The only section of Jualaline that wasn't overcrowded with students right now was its suspicious backside. Currently, only one figure stood at the edge of a creek which led into the back forest. Percival, the bully who loved to pick on Artie. He wore his shimmering knight armor and stared at the forest with his fists clenched. He was waiting for somebody, somebody important.
After about five impatient minutes, another figure appeared from deep within the forest. A gust of wind blew his long cloak, and he kept his mouth covered, so it was hard to see who he was. Stepping into the light, he approached Percival from the other side of the creek.
For the longest time the two stared at one another, not saying a word, but then Percy brought his fist to his chest and bowed. "Father," spoke his deep voice, "At your command. I am here."
"Well done, my son," said the suspicious figure across from him, "Allah would be proud." Wait, Allah? That was the Islamic word for "God." What was going on here? The cloaked figure stepped over the creek and told Percival, "I am here on behalf of the Sultan. Let's talk for a minute." He wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders and led him down the entire backside of Jualaline. Shadows bathed them as they chatted.
The cloaked figure patted Percy's chest with his palm and asked,
"How is your mission going? Tell me. I would very much like to know."
"Father," Percy shakily explained, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I feel Illusion is close, but the bad news is I don't exactly know where it is." That alone made his father take away the comment that Allah would be proud of him. He stopped his son under a huge tower and pulled his arm away from his shoulders.
Disappointment in his voice, he told him, "Irodia is Ottoman territory now. This means you can't fail me, boy, unless you want to face the Sultan." He narrowed his eyebrows to an angry position, keeping his mouth covered, "You say Illusion is close, but last I checked, 'close' and 'here' are two very different words."
"Father, I'll get it. Just give me time. I know exactly where to start."
Still angry, the cloaked figure threatened Percy with his index finger, "Fail me again, boy, and I won't be so nice."
"Hey, hey." Percy nervously chuckled. He pushed the finger away from his eyes and explained, "Hungary is under complete Ottoman rule now, so the task is going to be very easy. You're 2,000-mile journey is not a waste."
"You better be right," the cloaked figure growled, "Sultan Mehmed expects me to return with the Mirror of Illusion. The Knights Templar was just the beginning. This is the end of our everlasting war."
"I understand, Father. As soon as I have more information on Illusion's location, I'll contact you."
"Then off you go. I have a mess to clean up in the village. I will be back Friday, boy, and if you don't have the mirror by then, we'll be out of options."
Percy gulped, but he hid his nervousness behind a smile, "With your permission." He bowed and backed away from the terrifying figure.
The two parted ways. Percival returned to the school, and the cloaked figure returned to the forest. He approached his horse who had been waiting for him and lifted his hands. The man grabbed each side of his cloak's hood and pulled it off. No! It couldn't be! The man hiding behind the mask was none other than Sir Elwin, the rude man Gwen met in Blacksmith Village! The man whom everyone said was the best musketeer in Irodia - he wore a Turkish headwrap around his head. That meant only one thing. He was not a musketeer. He was a Turkish spy from the Ottoman Empire. A man who craved Illusion's power just as much as Gwen and Artie. If the teens didn't do something fast, all of Irodia and the rest of Hungary would be under Turkish rule.
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and then Add to home screen.