The long awaited sequel to Rumina's Story, A.K.A. A Fateful Mistake. This does not follow the series other than that Maeve has sailed with the crew and is with Dim-Dim, as is Dermott. Bryn hasn't met the guys. She meets them through her friend, Shirez.
I made up the stuff about the gypsies, I honestly don't know if this is how their society is run. Please don't be offended by how I've portrayed them. Thank you. (Oh, you may need to read the first to understand the second. Hopefully I've tied them together well enough.)
Sister of Light, Sister of Darkness
The sun was setting in the west of Barakat as the gypsies set up camp. Young Bryn was pulling out the bedding as her father, Vincenzo, was cooking the dinner. Her two brothers were watering the horses and the women were in a meeting called by Queen Esmerelda. "Daddy, what's the counsel about?"
"Hmmm?" her dark haired, grey eyed father looked over at his daughter. He realized with some surprise that she had grown into a lovely young woman at nineteen. Her waist length dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail revealing her face, the dark eyes framed with long lashes and the healthy pallor of a woman used to living in the sun. "Oh, there was some trouble in town. One of the visiting princes took an interest in you."
"In me? But why?" Her brothers returned and smiled at their sister's obvious confusion.
"Why?" Ramon, her black haired, hazel eyed older brother teased. "Has it escaped your notice that you have become a lovely young lady?"
"Oh, stuff and nonsense."
"It isn't, sister dear. And it's not just those in town, many of my friends have noticed." Her younger brother, Damon said. His fine yellow hair glinted like spun gold in the firelight, his grey eyes twinkled merrily.
"They're right." Turning around they saw the twins, raven haired Reva and blond Crystal. Their blue eyes sparkled as Reva continued, "You have created quite a stir with your grace and beauty."
"Prince Faisal couldn't keep his black eyes off of you. His poor vizier had a hard time keeping his attention on the meeting, and even he had a hard time concentrating."
"So your mother called the counsel to decide whether it would be safer to stay or go." Her father reentered the conversation when he realized how uncomfortable Bryn was getting. "Dinner's ready."
When Bryn picked up the sleeping curly haired toddler, her deep green eyes opened and she let out a lusty wail. "Sorry, Celeste but daddy says its time for dinner." And she walked over to her father, the firelight bringing out the bronze in her hair and the red lights in the babe's. Her father fed Celeste, who promptly got a second dose of wind and went off to play. The women rejoined the group and the feasting began, the laughter of the group belied the worried eyes of the women. Esmerelda watched her Bryn as she joined the youth in a carefree dance, practicing for their performances. Their words drifted over, making them smile at their obvious pleasure.
"Gonna build a mountain
From a little hill
Gonna build a mountain
Least I hope I will
Gonna build a mountain
Gonna build it high
I don't know how I'm gonna do it
Only know I'm gonna try.
Gonna build a daydream
From a little hope
Gonna build a daydream
Up the mountain slope
Gonna build a daydream
Gonna see it through
Gonna build a mountain and a daydream
Gonna make 'em both come true."
Suddenly the celebration was cut short by shouts to their left, the young women grabbed the kids and headed into the inner circle of wagons, the young men stood between the circle of wagons. The elders waited patiently around the campfire, Queen Esmerelda patiently sat by Vincenzo's side. Luckily they didn't have long to wait before the arrogant voice of Prince Faisal rang in their ears. "I am Prince Faisal and have come to claim Bryn for my own!" Bryn shivered at the voice, she peeked around her brothers and saw the silver haired prince and by his side a man whose malevolent evil made her shrink back. He was a tall, thin man with green eyes and yellow hair. Esmerelda looked at the intruder, her brown eyes stared into his. The prince faltered and looked to his vizier for help.
Fierren strode forward, "Forgive his majesty's impetuousness, my lady. He is just anxious to claim the woman he loves. I am Faisal, the vizier to his highness, and I can assure you that his intentions are honorable. He wants to see Bryn in a life that befits her."
Esmerelda stood, her dark hair waving in the breeze and her eyes flashed with barely restrained anger. "My daughter deserves to be happy and he is not the man to accomplish that." Her tone fairly dripped with scorn, "Flattering words cover a lying tongue. I shan't let my daughter be destroyed by you."
"You misunderstand. The prince loves her and would marry her. Faisal would treat her with the respect she deserves."
"Until the novelty wore off and the daily struggles began. He loves her as an object, not as a person. No, your words are as hollow as you heart is, disguising your true motives. You would enslave her and rob Bryn of her heritage, a heritage neither of you has any respect for." Giving a slight nod, the women raised their voices in a banshee like cry, the men caused the ground to shift and break under the soldiers feet. The youth braced for impact as the wind howled and moaned in the night, the fire burst into a more vibrant flame. The sight sacred the men and they took flight. "Stay away from my daughter, Fierren or worse will happen to you and your fine prince!" The clear tones of her authority rang out after the fleeing men.
The camp turned in, Vincenzo sat by his wife and held her hand. "That went well, my dear. But I'm afraid they'll be back."
"Yes. She is no longer safe with us, it is time we tell her the truth. Tomorrow, once we are on our way." She sighed and rested her head on his strong shoulder.
That night at the palace Fierren found Prince Faisal standing on his balcony overlooking the sea. "It seems, my prince, that they want to have no part of you. Bryn is out of your reach."
Faisal turned towards his vizier, "I'll have Bryn as my wife or no other woman. She is exquisite. I just have to find a way to separate her from that woman."
"You are reaching for the moon and are bound to get burned, sire."
"By that tiny thing? She's a delicate flower, probably anxious to get away from such a life."
"I will admit that she is a flower, but delicate? To have survived such a life she would need more strength and determination than you give her credit for." Admiration colored his voice, *if she's anything like her mother, she would have brains, beauty, and spirit. How rare. But why do I have the feeling I've seen her somewhere?
Faisal heard the admiration and looked at his vizier sharply, knowing that Fierren never seemed interested in women. But couldn't find anything suspicious in his bland expression. "Perhaps you are right.. See to it."
"Very well, sire." *I just hope she's worth it. Now, how do I get away with her? And how do we make sure nothing goes wrong? Maybe a visit to the camp will help me decide, under a cloak of invisibility of course. He flew swiftly to the camp, passing over the sleeping bodies carefully so as not to disrupt the balance of magic. He went over the twins, *Now why couldn't he want one of them? It would be so much easier. Fierren sighed and then suddenly stopped over the breathtaking Bryn. *Holy moley! What a priceless gem! No wonder he's going through so much trouble for her. Such a delicate face and skin like the purest silk…Suddenly her lashes fluttered and opened to reveal eyes so dark they appeared blue in the moonlight. He held his breath as she searched the night sky, sighing softly she drifted back to sleep. *Faisal is right, she deserves better than this. She deserves me. Maybe that is why I know her, cause she's a part of me.
Morning dawned and the camp sprang into activity, Bryn had the strangest feeling of foreboding. She shoved it aside in preparation for the journey ahead. Esmerelda called her over and she walked between her parents. Vincenzo watched as his wife explained to Bryn about her past, he saw her eyes fill with disbelief, then horror. Her normally healthy pallor drained away to a ghostly white. "What are we going to do?" Her voice was shaken.
"You will be taken to a cousin, Talia, and she will take you aboard the Ladyship Dragon to your grandmother on the Eire. We sent her a message last night.." Vincenzo said when it became clear that Esmerelda was to shaken to say anything.
Bryn nodded and walked away in a daze. She fell behind the group and emitted a sharp shriek when she was grabbed by the hair and lifted into the air. "What a delightful surprise, the daughter of my mother's enemy is in my grasp."
The whole camp turned and watched as Fierren bore her away, helpless to do anything. Then a sudden peace descended upon them. A well known voice whispered that Bryn was on her way to fulfilling her destiny. Esmerelda and Vincenzo watched as their daughter of nineteen years was carried away. "Will we ever see her again?"
"I think we will, my darling wife."
Bryn knew it was useless to struggle, "What do you want? I won't marry that idiot who masquerades as a prince."
"Why not? After all he can give you money, position, power, an indoor home."
"A creep of a vizier who has no manners and even less goodness of heart. Heartache and misery."
"I don't even figure into the picture, my girl. And I think you underestimate his highness."
"You can't honestly believe that one can separate a prince from his advisors. If I were to marry him, I'd be marrying everything he has." Bryn saw the castle's turrets, the high walls, the position overlooking the cliffs and felt as though she was being carried away to prison. She felt her knife and before she could rethink her decision, slashed off her hair and fell. Fierren and the crowd at the palace watched in disbelief as she fell. Bryn closed her eyes, silently praying for a quick death only to feel a soft hand on her head as she moaned.
"Quite a fright you gave your family, my dear." A soft voice said. Bryn opened her eyes and winced when the light hit them, she lifted a shaking hand to her forehead and saw an unusual bracelet on her arm.
"Who?" She grimaced at the pain her own weak voice gave her, "Who are you?"
"I am you grandmother, Lady Vivian and you are at my home under the Irish Sea. Some…friends saved you from you fall two years ago and brought you here."
Bryn shot straight up and grabbed her spinning head, "Two years? I fell two years ago?"
Vivian forced her to lie down again and put a wet cloth on her forehead. "Yes, child. Don't worry, you were safe. Now I want you to drink this and rest." Vivian handed Bryn some herbal tea and left her after she went back to sleep. Hours later Bryn awoke and was relieved to find that her head didn't ache quite so much and that the floor didn't wobble. She explored the room and found she liked the muted green tones. She was especially found of the overstuffed chair by the window. Looking out, she saw the sea surrounding the modest cottage. "Ah, you are awake and you must be hungry. How do you feel?"
"Better." Bryn sat down and practically attacked the chicken soup and garden salad. Her grandmother watched her with some amusement. "How did I get this bracelet?"
"My friends. How much do you understand about your own magic?"
"But I don't have any magic."
"My dear, of course you have magic and I will teach you to use it. Basically, you have power over the elements from my family and from your father's, you have the ability to talk to animals and channel spirits, among other things. If you are to defeat Fierren you must understand your weapons." Vivian paused and looked at her granddaughter, "There is more of your mother in you, which is good. Now this is your home, so you can go anywhere. But remember that you are under the sea, so please be careful. Feel free to wear anything in that trunk and reserve your mornings for lessons. Good night, lass." Her grandmother took the tray and left the room.
Bryn pulled out the brown trunk and found many dresses, *How beautiful. These must have been mother's things. She found a deep blue nightgown that fit her like a glove and turned it. *What a strange woman my grandmother is. Bryn spent nine months learning about herself and her magic, then went in search of Rumina. Her grandmother sent her to Caipra in Basra.
Caipra listened to her story and sent her to see Zorah. "She is a visionary and will be of more use to you than I will. You will find her in Bolnah." So Bryn found herself on a ship headed for Bolnah. *I have such a weird life. After an uneventful voyage, Bryn walked off the Monteray into the port of Bolnah. *Well, Zorah, if you can't help me, I don't know who can. Sighing she shouldered her bag, and set off for the palace. As she was walking along a voice cried, "Princess Bryn!" She looked up startled to see a woman in a long grey dress standing by a man with the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. It took her a second to place her face.
"Shirez!" She leapt nimbly aboard the ship and hugged her friend, "I almost didn't recognize you. Haven't seen you in years. What have you been up to?" It was a beautiful picture they presented for the guys. Shirez with her dark locks against Bryn's dark brown. Bryn's wore a white peasant shirt and long pants, it reminded them of Talia.
"Same goes for me. A bit of this and that, nothing that is really important now. My goodness, how do you remain so trim?" Shirez stepped back and admired her friend.
"All that dancing, and walking." Bryn shrugged.
"Not to mention fighting the men?" Shirez teased her friend.
Bryn had the grace to blush but stood her ground. "Hey, you know how some guys are. They think no means yes, and get lost means take me I'm yours."
"Ain't that the truth." They laughed, then Shirez remembered where they were. "Let me introduce you to Captain Sinbad, his first mate Doubar, and the ship's physician Firouz, of the Nomad."
"Hi!" she smiled at them and then turned back to Shirez, the guys were a little taken aback by her totally unselfconscious attitude. Sinbad especially, because lately women had been treating him like he was a meal they'd like to devour. He found her pure friendliness refreshing. "I need your help. I'm trying to find someone."
"What is it, gypsy princess?" Shirez was suddenly all business.
"Gypsy princess no more." Shirez looked at her, shocked. "I know, being raised by the head house would make me a princess but fate has a way of throwing curve balls. To make a long and very boring story short, one of the princes in town took an interest. His vizier, Fierren, took me captive. I didn't much care for that and chopped my hair. One minute I'm falling, the next I wake up to find myself in my grandmother's house. Alive, with this bracelet on, but no knowledge of how I got it." Bryn shrugged and showed Shirez the bracelet.
Shirez gasped, "I've seen that before but…of course! Sinbad has one like it."
Bryn looked startled and walked over to the sailor, "Really?" in a hopeful tone.
He looked into her dark eyes, bemused to be suddenly remembered, "Yes. Unfortunately I have no more knowledge of how I got it than you do."
"That's all right." She walked back to Shirez. "Anyway, I need to find Zorah so that she can help me find Rumina. She's my…" A gasp from the crew cut short her comments. "Do you know her?"
"Know her? Oh, yes we've had quite a few run-ins with that witch." The venom in Sinbad's voice stunned Bryn.
"I take it she's not one of you most favorite people."
"Not really. Why would you want to meet her, obviously you are filled with light magic?" Sinbad observed. Firouz, Doubar, and Rongar looked on, amused by Bryn who wasn't flirting, fainting, or arguing, in fact she was treating Sinbad as an equal.
"How to explain? Have you ever heard of a warlock named Fierren?" They shook their heads, "Trust me, he's bad. Fierren has no conscious, he is evil. Rumina has gone against him once before, she might hold the key to stopping him. I must find her."
"I don't see why you need to deal with Rumina, surely Caipra or Zorah could help you."
"Interesting idea, Dr. Firouz except that Rumina is my sister and represents the dark side of our parents' marriage. I represent the light, only when these two powers combine can Fierren be stopped. But I see I'll get no help here." So saying, she turned on her heel and walked briskly away.
Shirez turned to Sinbad, "You've got to believe her. I've heard about Fierren, he is pure evil and Bryn wouldn't lie about Rumina's importance."
Sinbad sighed and looked at his crew, they nodded that they felt Shirez was right. "All right, let's go find her." *I can't believe I'm doing this, helping Turok's daughter and Rumina's sister. Still, she had the bracelet on…
Doubar went about the docks, checking on the ships for the petite woman. *She reminds me of my Reya, passionate and courageous. But how could Turok have a good daughter? Maybe because she wasn't raised by him.
Firouz and Rongar searched the marketplace, "I suppose its possible that she's lying, yet she was very direct and open. If she was deceiving us, shouldn't we have felt something?"
Rongar scratched his head and shrugged, signing "Let's see Zorah. Maybe she can lend some light to this situation."
"Excellent idea." After making sure she wasn't in the market, they headed for the palace.
Shirez stayed aboard the Nomad, in case Bryn came back. *Maybe I was wrong to encourage them to go after her, but Fierren must be stopped. As much as I'd love to stay, I need to get back to the palace. Luckily, Zorah has a job for me. She wrote Bryn a note, wishing her the best of luck and left.
Sinbad walked through the back streets, searching for any sign of Bryn. The sound of a scuffle caught his attention, he saw that dark hair and recognized Bryn immediately. Sinbad watched in amazement as she took out the three giant men easily. She grabbed the blond one, "Who sent you?"
"Why, my dearest Bryn. You need to ask? I expected better of you." Drawled an oily voice, Bryn's blood ran cold as she turned around.
"Fierren!"
The tall, blond man bowed in her direction. His eyes filled with desire for Bryn. "I heard your pathetic attempt to receive help. What a pity. My dear, your passion is wasted on such things. Why not direct them in a more profitable manner?" His hand ran slowly, seductively up her arm.
"I'd rather eat rusty nails! And I'm not your anything!" She jerked away, revulsion in her tone. Sinbad tensed up as he watched this exchange.
"That can be arranged. But if you think you can defeat me, you're wrong. Very wrong." He roughly hauled her into his arms.
Sinbad blew his cool at this treatment of Bryn, and heaved a clump of dirt at him, "I think the lady wants you to leave her alone."
Fierren dropped Bryn to the ground, "Foolish mortal, I can kill you easily." A windstorm lifted Sinbad off his feet and flung him towards a building. Bryn aimed at the back of Fierren's knees and knocked him down. "If that's the way you want to play it, then so be it." He disappeared in a burst of dark light.
Bryn walked over to the fallen Captain, helping him to sit up. "You okay?"
He held his aching head, "That guy sure packs a wallop."
"I know. That was a very brave thing you did, foolish but brave." Bryn took his hand, ignoring the sudden spark that shocked her at the touch, and looked at the wound on his head. "You'll have a headache, but I think you'll live." She grinned at him and kissed his forehead. He looked up in surprise, "What? Your mother never kiss your wounds to make the pain go away."
"My mother died when I was young." The empty tone in his words stopped her teasing.
Sorrow filled her dark eyes and she lightly touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel." Sinbad and Bryn looked into each others eyes, reading into the other's soul. The sudden flutter of wings broke the trance between them and Dermott landed on her bracelet.
"That's Dermott, Maeve's hawk." Sinbad was surprised to see him, and on Bryn's arm.
"Well, I think it might be a good idea if we got going. This alley isn't the safest place to be."
"Speaking of which, what are you doing here?" They got up and Sinbad stumbled a little. Bryn quickly caught him. To any interested onlooker, they might have been embracing. Bryn flushed but helped him walk until he was quite steady. He noted her blush with curiosity, *what a strange girl she is. A combination of spunk, strength, gentleness, and shyness. But surely she knows when a man is attracted to her?
"Those men were following me. I tried to lose them down one of these streets."
Firouz, Rongar, and Doubar were waiting aboard the Nomad for them to show up. They saw them approaching, "Sinbad, thank goodness you found her. Rongar and Firouz went to see Zorah, she had a premonition that Bryn was in danger."
"She was right. Firouz, could you do something about my head?" Sinbad wobbled a little, leaning on Bryn once more. She looked over at Doubar, pleading with her eyes for his help. Doubar chuckled and carried his little brother downstairs. Firouz put an ointment on his head and bandaged it up.
As they sat around the table, Dermott still on Bryn's arm, Rongar signed to them what his sister had told Firouz and himself. "Bryn is right, she needs to find her sister. Rumina is somewhere in Natchez."
Dermott stayed calm on Bryn's arm, even the mention of Rumina didn't phase him. The crew was astounded, Dermott hated Rumina almost as much as Maeve did.
"Well then, what are we waiting for. To Natchez."
"But Captain, I couldn't allow you to do that." Bryn involuntarily exclaimed, looking at him in surprise. *Why is he offering to help? I know he can't stand my father and Rumina.
"And how do you plan to stop us?" Sinbad's blue eyes challenged her. His crew looked at each other and by silent consent left them alone. They began to sail for Natchez, Dermott flew out by Rongar's side.
"Captain, I don't think you realize the danger you are putting your crew in, not to mention yourself." Her obvious concern for him and the crew touched him, especially after this morning's fiasco. "Besides, Rumina might not listen to me if you're there." He placed his finger on her lips, silencing her.
"I want to help you, besides I owe Fierren something for my head." His finger traced her lips then trailed slowly along her jaw, finally coming to rest on her cheek. The Nomad moved slowly out of port and hit the high seas, Bryn was knocked of balance and into Sinbad's arms. "Careful." He softly teased, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously at her. Her bag fell to the floor with a sudden bang and she leapt from his arms.
"I think I'll go up on deck now." And practically flew from his presence. *What on earth is the matter with me? I've met handsome guys before and never got flustered. One look, one touch and I'm putty in his hands. Oh, this is so frustrating!
Sinbad watched her go with amusement, *not totally immune are you, my girl? He went to lie down in his cabin, his head aching abominably now. The last thing he remembered before slipping into a deep sleep was the feel of her lips on his forehead and the deepness of her eyes. *A man could get lost in those eyes.