Sinbad is pushing his boat to race another boat – and I,
like Nala, wonder why. Leading to Nala complain about Sinbad’s irresponsibility
and Sinbad complain about her lack of fun. I suspect this may be the theme of
this episode.
It’s time for another stop for supplies, this time at an
apparently deserted dock, with Sinbad’s usual worries about stepping foot on
land, and meeting up with the ship they were racing. Desperate for supplies they
approach the other captain, Abdul Fahim, for food and water – though they have
little to offer and are pretty much reduced to begging. The captain has an
offer for them – wager with him for supplies
In the hold, Rina starts going through Nala’s things –
watched, disapprovingly by the Cook (who still may be the most awesome character)
who comments on her not changing her thieving nature and how it will end with
her being alone.
Returning to the ship, the crew look for items of value
they can wager with the captain – and Nala notices both Rina and her jewellery are
gone (probably the only item they had they could wager). Anwar returns to the captain
to tell him they have nothing to trade – Fahim suggests the ship. And even if
they lose he will provide them with mules and supplies to walk across the
desert. Anwar, incredibly foolishly, agrees without consulting the others (he’s
easily lead)
Guess what happens? Yes they lose the ship and no, no-one
is very happy with poor Anwar. This is when Sinbad also tells Anwar about his
curse and why walking through the desert is not the best bet for him. Running to Fahim, Anwar learns he had gone to
the palace of games – which Sinbad sees as his best chance, to beat him at the
games and win the ship back before the next sunrise. He also concludes that if
he can beat him at a boat race, he can beat him at the gaming tables. Yes,
Sinbad and logic don’t quite go together.
At Team Evil Taryn is sacrificing chickens for dark
magic, as you do (y’know, I can’t get over the fact that Taryn is played by Orla
Brady who plays Mrs. Sherringham in Eternal Law). After making the potion,
when she drinks it she can see Sinbad and where he is. Taryn continues to make
potions, but none of them work while Sinbad is in the gambling palace. Angry at
her failure – Akbari banishes her from Basra.
Sinbad and co go to the palace of games, which is a series of bowls of water that open a portal when you drop a coin in them. He goes through the portal – just as Akbari drinks Taryn’s seeing potion, preventing him from seeing Sinbad. Nice timing. He wanders around the casino before being banished by a man with no eyes and a pair of brothers who run the place for not being pretty and prosperous enough. A quick visit to the merchant’s camp to steal some swaths of cloth, and the whole team is more appropriately attired to the dress code.
