C3 Chapter 3 : The Lost Map and the Ambush

Chapter - 3: The Lost Map and the Ambush

Ali and Junaid had entered a room inside the house of the old Sheikh Hamza.

It was completely dark, and nothing was visible.

Junaid had brought a torch with him.

He lit the torch, and as soon as the room brightened, Ali and Junaid's eyes widened in shock.

The room was in complete disarray. The furniture and other items were scattered all over the place.

Looking at the state of the room, it seemed as if someone had searched it thoroughly in a desperate attempt to find something.

Junaid (in surprise):

"Ali! Looking at the condition of this room, it seems that someone has definitely searched for something here."

Ali and Junaid started believing that Sheikh Hamza's words were true.

Ali (seriously):

"You're right, Junaid! The way this room looks, it's clear that someone was searching for something.

Now, I truly believe what Sheikh Hamza told me."

Junaid (thinking):

"Ali! Could this be the work of the same man and his companions who attacked you?"

Ali (doubtfully):

"That could be possible! They must have been trying to find something about the special sword, Al-Amaanah.

We must search this place thoroughly as well. We might find some clue here."

After this, Ali and Junaid began searching the room.

Meanwhile, Ameer Tahir's spies and men also found out that Ali and Junaid had arrived at Sheikh Hamza's house.

One of Amir Tahir’s men quickly rushed to inform him.

Amir Tahir’s man:

"Chief! That boy, Ali, and his friend Junaid have reached Sheikh Hamza's house."

Amir Tahir (smirking):

"Listen carefully, my men! Ali and his friend must not escape alive.

But do not attack them yet. Wait until they find something valuable—perhaps a map or something that can be useful to us.

Once they have it, ambush them, seize whatever they find, and lock them in a room.

I will deal with them later."

Amir Tahir’s man:

"Yes, Chief! As you command. Will you not come with us?"

Amir Tahir (seriously):

"No! I have important matters to handle. You capture them and lock them up.

Later, I will come myself—I want to see this so-called heir with my own eyes and decide how to welcome him."

Following this, Amir Tahir's men left and shared the plan with the others.

According to their plan, one spy infiltrated the house to keep an eye on Ali and Junaid.

Meanwhile, Ali and Junaid were still searching the room, but they hadn't found anything significant yet.

Suddenly, Ali’s eyes fell on a small chest in a corner of the room.

Ali (excitedly):

"Junaid, look over there! That small chest! Maybe this is what we were looking for."

Both of them hurried toward the chest. It was locked.

Junaid (worriedly):

"Ali! This chest is locked. What should we do now?"

Ali (observing the chest carefully):

"Junaid, look closely! Something is written on it in a strange language. Maybe it's a clue to unlocking it."

But neither Ali nor Junaid could understand the language.

Junaid (concerned):

"We don’t understand this language... What should we do now?"

Ali thought for a moment. Then, he wiped the surface where the strange language was written.

Surprisingly, the text vanished!

Junaid (shocked):

"Ali! How did this happen? How did that strange writing disappear just by wiping it?"

Ali (thinking aloud):

"This must have been Sheikh Hamza’s doing, to protect it from those who attacked me.

He wanted to keep this chest safe so that no one else could open it."

Junaid (agreeing):

"You’re right, Ali! Look, now something else is visible here—'To unlock the chest, check underneath'."

Ali and Junaid turned the chest upside down and saw a small hole, just the right size for a key.

To their surprise, a key was already there.

Ali took the key and inserted it into the lock.

As soon as he turned it, the lock clicked open.

Inside, they found a map and a letter.

Ali opened the letter and read:

"If you are reading this, Ali, know that this special sword will not be easy to find.

The secret of the sword will be revealed to you by an elder.

You will find your way to him when you are locked inside a room.

Take care of this map..."

The rest of the words were smudged and unreadable.

Meanwhile, Amir Tahir’s men had also found out that Ali and Junaid had obtained a map and a letter from Sheikh Hamza’s house.

Four of them entered the house to ambush Ali and Junaid, while the rest surrounded the house from the outside.

Ali (alerted):

"Junaid! Someone’s coming. I can hear footsteps. Quickly, hide!"

Ali quickly hid behind an old wardrobe, while Junaid took cover behind the door.

As soon as Amir Tahir’s four men entered, Junaid pushed one from behind, making him stumble.

Ali also attacked another one.

However, they were outnumbered. The remaining men quickly surrounded them.

Now, what will happen next?

Will Ali and Junaid fall into Amir Tahir’s trap?

Can Ali protect the map?

Who is the elder mentioned in the letter?

Will Ali find the answers to his questions?

To find out,

read Chapter 4!

To be continued...