20

Night was nearing when we returned to the temple. In Apuleius's room we found a few more guests. Captain Benedictus stood at Xander's bedside. Behind him stood one of his men. Apuleius was seated at his small table. We walked in partway through the conversation.

"You say you were looking for a specific weapon from the city blacksmiths?" the captain asked Xander.

Xander nodded. "Yes, or rather the lady-in-waiting to my Maiden was curious to see what designs they created in this city." All eyes turned to us as we entered. Xander nodded at Darda. "You may ask her yourself."

The captain's gaze swept over us and stopped on Tillit. His eyes narrowed. "I believe you are the sus who I ordered leave the shop."

Tillit smiled and swept a low bow to the captain. "I am, sir."

"Why did you go into the shop with the dead man laying there?" Benedictus questioned him.

Tillit shrugged. "I didn't hear any arguments from the proprietor."

Benedictus set his hand on the hilt of his short sword. "Do you mean to impede justice, sus?"

The sus folded his arms across his chest and grinned. "Is that what I'm impeding?"

"Captain Benedictus, you must excuse my companion," Xander spoke up. A smile teased the corners of his lips. "My companion is a tradesman like most of his kind and no doubt only wished to inspect the wares before they were impounded by your men."

The captain dropped his sword hand and relaxed his stance, though he still glared at Tillit. "I see. His curiosity may one day lead him to trouble." He turned to Darda. "You are the maid servant who wished to visit the local blacksmith shops?"

Darda bowed her head. "I am."

"Do you swear by all the gods and your ancestors that it was your intention to view the weapons shops?" he questioned her. My heart skipped a beat. I noticed Xander tensed.

Darda nodded. "I swear by my dragon ancestors that that is true, sir."

Benedictus arched an eyebrow, but bowed his head. "Thank you for your honest answer. If you will excuse me, I must find the murderer."

He slipped out of the room and shut the door behind him. Apuleius stood and walked over to Xander's beside. "I feel I must apologize for the captain's questioning. He can be rather direct in his pursuit of justice."

Xander shook his head. "You have no need to apologize. No offense was taken."

I slid up to Darda's side and lowered my voice. "You don't have any dragon ancestors, do you?"

She blushed and lowered her gaze to the floor. "As a human from the other world, no more than yourself, My Lady."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and grinned at her. "It's Miriam, Darda. Just Miriam."

"How's the war wound?" I overheard Tillit ask Xander.

My dragon lord set his eyes on me and smiled. "Rather better since you returned." He looked up at Apuleius. "May I have a moment alone with my companions?"

Apuleius bowed his head. "Of course, My Lord. The duties of the temple call me away as it is, but you need merely call when you need me." He slipped out of the hall and gently closed the door behind him.

Xander waited for the door to shut before his eyes flickered to Spiros. "Tell me what has happened, but without being heard."

Spiros walked up to Xander's side and leaned close to his ear. His lips moved, but his voice was so soft even I couldn't hear a whisper. Xander stared straight ahead the whole time and only looked toward Spiros when the captain leaned away.

"You are sure of all your suspicions?" Xander questioned him.

Spiros nodded. "We are."

Xander leaned back against his pillow and frowned. "I see. It is well I sent Apuleius out of the room."

Darda's eyes widened. "You cannot think he-" Xander held up his hand and shook his head.

"I do not believe Apuleius is involved in any way other than his association with the brothers who impede our path to the truth," he assured her.

"So where's this path leading to now?" I asked him as I seated myself on the edge of the bed.

Xander gazed at the sheets that covered him and pursed his lips. "I will accept Sinbad's challenge."

Spiros's eyes widened and he stepped toward the bed. "You intend to race in your condition?"

Xander nodded. "I do. We have no other choice. Our few leads have led to nothing."

Spiros stretched himself to his full height and set his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Allow me to find Sinbad and convince him otherwise."

Xander shook his head. "It would bode ill for us to threaten a member of the most prestigious family among the sands. No, I will race tomorrow, and in so doing I will force Sinbad to tell me what we need to know."

A soft rap sounded on the door. "May we enter?" came the jovial voice of Alzalam.

"Of course, old friend," Xander called out.

The door opened and in stepped Alzalam with his son, Tifl. They both bowed to us before Alzalam hurried over to the bed. He stretched out his arms and took one of Xander's hands in his own.

"I heard of your troubles, old friend, and hurried here as quickly as I could leave my duties," Alzalam told him. He swept his eyes over Xander's pale form and shook his head. "How can I ever be forgiven for failing to protect you?"

Xander smiled as he shook his head. "This is none of the doing of the thieves. It was merely a case of mistaken identity within the temple."

Alzalam nodded his head. "Good! Good!"

Tifl stepped forward and bowed his head. "Pardon me for asking, but did I hear the name of my most prestigious cousin mentioned before we entered?"

"I was just speaking to my friends about a challenge I have with Sinbad tomorrow at the races," Xander explained. Spiros pressed his lips tight enough together to make them white.

Alzalam started back. "You are sure, my friend? You know as well as I the race is not for the weak of heart or body."

"A night's rest and I will be on my feet," Xander insisted.

Alzalam smiled. "Then I look forward to watching your skill once more. It is a wonderful sight to behold such a fine pair of wings as yours, my friend."

"Have they found out what clan the thieves belonged to?" Tillit spoke up.

The sheikh turned to him and shook his head. "I am afraid not. They may be unaffiliated with any clan for there are many who wander into the desert and find themselves attracted to that sullied life of raiding others for survival."

"Perhaps some day they may be brought under the heal of a strong leader," Tifl commented.

Alzalam chuckled. "Perhaps, my son, but not in my day. Their numbers are too numerous and the desert too large." He turned to Xander. "I am glad to hear no one was harmed, and pray you have a speedy recover. Now if you will excuse me, my son and I have many other friends with whom I must visit, but I will see you tomorrow at the races." The pair bowed to us and left.

Tillit leaned against a wall and whistled. "Now that's a pair."

Spiros turned to him and arched an eyebrow. "How so?"

The sus shrugged. "I just think they know more about what's going on then they're telling, especially when you asked about those thieves."

Darda frowned at him. "How would you have become a purveyor of men?"

He grinned and pushed off the wall. "You don't get in my line of work all these years without learning a trick or two about whether someone's lying or not. Like right now if Spiros told me he wasn't mad at Xander for racing tomorrow, I'd know he was lying."

Spiros pursed his lips. Xander looked over to him. "I understand your concern-" Spiros whipped his head around.

"Do you, My Lord? You are as fit to participate in the race as your Maiden, and yet you pretend all is well," Spiros snapped.

Xander leaned forward. His eyes never left those of his captain. "You wish for proof that I am capable of racing tomorrow?"

Spiros stretched himself to his full height and nodded. "I do."

Xander flung the covers over my lap and swung his legs over the side. He eased himself onto his feet and, with one hand on one of the foot posts, he closed his eyes. His face tensed as his wings slowly slid out of his back just above his bandages. Their extreme width meant they reached from one wall of the room to the other and curled at the ends.

Xander relaxed and opened his eyes so they fell on Spiros. "Will that do?"

Spiros pursed his lips, but bowed his head. "It will."

Xander retracted his wings and set himself back on the bed. "Please leave me. I wish to rest until the morrow."

Spiros exited while Darda reluctantly left us. Tillit gave a lazy salute and slipped out after them, closing the door. I remained on the bed and glared at him. "You didn't have to be so mean to Spiros. He's only worried about you."

Xander stretched himself on the bed and leaned his head against my shoulder. He looped one arm around my waist and closed his eyes. "Have I told you how comfortable is your shoulder?"

I sighed. "Not for a long time."

A wisp of a smile slipped onto his lips. "Then let me promise you a long time of peace after we return to Alexandria."

"No Red Dragons or terrifying adventures?" I asked him.

"Nothing but you and me, and the calm waters of the lake," he promised.

"Bringing your wings out took a lot out of you if you're promising me that."

He chuckled. "As perceptive as ever, my Maiden."

I snorted. "A blind man could see it."

"Then I am glad Spiros chooses to be blind."

I pursed my lips as I stroked his hair. "You really think you can do it? The race tomorrow, I mean."

"I. . .will. . .try. . ." His voice drifted off as his breathing evened.

I sighed and shook my head. "I thought I was trouble. . ."