[the phantom]

As Anakron led the Offending Party off the platform, Mardil turned and called an errand boy out onto the balcony on which he was standing. "Two men should be arriving soon. Their names are Bregor and Gundor. You are to give them this." Mardil pressed an envelope into the boy's hands.

"Yessir, I'll give it to them as soon as they arrive!"

Mardil nodded and tossed a rope over the side of the ornate railing rimming the balcony. The end of the rope slapped the platform lightly as Mardil tied the other end around one of the posts on the rail. After making sure his twin swords and assorted knives were securely sheathed and checking the straps holding his bow and quiver to his back, Mardil grabbed the rope firmly with his gloved hands and leaped over the side and then slid down to the platform. Then, the errand boy untied the rope and tossed it down along with Mardil's short spear.

Without further delay, Mardil sprinted off after the Offending Party. He could see them up ahead, entering a building with bad architecture. It looked as if the members of the party were shoving and jostling in order to be next in line after the Grand Anakronist. Mardil rolled his eyes. "What fools," he thought. "The positions of honor are first and last. The first leads the way, but the one in the rear can watch everyone and cannot be watched himself, and he always has early warning about nasty surprises that are ahead."

As Mardil approached the door into which the party had disappeared, two officious looking orcs stepped forward and leveled their spears at him. "What is your business here?" asked one of them.

"I'm with the Offending Party, now move!" said Mardil, who was beginning to lose sight of the party in the corridor up ahead. He watched closely in case they turned to either side.

"I'm going to have to confirm that," said the orc, dropping the point of his spear and reaching for his walkie-talkie. At the same time, the other orc turned towards the door and looked down the corridor to see if he could see whatever it was Mardil was staring at so intently.

Mardil took full advantage of this lapse. He rammed the butt of his spear forcefully into the first orc's jaw, and as the second orc turned around, Mardil winded him with a blow to the gut and then gave him a solid rap on the top of the head with his spear butt. Before the orc hit the ground, Mardil was off down the musty corridor.

"Cheap shot," muttered the second orc after he recovered his breath.

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Mardil watched as the Offending Party dispersed into the crowded street, each one going a slightly different direction.

"Well, Mardil, are you ready to get out of Mordor?" asked the Grand Anakronist.

Mardil turned and looked at Anakron's feet. "I guess."

"You're never going to make it out of Mordor with that sort of half-hearted attitude. Now, are there things outside of Mordor that you would like to do? Tasks you wish to complete?"

"Yes," answered Mardil, though not very convincingly.

"You really are pitiful, Mardil. You are afraid of going back because things won't be as nice and rosy as they used to be. That's an immature attitude. Be a man, Mardil! I know you're angry about the way things turned out. Use that anger! You'll be able to make it through this first challenge fairly easily, but you had better find some passion at some point during your escape, for you will need it to go up against the things you will encounter during your escape."

"I will try," said Mardil.

Anakron leaned in close to Mardil. "And if you manage to escape, Mardil, I assume you will not forget a certain person who gave you the opportunity," he whispered.

Mardil smiled and nodded. "I will not forget."

"Good!" said Anakron. "Now, get going! You know how to read a map, so I'm confident I will see you at the next challenge- that is if you can manage to stay out of trouble on your way through the city. It is fraught with many perils, such as Easily Offended People and Stupid People."

Mardil assured Anakron he would stay out of trouble and began weaving his way quickly down the crowded street.

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It wasn't long before Mardil spotted Alli and Sai up ahead. "My my, how fortunate. The two young ladies happen to be taking the best route. They must be good with maps. I will join them."

As he approached, he listened to their conversation and discovered that they had only taken the correct way by chance. "They will certainly be glad to be joined by someone who knows precisely where to go."