Chapter Eleven: Damascus
The delegation enters a house in Damascus that belongs to the Banu Malik tribe and settles inside.
Samir: The wedding will be on the 28th of this month. That gives us six days to plan. We'll meet the Caliph on the 28th to present him with Sheikh Ali's gift, and then we begin the mission.
Absi: Uncle Samir, what's the plan?
Samir: We should ask Elias!
Elias: I need to go out and walk around the city to find the exact location of my sword.
Samir: Imran, go with Elias!
Imran: Alright, Uncle.
Imran and Elias head out into the city to help Elias pinpoint the location of his sword.
Imran: Elias! Why are you like this?
Elias: What do you mean, kid?
Imran: You're extremely distant… you seem disgusted by us, like you think you're better than us.
Elias: Kid, I don't remember much about my life before I was buried in that place. But I don't think I was your enemy. I'm not your ally either. If I'm siding with you, it's purely out of self-interest—because you'll help me retrieve my sword.
Imran: So… you don't care about anything but your own benefit?
Elias: You need to understand something about life: it's built on interests. No one will stand by you when you're weak. Life is truly cruel—you need to adapt to it.
Imran: I don't agree with what you're saying.
Elias: But you believe that old man?
Imran: That's because he's my uncle! He raised me and my sister since we were little!
Elias: I killed my uncle.
Imran is stunned.
Elias: Don't worry—I was defending myself. I won't say more about that.
Back at the house, Riad, Absi, and Samir are planning.
Riad: We shouldn't trust Elias. It's better to have multiple plans and backups.
Samir: Imran and Absi need to stay close to him. Absi will alert us to any danger or unusual developments. Riad, you'll stay nearby as well.
Absi: Are we going into the palace with you? Will there be food?!
Samir and Riad laugh.
Imran and Elias approach the Umayyad Palace and spot a group of Dark Warriors near it.
Elias: Kid, I'm going to tell you something—but don't panic.
Imran: What is it?!
Elias: I said don't panic—and lower your voice. My sword is inside the palace!
Imran and Elias return to the house, open the door, and both yell:
Imran & Elias: The sword is in the palace!
Samir: Damn it!
Riad: Are you sure?!
Elias: Even if I weren't, it's likely that a sword as beautiful as mine would end up in the palace. I bet it's been sold many times for outrageous prices! It truly is a beautiful weapon!
Samir: Then we have to infiltrate the palace!
Imran: What?! Are you serious?
Riad: That's what we came here for, Imran.
Samir: We'll enter the palace during the wedding. After that, we split up. Riad and I will stay as close as possible and handle the Caliph.
Elias, Imran, Absi—do whatever it takes to recover the sword. Absi, notify us if anything goes wrong.
Riad: Absi, do you like food?
Absi: Absolutely!!!
Riad: Then you'll be the cook! That'll be our excuse to let you move freely inside the palace!
Samir: If no one has anything else to add, get some sleep. The mission begins on the 28th of this month.
The mission to retrieve Elias's sword had begun.
End of Chapter.