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Part 4
Sinbad emerged from the trance-like state he had been in since he awoke. Sinbad emerged from the trance-like state he had been in since he awoke. "What?" he said.
"As I said," replied Firouz patiently, "I couldn't find any wound at all. Nothing more than a little red scar."
Doubar shook his head. "That can't be. Firouz, are you sure you checked her thoroughly?"
Firouz looked at them with impatience : "I did, Doubar. I'm as mystified as you are."
Sinbad looked at the point where Rongar and Meave disapeared from their sight. "I don't understand, I struck at her with all my strength..." he whispered.
Doubar and Firouz stared at him. "What?" they both asked at the same time.
"In our dream, I struck her..." he replied thoughtfully.
"Little brother, what are you talking about, for Allah's sake?"
The young captain didn't answer. He was still concerned about the red-headed sorceress. "Where did Rongar take her?" he asked Firouz.
"To the river. She said she wanted to clean herself up a bit."
At the river side, Maeve was trying to get rid of the blood. She felt dirty, betrayed. And ashamed. She knew she could have defended herself against Sinbad, at least for a while. But she thought it was only another dream, that nothing would come out of it. And because of her, the man she loved was now blaming himself. And for what? No wound, not even a scratch. She felt guilty for the pain it caused him. She wished she could tell him that, but as always when it came to telling Sinbad about how she felt, her tongue was tied up. "Not yet," she told herself. "I still have to save Dermott. I must concentrate only on my quest. There will always be some other time to tell him, after I get Dermott back."
Discreetly, Rongar was keeping an eye on her. Somehow, even though he didn't possessed any magic at all, he could feel that something evil was at work here. He didn't know what but he would not let it get her or any of his friends. They had always been there for him and so would he.
Dermott was perched on a tree near the camp. He could feel Sinbad's guilt and was sorry he couldn't offer the captain any comfort. *At least I know my little sister isn't hurt. But what will happen next?...* The hawk turned his attention to the three men.
"Sinbad, tell me more about that dream you mentionned," asked Firouz. "Maybe I'll be able to figure out what happened."
And so did Sinbad. But before he was done, Maeve and Rongar came back. The three men got up, worried.
"So lass, how do you feel?"
Maeve smiled. "A little better. What a wake-up call!", she added, hoping to cheer her friends up, especially Sinbad. It didn't work.
Sinbad got closer to her. "Maeve, I..." he started.
"I know Sinbad, I know." Maeve smiled at him weakly. "It was as much my fault as yours. Maybe it was me who dragged you into my nightmare," she added.
"How?" asked Firouz.
Maeve turned to the physician. "I don't know. But what I do know is that I want to get out of these woods as soon as possible. I feel evil at work here."
Sinbad didn't agree. "I don't think it would be wise for you to.."
Maeve cut him off, saying, "SINBAD I'M FINE! Now let's get out of here."
Doubard laughed : "Well, you certainly sound fine enough for me..."
The group didn't reach the end of the woods before sunset. And, uneasy at it made them feel, they had no other choice than to spend another night in the forest. They set up camp and Sinbad, who didn't want the events of last night to repeat themselves, took the first watch.
Everything was going smoothly when, suddenly, Maeve started to struggle in her sleep. Sinbad rushed over to wake her up before anything could happen.
Once again, the mists started to wrap themselves around her. "I WON'T LET YOU GET ME THIS TIME!!!" Maeve shouted at the man-form in front of her. "I don't know who you are but I'm prepared for you."
"Oh, but you do know me," answer the man, approaching. And once again, he had Sinbad's features. But this time, he wasn't carrying a sword. In Sinbad's hand was a very big axe. He swung it toward Maeve...
Sinbad called his friends for help. Together, they tried to wake her up but nothing worked. Then, Maeve's upper arm started to bleed....
Part 4