Crimson Threads ♡Sinbad X Oc♡

Chapter seventeen: Mystras Leoxis

"They didn't even pay any attention to you! That was so funny!" Hinahoho roared with laughter, tears streaming down his face.
"I didn't think the Knights would be so unaccommodating.. they didn't even let me in through the doors!" Sinbad sulked as he bit down on his skewer. "Of course, they wouldn't let you in! They're the governing organisation that protects this kingdom! And even if we get kicked out of the country, we can't complain that they're rude." Ja'far scolds Sinbad as the three sit at a table in the Inn. The sun had long since set, and the Inn for foreigners was quieter than any Inn Sinbad had ever been in.
"I'll definitely get in next time! My intuition says I can!" Sinbad waved his skewer at Ja'far. "Good idea! Are we going to sneak in through the back?" Hinahoho choked back a laugh. "I want to enter there fair and square. I'm not doing anything underhanded." Sinbad stuck his second skewer in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

"Are you even listening to me!? Stop provoking the Knights! And don't just go along with him Hinahoho!" Ja'far barely had time to eat as he continued to scold his companions.
Placing his cup down on the table Hinahoho sighs as he looks at Ja'far from across the table. "Calm down. It's forbidden for foreigners to leave this area at night anyway. So we can't really do anything."
Grabbing his head in his hands, Ja'far bangs his head on the table. "That's what I'm trying to say! We can only act when it's daylight! It's impossible to make any progress like that." Ja'far sighs in defeat. Stuffing his face, Sinbad eyes his friend carefully. "Don't be so pessimistic Ja'far. We may be foreigners, but compared to the streets, we have plenty of food and we have warm beds too. This place is strict, but living like this isn't so bad. Why not negotiate patiently with the Knights?" Sinbad swallowed the last of his skewer, his calm demeanour putting Ja'far at ease.
"Sin, that's..." Ja'far starts, relieved that Sinbad was so assured. "Besides! It would be a shame to have so little exposure to the modest beauty of Sasanian women." Sinbad sat with his back to his companions, his eyes focused solely on the women serving the tables. "The women?" Jafar stared at Sinbad, his hands clamped around his darts.

"Speaking of," Hinahoho interjected, as Jafar attempted to strangle Sinbad. "Have you guys seen Yunalesca? She said she had some stuff to do and that she'd meet us here." Hinahoho looked around the Inn, his brows starting to knit together. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her since this afternoon either..." Sinbad pushes Ja'far's arms off his neck, worry starting to bubble in his mind.  It was long past sunset, and there was no sign that Yunalesca had been there. "What if something happened to her?" The thought drained the blood from Sinbad's face. "No, no. Yuna is fine. This is Sasan after all." Sinbad closed his eyes, forcing his worry to die down.

A tiny tap on the table next to him caught his attention, and he turned around. Crouching beside him was a young man, a traditional Sasan turban wrapped around his head. "Hey, sir.." the man ushered Sinbad closer with his hand. "I have a favour to ask you." Sinbad's eye twitched. "Can I... share this table with you?" Surprised by the man's request, Sinbad pointed to the other tables. "There are plenty of open seats, you don't have to sit with us.."
"No! That's not... it's just...  I really want to talk to you guys!" the man stumbled over his words.
"I can't ask anyone but travellers about the outside world since the people from Sasan are forbidden from visiting the outside because of our doctrine. And it's especially strict for me..." Jafar and Hinahoho listened intently as the man gestured nervously, his voice trembling slightly.
"Travellers! Would you please teach a knight like me about the outside world?" The man exclaimed hopeful.

"Knight.." "Like..." "Me...?"  Sinbad, Hinahoho and Ja'far thought in unison. As they took a few seconds to process what the man said, the thought of Yunalesca completely evaporated.  "Please, sir knight!" Ja'far jumped into action, pulling up a chair and grabbing a plate of food. "We'll be happy to help you with anything you request: food, stories of the outside, anything!" Pouring the man a drink Hinahoho smiles. "Don't be shy, have a drink!" Confused the man glanced between the two overly zealous men and Sinbad. "Miss. Please bring us some more!" Sinbad raised his hand, an excited smile on his face.
"Sin! If we establish a relationship here, we could gain a foothold in the Sasan Knights?" Jafar shoots Sinbad a look. "Yeah! Let's go!" Sinbad nods, returning the gesture with a determined thumbs up.

"HEY!!" A woman serving a nearby table yanks the man up by his collar, the plates in her hand, rattling furiously.  "This facility is for foreigners only, normal citizens, Knights especially, aren't allowed here!" The woman looked like she would beat the man with every word. "I know but..." he started a weak retort as Sinbad and the others watched helplessly.
"No! How many times must I tell you to think of your position! You're not just a knight, you're the son of the Knight King!"  Complete silence fell over the already quiet Inn.

"What!" Sinbad, Ja'far and Hinahoho couldn't believe their ears. "Yes. This is Mystras Leoxus. Son of the current Knight King, Daruis and a candidate for the next Knight King." The woman explained as Mystras smiled awkwardly.
"Now, lord Mystras, go home. If they find you here, it will be considered a violation of your precepts, and you'll get scolded harshly by the others." she sighed, her one hand on her hip.
"I don't want to! I worked hard sneaking into this place so I'm not leaving till I hear about the outside world! Precepts and doctrine have nothing to do with it!" Mystras stiffened his neck. "What are you saying?! You're a knight.." The woman began again but Sinbad quickly slipped his hand into hers.
"Now, now, miss, he just wants to hear our stories and we're more than happy to share them. Could you overlook this... just for a little while longer?" With his voice soft and sultry, Sinbad's smile was like honey.
"O..only for a little while." The woman stammered, her face a blushing mess as Sinbad thanked her.
"Wow." Ja'far scoffed as Hinahoho just shook his head.

Turning back to Mystras, Sinbad extended a hand. "I'm Sinbad, head of the Sindria trading company, a dungeon conqueror and an adventurer."
"Dungeon... conqueror? You're not a normal traveller?" Mystras frowned, a little perplexed. "Ahh, my name hasn't spread this far yet. Here, this is the book I wrote." Sinbad rummaged through his bag before pulling out a scroll and handing it to Mystras.

"Amazing... you're the same age as me, yet you wrote this?" Mystras trembled as he read through the scroll. "In a confined country like Sasan, there isn't anyone like you."
Watching Mystras closely, Sinbad sat back down at the table. "Mystras.. do you dislike Sasan?"
Mystras stayed silent for a few seconds, contemplating what to say. "I don't know if it's dislike... in a country like Sasan.. there's no freedom. You can't decide your own way of living, and everyone's so stuffy and serious that it's boring. If I have to live stifled in this confined country... " A shadow fell over his face as he spoke. "I'd rather die breathing freely in the outside world."

"I see." Sinbad's eyes softened for a moment. "Then in honour of meeting each other, I'll let you enjoy a breath of fresh air." Sinbad drew his sword, and before Mystras could say anything, a bolt of lightning sprang from it.
"Mystras! This isn't a mere story in a book. I'll personally tell you the tale of the adventures of Sinbad!"
Hours passed as Sinbad regaled the crowd at the Inn with his stories of heroism, friendship and adventure,  Mystras hanging onto every word.

"That was amazing!" Mystras breathed, his fingers tightening around the scroll in his hand. "To think someone like him exists..." Mystras looked up at the stars, going over Sinbad's performance again in his head, savouring every word.
The quiet shuffle of feet pulled him back to reality. A few feet down the road was a woman, a foreigner, carrying a pile of books and pouches, the top of her head barely visible. Staring at the woman for a moment, Mystras chuckled at the strange sight before dismounting his horse.
"Excuse me miss. Do you want some help?" He asked as he approached. "Yes! Please!" The woman's voice, though sounding tired, was soft and clear. Handing him the books, she looked Mystras in the eye and he felt the world slow down. Her eyes were a deep golden brown at the centre, bleeding into a vibrant green at the edge. "Thank you so much." She smiled as she bowed her head politely. Mystras felt his words form and disappear at the same time.
He watched the woman as they walked, her rich golden hair bouncing playfully.

The walk felt short, and Mystras found himself standing at the door of the Inn he had just left, and the woman turned to face him once more.
"I can't thank you enough for your help." She smiled, taking the books from his hands. Again Mystras found himself unable to speak and just nodded. "Well... Good night then." She waved before walking into the Inn, leaving Mystras alone and mesmerised. His heartbeat louder than the laughter roaring from the Inn.