The pirates' leader sported a proud smirk as he dropped off the ledge and turned to the sailors before declaring, as loud as he could, that their captain had perished down the sea and that they ought to cease their resistance.
His declaration was followed by a universal gasp from the sailors, but their horrified expressions were soon wiped off and replaced by curious and amazed stares.
The pirate almost mistook that for admiration towards his strength, was it not for the feeling that something was missing.
That something had gone terribly wrong.
He had forced the captain overboard.
He had seen him fall down.
He had not, however, heard the splash of water.
" Sorry to disappoint you, but I won't go down that easily!"
The pirate looked back with wide eyes when he noticed the shadow that was cast over him.
Rashad stood there, atop the ledge, arms crossed, and a broad smirk donning his face.
" How?!" Was all the man could ask as he took a step back when Rashad dropped from the narrow foothold and marched up to him.
" A flying child helped me out." He looked at the other side, where Sindbad was standing with a rope extending from the mast of the ship held in hand, and winked at him.
He used the same trick that got him onto the ship not only to snatch the captain off the air as he was about to be swallowed by the sea and drop him safely on the other side, but also create an opening for him to take the pirate back by surprise.
The other man let out a cry of anger as he attempted to flail his sword again, but for some reason, his sword wouldn't rise up.
It took a moment for him to realize that Rashad was already standing behind him, his sword dripping in blood.
There was the clatter of metal falling down, followed by two thuds. The pirate dared look down, and he almost regretted it.
His hands were there, on the floor, as a flood of blood spewed from each arm profusely.
He bellowed in agony as he dropped to his knees and tried to squeeze his cut limbs between his legs to stop the bleeding.
Rashad pointed the tip of his sword at the back of the man's neck and cried out loud. " Your leader is down! There is no point in fighting anymore! Take him and leave this ship this instant, or I might be obliged to take more than his hands!"
Seeing their strong leader covered in his own blood, the pirates dithered not. They gathered themselves, hauled their injured leader, and turned their ships around before disappearing along the line that separated the sky and sea.
The sailors, who also returned to their own ship, watched after them with their cannons trained towards the departing ships in case the wounded pirate had some fight left in him.
Fortunately, it wasn't the case, and Sindbad and the others breathed in relief as the ships were out of their sight.
It was only momentarily.
Sindbad flinched as he heard a chorus of shouts behind him and he whipped his dagger as he turned around, expecting to find enemies about to ambush him.
His jaw dropped as he found the sailors throwing their arms in the air or clapping each other on their shoulders for their accomplishment.
Sindbad took a moment to process it before he realized he was no longer on the floor. He was hauled up and placed over Rashad's shoulder. He looked down at him in befuddlement and confusion and was only met with a large smile in response.
" Well done boy!" The man cried boisterously. " You've got some backbone there! Everyone listen up!" Rashad turned to his crew who fell silent as soon as his voice boomed over theirs. " Today, we feast! And we drink, to Sindbad, the flying boy who saved my life!"
With a fist raised up high in the air, Rashad triggered another gale of thrilled cries from his members.
The man looked up at Sindbad again with a large smile and a glint in his eyes. Before the boy could question its meaning or purpose, he found yet again that he was with no perch.
Rashad had thrown him into the air.
As he was falling back, several hands caught him and raised him up yet again, crying out his name as they hauled him over their heads
Sindbad looked at them and laughed out sheepishly at the way he was handled as though he might have been a hero, while Rashad gave a lopsided smirk at his crew.
That night, the lights of Mawj shone brighter than any other night. The drums were pounded and a great feast was laid before them as the sailors gorged themselves on what Sindbad considered a month's worth of provisions.
" I don't understand," he shook his head as he stabbed his fork through the streak of meat on his plate. " You said we don't know what might happen and so have to save our rations. Yet you're squandering them that easily after a fight?"
He turned to Salah for an answer. The man raised an eyebrow as he gulped down his drink and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Nights like this are taken into consideration when we prepare our rations." The man pointed out a finger at the kid.
" It's not unusual for us to run into pirates out on the open sea. And those encounters entrail losses more often than not. Thus, one should expect to risk his life. Something should be given in return. That's the life of a merchant, after all, nothing comes for free. If the captain expects us to protect this ship and who or what is being transported on it, this much payment is needed."
He swung his cup to get the last of his drink before staring inside of it as if about to accuse it of stealing. " Well, some people would say it has some figurative meaning like offerings and gratitude for our good luck." He shrugged. " So long as I get my fill and drink till dawn, bring forth any pirates and I would deal with them."
His brow knitted as something crossed his mind and his brown eyes locked with Sindbad's golden ones. " You didn't just save my life back there, you also saved the captain."
Sindbad rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. " It wasn't as much saving as him holding onto me. It was nothing heroic at all."
Salah's eyes narrowed further. " Who are you exactly boy? I've never seen someone wielding a sword the way you did. Where did you learn that?"
" Speaking of swords." Sindbad looked away and Salah was clearly annoyed at the boy for ignoring his questions.
When he turned back, the child held up Salah's dagger in both hands. " I'll give it back. Sorry, but I needed a weapon and yours was the only one available."
Salah looked at his own dagger for a couple of seconds before his eyes trailed over to the boy. " You know, you keep it."
" Huh?"
Salah leaned back as he folded his arms over his chest. " You can keep it. I have no use for it anyway. Plus, now that you've proven your worth, you would need a weapon by your side at all times. Every sailor of Mawj does. It's more of an unspoken rule in here."
Sindbad blinked twice at the man then looked down at the blade in his hands. " I can really keep it?"
" Consider it a token of gratitude for saving my life. However," he held his finger up sharply. " I don't appreciate little hands going through my things, so this will be the first and last time you do so. Understood?"
" Yes!" The boy held his hand up in a salute, his happiness practically spilling over his face.
" Such an over-energetic youth," Salah smirked before standing up to fitch some more drink. As he passed Sindbad, he patted his shoulder affectionately. " Keep at it, kid."
Sindbad's eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before he smiled softly at that. " I'll."