See Part One for Disclaimers

Chapter Eight

The first thing Sinbad noticed when they walked into the cottage was the smell of stew cooking on the fire.  His stomach started to protest.  He had not realized how hungry he was until that moment.

Kaliandra stood at the fire stirring a big pot of something.  She was wearing the same blue dress Sinbad had first seen her ware in the marketplace.  She turned and came towards them as they opened the door.  "What happened?  Did you get Gatharian?"

Davyn shook his head.  "No, but he's gone.  His was destroyed by his own magic."

Sinbad knew that was not wholely correct, but he could not bring himself to correct Davyn.  He could not do anything to destroy the look of relief on Kaliandra's face.  She closed her eyes and clutched the locket that hung around her neck.

"Finally," was all she said before she turned to look at the others.

"How's Firouz?" Doubar asked.

"He's going to be fine.  He's resting now.  I was just about to take him some of the stew."  She motioned for them to sit down at the big table.  "Sit.  You must all be starving."

Sinbad excused himself and went to check on Firouz.  Kaliandra had put him in her room.  He looked pale and exhausted, but he opened his eyes as Sinbad came in.

"Sinbad."  Firouz tried to sit up, but Sinbad gently pushed him back down.

"How are you feeling?" Sinbad asked setting on the edge of the bed.

"Tired and sore."  Firouz gave him a weak smile.  "Sinbad, I'm sorry.  I got all of you into this mess.  I should have..."

Sinbad cut him off.  "Firouz, this is not your fault.  If it's anyone's fault, it's mine."  Firouz opened his mouth to protest, but Sinbad kept going.  "Gatharian wanted me.  He used you to do that.  I should have never let you go into town by yourself."

"Sinbad, I a grown man, I should be able to take care of myself," Firouz said ruefully.

"And you do, quite well, most of the time."  The two men laughed.  "Let's just say it was Gatharian's fault and leave it at that."

"Agreed," Firouz winced and leaned back into the pillows.

Sinbad saw Kaliandra out of the corner of his eye.  She was holding a bowl of stew.  "Your supper is here, I had better go.  Rest well."  Sinbad patted his friend on the shoulder and then left.

He slipped out of the room.  He watched through the doorway for a few more moment just to make sure Firouz really was alright.

Kaliandra had settled herself on the edge of the bed and had started ladling stew in a protesting Firouz.

"You really don't need to do this," he could hear Firouz saying.

Kaliandra shut him up by sticking a spoon full of stew in his mouth.  "You can barly stay awake, let alone sit up enough to fuss.  So just eat."

Sinbad laughed to himself as she quietly pulled the door shut.  This was one fight he was not going to get in the middle of.  Firouz was going to have to handle this one on his own.

Maeve had a bowl of stew waiting for him when he cam back into the kitchen. "How's Firouz?" she asked when he had sat down.

"Feeling good enough to give Kaliandra a hard time."

The outside door opened and Davyn walked in.  Maeve got up and filled a bowl with stew for him.  Davyn took it gratefully and sat down across from Sinbad.

"This is one night I am truly thankful is over," Davyn said digging into his stew.

"Were you able to round up the last of the guards?" Doubar asked.

"Yes," Davyn said nodding.  "Apparently, someone locked Kedel and some of his goons in a cell down in the dungeon."  He glanced at Sinbad.
Sinbad looked over his bowl at Rongar.  The Moor just stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth and suddenly became fascinated with his spoon.

Davyn smile.  "That's what I thought.  Anyways, the Caliph arrived while my men were doing the mopping up and took Hezar and the palace guard into to custody.  I was able to get the Caliph to pardon Ahmed and a few of my other agents.  Ti's too bad Gatharian was destroyed before he was made to pay for what he did.  He was destroyed, wasn't he?" Davyn glanced from Sinbad to Maeve and back to Sinbad.

Sinbad took a deep breath and looked at Maeve for a moment.  "I'm not sure," he said finally.  "With magic, it's hard to say."

Davyn sighed.  "I see."  He stared out the open windows at the pink tinge of dawn coloring the sky.  "At least, we stopped him for now."

"And we will again if, and when she comes back."  Sinbad laid his hand on Davyn's arm.

Davyn looked at him and smiled.  "That we will."

******

Kaliandra pulled the curtains back letting in the midmorning sun.  Firouz sat in the bed with a tray balanced on his lap.

"Thank you for taking care of me," he said shyly, trying to keep from spilling contents of the tray on the bed.


"No thanks, needed.  I'm glad to help."  Kaliandra said as she straitened up the little room.  "So, Firouz.  Sinbad said you were a scientist," Kaliandra said giving a shelf a quick dusting.

"Um, yes."  Firouz said self-consciously.  "I've been working on a few inventions from time to time."

"Really," Kaliandra sat down beside him on a corner of the bed.

"Probably nothing you would be interested in."  Firouz picked at the hem of the blanket.

"I might surprise you," Kaliandra smiled.  She bit her lip.  "Um, Sinbad said you were working on a machine that used steam to make lightning."

Firouz eyes shot up and he gave her a startled look.  "Yes, I have been working on something like that.  It's still really just in the designing stage though.  Sinbad told you about that?" He gave her a quizzical look.
"Yes," Kaliandra said brightening.  "He found on of my designs and said it reminded him of your machine."

"Really," Firouz tried to keep the surprise out of his voice.  "Could I, that is, would you..."  He tripped over his words and nearly dumped the tray.  Kaliandra grabbed and steadied it.

"Do you want to see my plans?" Kaliandra asked.

"I'd love to!" Firouz blurted out.  "That is, I mean, if you wouldn't mind."

"No, not at all.  I'll go and get them," She said quickly.  "I'll be right back."  Kaliandra disappeared in a swirl of blue silks.

A moment later she reappeared with a large book and rolls of parchment tucked under her arms.  "I wasn't sure what to bring," she said with a sheepishly. "So I brought them all."

******

Sinbad peered into Firouz's room and saw Kaliandra curled up beside him on the bed.  Piles of plans and diagrams were strewn around them and they were lost in deep discussion.  Sinbad smiled and quietly closed the door.

Maeve laughed quietly as she peeked over his shoulder.  "They look so cute together.  I'd hate to be the one to tell him we're catching the early tide in the morning.  He'll miss her."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that."

Maeve looked at him.  She started to question him, but Rizgin walked up.  "Sinbad, you sure there's no problem with me bring my smithing tools.  There's going to be enough space and all, I mean.  Kali has a couple of trunks worth of stuff she's bring as well."

"No problem, Rizgin.  The Caliph's silks are the only other cargo we have.   Doubar will show you were you can stow your things."  Sinbad clapped Rizgin on the shoulder.  "Did you have any problem selling that man your forge?"

Rizgin laughed.  "None.  Durgus has been trying to talk me into selling my forge to him for almost three years now.  He jumped at the chance.  He offered me more that a fair price for it."  Rizgin jingled a full bag of gold in his hand.  "I've got more than enough to set up a new forge in Basra."

"Good," Sinbad gave him a shove.  "You have better get after Doubar and the men to stow your thing.  We need to be read to sail at first time in the morning."

Maeve waited until Rizgin had left before she spoke.  "Rizgin and Kaliandra are moving to Basra?"
"And Davyn."  Sinbad saw the way she was looking at him.  "Their idea, not mine.  They said Korath held to many bad memories for them."

Maeve just smiled at him.  They could hear animated talking and laughter coming from Firouz's room.

"What?"

"Nothing."  Maeve started to laugh.  "Nothing."

The End

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