Chapter 29: "Seven Minutes and Twenty-Three Seconds"
"Er... hate to interrupt and everything," said Kari as she glanced up, "but they're starting to come back, and I don't exactly think we want to be seen here like this..." I grimaced in answer.
"Imagine if they questioned us: three teenagers, two with swords, by a sleeping dragon? They'll either call us heroes or arrest us... or both!" I cried.
"Publicity isn't what we need right now," my friend agreed. "Especially when they find out the swords were stolen! Come on, let's get out of here." We sneaked quickly around the dragon so we wouldn't be noticed right away, attempting to use the dragon as a shield. Unfortunately some people returning were coming from the woodlands themselves, shrinking our routes of escape. This group in particular seemed to be on a head-on collision with us, and even more ominous was the fact that most were carrying a pad and quill, even a camera: the press!
"How could they have gotten here so soon...?" Kari wondered aloud as we attempted to shift course without attracting attention. It was too late for that anyhow; a few moments later we were surrounded. As shadows of light flickered and jumped to an unheard rhythm as a flashbulb went off, the three of us attempted to fight the reporters off us without getting on the front page.
"Please, no comment!" I shouted at the nearest reporter. Just then I felt something poked hard into my back.
"Don't worry, this is strictly off the record," he sneered sarcastically as the other "reporters" revealed wands. "I suggest you come with us." One started to reach for the sword, but I snatched it back.
"We keep these," my friend replied for me. Grinning, he added, "Here's my wand, if it makes you feel any better." The wizard simply grabbed it and glared at him nastily. As we were prodded and shoved along, Kari took the situation rather well, considering.
"Hmm, let's see: dragon set loose on dozens of people, rude kidnappings: wonder if we're dealing with the Brethren again?" she wryly commented. As I glanced at our captors, I noticed that they weren't too keen on her choice of words. Deeper into the forest we went with no apparent path. Suddenly the trees thinned, and we received our first glimpse of a small wooden cabin that had not been on the guidepost. There was a welcome party awaiting our arrival, and at the head stood...
"Seven minutes and... twenty-three seconds. Well done," Nicholas cried out as we stepped into the clearing. The others began to applaud, though some did so grudgingly. I realized why when I saw money exchange between hands.
"Whoa, wait a minute! What's this all about?" Kari asked.
"Quite simple, really," he replied as he stepped forward to meet us. "That's the exact time it took from when we set off that firecracker underneath the dragon to when you appeared here." Then he looked straight at Kari. "You didn't really think it was an accident, did you?"
"So let me get this straight," my friend answered. "You were willing to risk dozens of lives, not to mention the lives of the endangered creatures that live here, acres of irreplaceable woodland, and even the risk of being exposed by nearby muggles... just to play a game with us? That's pathetic."
"It wasn't so much a game," Nicholas replied hotly, "as it was a test. And Rose here passed with flying colors... unlike you." Then he added darkly, "Funny, really. I always though that it was the knight who rescued his damsel... not the other way around." My friend looked ready to jump on him, right then and there; he was that furious. Instinctively both Kari and I held out our arms in front of him in case he did so, and fortunately he got the hint. In response to this suppressed attack, Nicholas simply snorted in contempt before turning to me.
"As I was saying, you passed, with evidence of the sword, of course," he said, now staring down at the awe-inspiring blade that had been hidden underneath the grime of the Galleon Sword. "Remarkable- to think that could have emerged out of a piece of junk. Almost like... a diamond in the rough." Suddenly his eyes focused on the hilt. "What's that on the pommel stone...?" Before I had a chance to answer, Kari cut in.
"We know we weren't brought here to look at some pretty sword," she said. "So Rose passed your 'test.' What else did you bring us here to Lakewood for?"
"To inform you of your next mission, of course," he replied. "Without the... ahem, 'specialized' sword, it would be useless to tell you." Then he made a hand signal that caused the man who stood to the side of him to step forward. The one word to describe him was average; in fact if he hadn't come to the front, I wouldn't have noticed him at all.
"This is my apprentice, John Doe," Nicholas introduced to us. John gave us a curt nod. "He may not look like much, but his mind's as sharp as cheddar. His ability to blend in with any crowd makes him useful as a spy, in case you wanted to know. In fact, he's been tracking you since you first stepped foot on American soil... but I'm getting off topic. He will give you two your mission," he said, looking directly at Kari and my friend. "As for you, I will tell you yours personally. Won't you step inside?" Mockingly bowing, he flourished his hands towards the decrepit cabin that stood behind him. With a raised eyebrow that I gave to my friends, I followed Nicholas into the one-room hut, leaving my friend and Kari in the hands of the mysterious John Doe.
"So, what do you think?" Nicholas said as he waved his arms wide. The only objects inside was a wood cot with a mouse-bitten mattress, a rough wood table that promised splinters to any unwary fingers, and two chairs. Nicholas took a seat in the one that faced the door. "It may not look like much, but a few throw pillows would do wonders with the place!" I had had enough bad jokes from Monsieur Evrémonde, however, and I didn't need any from him.
"Let's get to business, shall we?" I said smoothly. "What's the mission?"
"Won't you take a seat?" he asked, motioning towards the opposite chair. I took one look at the splinter-infested chair that looked ready to break apart the moment a butterfly landed on it.
"No thanks, I'll stand."
"Suit yourself," he muttered. "Your mission? I think you'll rather enjoy it, considering it's an offer you can't refuse. My master, after reviewing your progress, is very pleased with you. So pleased, in fact, that he's giving you a deal, out of the goodness of his heart." I shuddered instinctively at the thought. Nicholas continued without noticing. "How many days are left on our contract? One? Two? That's right; it began the following morning, so you have two days left. If you agree to complete one final mission, my master is willing to release you early from the contract. Of course, all instructions given to you must be willingly and quickly obeyed, but if you finish the mission according to our satisfaction, we will arrange transportation for you to go home, and we will terminate the contract immediately." Then he half-smiled, his eyes glinting maliciously.
"As I said before, this is a deal you cannot refuse. So what will it be?"
"I suppose I have no choice, then..." I replied.
"Don't say that!" Nicholas exclaimed. "You always have a choice– we just like to make sure you choose the right one."
After thinking about his words for a moment, I said, "Very well. What do we need to do?" Nicholas smiled.
"It's quite easy. Unfortunately you'll need to do a bit more traveling though. You can either take a late flight tonight or fly early tomorrow morning, your choice. First, we'll need to take you downtown to shop for more... formal attire, and by tomorrow afternoon you'll be in Philadelphia and ready for the night's events."
"Wait... Philadelphia? Formal attire?" I interrupted.
"Yes, and you would understand if you would let me finish," he reprimanded. "Tomorrow night happens to be special for a variety of reasons. Tell me, what do you know of American history?"
"Well, not a whole lot," I admitted. "I know that the muggle government declared its independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. I think the wizard government declared independence sometime earlier, though."
"Yes, on June 5, 1775," he replied. The answer to my own question hit me upside the head like the whack of a broomstick handle.
"That's tomorrow... Let me suppose there will be a celebration of your nation's birthday in, say, Philadelphia tomorrow night?" I presumed.
"As a matter of fact there is," confirmed Nicholas. "Philadelphia is, after all, the capital of the wizard government. The gala you'll be attending will count the highest ranking officials among the guests."
"And you want us to...?"
"Crash the party?" he finished for me. "More or less, yes. But you'll learn even more when you reach Philadelphia. In the meantime, I've got a lot of work to do to prepare the stage." As he stood and turned away from me, I took this as my hint that I had been dismissed. I started to turn towards the door when Nicholas interjected, "Oh... and one more thing."
I looked back at him quizzically.
"You are not allowed to tell any authorities about this mission. That includes Mr. and Mrs. Sky. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," I said rather dejectedly. That had been the first thought in my mind when I had learned of my third mission.
"I will pick you up and escort you downtown myself. Now you may leave." With his "permission," I gladly left the rundown cabin and its single occupant to tell my friends this news. As I blinked in the strong sunlight, John Doe turned towards me.
"Is my fellow brother finished with you?" he asked. I nodded, wilting under his glance. "Then follow me." As he led us through the woods, we walked in silence. Anything that needed to be said should not have been overheard by our guide. We arrived near the entrance of the clearing, and I couldn't help but glance over at the fate of the dragon. True to what Kari had said before, at least forty professional wizards now surrounded the snoring Smokesinge, probably wondering how to put it back into its padlock without waking it up again.
"Remember– no authorities," he was reminding us darkly. Despite the summer heat, I shivered involuntarily. He turned and melted back into the shadows. Suddenly Kari stuck out her tongue at his back.
"Remember– NO authorities," she mocked him. "That guy gives me the creeps!" I wholeheartedly agreed.
"Where do we go from here?" my friend asked, bringing up the subject at hand.
"Back to the entrance, and my parents, I guess," Kari sighed. "How am I going to tell them? The Brethren sure didn't give me a lot of options."
"Tell them the truth," I supposed. "You're going on a top secret mission from the Brethren, so you can't tell them any details."
"We probably can't even say it's from the Brethren even though they already know," my friend noted. "We can't even tell some random stranger if he's an adult because he would have some sort of authority over us!"
"Wait a minute, say that again!" Kari exclaimed.
"Um... he would have some sort of authority...?" he repeated unsurely.
"No, before that!" Kari interrupted.
"If he's an adult..."
"That's it!" she shouted. I fixed her with a look of horror.
"Not so loud!" I warned her. "We don't want a certain John Doe to overhear..."
"Do we agree that we can't tell any adults because they would hold authority over us?" Kari asked, fortunately much more quietly. We nodded. "Then what if we told people our own age?"
"Kari, you're not going to drag Susan and Orlando into this, are you?" my friend groaned.
"Why not?" answered Kari. "They'll actually believe us, and they're not restricted from telling my parents or the government!"
"I don't know about this," I shook my head. "The Brethren will figure out their mistake and twist the terms again to say that we can't tell anyone at all."
"Then we simply won't tell them directly," she retorted. "We'd just have to find a way to do it... wait a minute, I know!"
"Know what?" my friend cried, caught up in her revelation.
"I'll show you when we get back," she winked in return. My friend seemed slightly disgruntled at her sudden withdrawal. Just then an exclamation of the name "Kari" could be heard. Mr. and Mrs. Sky had found us.
"You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that dragon over there, would you?" were the first words out of Mr. Sky's mouth.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, young lady," were Mrs. Sky's.
Kari could only smile sheepishly back.
"Er... hate to interrupt and everything," said Kari as she glanced up, "but they're starting to come back, and I don't exactly think we want to be seen here like this..." I grimaced in answer.
"Imagine if they questioned us: three teenagers, two with swords, by a sleeping dragon? They'll either call us heroes or arrest us... or both!" I cried.
"Publicity isn't what we need right now," my friend agreed. "Especially when they find out the swords were stolen! Come on, let's get out of here." We sneaked quickly around the dragon so we wouldn't be noticed right away, attempting to use the dragon as a shield. Unfortunately some people returning were coming from the woodlands themselves, shrinking our routes of escape. This group in particular seemed to be on a head-on collision with us, and even more ominous was the fact that most were carrying a pad and quill, even a camera: the press!
"How could they have gotten here so soon...?" Kari wondered aloud as we attempted to shift course without attracting attention. It was too late for that anyhow; a few moments later we were surrounded. As shadows of light flickered and jumped to an unheard rhythm as a flashbulb went off, the three of us attempted to fight the reporters off us without getting on the front page.
"Please, no comment!" I shouted at the nearest reporter. Just then I felt something poked hard into my back.
"Don't worry, this is strictly off the record," he sneered sarcastically as the other "reporters" revealed wands. "I suggest you come with us." One started to reach for the sword, but I snatched it back.
"We keep these," my friend replied for me. Grinning, he added, "Here's my wand, if it makes you feel any better." The wizard simply grabbed it and glared at him nastily. As we were prodded and shoved along, Kari took the situation rather well, considering.
"Hmm, let's see: dragon set loose on dozens of people, rude kidnappings: wonder if we're dealing with the Brethren again?" she wryly commented. As I glanced at our captors, I noticed that they weren't too keen on her choice of words. Deeper into the forest we went with no apparent path. Suddenly the trees thinned, and we received our first glimpse of a small wooden cabin that had not been on the guidepost. There was a welcome party awaiting our arrival, and at the head stood...
"Seven minutes and... twenty-three seconds. Well done," Nicholas cried out as we stepped into the clearing. The others began to applaud, though some did so grudgingly. I realized why when I saw money exchange between hands.
"Whoa, wait a minute! What's this all about?" Kari asked.
"Quite simple, really," he replied as he stepped forward to meet us. "That's the exact time it took from when we set off that firecracker underneath the dragon to when you appeared here." Then he looked straight at Kari. "You didn't really think it was an accident, did you?"
"So let me get this straight," my friend answered. "You were willing to risk dozens of lives, not to mention the lives of the endangered creatures that live here, acres of irreplaceable woodland, and even the risk of being exposed by nearby muggles... just to play a game with us? That's pathetic."
"It wasn't so much a game," Nicholas replied hotly, "as it was a test. And Rose here passed with flying colors... unlike you." Then he added darkly, "Funny, really. I always though that it was the knight who rescued his damsel... not the other way around." My friend looked ready to jump on him, right then and there; he was that furious. Instinctively both Kari and I held out our arms in front of him in case he did so, and fortunately he got the hint. In response to this suppressed attack, Nicholas simply snorted in contempt before turning to me.
"As I was saying, you passed, with evidence of the sword, of course," he said, now staring down at the awe-inspiring blade that had been hidden underneath the grime of the Galleon Sword. "Remarkable- to think that could have emerged out of a piece of junk. Almost like... a diamond in the rough." Suddenly his eyes focused on the hilt. "What's that on the pommel stone...?" Before I had a chance to answer, Kari cut in.
"We know we weren't brought here to look at some pretty sword," she said. "So Rose passed your 'test.' What else did you bring us here to Lakewood for?"
"To inform you of your next mission, of course," he replied. "Without the... ahem, 'specialized' sword, it would be useless to tell you." Then he made a hand signal that caused the man who stood to the side of him to step forward. The one word to describe him was average; in fact if he hadn't come to the front, I wouldn't have noticed him at all.
"This is my apprentice, John Doe," Nicholas introduced to us. John gave us a curt nod. "He may not look like much, but his mind's as sharp as cheddar. His ability to blend in with any crowd makes him useful as a spy, in case you wanted to know. In fact, he's been tracking you since you first stepped foot on American soil... but I'm getting off topic. He will give you two your mission," he said, looking directly at Kari and my friend. "As for you, I will tell you yours personally. Won't you step inside?" Mockingly bowing, he flourished his hands towards the decrepit cabin that stood behind him. With a raised eyebrow that I gave to my friends, I followed Nicholas into the one-room hut, leaving my friend and Kari in the hands of the mysterious John Doe.
"So, what do you think?" Nicholas said as he waved his arms wide. The only objects inside was a wood cot with a mouse-bitten mattress, a rough wood table that promised splinters to any unwary fingers, and two chairs. Nicholas took a seat in the one that faced the door. "It may not look like much, but a few throw pillows would do wonders with the place!" I had had enough bad jokes from Monsieur Evrémonde, however, and I didn't need any from him.
"Let's get to business, shall we?" I said smoothly. "What's the mission?"
"Won't you take a seat?" he asked, motioning towards the opposite chair. I took one look at the splinter-infested chair that looked ready to break apart the moment a butterfly landed on it.
"No thanks, I'll stand."
"Suit yourself," he muttered. "Your mission? I think you'll rather enjoy it, considering it's an offer you can't refuse. My master, after reviewing your progress, is very pleased with you. So pleased, in fact, that he's giving you a deal, out of the goodness of his heart." I shuddered instinctively at the thought. Nicholas continued without noticing. "How many days are left on our contract? One? Two? That's right; it began the following morning, so you have two days left. If you agree to complete one final mission, my master is willing to release you early from the contract. Of course, all instructions given to you must be willingly and quickly obeyed, but if you finish the mission according to our satisfaction, we will arrange transportation for you to go home, and we will terminate the contract immediately." Then he half-smiled, his eyes glinting maliciously.
"As I said before, this is a deal you cannot refuse. So what will it be?"
"I suppose I have no choice, then..." I replied.
"Don't say that!" Nicholas exclaimed. "You always have a choice– we just like to make sure you choose the right one."
After thinking about his words for a moment, I said, "Very well. What do we need to do?" Nicholas smiled.
"It's quite easy. Unfortunately you'll need to do a bit more traveling though. You can either take a late flight tonight or fly early tomorrow morning, your choice. First, we'll need to take you downtown to shop for more... formal attire, and by tomorrow afternoon you'll be in Philadelphia and ready for the night's events."
"Wait... Philadelphia? Formal attire?" I interrupted.
"Yes, and you would understand if you would let me finish," he reprimanded. "Tomorrow night happens to be special for a variety of reasons. Tell me, what do you know of American history?"
"Well, not a whole lot," I admitted. "I know that the muggle government declared its independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. I think the wizard government declared independence sometime earlier, though."
"Yes, on June 5, 1775," he replied. The answer to my own question hit me upside the head like the whack of a broomstick handle.
"That's tomorrow... Let me suppose there will be a celebration of your nation's birthday in, say, Philadelphia tomorrow night?" I presumed.
"As a matter of fact there is," confirmed Nicholas. "Philadelphia is, after all, the capital of the wizard government. The gala you'll be attending will count the highest ranking officials among the guests."
"And you want us to...?"
"Crash the party?" he finished for me. "More or less, yes. But you'll learn even more when you reach Philadelphia. In the meantime, I've got a lot of work to do to prepare the stage." As he stood and turned away from me, I took this as my hint that I had been dismissed. I started to turn towards the door when Nicholas interjected, "Oh... and one more thing."
I looked back at him quizzically.
"You are not allowed to tell any authorities about this mission. That includes Mr. and Mrs. Sky. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," I said rather dejectedly. That had been the first thought in my mind when I had learned of my third mission.
"I will pick you up and escort you downtown myself. Now you may leave." With his "permission," I gladly left the rundown cabin and its single occupant to tell my friends this news. As I blinked in the strong sunlight, John Doe turned towards me.
"Is my fellow brother finished with you?" he asked. I nodded, wilting under his glance. "Then follow me." As he led us through the woods, we walked in silence. Anything that needed to be said should not have been overheard by our guide. We arrived near the entrance of the clearing, and I couldn't help but glance over at the fate of the dragon. True to what Kari had said before, at least forty professional wizards now surrounded the snoring Smokesinge, probably wondering how to put it back into its padlock without waking it up again.
"Remember– no authorities," he was reminding us darkly. Despite the summer heat, I shivered involuntarily. He turned and melted back into the shadows. Suddenly Kari stuck out her tongue at his back.
"Remember– NO authorities," she mocked him. "That guy gives me the creeps!" I wholeheartedly agreed.
"Where do we go from here?" my friend asked, bringing up the subject at hand.
"Back to the entrance, and my parents, I guess," Kari sighed. "How am I going to tell them? The Brethren sure didn't give me a lot of options."
"Tell them the truth," I supposed. "You're going on a top secret mission from the Brethren, so you can't tell them any details."
"We probably can't even say it's from the Brethren even though they already know," my friend noted. "We can't even tell some random stranger if he's an adult because he would have some sort of authority over us!"
"Wait a minute, say that again!" Kari exclaimed.
"Um... he would have some sort of authority...?" he repeated unsurely.
"No, before that!" Kari interrupted.
"If he's an adult..."
"That's it!" she shouted. I fixed her with a look of horror.
"Not so loud!" I warned her. "We don't want a certain John Doe to overhear..."
"Do we agree that we can't tell any adults because they would hold authority over us?" Kari asked, fortunately much more quietly. We nodded. "Then what if we told people our own age?"
"Kari, you're not going to drag Susan and Orlando into this, are you?" my friend groaned.
"Why not?" answered Kari. "They'll actually believe us, and they're not restricted from telling my parents or the government!"
"I don't know about this," I shook my head. "The Brethren will figure out their mistake and twist the terms again to say that we can't tell anyone at all."
"Then we simply won't tell them directly," she retorted. "We'd just have to find a way to do it... wait a minute, I know!"
"Know what?" my friend cried, caught up in her revelation.
"I'll show you when we get back," she winked in return. My friend seemed slightly disgruntled at her sudden withdrawal. Just then an exclamation of the name "Kari" could be heard. Mr. and Mrs. Sky had found us.
"You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that dragon over there, would you?" were the first words out of Mr. Sky's mouth.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, young lady," were Mrs. Sky's.
Kari could only smile sheepishly back.