"Just touch my arm and we'll be off. Remember, we'll be air borne, so follow me. Keep me in your sight at all times!"
When he did as he was told, Mike noticed he no longer felt ill. All he could see was a bright flash of light, then they were outside, high in the sky. He flew as fast as he could to keep up with the Spirit companion. Everything blurred as they flew, but some skylines could still be distinguished. When everything slowed down, Mike knew they'd crossed an ocean, because they were flying over a beautiful castle. He recognized it from the news reports on television....the castle of Ali Siad. Surprisingly, they didn't stop there, but Mike was led to a marketplace in the nearby town. Though it was early in New York, here, it was nearly dusk, and they landed in an alleyway beside a building which Mike thought was very quaint.
"Follow me," instructed the spirit, and proceeded to walk straight through the white wall of the shop! Mike began to follow, then stopped short, just inches from the obstruction.
"Hey!" he called out, "I can't walk through walls! What do I do? Go find the door?"
The spirit popped the upper part of himself outside again. "No, we must remain unnoticed, as much as we can. Take my arm, then walk."
Mike obeyed, and found himself inside of what proved to be a used clothing and costume shop. Thankfully, it was closed.
"Here's what you need!" the spirit told him. He was standing by a rack of men's outfits, pointing to a black one that looked like the one he wore, but had a covering for the lower part of his face, common for the desert folk. Mike put the clothes on over his own. "You forgot something!" the spirit called from around the next clothes rack. When Mike quickly found him, he was pointing to a sword hanging on the wall by its beautifully designed scabbard. When Mike took it down and examined it, he saw its blade was sharp and gleaming. He quickly tucked the scabbard belt around his waist, hoping he wouldn't have to use any violence in his mission. Mike had never handled any type of weapon, and didn't wish to start now. His fists could cause him enough problems!
Then, the spirit led Mike outside the same way they'd entered, Mike still hesitantly taking his friend's helpful arm. Then, they were flying again, arriving at the castle Mike had seen on his way there. They hovered over it just high enough so the boy could not easily be seen from the ground.
"Circle the courtyard there, and call out the things I tell you to," the spirit told him.
"All right, here goes nothing!"Mike flew lower and circled the open yard. Many people could be seen scurrying about on their daily duties.
"Good people of Shandu, hear me and listen well!" he yelled, "I am sent by him who