjoy ourselves for the rest of the day.’’

Rongar, Sinbad and Firouz had been waiting for Bryn and Doubar on the dock. They were utterly surprised when they saw Maeve had decided to come to the market, too. The mood was tensed : Sinbad and Maeve didn’t look nor talk to each other. Bryn and Firouz chattered with Maeve while they headed to the village, in order to fill the awkward silence. Sinbad, Doubar and Rongar leaded the way, further ahead.

‘’You should talk to Maeve’’, Doubar told his brother.

Sinbad sighed. ‘’I’m not in the mood for a sermon, big brother’’.

‘’I didn’t mean it to sound that way,’’Doubar replied. ‘’I think if you explained to her … why you’ve acted that way, I’m sure she would be understanding.’’

‘’Understanding ?’’ Sinbad scowled. He shook his head, chuckling. ‘’Anyhow, I don’t have to justify myself. If she doesn’t approve of it, then I really don’t care.’’

Rongar raised an eyebrow, looking at Sinbad with a rather skeptical face.

‘’I don’t !’’ Sinbad protested. The Maure shook his head.

‘’Sinbad !’’ they heard Firouz yell from behind. The turned around and saw Maeve, Bryn and Firouz being circled by a group of men, brigands quite obviously. They were quick to restrain the sorceresses and scientist and by pressing a dagger under their throats.

‘’Give us your money and weapons, and we will do no harm to them’’, their chief ordered Doubar, Rongar and Sinbad. They obeyed, knowing they each carried a few dinars only. Most of their possessions, including money, was still on the Nomad with the rest of the cargo. One of the brigands gathered the money and weapons the three sailors had thrown to his chief. ‘’They barely have 15 dinars altogether, Muzzaffar.’’

‘’That’s all ?’’ Muzzaffar asked them scornfully. ‘’We might have to take something else with us, then’’. He turned to Bryn and Maeve. ‘’We will take the ladies as well, as a consolation prize’’, he declared. The brigands started chuckling. One of them punched Firouz in the stomach and kicked him to the ground. He took the scientist’s saber and money before releasing him.

‘’Now, let’s head back to our camp, where we can fully enjoy your company.’’ Muzzaffar told the two sorceresses. He turned to Sinbad, Doubar, Rongar and Firouz. The men looked outraged, yet they were helpless : they had no weapons anymore and the brigands still held their dagger firmly under Bryn and Maeve’s throats. Muzzaffar grinned cockily. ‘’Don’t worry, sailors, we will bring them back as soon as we’re done’’.

‘’Then I guess it shouldn’t take that long’’.

Muzzaffar turned around to face the insolent redhead who had spoken. ‘’What did you say, wench ?’’ he asked her. He expected her to feel intimidated, but her eyes didn’t show even the slightest amount of fear. She stared at him defiantly.

‘’You heard me. Do whatever, I don’t care. I already know it’s going to be boring as hell, so let’s get this over with.’’ Muzzaffar restrained himself from punching her.

‘’Don’t let that wench insult your virility,’’ one of the brigands told Muzzaffar.

‘’Boring, is it ?’’ Their chief hissed at Maeve. He looked at the man who held Bryn captive. ‘’Release the brunette.’’ The man obeyed and Bryn fled to join the rest of the crew. Muzzaffar turned around to face Maeve. ‘’You asked for it, wench. We will ravish you until you find it not to be boring anymore.’’

‘’We have to do something’’, a panicked Bryn told Sinbad as soon as she reached for him.

‘’We will, Bryn. We’re only waiting for them to take that dagger away from her throat’’, Sinbad whispered. ‘’Then we’ll probably have to fight bare handed, until one of us manages to get our weapons back.’’ He glanced at Firouz, and the scientist nodded.
As he spoke, the man who retained Maeve placed his dagger back into its sash. He held both her hands behind her back. The crew ran to the brigands, who stared at them in disbelief : they were all but expecting sailors to fight bare handed against them. Of course, they didn’t know those sailors were skilled in a brawl.

‘’You foolishness will kill you,’’ Muzzaffar said as they reached for their swords.

Maeve’s hands were now released, and she swiftly took her sword. She kicked her opponent harshly in the groin. Sinbad, Doubar and Rongar each fought against one man, dodging their blows. Firouz and Bryn ran to the man who had taken their weapons. Bryn still had her sword : she fought against him and almost knocked him unconscious. Firouz reached for the their swords and daggers. He managed to throw their weapons to Doubar and Rongar, who easily defeated their opponent. Sinbad was still fighting bare handed, trying to take his opponent’s sword off his hands without getting injured.

Muzzaffar was now fighting against Maeve, and up close. She didn’t notice when he swiftly placed his leg behind hers in order to make her lose her balance. He kicked her harshly and she fell on the ground. Her sword slipped out of her hand and he kicked it away from her. Maeve’s eyes widened as she saw his dagger. He raised it above her head, ready to inflict her a deadly strike. She gasped and instinctively raised her arms up to her face in a protective gesture.

‘’Sinbad !’’ Doubar yelled. His little brother was closer to her than he was.

Sinbad punched his opponent and ran to Maeve. Without thinking, he threw himself over her to protect her from Muzzaffar’s strike, therefore he got stabbed instead of her. He uttered a painful cry as he felt the dagger’s blade thrusting into his side. His wound started bleeding heavily. Maeve screamed.

‘’Little brother !’’ Doubar yelled as he ran to him. Rongar arrived first and tackled Muzzaffar from behind. The brigands and their chief fled.

Sinbad laid, weakened, over Maeve’s lap. He felt dizzy. Keeping eye contact with Firouz was too demanding. His vision blurred and he couldn’t discern the scientist’s features anymore. Sinbad noticed it got more quiet, too. He couldn’t hear his friends’ panicked screams anymore. He really felt sleepy. The feeling was so appealing, so comfortable. He closed his eyes, slipping slowly into unconsciousness.

‘’Sinbad, wake up !’’ Maeve screamed as she saw him close his eyes. She felt his body becoming numb and heavy on her lap. She was holding his hand, and his fingers wouldn’t clench firmly with hers like they did a minute ago. Firouz gave his orders to Rongar and Doubar. The two men lifted Sinbad off Maeve and carried the unconscious captain ; Firouz kept his hand pressed against Sinbad’s wound as they hurried to the Nomad. They had to make it quick, for Sinbad’s injury was really bad. For now, they could only try to stop the bleeding … and pray he would make it.

Maeve was stunned. She had trouble standing up, for her legs were shaking and she felt her knees were too weak to support her own weight. He skirt felt wet, it clung to her legs. Aghast, she looked down and saw Sinbad’s blood on her ; it had poured all over her lap. The amount of it made her feel both dizzy and nauseous. Bryn reached for her. Maeve’s mind was clouded as the brunette helped her to stand up all the way back to the ship.

******

[Fireland]

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Chapter III
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The crew stared nervously at Firouz when the scientist walked out of Sinbad’s cabin. He tried to dissimulate the blood maculated cloth he carried in his hands. He sighed. ‘’He lost a huge amount of blood, but he will make it’’.

Doubar’s eyes teared up from relief and gratitude and Firouz nodded as he acknowledged the gentle giant’s silent thanks. Bryn sighed of relief and she patted Doubar’s shoulder gently. Rongar smiled sweetly to Maeve and he hugged her as a comforting gesture. She abandoned herself in his arms and started sobbing. Rongar and her had been friends for over two years, though they were not that close. However, at this particular moment, Maeve needed a shoulder to cry on, and she truly appreciated that he offered his.

‘’Lass, Sinbad asked to see you’’. Doubar told her as soon as he walked out of his brother’s cabin.

She rose from her chair, feeling anxious as she walked to Sinbad’s bed. He was conscious and awake. He smiled when he saw her and tapped on his bed, inviting her to sit beside him, which she did.

‘’Stop worrying’’, he told her when she was close enough for him to see the guilt and sorrow in her eyes. ‘’I’m fine.’’

‘’Sinbad, I’m so sorry…’’ she started.

‘’Why?’’ he raised his eyebrow. ‘’You haven’t done anything wrong’’.

‘’I was weak’’, she protested tearfully. ‘’ I haven’t trained properly in the past year, and I couldn’t fight against Muzzaffar. It’s my fault if you’ve been injured.’’

‘’Maeve, it still doesn’t make you responsible for the brigands attacking us. It’s just what they do all the time.’’

‘’It should have been me, not you’’, she looked down, devoured by guilt.

‘’Don’t say that’’, he replied a bit sharply.

‘’But you could have died !’’ she exclaimed.

‘’My thoughts, exactly,’’ Sinbad answered. ‘’Being killed or injured instead of me wouldn’t have made things better, trust me on this.’’

Maeve looked at Sinbad’s chest. He had his shirt off and Firouz had made a square bandage on his side. He had to stitch Sinbad’s wound to stop the bleeding. Even though she couldn’t see it, Maeve shuddered at the thought of the horrible scar her insolence and poor fighting skills would leave on his body forever. The guilt overwhelmed her and she started sobbing.
Sinbad raised his right arm, inviting her into a hug. She slipped into bed with him, cuddling against him on the side which wasn’t injured. Sinbad quickly fell asleep. Maeve’s tears had turned from sadness and guilt to downright anger. She knew she had to amend herself for almost killing the man she loved, or else, she wouldn’t be able to look at herself in a mirror anymore. She stirred, trying not to wake him up as she slowly got up from his bed. She walked back to the galley and told the crew she needed to sleep. As she locked herself in her cabin, she knew she would have to wait until dark in order for her plan to work properly.


***

That evening, Doubar, Bryn and Rongar sat by the railing on upper deck. They saw Maeve’s cloaked figure appear in the galley’s stairs.

‘’Where is she going?’’ Doubar murmured to Bryn as the redhead climbed over the railing and jumped to the dock.

‘’I don’t know. She didn’t say anything when I met her in the galley, a few minutes ago’’, Bryn answered. ‘’Dermott didn’t tell me anything, either’’. The hawk had followed Maeve when she had jumped off the ship.

‘’I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. It’s not like her to wander in a foreign village by herself after dark.’’

‘’You want us to check on her ?’’ Bryn asked him.

‘’Aye. Rongar, Bryn, keep an eye on my Lass. I don’t want her to get into trouble’’.

***

Dermott had scouted and told his sister the man she was looking for was at the tavern and already drunk. He had been harassing a few wenches, hoping he could enjoy some company for the night. Maeve thought it was her chance to get her revenge. She had slipped into a revealing nightgown and had covered herself with her cloak. She dissimulated her face and red hair under the cloak’s hood and made sure no one could see what she was wearing underneath it when she left the ship.

She walked to the tavern Dermott indicated to her. Her eyes wandered across the room, screening each person until she recognized Muzzaffar. He sat at a table with two other brigands. Fortunately, they were not the same she had seen him with earlier that day. She adjusted her hood to make sure it covered her hair and face, and walked over to him confidently. She stood behind him and covered his eyes with both her hands.

‘’What the …’’ Muzzaffar exclaimed.

‘’Don’t you want to play with me ?’’ Maeve asked to his ear, with the voice of a temptress. She didn’t remove her hands from over his eyes.

‘’Answer her, Muzzaffar. ‘Cause if you don’t want to, I for myself sure do’’, one of his friend chuckled and the other cheered.

‘’Which game do you have in mind ?’’ Muzzaffar asked Maeve.

‘’I’m thinking of a naughty one’’, she answered suggestively.

‘’That’s tantalizing. Is she at least pretty ?’’ Muzzaffar asked his friends.

‘’We can’t see her, she’s wearing a cloak’’, one of them answered.

‘’Why don’t you take it off, so we could judge of your beauty … and other assets’’, the other suggested smuttily.

‘’This is not how I want this game to be played’’, Maeve replied with her most sensual voice. ‘’Do not cheat. Don’t look’’, she whispered to Muzzaffar’s ear as she removed her hands from his face. The drunk man stared ahead, obediantly. He liked this game.

Without pulling off her cloak’s hood, Maeve parted the cloak’s front panels and revealed Muzzaffar’s friends the silky, form-fitted nightgown she was wearing underneath her cloak. Both men cheered in appreciation.

‘’Will this meet your friend’s expectations ?’’ Maeve asked them as she covered herself again.

‘’She’s hot as a stove’’ one of them told Muzzaffar.

‘’Enjoy yourself, my friend !’’ the other one grinned. Maeve was glad they couldn’t see her face and her expression of disgust.

‘’Come with me’’, she whispered to Muzzaffar’s ear. The man wasn’t too reluctant to follow her. Maeve took his hand and, making sure she hid her face from him, leaded him outside the tavern. He followed her, staggering.

‘’Wait, where are we going ?’’ he asked her.

‘’To the dock.’’

‘’Why for ?’’

She didn’t answer and kept walking, pulling on his arm, for him to follow her.

***

Bryn and Rongar had been following Maeve, but they had lost her track after she had reached the village. They had decided to walk back to the dock and to settle further away, hoping she would be back soon. They heard footsteps coming their way. They hid behind a longboat that was on the dock when they saw a cloaked figure emerging from the village. It was her. Rongar frowned and pointed to the man who was staggering behind her. Bryn recognized him too. It was Muzzaffar.

‘’What is she doing with him ?’’ Bryn whispered. Rongar shrugged.

‘’Won’t you tell me what this is all about, wench ?’’ Muzzaffar asked her once they had reached the dock. He was growing impatient. He wanted to get at it while he still could, knowing from the tremendous amount of alcohol he had been drinking that once he would get in bed, he would sleep like a rock.

‘’I think here would be perfect, then’’, Maeve answered.

The man glanced around. ‘’Here ? Out in the open ?’’ he protested.

‘’It’s cloudy and dark. Nobody will see us’’, she assured him.

Rongar and Bryn gaped. They were close enough from her, therefore they heard what she was saying perfectly well. Maeve, on the other hand, didn’t suspect she was being spied upon. She stepped behind the man.

‘’What are you doing ?’’ he asked her nervously.

‘’Playing’’, she answered seductively.

‘’Get your cloak off already. The guys told me you looked hot, I’d like to see it myself’’.

‘’Alright, I’m taking it off. But don’t look yet’’, she playfully ordered him. She removed her cloak and tossed it in front of him. ‘’See ?’’ she whispered to his ear.

Rongar and Bryn frowned as they witnessed Maeve’s strange behavior. They couldn’t miss the revealing outfit she was wearing, either. What did she have in mind ? They knew it couldn’t be a fling thing. It was not Maeve’s style at all. They both had the feeling something was wrong, yet they didn’t dare to reveal their presence. The sorceress had a purpose, maybe she only wanted to humiliate this man because of what he had done to their captain. However, they started to feel worried when they saw Maeve reach for her dagger. She swiftly reached for the man’s throat and pressed her dagger firmly against his skin. Muzzaffar was taken aback.

‘’Now look at me’’, Maeve gritted. He obeyed, turning his face to her, and frowned as he recognized the redhead he had attacked earlier that day. ‘’Here’s what I do to vermin of your kind’’, she hissed.

Rongar and Bryn were stunned as they saw Maeve suddenly slit Muzzaffar’s throat. Blood spurted forward from his jugular. Maeve stepped back and kicked him off the dock ; Muzzaffar’s half dead body splashed heavily into the cold water. Maeve threw her dagger away. She picked up her cloak, wrapped it around her shoulders and walked back to the ship, leaving Rongar and Bryn startled and utterly shocked by what they had just witnessed.

***

[Fireland]

********
Chapter IV
********

‘’She did WHAT ?’’ Sinbad bursted out. He sprung from his bed. His sudden gesture reminded him of his injury and he groaned out of pain. Rongar placed his hand firmly over Sinbad’s chest, pushing gently against it so Sinbad would lie down.

Bryn and Rongar had sit on Sinbad’s bed, beside him. Their eyes showed much concern. They felt bad for telling him, but as the captain, he had to know what any of his crew was up to. Though they both liked Maeve very much and were understanding of her pain and anger, they also knew such behavior was unacceptable. Therefore, they had chosen their sense of moral and duty over their affection for her. Rongar was relieved he couldn’t talk. He didn’t particularly enjoyed Bryn being somehow obliged to tell Sinbad about what Maeve had just done. However, he knew that even if he could talk, he wouldn’t have known how to tell Sinbad. Therefore, the Maure felt grateful the circumstances made it Bryn’s task. She had a gift when it came to discussing delicate matters. She always found the right words, and she was very considerate of other people’s feelings. Even as she told Sinbad how Maeve had avenged herself, Bryn tried not to sound as if she was dissing her.

‘’Are you sure it was her ? Maeve would never do such a thing’’, Sinbad told them, in disbelief.

Rongar nodded.

‘’She killed him and disposed of his body’’, Bryn repeated softly before looking down at her shoes. She felt cruel to add this to everything else he had been suffering lately. But she knew she had to. Rongar patted her shoulder to show her support.
Sinbad groaned as he got up from his bed.

‘’Where are you going ? You’re weak and injured, you have to rest !’’ Bryn protested worriedly. Sinbad didn’t listen to her.

Rongar knew once his stubborn captain had something in mind, he wouldn’t allow anyone to restrain him. Hence, he helped Sinbad to stand up.

***

Maeve was standing at the bow, staring at the sea. Dermott had perched on the mast, away from her. Right now, she needed to be alone, just like he did. He knew what he had helped his sister to do was wrong. But he also felt it was his duty to avenge Sinbad, just like he promised himself he would stand by his sister’s side the day she would fight against Rumina to avenge him.

Maeve heard footsteps coming toward her. She turned her face to see who it was and was utterly surprised when she realized it was Sinbad. He was only wearing his leather pants ; he had not bothered putting his shirt back on. Maeve’s heart squeezed when she saw him limping slightly. She could tell from his face what his wound hurt him at every step, but despite his pain, he resolutely walked to her. From the way he narrowed his sea blue eyes, she knew he was angry.

‘’You shouldn’t be here, you’re injured …’’ she told him softly.

‘’Is it true, what they’ve told me ?’’ he interrupted her sharply.

Maeve’s eyes narrowed, too, as she understood unexpected witnesses had quite obviously reported her errand to their captain. Still, she didn’t want to betray herself before making sure Sinbad was really referring to her crime. Whoever had spied upon her could have simply told him about her visit to the tavern, or the companion she had walked out of the tavern with. It wouldn’t be the first time Sinbad had jealousy issues, after all.

‘’I don’t know what you’re talking about,’’ she answered calmly.

‘’Maeve, don’t test my patience with another of your stupid mind games, you’ll find out soon enough that I’m not in the mood’’, he scolded, almost yelling at her.

All crewmen who were currently working their night shift stopped doing their chores and stared at them. They stood still, startled by their captain’s aggressive tone. They had seen him angry several times before, but never had he raised his voice against a woman the way he did right now. Doubar, who stood next to the tillar, rushed to the lower deck, displeased by the way Sinbad had spoken to his Lass. ‘’Sinbad !’’ he exclaimed loudly ; but neither his little brother nor Maeve looked at him.

‘’I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about’’, Maeve repeated slowly, gritting her teeth.

‘’For Allah’s sake, Maeve, did you kill Muzzaffar ?’’ Sinbad asked her angrily. She glanced away, turning her body slightly toward the railing as she stared straight ahead, refusing to answer his question. Sinbad grasped her arm and pulled it harshly, twirling her around so she was facing him. His face was inches away from hers. ‘’ANSWER ME !’’ he barked at her.

The crewmen gasped. None of them dared to move, either. Even Doubar felt paralyzed witnessing their violent confrontation. He had never seen his brother that angry. Maeve straightened herself while staring at him, her body language almost defiant.

‘’I granted that bastard the fate he fully deserved’’, she declared coldly. ‘’And I have no remorse whatsoever’’.

Doubar gaped and shook his head in disbelief as he heard his Lass admitting a murder crime. Sinbad unclasped his hand and stepped back. His fists clenched and so did his jaw. He looked outraged.

‘’What have you become ? Some kind of human predator ? We’re not in Sarania anymore. This is not your hunting territory !’’ he scolded. ‘’Never have I allowed such a violent and vengeful behavior on my ship and never will I.’’

Maeve’s eyes flashed with anger. ‘’You’re being so hypocritical,’’ she replied angrily. ‘’How reckless I know you’ve become in the past year, yet I don’t hear you complaining about your own behavior.’’

‘’We’re not talking about me, or any of my past mistakes’’, he scowled. ‘’We’re talking about you, improvising yourself as a Nemesis of some sort. This is not the Maeve I used to know.’’

‘’Maybe we should talk about your past mistakes, too’’, she scolded. ‘’And the Maeve you used to know is long gone, just like the Sinbad I used to know.’’

They both stared at each other hostilely, enraged and panting. By now, the whole crew had learned about their fight and some of them had even emerged from the galley when they had heard the couple screaming at each other. Everybody stood still, holding their breath, wondering how things were going to turn out. The silence felt unbearably heavy.

‘’I know I made mistakes and took bad decisions in the past year.’’ Sinbad broke the silence. His voice had softened. ‘’But as much as I wish I could turn back time, I still can’t change the past, and neither can you, Maeve.’’

The sorceress’ eyes were filled with sorrow. ‘’You’ve hurt me’’, she said softly. Sinbad stared at her. They both knew this already.

‘’What about my feelings, my pain ?’’ Sinbad asked her. ‘’You’ve hurt me, too.’’

The crew glanced at each other. Was their captain actually willing to talk about his feelings ? That startled everybody. He had always refused to talk about it, even to his closest friends, even to his only brother.

‘’I’m aware of what my sudden departure might have caused,’’ Maeve sighed. ‘’But we’re always responsible for our own actions, Sinbad. It is unfair to accuse me of being the reason why you grew so reckless, or why you turned to … other women.’’

‘’That’s not what I meant,’’ Sinbad replied.

‘’Then how have I hurt you ?’’

Sinbad stared at her. He sighed. He knew they had already gone way too far into this conversation for him to retreat now. ‘’It hurt me when you fell overboard. It hurt me even more when I didn’t find you on the shore. And by the time I had to deal with the fact I might not see you ever again, it had become excruciating. Trust me, I’ve dealt with a lot of pain in my life, especially this year. However, never in my life have I felt as hurt as I’ve been in the past two weeks, seeing the disappointement and disgust in your eyes, whenever you would look at me.’’

The crew’s jaws dropped from astonishment. Maeve felt unable to speak. Sinbad decided this would put an end to the conversation. He turned around and walked straight to the galley, ignoring his crew who was staring at him, startled.

Maeve clenched her hands on the railing and closed her eyes, fighting back tears. She already knew her attitude these past days had been unbearable for him, but hearing him admitting to how painful it felt confronted her to her own coldheartedness. She hated herself for acting the way she did, but she couldn’t gather enough courage to run to him and apologize. She was too proud. Moreoever, she didn’t want him to think, if she apologized, that she had forgiven him for his own behavior. Thinking he had been with other women while she was gone felt like a thousand daggers stabbing her mercilessly through her lungs, depriving her from air. It felt like sharp claws squeezing and painfully crushing her heart. No, she could not forgive him. She was better than that and deserved better than him.


*****

END OF EPISODE I.

I know, I can be cruel, too. You don't have much of a choice, you'll have to read the next episode to know what happened afterwards.

[Rongar]

Ouch!
Poor Maeve; Poor Sinbad!
I hope they can work through this...
Hopefully, Maeve's pride will be knocked out a few rungs by the others for what she's done and doing!

[Fireland]

Should we bring Bryn to the rescue ?

[Doubar]

Oh wow, Fire. This really was an interesting read. One can actually 'feel' the tension between the couple while reading, and it's so typical of them to end up like that. Not speaking to each other yet not hiding their feelings either. I really hope they'll sort everything out eventually. And as for the rest of the crew: love how you bring them in as well even though your main focus is the couple. I think you portrayed everyone very well.

Am totally looking forward to the next ep.

edit: And I might wish to add that Sinbad sacrificing himself for Maeve is so "awwwwww".
Also I love how you had Doubar thank Firouz silently. And how Bryn responded to the first mate's relief with this affectionate little gesture. So lovely!

[Fireland]

Thank you for your nice comments. It really makes me want to keep on writing I hope I can depict Bryn's personality well enough, because I won't really be watching a whole lot more of season 2 from now on. I'll go with my instinct, but if ever you feel the characters act a bit off, or I should develop more of their personality because I missed the change in s2, feel free tell me. I will mostly rely on season 1 to write the rest ...

I can edit the posts anytime so before I post them on their final version on my blog or on FF.net, you'll be the first judges

[Doubar]

Well, telling from what things look like right now: I'd say don't you worry, your characterizations are pretty good.